‘Asked what?’ I whispered back. My heart was pounding so hard, I was sure he could hear it too.

‘If I had a girlfriend,’ he said.

‘Do you?’ I asked finally.

He smiled and shook his head.

I looked up at him again when he tightened his arm around me and brought me closer to him. I could feel the way his chest rose and fell. More than anything else, I was glad he was here. Glad he didn’t have a girlfriend back in Mumbai.

‘I’ve been waiting to see you all these days, Ananya,’ he said softly.

I was suddenly conscious of myself, the way I was sprawled over him. I was heavy but he didn’t seem to be bothered by that at all. I licked my lips nervously and his gaze was drawn there.

‘Why?’ I asked him. I wish I didn’t have to ask this, that I wasn’t desperate for validation.

He frowned. ‘Because I like you?’ he said. Why did he sound doubtful, like he wasn’t sure himself?

‘But why?’ I persisted, shutting my eyes briefly. I was not glamourous, just passably pretty when I made the effort, and I was still not thin. Why would someone like Raghu like me? I needed to hear it.

‘Because you’re my friend,’ he said and I wanted to facepalm so badly. I tried to keep my face impassive, but I obviously failed because a tiny furrow came up between his eyebrows.

‘You’re mad at me. I don’t understand,’ he said, looking anxious.

‘You like me because I’m your friend?’ I asked, quieting my flustered nerves.

‘But . . .’

I took a deep breath. ‘I like you too, but more than just a friend,’ I said, shutting my eyes tightly, very briefly. There. I’d done it.

‘Of course I like you as more than a friend too!’ he said quickly.

I tried to sit up, but it wasn’t easy.

‘Yes, but you didn’t say why,’ I said, exasperated. ‘Raghu, I don’t want you being passive in this and . . .’

I stopped talking because he was looking at me, confused. He took a deep breath and tightened his hold around my waist. I was aware of my shallow breaths, of the just-appearing stubble on his face, but his words brought me back to my senses.

‘So you want me to be aggressive?’ he asked.

Idiot, I thought. The opposite of passive was not aggressive. I shook my head.

‘I want . . .’ he cut off my words when he held my face in his palms and lowered his head to kiss me.

32

I was shocked. Shocked that this was happening with Raghu.

It quickly turned into amazement when I realized how much I’d wanted this too. I kissed him back and it was everything and even better than anything I’d read in books or seen on TV. It was like Raghu and I just knew how to do this.