I Am Guilty

37. Games

Bansi was as usual, busy with her books when her phone gave out a familiar ringtone. A wide smile spread across her features when she looked at the name that flashed on the screen. She really adored and respected her sister-in-law.

"Bhabhi!" Bansi chirpped happily.

The joy in her voice was contagious and made Mitra elated.

"How are you and how is everyone?" Mitra asked.

"All is good here, Bhabhi, how about you? When are you coming back?"

"I am good too, just busy with work. But I will try to come at the earliest. Did Arjun come back from the office?" Mitra inquired discreetly.

"Yes, he did. I think he was freshening up when I went to offer him coffee. He did not open the door. But I will see him at the dinner, which will be served late today." Bansi answered.

"Late why?" Asked Mitra as she pulled open a drawer to fetch the spices she needed to prepare dinner for herself and her father.

"Mom ordered the maids to make a special dinner today." Bansi turned the pages of the book, absentmindedly.

"And what's so special about today?" Mitra wondered if they were celebrating something.

"Actually,... It's Veena Dii. She came for a visit after so long and would be staying for dinner." Bansi did not know why she was getting uneasy feeling about it.

Mitra froze for a moment and composed herself. She could immediately put two and two together and realized the reason for Arjun's dampened mood.

Bansi was taken aback by the silence over the phone.
"Bhabhi? You there?"

"Yeah. I was just looking for some spices." Mitra covered up.

Bansi licked her lips and nodded, not realizing that Mitra could not see her.

"I will call you sometime again. Take care." Saying this, Mitra disconnected the call.

Bansi could understand that Mitra was slightly upset with the fact that Veena was here. She did not want any rift between Arjun and Mitra. She had seen how happy Arjun was since his marriage. A small misunderstanding could take him to square one. But she could do nothing about it. She could not lie to her sister-in-law.

Mitra on the other hand thought about the fact that Arjun did not mention anything about Veena, though she was sure that the latter was the sole reason for his lost enthusiasm.
She was sure, there was more to the story and it was not just about Veena's return.
Arjun was hiding something more than that.

When Arjun responded to the knock on his door and came face to face with a maid, who had come there to call him for dinner, he initially had a mind to refuse and reply that he wasn't hungry.
But the fact that he was, and it would simply mean that he was avoiding Veena, that would boost her ego.

He walked down the stairs half-heartedly.

He found his heart sinking when he saw his entire family at the dinner table and Veena's scrutinizing gaze on him. There was a story to tell with the way she looked at his ravishing tall and lean figure.

Ignoring everything, he was about to pull a chair for himself, when the phone in his pocket vibrated. He immediately fetched it out only to see Kunal's name flashing on the screen. The moment he received the call and held his phone to his ear, Kunal's audible whisper filled his ears and warmed his heart.

"I am waiting at the gate. Let's go out for dinner."

"Coming." Was Arjun's single word reply as he disconnected the phone.