CHAPTER 16! NEW COUPLE ? #3
"First." He pointed toward the traffic camera mounted on the signal post above them. "You jumped the lane to bypass the moving truck."
Her mouth opened slightly.
Vivaan raised a second finger. "Second. You were texting while accelerating."
"And you were so busy admiring yourself in the rearview mirror that you missed a car coming straight at you," she fired back, her grip tightening around her phone to shield it from view.
Vivaan didn't flinch.
He simply raised a third finger.
"Third. I am already late."
Something about his absolute lack of panic-his clinical, boardroom-style breakdown of her accident-irritated her to no end. "Oh, so you think money and a big car solve everything?"
Vivaan didn't flinch. He reached into his tailored jacket, pulling out a sleek leather cardholder. He handed her a crisp card. "My insurance office."
He slid out another card.
"My legal department."
Then a third.
"My assistant."
She looked down at the cards.
Insurance. Legal. Assistant.
For a second, even she had nothing to say. Then she looked back up at him.
"Three cards?"
"Yes."
"That's excessive."
"It's efficient."
"Do you carry emergency cards for emotional damage too?"
For the first time, Vivaan paused. His eyes scanned her face, a rare hint of hesitation flitting across his cold features. "No."
"Shame," she muttered, sliding them between her fingers like a deck of playing cards. "You look like you inflict a lot of it."
Vivaan stepped a fraction closer. Not threateningly, just with total control.
"Call whichever one you prefer. But if your next sentence is another attempt at creating a cheap public spectacle... then I'll handle this transaction personally."
She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze.
"Is that supposed to scare me?"
Vivaan looked genuinely puzzled, his eyes scanning her face with detached curiosity.
"Why would I waste the effort?"
Before she could process the insult, he turned on his heel, re-entered his vehicle, and started the engine.
The Range Rover pulled smoothly away into the opening traffic, leaving her standing in the middle of the road, fuming.
She looked down at the top card in her hand.
Vivaan Khanna.
She rolled the name across her tongue once, sliding the cards into her pocket with a sharp grin. "Corporate Badtamiz. God, I already hate him."
Meanwhile, back at the Agrawal Mansion, the doorbell rang with a loud, impatient
rhythm.
Aadhira opened the heavy wooden door absentmindedly and froze.
The girl standing on the doormat froze too, a massive designer tote bag hanging off her shoulder.
Three seconds of silence passed. Then-
"KASHVIIIII!"
"AADHIRAAAA!"
The synchronized scream could probably be heard in the neighboring zip codes. Both girls launched themselves forward, colliding into a frantic hug that nearly knocked them both off balance.
"Oh my God!"
"Oh my God, you're actually back!"
"You look entirely alive," Kashvi said, pulling back to inspect her, her dramatic micro-frown returning. "That's disappointing. I was aiming for mysterious and ghostly."
"You absolute liar!"
"You beautiful witch!"
They hugged again, because one embrace was insufficient for best friends who hadn't seen each other since Milan.
The volume of the commotion attracted the entire household.
Padmini emerged from the kitchen first, followed by Veer, Shaurya, and the two kids trailing behind.
Everyone stopped in the grand hallway, watching.
Kashvi pulled away, smoothed down her vibrant jacket, and folded her hands toward the audience. "Namaste, uncle, aunty. Mujhe dekh ke itne shocked mat ho. Main itni bhi khubsurat nahi hoon."
Padmini laughed, shaking her head. "Aaja beta, andar aaja."
Veer smiled warmly, stepping forward. "Finally remembered India exists, Kashvi?"
"Uncle, Milan has thoroughly disappointed me," Kashvi declared, walking into the living room like she owned the title deed to the property.
Shaurya smirked from the stairs.
"So. The second menace is back."
Aadhira crossed her arms, a suspicious smile on her face. "Why are you here on a Friday morning, Kash?"
Kashvi looked entirely innocent. "How rude Aadhi, it's because I missed you, obviously."
Aadhira stared. Kashvi stared back.
Five seconds. Six. Seven.
"Aur?"
"Aur kuch nahi."
"Aur?"
"Nothing, I swear."
"Kashvi, aur?"
Kashvi sighed dramatically, throwing her hands in the air. "Fine! My boss fired me."
Silence fell over the room.
Then Shaurya burst into a loud laugh.
"WHAT?" Aadhira gasped. "Sach sach bata."
"Sach hi bata rahi hoon!" Kashvi pointed an accusing finger at the ceiling. "He actually fired me!"
Shaurya leaned against the back of the sofa, smirking. "Iska matlab asli kahani aur bhi kharab hai. What did you do this time?"
"Nothing! I am the absolute victim here. I just told him that I need holiday because I am in depression because my bestfriend is not here ."
Aadhira's eyebrows shot up. "That can't be all you said."
It wasn't.
"I told him that you also look depressed because she is not here."
Padmini nearly choked on her morning tea. Shaurya fell sideways onto the couch, laughing so hard he couldn't breathe.
"And?" Aadhira pressed on.