𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 [𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡]

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ 35

Laughter surrounded the table and so did food. They were all enjoying the cheap insults and side jokes thrown at each other.

"Seriously," Shreya took a bite and moaned out. "This place seriously has some good food."

"Agreed," Alia spoke through her chewing. "I like it."

"Really? My mother would have looked better." Simranpreet frowned as he took another bite. "Yup, she could."

Abhinav groaned and hide his face behind his hands. "Why is it that whenever we go out you have to talk about your mother cooking the same dish, you mother lover? Give your mother some rest for all the cooking she probably does for your.." he glanced at him, "..tank."

"Oye," Offended, he hugged his stomach. "It's a talent."

Alia snickered. "What eating or making people cook?" Simranpreet glared at her whereas others snickered. Her phone Viberated and she retreated from the conversation.

From Arman:
Where are you?

She frowned. Were we supposed to meet?

To Arman:
Out. Why were we supposed to meet?

Within a few seconds, his reply came which was the quickest.

From Arman:
You said you were going to go home straight away from college.

Okay, not what I wanted to hear.

To Arman:
So what about it? My plans changed.

From Arman:
That quickly? Have you forgotten about Shaan? He has to be fed too.

What did he take Shaan for, a dog? She shook her head, That boy could cook whenever and only when he was hungry.

To Arman:
What's this about?

From Arman:
Look behind you.

She did.

She gasped as she saw him sitting behind a few tables in a crisp suit, looking dashing as hell.

To Arman:
How long have you been here?

From Arman:
Not long. Simranpreet is inhaling the food.

She laughed at that and then looked at her plate.

"Wai-what?" When had she finished it?

"He ate it." Shreya pointed at Simranpreet and he shrugged in return.

From Arman:
*your.

She rolled her eyes.

Simranpreet raised his hands, "Not my fault. You weren't paying attention."

"So when you don't have your attention on your bullet, should I take it away?" She reasoned knowing that would hit straight on the wall and it did.

"Okay, sorry, I'll buy you ice cream?" He gave a puppy dog look.

Abhinav pinched his cheek and turned his face from Alia towards him. "See when a cute person does it, it's acceptable but when a.."

"..a wild goose," Karan added.

"Yes," he clicked his fingers,"but when a wild does it, no one likes it."

"A wild goose?" Simranpreet frowned again, "What's that?" 

Alia snickered, "A cousin of Ducks. Quack quack." She flapped her hands.

"Ohh, Quack quack." He repeated nodding his and head looked up as the bill came.

Dividing the Bill amongst them equally and paying them, they collected their stuff and got up.
Alia didn't look back at Arman but moved forward out with everyone.

"So we are moving back to college or home straight?" Karan asked as they came to Abhinav's car again.

"Home for me," Shreya answered. "I'll catch an auto from here."

Karan nodded, "I'll join you too. I came by bus today."

Alia looked at Abhinav, "You need to drop me back to college as my scooter is still in the parking lot."

"I'll do that." She turned around to find Arman who had his shades on.

"I'll drop you back to college and have some ice cream on the way. How about that?"

"Umm," she looked at everyone who didn't object as they had spent their entire college life watching Alia and Armaan together. "Okay. Bye guys." She waved them off as they reciprocated.

"Come on, let's go." He placed his hand on the small of her back making her feel all giddy inside and then guiding her back inside. They went to a floor above where Alia was earlier sitting and took a seat in the corner of the room enjoying their privacy.

"I did not know they had a room above for sitting too." She liked it around. "And this one seems to be better."

He shook his head and placed a glass of water in front of her. "Here." He watched her drink and then began, "this one is by prior booking only. If someone wants to treat expensively then they bring them here after having an appointment."

"So you were here?" She knew that he was rich. He was filthy rich and she had figured that out in the past two years.

"Yes," he took the menu cards and ordered for them. Alia knew one thing for sure, that the food he ordered was the best.

"Then why'd you come down?" She frowned. "You had to leave your booking to come to see me."

He scoffed. "I love that you prioritise yourself so much but it turned out that the man I was having a meeting with could not climb the stairs and this establishment had their lift under construction, so I changed to sit there."

"Oh." She grumbled. "Anyway, what are you up to? Oh, and How'd you know that I was here if you walk down there out of your work?"

He smiled as a waiter placed the food in front of them that the man had earlier ordered. "Eat." He smiled, his finger caressing her cheek. "I saw that you didn't eat much. Come on, let me feed you." He raised a fork full of food towards her and she gladly accepted.