"So." Roshni let it hang in the air.
Khushi looked around anxiously at the other patrons in the coffee shop.
Roshni took a sip of her coffee.
"Cough it up sister," Khushi said impatiently.
"No. I am enjoying this. You should enjoy the suspense too," Roshni responded with a smirk.
Khushi grabbed her handbag and got up to leave. Roshni grabbed her hand.
"Alright. Alright. That's enough tormenting," Roshni said.
"It sure is."
"Arnav has a cousin who works in our office?"
"What?"
"And this cousin was earmarked for promotion."
"What are you saying?"
"Could it be that Arnav was even more pissed off at you because you took his cousin's position."
"This is a ridiculous theory."
"It's worth investigating. Because it might help clarify his future behaviour, especially if he treats you like crap."
"I don't spend my days dreaming about how Arnav is going to treat me in the future."
"You don't?" Roshni winked.
When they reached the office, Khushi and Roshni scanned the cubicles.
Who could it be? Khushi wondered.
Suddenly, Arnav entered the office. He was talking with their MD as they headed straight towards her and Roshni.
The two women froze.
Maya, the pretty part-time model who lived in Lodi Estate, a posh suburb on hills in the outskirts of the town, walked up to Arnav and shook his hands. The handshake lingered a bit too long for Khushi's taste.
"Could that be?" Roshni quipped.
"Look at that handshake, I think she has other intentions. That's not the cousin. Who shakes their cousin's hands anyways."
"You are just jealous."
"I don't care," Khushi said.
Arnav moved on, still chatting to the MD. He then spotted someone on the lefthand side of the office floor and waved at them. But the girls couldn't figure out who it was, as their view was obscured by files and office equipment.
"Damn. I bet that was the cousin," Roshni said.
"What's your fixation with Arnav's cousin?"
"You fool. Don't discount the power of allies."
"For what?"
"For when you have to express your love for Arnav."
'I am not in love with Arnav."
"Keep saying that to yourself."
Arnav was heading straight for them along with their MD.
Khushi tied hard to control her nervousness.
Arnav looked darn handsome in his steel grey vest and pants and white shirt with mother of pearl cufflinks.
"Oh my," she heard Roshni say.
Khushi wanted to escape, but Arnav was coming down the corridor, which was the only way to her desk.
"Morning Arnav, Sir, Ji," Roshni's overtly cheerful voice boomed across the corridor.