Chapter 42.

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Suvarna's POV.

I take a long sip from my cup of tea as I sit brooding in the balcony. It's been two days since Aditya has been arrested. He still refuses to cooperate or confess.

It still amazes me to think of the lengths he went to get back at Shishir, his own cousin. He is related to Shishir just like Prema is to me but what a huge difference in emotions!

Shishir has been quite busy in trying to get all the possible details. I have hardly seen him in these two days. He comes home late in the night and leaves quite early in the morning. He insisted on keeping me away. Not that I am too keen on getting involved but I do want to know what is going on.

I closed my eyes trying not to think back about what happened that night three years ago. It feels strange that when Shishir started looking into the details his primary concern was to find out the culprit and get me justice. The thought of justice for me has never left his mind, however now the reality has changed drastically with the truth of Aditya out in the open.

I take another sip and realise the cup is already empty. I have lost count of the number of cups of coffee and tea I have had since morning.

Paresh has also gone out. He is furious with what Aditya has done. It is quite evident now that Aditya befriended him since he is Shishir's cousin. Having met him only briefly as a child it was natural for him to not recognise him.

I heard the front door open and jumped up eagerly and went out of the balcony. Paresh walked looking pensive.

"Hi Pushy." I say jovially hoping he will react.

"Hi Suvi." He responded as he plopped himself on the couch. He leans back and closes his eyes.

I sigh quietly at his lack of response at being called 'Pushy.'

"Are you hungry?" I prod.

"No."

"A little hungry maybe?"

"No Suvi."

"Slightly?"

"No Suvi."

"Very slightly?"

He opened one eye and looked at me and caught me smirking at him. He opened the second eye and gave me a long look. His eyes narrowed as he looked on suspiciously.

"What exactly are you so eager to feed me? Have you been experimenting recipes?" He asks accusingly.

I nod excitedly. Since I was alone most of the day I had spent a lot of time in cooking and baking.

"What did you make?" Pushkar asks his tone giving away his apprehension.

"Stuffed Capsicum." I answered  enthusiastically.

"That sounds safe." He said musing to himself.

"Safe??"

"You have no idea Suvi how lethal your experiments are at times."

"Not fair Pushy. Everyone, including you say I am a good cook." I complain.

"Undoubtedly." He concedes. "But your innovations often take a drastic turn."

"Nonsense. You love my cooking all the same." I say tugging at his hand and pull him up and drag him towards the kitchen.

He perches himself on a stool near a counter and I place a stuffed capsicum in front of him.

"I baked it for the first time." I say as he picks up a spoon and starts eating.

Within seconds his face scrunches up "Suvi what is inside?"

"Inside? You mean the stuffing? Mashed ripe banana and diced steamed carrots." I give the details  pleased with my combination.

"Banana and carrots! You are mad! Who stuffs vegetables with banana?" Pushkar says pushing away his plate.

"Why not? It gave such a lovely colour combination and texture." I argue with my hands on my hips.

"Colour combination and texture! Were you stitching a dress?" He says wiping his face with a napkin.

"Since you are insulting my cooking I will not give you the cake I baked."

"Suvi that is not fair-"

"Cake?" A voice interrupts making both of us turn around.

I smile seeing it is Danny. My smile gets wider when I see Shishir and Rahul with him.

"I hope we get to have some cake." Danny says with a smile.

"Of course. Sit down all of you. I will go and fetch it from the store room." I say happily.

"I will help you." Shishir says coming forward.

"No. You sit with them. I will get it. It's not heavy." I insist pushing him towards a chair.

"Suvarna." I heard Rahul say as I turn towards the storeroom. I stop and look at him as he walks up to me. "I got something for you."

"Oh." I say softly. It is good to have him back as a friend. He always had been but I had imagined him to have gone wrong which thankfully he had not.

He took out a wrapped package from a bag he was carrying and handed it to me and I took it still smiling.

Shishir's POV.

When did he get that? I control my urge to snatch it out of Suvi's hand and chuck it out of the window.

"Open it and see." I heard Rahul say. I don't like the way he is looking at Suvi. And I absolutely hate that she is smiling at him.

"Oh Wow Rahul! This is so beautiful. I really wanted one like this." Suvi says happily as she unwrapped  the package and takes out a memento resembling the London bridge.

"Thank you so much for this Rahul. I had wanted to buy one the other day but Shishir did not let me." she adds looking at me accusingly. I remember pulling her away from the souvenir shops on our pre birthday. Why does she have to bring it up now?

"You are most welcome Suvarna." Rahul says looking very pleased. I glared at him which he seems totally oblivious to.

"Shall we sit?" Danny says sounding amused. He obviously did not miss out on my mood.

I nod and we sit. Within a few minutes the store room door opens and Suvi comes out with- I frown when I see what she has on the tray in her hand.

When she places it on the table I realise that is the cake. I close my mouth tightly shut to keep it from falling open in surprise. This has got to be one of her craziest ideas.

"I will get the plates for serving then we can start eating." Suvi says moving towards a cabinet.

"Get the cake first Suvarna. Where is the cake?" Danny says.

"In front of you." Suvi says placing the plates in front of us.

"Where?" Danny says looking all over in front of him. I hear Paresh snicker and try my best not to chuckle.

"Right here." Suvi says pointing at it.

"A cactus plant!" Danny gasped shocked.

"Yes! A new design I created today." Suvi says with a smile as she hands a knife to Danny. "You do the honour of cutting it."

Danny looked at the cake as though it is bag of bones. "It has thorns Suvarna."

I chuckled at his expression. I cannot blame him. Sitting right in front of us is a cake that resembles a cactus too perfectly.

"It is all edible. Thinly sliced almonds." Suvi says smiling encouragingly.

"But the mud and the clay pot is not edible. "Danny says sounding triumphant.

"Of course it is! Pudding and biscuit." Suvi says sounding very pleased that it looks real.

"Wonderful!" Rahul gushes making me scowl at him. "Suvarna you are so talented and your ideas are so unique." He goes on making me seethe.

"Work of art." Paresh comments and winks at me.

"I agree. It is a master piece." Rahul says smiling broadly at Suvi.

"Aww- you are the best Rahul." Suvi says and looks at me with her eyebrows raised. I realised I have not complimented her.

I stare at the cactus and gulp. How does one praise that?

"Um- Wow?" Crap! I did not mean to make it sound like a question. I know I am in trouble when she narrows her eyes at me.

"Er- why cactus?" I try to deviate.

"That is how life is. Full of surprises. You cannot judge by appearances. Just like this cake. Outwardly it looks full of thorns and planted in mud and brick coloured pot but it is sweet and delightful once we venture into it." Suvi looks at a dazed looking Danny "We always tend to be judgmental in our attitude without knowing the details."

Danny looks at me "We are talking about a cake?" He asks making me chuckle.

"She actually makes them really delicious. You just have to cope with the outwardly appearances." I say.

"What do you mean 'cope with the outwardly appearances'?" Suvi says looking pissed.

Uh oh!

"Forget it. Rahul you can cut it and eat it too. I am sure you will like it." Suvi  says making me frown.

"Suvi-" I begin to protest but she looks away.

"Um – I will cut it. Just tell me from where." Danny says looking from me to an offended looking Suvi.

Suvi helps him while still not looking at me.

Within a few minutes we have slices of 'cactus' in front of us. In my attempt to please Suvi I place a piece in my mouth hurriedly. It is delicious as I expected.

"Suvi it's too good." I say spooning another generous bite into my mouth.

"Mind blowing." Rahul says. "Danny you have take a bite to know how good it is." He says to Danny who has still not mustered the courage to place a piece in his mouth.

He offers a small smile and then closes his eyes and places the tiniest possible bit into his mouth. His eyes snap open within seconds. "It is amazing." He says sounding surprised,

Suvi beams at him and serves him another slice which he readily takes.

After eating Suvi clears the plates and others move to the living room. I go back to her as she puts the plates in the cabinet.

I pull her to me from behind "I missed you sweetheart." I say kissing her ear.

"Really?" She says without turning but I can hear the smile in her voice.

"Really." I say turning her to face me.

"I missed you too." She says placing her head on my chest.

"Let's go out for dinner tonight?" I ask her.

"You are not going back to office after this?" she asked looking pleased.

"No," I smiled. "I just have few things to discuss with Danny that I will do here in my study. Then I am free for the rest of the evening."

"Great." She says. I peck her on the cheek and go an join others.

After around thirty minutes me and Danny step out of my study and find Rahul and Paresh chatting. They are in front of the television and have some snacks in front of them.

"I will take your leave then. "Danny says looking at me and I nod.

I see Rahul makes no move to leave and frown. For the time being he is living with some relatives who happen to be residing in the same apartment block as me.

I sit down and pick up the remote from the table.

"Rahul you are supposed to report early tomorrow at office." I remind him hoping that he will take the hint at leave.

He stands up instantly taking the hint. "I should be going. " I nod at him and stand up. He stretches his hand to me and I take it.

"Thank you so much Shishir for allowing me to join you." Rahul said shaking my hand.

I nodded not saying anything. My opinion about him has not changed. I still think he is useless. But when I had got to know he had supported Sumo like a true friend over past few years I had felt a heart felt gratitude towards him. So I had let him work with us as he wanted to since long.

"I have a favour to ask from you." Rahul said making me look at him.

"You are Suvarna's best friend right?" he asked and I nodded, not liking him talking about Suvi.

"Well" he continued slightly hesitating "I want to ask her out and need your help."

What the hell? I heard Paresh choke slightly beside me as he gorged on a burger.

"No!" I said trying to control my anger as I fisted my palm tightly. I wanted to lift and bodily throw him out.

"Why not?" Rahul said looking confused.

"Because I am saying so." I grit out.

"Oh!" he says still looking confused then suddenly brightens "I understand. As her best friend you are concerned. That is so nice of you. But don't worry I will take very good care of her."

"Have you come to London to work or waste time?" I say wanting to push him out of the door.

"Oh you are worried about that?" Rahul says completely missing out on the death glare I was giving him. "I will not neglect my work. But you see It is vital for me and Suvarna to get to know each other well-"

That is as far as he gets as I drag him by the elbow towards the door.

"Oh you are leaving Rahul?" Suvi says entering the room right at that moment. Rahul stops moving and looks at my face.

"Do you want to join us for dinner? We are going out." Suvi asks making my head snap in her direction.

Rahul smiles looking pleased "I would lov-"

"No! He has an early morning schedule tomorrow. He cannot stay up late." I interject making his smile disappear. Good.

"I guess not Suvarna. We will surely go out another time." He says even as I push him out and shut the door on his face.

"Why did you do that?" Suvi asked looking at me.

"Do what?" I asked pretending to not understand.

"You practically pushed him out." She said disapprovingly.

"No he was leaving anyways." I said pulling her into my arms. Why is she so concerned about that buffoon?

"Are you jealous of Rahul?" She asks suddenly as though the thought just struck her.

"Shishir Mehrotra is never jealous. I have told you that before." I insist.

&&&

A light hearted chapter guys. Hope you all liked it.

We will talk about the details of that night and other deeds of Aditya in the next one.

Do vote and comment.

Love from me to you.:)

Spoiler for next chapter: Suvi takes a surprising decision.

Pre cap chapter 43

Shishir's POV.

I look at Suvi in concern ."Are you sure?"

"Yes I am. I want to do this."

Enjoy guys.

Buh bye till next one

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