This is Perfect...

23

3 days later, after the complex encounter with Rajat, Gauri called me to her place in the evening. When I asked her why, she said that she wanted me to hangout with Harsh.

To be honest, I never liked that guy because firstly, he was a very energetic guy just like Gauri and secondly, it made me cry because Gauri was very happy with him. I wanted her to be happy, don't get me wrong there, but I wanted that happiness too.

So there I was, playing monopoly with the 2 strangest human beings, while Bruno was watching our game with enthusiasm. I think that dice hated me because it took me to jail. For the fourth time.

"Damn it! I hate this game!" I shouted with frustration.

Harsh laughed cockily and taunted lightly, "I think they're arresting you because they found out you were gay!"

That was Harsh for you. He always cracked homophbic jokes. Not that he was a homophobe, he did support me, but somewhere he had to set a limit. I could handle a few jokes but not something beyond the line.

I never said anything to him because I knew he didn't intend to make me lower my morale. It was his thing to identify someone's weak spot and tease them about it.

Mine was homosexuality.

Gauri just chuckled and whispered something in his ear. They both were sitting close to each other while I sat opposite them. Harsh nodded his head and he rolled the dice.

Soon, the bell rang, Gauri got up to answer the door. When the door opened, she started greeting Rajat and Meera. I slapped my forehead. I shouldn't have come to play this stupid game because I wasn't ready to face Rajat.

Rajat and Meera stood at the doorway. Both of them waved at me. I gave them a tight smile in return. Meera then told Gauri, "Actually, we thought of going out for dinner and Rajat told me that you and Nikhil gave him a 'Welcome home' treat. So I figured, we could go out together."

Rajat spared a few glances at me. Gauri was unsure what to say because of me. She looked at me and asked, "What do you say Nikhil? Shall we go?"

All eyes were on me. So I replied politely, "I think you guys should go for dinner. It'll be like a double date. I don't have anyone with me so... Please, you guys should have fun."

Rajat immediately snapped, "Its not a date! We're just going out as friends. Come on Nikhil! Don't be a party - pooper!"

"Fine!" I snapped. I was angry at everybody. If they asked whether I wanted to accompany them, then I had the right to say no. But no! They were being insistent. People are crazy!

I got up and so did Harsh. He introduced himself to them and we left Bruno alone. We walked to the restaurant that was a minute away from Gauri's place.

***

We were at a restaurant called 'Little Lilies'. Suggested by the obviously pathetic Meera. The name was so girly. I don't know how people come with their dates to eat here. Mostly the millennial generation was present. It didn't look like a family restaurant.

We sat on a semi- circular table. Meera sat in the extreme end, next to her sat Rajat and next to him sat Harsh and Gauri. And then next to them, I sat in the extreme end.

There were many tables and almost all of them were full. I looked around and saw that there was a stage in the middle. I wondered why. There was a bar and of course, the open kitchen.

The waiter served us some water and handed each person a menu card. And I was impressed with all the choices. It was a continental restaurant.

Meera asked, "So how long have you been together?"