Just A Friend?

Chapter Forty-Eight

"Come on, Rakesh, don't leave me hanging," Kaviita implored, her tone tinged with impatience as she fixed him with an expectant gaze. Rakesh, feeling the weight of her anticipation, cast a defeated glance her way before letting out a heavy sigh.

"Oh, for heaven's sake! I swear, I'm as clueless as a fish out of water," Rakesh exclaimed, his frustration bubbling up in a comical display of exasperation. Kaviita's disbelief was palpable as she regarded him with a raised eyebrow.

"What on earth do you mean, you have no clue?" she asked, her voice laced with puzzlement.

"Well, it's either our dear friend is as dense as a brick wall, or I'm simply atrocious at articulating myself," Rakesh mused aloud, his words tinged with self-deprecating humor.

"Probably the latter," Kaviitha muttered under her breath, though her words failed to escape Rakesh's keen ears.

"What was that?" he demanded, his wounded pride evident in the furrow of his brow. Kavitha merely waved off his inquiry and urged him to recount the events that had transpired, her curiosity piqued and her determination unwavering. Despite his offense, Rakesh begrudgingly relented, preparing to regale her with the tale of his misadventures.

_______^-^_______

"It's not every day folks get to step into the royal suite," Rahul remarked, a playful glint in his eyes. Rakesh's irritation gradually reached its peak, evident in the furrowed lines on his forehead.

Rahul burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the room. "Relax, my friend. I was just joking. This is no royal place, and I'm certainly no king," he said between chuckles, attempting to dispel the tension in the air.

Rakesh managed a strained smile, still uneasy with the situation. The room, once opulent and imposing, now seemed like a stage for a peculiar act.

Rakesh took a sip of his own drink, the cool liquid doing little to calm his nerves. He nervously scanned the luxurious room as if searching for an escape route. Rahul mirrored the action, taking a sip before fixing his curious gaze on the man seated across from him.

Breaking the uneasy silence, Rahul asked, "So, Rakesh, are you finding the house comfortable?"

Rakesh, glad for the conversation starter, managed a half-smile. "Oh, more than I could ask for. Your house is, uh, quite impressive."

Rakesh, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights as he awkwardly settled into a chair, trying to conjure up the right words to start the conversation. He cleared his throat nervously before finally mustering the courage to speak.

"Um, Rahul, I just wanted to say congratulations on your wedding tomorrow. You're a lucky man to be marrying Sweety," Rakesh began, his voice betraying a hint of unease.

Rahul, intrigued by Rakesh's sudden visit and the mention of Sweety, leaned forward attentively. "Thanks, Rakesh. Sweety's a gem, isn't she? Prabhas has told me so much about her, but I'd love to hear more from you. Getting know her would help me in the future" Rahul remarked, his curiosity piqued.

Rakesh suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at Rahul's naivety. The fact that Prabhas had provided information about Sweety to help Rahul understand her better only added to Rakesh's frustration. Despite his inner irritation, Rakesh forced himself to maintain composure, recognizing that this could be the perfect opportunity to set their plan in motion. With a mental note to stay focused on the task at hand, he pushed aside his personal feelings and prepared to execute the next phase of their strategy.

Rakesh seized the opportunity, his mind racing with desperate thoughts as he carefully plotted his next move. "Ah, yes, Sweety. She's quite a rare gem of a person." The soft curve of his lips belied the furrow that creased his brow, a silent testament to the perplexity that gnawed at his soul.