The evening air carried a sharpness that reflected the serious, cold demeanor I often wore around most people. But not with these three.
When we were together, all pretenses melted away, and the mischievous side of us emerged, ready to stir up trouble and laughter in equal measure.
It was like we reverted to our younger selves—unburdened by the weight of responsibility and maturity, instead seeking out chaos for the sheer fun of it. And tonight was no exception.
Kairav and I exchanged glances before turning our attention to Adithya. "So, tell us about the friends of your soon-to-be wife," we teased, eager to know more. Adithya, never one to shy away from a question, named them off casually: Riya, Aaravi, and the yet-to-arrive Amulya.
Kairav seemed to recognize the name "Aaravi" and I couldn't help but notice the way he reacted when ho looked at her. Lawyers by profession, the two likely shared a mutual respect for each other's work. It wasn't just professional familiarity that was at play. There was something more to the way Kairav's eyes lingered on her.
The girls were soon embroiled in a playful bickering, drawing our attention away from the looming discussions of weddings and relationships.
Riya, of all people, suddenly ducked under the table in what seemed like a panic. It was a move that didn't go unnoticed.
"What are you pulling now? Why are you hiding under the table?" Aaravi demanded, her voice full of mock accusation.
"I... I gu... guess I saw my boss," Riya stammered, barely managing to get the words out before she was dragged into another round of teasing.
At that moment, Vikram strode into the room, casting his usual effortless charm. As always, he fit seamlessly into the mix, offering up a dry remark about the crime we were plotting—part of the larger joke that had come to define our group.
"Your boss? Why would he be here?" Aarohi quipped, urging Riya to stop hiding.
Just then, another figure entered—Amulya, the last of the trio, the one we'd all been waiting for. With her entrance, the atmosphere shifted slightly, an air of sophistication that immediately caught my attention. I wasn't the only one who noticed.
Amulya's presence was magnetic, the kind of presence that commanded respect without effort.
"She's a doctor from the US," Adithya added, his jealousy barely masked as he mentioned that Amulya was Aarohi's "favorite person."
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease. She had been a figure I'd noticed a year ago, during a medical sciences seminar in the UK, where we'd first crossed paths. At that time, I hadn't known her name, but her knowledge, her passion for R&D, and the way she carried herself had struck a chord with me. I hadn't forgotten it, nor had Vikram, who had teased me relentlessly ever since.
Now, seeing her again after a year, the moment felt like fate knocking on my door. I wasn't about to let this opportunity slip through my fingers. She was special, and I was going to make sure she knew that.
The conversation shifted to Riya and her antics, with the group poking fun at her for hiding under the table.
"Why is Riya hiding under the table?", Amulya asked Aaravi.
"She is hiding from her boss. You know the hot and sexy boss of hers", Aaravi exclaims chocking Vikram on his water. Riya immediately stands up from under the table to stop her.
"Oh! The 6'2 Hot Greek God? – That Boss?", Amulya raises her brows. I didn't like listening her praise another man. Vikram chokes on his water again.
"You know?", Aaravi asks Amulya.
"Yeah!! She was bickering to me for hours on the phone call", replies Amulya.
"I did not", Riya scoffs and Aarohi laughs.
We turn towards Vikram and ask if he knows Riya and did he ever try to flirt with her.
"She is the Lead HR Manager of my company. She is the one many companies are trying to vouch for. But I swear I never flirted with her. She was always keeping her distance from me", Vikram explains.
"And also, she isn't my type", he adds.
"Stop teasing her", Aarohi tells Amulya and Aaravi.
"See, Aarohi is only good friend", Riya tells hugging Aarohi.
"I just fear that she might miss this hot boss of hers and decides to leave my wedding to go find him", Aarohi winks at her friends.
"Not so hottt", Adithya throws a deadly glance at Vikram. I feel the same too.
"I take my words back. I only have asshole friends, not good ones", bickers Riya.
"Leave about her and let's talk about." Amulya turns towards Aarohi.
"How did this entire wedding thing happen?", She shoots a question. Aarohi tells the entire story.
"And how do you feel about your husband-to-be?", second question from Amulya makes my friend Adithya go stiff.
"How do I feel? I am not sure. But so far, the little time I spent with him, he's good. Not a tough person to get along with. After the stalking results of Riya and Aarohi, I had many doubts, but since I started to get to know him, he's... great", replies Aarohi. "Physically too", she adds in a lower tone and Adithya puts on a proud smile.
"Do you think he is as hot as our Riya's crush", teases Aaravi and the girls laugh.
"I am not sure", Aarohi adds to the teasing.
"Ayya!!! He is not my crush. It was just that one day, I was drunk to the brim that I found him attractive. He isn't my type", pouts Riya. Vikram scoffs and tells, "She isn't mine either".
Even without a direct conversation these two seems to share some tension which is cute and warm.
Aarohi then hugs Amulya and tells, "I missed you a lot Ammu, If not for my wedding you probably would not have visited India. You for sure are avoiding people and events in India".
"I am for sure. I don't want to get married. My dad doesn't even have a thought about my wedding, but my mom has the only aim – to get me married. I am not ready yet", Amulya complains.
'If you are not ready, brace your self BabyGirl. I will pursue you now that we meet again after a year. And me pursuing will not be that easy to reject', I smirk warning her in my senses.
"And guess what, after your wedding I am very sure of not visiting India for a long time. Now that you get married I can't even argue with my mom", She dramatizes.
"And I will take the return flight along with Amulya to US. I can't handle my parents about this wedding thing. Now that you are getting married, I am sure they are ready with many matches. But I am not as good as Aarohi", Aaravi adds.
Amulya's casual dismissal of the idea of marriage struck a chord with me. She wasn't ready for a relationship, and that was something I understood more than anyone else. But it also meant that I had a challenge ahead of me, one that I was more than willing to accept.
I wasn't going to let her slip away again—not without a fight. If she thought she could evade commitment, then she had another thing coming. I had a feeling I was the man to change her mind.
"I guess the only happy person after your wedding will be Riya. She will have the chance to get close to ...", Aaravi starts again.
"6'2 hot and sexy Greek god Crush", Amulya and Aaravi end the sentence and we inside the room burst into laughter along with the girls outside.
"I hate you guys", Riya shouts and pulls her legs up the chairs and turns herself and faces away from her friends.
"I will stop talking with you guys", she adds.
"Really!! Wow!! This is going to be the best day. We will get peace even in Riya's presence", jokes Aaravi.
"Oh! Really, I thought about giving you the gaming console... ", Amulya starts.
Riya immediately turs towards her friends with brightest smile asks Amulya, "Did you get it? Woww! Now you are my real best friend".
Amulya nods and smiles. "Yeah Babess, I got it", assures Amulya.
"I thought you are going to be silent", scoffs Aaravi.
"I can't let you have peace", Riya sticks her tongue out.
As the group of friends continued to bicker, gossip, and laugh, I found myself more engrossed in Amulya's presence than in the chaotic back-and-forth around us. It was as if everything else faded into the background when she was near. I had only one goal now: to make her mine.
Dinner was on the horizon, but before we left, the teasing continued, a lighthearted moment in an evening filled with revelations.
For the first time in a long while, I had something real to work toward—someone who had piqued my interest, who had the potential to change everything. And I wasn't about to let that slip through my fingers.
This wasn't just any girl. This was Amulya. And I was going to make her see me—not just as the Mr. Rude everyone else saw, but as someone she couldn't forget.
Let the games begin.
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Chapter Aesthetics:
Vikram's Physique
Calm and Beautiful Sunset
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❤❤ Please Do Vote and Comment ❤❤
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