They sat in the back seat of the uber, Alina by the window, her warm brown skin glowing in the late morning light , her straight black hair parted neatly down the middle framing her serious expression.
Pinky seated in the middle adjusting the rearview mirror from the back seat to check her bright red lip stick, her pink curls bounced as she flipped her hair, oversized sunglasses sat on her head like she'd just walked out of a fashion movie.
While Roy sat by the other window, long legs crammed into the tight space, a silver chain glinting against his graphic tee, his beanie low over his forehead.
"I think Kavi has a girlfriend," Alina said suddenly, clutching her phone a little tighter, the words edged with annoyance.
Pinky didn't miss a beat. "I think it's that Idina Formos girl," she said, arms crossed. "You know, the one from our department. Always giving him that seductive look.
I've been saying it, he's been acting weird. Calls…Texts, All hush-hush. That boy's hiding something."
Roy leaned forward slightly, arching a brow at Alina. "I thought you liked him."
Alina didn't answer right away. She looked down, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve.
Roy continued, gently, "And now you're just letting him slip away."
Pinky snorted. "Slip away? Babe, he's already gone. That Oberoi bastard is in love."
Alina finally spoke, voice soft but determined. "I'm going to tell him how I feel after diwali."
Pinky clapped her hands. "Yes, queen! That's the energy."
Roy chuckled. "Just hope you're ready for heartbreak."
Pinky elbowed him. "Shut up, Roy. Okay, where are we headed first?"
"Obviously the jewelry store," she answered herself before either of them could. "Kavi just handed us his black card. His black card! Do you know how rare that is? That boy rarely uses it."
Roy smirked. "Stupid rich kid. He asked for this." Alina was quite through out the ride to the store.
The car came to a smooth stop in front of Chandra Luxe Jewelers, an upscale boutique wrapped in glass and black marble, the name elegantly etched in silver.
"Damn," Roy muttered as they stepped out. "This place smells like money."
Pinky adjusted her sunglasses. "Perfect. Let's max his card."
Inside, the boutique was cool and polished, filled with soft ambient music and the scent of expensive wood polish. A sharply dressed manager greeted them with a practiced smile.
"Good afternoon. You must be the guests we were expecting."
Alina blinked. "Expecting?"
The manager nodded. "One of the Chandras called ahead. Your visit has been arranged. You're to be treated with full priority. Please, feel free to choose anything you like. The bill has already been taken care of."
The three froze in disbelief.
"Wait, wait," Pinky said, raising a hand. "Did you just say… the bill is handled?"
"Yes, ma'am. Completely."
Roy leaned in, voice low. "What kind of royal trap have we fallen into?"
Alina narrowed her eyes. "Did he say the Chandras? Which of the Chandras?" She questioned him.
"They didn't give a name," the manager replied. "Just said it was from one of the Chandras. And to treat you with the utmost care."
Pinky slipped the black card back into her purse. "Well. Who am I to say no to such treatment".
As trays of diamonds, watches, and gold chains were brought out, Alina stepped to the side and quickly dialed Kavi.
He answered on the third ring, groggy. "Alina?"
"Is your family friends with the Chandras?"
He sat up. "What? No. Why?"
"We're at Chandra Luxe. They said one of the Chandras called ahead and handled the bill. Your black card hasn't even been swiped."
Kavi sat upright in bed. "Wait. Are you serious?"
"Dead serious." She said in a serious tone.
He muttered something under his breath. "That's… weird."
"So your family is friends with them?" She asked again.
"No! We don't even know them personally. I mean, we know of them everyone does but no, Alina. And I personally have never come in contact with any of them before." He denied.
Alina frowned. "Then why would they cover our bill? And how did they even know we were coming?"
Kavi paused. "…I'll call you back."
She hung up and turned to Pinky and Roy, who were already piling up their favorites. "He has no idea. His family doesn't even know the Chandras like that."
Pinky held up a gold chain against her neck and smirked. "Well then, the universe must be shipping us with luxury."
Roy grinned. "Or we just got adopted by billionaires."
His phone buzzed with another notification, group chat blowing up. Pinky had sent a selfie inside the jewelry store, Roy was flexing a gold bracelet, and Alina captioned it with.
"Explain. Now."
Kavi sighed. He already knew who to blame.
He called the man behind it.
"You really love showing off, don't you?" Kavi muttered. "I said I'm collecting my money. I didn't ask you to clear their bills before they even reach there."
Kiaan laughed. "You said the economy's a mess. I was just being helpful. Soulmate duties, you know?"
Kavi rolled his eyes. "Now they think I'm connected to the Chandras. You keep getting me into more trouble?"
"I mean… logically, you are connected to a Chandra. A very handsome, emotionally stable…"
"Emotionally unstable," Kavi corrected and sighed "Next time, keep your billionaire tricks to yourself."
"Oh, speaking of tricks…" Kiaan's voice turned mischievous. "I got you something."
Kavi tensed. "What did you do this time ?"
"It's arriving in few days. Imported. From USA. One of the most exotic cats on earth."
"What?" Kavi stood up. "Are you mad?! I am not a cat person."
"You better start practicing your meows, Oberoi. It's a Ashera. Hybrid breed. Wild-looking."
Kavi nearly dropped his phone. "Kiaan Chandra. Cancel that order right now."
"Too late. Already on the jet."
Kavi groaned. "I swear to God"
"Look," Kiaan said, laughing, "you pretended to have a cat. I just made it true. You're welcome."
"You're a menace." He complained
"I'm your menace." Kiaan flirted.
Kavi went silent for a moment, letting that hang in the air. A part of him wanted to stay mad. The other part wanted to smile.
"Fine," he muttered. "But if that cat claws my curtains, it's your funeral."
Kiaan snorted. "Deal." The call ended.
Kavi stared at his phone for a few seconds longer than necessary, then dropped it on the bed and covered his face with both hands.
A deep blush was already spreading across his cheeks.
"Let's be for real," he muttered to himself. "That boy is… a sweet boy."
He sat up, fighting a smile. "He's a sweet one."
Just then, his phone buzzed again.
GROUP CHAT: Paagalkhaana Mukhyaalay(Crackhead Central)
Pinky:
So wait… Kavi… you sure your family isn't friends with the Chandras?? Cause the hospitality is so sweet.
Alina:
Because this is giving "my uncle owns the store."
Roy:
Which of the Chandra did will fell on his / her good side? and how did we even do that, I only see that family on TV , they aren't accessible.
Kavi sighed dramatically, then rolled his eyes with a smirk and typed:
Kavi:
You guys are just lucky. Don't ask too many questions. I confirmed what it is, it just a annual thing they do, y'all are the lucky ones, Just enjoy and stop investigating like it's a murder scene.
Pinky:
LUCKY?? This is beyond lucky. This is divine intervention.
Kiaan had made the entire arrangement the moment Roy casually dropped the Rolex comment earlier that day while he was hiding in the bedroom.
Kiaan knew exactly which store they'd head to after all, it was literally the best jeweler store in the city.