The Dinner I.

She tried to stand and grimaced in pain. Was this some sort of bad luck? Whenever she was anticipating for something, life tends to give her the opposite. How did he want her to act in front of his family as his girlfriend? Was he not having any plans to date her?

'You are such a fool' Priyanka gritted her teeth as she cursed within. Why will he want to have anything to do with a girl like her?

"Say something, Priyanka" He came close to where she was standing "You are scaring me."

No response. She just stood there wishing he never came this morning. It would have been better to live in fallacies, thinking about the love she has for him.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know this will offend you" Karan apologized, reaching for the doorknob "Forget about it. I'm leaving."

"Wait," Priyanka stopped him. She did not want him to leave like that. He had helped them before. It would not be nice of her, to let him go "when are am I meeting with your family?"

A smile appeared on his face. He was surprised that she change her mind, so quickly "Tomorrow evening. Should we talk about the payment?"

She wanted to say no but her lips betrayed her "yes." Maybe she did not want him to leave yet.

"I will have a sit then," Karan walked to the chair and settled down. He was so excited that his body began to ring it out to her.

Priyanka pressed her lips together. If someone told her that she was going to make this bitter man smile so much like this, she wouldn't have believed.

"How much are you offering?"

"You say it, dear."

She lifted her right hand to her chin and smiled. He was anxious "Ten thousand Dollars."

"What?" His eyes widened as he shouted. It was as if someone tapped him forcefully from behind "even Priyanka Chopra did not get up to that amount on her first shoot."

"Are you comparing me to others?" She frowned, looking away.

"I'm not but you should be happy that I compared you with her" Karan said.

"Well, I was only joking. You don't have to pay me" Priyanka told him. This was just the perfect way to pay him back for all the good things, he did for her brother "How is it going to be?"

"I will pick you up at five in the evening. Will you be ready?" He asked.

"Yes sir" She answered, rubbing the back of her neck with her hand.

"I will be on my way" He flashed a boyish smile.

"Goodbye."

After Karan left. She picked one of her dresses and ironed it. Even though it was just an act, Priyanka was nervous to meet his family.

She hated the fact that she was going to lie to her elders.

"Why did I not refuse him" She bit her lower lips and relaxed to the chair. He was going to fool his entire family and she was a party to it.

Going back to the kitchen, Priyanka shrugged off the idea. It was not her business but his.

Whatever was going on in the family that made him want to lie to them, was not her business too.

**

The next evening...

Priyanka rubbed her lips together and smiled, briefly. She was tired of Zara's makeup. The makeup session started two hours ago even though she said it was going to be simple.

"Please Priyanka, don't start" she rolled her eyes up and continued to apply contour on her nose "I want you to look super tonight. I should be the one to be angry here."

"Why?"

"Why?" Zara looked up as if she was trying to recall something "Because you agreed to deceive his entire family. This is so wrong of you, my love."

Priyanka sighed. She thought that her friend had already given up on this but she did not. Zara was still angry that they were going to lie to Karan's parents.

"I understand but he asked me to."

"I know you for more than seventeen years, you have never told a lie but today, you are going to lie to elderly people" She dropped the brush in the basket and sat on the bed "Karan is Mr. Wrong. Don't let him influence you, girl."

She stared at the mirror. Has he influenced her? Priyanka knew she was just trying to help him. This was the first time, he had asked her to do something for him.

"He did not influence, dear Zara," She said, looking at her in the mirror. Zara was very angry. She did not want her to go through this "Karan asked me to help and I said yes. I don't think it is a big deal again because I don't want to meet with his family as his real girlfriend."

Zara looked up. She was surprised that her friend did not want the doctor again. But if she didn't want to date him again, why was she doing this? "You don't love him again?"

"Yes, Zara" Priyanka gave a sad smile "we are from two different worlds that should never meet. I saw it in his eyes, he doesn't want me. Maybe he loves someone else."

"Oh, mine...do not say that you aren't sure of, my love" Zara walked to where she was. Her eyes were teary "if you dare ruin this make-up with your tears, I'm going to beat you up."

Priyanka laughed at her joke. She was going to cry any time soon. Opening her eyes wide, she allowed the air to dry her tears "I'm sure of his feelings. Forget about dating or Marriage for now. I'm going to help a brother."

Zara was happy to hear her friend say that "you are right but be careful. These games are dangerous. I don't want you to be caught up in it."

"Thank you, sweetheart. I will keep your advice closed to my heart."

"Please, keep it close to your brain. Your heart is weak when it comes to love."

They laughed. Priyanka sprayed one of the perfumes on the drawer. Kamala's voice rang from the other room informing them of Karan's arrival.

Priyanka got up quickly, while Zara handed a bag over her. She dashed out of the house with her heels in her hands.