Page 70 of Red Flags and Rishtas
‘There’s nothing between Aadar and me.’
When she scoffed in disbelief, I took a deep breath and continued, ‘Or at least, there wasn’t, until last night. We saw so much of each other because … well, we’d made a bet.’
V raised her eyebrows at me, as if she hadn’t expected me to say such an odd thing. ‘A bet?’
‘Yes,’ I said begrudgingly, knowing how stupid I must sound to her. ‘A bet to see who could find love first.’
‘That’s hilarious,’ she said, letting out a snigger through her teeth. ‘Wait, are you serious?’
I lightly slapped my thighs with the palm of my hands, saying, ‘See, this is why I didn’t tell you.’
‘Because I’d try to talk some sense into you?’ Her big brown eyes were wide with annoyance.
‘Because you wouldn’t understand.’ I felt myself erupting as I exclaimed, ‘You never do!’
It was my turn to unload on her.
‘You’ve got everything, V.’ The words began to tumble out of me. ‘Your life is a fucking fairytale. You’ve got the boyfriend, the looks, the money … everything comes easy to you. I can’t compete with that. I can’t listen to you lecture me about how to better my shitty life when you’ve been handed all of it on a goddamn silver platter.’
‘What the fuck are you talking about?’ She leaned forward, her breath coming out in short, furious gasps.
‘I can’t explain any better,’ I said and looked away.
‘Try.’ She reached out for my arm. ‘I’m your best friend, for fuck’s sake.’
I continued to avoid her eye, aware that I wouldn’t be able to say what I wanted if our gaze locked.
‘You’re my only friend.’ My voice was low, devoid of any emotion. ‘There’s a difference.’
She stared at me as a look of acute pain overshadowed her sharp features. Then, shrugging it off, she got up, dusted herself and went inside.
Instead of following her into the boutique, I crossed the road, hailed an auto and got in.
‘Hauz Khas,’ I told the driver, who sped up almost immediately.
I could think of only one thing to prevent the force of what had just happened from hitting me. I dialled a number on my phone. He picked up after a few seconds.
‘Hello … hi.’ Aadar’s voice was barely audible over the peak hour South Delhi traffic.
‘Can you meet me right now?’ I asked, slapping my hair back into a ponytail. ‘I can come over.’
‘Um …’ I could hear faint chatter behind him as he said, ‘I’m actually at my parents’ place tonight. I was hoping to talk to you over the phone.’
‘I was hoping to do anything but talk.’
I knew sex was not the answer to my problems. If anything, it would probably lead to newer problems. But I’d just snubbed two people I cared about in one night, and I needed an outlet for the guilt that was beginning to eat away at me. I needed to feel desired. I needed to be held.
He cleared his throat, sounding uncomfortable. ‘Ananya … I’m sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have done that.’
Removing the phone from my ear, I stared at his name flashing on my screen. ‘Done what?’
‘Uh …’
‘Kissed me?’ I asked, feeling the bile rise in my throat.
‘Yes …’ The discomfort in his voice was all too obvious.
‘Come up to my room? Taken off my clothes? Put your dick inside—’
