Chapter : 55

Rishav's POV

"Are we done?" I asked, loosing my patience gradually.

"I think ye- no wait. I need to put on some hairspray." Ravi said and I sighed in exasperation.

"I wish I hadn't let you do my hair in the first place." I mumbled but he completely ignored my statement and went about his work with concentration.

"... And we are done." Ravi said and took a step back to look at me with satisfaction.

I felt relieved that he was done finally. I stopped my breath of relief when Ravi frowned at my face.

"I think the corner of your hair needs to be a bit-" Ravi was saying when I jumped out of my study chair and raised a hand to gesture him to stop. I really don't want to hear another cry of dissatisfaction from my best friend.

When Ananya told me that her dad wants to meet me, I had thought she was joking and it was just a prank. But when she didn't make a face or give a smile, I knew the gravity of the situation. I agreed to come to her place in the evening and Ravi showed up at my place to 'help' me get ready since he felt I was relatively inexperienced in the art of impressing parents of the girlfriend.

"Fine. But don't blame me if dad doesn't like that pointy head." Ravi sulked like a kid.

"You've been messing with this thing for the past hour. I'm not gonna spend another minute on it mister." I said, gesturing towards my poor head.

"Fine, let's go." He said and walked out of my bedroom while I followed him out.

My parents were out on a dinner with Sameer and Neha. Thanks to my brother who agreed to keep mom and dad out of the house while I got dressed and ready to meet Ananya's dad. It'd be just so awkward to have to tell my parents about this at the last moment.

***

Ravi and I reached the doorstep and I checked the time on my phone. It was half past eight. Damn it Ravi! I'd have reached earlier had he taken less precision in my hair.

"All the best." Ravi said to me.

Nodding I pressed the doorbell and waited. The maid of the house answered the door. It was the same woman who had told me where Ananya and Dinesh had gone off to yesterday. The maid looked at me with knowing eyes and shook her head.

"Welcome home, Sir." She acknowledged Ravi whilst completely ignoring me and stood aside for us to enter.

"I'll be upstairs if you need me." Ravi said and was about to run off when Ananya entered the living room and blocked Ravi's way quickly.

"Dad wants you to be at the table too." She told Ravi who sighed in defeat.

"Hi." She said, looking at me with a nervous smile.

I smiled back at her to ease her down and looked around the mansion once. It was so silent and empty. Maybe the atmosphere of the house was different back when Ananya's mom was here. Or maybe it was an attempt to intimidate me.

"You ready?" Ananya asked as she approached me.

I gave a silent nod.

Smiling, she held my hand in assurance and led me to the dining area. Her father was reading a book, seated over a couch near the French windows. Ananya let go of my hand and walked over to her father.

"Dad?" She said.

"Yes dear?" Her father asked, still reading.

"Rishav's here." She said.

Mr. Sharma didn't seem to acknowledge my presence. He just simply sighed and nodded, still reading. I had met him a few times before and he knew me as Ravi's friend but never had he paid quite much attention to me. However, now I'm sure he'd wanna know every cell in my body.

"Tell him to take a seat, dear. I'll join you two once I finish this page." Mr. Sharma said.

Ananya looked at me and gestured for me to take a seat at the single sofa. I took quick, silent strides and settled down, clasping my hands on my knees, trying to be cool.

Ravi slowly peeked into the room and gave a cheeky smile directed at me. It did ease the tension inside me to some extent.

"Come in, son." Mr. Sharma said without averting his eyes from the book.

Ravi made his way towards us and settled down on the couch opposite to me with Ananya.

Mr.Sharma finally finished with his book and turned to look at me.

"So, You're the boy who punched my business partner's son yesterday?" Mr.Sharma asked me out of the blue, looking at me with his brown eyes.

I took a gulp and nodded.

"Yes, sir." I said. I don't even know why I added the sir at the end. It just happened naturally.

"And I am assuming that you are the very same boy who declared himself as my daughter's boyfriend yesterday?" Mr.Sharma asked further.

I could see Ananya tense up beside Ravi.

"Yes, that is correct." I said.

"Well, you've made a mistake boy." Mr.Sharma said.

"I know my actions were wrong. Maybe I shouldn't have punched-" I was saying.

"I meant being my daughter's boyfriend was a mistake, boy." Mr.Sharma interrupted my words.

That left me fairly speechless.

"Dad..." Ananya spoke in disbelief, more like surprised.

"Shall we talk over dinner?" Mr.Sharma said looking at me, completely ignoring Ananya.

I gave another silent nod and waited for him to get up and walk towards the dining table. Once he was well settled, I took an adjacent seat next to him and Ananya and Ravi sat facing us. Ravi seemed quite bored with this whole scene of having to attend this interaction.

"What's your full name, boy?" Mr.Sharma asked me as the servants brought in the dishes on the table.

"It's Rishav Neil." I replied, still recovering from his remark back on that sofa.

"So Rishav, what does your father do?" He asked next.

"A retired government employee." I said.

"Government employee. I see. And your mother?" He asked, not quite impressed.

"Former teacher in classical music. She's a professional." I said as I played with my spoon, pushing the food on the plate. What was this on my plate anyway? Looks like some sea food.

"Isn't it difficult to run the family on the pension money of your retired father?" He asked.

I felt Ananya tense up again. She must've thought her father was going too personal. But hey, I've got his daughter for God's sake. That's a next level personal.

"Actually no. My elder brother, Sameer, earns more than enough." I clarified.

"Hmm." He said and resumed to eating.

I too tried and ate the food in silence, trying to ignore the awkwardness in the air.

"How's school?" He asked me next.

"It's just the same. Final examinations are approaching, so mostly preparing for it." I said.

"What do you aspire to be?" Mr.Sharma asked.

This is the question I dread the most. I'm not afraid of voicing my aspirations. I'm worried about the possible reactions.

"Rishav?" Mr.Sharma called when I didn't answer.

"I'm working my way into the Indian Cricket Team." I spoke.

His expression fairly changed. With raised eyebrows, he turned to look at Ravi who had his eyes lowered. I didn't quite understand his response.

"Now I know how you got the 'becoming a cricketer' fever on your head. Good thing that you've got me to put some reality check on your over the top dreams." Mr.Sharma said looking at Ravi.

"I've had my dinner." Ravi said and pushed the plate, getting out of his seat he marched out of the room, his jaw clenched hard.

"Do your parents not mind your decision?" Mr.Sharma asked looking at me.

I gave a way smile. He frowned at my expression.

"What's there to disapprove of?" I asked back, looking him in the eye.

"Don't you know what's the competition out there to get to that stage? To be one of the eleven? That too national level!" Mr.Sharma said, fairly surprised.

"Sir, you've got your business partnerships in the textile industry. Am I right?" I asked.

"What?" He asked.

"Yes or no?" I asked.

"Well, yes." He replied, confusion lacing his voice.

"It's a national level business and it took your forefathers years to reach this stage. But you succeeded at last." I said.

Mr.Sharma remained silent.

"If a man can successfully establish a countrywide textile business and sit in front of me. Then why can't I have faith in me and say that I can do what I dream of?" I asked.

There was silence on the table for a minute. Ananya broke into a smile as of she was proud of me. Mr.Sharma kept looking at me and then nodded with a small smile.

"Very well then." He said.

---
A/N

Hello sweethearts! :)
I'm really sorry for the late update. Was having a writer's block and am really trying to get out of it. I hope the chapter was okay.
Keep smiling

Stay happy and healthy!
Love,
Arhana❤️