Page 11 of Since You Stole My Heart

Kashvi shot him a sideways glance. ‘Just tired. Long night. You know how it is.’

She didn’t elaborate on how she’d woken up in the middle of the night, half-choking on her own breath, trapped in the panic of a seizure. She didn’t tell him that her ribs still ached from how hard she’d jerked, or how she’d lain there for hours afterwards, unmoving and drained out.

He hummed and tapped lightly on the wheel. ‘So, how was your date with paperwork?’

‘It went fine,’ she mumbled, her voice rough with fatigue. Kashvi stretched her legs just enough to ease the strain in her knees. She had failed to realise how much her body still ached until she’d sat down.

Luv glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and caught the faint crease between her brows. When she didn’t follow it withone of her dry, humorous retorts, he tried again. ‘C’mon, don’t hold back the juicy details.’

Kashvi tried to laugh, but lacked the energy to push it that far. ‘Imagine the least romantic date possible. All I felt was the urge to lie down on the floor and never get back up again.’

Luv didn’t comment on the shadows beneath her eyes or the stiffness in the way she adjusted her seatbelt, but he noticed it all. ‘Well, let me make your evening brighter with a funny story. You missed a very interesting dinner at Siya and Abhay’s place yesterday.’

Kashvi turned towards him, stifling a yawn behind her knuckles. ‘What happened?’

He began, tapping his fingers lightly against the steering wheel. ‘Abhay made those garlic butter momos you’re obsessed with. You remember how he acts all smug, calling it his original signature dish, even though he’s clearly memorised the recipe from a blog post?’

Her stomach gave a small grumble as she remembered the delicious taste. She thought back to when she’d told her brother-in-law it was her favourite dish. Since Siya didn’t enjoy cooking, Abhay had taken it upon himself to make it for her during their monthly dinners.

‘Since you were absent, he tried to earn praise from the rest of us and accidentally dropped a bunch of napkins on a candle while dramatically presenting the dish.’

Kashvi let out a chuckle. ‘Classic. Had he folded them into one of those fancy origami shapes?’

‘Of course. The whole thing fired up like a mini bonfire,’ Luv said. ‘Swayam thought it was a cry for help from Abhay because he wants us to save him.’

‘Save him? From whom?’

‘Your sister.’

That finally pulled a laugh out of her. She could practically imagine her brother-in-law rolling his eyes at that. Damn, she had missed peak entertainment. ‘I’m sure Di will boycott candles from now on.’

‘You know, we really missed you. I think all of us kept waiting for you to walk in and complain about the ghazals your sister was playing. Especially Swayam. He seemed so lost without you,’ Luv teased, watching her for a reaction.

Kashvi was too, but she cleared her throat to hide it. The lie slipped out with practiced ease. ‘I had a wild night of my own, actually.’

‘Really? What did you do?’

‘Shopping spree.’

Luv glanced at her, one brow raised. ‘With whom? That friend you’re staying with?’

‘Mmhmm,’ she murmured, watching the world pass by.

Luv glanced at her again before turning his attention back to the road. ‘You know, in all the time I’ve known you, you’ve hated shopping with a passion.’

Her fingers stilled where they had been fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.

‘Not always,’ she replied, forcing a casual shrug. ‘Sometimes it’s not so bad.’

‘Oh, sure. That’s why you fake urgent work every time someone suggests shopping. I distinctly remember you once swearing you’d rather get a root canal than deal with seasonal sales.’

She blinked, willing her expression to stay neutral. ‘Usually, yes. But yesterday was different. My friend had a date coming up, so we were looking for something nice for her. I was just moral support.’

Luv hummed, weighing her response. ‘Okay. That makes sense.’

There was a beat of silence, and she nearly sighed in relief. Then he asked, ‘And which friend was this again? What’s her name?’

Her heart stuttered. His question was simple, but with fatigue and lack of sleep, her mind went blank. She stared out the window, trying to conjure the name she’d told Siya, but her thoughts were too muddled.