“Rithwik, get serious. It’s way too early in the morning for this. ”
“I know you’re up and out at The Marquis, so don’t try to make me feel guilty about calling you.”
Raashi frowned. “How do you know?”
“Oh! I have my sources.”
“Yeah, right!”
“Okay! Status update by Sheena! ‘Zipping around with my BFF’s in the wee hours’ and then her check-in at The Marquis with fifty hash tags at least!” Rithwik explained.
Raashi sighed. Sheena had an excessive, unhealthy obsession with social media that maddened Raashi. But these days it was common for most people to post every little detail about their lives on social media. Raashi was perhaps one of the few odd ones who didn’t follow this norm. She tuned back in to what Rithwik was saying.
“I was at a friend’s place for dinner and I was planning to head home when I saw Sheena’s post. Thus the call, Raashi. And since you refused to go out with me tonight and you’re still up, why don’t you make it up to me? Let me drive you home. I’m close and can be there in five.”
“Uh, I’m not sure. It’s really late and I...,” Raashi stopped mid-way when she caught a glimpse of Sameer watching her, a strange expression on his face.
What was wrong with her? Rithwik was being so sweet. Not only was Rithwik one of her closest friends, he was great looking and so much fun to be with. For some reason they were drifting towards each other the past few months. They had met over lunch or dinner many times, but were not dating. Raashi liked being with him. She enjoyed his attention and felt comfortable with him. Most importantly, he didn’t make her heart flutter nervously or make her feel on the edge like she felt when she was around Sameer. He was safe! And she needed safe right now inlife, right? Besides, Sameer had once again started taking over her mind space. She had to forget about him. And there was no one better than Rithwik to take her mind off Sameer.
She heard Rithwik’s voice coming through the phone.
“Raashi, you there?”
“Oh, sorry...Okay fine, I’ll be out in a few minutes. See you on the porch.”
She hung up the phone and walked back towards the table.
Sheena and Keya turned to her when she returned.
“I need to go. Rithwik is waiting outside for me,” she told them.
“He’s here?” Keya asked, her eyes round. “At this time? How come?”
Raashi explained the phone call to her.
Oh great! Sameer’s jaw clenched. The guy was shadowing her on social media now.
“We ought to leave too,” Keya said. Sheena nodded in agreement and they all got up to head home.
Rithwik was waiting in his car, a huge black Hummer, at the porch just as he had told her would. On seeing Raashi, he got out of the car and came forward. He kissed both her cheeks and put his arm around her waist. She blushed a deep red when she saw Sameer staring at them, his arms folded in front of him. His eyes followed her, never leaving her even when Keya came forward to meet Rithwik.
Rithwik winked at Sheena and then he waved at Rishi and nodded his head at him.
“Why is it that my two favorite girls are always surrounded by Sehgal men?” Rithwik said to Keya mischievously.
“Maybe because I am one of them now,” Keya replied, smiling at him.
“Thankfully, it’s only you. I lost you to a Sehgal, but at least I have Raashi still,” Rithwik said, giving her an impish smile.
He turned to Raashi. “Let’s go. I have so much to talk to you about.”
After Raashi drove away with Rithwik Bali, Sameer released the breath he had been holding. Shit! He was still attracted to her. He shut his eyes for a second and exhaled before opening them again. This attraction was going to land him in trouble if he continued down that path. He had spent enough time with Raashi in the past to know that she was the type of woman who could make a man completely forget himself. And he had promised himself a long time ago that he would never ever allow himself to be entrapped by a woman again. He refused to walk down the path that led to her. His journey was different and she was not his destination. Seeing her again had messed up his mind. He had to stay away from her at all costs.
5
Janak Sehgal stared into the faces of his grandsons, waiting for a response and said in a composed voice, “I gifted it!”
“You did what?” Sameer shot up to his feet and yelled.
