Raashi took in the entire scene and burst out laughing. Sameer grabbed some paper napkins and controlled the water spill before cleaning the mess off his shirt.
He scowled at Raashi. “Glad I could provide some entertainment for you! That’s the second time my clothes have been messed up, thanks to you.”
“Oh! You deserved what you got and for the record, this time it wasn’t my fault at all,” Raashi said, collapsing into fits of laughter.
Sameer looked at her laughing and couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. It was satisfying seeing her laugh. She was beautiful. Lately, every time he had seen her, she had been on the edge, always serious, her laughter rare. Now, looking at her laughing, he caught a glimpse of the girl he had once known. Suddenly, it hit him like a bolt of lightning. He wanted to see that joy on her face always and he wanted to be the one to put it there.If letting go of his own dream meant letting her have hers then he would do that, if only to see her happy.
No! What was he thinking? He needed to get away from Raashi and stay away from her. Since when had he become so sentimental? One lunch with her and he was already waving good-bye to his own dreams.
He stood up abruptly and said, “Let’s go.”
Raashi watched him walk away, baffled by the change in his mood. She got up slowly and followed him to the car.
On reaching her office,Raashi couldn’t remember what exactly had brought the change in him. One minute he was fooling around and the next he was so silent, so pensive. They had driven back in complete silence and when they had reached her office she had got only a curt, “you’ll be hearing from me soon” and he had sped off.
What had happened? Oh Well! Sameer could behave as he liked. As far as she was concerned, as long as he left her alone, she couldn’t care less.
11
The doorbell pealed incessantly.
“God! Who is making such a ruckus?” Raashi said, as she hurried to the door. She peeped through the eyehole and smiled.
She opened the door and greeted Sheena and Keya warmly.
“This is a pleasant surprise,” she said as each of them hugged her in turn and walked in.
Sheena and Keya began chatting away non-stop as soon as they entered her house. By default they went straight to her room and jumped onto her bed and settled themselves on the cushions as was usual with them. Raashi was delighted to see them and just like that, life was perfect once again. She happily sat beside them on the bed and listened to them talk.
Sheena always had the latest news of everyone. Soon they were busy indulging in a typical gossip session that involved anyone and everyone in their social circle. In the end, once all the gossip was over, they finally moved on to their husbands.
“Kabier gave me such a hard time when he heard how I was zipping his car on our girls’ night out.” Keya pouted. “As if I don’t know how to manage his car.”
“He’s just protective sweetie,” Raashi said.
Keya made a face. “I know, especially now that...” and then she shut her mouth.
Raashi and Sheena glanced at one another and then back at her, arching their eyebrows.
“What are you not telling us?” Sheena asked her.
Raashi saw Keya look from her to Sheena and back to Raashi and said, “I’m pregnant.”
Sheena’s mouth fell open.
“Are you serious?” Raashi said, moving closer to Keya on the bed.
Keya beamed.
“We just told your mom today,” Keya told Sheena. “And I wanted to tell you guys first, before we announced it to the rest of the family. It’s too early yet but yes Kabier and I are going to have a baby.”
“Oh, My God! That’s so cool.” Raashi hugged her friend affectionately.
“I’m going to be an aunt. I can’t believe it,” Sheena said excitedly, bouncing up and down on the bed.
“Uh, Sheena you do know that you cannot put this news up on any of your social media accounts, right?” Keya teased.
“Duh! I know that. Come here you,” Sheena said and enveloped Keya in her arms.
