Page 23 of Right Where I Belong
“I’d love to take you out,” Shauna said. “I know a little more of the city now that I’ve been living here for a month already.”
Sabrina smiled. “Well, if it’s not too much trouble, then I’d be happy to do this. Thank you.”
“Great! I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be ready by seven. Oh, and dress up. We’re going fancy.” With a quick wave, Shauna went to her own room.
A huge smile spread over her face. Shauna was a whirlwind of kindness and spontaneity—genuine, effortlessly charming, and always eager to help. Her stay so far had been easy, mainly thanks to her. Sabrina was excited and happy to go out with her.
The whole of last week had gone in acclimatizing herself to her new surroundings, getting settled into her course, and settling here at the apartment. She hadn’t had a moment to explore the city or even go beyond her usual routine. But now she had a chance to change that. She quickly hunted through her cupboard, excited for the night ahead.
“So,how’s it really going for you?” Shauna asked, once they’d placed their drink orders. “You mentioned this is your first trip away from India.”
“It is. Thank you for letting me stay with you,” Sabrina said.
Shauna waved a hand dismissively. “Please, I’m glad to have the company. The older girls in our circle always talk warmly about you. I’m happy we’re getting the chance to get to know one another, and hopefully become friends too.”
“I’d like that too,” Sabrina said.
Shauna smiled. She was the only unmarried grandchild of Janak Sehgal, the grand patriarch of the Sehgal family, and, by all accounts, the more mischievous half of a pair of twin sisters. But from whatever Sabrina had seen of her so far, she was also focused, grounded, and extremely passionate about her work.
“So, what’s the verdict? How are you liking Singapore?” Shauna queried with a smile.
“I’m so amazed by everything I’ve seen so far. Everything is so squeaky clean and organized.”
“Yes, they’re low-key obsessed with cleanliness here.”
“Also, I didn’t expect people to be so… multicultural. I’m still trying to get used to people speaking four languages in one sentence.”
“You’ll get used to it. By the time your course ends, you’ll be throwing in a ‘lah’ or ‘can can’ without even thinking. Trust me, I’m doing it ever so often.”
Sabrina grinned. “Can lah.”
They both burst out laughing. Shauna was genuinely easy to be with, and Sabrina liked her a lot.
“How’s your son?” Shauna asked. “Tell me about him.”
Sabrina spent the next few minutes talking about Ahaan and showing her some recent pictures of his vacation that Aisha had sent her, while Shauna spoke of her nieces and nephews.
A waitress served their drinks.
Sabrina took a sip of her Singapore Sling, and her eyes widened. “Thisisgood.”
“The Long Bar in Singapore is literally the birthplace of the Singapore Sling,” Shauna explained. “That’s why, for your first authentic experience, I got you to this bar. We’ll finish up here and go for dinner to another local joint.”
“Sounds good to me.” Sabrina looked around the world-famous Long Bar. Set with cane furnishings, ceiling fans, and warm wood, it had a romantic colonial era charm.
The conversation flowed easily between them, and by the time an hour had passed, Sabrina was sipping the last of her second cocktail—something she never did back home. There, she always stuck to her one-drink rule. With Ahaan to care for and her mother-in-law’s watchful eyes on her, she rarely let herself unwind. But tonight, so far away from home, for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt completely unburdened. Liberated.
No wonder Aisha was always urging her to carve out time for herself. This… this lightness felt incredible. She missed her son, of course, but tonight, it felt good to just beSabrinaagain.
Shauna ordered a third round for them. Sabrina lifted her glass and froze mid-motion.
Two men were seated at a table near the bar, their backs partly turned. Her heart began to race as she stared at the tall, broad-shouldered man with thick dark hair and a profile sharp enough to make someone look twice. He was laughing at something his companion said.
Aditya was here?Here? She knew he often visited Singapore for work, but to see him here, at this exact restaurant, in this exact moment, was shockingly unexpected.
“What?” Shauna followed her gaze. “Oh, look, Aditya’s here, and… Ugh!”
Sabrina leaned in slightly. “What happened?”
