Page 48 of The Promise of a Traitor

“How…You…What…Dare….” Words seemed to have completely failed Maya as she glared at her husband.

“They’ll figure it out,” Yash said gently. “Just like we did.”

Aastha approached their table, one of her servers carrying a laden tray. “I hope you all like the food,” she murmured, smiling nervously.

“Don’t give my mother a knife,” Advik said hastily, as she started to set the dishes down.

Aastha froze, a plate tilting precariously in her hand, steaming pasta sliding to one side, almost tipping over.

“Do you remember what sex felt like, Yash Malhotra?” Maya said, her voice low and lethal. “You better hold on to those memories because it’s all you’re going to have from now on.”

Aastha’s hand lost its precarious grip on the plate of pasta and the creamy sauce slid right off the edge and into Maya’s lap.

“Oh my God,” Aastha squeaked, staring horrified at the mess she’d just made. She dropped the plate on the table and knelt beside Maya, grabbing for a tissue, wetting it with some water and trying to scrape the pasta of her skirt.

Her elbow knocked over the jug of water, sending a cascade over into the soggy mess of the pasta.

“Oh!” Aastha breathed, horrified. “Oh.” Her hand fell away as she just stared at the wet, dirty skirt. “I am so sorry,” Aastha whispered, her voice shaking.

Maya caught Aastha’s hand with her own and squeezed. “It’s okay,” she said, a hysterical giggle in her voice. “I think I might have deserved all of that.”

“What? No!” Aastha shook her head vehemently.

“She kind of did,” Advik added, laughter threading through his voice. Yash’s deep chuckle only added to the chaos.

“Aastha, get up.” Advik pulled her to her feet from where she was still kneeling beside Maya. He wrapped her in a hug, kissing the top of her head, his laughter reverberating through both of their frames.

“Dude,” Rehaan’s shocked voice sounded from behind them. “There was a food fight and no one invited me?”

In response, Advik scooped up a handful of pasta and shoved it down Rehaan’s shirt. Rehaan looked down at his chest and the damp, icky spot spreading and then up at his cousin, an evil smile spreading on his face.

“Oh it’s on,” he muttered.

“Oh no, it’s not,” Aastha muttered back.

“Boys!” Yash’s quiet voice had everyone freezing. “We’re not ruining Aastha’s event.”

“Rehaan’s and mine,” Aastha interjected, smiling at the shocked look Rehaan gave her. “Let’s get a fresh plate of pasta out to the guest, Chef.”

He saluted her, shot Advik another dire look that promised retribution and disappeared into the kitchen.

Maya got to her feet, her clothes making a squelching noise that made Advik snort with laughter. She walked over to where Aastha stood, cupping Aastha’s face with her hands. “Keep this idiot happy and I will have no problem with you.”

Aastha nodded, blinking back sudden tears. “I’ll do my best,” she promised.

“And on that note,” Maya said regretfully, “I think we need to leave. I’m too messy to stay here and eat a full meal.”

Aastha glanced at the laden tray, dismayed. “Can I parcel this for you?”

“I would love that,” Maya said warmly. “Saves me the trouble of getting dinner ready.”

Yash hooted with laughter. “When was the last time you made dinner? The night Aastha came over?”

“Excuse me a moment, Aastha,” Maya said, smiling sweetly. She turned, picked up the plate with the remaining pasta and emptied it on Yash’s head, making sure to squish every last bit into his hair.

“What the fuck!” Yash yelped, white sauce dripping down his face. A group of children at the table behind them started to laugh and point.

“The next time you decide to compare me to your mother,” Maya told him, “I’ll make sure I use chilli sauce to make my point.”