Beyond the Beats

Chapter 87. Yes, I am

Oh, no. Jiya is hellbent on embarrassing me. Why is she picking so many short clothes and sending the pics to Tejas?!

"Jiya, I am not buying all this," I told my friend, who was flashing a bralette on her phone's selfie camera.

She rolled her eyes. "Girl, you are going to New York. Ease up a little bit, okay? And, all these clothes will look so good on you! Come on, change and let us see."

I shot Arushi a defeated look. She pursed her lips as Jiya started telling the shopkeeper to show their latest bikini sets.

"What if Tejas arrives here and sees this?" I mumbled.

"I don't think he will mind you wearing all this," Arushi replied.

I nodded. "I know, but I am not going abroad for a vacation. What will I do with these expensive clothes? Tejas and you guys won't be with me, so how will I enjoy by myself?"

Jiya pushed a sparkly mini skirt in my face.

"Who knows you might catch a foreigner's eye?" Jiya said and winked.

I glared at her, and she instantly apologized.

"Sorry, Bhoomi, I shouldn't have made that joke," she said.

"Jiya, some topics are always sensitive," Arushi said. "You and Shlok are also dating, no? What if Shlok heard you mentioning about other guys so casually? I know you were joking, but not everything is supposed to be made fun of. And, we all already know how much Bhoomi loves Tejas. She turns into a wild pig if even a word is said against him, so let's not poke the beast, okay?"

I completely agreed with my best friend and was nodding along, but when I heard the 'wild pig' part, I stared at Arushi in disbelief. Soon, Jiya burst out laughing, and I punched both girls.

"You not angry with me anymore?" Jiya asked, making a puppy face.

"I am cool now, but I am not the only wild pig here," I said and glanced at Arushi. "I think I saw KD in the men's section."

In a milli-second, Arushi turned all red, and automatically, her head snapped towards the men's section. As expected, KD appeared from behind one of the cloth racks, and I and Jiya waved at him. His eyes widened, and this time, Jiya and I got punched by Arushi.

"Just call him here," Jiya said. "Why are you guys still acting like old movies' hero and heroine?"

Arushi didn't say anything, but she went to get KD. He looked like a kid who got his favourite dessert when he joined us. But when he saw the clothes Jiya had picked for me, he scrunched his face.

Jiya and he got into a fight over it, so Arushi and I took that chance to get the clothes we liked. After selecting a few pieces, we both went to the changing room. I was putting on a dungree when Arushi told me that she would quickly return after a loo break.

I told her to go ahead, and while I tried another dress, my phone chimed. I checked it and saw a message from an unknown number. I opened it and froze when I read the first word.

"My dear Bhoomi, how can you be happy in your life when your own brother-in-law is suffering? Don't worry, I know you miss me, so I have come to meet you myself. I am waiting outside the changing room, so hurry up."

Shailesh?! Is he really outside right now? How is it possible? Wasn't he in the jail?

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and noticed sweat forming on my forehead. My phone received another message.

"Hurry up, Bhoomi. I can't wait to see you. If you don't want to come out, then I will come inside. As it is, we have some unfinished business that should be taken care of asap."