Chapter 3 #2
“I wasn’t. Can we drop the subject now?” He was done talking about the mistake that was Kanika. His closest ones had never approved of her, and it rankled that he’d been so wrong about her. It made him feel like an idiot.
“Good riddance,” Rithwik said.
“I said drop the subject,” Aditya said, flatly.
“Alright, alright,” his mom said. “I’m just happy to know that she’s not going to be an issue any longer.”
“She won’t be.”
His mom exhaled a sigh of relief. Dropping her napkin, she rose. All of them stood as well.
His mom addressed him, “Are you leaving for Dubai again soon?”
“Next week mostly.”
“Good,” she kissed his cheek. I hope you find the ring.”
They sat as she left.
“What ring?” Keya asked.
“Wait… before we get to that,” Raashi gave him a pointed look before she said, “Be honest. You’re not pining over Kanika, right?”
Rithwik leaned closer, his expression serious. “Please tell me you’re not.”
“I am not.”
He actually wasn’t. He was, in fact, glad it was over.
“So, now what?” Keya asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re single now,” Keya said. “Are you ready to mingle?”
“You mean, is he ready to go back to being a playboy?” Rithwik made a face. “Please, no.”
“That’s rich coming from someone who was a known playboy before he got married.” Aditya threw him a dirty look. “In any case, I’m happy being single for now.”
Raashi lowered her cup on the saucer. “Why? I thought you wanted to settle down.”
“Will you guys give me a break?” Aditya said, his tone irate. “I know I made a mistake with Kanika. But that doesn’t mean I rush headlong into a relationship with the next person who comes along. And I’m not going to start sleeping around either.”
“Fine,” Raashi said. “We’re just concerned, that’s all.”
“And we’re here for you,” Rithwik added. “Whatever you need—bad advice, tequila, or a holiday to make you forget you ever knew that greedy witch.”
“Yes, anything for you,” Keya concurred.
Aditya laughed, feeling lighter. His friends were simply the best. They were all successful in their own right, and he was so proud of them. Rithwik led Fortuna International, while Keya was the chief technology officer at Sehgal Systems, and Raashi was a successful restaurateur.
“So, are you all willing to go on a random trip with me?” Aditya asked. He pointed at Rithwik. “What about your wife and kids?” He then pointed at Raashi and Keya. “Your husbands will never be okay to let you go on a trip with Rithwik and me, alone.”
Raashi chuckled. “Sameer wouldn’t have a problem if you’re there. You, he likes. Rithwik is… debatable.”
Rithwik winced. “Are we still hung up on that?”
Aditya laughed. Many years ago, much before Raashi had fallen in love with Sameer, Rithwik had asked her to marry him to fulfill a marriage ultimatum his parents had given him. Although she had refused, Sameer had never really gotten over it. He liked Rithwik, sure, but he was still sore about it.
“I have a better plan,” Keya chirped. “Let’s take our husbands too.”
“So I’ll be the lone idiot tagging along with three lovey-dovey couples on a holiday? Hard pass.”
Keya grimaced. “Okay, not the holiday then. But anything else you ask for is yours.”
“I agree,” Rithwik said, then wrinkled his nose. “Also, no, tequila. Aisha hates it when I get drunk.”
Aditya laughed. “You’re so fucking whipped.”
Ever since his friends had gotten married, their spontaneous parties and unplanned trips had become a thing of the past. “God, I miss those good old days,” Aditya said. “Dancing in nightclubs with you three, tequila shots, partying till sunrise.”
“That was so much fun…” Keya echoed. “Oh, why did we grow up so fast?”
Aditya chuckled. “It was a different phase of life.”
“It was,” Raashi said. “But now is good too.”
Keya and Rithwik grinned. The three of them were all so happy with their spouses and kids.
He loved seeing them like this. He thanked his stars for the day he’d met them.
He’d already been friends with Rithwik when they had decided to go on a college trek.
They had been paired with Keya and Raashi during that trip, and that was it.
He’d gained two more best friends in life.
A few years back, Keya had married Kabier Sehgal and then Raashi had married Kabier’s cousin, Sameer. Despite being happily married and with kids, the girls were extremely protective of Aditya and very nosy when it came to his affairs. Now, thanks to them, their spouses were also friends with him.
“By the way, I’m taking Aisha and the kids to Delhi and then to London. We leave this Saturday,” Rithwik informed.
“That’s amazing!” Raashi said. “We’d planned this whole family trip to Prague for this Diwali break.
You know, all of us, Keya’s whole family, Sheena, Rajiv and the kids, plus my whole family.
But Shauna is working for a few months in Singapore, and Mehak is in her last trimester, so Rishi and she don’t want to travel abroad.
So, we’re thinking of a quick getaway to Goa. ”
Rishi Sehgal, Raashi’s brother-in-law, was also one of Aditya’s good friends, but ever since his wife Mehak had gotten pregnant, he rarely saw him.
Rishi had once been nicknamed the heart wrecker because of the number of broken hearts he left behind in his many escapades.
But those days were long over for him now.
“How is Mehak? Which reminds me I need to call Rishi,” Aditya said. “And wow, Shauna is working in Singapore? I’ll check in on her when I go there next, not sure when that will be though.”
“Yes, please do that…” Raashi smiled. “Mehak is good. We’re all so excited about the baby.”
“Okay, now, what’s the ring Aunty mentioned?” Keya asked. “It sounded important.”
“It’s a family heirloom that went missing several years back. I’ve been searching for it.”
Keya frowned. “Heirloom?”
“Yes. It’s eight-carat, with a square yellow diamond in a gold setting.”
Rithwik whistled. “Nice.”
“Wow, that sounds stunning,” Raashi said.
“It does, indeed,” Keya added. “Tell us more.”
“It belonged to the Maharajah of Patialgarh. He had gifted it to one of his accountants—some great ancestor of mine from my mother’s side—when the maharajah’s heir was born.
It became a treasured family heirloom passed down three or four generations to my mother.
However, she was forced to sell it, along with a lot of other pieces of her jewelry after my father ran the business into the ground.
She’s been looking for it for years. Recently, we learned through some contacts of a way to locate it. ”
“That’s great,” Raashi said. “I hope you find it soon, then.”
They drifted to lighter conversations centered on their spouses, kids, and their mutual group of friends. They chatted about everything and nothing in particular. It was the kind of conversation that was filled with warmth and laughter.
An hour later, Rithwik stood. “Alright, you seem to be cheered enough. Hence, the therapy session is over. Time to go to work.”
Aditya laughed, rising as well. “Thanks for coming, all of you. I know you were concerned about me, but you don’t need to be. I’m just angry that I didn’t see Kanika for who she was earlier.”
Raashi smirked. “Next time, just listen to us.”
It struck him strange that no one close to him had ever really liked Kanika.
Why had he never pondered on that before?
More importantly, what the hell had he been thinking, even considering settling down with Kanika?
She would’ve never fit in with his circle.
Knowing her, she’d have eventually forced him to choose between his friends and her.
And that ultimatum would’ve torn them apart.
Thank God, he’d ended things before they got that far.
Next time, he’d be smarter. Any woman he let into his life, if he ever found someone, would have to fit into all of it—his friends, family, and the works. Because one thing was certain: he wasn’t going against his friends or his mother for anyone.
“Let’s go out one of the nights,” Aditya said. “It’s been too long since we went a bit wild.”
“Yes, let’s…” Keya said as they all headed out.
“Agreed,” Rithwik said. “You all know how much I like to party… Uh, minus the tequila shots though.”
They all laughed. Aditya smiled as he waved them away.
His friends had known exactly what he’d needed and had lifted his spirits.
He was grateful to have them in his life, grateful that they had found love and built something solid.
His friends were lucky. Maybe he wouldn’t be.
Maybe he wouldn’t find the kind of love they all had.
But for now, being surrounded by the right people felt more than enough.