epilogue #3
"So... why exactly did you call me here, sir?" Ishaan asked, looking at me and Samarth with his usual expression that suggested he regretted every decision that had brought him here.
The man hated parties.
Actually...he hated everything that involved people.
Samarth and I wanted him here anyway, so I had called him saying we had an urgent business meeting at the club.
And, as expected... Mr. Workaholic arrived within twenty minutes without questioning it even once.
Because apparently, his life revolved around work and nothing else.
"Come on, Ishaan." Samarth slung an arm around his shoulder. "It's been years. We haven't hung out properly. Just relax and enjoy one night."
To my surprise, Samarth was actually in a great mood today. The old Samarth. The one who dragged people into nonsense. That's exactly why when he suggested a boys' night yesterday, I agreed without thinking twice.
I needed this.
"I am not interested in parties," Ishaan replied flatly. "Especially this loud music."
He looked around the club as though someone had personally insulted his ancestors. "I hate everything about this place." He turned around. "So I'm going home."
"Ishaan!" I called loudly.
He stopped. Turned. "What?"
"Why did you come here in the first place?"
"Because you called me."
"And why did I call you?"
"You said there was a meeting."
"Exactly."
I spread my arms. "This... is the meeting."
He looked around."This is fraud."
Samarth burst into laughter. "No, it's friendship."
"It feels like fraud."
I ignored him.
"Stay the fuck here and enjoy bachelor life with us."
He scoffed."You're not a bachelor anymore."
I pointed at myself proudly."Spiritually, I still am."
"You got married."
"Technicality."
Samarth snorted. " Yes! You're married bastard. Don't you dare forget it."
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. You're still a bachelor. ISHAAN too. So enjoy it before someone ruins your peace."
I handed ishaan a glass of wine. "Here."
He looked at it then looked at me. "I don't drink."
He pushed it back into my hand.
"Fine." I sighed. "Let's dance."
I grabbed his wrist. He immediately pulled it away. "I don't dance."
"Okay..." I rubbed my forehead. "Then tell me... what exactly do you do for entertainment?"
"I work."
Samarth stared at him. "That is not entertainment."
"It is."
"For coma patients." I said annoyingly. "Do you at least like women?"
"Yes."
Samarth and I exchanged hopeful looks.
Finally some progress.
"Then go talk to one!"
I pointed toward a group of women laughing near the dance floor. Ishaan followed my finger. Looked at them then looked back at me.
"They're talking."
"So?"
"I don't want to interrupt."
"They're literally waiting for someone to approach!"
"I'll let someone else fulfill their dreams."
Samarth face-palmed.
"This man is beyond repair."
I nodded.
"Ishaan... be honest. Were you manufactured?"
He frowned. "What?"
"You don't seem human."
"I am."
"Prove it."
He stared at us for a full five seconds before replying in the same emotionless tone. "I can solve a CAPTCHA on Google."
I pulled out a bar stool and threw myself onto it. I had made the biggest mistake of my life by calling this man here.
Samarth sat beside me, already dead.
"Two glasses of Old Fashioned," he told the bartender.
"two for me as well," I added.
The bartender nodded and slid the glasses toward us.
One by one, he filled them while Ishaan stood beside us like a personal bodyguard, hands clasped behind his back, scanning the club.
I saw a woman showing interest in Ishaan as she kept staring at him then she finally moved closer. I smirked, as the feminine hand appeared on Ishaan's chest from behind.
Long manicured nails. Diamond rings. Creamy skin.
I nudged Samarth with my elbow and subtly pointed toward Ishaan with my eyes.
Samarth followed my gaze.
A wicked grin spread across his face.
Finally...
Entertainment.
"Hey, handsome..." a woman purred as she stepped around him and leaned back against the counter between us and Ishaan.
Her black shimmering dress hugged her figure, matching the long earrings and bracelet that sparkled beneath the club lights.
"Would you like some private company tonight?"
"Not interested," Ishaan answered, straightforward like always.
She giggled as though he had flirted instead of rejected her.
"Oh, come on." Her fingers slowly slid from his chest to the collar of his shirt. "Don't tell me you're here all alone."
"I just told you."
"No..." she smiled playfully. "I mean emotionally."
"I prefer it that way."
Samarth buried his face in his palm, embarrassed. "She'll leave in ten..."
"I give her thirty seconds," I whispered back.
The woman leaned even closer to Ishaan as if trying to inhale his fragrance. "You're very handsome."
"Thank you."
Thank you? Is that really him?
She smiled wider. "So... what's your name?"
"Ishaan Awasthi."
"Are you Single?"
"Yes."
"Looking?"
"No."
"Can I buy you a drink?"
"No."
"A dance?"
"No."
"Your number?"
"No."
"Your Instagram?"
"I don't have one."
"Snapchat?"
"Whats that?"
She sighed."WhatsApp?"
"For work only."
She looked frustrated. "What do you do for fun?"
"I update Excel sheets."
I nearly spat out my drink. Samarth grabbed my arm for support before he fell off the stool, laughing.The poor woman stared at him in disbelief.
"You're joking... right?"
"No."
She tried one last time, tracing a finger lightly along his arm. "You know... I can make your night unforgettable."
Ishaan looked down at her hand. " My therapist says I should avoid bad decisions."
Her smile disappeared. She stomped her foot. "Fuck you, asshole!" Then she turned sharply toward us.
Only then did I get a proper look at her while my lips were still pressed against the rim of my glass. Her eyes slowly roamed over me from head to toe before she ran her tongue over her lips.
"I think I've seen you before," she whispered, leaning closer.
Fuck.
How did she make a complete one-eighty so suddenly?
Samarth pushed my head away to look at her clearly.
I placed my glass on the counter, my mouth still full of whiskey because I hadn't even gotten the chance to swallow it.
He blinked at her a couple of times before his face suddenly lit up. "Oh yeah!" he exclaimed excitedly. "We've met before."
She smiled.
"You're the same woman who approached us last time and tried to buy us for a one-night stand."
The moment those words left his mouth... I sprayed the entire mouthful of whiskey straight out.
"Asshole... you're seriously pissing me off. I'll shove your face so far up your own ass you'll start speaking backwards," Samarth swore.
I completely ignored him. Because the woman standing in front of me had suddenly become the biggest threat to my married life.
She had lost all interest in Ishaan.
Now those very sinful eyes were shamelessly checking me out from head to toe.
"Ohhh..." she smiled knowingly. "Now I remember."
She leaned closer. "We've met before... and both of you ran away."
Her gaze shifted to Samarth for a second before returning to me. "But God... you've both gotten even hotter."
She reached for my jacket.
"Can you take this off? I want a proper look at those biceps."
I immediately clutched my jacket to my chest.
"No!"
"Arrey, of course he can," Samarth chirped like the traitor he was. Before I could react, he pulled my jacket off and casually placed it on the counter.
I instantly crossed my arms over my chest.
"Rathore!"
The woman laughed. "Oh, come on. You're hiding a masterpiece."
She pushed my arms apart and shamelessly ran her fingers over my shoulders, biceps, and chest.
I looked at Samarth with pure betrayal. "Bastard... stop her before she adopts me."
Samarth calmly took another sip of his drink. "I think she's just appreciating good architecture."
"Architecture?" He meant my body.
"She seems interested in your construction."
I fucking wanted to resign from this friendship.
The woman leaned closer again. "Last time we couldn't make a deal... but I'm still interested."
She opened her designer clutch, pulled out a sleek black card, and smiled.
"So... what's your price? I really want you for tonight."
My soul left my body.
Is...
Is this woman serious?
Without wasting another second, I grabbed Samarth by the shoulders and shoved him between us. She looked at him. Her card slowly moved from beside my face to his chest.
"Actually, ma'am..." Samarth smiled awkwardly. "I think you've selected the wrong candidate."
"She wanted you," I said immediately, pushing him towards her again.
"No, no!" he protested, shoving me ahead this time. "She clearly wants you!"
"She absolutely doesn't!"
"She absolutely does!"
The woman sighed helplessly. "Boys... relax." She waved her card. "I have enough money. I can still afford both of you."
I looked at the ceiling. God... Please. I'm never stepping inside this club again.
"No!" I yelled. "Take him!" I pushed Samarth toward her.
He immediately bounced back into me.
"You're the handsome one!"
"No, you're the handsome one!"
"You're taller and richer!"
"You idiot!" I hissed, grabbing his collar. "I'm married to your psycho sister!"
Samarth froze. His eyes slowly widened. It was like someone had finally switched his brain on.
"Oh... shit."
He instantly picked up my jacket and threw it over my shoulders and dragged me behind him protectively.
"Sorry, madam." He raised both hands. "This specimen is unavailable. He belongs exclusively to my sister. And trust me... if she even smells another woman's perfume on him, she'll make both of us disappear."
I nodded vigorously behind him. "She won't even ask questions first."
The woman sighed in disappointment.
"Aww...So he's married now. My bad luck." She genuinely looked heartbroken. "I don't fuck married men."
Good woman. Respect. I finally exhaled peacefully.