Second Chance

Chapter 16 "I'll Wait"

Dev looks at Mahi and says,' Well! You don't say it.'

Nivriti and Anu exchange an amusing look. 

'Oh! My God! Dev!' shouts another woman with an accent in an excited voice. Everyone turns to the new voice at the entrance. Mahi notices that the woman is not Indian but a blonde with a skinny stature. She runs to the Dev and hugs him very sweetly. Dev hugs her back awkwardly with a surprising look pasted on his face. 

She breaks the hug, still holding him from his arms. In her British accent, she says,' How long has it been?'

Dev still is in surprise. He awkwardly looks at Mahi. Something makes him glance in Mahi's direction. He ends up saying,' Kate. How have you been?'

'I am good. It's so nice to see you after these many years,' says Kate with an excited voice and still holding onto Dev. 

'I happen to meet Kate at the airport. She is touring Pune this week. She doesn't mind staying for the engagement,' says Anu standing next to Dev as she looks at him with a guilty expression. He shots her disapproving look. So Anu quietly goes and stands next to Mahi and her sister. 

As Dev and Kate still exchange their pleasantries, Nivi quietly asks Anu about Kate. To which Anu replies,' She was Bhai's fling in London. I met her when I was there during that exchange programme in college.'

Nivi realises that Mahi heard Anu as she quickly signals Anu not to say anymore. Mahi listens to Anu and looks at Kate with more observing eyes. She sees that the woman is white, blonde and even good looking with an amazing ass. Dev realises that everyone is waiting for him to introduce Kate to them. 

Dev politely breaks Kate's hold on him as the first person he introduces to her is Mahi as his wife. Kate gets surprised that Dev got married. She first congrats him and then greets Mahi by pulling her in a friendly hug. Mahi greets her back politely. After introductions, everyone settles in the living room. Soon Dev's extended family members also arrive, turning the house into complete stead festivities. 

In all of this, when Kate and Dev catch up on their respective lives, Mahi couldn't help but find herself looking in their direction now and then. Dev notices Mahi's eyes at them. She gets a little irritated at their closeness. Savitri seeing Mahi's uneasiness distracts her by asking her to prepare few things. A ritual is to be done for Anu so, Mahi does so. She leaves the living room and goes to the kitchen. 

'She is just a friend,' says Dev leaning against the door frame, hands in pockets. Mahi stops what she was doing and turns around to face Dev with a straight face. Dev becomes uncomfortable with her darting stare. He moves, standing in one place and says, giving in to her glare,' A friend who I went out with for few weeks. That's it.'

'Ah huh!' says Mahi nodding in response to Dev's acceptance. She turns around to resume her work. Dev lets out a chuckle at Mahi being bossy with him. But he liked the way Mahi got jealous. 

Savitri enters the kitchen about to say something to Mahi but stops seeing Dev also present there. Then she sceptically looks at Dev and then decides to tell Mahi.

'I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier. Shree called in the morning,' says Savitri addressing Mahi.

Mahi turns around to look at Savitri and then at Dev. Her expression changes to sadness at the mention of her mother. She doesn't look surprised as she says,' I know. I already got the call.'

Dev sees the sad smile coming around Mahi's face and his mother responding with a pitiful smile. He gets confused. So he asks,' What is it?'

To which Mahi says, with a straight face,' My parents won't be coming for the engagement.'