Page 21 of That Same Old Love

Sighing, he sat down on the floor opposite to them.

Mahi noticed that even though Samrat was in his expensive business suit, he still appeared very raw and masculine in an uncivilized way, like a warrior hero on some dirty women’s historical romance novels, who was about to plunder an innocent, but secretly willing heroine.

She got up from the floor, feeling irritated for thinking about him along those lines.I really must get a job soon to occupy my mind. She got back an ice cold bottle of water from the fridge and a clean glass.

Srishti was still distributing the cards and chips and Samrat politely declined any snacks. He just drank the water,surprisingly straight from the bottle by raising it on top of his mouth, not touching it.

Mahi stared at his powerful throat in fascination and looked away feeling like a voyeur.What the hell is wrong with you!her mind shouted.

Soon they began to play and Srishti surprisingly had picked up all the techniques Mahi had taught her in the last forty five minutes or so. Both Mahi and Srishti were cheating, but Samrat was pretty good at poker.

* * *

Samrat had been watching Srishti and Mahi acting sweet, sincere and calm from the past hour. Knowing both of them, he didn’t buy their act, and caught on to what was happening earlier on.

“You know, it’s not fair that you have the perfect face for this game,” Mahi told him after their tenth round.

He watched Mahi in particular, very intently. She was currently smiling mischievously and exchanging conspiring looks with Srishti. It was fascinating that even though Mahi was his sister’s age, she would never be what society considered as aproper wifeor amother material. She was unpredictable and had way too much drama going on in her life.

All of which I don’t need in my life, he thought irritably.

He looked at Mahi with an even more exaggerated expressionless face. “Really? Is that the best you can come up with? Even after both you and Srishti planned to cheat your way through the game?”

Srishti giggled. “How did you know Samrat uncle? Mahi aunty was teaching me how to cheat, so I can know when others are trying to cheatme. I’m going to kick Abhijeet and Abhinav’s asses if they try to pull a fast one on me the next time.”

Mahi gave him a challenging grin. “Srishti, don’t use your American slang that Mahi aunty taught you a while ago. Your uncle won’t appreciate it.”

He looked at Mahi and felt the same attraction he felt before, when he saw her two weeks ago. That attraction had scared him enough to drive him away from his parents’ house to his house, and then eventually out of the country. But seeing her in a carefree and mischievous manner with his niece lowered his defenses towards her.

He smiled back at Mahi. “Her uncle doesn’t mind some harmless American slang.”

Samrat and Mahi were smiling amicably at each other. “So do you know my mother and father, too, Mahi Aunty? They studied in the same college as Samrat Uncle.”

Mahi and Samrat froze. Mahi with shock over the realization.

Mahi got over her shock quickly. She now knew Srishti was Sidhu and Ananya’s daughter.

She stared at Samrat and couldn’t get her eyes off from his face. He must have had a realization of his own. The slight smile on his face had dropped and he was getting grimmer by the second.

They heard a car honking outside.

Srishti got up from the floor. “That must be my driver. It must six o’clock already! I have to go.”

Samrat got up too. “I’ll come with you to your car.”

Looking at Mahi, Srishti said. “Bye Mahi aunty. Hope I’ll see you again soon. It was so cool meeting you and we should definitely watch those new music videos together sometime. How about when I come to Samrat Uncle’s house again next week?”

Mahi ignored Samrat’s grim look and smiled at Srishti. “Anytime, Srishti. You are welcome anytime. Bye.”

Samrat glared icily at her and followed behind Srishti.

Mahi stood near the doorstep uncertainly. “Hey, Samrat. Can I speak to you for a moment when you are free? I have something for you.”

He looked at her. “I have something to say to you, too,” he told her ominously and went to drop Srishti by her car.

When Samrat and Srishti began chatting near the car, Mahi went back inside the house.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. So Tarzan can stuff it,” Mahi muttered, clearing up the glasses and snack plates from the living room.

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