The Great Indian College Romance

34. Conversations

Suppressing all these anxious thoughts I smiled at her and thanked her. 

She led us to a tastefully furnished living room and sat us down. 

"What would you like to have? Tea, coffee, juice?" 

"Oh nothing," I shook my head. 

"Please Meera you don't need to be uncomfortable here," she assured me, "Yug, there's that iced coffee you like so much in the fridge. Help yourself and get one for your friend here too." 

Yug strolled in and came back out. He handed me a can of iced coffee that had Japanese text all over it. I had never seen it in my life but took it and thanked them. 

Yug seemed to be right at home here which should not have surprised me. He must have spent a lot of time in this house over the years.

I noticed a very cute photo of Angad and his mother on the wall behind her. He was smiling at the camera with the same lopsided grin I had come to recognize as his happiest expression. His mother stared at him fondly. I kept snatching glances at it. 

Kirti aunty asked me basic polite questions as we sipped on the coffee. What year I was in, what school I was from, etc.

"So, what happened on the trip? The last thing I hear is you guys are having fun on the beach and then Angad left?" she asked once the pleasantries were done with. 

I noticed the slight strain in her voice when she took her son's name. 

I swallowed nervously and looked at Yug expecting him to take the lead on the story. He gulped down the last of his coffee.

"Aunty nothing happened! Angad is being an idiot. He fought with Sid and then took off without informing any of us."

"Yug, I know he can be impulsive at times but this leaving for London business is new. Fights with Siddharth aren't new. And he always lets me know his whereabouts. He knows how worried I get. Something else must have happened." 

It was taking all my self-control to stay still and not bounce my leg up and down or bite my nails. I didn't know where to look. Yug caught my eye and hurried to steer the conversation away.

"Aunty, have you talked to him?" he asked.

"Only briefly. He said he would call back but he didn't," she said. 

"Can I have that number? Let me try?" Yug said.

Kirti aunty passed her phone to Yug with the number on display. Yug noted it down and dialled. 

"Damn it, I forgot you don't get a signal here," he grumbled and then walked towards the balcony. 

I debated whether I should stay here or follow him out when Kirti aunty suddenly addressed me. 

"Meera, I have heard a lot about you, you know?" 

"Nothing too bad I hope?" I chuckled nervously. 

Why had I wanted to come here again? 

"Angad hasn't stopped talking about you since he first heard you sing at the Fresher's party." she smiled at me. 

A sudden pang had me grimacing slightly. I couldn't help mentally flashing through the way things had gone since that day. It seemed so long ago. I am sure my face must have betrayed my feelings because Kirti aunty leaned toward me.

"I don't know what happened between you two but my son can be a little... sensitive about his romantic prospects. He is also impulsive and stubborn which is never a good combination."