Love's Redemption♡

CHAPTER- 45

"Avec toi, je sui moi."
( french)
"With you, I am me"
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Present--

Vahni POV:

It's been two days since I saw Vihaan, and I'm relieved to have some space. To be honest, I don't want to see him again anytime soon. But, as fate would have it, I'll have to face him soon. Day after tomorrow, we're leaving for Shimla.

For now, though, I'm looking forward to a fun day with my friends. Today, I'm meeting Shruti, Anisha, and Veer at the Cafe nearby. I get ready and head out to meet them.

As I step inside, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee envelops me, immediately lifting my mood. I scan the room, searching for my friends, and soon spot them at a cozy corner table. Shruti and Anisha wave at me, their faces lighting up with bright smiles.

I take a seat beside Veer and Shruti, and Aryaan greets me with a warm genuine smile. Veer, being his usual energetic self, jumps up from his seat and wraps me in a tight hug. "We've missed you so much!" he exclaims. I laugh, feeling happy to be reunited with my friends.

As I glance around the table, my eyes inevitably meet Vihaan's. He looks angry, his eyes narrowing slightly as he takes in the scene. I feel a shiver run down my spine, but I try to ignore him. Of course, he's here, I think to myself. I should have known better than to think I could avoid him.

Veer releases me from the hug and grins mischievously. "You look like you need one coffee or three," he says, and we all burst out laughing. I shake my head, smiling. "You have no idea," I reply. "Vishaal's wedding is so stressful."

I turn to my friends, a sudden thought striking me. "Hey, you guys should come to the wedding!" I exclaim. "We'll send you the cards later, but please do come!"

Veer's face lights up with a charming smile. "Obvio, I won't miss spending time with my princess for the world," he says, making me chuckle.

I playfully roll my eyes. "Anyway, we're all going to Shimla for five days, just the youngsters of the family," I tell them. "It'll be so much fun! We can hang out and explore the place together."

Aryaan asks, "So, which places are you guys planning to visit in Shimla?"

I reply, "We're thinking of visiting the Mall Road, Ridge, and maybe taking a trek to the nearby hills."

Veer chimes in, "And what about adventure activities? Will you guys be doing any of that?"

"Yeah, we're planning to go skiing and maybe even try some rock climbing." I respond.

Suddenly, Vihaan speaks up, his voice low and smooth. "I'm sure it will be a memorable experience. I'll make sure of that."

The table falls silent, with everyone turning to look at Vihaan in surprise.

Anisha breaks the silence, a hint of confusion in her voice. "Why will you be going, Vihaan? It's just Vahni's cousins and her brother's in-laws."

Vihaan's expression remains calm, but a hint of amusement dances in his eyes. "Because I'm her brother's brother-in-law, and my cousin sister Vanya is getting married to Vishal."

Veer and Aryaan exchange a mock-offended glance, and Veer says, "And you didn't bother inviting us to your sister's wedding?" Aryaan chimes in, "Yeah, we're hurt, Vihaan."

The girls burst out laughing at the boys' dramatics. Shruti giggles, "You guys are so extra."

Vihaan smirks, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I was going to invite you guys, but Vahni did it first."

As we continue to chat and laugh together, I feel a sense of relief wash over me. It's been a while since I've hung out with my friends, and I'm grateful for the distraction from the stress of the upcoming wedding.

After a while, we decide to order our coffees. Veer scans the menu, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'll have the cappuccino, and Vahni will have her favorite... caramel macchiato."

I smile at Veer, feeling grateful for his thoughtful gesture. "Thanks, Veer," I say, my eyes meeting his warm, friendly gaze.

As I glance around the table, my eyes accidentally meet Vihaan's. For a fleeting moment, I see a flash of something in his eyes - a hint of possessiveness, maybe, or jealousy? I'm not sure, but it's quickly replaced by his usual calm, collected expression.

I feel a shiver run down my spine as I look away, trying to brush off the uncomfortable feeling. Why did Vihaan look at me like that? And why did it make me feel so uneasy?

Suddenly, Vihaan speaks up, his voice loud and clear. "So, do you guys know about Vahni's boyfriend?"

I'm taken aback, my eyes widening in surprise. Why is Vihaan talking about it here?

Shruti's eyes light up with curiosity. "What, what boyfriend? You've got one? When?"

I give my friends a subtle look, trying to convey that Vihaan is just messing with them. But Anisha catches on quickly. "Oh yeah, I remember... just a few months back, right?" She's trying to play along, but I can tell she's confused.

Veer looks mock-hurt. "You didn't tell me? I feel left out."

Shruti chimes in, "Wait, Vahni, is this true? You've been holding out on us?"

I try to play it cool, smiling innocently at my friends. "Oh, I told you guys about Nevaan, remember?" I say, trying to sound casual.

I discreetly kick Veer under the table, hoping he'll catch on and play along. To my relief, he does.

Veer grins, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, yeah, I remember! You told us about him, and then you guys started dating soon after that."

The others nod in agreement, playing along with the charade. Shruti says, "Oh yeah, I remember now! You guys were so cute together."

Anisha chimes in, "I know, right? Vahni was totally smitten."

Vihaan's expression darkens, his eyes narrowing slightly as he listens to our conversation. I can tell he's not buying it, but he doesn't say anything.

Just as the conversation is starting to die down, the barista arrives with our coffees. "Here you go, guys!" she says, setting the cups down in front of us.

Veer picks up his cappuccino and takes a sip, closing his eyes in appreciation. "Mmm, perfect."

I lift my caramel macchiato to my lips, inhaling the rich aroma. "Thanks, Veer," I say, smiling at him.

As we sip our coffees, the conversation starts to flow again. Shruti asks Anisha about her upcoming exams, and Veer starts teasing Aryaan about his latest gaming obsession.

Vihaan sits quietly, sipping his coffee and observing the conversation with an unreadable expression. I try to avoid eye contact with him, not wanting to spark another awkward exchange.

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