Chapter 67: Relationship

There was silence all around as various looks appeared on the faces of the people in the group.

After a short while, disgust replaced confusion on Reyansh’s face, “Ugh. That brings back really unpleasant memories. How did you even think of something so long ago?”

“I have a good memory.” Cabir lifted his head proudly.

“You sure look pleased for someone who made up something that ghastly even at the age of sixteen. A primary school-goer does something like that.” Aanya observed.

“That was some gross naming, I must say.” Aakash shook his head.

“…wait, Cabir came up with that name?” Ikshita had a very conflicted grin on her face, seemingly undecided whether to be in awe at the man’s terrible naming sense or to make fun of it.

“Hey, blame your boyfriend for that. He’s rotten to the core. What with all the ‘logic’ and ‘rational’ things. He-”

The atmosphere suddenly turned weird as Ikshita’s eyes suddenly dipped. A tint of red even suffused on the normally stoic Reyansh’s cheeks.

“Uh…what is it?” Noticing the sudden change in the air, the man who had been speaking caught himself.

“Hey, what’s with your looks?” He asked again even as Aakash and Aanya sighed and spoke near-simultaneously-

“Are you two dating?”

“Are you two in a relationship?”

“You are so slow, Uncle Cabir…” Aarav muttered to the man from behind him low enough that only he heard.

“Wait, you two are going out, right?” Cabir asked, biting his lips even as he messed up the kid’s hair, murmuring back to him under his breath, “Shut up, you brat. These things happen.”

“Surrreeeee…” Aarav rejoined, jeering softly.

Ikshita looked at Reyansh who seemed to have turned to stone and then stammered out. “Y-yeah…yeah…yeah, we are, probably. No! I mean, yes, definitely, we are!”

“…what just happened?”

“That is…it’s a recent development.” Reyansh finally spoke, a bashful expression on his face.

“How recent exactly?” The interrogation proceeded as Cabir’s tone turned suspicious.

“…I asked her out yesterday. It’s our first date.” Reyansh came clean.

“But we’ve been friends for a long time!” Ikshita chimed in, still a little flustered but the stammer was gone.

“That’s not the point here.” Cabir shook his hand at her. “What is important,” he pointed a finger at the tall man, “Is that you were supposed to tell us that in the very beginning! It’s your first date, and you came over to chat with us!”

“That’s really no-”

“Not only that,” Cabir told her, “You,” he turned his attention back to Reyansh, “are supposed to say that you are in a relationship when you are asked the question! Ikshita was surprised when you didn’t answer, doofus! You were the one who asked her out, right?”

“It’s really not a problem-” Ikshita tried to intervene.

“More like, that’s between them. Don’t interfere. They can discuss what to say or not or something themselves!” Aanya knocked him on the head.

“It was just that I was surprised being called her boyfriend for the first time. I just couldn’t react. It’s a logical effect.” Reyansh shrugged. But immediately he turned to his partner, “Sorry if that made things difficult for you though.”

“Of course not! I was a bit surprised too…” A wry grin flashed on Ikshita’s lips.

“Well, that makes sense.” Cabir nodded his head. “If I were Reyansh, I would be surprised that someone was willing to date me, and then someone suddenly called me out like I just did.”

“That’s a lot of words for someone who has never been in a relationship before.” Reyansh’s spoke succinctly. Then suddenly, as if realising something, he enquired with a curious gaze, “Are you still pini-”

“You, come with me for a sec!” Cabir put an arm around Reyansh and dragged him bodily away from the group.

While walking off, he mouthed an apology to Ikshita who grinningly signed that it wasn’t an issue in the least.