Taking a sip, Arjun put the coffee mug on the table. He shook his head in amazement and stared at Preeta.
"I can't believe, so much have happened in my absence," he said while glancing at Shreya who giggled at his words making Preeta blush.
"That 'so much' includes The Karan Luthra following your best friend, everywhere, luring or impressing her parents, innocently marrying her and now, trapping her in his love for life. I tell you, he is such a charmer," exclaimed Shreya while wiggling eyebrows at Preeta who didn't have the guts to meet Arjun's offended eyes.
"God, here I used to think, getting education from abroad would help me impressing girls, and here I am sitting, listening you both rambling about that man," he fake scowled making both the girls laugh.
Shreya shook her head,"Of course, not. We had thought you would bring Natasha with you, and she will be all possessive for you."
Arjun grinned,"C'mon, she just adores me. I don't think, she will ever be serious for me, enough to come here and settle down."
Preeta widened her eyes in surprise,"You want to settle here? Not Australia?"
"Of course, not." Arjun pointed his finger at her. "First, I need to wait for my job application and then, I am all here. With my parents, and then, would be ready to find a beautiful bride for me. After all, I am no less a charmer."
Shreya rolled her eyes with a smile on her face. "Trust me, if you wouldn't have looked so younger than me. I would have proposed you. You are such a kid."
Arjun's mouth opened agape in offense. He looked at Preeta in protest. "Preeta, tell her how I beat the shit out of that guy in the street. I am a well-educated, charming man, you old-school girl," he muttered while frowning at Shreya who pinched his cheek making him groan and look around at the tables.
"Stop it, you." He rubbed his cheek while giving an irritating look at Shreya but suddenly, he saw the blank face of Preeta.
His eyebrows furrowed as he asked,"Preeta?"
She shook her head while giving him a fake smile. "Nothing. It's just that boy had been playing with Karan's sister. Kritika has always been too sweet with everyone. How can someone use her like that just to let me down? It has been one month since that incident and she is good but not the same."
Arjun blinked rapidly and looked at her in confusion. "Isn't she in school? I mean, isn't she too young to feel like that?"
Shreya sighed,"You are such a kid, I tell you."
Preeta laughed while sliding her empty cup in the middle of the table. "It's alright, she will get better with time. But you know, I think she really liked him. Only if he wouldn't have been that bad. He was infamous in my college."
Arjun shrugged his shoulder. "Well, I guess. It's getting trendy to date bad boys. You should be the first one in the row, holding the flag since you married one..."
"Arjun," cried Preeta while laughing shyly.
_______
Preeta kneaded the dough while smiling, remembering how Arjun had teased her for being so stupidly in love with her husband. Not that she had loudly confessed in front of everyone.
It was just visible to everyone.
That she had been head over heels for her husband. But since she had known, that Karan had helped Arjun financially when he needed some money for his one semester, she had been too much overwhelmed. Arjun was a self-esteemed person who had promised him to repay slowly ignoring Karan's protests.
