Instantly, Rian pulled Kaya around, his expression that of a worried man. “My question precisely. Kaya, pat your head and rubyour tummy at the same time if you need help getting away from your crazy husband.”
Vihaan jogged a couple steps over to hold Kaya by the shoulder and turned her to face him next. “Don’t be afraid. We can sense your pain. Ask for help, Kaya, and you will receive it.”
Vera felt her mouth twitch, a smile threatening to escape at the dramatics of these friends. She had not seen Vihaan act so silly since they’d met. She’d begun to think that that goofy personality of his from their childhood had ceased to exist. She realised now that he only showed that side to a select few. This, she understood, as she saw all five friends bicker and rag on each other, was his inner sanctum. And she did not belong in it. Just like that, the little bubble of mirth in her burst, an unexplainable sadness taking its place instead.
“Hey! Ouch!” Arjun complained suddenly, drawing her attention to them again. “Stop bullying me! I have feelings, you assholes.”
“Assholes? Plural? Me too?” Kaya asked, her lower lip trembling.
“I called them assholes,” Arjun immediately assured her. “Not you. You know I love you.”
Rian and Vihaan both groaned, making retching sounds, and slapped an ‘L’ on their forehead, to which Arjun responded with a one finger salute.
“You’re pathetic,” Rian accused.
Vihaan immediately let out a laugh. “Oh, buddy, not a few days ago, you sang for your woman. In front of her entire family. I’d call that pathetic, too.”
“It was not!” Aditi immediately jumped into the foray to defend her man. “He’s got a wonderful voice. He was so cute.”
Vera looked at the mammoth man standing next to Aditi, taller than everyone else and built like a Viking. Cute? Aditi foundthisman cute?
“I thought he didn’t even want to be your friend?” she mused out loud.
“You know about that?” Rian gasped, looking betrayed. Suddenly, Vera could see the cuteness. Despite his size, Rian seemed like he was a bit of a softie. His eyes were kind, and his demeanour—non-threatening.
“Things have progressed since then,” Aditi revealed proudly, holding her hand up near her face, a stunning engagement ring shining on her finger.
“Oh my god! Congratulations! Nina didn’t tell me!”
“I asked Nina to keep it a secret. I was going to visit you sometime this week to invite you to the engagement party. I didn’t expect to see you. . . here.”
Crickets sounded in the background as four very curious pairs of eyes turned towards Vihaan and Vera.
“Who’s ready for game night?” Vihaan clapped his hand, making a shooing motion to get his friends to move into the living room and break the awkward silence.
“Right. Have fun everyone.” Vera waved to no one in particular. She’d only taken a few steps when her wrist was captured in a death grip. She spun around, her body naturally coming to rest closer to the man who’d held her back.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Vihaan questioned softly. He was looking at her like they didn’t have an audience. Vera chanced a glance over Vihaan’s shoulder and immediately Arjun, Kaya and Rian turned to look this way and that, pretending to inspect the ceiling, the floor, the furniture, the air. Aditi, on the other hand, kept staring as though she was watching a fascinating live show, until Rian picked her up and turned her away, shushing her protests.
“Your friends are here,” Vera mumbled under her breath, jerking her head towards the crazy pantomime beside them.
Vihaan shrugged. “So? It’s my house and I’m asking you to stay.”
“I can’t—”
“I misspoke. I’m not asking. If you think you’re going to leave me alone to suffer their comments for the rest of the evening, that’s not happening.”
“But. . .”
“She’s staying!” he announced, and Aditi bounded over to them instantly with a large grin.
“Yes! You’ll be on my team,” she chirped.
“Wait, but dinner!” Vera tried to protest. “I don’t want to impose on your dinner.”
“Nonsense,” Aditi interrupted, holding her hand and pulling her down to take a seat next to Arjun. “We’re all friends now and we have more than enough food to go around, don’t we, Bugs?”
Rian grinned at his fiancée and nodded. Vera got the impression that Rian would agree with just about anything Aditi said. If he allowed her to call him ‘Bugs’ in front of everyone and still look at her like she’d confessed her eternal love with that one word, he must be a total simp.