***No proof reading.
***Not edited.
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"May I cut in?"
Shravan said outwardly politely. Erik just smiled while Suman looked less than pleased. In her mind, she snapped bitterly
You just did.
Well, Erik wasn't so offensive as her. Though he too was slightly disappointed with his friend interrupting his conversation with his potential future girlfriend, he couldn't bring himself to be angry on Shravan. After all, he could be a great help at setting things up with Suman or Sumo as Shravan called her. They were best friends and Shravan would know everything about her which he didn't.
"Hey buddy! Are you finished with your meeting?"
Shravan observed Suman for a split second and then turned to Erik.
"Yup, I'm done. Let's go."
Shravan tapped on his shoulder gesturing Erik to follow him. But it seemed like Erik had different plans.
"Wait. Suman, Shravan has promised me a trip around the city. Want to tag along?"
Suman glanced at Shravan who avoided eye contact and she knew which way things were better.
"No. I'm fine. I'll have to get back to work. I'll join anytime later. Thanks."
Suman said with a half smile. Erik looked a bit disheartened but he soon recovered. He smirked
"Seems like we are dealing with a busy businesswoman. Well then, see you later ma'am."
Suman smiled and held back a gasp as Erik hugged her without any warning. Our of the corner of her eye, she saw an unknown wave of emotion take over Shravan's features for mere seconds before his face became passive again with all his feelings masked.
As Erik let go of her and waved her goodbye on his way walking with Shravan, she expected Shravan to turn around just for once. She didn't know what she wanted.
Reassurance maybe.
But that didn't happen. And she turned her back on him with a heavy heart.
***
"Suman! Open the door!"
Suman was already annoyed by the constant ringing of the doorbell and to add to it was her Mami's grumbling. Sometimes she felt like she was the maid of the house.
Well, maybe she was. But could she complain? No. Simply because she felt indebted to them. After all, they raised her after her parents died.
Suman walked to the door, cursing the person on the other side under her breath.
As the door opened she was both surprised and a bit discontented. Subconsciously, she was expecting Shravan but turned out it was Erik. She couldn't figure if she should be happy or not.
Erik stood at the doorstep with a bunch of flowers and a packet and with a big smile on his face.
Suman tried not to smile awkwardly.
"Uh Erik! Umm Hi! I thought you went with Shravan for a drive?"
Erik smiled sheepishly
"Yup I did. And because you couldn't come with us, so I thought I should bring you some flowers and this."
He handed her the bouquet and the packet.
Suman held the packet in her hand to see it neatly wrapped.
"What's in this?"
Erik smiled like a sweet little boy
"Ice cream! Wait! No! Uh.. Shravan said it was.. what it was.. umm.. ku.. kul.."
"Kulfi?"
Erik's face broke into a huge grin
"That's right! Kulfi! You know he has told me a lot about this thing that it tastes so good and it's like the best thing ever. So, I made him promise that he will give me a 'Kulfi treat' whenever I visit India. Haha. Turns out he was right. It was really delicious. And somewhere in the middle of his talking, he mentioned that you two used to have this Kulfi a lot and that you loved it. And so I thought, I should bring this for you."
Suman didn't know what to say. Her lips quirked disbelievingly
"Well thanks Erik. That was really thoughtful of you."
They stood there awkwardly until Suman realized she hadn't invited him in yet.
"Oh! I'm so sorry. Erik, please come in."
"Oh no no. Not today. Actually, Shravan is waiting for me. I should go now. So, see you soon Suman."
He gave a wink and left waving goodbye.
As Suman closed the door, she held back her tears. Myriad of emotions flooded her insides and she sealed them deep within.
***
It was long past midnight and Suman was half laying on her bed. Sleep was far away. The tears on her face had dried up. She knew if she would walk up to a mirror she would see a zombie version of herself. She knew it had to end. But damn Shravan! Why couldn't he just let her live in peace?
She turned on her side. The Kulfi had melted on her bedside table and the liquid had made it's way down to the floor. If she wasn't going to clean it up, ants would make her life a living hell. She had no wish to invite them to have a feast.
She quickly got up with a grunt and went to bring a wet cloth to clean the mess. Once she was done, she hopped down on the bed with a huff.
How could Shravan do this? How could he hurt her so much? Erik was a stranger and still he brought her 'Kulfi'. Shravan knew how much Suman loved those Kulfis. Yet he didn't even think once to bring one for her. That place was special. The Kulfi was special to them. And he could just tell Erik all about it and take him there? And he didn't bother to ask her to go with them? How could Shravan let Erik replace their friendship? How could he?
Suman wiped away the new stream of tears and decided that she would lay down steady until sleep came. She needed sleep. She couldn't let Shravan Malhotra take away that too.
And so she closed her eyes, preparing to drift away into the oblivion when her phone buzzed.
Suman picked the damned thing and was about to switch it off when the name of the sender caught her attention.
She felt angry and also curious and insanely a bit elated too. An unconscious smile formed on her lips but soon was halted in it's tracks as she opened the message
"Erik is my friend. Don't you dare hurt him. Stay the hell away from him! It's a warning! And don't you take me lightly Miss Suman Tiwari."
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Honestly, Shravan can be hell of a jerk sometimes. And he will be the same pretty much throughout this whole story. So, I guess we'll have to learn to bear him.
And Suman, well SHE is the unpredictable one.
Erik will act like the lovesick puppy that he is.
And this way, their lives can be a roller coaster ride.
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