MARRIED 'SINGLES'

LET'S PARTY

Happy reading...

Anu’s eyes widened in surprise as she spotted Mahir walking up with Bela. “Mahir! I didn’t know you were coming!” she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. “But I’m glad you did. It’s been long since we hung out.”

Before Mahir could respond, Anu pulled him into a warm hug, her usual bubbly self shining through despite whatever had been bothering her earlier.

After the hug, she stepped back and gestured toward the tall young man standing beside her. “Mahir, Bela, this is Lakshya Kapoor,” she said with a smile. “Lakshya, these are my best friends—Mahir and Bela.”

Lakshya offered a friendly nod and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you both. Anu’s told me a lot about you.”

Mahir shook Lakshya’s hand firmly, his earlier skepticism still lingering slightly, but he forced a polite smile. “Nice to meet you too, Lakshya.”

Bela gave him a warm smile and a quick handshake. “Good to meet you, Lakshya. Thanks for keeping Anu company.”

Anu beamed, clearly happy to have her friends and new acquaintance together.

“Shall we head inside, then? It’s about time we had some fun!” she suggested, trying to keep the energy upbeat.

Mahir, still a bit wary but determined to keep things light for Anu’s sake, nodded. “Yeah, let’s go in. It’ll be good to catch up.”

With that, the four of them headed into the pub, the music and laughter inside promising a night of distraction and hopefully some much-needed relaxation.

----

Mahir leaned in toward Anu, his voice laced with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked softly.

Anu gave him a reassuring smile, shaking her head lightly. “Absolutely, Mahir. I’m fine, really.”

As they settled into their seats, Lakshya took charge of ordering drinks for the group. When the waiter returned, Bela politely declined the alcoholic beverages, opting for a cool drink instead.

“Come on, at least have a beer,” Anu teased, nudging her playfully.

Bela shook her head with a small smile. “I just don’t feel like drinking today,” she said, taking a sip of her cool drink.

As the evening progressed and everyone began to relax, Lakshya noticed the subtle tension in Mahir’s demeanor. He decided to break the ice, sensing the need to build a bridge between them. Lakshya stood up and casually moved to sit beside Mahir, offering a friendly smile.

“You know, I think I’ve met you before,” Lakshya started, catching Mahir’s attention.

Mahir looked at him, slightly puzzled. “Oh? Where would that be?” he asked.

Lakshya chuckled. “You organized my cousin’s wedding two months ago. The one in Jaipur? Your team did an amazing job. My cousin couldn’t stop raving about how smoothly everything went,” he explained, his tone genuinely appreciative.

Recognition dawned on Mahir’s face as he recalled the event. “Ah, yes! I remember now. That was a fun wedding to plan,” Mahir said, a smile forming on his lips.

“Your cousin was one of the most laid-back grooms I’ve ever met. He even surprised us by tipping the entire staff. It was a great experience.”

Lakshya nodded enthusiastically. “He was thrilled with how everything turned out, thanks to you. I’ve always been impressed with how you manage things so efficiently. It’s not an easy job, but you make it look effortless.”