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Jiya pulled out the toys she’d brought the twins and handed them one each. They were identical fitted number block sets that they insisted on opening right away. She sat on the carpet with them, helping them set up the toys while Sameer went to fetch her a glass of wine.
“You spoil them so much,” Raashi said with a smile when she returned freshly changed. She and her sister had the same shape of eyes; only Jiya believed her eyes were a deeper brown, while Raashi’s brown gaze swirled with green all the time, depending on her mood. Apart from that, Raashi had a warm complexion with high gorgeous cheekbones, and Jiya was slightly fairer, her cheeks rounder. She was a few inches taller too.
Raashi sat on the floor with her, and soon she was telling her about all the antics her two munchkins had been up to and what new words they’d learned. The doorbell rang just as Sameer returned with a glass of wine for each of them. Handing them the glasses, he went to open the door and returned with a group of people.
“Jiya, you’re here!” Rhea and Shauna said in unison.
She rushed to meet her closest friends. The three of them hugged one another in a tight circle, chatting nonstop as they tossed questions her way.
“You’re back soon,” Shauna remarked.
“How was your meeting?” Rhea asked. “Did it get over early?”
“Or did you do something naughty?” Shauna queried.
Rhea clucked her tongue. “Why would you say that?”
“That’s because I know her.”
Jiya smiled. Shauna, older than Rhea by ten minutes, was dressed as immaculately as always. Even though she must have worked the whole day, her makeup was flawless, her hair in place, and her white pant suit on point. Shauna was truly a fashionista. While Rhea’s style was a bit understated, it was no less impeccable than her twin’s. Rhea looked great in her fitted maternity denim dress that showed her baby bump perfectly.
Jiya lowered her voice as she addressed them. “There’s something I have to tell you both. I’ve done something crazy.”
“See, naughty it is. I knew it,” Shauna chuckled. “First, let me go meet those two cuties.” She rushed to her niece and nephew.
Jiya placed a hand on Rhea’s growing belly. At six months, Rhea was glowing in her pregnancy. “I swear you’ve grown bigger since I last saw you.”
Rhea laughed. Her husband, Nirvaan, put his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.
“You’ve only been gone a few days, Jiya,” he said.
“She looks bigger, though!” Jiya smiled at him. She lowered her voice to say, “By the way, I met your friend at the London airport.”
Nirvaan’s brow marred. “Who? Wait, was it Rohan?”
Jiya nodded. Nirvaan was just like Rohan. He wasn’t very social, and Rohan was one of the very few friends he had.
“Oh my God,” Rhea spluttered. “You met him.Him?Do you still think he’s hot? I want details.”
Nirvaan alternated his bespectacled gaze between the two best friends, looking confused.
Rhea lowered her voice. “Jiya’s been crushing on Rohan since our wedding.”
“Wait, what?” Nirvaan gasped aloud. The look on his face was absolutely comical.
“Shhh…” Jiya muttered, tipping her head at Raashi, who was chatting with Shauna now. “We don’t speak abouthimin front of Raashi or Keya, ever. For some strange reason, they don’t get along with Rohan, as I’m sure you know.”
Nirvaan lowered his chin in a nod. “Yeah, and I believe the feeling is mutual.”
The doorbell rang again, followed by a key turning in the lock, and this time, Jiya rushed to the entrance. As she’d expected, Sameer’s grandfather, Janak Sehgal, entered.
“Hi, Janak,” she gushed, throwing herself at his chest. The old man put his arms around her. He was tall and fit, and even at a little over eighty years of age, he did his exercises regularly. He’d been her grandmother’s old friend and had treated Jiya like one of his own for as long as she could remember.
“How are you, my dear girl?” Janak asked her, kissing her forehead.
This man held a special place in her heart. Till date, apart from her sister, he was the one she went to if she needed advice on anything. Janak Sehgal was a sharp businessman. He was renowned across India and in several parts of the world. He was the reason why Sehgal Corporation was so successful. He was the one who’d trained his grandkids to take over the business, and he’d smartly distributed it between them all. Software and telecom were with his eldest grandson, Kabier. Real estate and hotels were with Sameer, and automobiles with Rishi. And now, Shauna was working in the media business that Janak still led by himself. Perhaps someday, she’d be at the helm of that. Jiya smiled, happy for her friend.
“I’m good, Janak. How are you?”
