Unfazed

65. Back on Track (Deeksha)

(IMAGE: Alana)

I pulled out my phone but then reached out to Harsh for his, saying, "Phone". He unlocked it and gave it to me, albeit a little confused and I immediately started surfing for all the possible images of Harsh and Viren – at office events and the like.

"Alana – do you have any of the details of Kumars social media?" Dev asked, catching on when he saw me surfing through various applications.

"Umm... No – he has told me a few times on and off that he isn't fond of social media. I have only his email", she said.

"Dee.. What are you doing?" Harsh asked and at the same time, I named the app I was going through while Dev said, "Stalking".

In a few minutes, I had pulled up as many photos as I could and when I showed it to Alana, I could see her expression change from hurt to confusion to anger. "Guys – this looks Exactly like Kumar – but then, it makes no sense", said Alana, repeatedly going over the pictures I was showing her.

Noticing she was on the verge of tears, Harsh said, "Okay – You know what, we've had some insane revelations. Alana, give us all the details you have of Kumar – we will cross check and have Iqbal Bhai also to run his matching and whatever. In the meantime, Dev, can we try and find out why Vishwas has been in touch with Viren? I mean, don't get me wrong – we can't rule out any possibilities."

"I understand, bro – I do. And, honestly, I had no idea about this either – and since we're on the topic, thank you for being so rational about the whole thing. I don't know if I would have been, in your place," said Dev and I couldn't help but see the strain this would have put on their reconciliation if this had become another fight.

"Oh well.. I had a little help," says Harsh with a smile at Alana, which makes me feel unsettled.

Agreeing upon the plan that Harsh and Alana would trace the Kumar-Viren fiasco while Dev and I tried to figure out the deal with Vishwas, we agreed to part ways. Before we left the table after clearing the bills, I said to Harsh, "Harshu, Dev and I need to head back to the office to finish some work for a site visit tomorrow. I won't be long, but I'll come home only after I finish, okay?"

Harsh agreed and told us that he would drop Alana before heading home since he was done for the day.

"You want to tell me why you lied about the work?" Dev asks me when Harsh's car has passed us and we've finished waving to them.

"I didn't feel like going with them – and hey, I'm so sorry – just drop me off at the nearest mall or something", I confess.

Dev was quiet until we came to signal and since we had a good three minutes before it turned green, he turned to me and asked me in a gentle tone I wouldn't otherwise associate with Dev, "You've been awfully quiet ever since Harsh decided to tell Alana about us seeing her at the mall yesterday. You didn't even bother turning on the music in the car. Dee – what's wrong?"

"It's nothing", I lie.

"Rubbish!" says Dev, before turning the key in ignition as the cars ahead of us begin inching forward. "I understand if you don't want to talk to me about it, though."

"Oh no – it's not that", I say quickly, but unfortunately for me, he catches on quickly with a "Great – then you want to tell me what it is?" Fantastic. Now I was trapped.

"I don't know. I don't feel so good" I say and Dev nods, pondering upon this for a moment.

"Okay – how about this... Let's get some ice-cream or brownies or something to cheer you up and then find a place to talk. But for now, please stop sulking and start chattering about something so that I can be annoyed with you again?" he asks, with a slow grin spreading on his face.

"Awesome" I say before plunging headlong into saying, "Also – you know what? I think we should add some pink into the Smile Café design."

"Hell no!" he says before speeding along to the area of town housing our favourite bakery from when we were younger.

(PS - Hey guys!! 

I'm in a low network zone at the moment and in the next couple of chapters I'm not able to attach any media right now. When I do, I'll send you a notification. So, the next couple of chapters won't have any media the first time it gets published. Thanks for bearing with me. 

xoxo

Smriti)