8. Samosa & Mocktails

"Bhaiya, kya mast samose banate ho aap," Aadvik said to the shopkeeper, who was preparing the dough. He dipped the tip of his samosa in the green chutney, savoring the taste, while Vihaan chuckled. "I used to think that rich people like you eat only at hotels and expensive restaurants."

Darsh glanced at the clock and then at the sunny weather. "Too hot," he remarked.

Aadvik, taking a bite of his samosa, echoed, "Too hot!"

Abhinav, who had been busy on his phone, finally looked up at his friends laughing, chatting, and eating.

"Bhaiya, jalebi chhano, jalebi!" Darsh said, standing up. "Sunday ho aur hum aapke yaha ki jalebi chakh ke naa jayein, aisa kabhi hua hai kya?" He threw his paper plate into the dustbin and dusted off the crumbs on his pants.

Vihaan placed a hand on Abhinav's shoulder and teased, "What happened, dude? Kabse tip-tip-tip kar raha hai phone pe?"

Before Abhinav could reply, Aadvik chimed in, "Ladki ka chakkar, babu bhaiya. Ladki ka chakkar!"

Abhinav sighed, pocketed his iPhone, and retorted, "You're mad."

"Arey, pata hai?" Aadvik teased, causing the group to burst into laughter, unaffected by the stares of people sitting around them.

Darsh looked at Aadvik curiously. "Kya?"

Clearing his throat, Aadvik declared, "Veda mili mereko."

All eyes turned to him, and Abhinav muttered, "Aadhe India ko pata hai."

But then, Abhinav decided to drop a bombshell. "I am dating Palak."

At that moment, Aadvik's plate slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. His eyes widened in shock.

"You mean PALAK?! THE PALAK NAAZ?" Aadvik exclaimed.

"Haan bhai," Darsh interjected nonchalantly, uninterested in the conversation.

"Wow, but you hated commitments, Abhi," Aadvik said, still processing the revelation. "I mean, I've never even heard you mention her name before, and now, out of the blue, you're announcing, 'I'm dating Palak.' Is everything okay, no?" He took another bite of the bread pakora in his hand.

Abhinav shook his head. "It's all cool, guys. I've proposed a contract for us because it's a fake date. I really need a companion for some events; that's it."

Vihaan raised an eyebrow, still not fully convinced. "Okay, if you're happy, then we're happy."

Darsh, who had been silent until now, suddenly said, "Guys..."

Everyone turned to him with concern. Abhinav asked, "What happened, Darsh?"

Darsh pointed at a big billboard near the wooden stools and shouted, "Pappe bhaiya nayi dish leke aaye hain!"

Aadvik perked up. "Kaunsi?"

Darsh, maintaining a stern expression, replied, "Buddhu banaya! Stocks gir rahe hain tere. Kuch kaam kar!"

Aadvik made a face, and the boys burst into laughter.

Abhinav, with his hands behind his head, raised a topic that had been on his mind. "You guys noticed how the media's been all over Palak lately? Man, that's insane. I don't know how she handles it. It's like they just thrive on creating drama."

Vihaan grinned. "Oh please, we all know why the media's obsessed. They're just jealous of someone as cool as her. If I had to be in her shoes for a day, I'd probably go insane from all the attention."

Darsh raised an eyebrow. "You think she's handling it okay? I've been feeling like she's kinda off lately." He paused, then added, "Maybe she just needs to breathe and let this blow over."

Aadvik, with his usual mischievous grin, teased, "*Dude, I think it's more than just the media. I've got a feeling that she's hiding something. Maybe she's secretly in love with someone." He nudged Abhinav playfully. "Could it be... you?"

Abhinav froze for a split second, but quickly recovered. "What? Nah. I don't think that's the case." He tried to sound casual, but the others noticed the brief pause.

Vihaan caught on, leaning closer with an exaggerated whisper, "Aha, I see you're trying to play it cool. But remember, dude, we can see through that. You've got the biggest crush on her!"

The teasing continued, with Darsh and Aadvik joining in, all laughing and poking fun at Abhinav. He rolled his eyes but secretly appreciated the camaraderie.

-

The sun was setting, casting a soft orange glow over the city. The rooftop café was bustling with energy, with twinkling string lights adding a cozy charm to the place. The girls had gathered around a table, their laughter filling the air as they sipped on fruity mocktails.

Swastika was already busy snapping photos of the café's décor. She leaned back in her chair, adjusting the camera angle, then looked up with a grin. "Insta me reels banegi, yaar. Yeh lighting aur yeh vibe-superb!"

Veda, who had just finished fixing her hair, rolled her eyes and smirked. "Tu date pe kab jayegi? Camera ke saath toh har week hoti hai."

Swastika pouted, still trying to get the perfect shot. "Pehle chhodo, baat toh suno. Yeh perfect date hai!"

Palak, sitting quietly, smiled faintly at her friends. She loved their energy, but her mind wandered, thinking of the scandal that had recently shaken her world. The whole "fake dating" mess with Abhinav was still fresh in her mind, and the media wasn't making it any easier.

Tripti, ever the enthusiastic one, clinked her glass with a cheer. "Girls, I just realized, hum yeh mocktail tower order karte hain! Hum toh fancy wali ladies hain!" She was already waving down the waiter.

Palak chuckled. "You know that's going to be half the fun-just sitting here pretending we're high society."

Swastika laughed, but then her eyes twinkled mischievously. "Acha, Palak! Koi asli feelings hain, ya sab contractual hai, huh?"

Palak's eyes widened slightly before she rolled them, a small, reluctant smile forming on her lips. "You're impossible, Swastika. Seriously. Abhinav... he's just... I don't know. There's something about how he handles everything, you know? No matter what the media throws at him, he doesn't even blink."

Veda, who had been observing Palak quietly, raised an eyebrow. "You're not telling us something, right? Is it the 'quiet, mysterious' vibe he gives off?"

Swastika leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "Oh, the classic. Haan, we get it. He's like the hero in a Bollywood movie-serious, cool, and does everything without breaking a sweat."

Palak sighed, swirling her drink in her glass. "It's not like that. He's just... different. Calm in chaos. It's kind of annoying, honestly."

Tripti was busy scanning the menu but caught the tail end of the conversation. "Oye, yeh toh ekdum 'hate to love' wali story lag rahi hai. Is he the one who'll make you fall in love, Palak?"

Palak rolled her eyes dramatically. "Please. I'm not falling for anything. It's all business. And even if I was, it's complicated."

Swastika grinned. "Oh, sure, whatever you say. But we all know that when Abhinav Randhawa enters the room, you can't help but notice him."

Just then Swastika said "Speaking of random guys-remember when Darsh saved me last week at the university? I was running late for my presentation, and I realized I left my pen drive at home. I was freaking out, and who shows up with an extra one in his bag? Darsh."

The girls erupted in laughter.

"Haan, toh? You needed him. That's called being thoughtful, not 'saving the day,' Swastika" Veda teased.

Swastika smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Okay, okay. But seriously, he's way too chill. I think his 'I don't care' attitude is just a mask. He's actually the most caring person in our group. I'm telling you, he's always looking out for people."

Tripti snorted. "You mean the same Darsh who pretends he doesn't care, but always ends up taking the longest amount of time deciding where to eat because he knows we'll never agree?"

"Exactly!" Veda laughed, taking a sip of her mocktail. "That's the 'real Darsh' for you. Always pretending not to care when he's probably the most thoughtful person in the room."

Palak smiled softly, her thoughts still lingering on Abhinav. She didn't know what to make of him-what they had was so complicated. But hearing the girls talk about their experiences with the guys made her feel a little less alone.

"Okay, okay, enough about the guys!" Swastika waved her hands dramatically. "What about you, Palak? No guy talk for you? What's going on with you?"

Palak hesitated before shrugging. "I don't know. This whole 'scandal' thing is a lot to handle, yaar. I just want things to go back to normal."

Tripti leaned in, her eyes softening with concern. "Palak, whatever's happening, just remember we've got your back, okay? No one's perfect. But we're here for you. Always."

Veda nodded, looking over at Palak seriously. "Yeah, girl. You're not alone in this."

Palak smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude. These girls-they had a way of making everything feel a little bit lighter.

"Thanks, guys. Seriously." Palak sighed, finally feeling a little more at peace.

As the night stretched on, they continued chatting, joking, and reminiscing. They ordered more food, tried new desserts, and even debated over which film to watch next. The evening felt timeless, a blend of joy, friendship, and little moments of vulnerability.

As the waiter brought out the mocktail tower, Tripti exclaimed, "Now that's what I call a girls' night!"

Swastika grinned, snapping one last picture. "Haan, yeh toh sab Insta worthy hai!"

And Palak, for the first time that evening, truly smiled. For a moment, everything was perfect.

--

Hellooo ! hope you enjoyed the banter between the characters and ik my characters aren't the perfect, they are like us, you and me but I promise they'll have their development.

No romance kyuki kuch soojh nhi rha tha agley chapter me pakka!

Your fav moments??