Facing the firing squad

Sabrina was wrong about being able to get past the Chokshis. She was not even given a chance to do it because damn fake Reesha was also there with her parents. It was like a regular matchmaking session between Kavan and Reesha. Sabrina is like an unwanted bystander.

"Uncle Kevin, Aunty Dana, nice to meet you," Kavan greeted Reesha's parents. He nodded at Reesha and she smiled sweetly at him and Sabrina.

"And so the prodigal son returns," one of the middle aged men whom Sabrina assumed is one of Kavan's uncles said.

"Everyone, let me introduce my girlfriend and fiancee, Sabrina Chang," Kavan addressed the group of people in the living room.

Reesha's parents didn't look too pleased with that introduction and Kavan's mother was scowling too. The four other men, an elderly man who must be the patriarch and grandfather, Kavan's father and the two uncles, merely looked at her curiously. At least there was no animosity there, she thought.

The old man - the grandfather - then frowned at her.

"Chang? From the Chang Jewellers Group?" he asked. Sabrina shook her head. She can't very well reply "Chang from the sea jade dragon clan".

"No, I'm not from that Chang family," she replied instead.

"Well then? Which Chang family are you from?" he asked imperatively.

"Err…just a regular Chang family up in Penang," she replied.

He scowled at that. Then he glared at Kavan.

"That is what you brought home to us? Some girl you picked up from the boondocks?" he snarled. Sabrina has half a mind to turn him into a frog. But since he is Kavan's grandfather, she controlled her temper.

"Grandfather, Penang is hardly the boondocks," Kavan replied politely. He took Sabrina's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Can we at least sit down first?" he asked. Then without waiting for his grandfather or the rest to say anything, he led Sabrina to the couch, the only space left for them to sit, and sat down. They are now facing everyone like they are facing an interrogation and firing squad. Two of them against eight people.

This will not be easy, Sabrina thought, studying the hostile glares from Reesha's parents, Kavan's mother and grandfather. Only his uncles and father remained neutral. For now.

"Ugh. Are you poor?" one of the uncles voiced up disdainfully. He is tall, reed-thin, with a balding spot and a sneer on his face.

"Uncle Darun, what has that got to do with anything?" Kavan exclaimed. He proceeded to introduce everyone to Sabrina. The reed-thin man is the first uncle, Darun, and a good looking man with thick curly hair and a smiling face is the third uncle Darian and his father is the thin, studious looking one, Dayada.

Darun sniffed haughtily after Kavan finished the introductions.

"One can always tell about people from their backgrounds," he said snobbishly.

Sabrina kept her polite smile on her face by sheer force. She can't antagonise any of Kavan's family members.

"Don't be such a snob, Darun," the second uncle, Darian, said playfully punching his brother's arm. He turned jovially to Sabrina.

"Don't worry about him, he's just a regular old snob," he said. Darun glared at him in return and sniffed loudly.

"Well, then, Miss Chang, tell us about yourself then," Kavan's mother said. "If you want to marry into the Chokshi family, we need to know as much about you as possible, we don't want any scandals in the past, abortions, drug parties, you know, things that our family would never be associated with,"

How about marrying a three-thousand-year-old dragon clan leader as a duty and serving him and his family like a slave? Sabrina thought. She looked at Kavan for help.

"No!" his grandfather, Bhavesh, stood up. Despite his old age, he was spright and strong. "I don't agree to Kavan marrying this unknown woman, I don't care what she has to say," he said loudly.

He glared at Kavan.

"Don't even think of trying to get out of this. My decision is final. You marry Reesha as I had planned. This is why she and her parents are here, to discuss wedding plans," he said.

Kavan stood up and glared in return at his grandfather.

"And my decision in final. I am marrying Sabrina no matter what you say," he replied calmly.

"How dare you go against me!" Bhavesh's voice shook from anger. If looks could kill, Kavan would be dead by now. Kavan's mother went over to him to pacify him.

"Appa, don't worry, I will make sure he marries Reesha," she said.

"Appa, let Kavan choose his own bride, why are you forcing him like this," Darian said.

"I am with Appa and Raneedi, Kavan should marry Reesha, they are a reputable family," Darun said.

Dayada remained silent, observing all of them. Sabrina looked at him and wondered whether he will defend his son or side with his wife and father.

"No. All of you listen to me. I am not marrying Reesha. I am marrying Sabrina. End of discussion," Kavan said quietly. Somehow, his quiet tone seem to rang loudly amidst the loud voices of his uncles and mother.

"Then I am cutting you out of the family," Bhavesh said in reply.

"No, don't, Appa, I will change his mind!" Raneedi pleaded. She turned to Dayada. "Say something! We can't let appa cut Kavan out of the family,"

Everyone turned to Dayada. He was silent for a moment. Then he sighed.

"Maybe we give them a chance. Aren't you being a bit rash, father?" he said finally. His wife and Darun spluttered in anger, both speaking up in unison, telling him not to be ridiculous.

"Silence!" Bhavesh's voice cut through the din. Everyone quietened down. If she was not at the centre of this whole drama, Sabrina would have been amused. This is like watching an intriguing TV family drama. She made sure that she was not smiling. Okay, so, she was amused. This is BETTER than watching a TV drama. This if real life drama. She studied Reesha and her parents. The parents looked smug. Probably thinking that they have won and their precious daughter is marrying into the Chokshi empire, whatever their net worth is. She barely even remembered. She looked back at Kavan's family and realised Bhavesh is scrutinising her.

"Tell me, girl, will you have married Kavan if he is poor without a cent to his name?" he asked.

This, she can easily reply in all honesty.

"Sure, I didn't even know about his family background, about all of you, when I first met him and I was perfectly happy staying with him in his little flat, it was cozy and nice," she replied flippantly. There were gasps from Reesha's parents. Darian, the jovial uncle, seemed pleased. He gave her a wink. Dayada looked unperturbed while Raneedi and Darun sniffed in disdain. Sabrina was tempted to tell them if they continued to sneer this way, it might become their permanent expression forever.

"What is the meaning of this? Ranee? They are living together?" Bhavesh is furious. He turned back to Sabrina without waiting for a reply. "Are you pregnant? Is that why you are getting married?"

Before she could reply, Kavan voiced up. "Yes, she's pregnant so we have to get married soon," he said. There were more gasps, this time from almost everyone. Sabrina schooled her face so as not to appear shocked like the rest of Kavan's family. What is he doing? Why is he lying? How the heck are they going to explain a few months down the line and she turns out not to be pregnant??

"What is the meaning of this?? You said she wasn't pregnant!" his mother exclaimed.

"Humphh…I would have expected that from that gold digger, so obvious," Darun sneered.

"This is unacceptable. Your family and ours had an agreement!" Reesha's father, Kevin, said angrily.

"Oh wow! Congrats Kavan!" Darian was the only one who seemed genuinely happy. He came over to shake Kavan's hand. He smiled warmly at Sabrina. "Good job you two," he whispered.

"Are you even sure it's your baby?" Bhavesh asked. Darian gave them a small shrug and sauntered to the side to get out of the way.

"What sort of question is that grandfather! Of course, it's mine," Kavan replied. Bhavesh ignored him. He frowned at Sabrina.

"Will you agree to a DNA test to confirm that the baby is Kavan's?" he asked.

"Grandfather!" Kavan protested.

Sabrina swallowed. This is not good. The dragon shapeshifters avoided human doctors as they might find strange DNA combinations. She didn't even know how she could lie her way through this. Even if she was really pregnant, she will never take a DNA test. It is too risky to reveal the secret of the dragon shapeshifters.

"Well?" Bhavesh looked at her.

She gulped. Now what?