Suvarna's POV.

　　I knew it! I just knew it. No matter what people said, I was sure that things could not end so easily. I ducked behind the cupboard, hoping I had not been seen. I was not going to ruin things by alerting him. It would ruin everything if he realised I was just behind, within reachable distance.

　　I looked around desperately for something to fling on him and ensure others also see him, and believe me.

　　I saw an empty jute sack not far from where I was standing. Perfect! He won't even be able move once this lands on him I thought with a triumphant smile.

　　I bent down slightly on my knees and reached out -

　　"SUVI!"

　　Startled, I jumped and fell in a clumsy heap giving away myself. Oh no!

　　Worried, I looked in his direction and our eyes met before he ran away and hid himself from others.

　　Furious, I turned towards the owner of the voice. "Paresh! You good for nothing oaf! Why are you trying to puncture your lungs?" I asked him angrily as I battex away the hand he had extended to help me up. I leapt up and stood in front of him, my hands on my hips.

　　"What were you doing, slumped behind this cupboard?" He asked me ignoring my question. I turn away from him feeling beyond pissed at him. Silly guy! Ruined my chance. I had been so close. But where did he go? I am sure he is still hiding somewhere close.

　　I looked around, squinting my eyes in my attempt to spot the runaway chap.

　　"Suvi-"

　　"Shhh! He will hear you. I can see him now." I say as I grab the sack and move forward slowly.

　　"Who will hear me?" Pushkar asked not bothering to lower his voice.

　　I turned and flung the sack on him angrily. "He got away again!"

　　"Suvi, you have an invisible male friend in your kitchen? Naughty girl!" He tweaked my cheek and quickly ducked out of reach as I try to hit him.

　　"The RAT you silly guy!"

　　"You have been jumping around like a bandit queen for a rat! And how do you know it is a 'he'?"

　　"It has been living here alone since past few weeks, only a male will be doing that!" I say sarcastically.

　　"It is here alone since few weeks? Then I guess you are right, it has to be male mouse."

　　I narrowed my eyes at him. Why is he agreeing?

　　"I mean a female would have got pregnant and delivered by now!" He laughed as he runs, trying to get away from me.

　　"Why are you here?" I scowled at him as he runs to the other side of the kitchen counter in his attempt to get away from me.

　　"Shishir bhaiya called today morning-"

　　"Who is Shishir? I don't know any Shishir." I said turning away from him, so that he does see my cheeks getting a pink hue. And heart will you please stop jumping around in my chest??

　　"He is my brother, he lives in Denmark."

　　"Denmark!! When did he leave London?"

　　"Yay! Your memory is restored." Paresh said gleefully.

　　Oops! I can almost feel this big oaf smirking.

　　"London! I have absolutely no idea who lives there. I just thought it could be London. You know Denmark is so far away from Delhi." I blabber.

　　Way to go Suvi! You don't need anyone else, you are self-equipped to embarrass yourself I say to myself as I hear Paresh's utterly delighted laughter from behind me.

　　"What exactly were you planning to do with the sack? Make a tent for your friend, the rat?"

　　"Haha very funny." I poked my tongue at him. "I am going to catch hold of the rat and take it outside to my family. They don't believe me when I say food is going missing because of him and not because of me and my cousins gorging on it."

　　"Aww.. You are going to formally introduce the rat to your family? How sweet is that? I will shoot this occasion. This video will go viral on the internet-"His silly rant got interrupted as I poured water over his head.

　　Laughing at his stunned expression. I ran out of the kitchen with him chasing on my heels with a jug of water. As I reached halfway to the hall I stilled at the voice that reached my ears.

　　I pricked my ears in my attempt to hear better, and prove myself wrong.

　　My eyes widened as I felt myself freeze.

　　Shishir!

　　How can he be here? He was in London this morning when he spoke to Paresh and it is not even noon yet!

　　"Got you!" I heard Paresh's voice as water poured over my head. The silly ass!

　　I turned towards him, still in complete state of shock. "Shishir? Why? I mean how? I mean he was in London today morning when you spoke to him on phone? It cannot be him. I know it is not him-"

　　"He called from New Delhi airport. That is what I was trying to tell you! He gave us all a pleasant surprise with this visit."

　　I looked at him stunned. He is telling this to me now? "It would give me a great pleasure to kill you right now." I told him with a scathing look. I want to scrape that devilish grin out of his face right now with a knife!

　　"Suvarna! Look who is here!." I heard my Aunty say as she caught sight of me from where she was sitting.

　　Drat! I was just about to sneak away.

　　"Suvarna, guess who it is?" I hear my uncle say, though he could not see me as I was still away from the hall.

　　I held back the groan that threatened to come out of me.

　　No way! Not when I am looking like that rat in the kitchen with water dripping from me!

　　I need to get away! I cannot go in front of him without fixing myself up!

　　I gasprd as I felt myself suddenly being pulled forward. "Paresh! Leave my hand. Wait!"

　　Too late! I looked desperately around and lo- Our eyes meet! I cannot help but stare.

　　My heart! Oh my heart! Don't give up on me yet. It does not help when he lets his eyes roam over me and takes in my current state.

　　"Suvarna what have you been upto?" I heard my Aunty's disproving voice.

　　Of course! Point it out to be sure he does not miss. I broke eye contact with Shishir with effort and glare at Paresh who is by now sitting next to Shishir, grinning like a cheeky monkey.

　　Why is no one noticing how this silly coot is looking?