"Avitri, beta, just give him a chance. Just meet him once."

I paid my father no mind. It was the same old story—trying to introduce boys to me.

"He's the son of my friend. He won't say.. no... he can't say anything to you. If he's not to your liking, you don't have to date him—just meet him, yeah?" my father said desperately.

I sipped my coffee, ignoring my father's words and letting them fade into the background. I kept my eyes on the ground, uninterested in my surroundings. A hand came out of nowhere and pushed my chin up, making me look into my mother's eyes, filled with worry yet stern.

"Don't ignore your father like that," she said, sitting beside me. She took my hands in her lap, caressing them.

"Bubs, we just want you to meet him at least once. He's a good guy. We wouldn't introduce you to just anyone—we saw how that went." She tucked my hair behind my ear before continuing. "I know him personally, and this time truly is the last. Just give him a chance. Don't reject him outright after the first date."

I scrunched my nose at that.

"Genuinely give it a try. If you don't like him—like really don't like him—we won't say anything else about your relationships. That's a promise."

I looked at her, wide-eyed. I didn't see this coming.

Pulling out my phone, I opened the recording app. "Say that again, I have to record it."

My mom lightly slapped my head. "You don't trust me, huh?"

"I do, I just don't want you going back on your word." I remembered that my dad hadn't agreed to this. "Dad, you do agree with this, right?" I turned to look at my dad, who was laughing at my antics. I huffed at his reaction.

"Yeah, yeah, I agree. If it makes you try out a new relationship, then I wholeheartedly agree."

"Wait a moment, let me record this," I said as I pressed the record button.

"If Avitri gives this relationship a fair chance, then I won't meddle in Avitri's relationship status," Mom said into the microphone of my phone. I took the phone to Dad so I could also record his statement.

"Yes, I agree with everything that Avitri's mom said," Dad said, emphasizing the word "everything."

"You are going to meet him right?" my mom asked gently.

I thought about it—it seemed like a good deal. When was I ever going to get a chance like this? Finally, their constant nagging about my relationships would be over.

"You have to really give him a chance. He's a good kid," my mother's voice echoed in my ears, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Yeah, I can't be like this. I shouldn't hurt someone who hasn't done anything wrong. You're good, Avitri. You're good, I told myself, trying to hype myself up.

"Yeah, I'll meet him," I reassured my mother.

"Well then, that's settled," she said, pulling out her phone. "Let me set up a date for you both."

"At least tell me his name!" I called out as she started typing.

"You can get the introduction when you meet him," she replied nonchalantly.

I shook my head, giving up.

"We'll see what happens," I muttered, picking up my purse and heading to the door.
"Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! I'm off to work!" I said, waving goodbye.

Meanwhile, at Kartik's house, his mother was waving her phone in front of his face excitedly, while Kartik looked like he'd had enough.

Kartik sighed. "Mom, can I please have my breakfast in peace?"

"Oh, of course, sweetheart. But first—listen to this," his mother said, brimming with excitement. "Avitri said yes to the date with you!"

She and his father started dancing in joy, while Kartik sat there, completely lost.

"What's happening?" Kartik asked, blinking.

"You're going on a date with Avitri..." his mother continued.

Kartik stared blankly. "Tomorrow" she added with a smile.

His confused expression quickly turned into disbelief.

"Mumma, you're telling me I'm going on a blind date—tomorrow? Can I at least get some time to prepare, especially since I don't even get a choice in this?"

"Bubs, it's not exactly a blind date," his father said, trying to reassure him. "You're going on a date with Avitri."

"Who's Avitri?" Kartik asked, still puzzled.

"You remember the family who owned the school you went to? They were our friends too," his father explained.

Kartik nodded slowly, memories surfacing.

"Avitri is their daughter," his father continued.

Kartik recalled seeing her back in school. She wasn't in his class, but in the other section. He'd noticed her a few times, and he definitely didn't have a crush on her. Definitely.

Kartik sat quietly, lost in his thoughts.

"You are going on the date, right?" his mother asked gently.

"Do I have a choice?" Kartik replied, already knowing the answer.

"Nope~~" his parents sang in perfect sync.

"I'll go. Tomorrow night, right?" he asked, resigned.

"Well, that part we don't know. You can make the reservation wherever you want," his mother said casually.

Kartik stared at her in disbelief. "Then who said the date is tomorrow?"

"I did," his mother answered with a mischievous grin.

Kartik huffed, hurriedly finishing his breakfast.

"You'll go to the date, right?" his parents asked anxiously.

"Yes, yes—I'll go. I'll make the reservation for tomorrow night, okay?" Kartik replied, a bit exasperated.

Both his parents began caressing his head affectionately, making him smile.

"Avitri is a really good person, bubs. But she had a rough experience in her last relationship, so be gentle with her, okay?" his mother said, recalling her conversation with Avitri's mom.

Kartik smiled and nodded, but a flicker of anger sparked inside him at the thought of someone hurting her.

"I'm getting late. I should head out now," Kartik said, checking his watch.

"Bye, Mom and Dad, see you later" he said, hugging them goodbye.