Marked By Darkness

Chapter 36- Beautiful Pendant

Ruhi's POV...

Me and Anshi had decided to grab lunch at a nearby restaurant. As Anshi parked the car, I found myself lost in my thoughts. But suddenly, a familiar voice jolted me back to reality.

"Ruhi!"

I turned, startled, and there he was, Ruhan, standing just a few feet away.

"Ruhan!" I couldn't hide my surprise.

Ruhan smiled, walking towards me with that easygoing charm of his. "Hey, what brings you here?"

I laughed softly, trying to sound casual. "Oh, you know, just randomly decided to have lunch."

He raised an eyebrow, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Oops, didn't mean to question your lunch plans. It's just a surprise seeing you here."

I shrugged, a playful smile on my face. "Well, coincidence, I guess.

Ruhan nodded. "Nice."

"How about you? Here on a whim?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Before he could reply, Anshi popped up beside me, her voice bright with surprise. "Hey, Ruhan! You're here?"

Ruhan smiled at her too. "Yeah, I'm here for lunch as well."

Anshi beamed, always the outgoing one. "Nice. We're here for lunch too. If you want, you can join us."

I shot Anshi a look, slightly irritated by how casually she was inviting him, but she just shrugged and gave me that reassuring smile. I knew she didn't mean anything by it.

Ruhan hesitated for a second before nodding. "Thanks, but I wouldn't want to intrude."

Anshi quickly waved it off. "No, no. We'd love it if you joined us. There's no problem at all. Let's head in then."

Ruhan sighed and gave in, flashing a smile. "Lead the way."

As we walked into the restaurant, I couldn't shake the feeling that this unexpected encounter was more than just coincidental. I wondered if it meant something deeper, though I quickly pushed the thought aside.

---

We found a table and settled in. Anshi chose a delicious plate of pasta with a coke, while I went for an avocado and egg sandwich, paired with a warm bowl of chicken soup. Ruhan, with his usual hearty appetite, ordered a burger with a side of crispy fries. The mix of our choices felt oddly fitting-simple yet satisfying.

Ruhan dug into his fries and looked up at us. "How's the food here?"

Anshi grinned, clearly excited. "It's really good. This place has been a favorite since Ruhi and I were kids."

I nodded, smiling at the memory. "Absolutely, I remember those school days. After classes, we used to come here to unwind."

Ruhan seemed amused. "That sounds like a lot of fun. By the way, I noticed your pendant-it's beautiful."

I instinctively glanced down at the pendant, my fingers brushing the cool metal. It had been a while since I'd worn it.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "It's actually a special piece for me. When I was young..."

Before I could continue, Anshi cut in smoothly, sensing a pause. "Ruhan, what brought about your move here? I recall Ruhi mentioning that your family lives in a different town."

Ruhan thought for a moment, then answered. "Yes, you're right. My family lives elsewhere, but I moved here for my dad's business expansion."

Anshi raised an eyebrow. "So, where did you study from?"