Chapter 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.
Raashi listened to her friends’ laugh and chat and savored the bliss she always felt when they were around. She was genuinely happy for Keya. Listening to her and Sheena talk excitedly about the baby made Raashi feel content. She watched them quietly as they spoke nonstop.
Suddenly becoming aware of her silence, Keya turned to her and clasped her hand. “You know honey, I know it’s not the right time to mention it, but I know.”
Raashi gave her a blank look and turned to Sheena who looked back at her with a straight face. Raashi squinted her eyes at Sheena in a silent question and she nodded back.
Raashi turned back to Keya, her heart squeezing and asked, “Just to be clear, what exactly do you know?”
“I know about him and you and what happened between you both on the night of my reception.”
Raashi turned to Sheena and before she could even form a question, Keya held up her hand to stop her from speaking. “She didn’t tell me, Kabier did. Sameer told Kabier and Rishi recently.”
Raashi was stumped. What exactly had he told them? Oh, this was just too callous. Why had he discussed that night with them? Why now? Was it because of the land? God! Sameer just made her so angry all the time.
Keya squeezed her hand again.
“Raashi, relax honey. Perhaps that didn’t sound right to you. But honestly, he didn’t give Kabier any details. You don’t need to be embarrassed. I promise he didn’t say much.”
Raashi released a ragged sigh.
“God! I am so sorry, Raashi. You must have gone through so much emotionally and I wasn’t there when you needed me the most. I didn’t figure it out until recently that you were hurt so awfully.” Keya said sadly.
Raashi took Keya’s hand in hers.
“Keya, no, don’t be sad. I am fine. Besides, I am sorry for having kept it from you. I just didn’t want my problems to come in the way of your new found happiness.”
“Please, Raashi. Don’t ever feel that way again.
You mean the world to me. You and Sheena.
I love you both to bits,” Keya said. A tear spilled down her cheek.
She rubbed the tear away and said, “God, I cry so easily nowadays. It’s all these pregnancy hormones going haywire. Kabier doesn’t know how to handle it.”
Keya laughed reaching out to Sheena and squeezing her hand as well.
“My cousin is an insensitive idiot. I am still angry with him for walking out on you like you were one of his usual flings. That dog. He knew you’re my best friend and I hate him for treating you so cheaply,” Sheena roared.
“Absolutely,” Keya said, agreeing with her. “You know I am going to give him a piece of my mind when I meet him next.”
“No. You will do no such thing, Keya,” Raashi implored. “And please don’t talk about him like ‘he who shall not be named’ around me? I am not afraid to hear his name. So stop it you two.”
She looked at both of them for a second to gather her thoughts before continuing, “I took his hand that day and went with him already thinking of forever. But he didn’t share that sentiment.
So, really, I shouldn’t blame him. Although I did for a long time, because I truly thought that he cared about me.
There are so many scenarios that have played in my mind about that night and each time they always have the same ending.
I wanted him that night and that’s why I went with him.
I am at fault as well for assuming he wanted more when he obviously didn’t. ”
Raashi took a deep breath. “I have to move past it. I refuse to keep holding on to it. And most importantly, this cannot and should not be causing a rift between him and his family. ”
She turned to Sheena. “And you need to drop it as well. I know you’re hurting for me, Sheena.
But let it go now. I have moved on and so has he.
In all likelihood, he may marry Natasha.
You guys have to move on. So many people have one-night stands.
It’s just that my emotional quotient is too high even for my own comfort.
It has taken me time to get over it but I am fine now.
I am stronger. For my sake you girls have to let it go. Okay?”
Her friends remained quiet but nodded in agreement.
“And by the way, I have some really funny and interesting news,” and then looking at their expectant and waiting faces, Raashi said, “Rithwik asked me to marry him.”
“No way,” Keya said.
“Oh. My. God,” Sheena remarked looking stunned.
“Explain. Now,” Keya ordered.
Raashi explained Rithwik’s situation to them, his father’s ultimatum and how she was at the top of his father’s list of prospective brides for Rithwik. She also told them how serious Rithwik was about marrying her and that he had asked her to think about it.
“It’s so crazy, isn’t it? I mean Rithwik and me? I can’t even imagine it.”
“Why? I think you’d be perfect together.
You’re both smart and independent, you’ve been friends since years and you care for him.
I don’t want to say it but let’s not forget he is the heir to Fortuna.
Really Raashi, what’s not perfect here? Say yes and marry him,” Sheena said in her usual dreamy way.
Raashi saw Keya watching her carefully.
“What?” Raashi asked her.
“Yes,” Sheena insisted. “Tell her Keya. Tell her to marry him.”
“Hmm... and what about love and chemistry?” Keya asked quietly.
“Oh, come on, Keya,” Sheena said. “It’s Rithwik. We all know he’s hot. So, of course, the chemistry would be great. And he owns Fortuna or he will, once she marries him, so what’s not to love?” Sheena splayed her hands out dramatically.
Before Raashi could say a word, she heard Keya’s angry response.
“That’s a super selfish thing to say. You married Rajiv for love and not his money so how can you expect her to settle for any less.” Turning to Raashi she said, “You’re not marrying him unless you’re one hundred per cent sure you can fall in love with him and he with you.”
“That’s just plain stupid,” Sheena muttered.
“No, it’s not,” Keya insisted.
Back and forth, Sheena and Keya argued. They weren’t giving her a chance to talk at all. Finally, she put her hands on each of their mouths, effectively silencing them.
“Okay, you two, enough now.”
Raashi turned to Sheena. “I don’t care about his money. I care about him and yes he’s special to me. But I agree with Keya. I am not in love with him and he is definitely not in love with me. And I doubt we have any kind of chemistry to make it work. So no, I am not going to say yes to him.”
Sheena mumbled something through Raashi’s hand that was still pressed on her mouth. Raashi promptly took her hands away.
“At least, promise me you will think about it,” Sheena beseeched and then she turned to Keya. “Well, she can at least consider if it’s possible for her to love Rithwik and him her.”
Sheena turned back to Raashi. “And as for the chemistry, well, have you ever, you know, kissed him?”
Raashi shook her head, aghast.
“So, you’ve never been intimate with him?” Sheena pried.
“Ugh, no, Sheena. It’s Rithwik for God’s sake. Even the thought of it is way too weird,” Raashi replied, horrified by the prospect even.
Sheena scowled at her. “You are mad. One of the hottest, most eligible men we know has asked you to marry him and you are not even considering it. Please, for my sake think about it before you refuse him.”
Before Raashi could reply the doorbell rang again, this time followed by the key turning in the lock.
A few seconds later, Jiya came into Raashi’s room and squealed in delight at seeing Keya and Sheena.
Raashi watched happily as her sister giggled with her two friends.
Everything was indeed right in her world.