Page 88 of Since You Stole My Heart

With Lavanya’s back to them, Swayam slid the beer can into the open space beneath the kitchen counter, out of sight. When he caught Kashvi watching him, he flashed her a wink as he asked Lavanya, ‘Where’s Maasi?’

Lavanya turned around and handed Kashvi the glass of wine, then leaned against the counter, taking a sip from her own. ‘She went to pick up a guest with Viru. I’m sure you can guess who it is.’

‘How am I supposed to—’ He cut himself off, frowning. His eyes widened. ‘No. It can’t be. Dhanush Fufa?’

Lavanya squeezed her eyes shut as she nodded. ‘Our one and only favourite relative. He called Mummyji when he was already at the station, complaining about how no one came to pick him up. So both of them ran out like it was an emergency.’

Kashvi noticed his shoulders stiffen, and she wrapped an arm behind his back.

Swayam pulled her closer as he remarked, ‘She shouldn’t be doing that. It’s only been, what, two months since her knee surgery?’

‘Exactly. You try telling her that, because she doesn’t listen to me,’ Lavanya snapped. The bitter hint of sarcasm in her voicewas sharp as she said, ‘What do I know anyway? I’m just a nurse.’

‘Why didn’t Viru stop her?’

Lavanya rolled her eyes. ‘Because your cousin is the biggest mama’s boy I have ever met. You should know that better than anyone.’

‘Yet, you’re marrying him,’ he pointed out.

A fond smile played on her lips as Lavanya said, ‘If I had any sense, I wouldn’t have become friends with both of you back in school. But what can I say? I was too young and stupid to realise Viru was going to be this much trouble.’

‘You’ve had over a decade to change your mind, but you didn’t. Now you’re stuck with this idiot for life,’ Swayam teased, wiping a fake tear from his eye.

Lavanya shared a playful, conspiratorial look with Kashvi as she said, ‘The Sharma boys have a way of making it hard to walk away.’

‘I know what you mean,’ Kashvi agreed, glancing up at him. He watched her with a soft, unguarded smile, making her wish the world would vanish, if only for a moment.

The vibration in her pocket startled her out of it. She slipped her hand into the pocket of her jeans as she asked, ‘But this Fufa ji you speak of, is he that bad?’

Lavanya pressed her lips together and gave a small, resigned nod. ‘Ever since we announced our engagement, he has been calling Viru to give him lectures on how to train me to be a better wife.’

Kashvi felt a flicker of disgust at the casual entitlement. ‘No offence, but he sounds like a jerk.’

‘Damn right,’ Swayam said. He turned to Lavanya. ‘Is Tanisha Bua coming too?’

The hum of their conversation faded into a high-pitched ringing in her ears as a message from an unknown number popped up on her screen. She angled herself away, just enough so Swayam wouldn’t notice, before she tapped it open.

I love it when you play hard to get, but just how many times are you going to block me, babygirl?’

Kashvi gripped the phone tightly as a wave of anger rose, hot and defensive. Without replying, she locked her screen and turned back to Swayam, who was laughing at something Lavanya had said.

The phone vibrated again, and her stomach dropped. Dread clawed at her as she looked down to read it.

Do you realise you’re being extremely rude? Is it because of the guy you left your house with today?

Kashvi felt a chill run down her spine. A storm of questions crashed into her chest. She swallowed hard as her throat ran dry.

He knew where she lived? Had he been watching her? For how long? From where?

Her heart lurched, and a spike of anger sliced through the fear choking her as she quickly typed out a response.

Who the fuck are you, and what do you want from me?

The reply came almost instantly.

You can’t expect me to just tell you that, Kashvi. I have a much more romantic surprise planned, just for you.

Nausea churned through her, and this time she didn’t hesitate.