22.

                                    

                                          
"Teja can we have a dinner together." Karan said.
"No." Teja said instantly.
"Why?" Karan asked confused.
"Why do you want to have dinner with me all of a sudden."
"Kirti di wanted to meet you so she asked me to invite you for a dinner at my house."
"Ohh" Teja sighed in relief.
"But why does she want to meet me" . Teja asked.
"I guess mom and dad praised you a lot infront of her , so she wants to meet her parents favourite person."
"Huh?"
"Are you coming."
"Umm Karan I was thinking that if di wanting to meet me is the only reason, I will better meet her in the evening or so. You guys should enjoy your family time."
"Okay then come in the evening and leave after having dinner with us."
"Karan, please understand, It is your family dinner. Di and jiju are back after so many years, I just don't want to disturbe you guys."
"Teja why are you being so formal. Just come na."
"I will tell you in a few hours Karan. Let me check if I am free or not." Teja made an excuse.
"On Sunday, at 8 pm , you better be free or else I will myself talk to Dr Suman about it."
"No need, I will talk to her and tell you if I can come or not."
"Hmm ..fine...
So wh..."
Teja didn't let Karan say anything further, said "bye", and disconnected the call.
' What the hell did just happen. Did he invite me to his family dinner and that to so that he can introduce me to his sister , but why. ' Teja thought.
' Does he really like me , or am I thinking a lot.'
' Should I call Anu, she might help me. 
No I already know what she will say. So who else.
I think I should talk to someone who might actually know the reason why he invited me, someone who is close to him.'
Teja thought for a few minutes and a name popped up in her mind.
' Ruturaj, yes he will have answers to all my questions.'
Then without wasting a minute further Teja called Ruturaj.
" Hi Rutuuu" Teja said cheerfully.
"Hi Tejuuu, how are you. It felt like you forgot that there is a person named Ruturaj whom you know" Ruturaj said teasingly.
" As if you were calling me everyday " Teja said rolling her eyes.
Ruturaj chuckled and said" I hope you are doing good."
"Absolutely fine, what about you and Sayli"
"We are fine. So how is life, Karan told me about Dr Suman, is she fine now"
"Yes she is doing much better." After a pause Teja continued, "umm...Rutu actually I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Yeah sure, continue."
"It is about Karan."
"What about him."
"Umm... I... actually..mm"
"Teju just say na"
"Do you think he likes me, like did you guys ever talked about it."
"Okay this was surprising" Ruturaj said and then chuckled a little. "First of all, I didn't talk to him recently and I used to tease him but we never had a serious conversation about how he feels for you. But if you ask me, I think he likes you." 
"And what made you think that." 
"I just feel it from the starting, you know it, I used to tease you guys so much."
"You used to do that just because I told you that I had a crush on him, the biggest mistake I ever made. Thank God Karan doesn't know about it."
"Who said he doesn't."
"What! You told him. Ruturaj you promised me that you will not." Teja cried out.
"I didn't tell him, but the night after you left from the party he asked me why I was teasing you so much, so I just answered his question , I didn't tell him."
"I can't believe that all this while Karan knew that I had a crush on him. God ! This is so embarassing."
Ruturaj and Teja had a banter for the next few minutes, with Teja scolding Ruturaj and him trying to calm her down.
"Teja how does this even matter now. And most importantly, why do you want to know if Karan likes you or not."
"He invited me for a dinner at his home with his entire family."
"So?"
"Why will you invite a friend to a family dinner Rutu, and when I asked him the reason, he said that Kirti di wants to meet me, but why."
"So you don't want to go"
"It's not about that, it's about why am I even invited."
"Okay just assume that he likes you and that's why he wants you to meet his family. Now will you go or not."
"I don't know. I am just so confused." Teja said helplessly.
"What's the confusion Teja. If he likes you and you like him too then say yes , and if you don't say no."
"The thing is I don't want to be in a position where I have to say a yes or a no. I don't want him to like me because if he does, I will be stuck. I cannot say yes because relationships , dating is something which I prefer staying away from and I can't say no because.... because how can I. I just can't do that to him."
"Okay fine, but I hope that you remember that I just told you to assume that he likes you. None of us know what he feels. If you ask me, I will suggest you to go and see how things are. I think that there is no need of pre assuming things as we did just now. Go with the flow.  Not going to the dinner will not do anything good."
"Hmm.. I think you are right."
"Take care little sister, don't think much."
"Hmm.. thanks."
"Anytime"
After talking with Ruturaj Teja decided to go for the dinner. She was thinking a lot about the reason why Karan invited her but in no way she wanted her over thinking create problems between her and Karan. 
So she messaged Karan, "I will be there (smiley emoji)"
"Better (smirk emoji)" Karan replied.
__________________________________
Again updated almost after a week.
Most probably the next update will come tomorrow 👍🏻..
Also for the people who want Karan and Teja to confess soon , I will just like to tell you that the story ends at the confession, now the decision is yours 😁...
Take care people, stay happy 🤍
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