Page 67 of Born in Sin

“Saturday, 28thJuly. 9:00 PM.”

“That’s it?” Ishaan asked.

“That’s all it says.”

Kabir peered at it over her shoulder, his brow furrowed in a frown. “Why the fuck did they send me a bathrobe?”

And Cara did something she never expected to do on a day like today. She burst out laughing.

Crestwood

Virat followed the other boy away from the track court. The path he was taking looped around the grounds, past the vegetable gardens and towards the empty grounds by the west lawns. Virat frowned. Why would Varun be heading there? Especially without his gang.

Virat made a point of keeping a safe distance behind Varun but he wasn’t too worried since the other boy wasn’t being too vigilant. So, whatever he was doing, it wasn’t anything important. Virat just needed five minutes alone with him to make his point.

Varun skirted the final gardening shed and headed towards the far wall, making for a side gate that led off the school grounds. Virat frowned. The gate was always locked. As he watched, Varun slipped a key out of his pocket and unlocked the gate. Virat’s eyes narrowed as he watched Varun exit the gate, shutting and locking it behind him.

Damn it. There was no way for Virat to follow him out the gate. He glanced around and spotted a tree that looked sturdyenough to be climbed. He was about to put his leg on the lowest branch when he saw the gate opening again. He leaned against the tree, crossing his arms on his chest like it had been his plan all along to wait for Varun to come back.

He saw the moment Varun clocked his presence. He started, before stilling, a wary smirk on his face. “Stalking me, Jha?”

Virat didn’t bother replying to that. “We need to talk.”

Varun planted his feet, unconsciously mirroring Virat’s pose. “What about?”

“The night watchman has noticed the light and chatter from the grove. Tone it down.”

Varun’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t give me orders, Jha. In fact, no one gives me orders."

"It’s not an order. It’s a warning.” Virat shrugged. “I have nothing to lose if they bust your ass.”

“Then why warn us?”

Virat wondered how much he could trust him with and decided that the answer to that was a big, fat zero.

“Dhrithi’s a friend,” he said instead. “I’d hate to have her caught up in whatever shit you guys have going on there.”

Varun grinned. “Dude, the grove isn’t about my girlfriend. It’s about so much more, so many more.”

Virat didn’t rise to the bait.

Varun stepped closer, getting right in Virat’s face. “Want to bring your girlfriend to the grove and find out what we’re up to? She’s seriously hot. I think she might enjoy the grove.”

Hot, pulsing rage swamped him but none of it showed on his face.

“Don’t be an ass.” His voice was tinged with boredom as he stared Varun down. “Stay in your lane and I’ll stay in mine.”

“My lane is every lane, Jha. Maybe you need to remember that.”

Virat could feel his pulse throbbing in his throat. This was the guy Dhrithi had left Amay for? Clearly, her marks at school didn’t indicate the presence of real intelligence.

“And every lane has curves that are too dangerous to take fast. Slow down, Gokhale, before you crash.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Varun smiled. “Don’t jump into waters too deep for you.”

“You flunked English, last term, didn’t you?”

Varun’s smile dimmed.