Page 22 of Always? Forever.
“I like that nickname, plus he needed to know you’re taken. Also you need to start wearing the ring I gave you, so others aren't mistaken.” I said, still figuring out why it felt important to draw that line. She looked at me like I had grown two heads. Something dawned on her but it vanished as soon as it did.
The doorbell rang at that moment, I walked back to the door as I heard her mutter, “You didn’t have to be so rude about it.” I hid a smile as I opened the door to see Aarush and Aria standing there looking flustered.
Chapter 17
Samaira
If I didn’t know any better I would say Kartik was jealous. But he has no reason to be jealous, unless…no not unless, there is absolutely no reason to be jealous because firstly we aren’t engaged in reality, it’s all for show.I will not let myself think otherwise that it was jealousy as that can’t be healthy for me, I would end falling for him and he won’t. It is better to remember the reality of what the situation is. And let’s face it, guys like him don’t fall for girls like me. Guys like him fall for girls that are more damsel in distresses or at least they pretend to be to lure them. The fact that we went from hating one another to tolerating each other, I won’t ruin it by clouding my judgement.
Kartik calling me jaan took me by surprise. His reason wasn't a good enough reason. There were several ways to 'stake his claim'. The butterflies I felt when he said that didn't help. It took all of me not to react. It didn't help that it used to hurt me anytime I heard the word after thebreakup. But now, when Kartik called me 'jaan', it didn't. It made me feel...things. Things I wasn't supposed to feel. Things that would get me attached to him and giving him the oppurtunity to break my heart. This time, I don't think, if it breaks, I will be able to glue it back.
I glanced at the ring hanging from my neck. It was supposed to be just a placeholder. A joke. Nothing real. Wearing it felt stupid...like I was part of something I never signed up for. But when I unclasped the chain and slid the ring onto my finger…it didn’t feel stupid. It didn’t feel wrong. It felt...God, it felt like it belonged there. Like it belonged to him. Like I belonged to him. And that thought? That scared the hell out of me. Because I don’t like Kartik. I don’t even know what to do with him. But if a ring can feel this right, what happens if I start wanting more? I’m not ready for that. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything. And yet, here I am—spiraling over a stupid ring that shouldn’t mean anything… but suddenly does.
The door bell rang indicating Aria and Aarush were here. Kartik opened the door to a very flustered looking pair. What the hell? Something definitely happened. I have seen that look on her face before. The last time I saw that look on her face was when she was arguing with a guy who she claimed to hate but it just ended up looking like she was turned on. My girl has a crush. Bingo! I raise my eyebrow at her when I catch her eye as she steps inside. She avoids eye contact. Yeah, they probablymade out before they came here. Kartik closes the door and looks at them in confusion. Aarush holds two bouquets, one of sunflowers and one of red roses. Red roses are Aria’s favourites. Sunflowersare mine. Interesting. Aarush mumbles something about finding vases and rushes to the kitchen, meanwhile Aria quietly asks for the washroom and Kartik directs her as she rushes there. The last time I saw this ball of energy this quiet was when she kissed a guy she wasn’t supposed to. Yup, they definitely made out.
Kartik just looks very confused. That makes me laugh because he looks so cute. Where did that come from? No No Samaira, he is not cute, he is the enemy. He comes to stand beside me, at a loss of words. To have a bit more fun, “Hundred bucks say they will be married in 2 years.” I whisper and raise my hand for a handshake. He whips his head at me horrified but intrigued. He raises his hand to shake mine, “Deal.”
Aarush enters the living room again with a vase filled with sunflowers.
“For you my lady,” he forwarded his hand holding the flowers to me as he bent a little at his waist, grabbing my hand and placing a soft kiss on it. Chuckling, I take the vase from him.
“Thank you, my lord,” I said, continuing the ruse he started. “How did you know what flowers I like?” I ask him, smelling the flowers. Aarush looks over at Kartik, it surprises me.
“You remember what flowers I like?” I ask Kartik. Remembering what I like and actually doing that two times in a row has to be record. Every time I think Kartik is amazing, he manages to surprise me more. My standardsmust really be rock bottom if bare minimum things a guy (who is not even my boyfriend) keeps doing stuff for me.He is about to be your fiance.An inner voice in me spoke. Fake fiance, I correct myself.
“Of course I do,” He said, shrugging his shoulders but glaring his eyes at his brother who was busy staring at Aria as she walks back in the living room. I would love to play Cupid between them. I think they would be good together but first I had to lay my cards out. Which was funny because they both worked for rival companies.
“Aarush, a word,” Kartik said to Aarush before walking away towards the kitchen. Aarush grinned at me while walking behind his brother quite leisurely.
I shook my head before I sat beside my best friend trying to approach the topic.
Kartik
I don’t know why Aarush bringing Samaira flowers and kissing her hand bothered me so much. She wasn’t even my girlfriend.She was about to be your fiancée,a little voice inside me reminded me.
Yeah, I guess that. Fake or not, she was about to bemy fiancée.
My friend strolled in the kitchen as I tried not to be pissed at him.
“Hello brother,” he said with an ‘I know something you don’t smile’ that just pissed me off more.
“Stop flirting with her,” I said grinding my teeth
The asshole had the audacity to smirk and say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about”
“You know what I am talking about, she is not even your type, what are you up to?”
“Oh I think she may be my type, she’s pretty, she’s intelligent, we have flirted before…shall I go on?”
“Flirt with her again and I’ll forget you are my best friend,” I told Aarush firmly to make it clear that I might just do that.
He softly whistles, “Brother, it just looks like you have a thing for sunshine.”
Him calling her sunshine had me fuming, they weren’t even friends, and he didn’t know one thing about her. Granted what I knew was also next to nothing but it was more than what he knew.
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were jealous and you like her” he merely stated as if it was a known fact.
“One, I’m not jealous, fuck off. And two, I don’t like her…..like that.” I exclaimed through my teeth. I don’t know what he found so funny in it, that he started grinning like a fool which just made me irritated.
