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“Not in the afternoon,” Shaurya replied promptly. “And what I offer guests in my home ismychoice, not theirs.”

Varun gave him an unimpressed look.

“You are so boring.” He flopped onto the couch, stretching his arms lazily. “Anyway, let’s get back to the juicy part. Who was the woman? Can I guess?”

Shaurya’s eyes narrowed. He knew that look on Varun’s face—mischievous, all-knowing, and dangerously accurate.

Then, before Shaurya could stop him, Varun’s grin widened.

“It washer, wasn’t it?” he said smugly. “Grandpa’s granddaughter.”

Shaurya’s expression faltered for a split second, but Varun caught it and burst out laughing.

“Oh my God, it was her! I knew it!”

“No. She was not. And why areyoueven here?” Shaurya scowled.

Varun dramatically wiped a fake tear from his eye. “Wow. The only person in this town who actually likes you comes to visit, and you ask me why I’m here? This is how you treat a bestie?”

Shaurya rolled his eyes, but Varun continued. “I am literally the only person in Serene Meadows who is not afraid to befriend you, you know that? Everyone else sees‘The Shaurya Ahuja’and runs for their lives. But I, however, don’t have that liberty because I’m your childhood friend too.” He placed a hand over his heart, giving him a mock-sentimental look. “I can’t believe I’ve endured your brooding, your cold shoulder, and your‘get lost, Varun’death glares for all these years.”

Shaurya sat down across from him. “And yet, you still come back for more.”

“Because,” Varun smirked, “I am a selfless soul, determined to fix you.”

Shaurya huffed. “Fix me? Or annoy me with baseless gossip?”

Varun waggled his eyebrows. “Both.”

Shaurya shook his head, already knowing there was no winning against him. “What do you want?”

Varun’s grin widened. “I want to know your New Year’s Eve plans.”

“I don’t think I have any video conferences lined up that night,” Shaurya replied.

Varun groaned. “God, you’re hopeless. Not work plans, you boring man. I mean actual plans.”

Shaurya lifted a brow. “You want to come over and celebrate?”

Varun looked comically horrified. “With you? No way. The thought itself sounds terrible. I’ve better plans for myself than spending a wonderful new year’s night with a boring friend.”

Shaurya’s expression darkened. “Then?”

Varun leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “But I have a sexy plan for you.”

Shaurya had a bad feeling about this. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“You never like my plans,” Varun sighed. “But this time, you’ll have to like it.”

Shaurya folded his arms and sighed. “Spit it out.”

“I’m arranging a blind date for you on New Year’s Eve.”

Shaurya’s entire body tensed. His fingers curled into fists on the armrest. “No,” he said flatly.

“Come on, Shaurya!” Varun whined. “How long are you going to be like this? It’s been a year since your divorce.”

That did it.