Dawn of Spring

Prologue

Prologue

"They are sending me to prison for a crime I didn't commit."

Sitting across from him at the small, circular table was Advik, his best friend and partner-in-mischief for years. His fingers stopped their playful winding around the soup spoon as he raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Come again?"

"Dude, there are about one hundred of them." 

Advik couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's dramatics. "It's just a play school for kids."

But Vivaan shook his head adamantly. "You don't understand, kids are nuisance. They expect me to handle all of them? It's a punishment fit for a criminal, not a twenty-five year old guy."

"I'm not sure why you're making a fuss out of it?" Advik looked up at his friend, bewildered by his reaction. But as he studied Vivaan's tense body language and anxious expression, his own expression became more skeptical.

"Making a fuss?" Vivaan scoffed, reaching for a paper napkin to wipe off the sauce from his fingers. "It's my mom's idea to shoo me away because she thinks I can't handle responsibility. I already have a job lined up. It's just pointless."

Despite Vivaan's attempts to appear calm and nonchalant, Advik couldn't help but grin at his friend's dramatics. "Vivi, you're acting like someone just pointed their rifle at you."

He used to call him Vivi, a nickname that sparked fiery distaste in Vivaan's heart. It sounded too feminine for his liking. But his best friend had never listened, calling him by that name despite his protests. Only his mother and he were allowed to use such an intimate nickname for Vivaan. Not even his Dad dared to try.

Ignoring his remark, Vivaan continued to state, "She thinks I can't stand kids."

Advik gave him an almost incredulous look, clearly not buying his excuse. "You poured brandy into your nephew's milk bottle and almost let him drink it," he argued.

Vivaan shrugged nonchalantly while sipping his drink. "He is going to thank me one day," he said with a mischievous grin. "By the way, for the record, I was a little tipsy."

It was unintentional on his part, and as soon as he observed the milk's odd hue, he immediately removed it from his nephew's grasp. His nephew was always curious and eager to try new flavors, taking after his father in more ways than one.

"Come on, Vivi, just give it a shot."

Vivaan's attention rested on him more intently this time after sneakily gazing at every female in the restaurant as he smirked and winked at them.

"Your appointment letter states that you will begin work in thirty-four days. I can't think of a more productive way to spend this time." He continued when he knew his friend was paying close attention to him.

Vivaan's grin was subtle, but it spoke volumes. "Oh, I can think of a few better ways," he said, his eyes now resting on a couple of women at a nearby table.

He'd known Advik was trying to make a point, but he was getting sick of this same conversation. It was the fifth time this week. His best friend wouldn't let it go.

"You know, my mom is not going to fire you from her company." He cracked a joke.

Advik's eyes narrowed, clearly not in the mood for humor. "I got this job because of my hard work, not because I'm some charity case."

Vivaan raised his hand in surrender at his sudden seriousness, stretching out a smile. "Woah, woah, relax! All I want to know is why you are trying so damn hard to persuade me."