Chapter Six

                                    

                                          
'Hey,' Ivan says from the open door, leaning against the doorframe. 'We are ordering in tonight. What do you guys want?'
Ivan doesn't wear a suit anymore because he mostly works out of Preet's home until the construction at their office ends. He still wears formal clothes, even though today is Sunday and still looks all pristine. 
Riyaan makes quick eye contact with him before he frees his ears from the headphones.
'Can you order a Chicken Afghani and Plain Rice for me?' Kris asks. 
'Sure, what about you Riyaan?'
That's the first time Ivan said his name.
'I don't mind anything,' he says, internally beaming.
'No choice, anything?'
'Chilli lemon noodles if you can?'
'Chilli lemon noodles. Sure.'
'Thanks'
Kris gets back to his screen right after, but Riyaan finds it hard to focus on the game again because Ivan said his name. It sounds so sweet in his voice that Riyaan thinks back to the origin of his name. He should be more appreciative of his name.
By the time Ivan brings their food, his eyes are tired of the screen.
'Did you have to make the food? It's like an hour..' Kris jokes as Ivan brings their food after more than an hour.
'You're welcome.'
*  *  *  *

Today is the day he tries smoking for the first time.
When Riyaan had been anticipating living alone, free from the orphanage, he had a little list of things that he wanted to do. Watching powerful men smoking cigarettes and spewing quotable dialogues has somehow made him add trying out smoking to his list. Leonardo DiCaprio's Jack smoking in a random scene in his favourite movie only makes him want to try out more. This is why he now finds himself by a tea stall by the street with Dev, and some of his friends, smoking cigarettes for the first time.
The first drag is enough to tell him that smoking is not his thing. Maybe deep down, he knew. 
'Not for me.' He lightly coughs.
Dev is laughing beside him. 'There's this saying that if you regret, let it be an action rather than an inaction.'
'Nonsense.'
Dev brings him a plate of fritters instead and holds it for him as he chugs down half a bottle of water. That's when he sees it - Ivan coming towards them with a surprised look at him.
'Hi,' Ivan says as he reaches closer.
'What are you doing here?' Riyaan regrets the question as soon as it settles on his lips. Granted he is equally surprised to find Ivan at a place around street vendors only two hours after dropping him, but it sounded a little too rough, especially in front of the other guys. 
The guys are eyeing Ivan, the surprised and inquisitive looks.
'I was..,' Ivan points towards the building opposite to them, laughs nervously, '..shopping there, and I saw you.'
He is still wearing the same clothes, shoes, same everything, which means he hasn't left for home after dropping him off. Who the hell shops for more than an hour? Apparently, Ivan does.
'Right.' He slides his hands into his pockets and awkwardly looks at him. 'I just came out with my friends.'
'Sure. I gotta go though. See you?'
'Sure, see you.'
And then he waits for Ivan to walk far enough before he pays attention to any of the guys saying something.
'Is that your boss?'
'Uh. No. Just someone I know.'
'Yo, dude shops in expensive places. What does he do in life!'
'See you?' One of them mimics Ivan's voice, teasing him, while others burst into laughter.
'Fuck off.' 
*  *  *
When he finally checks his phone after cooking his dinner, he finds the first text. 
Ivan: Hi
He reads the time, which, by his calculation, is around the same time they met on the street. Maybe half an hour earlier. 
He is too late to respond, and it's a little late at night, but he still sends a response.
Riyaan: hey
Reply comes through immediately. Riyaan adores and appreciates people who can hold conversations through text.
Ivan: I thought you were an early sleeper. Had a good time with friends?
Riyaan: tried smoking for the first time
Ivan: And?
Riyaan: never again. do you smoke?
Ivan: No.
Of course, he is perfect.
Riyaan: drink?
Riyaan: don't answer that, I know you do.
Ivan: Holi party?
Riyaan: Yeah, slow drive.
For a moment, the reply doesn't arrive. Riyaan is thinking fast, slow drives are associated with romance, does Ivan think he is hitting on him by reminding him? But then his phone vibrates, and his heart too - almost.
Ivan: Do you like them?
Riyaan: who's asking..?
A few minutes go by. No response.
One hour goes by. No response.
Two hours. 
Midnight. 
Riyaan cannot stop thinking - Ivan must have read his reply and then got busy with more important stuff. Or worse - he must have read his reply, ignored it and scrolled through stupid Instagram reels if he does that.
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