With a bored look, he remarked, “That’s strange, isn’t it?”
His sisters scowled at him.
“And he left again in fifteen minutes,” his mom said.
Rishi stretched his arms above his head, yawning.
“Something must have come up. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”
“Who is she?” Shauna asked.
Rishi turned to her. “Am I supposed to understand that question?”
“Don’t play dumb with us. We know you know what’s going on with Sameer, so, who’s the girl he’s with?” Rhea asked from behind him.
“I am not saying anything to you at all.”
“See, he does know who Sameer is seeing,” Rhea stated.
Rishi folded his arms across his chest refusing to reply.
His father put a hand on his shoulder. “Do we need to be worried?”
“Not at all,” he told his father in all seriousness.
“Is she...” his mom started to ask a question but Rishi raised his hand interrupting her.
“Please, mom. I can’t. He will tell you when he is ready.”
“Well, ladies! I think you got what you came for. So, let’s leave the boy alone now,” Jai Sehgal said and ushered his women out of his younger son’s room.
Rita Sehgal turned to Rishi, her face etched with concern. But Rishi gave her an apologetic look and remained silent. Rhea and Shauna left the room giving him a sideward glance.
“We will find out,” Shauna told him on her way out.
Rishi shut his door and locked it. He was happy and excited about Sameer and Raashi. But, knowing his mother and sisters, Sameer would have to tell them soon. They were inquisitive and interfering. And once they suspected a woman was involved in Sameer’s life, they wouldn’t rest till they found out who it was. He yawned and fell back on his bed falling asleep in seconds.
24
The past few days had been utter bliss. Raashi had never been happier in life. She was so much in love. Sameer was warm and sweet and so much fun to be around. He showed her that he loved her in more ways than one. He listened to her, sought her advice on so many things and heard her out when she had a rough day at work. He was just wonderful. Life with him was perfect.
Her days began and ended with him. They had settled into a comfortable routine, leaving each other only to go to work. Sameer spent most evenings with her at her home and several mornings she had woken up in his arms. Life was great, in every way she had ever imagined and more.
Raashi watched Sameer as he checked the messages on his cell phone. He sat next to her, playing with her hand while he continued texting on his phone. They were sitting in a secluded corner in her restaurant, AquaNox, waiting for their lunch to arrive. Her own cell beeped once, twice and then several times. Keya, Sheena and she had a common messaging group where they could all chat together and she was being bombarded by messages from the two of them demanding to know where shewas and why she was evading their calls and texts. She hadn’t spoken to them yet or to Janak for that matter about Sameer and her. She would have to and soon, glancing at the thirty odd text messages that had flashed on her screen in the last few minutes.
Sameer frown and she squeezed his fingers.
“You look worried. Is everything fine?” she asked him.
Sameer kept his phone aside.
“Oh yeah! It will be.” He slid closer to her, lacing her hand with his. Before Raashi could question him further, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Don’t panic now, but...”
But before he could finish Raashi heard a sharp squeal. “OH MY GOD!”
Raashi looked up to see Sameer’s twin sisters standing in front of their table with stunned expressions on their faces.
“It’s Raashi!” Shauna said, surprised.
