Ever since that night he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind at all. And now she was sitting within touching distance, her denim clad legs mere inches away from his. To add to that he had held her in his arms far too close and far too long for comfort. Having her in his arms had reminded him of the perfect way she fit to his body. Breathing in her delicate floral scent, had created chaos in his mind.
But, his curiosity about her had piqued. He wanted to know more about her and that’s exactly why, now that she was sitting in front of him, he had asked her about AquaNox and her job there. But she wouldn’t take the compliment easily. She had to bring up that part of the night as well.
“Really! What happened?” Sheena questioned, interrupting his thoughts.
“Yes, do tell,” Rishi said sitting up straighter.
Sameer took a deep breath. These two just needed the slightest reason to cause trouble and now they were waiting with bated breath to hear about this particularly embarrassing incident.
“There’s nothing to tell, except that Sameer’s date didn’t like the place too much,” Raashi replied smoothly.
Sameer narrowed his eyes, surprised that she didn’t elaborate the details of his embarrassment that night.
“Who were you with?” Sheena asked him.
“Natasha.”
“Do you know that Sameer may be planning to...” Rishi started to say, before Sameer kicked him squarely under the table. Rishi immediately shut up.
Keya took up from Rishi, “Yes, Kabier mentioned that you’re seeing her. But seriously, Sameer, Natasha Arya is spoilt, rude and only wants to get her own way every time. I know you were crazy about her once, but I sure hope it’s not the same now,” Keya said in her usual matter of fact manner.
Sameer remained silent. It was so typical of Keya to say exactly what came to her mind. She was one of the few people who could get away by saying anything to him. Apart from the fact that she was married to Kabier, she had become one of Sameer’s closest friends. He already knew that Rishi wasn’t too fond of Natasha and was actually against her being in Sameer’s life. Rishi was there when he had broken up with her the first time and both he and Kabier knew how tough that break-up had been for him at that time.
But what Keya and Rishi and Kabier for that matter didn’t know is that he didn’t want any kind of relationship that could hurt him again. He didn’t want love. Natasha was perfect for him in every way because she was not interested in any emotional attachment. That’s how she had always been and that’s how she still was. She’d made it abundantly clear that she wanted companionship and the social prestige that she would get by being a part of the Sehgal family, if they indeed did marry. And of course she wanted him back. This time around the thought of being married to him definitely appealed to her.
They could eventually be good companions for each other and have a comfortable existence together. They would giveeach other space and the freedom to lead their own lives. Their arrangement was purely business and he was happy that she knew and agreed with what she was getting into with him, that is, if things worked out.
But this was something he was sure none of the others would understand and hence he chose to remain silent.
Raashi had to agree with Keya’s assessment. She surely hadn’t liked Natasha much and was happy to know that her own opinion of the woman was not clouded by the fact that Sameer was dating her again.
“I agree with Keya, which makes me wonder what you find in her?” Sheena asked him.
“MYOB Sheena, MYOB. And in case you still didn’t get it, Mind. Your. Own. Business,” Sameer said rudely.
“I got it the first time, you jackass,” Sheena countered, throwing him a dirty look.
“Children, can we please get along?” Rishi drawled from Sameer’s side. “Your bickering is worse than the twins’ these days.”
Seeing Sheena’s angry face, Raashi inserted herself into the conversation.
“Oh! How are the lovely twins? Still keeping you guys on your toes?” she asked Rishi.
“They’re the same. Always up to something. Rhea’s back though,” Rishi replied looking down into his coffee mug.
“When did she come? She hasn’t called me,” Sheena said looking at Keya.
“Not me either,” said Keya.
Raashi saw the look that passed between the brothers. What had Rhea done now? She was well aware that the twins did plenty of stupid stuff to make the boys worry. They were very rebellious and usually because they couldn’t tolerate the over protectiveness of their older siblings.
At twenty-one, they were sharp, confident, intelligent but a tad bit wild. They had a wonderful zest for life that unfortunately was not understood very well by their older brothers. They were nine years younger than Sameer and Kabier and seven years younger than Rishi, making them the babies in the family.
She continued to listen as her friends conversed with Rishi about the twins. Sameer, she noticed, looked preoccupied and stressed. He kept checking his cell phone and twice already his staff had interrupted him. He had even stepped aside once to talk to them. Hearing a little commotion, she looked away from Sameer and saw some cops walking towards him. Spotting them, Sameer excused himself and left.
Keya spoke from her side interrupting Rishi, “By the way, I overheard you say earlier that Sameer had a rough night. Is that anything to do with why the cops are here talking to him?”
Rishi nodded and recounted the events of the night. No wonder Sameer looked so stressed, Raashi thought. He returned back to the table as the cops made their way out and Sheena and Keya plied him several questions. Sameer replied to them calmly but Raashi was quick to note the underlying tension in his voice and in his stance.
