Love In Vengeance

CHAPTER- 43

"Go" Aditya whispered in urgency into Samir's ear, giving him a light push in the direction of Shivalika, who sat oblivious, scrolling through something on her phone while waiting for her daughter to use the restroom so that she could bid her bye and leave.

Aditya was convincing Samir to go and talk to her. Why should he go and talk to her? What will he even say? Hey Shivalika you look like a tomato?

Samir shook his head in negative and tried to run but Aditya grabbed his left arm giving him a 'don't you dare to say no' look.

Samir shook his head vigorously, signalling a firm No, "I won't!" he whispered back, pulling against Aditya's unyielding grip like a cat refusing a bath.

Before he could devise an escape plan, Shivalika, sensing the commotion, turned toward them. Aditya instantly released Samir and whipped his head to the other side, suddenly fascinated by the walls, appreciating the beautiful architecture, leaving Samir standing still in her direct line of sight.

Shivalika raised an eyebrow, her phone momentarily forgotten. "What's going on?" she asked, her gaze bouncing between the two of them.

Samir, now front and centre, felt his mind go blank. Say something! 

But What?

Anything!

"Huh? W-Woh I- I was saying..." Samir stammered, his voice wobbling with the intensity of someone about to confess a crime. His heart pounded in his chest as he racked his brain for something—anything—to say. "Ms. Chauhan," he began, trying to sound formal, only making it more awkward. "Are you, uh... are you alright now?"

Shivalika blinked multiple times at him, clearly confused by his sudden concern. She frowned slightly. He was acting weird, and it showed. Still, she nodded politely. "Yeah... I'm fine as you can see"

"That's good your rashes are gone, you were looking like a tomato" He let out a nervous laugh,  trying to cover up the sinking feeling that he got after ruining this interaction.

From the corner of his eye, Samir saw Aditya slap a hand over his face, clearly cringing at what he just said.

Shivalika's frown deepened, and for a moment, Samir wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole. She tilted her head, and raised her right brow not believing what he just said "A tomato?"

"Uh, yeah," Samir said weakly. "But, like, a good tomato. You know, the ripe kind?" He mentally facepalmed, knowing full well that he was digging himself deeper making Shivalika embarrassed but not more than himself.

Aditya again mentally cringed at his choice of words, He was done with him. A Good Tomato? Seriously? His half-knowledge of how to talk was making him feel like a half-eaten plate.

"Papa, What are you doing?" Aditya flinched when he heard Vartika's voice all of a sudden, It took Shivalika's Attention. Vartika looked at him in curiosity.

"Uh—No-Nothing, I-I was waiting for you!" Aditya stammered, his confidence evaporating because he could feel Shivalika's continuous gaze. "So uh... so that we can eat ice cream!" he added hastily. Before Vartika could ask another innocent question that might dig the hole deeper, Aditya swooped her up into his arms with slightly exaggerated enthusiasm. "Come on, kiddo!"

Meanwhile, Samir stood there in shock, he just left him alone with Shivalika in this awkward situation, He was unsure whether he should follow Aditya or try to salvage his shattered dignity. He has only making himself embarrassed since the morning, first Vartika and now Shivalika. He shot a quick, sheepish glance at Shivalika, who raised an amused brow but said nothing, clearly letting him off the hook.