Page 39 of Let's Start with Forever
“What?” Raashi asked her.
“Yes,” Sheena insisted. “Tell her Keya. Tell her to marry him.”
“Hmm... and what about love and chemistry?” Keya asked quietly.
“Oh, come on, Keya,” Sheena said. “It’s Rithwik. We all know he’s hot. So, of course, the chemistry would be great. And he owns Fortuna or he will, once she marries him, so what’s not to love?” Sheena splayed her hands out dramatically.
Before Raashi could say a word, she heard Keya’s angry response.
“That’s a super selfish thing to say. You married Rajiv for love and not his money so how can you expect her to settle for any less.” Turning to Raashi she said, “You’re not marrying himunless you’re one hundred per cent sure you can fall in love with him and he with you.”
“That’s just plain stupid,” Sheena muttered.
“No, it’s not,” Keya insisted.
Back and forth, Sheena and Keya argued. They weren’t giving her a chance to talk at all. Finally, she put her hands on each of their mouths, effectively silencing them.
“Okay, you two, enough now.”
Raashi turned to Sheena. “I don’t care about his money. I care about him and yes he’s special to me. But I agree with Keya. I am not in love with him and he is definitely not in love with me. And I doubt we have any kind of chemistry to make it work. So no, I am not going to say yes to him.”
Sheena mumbled something through Raashi’s hand that was still pressed on her mouth. Raashi promptly took her hands away.
“At least, promise me you will think about it,” Sheena beseeched and then she turned to Keya. “Well, she can at least consider if it’s possible for her to love Rithwik and him her.”
Sheena turned back to Raashi. “And as for the chemistry, well, have you ever, you know, kissed him?”
Raashi shook her head, aghast.
“So, you’ve never been intimate with him?” Sheena pried.
“Ugh, no, Sheena. It’s Rithwik for God’s sake. Even the thought of it is way too weird,” Raashi replied, horrified by the prospect even.
Sheena scowled at her. “You are mad. One of the hottest, most eligible men we know has asked you to marry him and you are not even considering it. Please, for my sake think about it before you refuse him.”
Before Raashi could reply the doorbell rang again, this time followed by the key turning in the lock. A few seconds later, Jiya came into Raashi’s room and squealed in delight at seeing Keyaand Sheena. Raashi watched happily as her sister giggled with her two friends. Everything was indeed right in her world.
12
“The problem is that security hasn’t been able to identify the thief. They have gone through several hours of footage back and forth and haven’t been able to find anyone fitting the thief’s description entering the hotel. The security footage we have of the thief is also not very clear. It’s mostly a side profile and the police cannot make much of it.”
Sameer looked around at all the people gathered in his office. Apart from Kabier, Rishi and their grandfather, Sameer had requested his father to be present as well for this meeting.
“Have you considered that it could have been someone who was registered as a guest?” Kabier asked him.
“Yes, that thought did cross my mind. But so far nothing has come up on all our searches. Nevertheless, we will keep looking. We have passed on the information to the chief inspector in charge of the case and he promises to help in any way he can. Although now that the car has been returned safely, without a single scratch, to the owner, this case isn’t a top priority for the police.”
They discussed the case for several more minutes and then Sameer’s father said, “From my point of view this looks like a one-off incident. But, you need to maintain a high alert in all the hotels and all company premises till we know what exactly is going on.”
“I agree,” said Janak.
Sameer nodded and so did Kabier and Rishi.
After his father and grandfather left, Sameer asked Kabier, “What are you doing tonight? Why don’t you join us for dinner? Rishi and I have made plans for a night out. Let’s make it a boy’s night, what say?”
Kabier shook his head, “Keya wants to stay in and relax. She’s been on the edge a lot. It’s all those baby hormones making her crazy. I just want to be around her at home.”
Kabier had recently apprised them of Keya’s pregnancy and everyone in the family was delighted with the good news. Sameer smiled. It was really happening. One of them was going to be a father soon. He was thrilled for Kabier.
