"Honey, I promise you some other time, okay?"
"No, no, no." She cling onto his arm like a sad baby. "It's our engagement and you just want to run off without saying hi to my parents? It's not fair."
"I'm not running away." He chuckled, "I gat unfinished works waiting for me in the office right now. Okay, how about we—"
"You must be Justin Chadwick, right?" Urumi cut in.
The two were taken unaware. "Yes I am and you are?" It's his first time to meet Priyanka's mom and he was getting cold feet already.
"Oh, meet my mom." Priyanka went and stood by her side.
Justin's brows creased, "You didn't tell me you have a clone." He teased. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Abhishek—"
"Urumi." She flushed, shaking hands with him. "Just call me, Urumi. By the way, I like your perfume. Smell nice." She winked.
"Thanks."
"What's your taste of brand?"
"Okay, that's enough now." Priyanka separated their hands. "Because am getting married!" She squealed, showing her engagement ring.
"Oh my God, look at that." Urumi gasp. Justin felt so embarrassed seeing the mother and daughter do their thing. "It's so beautiful." She sighed in satisfaction, looking at her daughter's hand in hers.
It's the first time she's introducing a man to the family and same day, she came home with two surprises.
"What's going on here? What's with the amusement?" Rao chimed in. Always with the magazine. "I heard some screaming."
Urumi showed Rao Priyanka's ring finger, "Look, Rao. Our daughter is getting married."
"Oh wow." He knew he was standing before the guy but he don't want to let his guard down. He has to do the needful of a dad for his daughter. So, he faked a serious face. "You never told me you have a boyfriend, honey."
Priyanka bounced back to Justin's side, hugging his arm. "It's a very long story how we met. Meet my—"
"Justin Chadwick." Justin introduced himself, extending his hand to Rao for an handshake.
Rao being Rao Abhishek, smug, ignoring the gesture with a 'proud daddy' look. He likes Justin but he doesn't want to show it yet. Justin awkwardly retrieve his hand back, causing Priyanka to frown at her dad.
"I already knew who you are and who's son you are. But I'll tell you one thing." He cleared his throat and smiled. "Break my daughter's heart and I'll break you into tiny little particles that your parents won't be able to recognize you, got it?"
Justin gulped down in fear. His feet and palm turned cold and made him nervous even more.
Priyanka felt embarrassed, "Dad?"
"I assure you, sir. I'm a different fellow and I won't dream of hurting your daughter, you can trust me." Justin swear to him.
"Nah, we'll see about that." Rao dismissed his assurance. "Come in and join us for lunch. I'll like to know more about you." He grinned.
Urumi whispered beside him, "Rao, I told you before earlier, you need a therapist. Didn't you say you already knew a lot about him? Now you're talking off key."
"Well, I….."
"Yup!" Priyanka beamed, cutting Justin off and dragging him with her inside. "We're coming." She whispered something into his ears, "Would you like to see my bedroom?"
...
Pulihora, pav bhaji, masala dosa, Rogan josh, kulfi, chicken 65 and gulab, jamun were served for lunch. Priyanka and Justin were busy chatting and laughing on their way to the dinning room. Priyanka just finished showing Justin her room. She wants him to know all about her personal life since they'll be getting married too.
Meanwhile, Rao and Urumi had been gossiping about the two while they were away for a while.
"You really had good taste in colors, my love." He pulled a chair out for her to sit.
"Aww, so sweet." Urumi placed a hand on her chest when Justin peck Priyanka's cheek. "Rao, I can smell love in the air already."
"Love has always been in the air waiting for a good catcher to pluck him off." Rao can be really sarcastic sometimes. Urumi shook her head for her husband. He is crazy.
Justin settled down next to Priyanka. His eyes staring at the varieties of dishes with disgust. "What the fuck is this?"
Knowing that he is westerner and not used to their continental food, Priyanka saved his ass after seeing the weird look on her parents face. "Baby, these are meals of my dialect."
Justin still not liking the description, "Is it?"
"Yes, honey." Priyanka started describing each of the foods by their names. "Pulihora, pav bhaji, masala dosa, Rogan josh, kulfi, chicken 65 and gulab, jamun, you'll love them when you try it."
"Infact, there are many more." Urumi digged in. "Hmm, this pav bhaji tastes so good. You should try it now because when you get married to my daughter, she'll be making a lot of them for you."
A lot? Justin tried not to laugh. He's not sure he'll be able to eat anything Priyanka has to make, if it's about these meals. He'll better have his cook do it for him than eat these everyday. For the love of God, he might turn thin and fragile and might even die of eating something he's not used to.
"My daughter is not actually a good cook." Rao sliced his chicken 65. "She's improving but I'll still tell you to help yourself." He shove it in his mouth.
Okay. Maybe Justin should also start with the chicken 65 too. He took a tiny little bite, mashing it in his mouth awkwardly.
"How is it?" Priyanka whispered, waiting for a positive response.
His face looks like he's gonna cry. What can he do? He shrugged, nodding his head. "Nice." He faked a smile so she'll be happy. He doesn't want her and her family to feel bad. They took their time in making something for him and he has to appreciate them.
"You see, I told you, you're gonna love it." Priyanka proudly said. Her mouth full of masala dosa.
"So, tell me, Justin. How is life with you? How do you see better days ahead living with my daughter?" Rao asked him.
Justin quickly wash down his oesophagus with a glass of almond milk. Then his eyes went to Priyanka who was flushing. "I don't see myself having problems with Priyanka, Sir. She's a good woman with good wifey qualities."
"How sweet," Urumi sighed sweetly. "You two reminds me of the good old days. Don't wanna go into that right now."
"How long have you two been dating?"
"Uh…."
"Twelve months!" Priyanka lied. Justin almost choke on his chicken 65. "Honey, honey, are you okay?" She offered him a glass of water.
Rao and Urumi sat in silence, watching them for a while. "Twelve months?" They asked in unison.
"That's a year and—" Urumi looked at her daughter. Puzzle. "Sweetie, why didn't you introduce him to us all these while?"
Priyanka grinned sheepishly, rubbing Justin's back. "Well um….as a matter of fact, we umm..."
"We don't usually like disclosing our relationship matters with people or relatives. We just like to go with the flow of surprises." Justin rescued her and she sighed inwardly, thanking him.
Rao and Urumi slowly nodded, agreeing with him.
"Nice. Men like you are rare." Rao credited him, diving back to his meal. "But I must say you're a very hard working man and you won't have time for my daughter."
Before Justin could say anything, Priyanka defended him, holding hands with him on the table. "Justin is a very busy man, I know that. He's right here, I won't lie. He gives me so much attention. It's noon and he's supposed to be in the office right now but he left in the middle of something to come see me. Doesn't that clarify enough for you, Dad?"
Rao cupped his chin, zipping up his mouth as he show a smile. "It'll hurt me to see you'll be leaving to be with him soon."
"Come on, Dad. I'll always come to visit—"
"We will always come to visit." Justin corrected, rubbing her knuckles.
"Justin," Urumi rubbed the back of her hands, blushing. "Do you mind telling us your Alma mater, your hometown and what you do for a living?"
"Yeah," Justin sat upright as he exhales. "I finished Harvard five years ago. I studied mineral and petroleum engineering. I did my masters in London. I was born and raised in Kentucky. My family and I used to live there before Dad moved to white house in Washington. Am the CEO of Chadwick oils."
"Wow," Urumi gasp and turn her head towards Rao who was also short of words. "I told you this guy is swimming in money amd—" She stopped when Rao and Priyanka cleared their throats. Feeling a bit stupid, she faced her plate and started eating quietly. Even though Rao kept on asking Justin random questions.
...…..
Lunch ended bountifully and it was time for Justin to go. Priyanka won't let him leave her sight as she cling herself in his embrace. Meanwhile, Rao and Urumi stood by the entrance smiling at the two lovey dovey.
"I'll miss you." She's getting addicted to him by each passing of the day.
"Me too, witch." He lowered his head to her height and kissed her lips. "Make sure to shower and rest, okay? Maybe when next I come, we can do the assignment together."
Not even caring about the assignment, Priyanka hissed. "That can wait, after all, it's till the end of the semester."
"Make me proud by getting a good grade." He strokes his fingers through her long hair. "I know you're smart."
She pulled away and looked up at him, "Wait, is that why you want to put a little space between us? So I can study hard?" When he nodded, she pouted her lips, "Honey, it's not fair."
He laughed, rubbing her chin. He likes her silly face. It makes her cute even more. "Just three weeks remaining and you'll officially wave goodbye to college."
"I know but….." She wrap her arms around him. "I just miss having you around me and this distance thing is not working for me at all. I can't wait for us to get married so we can be together."
He kissed the top of her head, "Me too. I can't wait to wake up every morning and see you next to me."