~10~

Ava's pov:

I most definitely didn't imagine my week like this, when I suggested we should plan something for this weekend in the cafe. My mom is driving me home, fuming from the conversation at the hospital.

"How long has this been going on? How long have you been lying and sneaking around with him?!", she asked as soon as we got home, shocking the hell out of me.

"What do you even know about us to talk like that!", I screamed. "Shut up! Don't even try to defend what you did! Is this what you were doing whenever you said you are going to Priti's?"

"Ma, please if you found out this any other way, you wouldn't react like this", I tried to explain.

"Mmhmm, how would I react any other way when I find that my daughter is sleeping around!", she shouted.

"Mom! How could you say that?!", I exclaimed disgusted to even hear those words from her. Is she the women I know? I know she was against relationships and obsessed about the status. But, to jump to conclusions this way? She didn't even let me explain!

"You tell me how I should take this. Can you possibly imagine what I felt when you said the time like 6 to 10 for god's sake!", her eyes moistened as she sat on the couch.

"It is already hard for me to balance this family when you never talk to your father properly, just because he works far away and visits us once in months. Now, tell me how possibly should I take this? Why can't you be normal like every other girl in society? Do you have to cause problems with everything?", she said cutting me with every word.

I stood there as a lump started to form when she started talking about dad. She knows how emotional that topic is in the house. I am not normal, right? I am not perfect as she wants me to be. All she cares about is her reputation.

"If you wanted a perfect daughter, you should have given birth to a robot, not a human", I said which landed me another slap.

"It's not your mistake, it is mine, I have given you the freedom more than necessary. You will never see that boy again and you are not leaving this house until school starts", she said leaving me in the hall.

I have been in my room for hours now. I am so irritated with everyone and everything! Something about this situation is amiss. I know she is not happy about the relationship but, she reacted like she was deprived of something! She didn't even let me explain. She just imagined whatever she wanted. I just wanted to know what's happening with Darsh right now. I don't know why but, I have this bad feeling.

I have ignored the calls from Abhi, Priti and Virin. And looked for the name I want, to pop up on the screen.

It took another hour of waiting, it was almost midnight when a text came, 'can you meet me?'. I got up and ran out to the terrace to meet him at our usual spot.

There he stood facing the other side. I tried to look as presentable as I can with the swelling cheek and puffy eyes. When he turned around his expression changed from shock to anger when he saw my cheek.

I just hugged him and tried to take a whiff of his scent which calms me every time. But, it did the opposite today. I crumbled as everything that has happened crashed on me.

He hugged me back putting on an ice pack on my cheek. I looked at him confused. "Priti told me everything that happened at the hospital.", he said as his jaw clenched.

"I knew my mom was against relationships but, the way she reacted was totally shocking. I never knew she would be that harsh. She never said anything when I avoided my dad. I thought she understood but, she said she tolerated it. She asked, why can't I be normal?", I said everything that's been killing me for hours now.

He just listened patiently. "You know how shocked I was when our moms were full-on criticizing each other. Anyone must have thought they were sworn, enemies", he took my cheeks in his hands which made me flinch a little from the pain. "Sorry", he said releasing my face and settled with the hands.

"I am sorry I gave us away when I partly knew how they would react", he said looking down at our clasped hands.

"I love you", I blurted out as his eyes shifted back into mine immediately. He smiled kissing me on the forehead "I love you too".

"Baby, this is not some 1960s that we give up just because parents didn't accept it", I said and he chuckled. "I know they are still stuck in the late-era and never be open-minded but, tell me you will never leave me.", I asked him hugging him by the waist, laying my chin on his chest smiling a little to not show how miserable I am inside.

He pecked me on the lips and hugged me. What does this mean?

                       ~~~***~~~