Page 20 of Since You Stole My Heart

‘Why didn’t you bring Kusha tonight? At least she could’ve finished what you can’t,’ Abhay said.

Luv chuckled. ‘Oh yes, because for once, my twin stealing food from my plate would actually solve my problem.’

Kashvi asked, ‘How’s she doing? I heard she got back from London recently.’

‘She did, and immediately got dragged into attending one of those weddings, only to end up with food poisoning. She’s at home hydrating and resting.’

‘You should’ve told us earlier. We would’ve brought dinner over to your place,’ Kashvi said.

Luv shook his head, amused. ‘At this point, she doesn’t even want to look at food.’

Raghav picked up a handful of cashews. ‘Not Mihu. She’s living her best life at her cousin’s wedding, while I’m stuck here working because apparently disappearing to eatchaatisn’t considered professionalism.’

Luv groaned at the mention ofchaat.

Swayam let out a light chuckle. ‘Food is the only good part of weddings. Otherwise, they’re a nightmare, especially if you’re single.’

Abhay raised a brow. ‘What’s so bad about it?’

Swayam scoffed. ‘You wouldn’t get it. You’re happily married, and no longer a target for matchmaking relatives.’

Luv nodded animatedly. ‘He’s right. Weddings are starting to feel like a hunting ground.’

‘That sounds about right,’ Swayam muttered. ‘A few of my relatives keep sending me biodatas of girls they think would be perfect for me, even though they don’t know me at all.’

‘That reminds me, what happened to the aunty who kept calling you last week?’ Luv asked, amused.

Swayam sighed. ‘That’s my maasi. She’s decided I absolutely have to meet some girl at my cousin’s engagement in a few days.’

Kashvi tried to focus on the conversation around her, but the thought of Swayam with someone else kept circling back, persistently nagging her.

‘So your attendance is mandatory,’ Luv teased.

Swayam shrugged. ‘That’s if she manages to talk to me. I won’t let that happen.’

‘What do you mean?’

Swayam declared triumphantly, ‘My phone’s permanently on airplane mode. No one can reach me, including two prospective author clients I’d been excited to work with. But eh, we do what we can to survive.’

Abhay chimed in, ‘Speaking from experience, getting married isn’t the terrible fate you two seem to think it is.’

Raghav nodded, a wistful smile playing on his lips. ‘In fact, I highly recommend it.’

Love for their wives shone plainly in their eyes. Men in love were something to marvel at.

A sliver of dread rushed through Kashvi at the thought of Swayam looking at someone else that way, his eyes lit up with love. She tried to brush it off, but the image had already taken root, choking her.

What if he goes to the engagement… and actually likes the girl?

Her thoughts drifted to their tiny kitchen, to sleepy mornings spent making breakfast together, and nights when they talked solong that dinner went cold. Somewhere along the way, she had come to love the cosy little life they had built together.

And suddenly, the thought of losing Swayam felt unbearable. Without him, the apartment would no longer feel like home.

‘Kashu?’

Luv called out, drawing her attention. ‘You’ve been suspiciously quiet. Got any grand wedding plans in the future we should know about?

The question caught her off guard, and the answer slipped out before she could stop it. ‘You’re safe. I don’t ever plan to get married.’