At the breakfast table, Asha deliberately made Megha sit next to Om so that Kiran could sit next to Shruti.
Kiran was angry seeing Om sitting in his place. And he did not want to create a scene in front of Shruti's parents, so he was silent.
Om was taking full advantage of his silence. He was putting food on Megha's plate, giving her a glass of juice and whispering something softly in Megha's ears. Om did not leave any chance to make Kiran jealous and angry.
"Asha, I told you, your little son is taking such good care of Megha. As if they both are a couple." Mrs. Sathe suddenly started the conversation.
"Cough... Cough..." Something got stuck in Megha's throat.
Kiran and Om put the glasses of water in front of Megha at the same time. Megha looked at both of them helplessly one after the other. Then she looked at Shruti took the glass of water from Om's hand and took two sips. Om started caressing her back.
Kiran slammed his glass back on the table with force. Everyone looked at him in shock.
"Be careful.... eat slowly. And Aunty, there is no relationship like a couple between my brother and Megha. You have some misunderstanding." Kiran said quickly.
"Kiran...."
"It doesn't matter. If these two are not a couple, then they can become one in the future. Om, you like Megha, right?" Mrs. Sathe asked Om smilingly.
Megha looked at Mrs. Sathe in surprise. She did not understand why she was so insistent on getting her and Om married. On hearing Mrs. Sathe's question, Megha looked at Om. From his face, it seemed that he had found a new weapon to harass Kiran.
"Aunty, I like Megha very much. What you said was true. Mom and Dad, if I want to marry Megha, will you oppose it?" Om asked, smiling.
Megha looked at Om hesitantly. Om just winked slightly, which no one else saw. Which meant that he would not back off now.
On the other hand, Kiran was getting even more angry. Asha and Kiran's father also looked confused.
"Mom and Dad, I am not joking," Om said loudly when he saw his parents not saying anything.
"If Megha has no objection then I have no objection." Asha smiled and agreed.
"If you will give Megha every happiness, and never make her cry, then I also agree." Uncle said in a serious voice.
All eyes turned towards Megha. Megha did not understand what to do. Either she should support Om in his drama. Or she should tell the truth? That there is nothing like this between them.
"Ma-Papa, are you also trying to play into Om's childishness? Megha is just a good friend of Om and me. And friendship can never turn into love." Kiran said in a firm voice.
"You were also Shruti's good friend earlier. Your friendship turned into love, right? Then why can't our friendship turn into love? And anyway, you and Shruti have been friends for only one year. Megha and I have been friends since childhood. You can call us childhood sweethearts. What say, Baby? Did I say something wrong?" Om once again pushed Megha forward.
Om knew that if Megha agreed, they would agree too. Om's parents used to agree with everything she said. Kiran also agreed with Megha's words. And never doubted her.
"I... what should I say now? Both are right in their places. Some friends fall in love with each other with time. Or some friends just remain friends. It all depends on what you choose. Friendship or love?" Megha said with a light smile looking at Kiran. As if her words were only for Kiran.
Kiran also kept staring at Megha with amazed eyes. Megha looked at Om stealing glances. Whenever she tried to look at Kiran, Shruti's unhappy face came in front of her. As if she knew what was in Megha's mind. That's why Megha turned her face away in panic.
"Did you hear, brother? According to what Megha said, I can marry Megha. Because we have been friends since childhood." Om said, giving Kiran a proud smile.
"Love and marriage are two different things. You cannot marry Megha just because you like her." Kiran did not leave his point.
"Stop it you two!!" Kiran's father said, hitting the table with his hand.
His voice silenced everyone. Everyone was afraid of Kiran's father's anger. Even Kiran was afraid of his father.
"Om, if you want to marry Megha, then we will officially go to Megha's house and propose to her for marriage. And Kiran, if your brother wants to marry someone, learn to support him. Don't fight over the dinner table like small children. I have made this table for eating and not for fighting. Now have breakfast quietly!!" Kiran's father said seriously.
Everyone started eating breakfast in a hurry.
"Daughter Megha, don't take these two seriously. These two idiots keep fighting over every little thing. Ignore them and eat breakfast." Kiran's father's voice, which was sharp for others till now, became soft.
"Okay, Uncle," Megha said quickly.
Seeing their changed appearance, Mr. and Mrs. Sathe were shocked.
"It seems you like Megha more than your sons." Mr. Sathe asked smilingly. Kiran's father looked at Megha and nodded.
"We wanted a daughter. But God has given us two sons. But Megha, like a daughter, has filled the void of a daughter in our lives. That is why I and especially Kiran's father love Megha the most. And they cannot tolerate anyone speaking ill of her or making her cry. Nor do they tolerate it. Even if it is their son." Asha said smilingly.
"A daughter is always a daughter. Even if she is someone else's. And daughters should always be pampered and loved. This is my point of view. Megha is a member of our family." Kiran's father said in a serious voice.
"Pa...." Megha tried to say. But her throat and eyes filled with tears on hearing his words.
"You tell us not to make Megha cry and here we are making her cry," Kiran said as he got up suddenly and came near Megha.
He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to Megha. Megha took Kiran's handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.
"Sorry, daughter." Kiran's father said in a hurry.
"No, father...you did not say anything wrong. It is me who cries every little thing." Megha tried to smile.
Megha felt very good to see how pure Kiran's father's thoughts are towards girls. He may look harsh and emotionless, but he has a very good heart.
"You are not a crybaby. You are just a little sensitive. Now forget everything and finish your breakfast. Otherwise, I will start crying." Asha took charge.
"NO!!" Kiran, Om and Kiran's father shouted at the same time.
Asha looked at them with surprised eyes. Then she started laughing. Everyone laughs at her company. Then they all eat with light jokes made by Om.
After breakfast, Kiran went to send Shruti and her parents to their car. Om grabbed Megha's hand and dragged her to his room. Megha wanted to say something, but Om motioned her to keep following him. As they enter Om's room. Megha is amazed to see how messy Om's room is. His room is filled with clothes and shoes lying here and there the same way his clothes are.
Some papers were lying on the bed with his laptop. It Looks like he is working on his bed and forgot to pick up his laptop and papers. Om is also a designer. But he designed the plans and aircraft plans. So whenever he felt like drawing he pulled papers to draw anywhere. That is why his room is so messy. He is too lazy to clean his room.
"Om, tell me the last time you cleaned your room?" Megha asked as she looked everywhere.
"Let me think... Mmm... When was the last time you visited my room?" Om asked.
"Oh, god! You didn't clean your room for the past two months? But why did you do this?" Megha asked in a surprised tone.
"You know because I'm a lazy guy!" Om rubs his neck as he smiles helplessly.
"Then tell the maids to clean for you," Megha said.
"NO! You know I won't trust anyone then you and Mom. My room has many important papers and designs lying there. I don't want maids to lose any of my stuff. This is why I won't allow them to enter my room." Om said helplessly.
"But still..." As Megha steps forward.
"Watch out!!" Om hurriedly came forward to stop Meha,
But her feet had already fallen on the skateboard and she began to fall. Om tried to hold her but he also lost balance and they both fell on the bed together. What's worse is that the door opened at the same time.
"What the f*cking are you doing!! Om!!!" Kiran shouted out of the lungs as he banged the door loudly.
Om and Megha stare at each other with widened and scared eyes.
"s**t!" Om cursed in a low tone. Before he got up from the top of Megha, he was pulled away from Megha harshly.
*****