Page 8 of Forged By Fate

I looked up in surprise.

“I’m sorry…,” I began unsurely.

“It’s Dhruv Mehta from Saraswati Vidyamandir. I was your bench partner in tenth grade,” he said.

“No! That’s impossible! Dhruv Mehta was short and skinny,” I said, shaking my head.

“Not anymore,” he replied with a grin.

Fuck me! I remembered that grin! Nothing else about the tall, well-built man standing in front of me was familiar except that grin. Dhruv and I had been best friends and partners in crime in the tenth grade.

“Ohmigod! Dhruv! You fell off the face of the earth after tenth grade,” I exclaimed as I threw my arms around him.

He returned the hug warmly before he turned to Sufi. I linked arms with both of them and introduced them as the crowd swept us inexorably towards the exit.

“Sufi, this rat bastard is my best friend from high school, who abandoned me as soon as he was done copying my answer sheets for the board exams.”

Dhruv laughed and shook his head.

“Oh, please! I was so tired of you stealingmyanswer sheets that I begged my Dad to move to the other side of the world.”

“Seriously, though. Where did you disappear?” I asked. “I tried calling you after the exams, but your landline was disconnected. And your neighbour told me you guys had moved away.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you we were moving, Sue. My Dad got into trouble with the local mafia around the time of our board exams, and he forced us to return to our hometown in Surat practically overnight. I was cut off from all my friends to make sure the goons couldn’t trace us. But I’m glad I finally got to meet you after so many years,” he replied as we reached the place where our golf carts were parked.

“Are you here with your family?” I asked, looking beyond him.

“No, I’m here for a conference,” he said.

“What do you do for a living, Dhruv?” asked Sufi like the nosy queen that he was.

“I’m a neurologist.”

“Ooh, very fancy,” said Sufi approvingly. “Married?”

“Determinedly single,” replied Dhruv, with a laugh.

“So what are your plans for tonight? Care to join us? Sunaina and I are off to Annabel’s.”

“Yes! You should come with us, Dhruv,” I said. “It would be lovely to catch up…”

My words trailed away as I felt a sudden menacing presence at my back. Dhruv looked beyond me and then shot me a quizzical glance. I gritted my teeth and tried to ignore Viren, who was scowling at Dhruv.

“Mr C, youmustmeet Sunaina’s childhood friend,” said the Narad Muni of my life, with an evil grin.

Dhruv put out a hand and Viren took it unwillingly.

“Hi, I’m Dhruv. And you are?”

“Sunaina’s husband,” replied Viren coldly. “Viren Chaudhry.”

Dhruv’s smile dimmed a little.

“I didn’t know you were married, Sue. But the best ones always are,” he said ruefully.

“Dhruv is a doctor! And he’s coming with us to Annabel’s,” said Sufi pointedly.

Viren stiffened at the news, but he gave Dhruv a polite smile, which left Sufi visibly disappointed.

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