Entwined

Chapter 22

That evening, Shardul found Vivaan sitting on the beach on a fallen coconut tree. He was looking broody. "Vivaan," He called as he approached him.

Vivaan turned around. "Hm...Shardul bhai," Vivaan forced a smile.

"Is something wrong?' Shardul asked sitting beside Vivaan.

"No. Why?" Vivaan lied.

"You called me Shardul bhai."

"Hm?" Vivaan did not register it first as his mind was elsewhere.

"You call me Mr Flower, right?"

"Oh yeah. Mr Flower." Vivaan said. He smiled and looked away to the sea. "That is a bit childish, right? I mean it's weird for a grown man to call another man as Mr Flower."

Shardul chuckled. "I thought that all the time you had called me Mr Flower. But then... you always felt like a child. Always happy. Always radiating positivity and energy..." He looked at Vivaan who was not really listening to him and looking at the sea in a tense way. "Well, except for now, I guess," Shardul concluded. "What is wrong, Vivaan?" He put a hand to Vivaan's shoulder. "Shouldn't you be happy now that San and you are together?"

Vivaan looked at Shardul. And began to think... "Hm... Shardul bhai, I mean, Mr Flower... You remember me asking you to take care of Vicky, right? When I was leaving Goa the last time?" Shardul nodded. "Is that still valid?" Vivaan asked. "If I am not there, you will take care of Vicky, right?"

"I don't understand," Shardul said. "Why would you not be here?"

Vivaan bit his lips in tension. "She won't marry me anyway." He said. "And it's better if she does not. It is better if she stays away from our world."

"May I ask why you are having this thought suddenly?" Shardul felt something off. But Vivaan stayed silent.

"I will take care of San if you are not here." Shardul finally said softly. "You need not worry about that."

Vivaan looked at him and smiled. "Thanks, Shardul Bhai..."

"Vivaan..." That is when Sanvika who walked out of the restaurant noticed him. She was walking to them. "When did you get back?" Vivaan and Shardul got up to face him. "Can't you call or come to the restaurant if you came back?" Sanvika lightly hit Vivaan's hand.

"Sorry," Vivaan plainly said. He was looking at Sanvika with such tender eyes.

"Is everything okay?" Sanvika asked. "Is the business problem serious?"

Vivaan shook his head with a smile, "I am just tired."

Sanvika adjusted Vivaan's hair while looking concerned.

"Okay then, it's my cue to leave..." Shardul said, turning.

"Oh, you can stay, Mr Flower." Sanvika turned to Shardul.

"No. No. You guys catch up...." He said waving his hand and walking away.

Sanvika watched Shardul walking away. "I feel bad for him," she said.

"Because he likes you?" Vivaan asked.

Sanvika nodded.

"Why don't you give him a chance then," Vivaan casually asked putting his hand on her shoulder. She looked at him annoyed. "I am not joking," Vivaan said. "You are not going to marry me anyway..." He took his hand off and walked. "And if you and Mr Flower have babies, they would be adorable."

Sanvika felt very angry and annoyed. She could not even imagine giving birth to another man's kids. That felt so wrong on many levels. It was some basic biological instinct that she could not explain. "What is up with you?" She asked Vivaan, sharply.