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My shoulders tense at the taunt delivered in a sickly sweet tone but she’s not fooling anybody. She purposefully ignores my presence, like that could offend me. So I don’t greet her either. She would need to have my respect first before anything she does bothers me. Bianca squeezes my hand, sensing my darkening mood without even looking.
“I told you we weren’t in the city,” replies Bianca.
Her mom purses her lips. “Where were you?”
“Are you going to let us in first?”
As soon as we enter, I hear footsteps before a girl with a bright and excited smile rounds the corner and immediately, I recognize her as Bianca’s little sister, Arya. Her boyfriend, Aryan, trails closely behind with undying devotion lightening his eyes that he has locked on his bubbly girlfriend.
“Bee!” she screams in a singsong voice while running toward Bianca with open arms, as though they are meeting after ages.
Instantly, my wife’s entire face lights up like the Fourth of July as she braces for the impact of her hug. I have to steady her hips so they don’t tumble to the floor. My eyes lock with Aryan over their shoulders and he has the same amusement dancing in his gaze at our girls.
“I missed you so much, Ari.”
“I can’t believe you went to Paris without me.” Arya pouts.
“In her defense, she didn’t know either,” I answer for Bianca, whose cheeks tinge with wicked memories I’m remembering as well. I focus my attention on Arya and introduce myself politely, “I’m Dash. Bianca’s told me lots of things about you.”
“I’m Arya. So nice to finally meet you,jiju,” she says, wiggling her eyes mischievously at Bianca, who blushes even harder than I thought possible at the last word. She’s going to turn into a tomato at this rate. “Although, I’m upset she kept you hidden from me.”
“Again, not her fault,” I tease and circle Bianca’s waist from behind. “In her words, I’m clingy so I steal all her time.”
Arya’s features soften in awe as I play the doting husband. I have to stifle a laugh when Bianca stomps on my foot in a warning. But I’m having too much fun to resist riling her up. Sadly, she has no choice but to play along.
“You two are the cutest.”
“We’re not,” protests Bianca. I mouth over her head “we are” which makes Arya laugh. Bianca glances at me suspiciously. “Did you deny it?”
“I wouldn’t dare, wifey.” I tap her scrunched nose.
The energy in the room shifts in a hot flash as soon as her mother reappears again and speaks, “Come on, girls, your father is waiting. Both of you can gossip later.”
Arya and her boyfriend are none the wiser of the tension between Mrs. Chopra and me. This is going to be one long, agonizing dinner if her husband doesn’t have a better mood. I tell myself I’m doing this for Bianca and strangely for the other couple, who couldn’t look more in love as their eyes keep meeting every few seconds.
The girls walk hand in hand ahead of us while Aryan matches his steps with mine. He’s nothing like I predicted with his nerdy glasses, an untucked button-down shirt, and denim jeans. I’m shocked he’s even allowed in the vicinity of Arya by her strict father. The man wouldn’t let just anybody near his daughter.
Aryan’s handshake is firm as he introduces himself. His tone jovial as he smiles, “Welcome to the family.”
If only the matriarch of the family felt the same.
Or the truth about Bianca’s sacrifice for his future.
Veer Chopra is still as intimidating as ever with the rigid set of his jaw and a few more frown lines than the last time I saw him. He pockets his phone he was reading from before smiling affectionately at his two daughters. A far better greeting than the one Bianca received by her passive-aggressive mother.
I hide my shock and steel my spine when he approaches me next and offers his hand that I take in a firm handshake. I’ll bet all my net worth he did his due diligence on me, deciding I’m worthy of his elder daughter.
“Dash.” His voice is smooth.
“Mr. Chopra. Thanks for inviting us,” I reply, putting aside my pride to make a genuine effort. After all, everything rides on him and I would never jeopardize anything for Bianca, if I can help it. “I would like to start fresh.”
“Let’s have a chat before dinner,” he declares. “I want to know all about the man my daughter has fallen in love with.”
My gut says he knows plenty and it impressed him enough to change his tune. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to step inside his home. I’m just waiting to hear what his view is regarding the nasty rumors surrounding me.
He turns to Aryan next, which gives me an excuse to walk to Bianca’s side, who has her inquisitive gaze pinned on us instead of listening to what Arya is saying to her.
“What did he say?” she questions the moment I’m in front of her.
