Chapter 5 The Meeting Neither Wanted

Aanya had exactly three rules for surviving family gatherings.

Rule one: arrive on time.

Rule two: leave early.

Rule three: avoid conversations that began with "So, beta..."

Unfortunately, all three rules failed that Sunday.

She should have known something was wrong the moment her mother insisted she wear the blue kurta.

Not requested.

Insisted.

Which was never a good sign.

"Maa, we're just having lunch."

"Exactly."

"Then why does it matter what I'm wearing?"

Her mother smiled suspiciously.

"It doesn't."

That smile meant it absolutely did.

---

By noon, Aanya was seated in a restaurant she hadn't chosen, surrounded by family members who seemed unusually cheerful.

Her father checked his watch twice.

Her mother adjusted the table arrangement three times.

Even Karan looked entertained.

Aanya narrowed her eyes.

"What is happening?"

"Nothing."

The answer came far too quickly.

"Maa."

"Eat your food."

"Maa."

"Why are you interrogating me?"

Karan immediately burst out laughing.

That was all the confirmation Aanya needed.

"Oh no."

---

Across the city, Aarav was having an equally terrible day.

"What do you mean we're meeting them?"

His mother sighed.

"We are having lunch."

"You said it was a family lunch."

"It is."

"Then why are there strangers involved?"

His father pretended to be fascinated by the newspaper.

Coward.

"Aarav," his mother said patiently, "we are not forcing you."

The sentence had become a family favorite.

Because it was usually followed by something that felt suspiciously like force.

"I don't have time for this."

"You have time."

"I don't."

"You do."

Vihaan looked between them curiously while eating a biscuit.

Completely unaware of the battle taking place.

---

Thirty minutes later, Aarav found himself sitting in the passenger seat of his parents' car.

Against his better judgment.

Against his wishes.

Against common sense.

His mother looked far too pleased with herself.

A dangerous sign.

"One lunch," Aarav warned.

"One lunch."

"No expectations."

"Of course."

"No emotional manipulation."

His father laughed loudly.

"That one's impossible."

---

Back at the restaurant, Aanya was contemplating escape routes.

The emergency exit looked promising.

Then the restaurant door opened.

Several people entered.

A couple in their late fifties.

A little boy holding a toy dinosaur.

And a tall man wearing a dark blue shirt.

The atmosphere around the table changed instantly.

Aanya closed her eyes.

Her parents had officially trapped her.

Wonderful.

---

Aarav spotted the situation immediately.

The arranged seating.

The awkward smiles.

The hopeful expressions.

His mother suddenly becoming interested in table decorations.

He almost turned around.

Almost.

Then Vihaan tightened his grip on his hand.

The little boy hated unfamiliar places.

Leaving now would only confuse him.

So Aarav stayed.

Reluctantly.

---

Introductions began.

Names were exchanged.

Polite smiles appeared.

Everyone pretended this wasn't exactly what it looked like.

Aanya glanced at Aarav.

He looked as uncomfortable as she felt.

Interesting.

Most men she had met during these situations acted overly confident.

Overly eager.

Overly prepared.

This man looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

That immediately made him more tolerable.

Not attractive.

Just tolerable.

---

Meanwhile, Vihaan sat quietly beside Aarav.

Observing everyone.

His toy dinosaur rested in his lap.

Most adults ignored him.

Aanya didn't.

Children were usually the first people she noticed in a room.

Perhaps because they were honest.

Unfiltered.

Interesting.

The little boy seemed shy.

Not spoiled.

Not demanding.

Just quiet.

Very quiet.

When their eyes briefly met, he immediately looked away.

Aanya didn't push.

She simply smiled and returned to her conversation.

The small gesture didn't go unnoticed.

Neither by Vihaan.

Nor by Aarav.

---

Lunch continued.

Conversations drifted between careers, families, and harmless topics.

To everyone's disappointment, neither Aanya nor Aarav seemed interested in impressing the other.

They answered questions honestly.

Politely.

Briefly.

Almost like two people trying to survive the same awkward situation.

And for the first time all afternoon, Aarav found himself slightly amused.

Because sitting across from him was a woman who looked just as determined to escape this setup as he was.

Little did either of them know...

This lunch was only the beginning.

To be continued...

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