CH 34 ONE DANCE, ONE JEALOUS AKDOO
The next day-
the MBA cafeteria looked less like an educational institution and more like a wedding where nobody knew who was paying.
Music blasted.
People shouted.
Someone was attempting bhangra.
Someone else was crying over summer placements.
Normal MBA behavior.
Kabir stood on a chair.
"Attention everybody!"
Rahul looked horrified.
"Oh no."
"He's standing."
"Which means society is ending."
Kabir ignored him.
"Today!"
He spread his arms dramatically.
"We celebrate Mini Freshers Throwback Day!"
Three juniors cheered.
Nobody knew why.
Even they didn't know why.
---
At their table-
Aadhira was peacefully eating fries.
Which meant trouble was approaching.
Because Reyansh Khanna suddenly stood up.
Placed one hand over his heart.
And looked offended.
Deeply offended.
"Aadhi."
Aadhira immediately narrowed her eyes.
"What now?"
"I have suffered."
"No."
"I have been betrayed."
"No."
"I have been robbed."
"No."
"I missed Freshers Night."
"So?"
"So..."
He pointed dramatically.
"I demand compensation."
Kabir froze.
Anika paused her drink.
Rahul whispered,
"Oh, this looks expensive."
Aadhira sighed.
"What compensation?"
Reyansh smiled.
"A dance."
Silence.
Pure silence.
Kabir dropped his fries.
"HE SAID IT!"
Anika was already recording.
"No, no."
Aadhira shook her head.
"Absolutely not."
"Twenty years."
"No."
"Twenty years, Aadhi."
"No."
"Friendship."
"No."
"Memories."
"No."
"Puppy eyes."
"REYANSH NO-"
Too late.
The bastard activated them.
Kabir gasped.
"Illegal."
"Those eyes are illegal."
Rahul folded his hands.
"Protect us, God."
---
"Please."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Please."
"Stop blinking."
"I can't."
"You're doing it on purpose."
"Yes."
The entire table joined in.
"Say yes!"
"JUST DANCE!"
"HE CAME ALL THIS WAY!"
"LOOK AT HIS FACE!"
Even Anika betrayed her.
"Aadhi, honestly, he looks like a lost Labrador."
Finally-
Aadhira groaned.
"Fine!"
The cafeteria erupted.
Reyansh grinned victoriously.
"Excellent."
Then he smiled.
"And if I successfully dance without stepping on your feet-"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Reyansh."
"I deserve a lunch date."
The table exploded.
Kabir ascended spiritually.
"OOOOOOOOHHHH!"
Aadhira nearly choked.
"What?!"
"No!"
"One lunch."
"No."
"Twenty years."
"No."
"Friendship."
"No."
"Puppy eyes."
"NO!"
"Puppy eyes plus emotional blackmail."
"REYANSH!"
Kabir slammed the table.
"LET THE MAN COOK!"
Rahul buried his face.
"We are all unemployed."
"Nobody is cooking."
---
Eventually-
defeated by twenty years of shamelessness-
Aadhira sighed.
"Fine."
"ONE lunch."
"Happy?"
Reyansh fist-pumped.
"Very."
---
Unfortunately-
Arjun Oberoi chose that exact moment to drink water.
And almost died.
---
Kabir slowly turned.
Then toward Arjun.
Then toward Reyansh.
Then toward Aadhira.
And smiled.
Which was terrifying.
Because Kabir smiling usually meant human civilization had failed.
---
Anika followed his gaze.
And suddenly-
her eyes widened.
Then widened more.
Then widened again.
"Oh my God."
Arjun frowned.
"What?"
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"He's buffering."
Kabir gasped.
"HE IS!"
Rahul blinked.
"What?"
Kabir pointed.
"Look at him!"
"Our beloved emotionally constipated billionaire!"
"He hasn't blinked in twenty seconds!"
Arjun glared.
"Shut up."
The entire table screamed.
"HE SPOKE!"
---
By evening-
the party was in full swing.
Music blasted.
Lights flashed.
Someone had been friend-zoned.
Someone was singing Arijit Singh off-key.
And Kabir had somehow convinced two exchange students that he was famous on Instagram.
Which was technically true.
He had four thousand followers.
Three thousand were bots.
---
Meanwhile-
Arjun Oberoi was miserable.
Not that anyone could tell.
Except literally everyone.
Because the idiot had spent forty minutes pretending not to stare.
And failing terribly.
Whiskey untouched.
Jaw clenched.
Eyes fixed on the dance floor.
---
Anika sat beside him.
"You're pathetic."
"No."
"You're staring."
"No."
"You're dying."
"No."
"She's pretty."
Silence.
"Shut up."
Anika gasped.
"Oh my God."
"No."
"You're jealous."
"No."
"You're in love."
"No."
"You're emotionally unemployed."
Kabir nearly fell off his chair.
"EMOTIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT!"
"THAT'S HIS DISEASE!"
---
Then-
the music changed.
A slower song.
Reyansh smiled.
"Promise is promise."
Aadhira laughed.
"Promise is promise."
And placed her hand in his.
Cheers erupted.
Arjun's soul resigned.
---
Kabir quietly moved his chair away.
"Nope."
"I choose life."
---
Reyansh spun her.
She almost tripped.
Again.
And burst out laughing.
He caught her.
Again.
"Seriously?"
"It's tradition."
"Medical condition."
"Talent."
Years of memories.
Years of friendship.
Effortless comfort.
And somehow-
that hurt Arjun more.
Because Reyansh wasn't trying.
He just knew her.
---