"Sidharth?"

Ugh! This woman has no patience. She won't even let me groom myself in peace. I need to look good, damnit. Shehnaaz and her mom will be there, so I need to impress her. Can't she understand this small thing?

"SIDHARTH?"

"What?"

"Hurry up! We need to leave."

"I know. I'm almost done, Mom." I quickly set my hair and sprayed some cologne. "Done."

"Sid?"

Now what does he want?

"Yes, Dad?"

"Help me load the luggage in the car."

"Coming right away." I grabbed my leather jacket from the bed and put it on. I knew I'd regret wearing it later. It's May- super hot weather, especially in Jaipur.

"What happened, Mom?" I asked, noticing her struggling with her saree. "Why do you wear that if you can't manage it?"

She pouted. I found it cute. "I have to. Your grandmother will be there too."

"So?" I asked, grabbing both my luggage bags and pulling them outside where Dad was busy loading their luggage.

"She lives in a village. She's orthodox," she explained.

"Oh!" I didn't know what to say. I put my bags in the car's trunk, earning a death glare from Dad. "What?"

God knows what I've done wrong now.

"You packed two big luggage bags for a four-day trip?" he asked sarcastically.

"I have all my necessary stuff in them," I pouted to melt him. It didn't work. It never worked.

"I can't deal with you anymore," he said, shaking his head and getting into the backseat.

"Don't say a word to my son," Mom yelled at him. She gave me a sweet smile, pulled my cheeks lovingly, and then kissed my forehead.

I smiled, kissed her cheeks, and we both got in the car. Mom sat beside Dad in the backseat, and I took the passenger seat beside our new driver. The car picked up speed and headed toward the airport.

"He's getting out of hand, only because of you and your over-pampering, Kanika," Dad commented, as always.

I couldn't help rolling my eyes. It's an everyday thing.

"See... See... What did he just do?" Dad exclaimed.

"What did he do?" Mom acted innocent, pissing Dad off more.

"I can't believe you, Kanika!" Dad said in disbelief.

"Then don't, Hon."

"Hon" means "Honey," which Mom uses to tease him.

"Don't call me that. Our son is here. Even the driver," he sounded embarrassed.

I couldn't help but smile, and Mom laughed.

They're cute, but not as cute as Shehnaaz and me, obviously.

Her name alone was enough to make me smile. Thinking about her, I pulled out my phone to message her and check if they had left home yet.

- Baby, did you guys leave for the airport?

I waited for a while, but no response came. Then I remembered she was probably driving. That old woman was good for nothing but cursing me. To be honest, I love throwing some nasty curses back at her. She deserves them, even the one I invented just yesterday.

I scrolled through our chat from last night and smiled. We talked for a long time and then played 20 quick questions. Nothing serious, just basic stuff. I learned some interesting facts about her.

Her favorite color is white. Her favorite words are "fuck you," and "fuck off," which I found funny. Her favorite TV show is FRIENDS; it's her comfort show. Her favorite singer is some, Arijit Singh. I'd never heard of him, but now I'll definitely listen to his music.

Speaking of Arijit Singh, I put on one of his famous songs, "Tum Hi Ho," from a movie called Aashiqui 2.

"Woah!" His voice was really good. I mean I didn't understand his words much but his voice is so soothing and beautiful.

Mom started humming the song, and Dad looked at me in shock. I never listened to Hindi songs, let alone watched Bollywood movies. I ignored them.

Her favorite food is homemade, especially dishes cooked by her mom. I found that endearing. She also loves a street food called panipuri and she promised to take me to try it someday.

When I asked her if she knew how to cook, she laughed, saying she couldn't. She hopes her future husband can cook, or else they'll have to keep ordering from Food Panda.

I was definitely offended by her answer. Like, come on, just say my name instead of "future husband." I would have been more pleased.

Anyway, shoving my hurt feelings aside, I decided to learn how to cook for her.

We can't keep eating takeout all our lives, and she loves home-cooked food. Someone has to cook after our marriage, and I'm sure she won't learn to cook for anyone, even for me.

Her last three answers really made me emotional. Her favorite destination is America. I didn't ask her why because I knew the reason already: me. When I asked about her dream, her answer made me incredibly emotional.

"I've been living my dream for the last few days."

Her dream was to be with me, to be loved by me. I was her dream, and I cried like a baby when I read that.

Lastly, I asked about her life's goal. I know she is the CEO of her father's company, but I thought she might have a different goal or dream.

"I want to make my mom proud. I want to make her feel lucky that I'm her daughter, who is no less than a man. The day she tells me, or my heart tells me, she is proud of me, I'll feel like I did something good in my life."

This touched my heart. She loves her mom a lot, as well as her father. She told me how much her father supported her in everything, every decision she made. She knows her father is proud of her, so her goal is to make her mother proud.

- We left for the airport. By the way, it's Tina.

- Why are you using her phone?

I was pissed. I am sure she must have read out last night's chats. Fucking bitch.

- Because she is driving the car. Duh! And, BTW I didn't read your chats. ;)

- Liar liar pants on fire. I know you did. Anyways, you should learn how to drive, old woman. It's high time.

- I know how to drive, okay? And DON'T CALL ME THAT, ARSEHOLE.

- Then don't call me an arsehole.

- Can we make a truce?

- What kind of truce?

- Let's not fight until the wedding is over.

- Fine with me.

- Cool.

- Tina, I need a favor from you.

- What kind of favor?

- You're sitting with her, right?

- Who?

- Don't act dumb.

- YES, I AM. And don't call me dumb.

-Tina, you have to make sure I sit beside her ONLY.

- Then, what about me?

- IDK. Sit with your mom, I guess?

- We'll see. ;)

- Please (puppy face)

- I AM NOT SHEHNAAZ, BUT OKAY. I'LL TRY.

- Thanks. :)

- YOU'RE WELCOME, ARSEHOLE. Ha-ha-ha ;)

"Bitch." That's what she was.

"Don't curse," Mom scolded me, as always.

"Sorry," I apologized for cursing aloud.

"Be careful, baby. There will be many new people who can judge you for it, even your grandmother." Mom pointed out.

"Sure, Mom."

I need to be more careful around my grandmother and also around Shehnaaz's mom. I really want to impress her. How? That I need to figure out. But there's no way I'm going to let anyone belittle my woman. She is perfect, and everyone has to accept that, even my orthodox grandmother.

I lived with my grandmother for a few months when she went to America a few years ago. Sorry to say, but she is a total bitch. My dad might be offended and kick me out of the house or disown me for saying that, but it's the truth. She is a real bitch, at least to my sweet mom. Mom always tries to impress her, but that old woman never misses a chance to taunt her or pass a dirty comment on Mom's every effort.

"Where is that old b-" I quickly corrected myself, "Mom, where is Grandma?" She looked at me in confusion. "I mean, is she directly coming to the airport from her village, or is she in Mumbai now?"

"Oh! She came to Mumbai last evening. She was staying at Veer's place."

"Oh."

The rest of the ride, we listened to some more songs by Arijit Singh, and I kept my mouth busy with some chocolate and chips I brought from America. Whenever I miss America, I eat something from my stash. Right now, one of my luggage bags is half-filled with chips, chocolate, and my Dr. Pepper. I'll share some with Shehnaaz if she wants. I know she won't eat them. She's on some diet. I saw her eating salad the other day.

Who eats salad at a food court anyway?

Only your woman, my mind replied.

Right. My woman.

Upon reaching the airport, we quickly completed the formalities. Then, everyone got busy with meet-and-greet. I saw my mom taking blessings from Grandma, bending to touch her feet and covering her head with her pallu. Grandma placed her hand on Mom's head, making faces.

After my mom, Veer's mother dramatically took blessings from her as if she hadn't been staying at her house all night and day. I just rolled my eyes at the drama. To my surprise, Grandma gave Veer's mother blessings with a big smile. I couldn't believe it.

"Go and take blessings from your grandmother," Mom pushed me towards her.

"Hello, Grandma," I fake-smiled and pulled her into a very tight hug to suffocate her.

"Sid-" Her voice came out breathless.

Die, bitch, die.

"Sidharth," Dad's loud voice came, and he pulled me away from her, giving me a death glare. "Behave yourself. Is this a way to greet your grandmother?"

"I met her pretty nicely. I said, 'Hello, Grandma,' and then gave her a teddy bear hug. What did I do wrong?" I argued.

"You hugged her. Who hugs their grandmother? Veer never did this kind of inappropriate act with her," Veer's mother commented, smirking like the evil witch she was.

"Oh." I was actually surprised. Hugging and kissing was pretty normal in America.

"Yes," Dad said.

"You know what," I gave them a cute smile before making my expression serious and flipping them off. Then, I walked away from them.

Their faces were worth watching, especially Dad's and Veer's parents'. Grandma looked confused, and Mom was a little embarrassed. Veer had a surprised expression. But I don't care. They can just fuck off.

"Hey, Sidharth!" Priya called out with a big smile, waving to get my attention.

"Hi, Priya," I wave.

To be honest, I like her. She's definitely better than Tina, who is giving me a smug look. If Tina thinks she's important to me, she's mistaken. I don't care about her. She can go and fu-

"Fuck me, bitch."

My mouth hung open as I saw Shehnaaz walking behind Tina. She looked stunning in a white salwar suit, with her hair open and a natural makeup look. It was the first time I had seen her in person wearing traditional Indian attire. While I had seen her in a lehenga choli and salwar suit in her selfies before, seeing her in person was entirely different. I felt breathless and a little turned on.

"Excuse me!" Priya gasped, eyes wide open.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean it that way," I said, giving her an embarrassed smile. But my gaze remained fixed on Shehnaaz. She looked drop-dead gorgeous.

"Are you sure?" she asked, still uncertain.

"Yes," I nodded firmly, giving her an apologetic smile.

"Okay," she said before walking towards Veer to meet him and other family members, her parents following behind.

I walked over to Shehnaaz and Tina, who were with their mother. I noticed that Shehnaaz actually resembled her mother: the same big brown eyes, long raven hair, and similar features.

"Hey, Sid," Tina greeted me with a smile.

"Hi," I smiled at her briefly, then shifted my gaze to Shehnaaz. She looked nervous around me in front of her mother, who was eyeing me curiously, trying to figure out who I was.

"Hey, Shehnaaz," I said, smiling broadly.

"Hi, Sidharth," she replied, her voice breathless.

"Won't you introduce me to your beautiful mother?" I asked, looking at her mother, who was already blushing.

"Yes, of course," she said nervously. "Mom, this is Sidharth, Uncle Sidhant's son. Veer's cousin."

"Oh!" her mother exclaimed, remembering who I was.

I smiled at her sweetly. "Namaste, aunty." I could see everyone looking at me in surprise. Fuck them.

"Namaste. God bless you," she said with the same charming smile as Shehnaaz's. Cute. "I remember you. You were a baby when I last saw you," she said, smiling. "You've grown into a fine young man."

I blushed. Geez!

She continued, "Remember, Shehnaaz, how you didn't want him to go to America? You cried so much when they left."

"Mom, please," Shehnaaz said, looking embarrassed. I felt guilty for making her cry unknowingly, but also touched by how much she had cared for me even back then. I just wanted to kiss her and make her feel better now.

"Sorry," her mother said, looking guilty for embarrassing her.

Cute. Both mother and daughter are adorable, unlike Tina.

"Aunty," I said, smiling at her. "You don't look like her mother, to be honest." She frowned at my remark. "You look more like her sister." I winked, making her blush at the compliment.

"He is a charmer," her mother said, laughing and still blushing.

"He is," Tina said mockingly.

Bitch.

"Let's go meet them," her mother said as she walked away. We followed behind.

Everyone got busy talking and mingling before we boarded the flight. Seeing this, I seized the opportunity to grab Shehnaaz's hand and pulled her into a corner, away from their eyes, though not entirely out of sight from the cameras and other onlookers.

"Sidharth, everyone is here," she whispered, looking scared of being caught.

To be honest, I didn't care, but I understood her fear. People here aren't very open-minded. Ignoring her concern, I focused on how I felt seeing her looking so gorgeous.

"You're looking so beautiful, baby, that I want to fuck you right here, right in front of everyone. I want them to know how beautiful my woman is and how madly I'm in love with her," She blushed, squeezing her legs together.

Oh!

"Did my words turn you on, baby?" My voice was serious. She nodded quietly, looking embarrassed. "Don't be embarrassed. I'm glad I have such power over you. Understand?"

She still looked nervous, so I held her hands tighter. Her eyes pleaded with me to let go.

"Never."

"Please," she begged, glancing back at where our family members were.

I pulled her closer, pushed her gently against the wall, and stood in front of her, shielding her with my tall figure.

"Sidharth, please," she murmured, looking like a scared kitten- my scared kitten.

I cupped her face. "Relax, baby. No one can say a word against you. Because, I won't let them." I assured her blinking my eyes. She nodded looking down. "Trust me, baby."

"I do." Her shoulder relaxed and she looked up to me with her beautiful smile. I smiled back. "You're looking good."

"Just good?" I pouted, feeling hurt.

"No. Hot." Her words made me smile big.

"That's my woman," I said, kissing her forehead.

She pushed me away, panicking. "Please don't."

"Okay, fine," I said, stepping back to give her space. She practically ran away from me. It hurt, but I tried to understand her situation. It wasn't easy for her to be with me openly.

After a few minutes, I joined them, sipping a mango juice. Shehnaaz looked displeased, so I threw it in the dustbin. She smiled, though I could tell she wanted to laugh. Her eyes gave it away. I smiled back and noticed Priya and Veer were looking at us suspiciously.

Fuck me bitch

••

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