Page 50 of The Promise of a Traitor

Advik: Listen Pillsbury Doughboy, some of us have work to attend to.

Aastha: Rehaan has worked harder than you have in the last few days!

The chat thread went silent, no bouncing dots indicating anyone was typing. Aastha’s hand flew to her open mouth. Why had she done that?

Rehaan: I love you, Aastha. Dump Robocop and marry me. We’ll live in a house made of chocolate and eat cookies and drink lemonade, all day every day.

Vikram: I can feel my sugar levels climbing. Welcome Aastha. Don’t dump Advik…If that beard grows any longer, Robocop would need to start braiding it.

Kabir: I think he could aim for dreads soon. Welcome Aastha. Get your Yeti to shave before the engagement please.

Vedika: Guys, cut it out. You’re probably freaking her out. Welcome Aastha.

Aastha: Thanks all. P.S – I like the beard. It says rugged.

Kimaya: I think birds might nest in it soon. But sure, rugged is one way to put it.

Daksh: Birds maybe not…a mouse or two, always an option. Welcome to the madhouse, Aastha. My advice? You might want to put us on mute and check back in six months.

Advik: You want to talk about mice, Big Guy?

Tanisha: Guys, enough. Welcome Aastha. Ignore this lot. At some point in life, you’ll get used to them.

Kimaya: Think of it like a vaccination shot. Initially painful but worth it in the long run.

Tanisha: Everyone please…we have a new family member. Can we behave like normal human beings for a minute?

Kimaya: Can I just ask one question before I behave myself?

Vedika: No

Tanisha: No

Kabir: NO

Rehaan: Has Advik lost his virginity yet?

Kimaya: Hey! Not fair! I was going first.

Tanisha: Guys!!

Kimaya: Does Advik know what romance means? Or does he code your laptop to say ‘I love you’ to you?

Before Tanisha or Vedika could try to rein the others in, Aastha typed out a reply.

Aastha: Advik knows what love means. And I would love to have a laptop say ‘I love you’ when I open it up.

Vedika: Oh no! He’s going to program a robot to follow her around telling her it loves her.

She would love that too, Aastha thought. But mostly, she’d love having Advik tell her that. She was about to say that when another message popped up.

Rehaan: I notice you didn’t answer my question. It’s okay, Aastha, we understand. All I ask is that you be gentle with him on your wedding night.

Vikram: Maybe we should draw him a map so he doesn’t get lost on his way to sacred ground.

Daksh: Or write him code? To make sure he understands what he needs to do?

Kabir: Relax guys. I had the birds and bees talk with Adi when he was fourteen.