Page 64 of That Same Old Love

CHAPTER 20

They landed in India early in the morning and drove back home in Samrat’s SUV. Samrat helped her unload her bags and placed them inside her house. Then he simply stood staring at her.

“You should go now. Aren’t Srishti and Ananya coming to visit you in a few minutes?” Mahi reminded him softly, feeling her chest tighten a little, making it difficult to breathe easily.

He nodded, but still waited inside her doorstep watching her. “I’ll see you later this evening or maybe later tonight when I’m back. I have to finish up some pending work,” he said softly.

“Okay. I need to meet my cousin, aunt and my friends today too. So yeah, we can meet tonight maybe,” she tried to sound casual, as though it wouldn’t make any difference if they were not able to meet that night.

He brushed his finger on her cheek and kissed her softly on her lips. And then giving her one last lingering look, he walked across the street and went into his house.

Meantime, she felt the reality of what they had done hitting her hard. Sure they had laid out the terms of their deal pretty clearly and she was onboard with most of the rules. But what she hadn’t anticipated was slowly falling for Samrat during their time together. She had naively thought that she wouldn’t miss him every minute of the day when they got back to their real lives where they had separate family and friends to cater to.

“I’m a big girl. I don’t need him joined at my hip always. I can handle being alone again,” she muttered.

Meantime, her heart was pounding inside her as though it was saying,I want him and I miss him so much alreadywhileher brain kept screaming,do not fall for him, you fool!Her brain and heart were having a fist fight in which she hoped to god that her brain would win that match.

Mahi met her aunt and her cousin Rajeev for a few hours, before heading to Jhanvi’s house where the rest of her friends were also gathering.

Entering a well-kept gated community, she saw a lot of kids playing in muddy puddles in a grass lawn. One of the perks of living in India was that the kids didn’t need an adult monitoring them all the time.

Sighing, she walked to Jhanvi’s house and knocked on the door. Jhanvi greeted her and informed her that rest of the gang was there already.

When Mahi sat down, she heard someone rushing down the stairs shouting in excitement.

“Mom! Mom! I finished my book report. Now I want to—” an eight year old boy said in excitement before Jhanvi interrupted him.

“Arjun, first say hello to my friends. You have met everyone before except one. This is Mahi aunty,” Jhanvi told him.

Mahi and others greeted him.

“Hello,” Jhanvi’s son Arjun greeted them back halfheartedly before looking at his mom in excitement. “Mom, can I play outside in the big playground with Rishaan and others? The stupid stinking rain has stopped a few hours ago.”

“Arjun, how many times should I remind you, not to use any bad words? And yes, you can play now. But make sure you are back in two hours. I’m watching the clock. I want you back by five in the evening to finish practicing your piano and then complete your homework before we go to your friend’s birthday party at seven in the night. Okay?” Jhanvi asked Arjun.

“Okaaayy, Mom. You always make me practice every day. And why can’t I do it later tonight when we get back?” Arjun whined.

“Arjun. You’ll either finish your jobs first or we can stay home tonight. You decide.” Jhanvi told him sternly.

“Fiiinee. I’ll do it. Can I go now?” Arjun asked rolling his eyes.

Jhanvi shook her head. “Go. First drink milk and then grab a banana. And don’t forget to take your water bottle along. It’s still a little hot outside.”

As soon as Arjun stepped out with his stuff and the door was closed, Jhanvi burst out.

“So how was it? Give us the scoop you lucky bitch. Was Tarzan good in the sack and did you guys do it all the time? I want all the dirty details,” she said

Mahi smirked. “Jhanvi! Don’t be a little hypocrite by using bad words!”

“I know. Jhanu the mom would whack Jhanu the eager girlfriend pumping information on her friend’s sex life,” said Ashwini.

Everyone burst out laughing and Jhanvi rolled her eyes. “Tell us!”

Mahi looked dreamy. “The sun shone brighter, the stars exploded in the sky and the earth shook. The last three weeks were perfect.”

“Good god! Mahi is being poetic. Samrat must be packing something special or must have really good moves,” remarked Ashwini.

Mahi grinned. “Yes to both.”

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