Page 85 of Right Where I Belong
Guilt swept through Sabrina, and she opened her mouth to make up for what she’d said. But Aisha reached over and gently squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. I know how difficult my mother can be. But to be honest, she didn’t sound smug when I spoke to her. She sounded upset that you and Ahaan weren’t talking. She told me she’s been trying to convince him to speak to you again.”
“She has?” Sabrina was stunned.
“She has,” Aisha answered. “I was surprised myself. She hardly ever calls me. But lately, she’s been phoning more often. She even sounded worried about you… said you haven’t been eating well.”
Sabrina stared at her, caught off guard by the sudden change in her mother-in-law’s behavior. She didn’t understand it, and was a bit suspicious about it too.
“Anyway,” Aisha continued. “It’s nearly six. Don’t you have that other catering event to go to?”
She already had another event scheduled for the same day when Keya had called, asking if she could organize her son’s birthday party. When Sabrina had explained her calendar clash, Keya had been adamant and insisted that she organize everything and be there for as long as she could before she went to the other event. Keya was more than happy to workwith Sabrina’s team after she left. It was kind of her to be so accommodating.
“Yes. I should really get going,” Sabrina said. “I’m just happy that Ahaan’s made up with me now. Will you drop him home after the party, Aisha?”
“Of course,” Aisha said. “Are you all set for Singapore?”
“Not really…” Sabrina sighed. “I have two big events to cater in the coming days before I leave.”
“I’m sure you will do a fab job.”
“But hey, you haven’t told us a thing about Singapore yet?!” Diya threw her a mischievous look. “Did you meet anyone interesting there?”
Sabrina’s eyes widened. “I… I… Of course not.”
Aisha and Diya exchanged a glance.
“She’s met someone…” Diya declared. “Her cheeks are red. What is going on, Sabrina?”
Aisha tilted her head to study Sabrina. “Is everything alright with you? You don’t look well.”
“I’m fine.”
Aisha opened her mouth to say more, but then her gaze shifted from Sabrina to up ahead. She followed Aisha’s line of sight to see Aditya standing in a close circle with Rithwik, Keya, and Raashi.
Aisha squinted. “What’s happening there? Why do they all look so serious?”
Diya turned to look at where Aisha was indicating. “Hmm, they don’t look too happy.”
Sabrina’s heart fluttered. Rithwik’s gaze lifted suddenly and locked onto hers. Even from across the distance, she could see the flare of anger in his eyes. It startled her. Rithwik had always been kind to her, protective even. But now he was glaring at her, his expression hard, unforgiving.
Her stomach dropped. Aditya had told them. She should have expected it. His friends weren’t fools. They had seen him with Ahaan, and then with her. She couldn’t blame him for confiding in them, not after the way she had shattered him.
Her breath caught when she noticed the way Raashi was staring at her too, her expression tight with disapproval, and her mouth set in a hard line. The only one who didn’t look openly angry with her was Keya. Her gaze was calm, assessing, as though she was trying to read all her secrets. Then Keya turned. Smiling, she stepped forward, taking Aditya by the arm and leading him toward the center of the lawn where the cake was being wheeled in. Raashi whispered something to Rithwik before she, too, followed Keya and Aditya. Then she saw Rithwik turn, his gaze hard as he lifted a hand to beckon Aisha over. Sabrina’s stomach dropped. She knew exactly what that conversation was going to be about.
In front of her, Aisha frowned. “I’ll go see what that’s about. Let’s meet soon, okay?”
“I have to go too,” Diya said. “VJ is calling me. But I want to know everything from both of you. Meet soon.”
Taking Raisa from Sabrina’s arms, Aisha headed over to her husband, and Diya went to hers. Panic hit Sabrina like a wave, rushing hot and cold through her veins. It clawed at her chest and made her skin prickle. All the people present here were Aditya’s friends. And now… Now they’d all judge her. They’d forever see her as the woman who ruthlessly broke their friend’s heart.
Would Aisha also feel the same? Diya? God, she’d made an utter mess of her life.
She needed to leave. She knew how tight this group of people was. She couldn’t wait around and be the subject of hushed conversations and condemning eyes.
Her pulse thundering, she spun around and hurried to Ahaan, who was tossing a ball with a few other kids. She forced a smile that felt brittle.
“Sweetheart, I need to go. Aisha will bring you home later, okay?”
He nodded distractedly, still caught up in his game. Very quickly, she exited the lawns, her steps heavy with dread.
