05-08-2026, 02:02 PM
Next opportunity did not come by itself.
He started this. A week later, it was time for the next move.
The "invitation."
He called Neetu.
"Hey, I was just thinking... I owe your mom big time for helping me with the rose. I want to thank her properly. I'm a pretty good cook, you know. How about I invite myself over for dinner on Friday? I'll make pasta. My famous recipe."
Neetu hesitated. "Rohan, I don't know..."
"Come on, Neetu," he coaxed, his voice turning persuasive, a hint of the night in the hallway creeping into his tone.
"It's just a friendly dinner. To say thank you. Don't you want me to be friends with your mom? It would make things... so much easier. For everyone."
The veiled threat was clear.
Neetu sighed, defeated. "Okay. I'll ask her. But you have to be on your best behavior."
"Always," he promised, a triumphant smile on his face.
Friday evening arrived with the comforting aroma of garlic, butter, and fresh basil drifting through Mamta's apartment.
The dining table had been cleared to make room for ingredients that Rohan had insisted on bringing himself. Fresh vegetables, herbs, different cheeses, olive oil, and neatly labeled containers covered almost every inch of the countertop.
Mamta watched him with amused curiosity.
"I thought you said you were making pasta."
Rohan looked up from the chopping board.
"I am."
She glanced across the impressive collection of ingredients.
"This looks like you're opening an Italian restaurant."
He grinned.
"I have a reputation to protect."
Mamta folded her arms.
"And who exactly gave you this reputation?"
"I did."
She laughed.
"I appreciate your confidence."
"It's one of my better qualities."
"We'll see."
Just then Neetu entered the kitchen, picked up a slice of cucumber from the cutting board and popped it into her mouth.
"So... should I be helping?"
Rohan looked at the overflowing counter.
"You could."
Neetu smiled hopefully.
"Really?"
"No."
She frowned.
"You'd only slow me down."
Mamta covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Neetu rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Fine. I'll sit in the living room."
As she walked away, she looked back once.
"If anything catches fire, call me."
"The only thing burning," Rohan replied without looking up, "is my determination to impress your mother."
Neetu groaned.
"Oh God..."
Mamta shook her head, smiling despite herself.
"She's never going to let me forget that."
As Neetu disappeared into the living room with her laptop, the apartment suddenly became much quieter.
Only the gentle music playing from Rohan's phone and the rhythmic sound of his knife against the chopping board filled the room.
Mamta stood beside him, watching his hands move with surprising confidence.
"I have to admit..."
He looked sideways.
"...I'm impressed."
"Already?"
"I expected chaos."
"You expected me to order food and pretend I cooked it?"
She smiled.
"I did consider that possibility."
"I'm hurt."
"Not very."
He laughed.
He is happy, as his plan is working fine and Mamta is talking to him very comfortably
He started this. A week later, it was time for the next move.
The "invitation."
He called Neetu.
"Hey, I was just thinking... I owe your mom big time for helping me with the rose. I want to thank her properly. I'm a pretty good cook, you know. How about I invite myself over for dinner on Friday? I'll make pasta. My famous recipe."
Neetu hesitated. "Rohan, I don't know..."
"Come on, Neetu," he coaxed, his voice turning persuasive, a hint of the night in the hallway creeping into his tone.
"It's just a friendly dinner. To say thank you. Don't you want me to be friends with your mom? It would make things... so much easier. For everyone."
The veiled threat was clear.
Neetu sighed, defeated. "Okay. I'll ask her. But you have to be on your best behavior."
"Always," he promised, a triumphant smile on his face.
Friday evening arrived with the comforting aroma of garlic, butter, and fresh basil drifting through Mamta's apartment.
The dining table had been cleared to make room for ingredients that Rohan had insisted on bringing himself. Fresh vegetables, herbs, different cheeses, olive oil, and neatly labeled containers covered almost every inch of the countertop.
Mamta watched him with amused curiosity.
"I thought you said you were making pasta."
Rohan looked up from the chopping board.
"I am."
She glanced across the impressive collection of ingredients.
"This looks like you're opening an Italian restaurant."
He grinned.
"I have a reputation to protect."
Mamta folded her arms.
"And who exactly gave you this reputation?"
"I did."
She laughed.
"I appreciate your confidence."
"It's one of my better qualities."
"We'll see."
Just then Neetu entered the kitchen, picked up a slice of cucumber from the cutting board and popped it into her mouth.
"So... should I be helping?"
Rohan looked at the overflowing counter.
"You could."
Neetu smiled hopefully.
"Really?"
"No."
She frowned.
"You'd only slow me down."
Mamta covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Neetu rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Fine. I'll sit in the living room."
As she walked away, she looked back once.
"If anything catches fire, call me."
"The only thing burning," Rohan replied without looking up, "is my determination to impress your mother."
Neetu groaned.
"Oh God..."
Mamta shook her head, smiling despite herself.
"She's never going to let me forget that."
As Neetu disappeared into the living room with her laptop, the apartment suddenly became much quieter.
Only the gentle music playing from Rohan's phone and the rhythmic sound of his knife against the chopping board filled the room.
Mamta stood beside him, watching his hands move with surprising confidence.
"I have to admit..."
He looked sideways.
"...I'm impressed."
"Already?"
"I expected chaos."
"You expected me to order food and pretend I cooked it?"
She smiled.
"I did consider that possibility."
"I'm hurt."
"Not very."
He laughed.
He is happy, as his plan is working fine and Mamta is talking to him very comfortably
All the pics I am posting are AI generated, if any resemblance is coincidental. If any one has any problem with a pic, just message me I will delete it.
Little sis Anjali


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