Bruno watched her struggles with what could only be described as disappointment.
"Oh, shut up," she told the dog. "Not all of us have teeth designed for tearing things apart."
Shaurya choked on his laugh. "Did you just tell Bruno to shut up?"
"He started it," Nimisha said defensively.
"I'm pretty sure he didn't say anything."
"You don't know that. He's very expressive."
Bruno huffed in agreement.
"Okay, this is officially the strangest conversation I've ever been part of," Shaurya said. "And my family runs a criminal empire."
Nimisha stuck her tongue out at Bruno.
The dog's ears perked forward, his eyes widening slightly.
Shaurya made a strangled sound. "Did you... did you just stick your tongue out at Bruno? The Bruno? The dog that once killed a man for looking at bhai wrong?"
"He's being judgmental."
"HE'S A DOG."
"A very judgmental dog who apparently has opinions about my manual dexterity."
Bruno's tail swished once, a gesture that somehow conveyed amusement.
"How long has this been going on?" Shaurya asked, fascination evident in his voice. "This whole... friendship thing?"
"We're not friends."
Bruno's expression suggested otherwise.
"We have an understanding," Nimisha clarified, finally giving up on the mochi and setting it aside. She opened the chocolate instead, popping a piece in her mouth. The rich Belgian cocoa melted on her tongue, a small moment of bliss.
"What kind of understanding?"
"The kind where he judges me silently, and I feed him treats occasionally."
"You feed him treats?"
"Sometimes."
Shaurya leaned back in his chair, studying her with open curiosity. "Does bhai know about this?"
"There's nothing to know."
"Bhabhi, his dog is currently sitting in your study like he owns the place. That's not nothing."
"Bruno goes where he wants."
"Bruno goes where bhai goes," Shaurya corrected. "Except, apparently, when he's with you."
Nimisha said nothing, unwrapping another chocolate.
"This is fascinating," Shaurya continued. "Absolutely fascinating. The demon dog has befriended the unwanted wife."
