“Yes,” Rishi agreed, “my normally calm and collected brother almost got into a fight in the middle of a party. It’s about time he staked his claim.”
“After this, I bet we’ll be hearing of a marriage proposal soon.”
Rishi nodded. Thinking aloud, he said, “I am sure he’s dealing with these obviously intense feelings for Raashi. Feelings he won’t admit or is unwilling to accept to himself. So the marriage proposal is definitely a sure shot thing. But I’ll give him more time to come around. I bet you five thousand bucks on Sameer proposing marriage to Raashi in less than two months.”
“Ten thousand and I’ll make it a month,” Kabier said, shaking hands with him.
Rishi gave a hoot of laughter.
“This is just the beginning and believe me, I’m going to enjoy every bit of this. The bet is on,” Rishi said, pleased with the entire situation.
“What bet?” Kabier heard his wife Keya speak up from behind him. He turned to look at her. She was glowing in her pregnancy, simply lovely, he thought. He just couldn’t stop the rush of emotion that engulfed him each time he looked at her.
“Hey, sweetheart!” Kabier said, “It’s nothing. How are you feeling?”
Keya linked her arm with his. “I am fine, Kabier. You’ve asked me that at least five times already since we arrived.”
Kabier drew her closer to him. “I worry about you and the baby.”
“I know,” she replied warmly. Kabier had become obsessed with her wellbeing since he had heard she was pregnant. But she loved him for it. Looking at him now, she couldn’t believe how blessed she was. He was a great husband and would be an awesome father.
“So what’s this bet I heard you guys talk about?” Keya asked both of them. Kabier related to her what had happened. She smiled. “Make it twenty and I bet a fortnight!”
“Works for me,” quipped Rishi.
22
They drove in silence, the anger simmering between them. Sameer drove like a maniac, the car wheels squealing at every turn. When he narrowly missed colliding with a bus, Raashi couldn’t take it anymore.
“Either you slow down and drive like a normal person or stop the car and let me go home by myself,” she threw at him.
He glared at her, but did slow down for the remainder of the drive.
Finally, he swerved the car to a stop outside her apartment complex.
“Why, Raashi? What is going on between you and Rithwik? Are you marrying him? Is that what that kiss was about?”
“How dare you?” she replied. “You have no right to question me about Rithwik when there is still something going on between Natasha and you. I was a fool to believe you when you said it was over between you and her.” She unclasped her seat belt and got out of the car.
Raashi immediately headed to her building. As she entered the lift, Sameer followed her inside.
“You are not coming home with me,” she said.
“Try and stop me,” he barked.
“Fine, whatever.” She unlocked the door to her house and walked in with him close behind.
“Say what you have to say and be gone from here. I want you out of my house,” Raashi said rudely after turning on the living room light.
“So you saw me hug Natasha and thought the worst of me?” Sameer asked her.
“I know what I saw. You told me weeks ago that it was over between you two and yet she was in your arms tonight. What am I to believe?”
“Why do you care? You always have Rithwik to fall back upon, don’t you?”
“I am not explaining myself to you,” Raashi said coldly, turning her face away from him.
“Alright, I have something going on with Natasha and you have something going on with Rithwik. Now let’s see if you remember what we have going on between us.”
