If walking from left to right of the room could solve the problems, then everyone would start doing that. Though, Raghav knew that Pihu was highly upset, more like nervous at the invite his mother gave to Kabir's parents.

"You would tire yourself before they'd even come. Pihu?" He called her out, while he himself was seated calmly on bed.

Pihu wasn't listening. In her mind, it was only Sakshi's broken face that was flashing when she would hear what her family was planning. "She will feel betrayed," said Pihu lowly. "How could we do this to her? I know how it feels to be booked by some other family when inside, you don't even want to get married."

Raghav narrowed his eyes, grabbing her hand and immediately pulling her to him. She stood between his legs as he observed her thoroughly. Her face as glowing and like always, cheeks were red. She had a cre-colored suit on with a maroon lipstick, that matched the color of his Kurta very well.

Seeing her eyes lowered, no smile, he sighed. "This is no wedding happening. We are just meeting the parents. I don't know why you don't like the efforts mom is putting. I feel like they are good people," he said, grabbing her by the waist.

Pihu looked in his dark eyes. "See, you don't get it. It was not you getting booked. You were getting the person you wanted to get married to. But was it the same for me? I don't want same thing happening for Sakshi."

"But now we are the power couple here. Aren't we? We were made for each other," he reminded her and mimicked, "Even when you weren't getting married to the person of your choice."

Pihu gulped, looking at him helplessly. One side of her heart would force her to spit it out about Sakshi's love for Shrey, one would deny because she knew this could bring so much pain to this home of hers. She sighed while wrapping her arms around his neck and sitting on his right thigh mildly.

Her husband turned concerned observing her behaving this way.

"Raghav, try to understand my point. His parents are coming all the way from Kerala. What Mrs. Bhatia further told us that Kabir's mother is a heart patient. On top of that, Mom is highly Keen on finalizing this proposal. I am afraid, it will be Yes. Even when Sakshi isn't here," she told him.

Raghav shook his head. "Didn't mom tell that Sakshi likes him but not confident enough to reveal it to us?"

"Did you ask about it to Sakshi?" She asked sternly.

Raghav shook his head, now quiet in thought.

Pihu sighed heavily. "It's not right. We won't be able to say no. Even if you'd want to, mom wouldn't let us do it. Sakshi will never talk to me, again."

Raghav chuckled at her. "Nothing like that going to happen," he kissed her forehead. "It's not that bad. I will call Kabir, and ask him myself. Then, Sakshi too-"

"I'll call Sakshi."

He smiled, "Okay, love. Now can I get to see those lips curving into a smile?"

Pihu blushed but didn't smile enough. "You don't know how it feels. I remember the time when Sakshi was upset with me. She didn't talk-"

"That was her mistake," Raghav reminded her. "Do not blame yourself for everything. We aren't selecting a beggar for her. Kabir is a good guy."

Pihu sighed and didn't talk further. But all of a sudden, squeals erupted from her as he tickled her waist, making her laugh hard and fall on the bed.

________

Aditi and Sakshi kept talking to each other about their plans for Christmas. They were thinking about going home late only after celebrating it together. They were checking concerts and programmes, going to happen all over the Delhi.

While all this time Aarush was revising his notes, that he copied from Sakshi since he had hardly studied this week. He had to cope up hard between giving his time to Aditi and his studies.

He was sipping his coffee when the girls started talking a little louder. "Could you both lower down your sharp voices? I am trying to get this boredom in my head."

The girls ignored him, making him roll his eyes. He sighed and was looking back in his book when he caught someone sitting at the next table from theirs.

His eyes narrowed at recognizing Ronnie who was only staring at his girls. His eyebrows raised in faint anger. This had been happening since past weeks.

A feeling of unease crawled up his spine, Aarush narrowed his eyebrows. What was wrong with this guy? Why had he started doing this creep show all of a sudden? He wouldn't do that before.

There was some joke shared as Sakshi and Aditi burst out laughing while Ronnie's gaze shifted on Aarush by default. Just as their eyes met, Ronnie looked away acting as if he had no interest in their talks. He immediately got up and started walking out of the cafeteria.

Taking this as a chance, Aarush too got up and excused himself. "I am returning in some minutes."

Without hearing the response from the girls, he left the cafeteria and followed Ronnie to a departmental building. Just as he turned into a corridor, Aarush called out.

"Ronnie!"

It wasn't just a simple call. Aarush was shouting.

Ronnie looked sideways and entered a classroom. Aarush was now triggered and immediately entered the room, pushing hard on Ronnie's chest who didn't even stagger back. He looked calm and composed.

"What's your problem, man? Why have you been creeping on my friends like that?"

Ronnie snorted. "What? Are they your sisters?"

Aarush's jaws clenched as he immediately clutched Ronnie's collar.

Ronnie smiled tightly. "You can pretend to be all this manly in front of me. But I know the truth, Aarush. I know, you are a loser beneath those nerdy eyes. I know what you are."

Aarush's eyebrows furrowed immediately. "What am I?" He asked mockingly.

Ronnie let out a humorless chuckle. "Leave it, man. It's cool between us. I have no interest in your business but I hadn't take you for that kind of guy."

Aarush was suddenly feeling conscious. "What kind of a guy, man? What are you talking about?"

Ronnie shook his head and removed Aarush's hands from his collar, palming his shirt plain. He smirked, "You know, what I am talking about. I have no problem with you but even I didn't have that lose standard man. If I look at girls, I do it all openly. Nerds like you are the creeps and then, girls say they are afraid of us."

Ronnie glared at him. "Not fucking fair now, is it?"

Aarush was highly confused. "Hey! I don't get a word you are saying. What creep-"

Ronnie showed his palm. "Leave it, man. I just couldn't believe that. I just low-key felt good at seeing you guys' friendship. Now, I don't."

"What the fuck!" Aarush stressed out, frustratingly.

Ronnie stepped forward so now he was eye to eye with Aarush. "What you're doing man, isn't cool. If you want to fuck more girls, say it openly. Ask me, I'll help you out with getting numbers with the girls who'll be willing to do so. They aren't like that. Are they, your friends? But again, whatever you are doing isn't cool." Saying this, he shook his head arrogantly and left the room.

While Aarush stood there dumbfounded.

______

Shrey came out of the store, with bags in his hands filled with cookies and rolls that he had bought for his mother. Two days continuously being spent with Sakshi, he knew that his mom would be upset not knowing anything. Her favorite cookies could make her happy, he thought.

Though, he already missed Sakshi. But it was her exam tomorrow. He couldn't stay this night and distract her.

Finding his car, he had only kept the bags at the passenger seat and was walking around when someone came from behind asking his name.

"Shrey?"

He stopped and turned around, looking at the man who had greyish eyes and his personality was of a teacher-like with those specs. But it was a smart one, he could tell. The man looked confident. "Yes? It's me," he said slowly and cautiously.

The man smiled and forwarded a hand, introducing himself. "Kabir. Kabir Nair," he said in a calm voice.

Shrey's eyebrows furrowed, trying to remember if he had ever seen this man before. "I am sorry. I can't recognize-"

"You don't know me." Kabir smirked, "I am Sakshi's professor."

Shrey's eyebrows raised in surprise. This was awkward, he thought. "Oh!" He finally shook hand and pulled back slowly.

Kabir smiled and suddenly, the smile straightened. "I have seen you often outside the gates of the University. You come to receive her. You are her boyfriend, I assume."

Shrey nodded quietly, not really understanding what was happening. "We have been dating. Yes, Um." Shrey smiled falsely, thinking how in a class full of seventy to eighty students, this professor remember Sakshi and noticed her boyfriend.

"Does her brother know?" The professor asked, shocking Shrey.

Shrey straightened up and stayed silent before finally replying, "What do you want? Who are you exactly? Is this some prank?" Shrey looked around, alarmingly.

Kabir chuckled out. "It's not me playing a prank, Shrey. It's your girlfriend playing with you-"

Shrey's jaws clenched as he made use of his taller height and looked in the man's eyes. "What do you mean? How do you know Sakshi?"

Kabir smirked, "Caught in a rape case. False blame? Well, you are rich. Who knows the truth? What more? Malhotra industries. Quite loaded. Now, I know why Sakshi likes to play with you."

Shrey grabbed his collar, now glaring at the man. "You fucking tell me now! Straight this moment. Who are you?" He was afraid if Raghav had sent some guy to keep an eye on them.

Kabir's eyes turned stone as he smiled wickedly. "Your girlfriend is my fiancee. The girl you are in love with has been making a fool of both of us."

Shrey could feel ground sliding beneath his feet. His heart started beating faster while fire was burning through his ears. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"Frozen. Aren't you?" Kabir asked and felt Shrey's hands loosening on his collar. He removed the hands and breathed in satisfaction at seeing the confusion on Shrey's face. "I too was frozen when I saw you that day in college, coming to receive her. My cousin who is a student in the Uni helped me knowing that you both are dating. I couldn't believe because everything has happened, Shrey."

Shrey blinked in shock as Kabir showed seriously. "Our families have met. Engagement is done."

"I see no ring on her finger. You moron-"

Kabir cut Shrey's words with his laughter. "She is dating you. Why would she show you the ring." He chuckled humorlessly. "At first, I was angry at you. But then, I realized that you don't even know the truth."

"I don't believe you," Shrey spoke out while his eyes turning bloodshot. His hands were shaking.

Kabir sighed heavily and looked around. "Okay, fine. Let me show you the pics." He brought out the phone from his pocket and unlocked it. "Here."

With shaky hands, Shrey took the phone and breathed slowly. His heartbeats fastened when his eyes caught a couple," those are my parents," Kabir said while pointing at them.

Shrey's eyes widened when he found Raghav sitting beside them on the couch. "Raghav?"

Kabir's eyebrows raised. "See, there he is. That's her Uncle."

Shrey was shocked, that this guy even knew that it wasn't her father but Uncle. He felt his legs shaking.

"These are the pics from when they discussed everything. Swipe and observe them all. That's Sakshi's sister-in-law, Pihu."

Shrey held the phone tightly as he observed each photo taken. They were barely four, but all of them had Kabir's parents and Sakshi's family talking and having teas, snacks.

"These pics are from Diwali." Kabir said, while wiping more and pointing at the screen. "See, there she is mingling with my Aunt and cousins. That's her brother talking to me."

Shrey breathed harshly as he observed Sakshi in all the pics. She was dressed up and suddenly he remembered the time when he had checked her Facebook profile.

"Since, when do you know her?" Shrey asked quietly.

Kabir shrugged his shoulders. "My Aunt arranged it with her Aunt and I was told to meet this girl at Cafe. I chickened out and my brother went instead. Then, we somehow met at University because Sakshi had got to know it was actually me, her professor as her fiancee, coincidentally. Later, her Aunt accepted the proposal and so did my family."

"But this is impossible," Shrey whispered to himself. "She would never do that to me."

"You tell me, if we both go and face her. Let's do it-"

Shrey shook his head, making Kabir smile inside. "Enough. I will talk to her on my own," his nostrils flared.

"Before everything, I want to show you one more pic, brother." Kabir said, while looking at him. "Because I can't marry a girl who had been playing with me already before marriage. God knows, if she's even a virgin."

Shrey looked at him immediately. "I haven't touched her yet. . ." He gulped.

Kabir looked away. "Look at this photo. You will know that I am not some fraud. She is smiling in this photo, looking at me because I had shared some poor joke. We were at their terrace, away from the whole family. We had talked in peace." He said, while handing Shrey the phone again.

Shrey's heart broke as he saw her smiling at Kabir, both their side looks so defined. She was barely two steps away from him. It truly looked like no one else was on terrace except for the photographer.

"I'll talk to her," Shrey muttered when he felt his hands shaking wildly. He handed the phone back and opened the car door. His face turned red from anxiety he felt while ignoring Kabir's words.

"But brother, I will take back the proposal," Kabir said as Shrey turned his car and drove off the place.

"Take back the proposal? My ass," Kabir snorted, chuckling to himself as he walked ahead while putting his phone in the pocket.

________

"What do you think?"

Please vote and comment.

I don't know why these chapters are tough for me to write. Maybe because of third person's pov and much characters. My sister is helping me out a little. I hope you liked it.