Her phone buzzed and Raashi lifted it up. She smiled when she saw who was calling. Seeing the smile light her face, Sameer’s attention snapped to her. Who was calling her this late in the night that made her smile?
Keya and Sheena who were sitting on either side of her, squeezed close to her to see the caller ID.
Raashi chewed on her lip, before she said, “Uh, I’ll be right back.”
And then she stood up and walked away to answer her phone call.
Sheena looked at Keya and grinned.
“What was that about?” Rishi asked.
“Oh! That was Rithwik on the line,” Sheena informed him.
“Rithwik Bali?” Sameer asked.
“The very same,” she replied smiling.
“How come he’s calling so late?” Sameer looked at his watch and his brows creased, “Or should I say so early in the morning?”
“Back off, Sameer. It’s got nothing to do with you,” Sheena snapped at him.
“Sheena!” Keya gasped.
“Now, that was uncalled for,” Rishi said. “Sameer is just concerned.”
“Oh really?” Sheena asked, her eyes flaring in defiance.
“Why are you being so rude to him?” Rishi lashed out at Sheena.
Before Sheena could respond, Keya squeezed her hand. Sheena sighed and stayed silent but not before she threw a venomous look at Sameer.
“Sheena relax, sweetie,” Keya said, attempting to dissolve the tension that had enveloped them. “We all want the best for Raashi, including Sameer and Rishi. And really you’re making too much of this. Nothing’s going on between them.”
“What’s not going on and between whom?” Sameer inquired, looking from Sheena to Keya.
“Rithwik and Raashi. Wouldn’t it be so cool if they’re together?” Sheena replied, resting her chin on her hand, a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Wait a minute. I didn’t know Raashi was seeing Rithwik,” Rishi said, voicing Sameer’s thoughts out loud. “Since when? Last time I saw them together was at your wedding, Keya, and nothing seemed to be going on then.”
Keya held her hand up when Sheena started to talk.
“Well, honestly, I don’t think anything’s going on,” Keya pressed. “Raashi and Rithwik have bonded a lot in the past few months ever since I got married. They meet very often and theyare closer than ever before. Although Sheena thinks that there is more to it, I don’t agree with her yet. Perhaps in future, if that’s what Raashi wants then I will be thrilled for her if that happens. ”
Raashi and Rithwik! Even the thought of her with that guy left a foul taste in his mouth. Rithwik was loud and brash and had this devil-may-care attitude towards everything, whereas Raashi was quiet, she was careful and emotional and she thought too much. His eyes went to her talking softly on the phone. Was she with Rithwik or were they just friends? God! He hoped that Keya was right because the thought of Raashi dating Rithwik was intolerable.
He knew Rithwik was her close friend. The story he had heard was that Rithwik and another friend Aditya had met Keya and Raashi on a camping trip several years back and they had hit it off since then. Rithwik was the owner of Fortuna International, a multimedia and telecommunication company that had now diversified into various fields. They were as big as the Sehgal’s and were strong competitors in various areas. Rithwik was extremely successful, very good looking and a strong player in business. And he knew how to charm women.
Raashi moved awayfrom their table to answer her phone.
“Hi gorgeous!” drawled a sexy voice at the other end.
“Rithwik! It’s almost five in the morning.”
“That’s no way to greet someone who has been thinking of you the whole day!”
“All right! Hi, Rithwik, and please, can you cut out the flirting?” Raashi smiled.
“Oh, come on Raashi! Don’t hurt my feelings now,” Rithwik said.
