Jasmine took a deep breath as they stood in front of Keshav's front door. Her palms were slightly sweaty, a mixture of nerves and anticipation coursing through her veins. She looked at Keshav, silently seeking reassurance.
Keshav took her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It'll be alright," he whispered with a comforting smile. "I'm here, and we're doing this together."
With her resolve strengthened, Jasmine nodded and pushed open the door. They quietly entered the house, hoping to find Keshav's parents in a similar state as her own.
As they entered, they found Keshav's parents sitting in the living room, watching a different movie on the TV. Mr. Kumar and Mrs. Kumar were engrossed in the movie, not noticing Jasmine's and Keshav's silent entrance.
Jasmine exchanged a look with Keshav, her eyes silently conveying the message to proceed. They carefully made their way closer to Keshav's parents, their movements as stealthy as possible.
Jasmine discreetly activated the reality barrier around Mr. and Mrs. Kumar, weaving it seamlessly into the existing reality. Just like with her own parents, the barrier was almost imperceptible, designed to blend flawlessly with the surroundings.
Once the barrier was in place, Jasmine exhaled a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She exchanged a silent glance with Keshav, reassured that they had succeeded once again without detection.
Keshav gave her a subtle nod, acknowledging their successful accomplishment. They stood there for a moment, silently observing Keshav's parents, who were still blissfully unaware of the protective shield enveloping them.
Just then, Mr. Kumar stirred in his seat, the movie seemingly having caught his attention at a pivotal moment. He turned his head toward them, noticing their presence for the first time.
Jasmine stiffened, bracing herself for any potential questions or reactions. Keshav gently squeezed her hand, his presence a comforting reassurance.
Mr. Kumar looked at them in surprise. "Keshav, you're back? You didn't tell us you were going out," he said, a hint of confusion in his voice.
Keshav, quick on his feet, replied, "Yeah, Dad, I just wanted to spend some time with Jasmine. We lost track of time, that's all."
Mrs. Kumar, who had been watching the interaction quietly, chimed in. "You know you're welcome to hang out here anytime, Jasmine. But it would be nice if you gave us a heads up," she said with a friendly smile.
Jasmine forced a smile, playing along with the façade. "You're right, Mrs. Kumar. I'll make sure to let you know next time."
Mr. Kumar nodded, his attention returning to the movie on the TV. "Well, you two are always welcome here. Just don't stay out too late next time," he said, an underlying sense of paternal concern in his voice.
Keshav nodded, grateful that they hadn't raised any suspicions. "We won't, Dad. We'll be more careful next time."
With the moment seemingly diffused, they decided to head up to Keshav's room. Jasmine relaxed a bit, the tension ebbed away now that they had successfully shielded both sets of parents without arousing any suspicion.
Once they entered Keshav's room, Jasmine let out a long sigh, feeling like a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "We did it," she whispered, a mixture of relief and exhaustion in her voice.
Keshav nodded, closing the door behind him. "Yeah, we did. I'm glad everything went smoothly," he said, sitting down on the edge of his bed.
"Lets rest for a bit before its dinner time. I am very tired"
Jasmine nodded, her fatigue starting to catch up with her. "Yeah, I could use a moment to rest," she agreed, plopping down onto the bed beside Keshav.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the events of the day weighing heavy on their minds. Keshav reached out and gently took Jasmine's hand in his, intertwining their fingers.
"You did great today," Keshav said softly, his thumb gently rubbing circles on the back of her hand. "I'm proud of you."
Jasmine smiled weakly at his words, feeling a surge of affection for him. "I couldn't have done it without you," she replied, her gaze meeting his.
Keshav smiled back, his eyes filled with admiration for her. "We make a good team," he said, lifting their intertwined hands to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
Jasmine's heart skipped a beat at the gesture. She scooted a bit closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "We do," she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Keshav wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. They sat there in the quiet comfort of his bedroom, their bodies pressed against each other.
A few hours passed, and the sun had now dipped below the horizon, casting shadows across the room. The smell of dinner cooking wafted through the air, signaling that it was time to come downstairs.
Keshav's stomach growled, betraying his hunger. He looked over at Jasmine, who was still cuddling into him. "I think that's our cue," he said, a small smirk playing on his lips.
Jasmine groaned, burying her face against his chest. "Do we have to?" she whined, not wanting to leave the comfort of their embrace.
Keshav chuckled, his hand gently patting her head. "Afraid so, princess," he said, his tone lighthearted. "We can't skip dinner forever, as much as we'd like to."
She sighed and pulled back, reluctantly untangling herself from him. "Alright, alright, I'm getting up," she grumbled, suppressing a yawn.
They got up from the bed and made their way downstairs, the delicious aroma of dinner becoming stronger with every step. Upon reaching the dining room, they found Mr. and Mrs. Kumar already sitting at the table, ready to tuck into the meal.
"Good timing," Mr. Kumar greeted them with a smile. "Dinner's just about ready."
Jasmine and Keshav took their seats at the table, and moments later, Mrs. Kumar emerged from the kitchen with a steaming pot of food, placing it in the center of the table.
They all began to fill their plates with the various dishes on the table. The conversation flowed easily, revolving around school and casual topics. Everything seemed strangely normal, given the extraordinary circumstances Keshav and Jasmine faced.
As they ate, Jasmine found herself stealing glances at Keshav, silently marveling at his composure. He didn't let anything slip, not the slightest hint of their secret. It was almost as if they hadn't just used powerful abilities to weave invisible barriers around their parents.
Keshav, sensing her gaze, caught her looking at him. He flashed her a subtle wink, a hint of amusement in his eyes. It was as if he could read her thoughts and found her silent admiration amusing.
She quickly averted her gaze, feeling a slight flush on her cheeks. But the corner of her lip curled up in a small smile, grateful for his silent reassurance. Dinner continued on, the conversation lingering around school and future plans, but all the while, the real secret they were holding remained unspoken.
As they finished dinner, everyone stood up, their plates cleared. Mrs. Kumar started collecting the dishes to take them to the kitchen, and Mr. Kumar got up to help her. Keshav and Jasmine hung back a moment.
Keshav glanced at Jasmine, a smirk playing on his lips. "I think it's about time for us to go," he whispered, nodding towards the stairs.
Jasmine nodded in agreement. "Let's head back upstairs," she agreed, a hint of excitement in her eyes. With a quick goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Kumar, they made their way back to Keshav's room, closing the door discreetly behind them.
Now that they were back in the privacy of his room, Keshav couldn't help but push Jasmine up against the wall. He smirked, his eyes roaming over her face. "Alone again," he stated, his voice low and filled with desire.
Jasmine's breath caught in her throat as her back hit the wall. She tried to keep her composure, but the closeness of his body, the heat emanating from him, it was all so enticing. "Y-yeah, we're alone," she managed to say, her voice betraying a hint of anticipation.
Keshav leaned in closer, his gaze locked onto hers. "You know," he murmured, his breath caressing her ear, "there's something I've been wanting to do all evening."