FF: Serendipity [Completed] - Page 12

Originally posted by: RockBarbie

Updating... 😊

Chapter 10:

"I love food here," Maan said happily as he walked in step with Dev. Dev had invited him over for lunch to talk over things. Whenever Dev invited, Maan never really asked for a reason and just met him. They always met in his house on Sunday night for drinks and a home cooked meal. Unless there was something really urgent or if he was out of town, Dev would be found in Maan's apartment on any Sunday evening.

"I know Maan, that's why I brought you here," Dev replied with a smile. The tension or proposal, Tara's acceptance, things that were going to come had increased his stress levels for couple of weeks. Somehow everyone seemed to be talking about his wedding or what he was going to do and after all these years of begging Tara to marry him, he was flabbergasted with her approval.

Now wondered why she accepted his proposal. He always thought that at one point she would say yes to Maan given how they seemed to share something that he and Tara could never share. Maan had unique ability to smoothen out the edges in her and brought about calmness.

"Well, thank you." Maan said sliding into a booth. It took him less than a minute to order and he didn't even need a menu; he just ordered his favorite dishes and gave them specific instructions for some. Dev looked on in mild amusement. Maan was generally a very quiet man but off late he seemed to have gone even quieter. Dev wondered if his engagement had such a deep impact on his best friend.

"Are you okay about me and Tara, Maan?" He asked delving right in. Maan looked confused.

"I don't understand." His reply was immediate. Dev shuffled in his chair.

"You were upset when we announced our engagement," Dev said slowly barely looking at Maan.

"I was. But I am okay now," Maan replied. Dev looked up sharply. Maan's eyes were intense and calm. However there was something else in those eyes that made him downcast his.

"Do you love Tara?" Dev asked bluntly. He had realized that over the years it was best to deal with Maan forthrightly than being subtle and dubious.

"Yes. I do." He replied and smiled widely as the waiter placed steaming bowl of pumpkin soup. Dev felt someone was choking him. There was no hesitation in his answer nor was any ambiguity. He had technically answered him twice. 'Yes' and 'I do'. The finality with which Maan answered his question quivered his heart is mild fear.

If Maan really wanted, he could get easily make Tara sway in confusion about her decision. But really knowing Maan, he would never ever pursue her or bring about his love for her unless he, Dev, was completely out of picture.

Selfish or not, he had no plans on giving up on Tara. She was the woman for him.

"You like the soup?" He asked bleakly seeing how ridiculously happy Maan looked at that moment.

"It's amazing Dev. Thank you so much for inviting me," he replied. Dev nodded with a forced smile. He didn't know why Maan's frankness was biting him. He wanted his best friend to fight him, punch him, pick up a silly argument; he wanted Maan to…react.

"Did you talk to Tara after we announced?" He asked wanting to know everything that transpired between his best friend and future wife. He hated himself for being so pathetic but he had loved Tara for far too long to lose her.

"I did," he answered promptly. Dev sighed.

"What did you guys talk about?" Dev prodded. Maan looked up from his soup and started at him unblinkingly.

"That's something between me and Nayantara," he said. Dev was little taken aback. Tara's mood was sour after she had come back from Maan's apartment and he knew that she was terribly upset after talking to him.

"Maan, Tara is incredibly upset about the conversation you've had with her. If you tell me what it was, I can probably help her understand what it meant." Dev said. Maan looked at him blankly. He shrugged.

"She wanted to tell me that she made her choice after being confused for a long time. I didn't like her answer so I asked her to get out of my house," he replied.

"She was confused?" Dev asked.

"Yes. She refused my proposal four weeks ago. So I demanded to know what had changed in those days," Maan replied.

Dev felt his mouth go dry. He had no idea that Maan had proposed to Tara few weeks before he had. What was she thinking?!

To be continued.