THE PRINCE WHO LOVED ME

18

As the wedding reception continued in full swing, Priya leaned over to Yamini and her eyes are sparkling with a mischievous glint. 

Priya : You know ? 

She said and her voice is playful.

Priya : I live just around the corner from here right ! We should totally head over to my place after this. Chill for a bit, maybe order some comfort food.

Yamini hesitated by glancing at her phone for a second, the weight of the evening starting to catch up with her. But Priya's infectious energy made it hard to resist. 

Yamini : I don't know... I was thinking of heading home, honestly. But you're right......maybe a little unwinding wouldn't hurt.

Rudransh, who had been listening to their exchange, smiled softly but shook his head. 

Rudransh : I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll pass. It's been a long day, and I've got some work to catch up on.

Priya raised an eyebrow. 

Priya : You sure ? I mean, it's just a couple of hours  and a chill hangout. Come on, live a little.

She flashed her trademark grin by  leaning toward him. 

Rudransh : We need to get you out of that reserved mode.

Rudransh smiled politely but was firm. 

Rudransh : I'm sure. But thanks for the invite.

Yamini, however, wasn't ready to let him off the hook that easily. 

Yamini : Come on, Rudransh.

She urged and her tone is soft but persistent. 

Yamini : You deserve a break too. It's just a few hours. Plus, you're always the voice of reason. We'll all relax, I promise.

Rudransh glanced at her by  considering her words for a moment. The two of them had shared many conversations, both deep and lighthearted, during their time working together. There was a familiarity, a comfort there that made his smile widen slightly. He glanced at Priya, who was grinning mischievously, and then back at Yamini. Rudransh is actually hesitant because he felt that it would inappropriate if he hangs out with two woman whom he barely knows. He knows yamini to an extent but priya is a stranger to him. 

Just as Rudransh was about to reply, Priya's phone buzzed in her hand. She looked at the screen, her smile fading almost instantly. A sudden tension rippled through her. She stood up straight, her eyes wide, and quickly answered the call.

Yamini and Rudransh exchanged a confused glance as they watched Priya's face lose its usual brightness. There was a brief, clipped conversation on the other end, Priya's expression shifting with each passing second. She looked shaken, her usual composure gone.

As soon as she hung up, Priya turned toward Yamini, her face pale, her lips trembling slightly. 

Priya : Yamini...

She  began and  her voice is  tight.

Priya : It's about your mom. Vasuki aunty ....... she's had a major heart stroke. She's in the hospital.

Yamini's blood ran cold. For a split second, the world seemed to freeze around her. Her heart thudded in her chest as she fumbled for her phone, her mind is struggling to process the information. She unlocked the screen, and her stomach dropped when she saw the string of missed calls from her mother's number. The last time they'd spoken, it had been strained, tense a far cry from the closeness she once longed for with her mother.