Chapter 14
The day had already been chaotic as hell-unexpected encounters, flirty insults, and near heart attacks. But now?
Now, I was sitting in a restaurant... having lunch... with Mr. Khadoos.
And who do I have to thank for this nightmare?
Riya. My beloved best friend.
When we were leaving the bookstore, she had-like the absolute traitor she is-turned to Rudra and said,
"Sir, since we all clearly enjoy ruining Maya's day, why not continue over lunch?"
And this man-instead of declining like a normal human-had simply smirked and said,
"Sure. I'm always in the mood to annoy her."
Wow. How sweet.
Agar dost Aisa ho toh , dushman kisko chahiye?
(If friends are like this, who needs enemies?)
Now, here I was, trapped, stabbing my fork into my pasta like it personally wronged me, while Riya chatted happily with Satan in a Suit.
"So, Rudra Sir-" I swear she was doing this on purpose
"what's your favorite type of food?"
He barely glanced up from his plate. "Anything simple."
I scoffed. "Figures. Emotionless food for an emotionless man."
He smirked, finally looking at me. "You sure talk a lot for someone who was cursing me under her breath five minutes ago."
"You heard that?" I asked, mortified.
"Furball, at this point, I can hear your thoughts."
Riya choked on her drink.
I picked up my napkin, ready to surrender to fate.
This was it. I was retiring from life.
Riya was still grinning like she had just won the best-wingwoman-ever award when she suddenly gasped, checking her phone.
Oh no. I know that fake gasp.
"Maya! I totally forgot I have to go pick up something from a friend nearby."
I blinked at her. "Haa, toh lunch ke baad-"
( "Okay? So go after lunch-")
"No, no! It's urgent!" She stood up dramatically, grabbing her bag. "I'll just leave you two to finish eating."
"Riya-"
"Bye, lovebirds!" what??? LOVE BIRDS? She has gone crazy.
And just like that-my so-called best friend deserted me.
I watched her disappear through the exit, my jaw on the floor.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I muttered, finally turning back to the only other person at the table.
Rudra didn't even pretend to deny it. "Immensely."
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "God, I need a new best friend."
"You need a new escape plan," he corrected, sipping his black coffee like he was born to annoy me. "Because at this rate, she'll have us married in six months."
I nearly choked on my drink. "EXCUSE ME?"
He tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "What? You think she's doing all this for fun? She enjoys watching you squirm."
I do not squirm.
I... mildly panic.
I exhaled, trying to calm my racing heart. "Okay. We eat. We leave. We never talk about this again."
Rudra hummed in amusement, clearly not planning to let me off that easily. "Sure, furball. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
I was going to lose my mind.
God, I was having too much fun teasing my little furball.
And for once, I actually appreciated someone else's existence-her best friend, Riya. Finally, someone with common sense.
She had practically gift-wrapped this moment for me before making a dramatic exit, leaving Maya here, flustered, glaring at her plate like it had personally offended her.
Adorable.
I sipped my coffee, watching her stew in her frustration. "You're awfully quiet, furball. Not planning your next escape attempt, are you?"
Her eyes snapped to mine, filled with pure murder. "Oh, don't worry. The second I finish this pasta, I'm vanishing."
I chuckled. "And here I thought you were enjoying my company."
She pointed her fork at me. "I'd rather enjoy a math exam."
Liar.
I leaned back in my seat, amused. "Keep telling yourself that, furball."
She muttered something under her breath, stabbing her food with unnecessary force.
At this point, I was just waiting for fate to give me one more opportunity to mess with her.
And as if on cue-
A waiter walked over with the bill and smiled at us.
"Would you like me to pack dessert for you and your boyfriend, ma'am?"
Silence.
Maya went rigid. Her fork slipped from her hand.
I smirked, taking a slow sip of my coffee. Perfect.
"B-boyfriend?" she sputtered, turning to the waiter like he had just committed a crime. "He is NOT-"
I cut in smoothly, "She's shy."
Maya choked. "WHAT?"
The waiter chuckled. "Ah, young love."
Maya turned to me, eyes wide, absolutely scandalized. "professor , TELL HIM-"
I simply shrugged, enjoying her meltdown. "Why? He seems happy for us."
If looks could kill, I'd be dead.
Maya Raichand was going to explode.
And I was going to enjoy every second of it.
Boyfriend.
BOYFRIEND?!
I swear, for a full five seconds, my soul left my body.
The waiter was still standing there, smiling like he had just witnessed the most romantic moment of his life. Meanwhile, I was two seconds away from strangling the person sitting across from me.
I turned to Mr.khadoos , my voice dangerously low. "Fix. This."
He simply sipped his coffee, calm as ever. "Fix what?"
I clenched my fists. "Tell him the truth."
He raised an eyebrow, pretending to think. "Hmm. I don't know, furball. You did puncture my car tire yesterday. Maybe I deserve a little fun?"
I gasped. "YOU-"
The waiter, still blissfully unaware of my impending homicide, smiled even wider. "Ah, a playful couple! You must keep things exciting."
Exciting? I was about to throw this man across the restaurant.
I turned back to the poor, innocent waiter, forcing a smile. "Listen, there's been a mistake. He is not my-"
"Babe, you don't have to be shy," Rudra cut in smoothly. "You can admit it."
...I stopped breathing.
The waiter beamed. "Sir, you're a lucky man."
Rudra smirked, glancing at me. "I know."
THAT'S IT. MURDER IS HAPPENING TODAY.
I kicked his shin under the table.
HARD.
He barely flinched. Just raised an eyebrow like he had expected it.
I turned back to the waiter, desperately trying to salvage my dignity. "We are NOT dating. He is my professor-"
"-who takes her out for lunch," Mr.khadoos added, amused.
"-and he is TORTURING ME," I snapped.
The waiter blinked. "Uh... so no dessert to-go?"
I grabbed my purse and stood up, ready to escape. "No. No dessert. No boyfriend. NO SANITY."
Rudra took his sweet time getting up, stretching like he hadn't just mentally destroyed me in public.
He pulled out his wallet, calmly handing the waiter a tip. "Keep the change. She's always dramatic."
I HATE HIM.
I stormed towards the exit, furious, embarrassed, and convinced that karma was going to punish him for this.
And just as I stepped outside-
It started raining.
...ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
I turned back slowly, meeting Rudra's smug gaze as he stood in the doorway. "Need a ride home, furball?"
I wanted to scream.
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( Hey sweeties, First I'd like to apologise that i couldn't upload a chapter at Morning, because I had to go to Computer class and after returning home i started watching Train to Busan and still can't stop crying.
But here I'm again with Chapter . And Do you like this Chapter?
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