Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Meeting An Old Friend
Having dropped Ananya off at home, Alex at once called Satyansh without wasting a moment.
"Hello, Hi Satyansh, Yes it’s me Alex,
I’m not feeling well today," Alex stated plainly. "How about we grab a drink?"
It was a well thought invitation to him, not too straightforward about his current situation.
He was not insisting, only giving Satyansh an exit route if he cared to and wanted to divide his sorrows with someone.
But Satyansh did not hesitate even a bit and responded immediately.
"Alex, you are not in the good mood? Strange coincidence, I’m not in the good mood either! Since both of us are the same, let’s have a drink. It’s been so long since we actually chatted over drinks."
Hearing those words, Alex smiled faintly. He had anticipated such a response from Satyansh, he knew him too well after all.
On the other end of the call, Satyansh was actually relieved. Today his day had been terrible, it was so much terrible that he had felt like crying earlier.
The invitation felt like a lifeline.
Satyansh continued. "Where are you now? I’ll come to find you."
"I am near Bandra Plaza," Alex replied casually.
Satyansh eyes widened a little. "No way? I’m right by Bandra Plaza too!"
"What a strange coincidence indeed," said Alex, smiling as if fate itself had planned their encounter.
Well, he isn’t entirely wrong either after all meeting Satyansh here after all the places is a fate indeed.
For an instant, Satyansh could not help but share the same sentiment as his friend, they did appear to be meant to meet up tonight in one way or another.
————
Five minutes later....
As Alex was going to park his vehicle in the downtown mall’s underground parking lot, he noticed Satyansh standing at the entrance waiting for him.
He gave him a simple hand wave, and continued to park the car.
Whether it was due to worry or some other reason Satyansh didn’t notice in the car Alex is sitting on, but he didn’t forget to give him a hand wave too.
The two of them did not waste time on polite greetings like those hypocrites like friends.
Instead, they went directly to a local grill joint, took a table, and ordered a couple of skewers of barbecue and couple bottles of beer.
That was the way true friends were, friendships were straightforward and uncomplicated, no unnecessary complications.
After they had raised glasses and had several rounds, Satyansh finally relaxed a bit, but his cheeks were flushed, his shoulders were sagging as he leaned forward, exhaling heavily.
"Alex, my brother, I have to get this off my chest..." he mumbled. "I have been dating someone for the last few months her name is Sophie.
At the beginning, I really thought that she was the one. We hit it off, you know?
But tonight... I found out that she still hasn’t moved on from her ex. And now honestly, I just want to drown in alcohol."
Satyansh voice finally broke, and to Alex’s shock, his eyes filled up with tears.
He talked in circles for nearly two hours, about how he got to know Sophie, how things heated up between the two of them, and how it all fell apart when he could sense the shadow of her ex looming over everything in their life.
When Satyansh finally stopped talking, Alex asked tentatively, "So... what about your relationship with Sophie now? What do you want to do?"
Satyansh massaged his temples, appearing confused. "I don’t even know that anymore.
A part of me is telling me to just end it—walk away before it can hurt anyone.
But another part of me keeps wavering. I... I truly don’t know what’s the right thing to do now."
Alex rested back, releasing a soft sigh. He already knew the answer.
If Satyansh was so torn up, then at the core of himself, he still wasn’t ready to let Sophie go.
Otherwise, there would be no confusion only determination.
He thought to himself: If I were him and if the woman I was dating still clung to her ex, even setting up old anniversaries dates as passcodes for their phones and still mentioning presents he’d given her, I’d end things immediately.
No second thoughts and absolutely no regrets.
Satyansh was still hung up though.
Alex gritted his jaw at that.
If Sophie truly loved Satyansh, then things might work. But if she was playing him... my friend’s going to get hurt.
He hit Satyansh lightly on the shoulder, making him smile. "Okay, man, enough heavy stuff for tonight. You’ve been carrying this load long enough.
Let’s go somewhere to get your mind off it. Let’s hit the massage parlour down the street.
You need to relax, not drink yourself into oblivion."
Satyansh smiled weakly. "You really think a massage will solve this mess?"
Alex smiled. "No. But it can help cure your stiff neck. One thing at a time, brother. Let’s head out."
—————
Parking garage.
Satyansh’s eyes widened in disbelief on his face. He took a step forward, studying the shiny car. "This... this is not possible. The keys... do you have them?"
Alex waved the key and jiggled it with a grin. "Hop in."
Satyansh hesitated, glancing at the plush interior. "This... this car costs millions! I can’t even imagine if I scratch it..."
Alex chuckled. "Relax. The car’s mine. Besides, you’re my friend. Just sit."
With a playful tug, Alex guided Satyansh into the seat.
As the engine hummed to life, Alex looked at him, calm but confident. "Actually. I just thought of a way to help you get together with Sophie. But I need your okay first."
Satyansh’s eyes lit up. "A way? Tell me, tell me now!"
Alex leaned back, smiling faintly. "It’s really simple, We’re going to test Sophie’s boyfriend ... with money. But it’s a little... morally gray. If you’re not comfortable, we drop it."
Satyansh blinked, thinking. "I... I need time to think about it. I’ll call you tomorrow.