Chapter 5: New Beginnings and Old Fears

The next day was Saturday. Arjun invited me, Amit, and Kunal to dinner and karaoke.

The place was packed with IT guys singing Arijit Singh, the air thick with cigarette smoke and the smell of masala peanuts. While singing, Arjun suddenly said, "A girl will come—Sneha. She’s my wife’s friend, single and beautiful. Rohan, Kunal, jo pehle try kare, uski ho gayi."

Just then, Meera messaged: "Rohan, I was going to bring my friend to meet you, but urgent kaam aa gaya. She’ll come herself—her name is Sneha. Get to know her."

"Thanks, bhabhi," I replied.

Soon, Sneha arrived. She really was beautiful, with a great smile. Kunal’s eyes sparkled. He sat beside her, chatting away. When we left, the two walked out together.

I felt awkward—couldn’t get a word in.

Two weeks later, Arjun invited me for dinner. Meera made her famous rajma chawal, the house fragrant with tadka. At the table, Meera asked, "Rohan, what’s up with Sneha? I asked, but she was vague."

"Thanks, bhabhi. Didn’t really talk. She’s probably not interested."

Arjun sipped whisky. "Sneha’s with Kunal."

"What?"

Meera glared at Arjun. "Didn’t I say Sneha was for Rohan? Kunal kaise beech mein aa gaya?"

Arjun shrugged. "Fate, yaar."

"Nonsense! Tumne Kunal ko bola toh tha, Sneha Rohan ke liye hai."

He just sipped his drink. I tried to lighten the mood. "Bhabhi, Arjun’s right. Fate hai. Can’t force it."

She huffed, "Sneha is so unreliable... I’ll keep looking for you."

I toasted her in thanks.

She laughed. “No tension, Rohan. One day I’ll find you a girl so good even Amma will approve!”

Meera really did keep trying to set me up. One weekend, she suggested a barbecue on the outskirts, saying there’d be single women for me to meet.

On the way, Arjun and Meera started fighting—she even cried. Arjun turned the car around, saying, "Forget it, not going."

Meera shouted, "If you dare go back, I’m not done with you!"

He said, "You two go. I’m going home."

I tried to mediate. "Bhabhi, don’t fight. I have work anyway. Let’s skip it."

Meera lay across the seat, crying. Later I learned it was about Arjun’s job.

After losing his job, he’d been rejected everywhere except a company in Bangalore. Meera didn’t want a long-distance marriage. I also advised him to stay local, but he was set: the pay was good, shares included.

He took the job down south.

Before leaving, Arjun called me for drinks. "Bro, my wife spent everything and took loans to save me. As a man, I have to take care of my family. If I miss this chance, bas, ho gaya."

He looked tired. "Help my family, yaar. One wrong step, thousand regrets."

"Arjun, sach bata—are you running from someone?"

He went silent, then muttered, "There’s a woman who keeps bothering me. Don’t let Meera know."

I sighed. "Apni galti khud sambhal."

I felt for Meera—always left in the dark. My mother’s words echoed: "Maa always said, a woman’s heart is like glass—once it cracks, even Fevikwik can’t fix it."