One Night's Steal

Prologue

I walked out of the company without looking up while typing a message on my phone.

"What snacks should we have?", Damini asked making me look up at her. 

"The usual?"

"Tea and Bun Maska?"

"Yup."

"Go and order it then."

"Order it for me, please.", I made a puppy dog face for which she easily fell and left to order us the snacks. I kept on furiously typing on my phone when someone pulled it away from me.

"What the-", I stopped myself when I saw Mihir holding the phone high up from my reach.

"I'm watching you for a while now, whom are you chatting with such vigor?", he raised his eyebrow as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I was chatting with a friend."

"You always say that."

"Mihir...", I started but stopped as Damini came back with our tea.

"Spill the tea.", she said handing me a cup. 

"Ugh, there is nothing to spill guys, he is just a friend whom I met unexpectedly."

"That doesn't explain the face splitting smile that you have when your phone chimes with his message.", Mihir flayed my phone.

"Yeah!", Damini dipped her bread in the tea and took a bite.

"Whatever, let me eat.",  I picked a piece of bread and took a bite of the buttery goodness.

We finished our snacks and started walking towards the office when suddenly Damini exclaimed, "Did you get a boyfriend without telling us?"

"That's what I was trying to ask!", Mihir shook his head in dismay.

"No guys, he is just a friend nothing more.", I brushed off the topic.

"Yeah, your life is set."

"What do mean by set?", Mihir asked in a teasing tone.

"She'll probably get married in a few months to the person her parents chooses for her. That'll be her happily ever after."

"How do you know it will be happily ever after?"

"It's Rhea we are talking about, she can find happiness in getting lost in a different country so she can definitely find happiness in getting to know her life partner."

"Yeah and she doesn't believe in love marriages either so it'll be good for her."

"Are you guys done?", I asked fake yawning to show them my disinterest in their conversation.

"I have nothing against love marriage", I continued, "I believe arrange marriages are better. Looking at my parents happy marriage make me feel it will be okay."

Damini rolled her eyes but Mihir explained, "Their generation was different, Rhea. They didn't have options and choices like we have. What if you fall in love with the 'friend' you keep talking to?", he air quoted the word friend.

"We are in platonic friendship."

"Mihir, just drop it."

We walk to our respective workstations and start working on our assigned projects. I kept my phone away to concentrate on working. I finished my work well before time. I walked to Damini's station to ask her about her progress. She was engrossed in filing some reports so I decided to drop by at Mihir's workstation but it was empty. I walked back to my station and checked my phone for notification. As expected there was a message waiting for me.

Nachiket (5:49PM)

I'm coming to the city this weekend, are you free to catch up?

Me (6:15PM)

I'll confirm and let you know till tonight.

Nachiket:

Oh come on, don't be such a killjoy. We haven't met after the trip and I rarely come to the city.

Me:

I said I'll confirm! Read the message again.

Nachiket:

I'll wait for it. ;) 

(Ring) (Ring)

My phone rang indicating a call from mom. I quickly picked it up so it doesn't disturb others.

"What is it, Ma?", I asked whispering.

"Are you busy?", her voice filtered.

"Kind of, what is it?"

"Come home as soon as you finish work, we have guests coming over tonight."

"Okay, I'll be there."

"Leave as soon as you are done with your work."

"Who is coming home?"

"Your father's friend and his family."

"I'll be there after work."

"I need help, so come soon."

"MA! I don't have a helicopter to fly there!", my tone pitched higher than expected  and I quickly looked around to see if anyone noticed but it they all seem busy with their work.

"I know but take a direct cab home instead of sharing it with people."

"Bye Ma!"

I hung up the call and sighed. My phone chimed for a message which bought back my unconscious smile.

Nachiket:

Are you done with work?

Me: 

Yup but Mom has called me home early.

Nachiket:

Lets talk on the call at night then.

Me: 

Sure.

I closed my station and punched my attendance before leaving the office. I dropped Mihir and Damini, a message of me checking out early and got into the waiting taxi. It took me about 45 minutes to reach home. Mom ushered me to my room and told me freshen up. I got ready in 15 minutes and walked down in the dress mom had already laid out.

"What's the occasion?", my brother commented.

"Ask Ma!"

The doorbell rang and cut our conversation short. Dad opened the door and greeted the guests. Mom handed me a tray with glasses of water to serve the guest. The guest were Kulkarni's who worked with my dad. They had come with their son who worked in a MNC like mine. 

The evening passed by smoothly with me helping mom in serving food and occasionally answering to the small talk. Everything was perfect till they asked,

"When are you planning Rhea's wedding?", Aunty asked while having her dessert which took everyone by surprise but Mom answered.

"It's up to her."

"Vihaan will be shifting to US soon therefore we have started looking for suitable girls for his wedding.", Uncle said proudly.

"Rhea came back from Europe a few months ago.", Dad butted in.

"Oh, that's nice."

The conversation was steered away from the marriage topic for a while. It was almost time to leave when the topic came up again,

"Rhea is very mature now, I would love to have a daughter like her one day. If you start looking suitors for her let us know for our Vihaan.", Aunty said before leaving. 

The bomb had fallen and I didn't even see it coming. 

A/n

This story is the entry of ONC- open novella contest. The prompt is number 35 genre romance. I hope you guys enjoy this story.