Page 44 of Born in Sin

Cara shrugged, flicking her fingers in the air. “Whatever.”

Kabir slanted an amused look in her direction. “Forgive her. She clearly didn’t pop her happy pills today. You guys come down to the set tomorrow and we’ll start afresh. Bring your friends and family. We’ll show you a good time. Yeah?”

Naveen nodded like a doll with a spring for his neck. Majid just took the business card the guard held out to him, saying, “See you tomorrow then.”

“Kabs,” Cara pouted. “I’m done with this place. Let’s go.”

Kabir got to his feet, tipping his fingers at the other two in farewell and held his arm out for Cara to take. She rose, flipping her long hair over her shoulder, almost slapping Majid in his face with it, and took the arm Kabir held out.

They were halfway across the room when she saw him. In a wheelchair, with an oxygen tank on the ground beside him, he sat, listening to someone nattering away on his right. He’d lost all his hair, his body looking frail and weak. His watery, slightly red eyes glanced in her direction, dipped to her cleavage and then looked away, a small smile on his thin face.

He didn’t recognize her. But she would recognize him anywhere. Whatever was wrong with Raghuvansh Jha, it was killing him. She wondered if his son knew. But then he must because Virat knew everything, didn’t he?

Crestwood

“Celina!” Majid’s voice came from the doorway.

Virat and Celina jerked away from each other, emotions still running high between them. Virat didn’t miss the smirk on his face before it was replaced by a genuine seeming smile when he faced Celina.

“I wanted to say bye before I left for the break,” Majid told Celina.

“Bye M.” Celina smiled, her eyes still shining with unshed tears. “See you next year.”

“Can’t believe we’re heading into the eleventh. Which subjects did you choose?” Majid pointedly ignored Virat’s presence as he chatted with her.

“Arts.” Celina grimaced. “Can’t do another year of math or science. And you?”

Majid shrugged. “My father won’t accept anything other than science. What does your father want you to do, Jha?”

The last question was a bolt out of the blue. Virat’s lips firmed. Everybody knew Virat’s father didn’t give a shit about what he did.

“I’m doing science too,” he said quietly. Ishaan and Amay were both picking science and Virat went where his friends went.

“Really? I figured you’d do arts as well.” Majid’s eyes gleamed as he looked from Celina to Virat. “Did your Dad not allow it?”

“My Dad doesn’t decide for me.” Because he doesn’t care enough to, Virat amended in his mind.

“Your marks will.” Majid grinned, knowing that Virat was at best, an average student, unlike Amay and Ishaan.

“Look who’s talking,” Celina retorted, her eyes flashing fire. “You failed the prefinals in Math.”

For a second, Virat thought Majid’s mask would slip. He hoped for it, for Celina to see her friend for who and what he was. But it didn’t…Majid laughed instead, a sound that grated on Virat’s every nerve.

“Point,” he said, pointing a finger at Celina. “You’re getting meaner in your old age.”

Celi laughed. “I’m only two months older than you, baby boy.”

Virat’s stomach roiled at the banter. Sharan Chacha would be here with the car soon. He should get his luggage.

“I’ve got to get my stuff,” he said roughly. “I’ll see you guys.”

He turned, walking away before either could respond. He heard her hurried footsteps before she caught up with him, grabbing his arm to get him to stop.

“Vir! Stop! Are you going to leave me like that? Without even a proper goodbye?”

He shook her hand off. “You should get back to your friend,” he said, just as Majid stepped through the door at the far end of the corridor, watching their argument with open amusement. Amusement Celina didn’t see or rather didn’t want to see. This was an age-old argument between them. Majid was her friend, and she stubbornly refused to see what Virat and his friends saw in him.

“Leave me alone Celi,” he said now, Majid’s gloating face pushing him over the edge of this horrible day.