Raymond stood there at the billing counter to pay the bill for all the items that they had purchased. Buying such silly things with her brought him great joy. He didn't know that things like this could make him so happy. He never imagined grocery shopping would be so heartwarming and engaging.

After the payment was done, he carried both the bags in his hands and started walking.

"Hey, it looks heavy. You can give me one bag, the lighter one of course. I will help you carry it home", Akira quipped all enthusiastically.

He was beyond amused to hear her speak like that in a carefree manner. His heart felt a bit lighter to see her in a better mood than she was before.

"It's fine. I can totally manage", he said.

"Yeah, I know you workout. But there is no need to show that off", she said.

"What?", he asked all surprised and amused with her statement.

"What what? All you guys are like that. They just need to show off that they are oh so manly and beastly", she complained.

"You are kidding me, right? And how do you know that I workout?", Raymond was surprised to hear her out.

"It's obvious from the way your shoulders and pectoral muscles feel", she spoke non-stop without even realizing what she was blurting out.

Raymond stopped instantly after hearing her out. He was definitely pleased by her statement but wanted to mess with her.

"So were you dancing or feeling my muscles while dancing?", he asked with a smirk on his face.

"You !!!", Akira growled all pissed.

He was clearly messing with her, so she decided to keep quiet.

She turned back and picked up two milk cartons from the bag that he was carrying and started walking ahead at a brisk pace.

He laughed at her childish behavior and continued following her silently till they reached home.

Just when Akira was about to open the gate and enter the house, Raymond said,

"572 steps".

"What?", Akira asked all puzzled.

"The distance from the shop to house. Wait, don't tell me you didn't count?", he said and entered the house.

Akira stood there all baffled.

He was clearly messing up with her big-time.

She took deep breaths and took a resolve to stay careful.

They entered the kitchen together and started sorting out the items which they had purchased.

"I will handle the chicken, meanwhile you clean and chop the vegetables. Once I place the chicken in the oven, we can work on the sauce" Raymond said and put on his apron.

"Wao !!! Since when did cooking need to be planned so meticulously? No wonder being a boss is in his genes", Akira thought in her head.

"Here", Raymond said and tossed another apron towards Akira.

"Well, I don't need it. I am not much of an apron person in the kitchen", Akira said and kept the Apron back on the table. Then she moved towards the sink to wash the lettuce first. But little did she know about the sink tap settings and the pressure of the water that came through that sink tap. The moment she opened it, she was sprayed with water all over.

"Jesus Christ!!!", exclaimed Akira. Even her face couldn't escape. Somehow she managed to close the tap.

Raymond left his chicken and came forward and gave her a face towel. While she was wiping her face, he said,

"Stay still".

"Huh!!!", exclaimed Akira.

"I said, stay still", Raymond said and passed the apron through her head. Akira was about to turn back but he held her waist firmly and made her stand still.

"Don't move", he said and tied the apron strap at her back.

"Your dress is too nice. Don't ruin it in the kitchen", he said and moved back to his counter and started working on his chicken. She looked at him, but he didn't glance back. He didn't want to make her any more uncomfortable than she already was.

"Turn the knob to the other side before you start cleaning again", he said nonchalantly without even looking up.

"Ok", she said and continued working on the vegetables.

They were both engrossed in making the salad properly until the heard the doorbell.

"I will get that", Raymond said and left the kitchen.

He opened the door and saw Katherine outside.

"Ugghhh why it's you?", Raymond said.

"Wow, really wow. Such a warm welcome", Katherine said all pissed.

"What now? Is it something urgent? If not then can it wait?", Raymond said still standing at the door.

"Can it wait? No, it can't? I can't let you go into this hibernation mode again and again Ray. What is wrong with you?", Katherine said all concerned.

"Can we talk about it later some other day. I am busy right now", Raymond said.

"I don't care what work you have, but I am gonna make sure you don't skip your meals", Katherine said and shoved a casserole into his hands.

"Ok, thanks for your concern. Can you please leave now?", Raymond said getting all impatient. He knew his sister was an impending danger. She was a predator and if she saw Akira in the house by any chance, then he was doomed. She would never let him survive in peace with her constant questions and taunts.

"No, I am cannot", Katherine said and pushed Raymond suddenly to one side and got inside the house.

She walked inside and sat on the sofa and said,

"I am not leaving till you eat. What drama are you doing? What are you like 12".

Raymond was taken aback as his plan of blocking his sister from entering the house had failed miserably.

"Hey Katherine !!!", Akira said and came to the living room as she heard some voices from the kitchen.

"Hi Akira !!! What a pleasant surprise?", Katherine said and turned towards Raymond, giving him her patented deathly stare.

"I didn't know you were coming. Raymond didn't tell me. We are making Caesar salad. I will make a portion for you too", Akira said all enthusiastically.

"Well, he didn't tell me either that you are coming here. Else I would have come earlier", she said and smiled at Akira and then turned towards Raymond to continue with her stare.

Raymond's plan to have Akira just for himself was in deep waters right now. His palm rested on his forehead and he grew all tensed because he knew that his sister would do nothing but brew in more trouble.