Page 23 of Let's Start with Forever

“You want my land?” she asked, surprised.

“Actually, it was my land. Grandfather gifted it to you without knowing my plans for it. So, yes, I want it back. I will pay for it, of course,” Sameer answered her brazenly.

Raashi’s mouth opened and closed in shock and then fury blazed through her. How dare he think she would sell it? How dare he assume that money could get him whatever he wanted?

“That land is not for sale,” Raashi said through pursed lips.

“Everything has a price, Raashi. One just needs to know how high to bid for it.”

Cocky, overconfident, bastard!

Raashi almost said that aloud but then she realized they were in public and Janak, Keya, Sheena and Natasha were all watching them.

Therefore, she said instead, “You can bid as high as you wish, I am not selling.”

Sameer gave her an insolent smile. “We shall see.”

Janak interjected before she could say something nasty and it all went out of hand.

“Hey, you two,” Janak looked from her to Sameer, “this is no way to behave. Business is not to be conducted here. Leave the work talk for another day, will you?”

Raashi wanted to throw something at Sameer. God! He made her so furious. She leveled him with a venomous look, hoping that it conveyed all the exasperation she felt at his brash behavior. He gave her a cool smile in return making her blood boil even more. Before she could react again, she saw Rithwik entering the room. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her temper and then smiled at Rithwik as he came closer.

“Hello, people,” he said. “Happy Birthday, Mr. Sehgal.” Rithwik wished Janak, shaking hands with him.

Then he turned to Raashi and Keya. “My favorite girls. Sorry, I am late. I just returned to the city, you know that right?”

“I’m just glad you’re here,” Keya said.

“Me too,” Raashi said.

Rithwik then turned to Sameer and exchanged a few words with him. He chatted with Natasha and Sheena briefly. Ofcourse, Rithwik knew Natasha. They moved in the same elite social circles and knew one another.

He turned back to her and Keya, “Come on, you two. I’m going to steal you both away for a bit. Let’s get a drink and catch up.”

Sameer watched with mounting irritation as Rithwik Bali confidently and quickly steered the two girls away to the bar at the further end. Yes, the three of them were close and they had been friends since years, but Sameer did not like the possessive way Rithwik’s arm was curved around Raashi’s waist.

“Stop glaring at her and leave her alone, Sameer,” Sheena whispered, gripping his arm hard, her finger nails digging into his skin.

Sameer brushed her arm off.

“You need to stay out of things that do not involve you in any way.”

She cast him an angry look. Sameer ignored her, his eyes still on Raashi and Rithwik. Sheena maneuvered their grandfather away, leaving Sameer alone with Natasha.

“How does that girl from the restaurant have such rich, influential friends?” Natasha asked Sameer, flicking her head towards the bar where Raashi was standing with Keya and Rithwik.

“They’re her close friends and the fact that they are rich or influential has got nothing to do with it,” he said, defending Raashi.

“Oh! You’re quite well acquainted with her. Anyway what was the land thing your grandfather was talking about?”

“Oh, nothing...nothing,” Sameer shook his head. “Just some business deal between Raashi and me.” Sameer replied to Natasha, not really paying attention to Natasha’s questions. His eyes hadn’t strayed from Raashi even once throughout their conversation.

Rithwik was ordering drinks at the bar and Sameer could see him get some shots for the three of them. He offered one to Keya who refused vehemently. Raashi, he saw, accepted the shot, clicked glasses with Rithwik and downed the shot quickly. They promptly ordered the next round. Soon, Sheena, her husband Rajiv, Rishi and Kabier join them, the entire group laughing and drinking joyously together. He noticed Rishi gesturing the deejay to change the music. The music changed immediately to a loud and racy number. Already moving their bodies to the rhythm of the new song being played, the merry group moved to the dance floor together.

“So, it’s just business between Raashi and you?” Natasha queried, as she saw Sameer’s attention fixed on Raashi.

Sameer turned to Natasha.