Akash walked toward the girls. He felt good seeing her laughing in so unreserved way. It felt so natural on her face and she seemed so adorable.
Swati stopped laughing and then asked while rolling her eyes "And what do you mean that I'm older than you? Do you like to make friends with old ladies?"
"Hehe. I just said that because you have completed your master degree. So, you must be at least 22 or 23. But I am only 20." Varsha smiled shyly and said.
Swati took one bite of food and wanted to respond to her but she saw Akash coming on the table. Akash pulled a chair in front of them and sat. Varsha also saw him and she felt a bit reserved and looked at him trying to find what his mood is.
Before Varsha could think anything, Swati said "Isn't your husband old? You are already with one old person. Why can't you befriend me?"
Varsha looked at Akash shyly and then turned toward and said to Swati "What are you saying?"
"What did I saw wrong? It's you who started it." Swati laughed and then turned to Akash and asked: "Aren't you older?"
Akash got startled from this discussion and could not understand what are these girls talking about. Surprised as he is due to this sudden question, he blurted "I am only 23."
The answer of Akash made Varsha almost choke on the air. Swati started laughing. And Akash still could not get what he did.
Akash looked at Varsha questioningly and she looked at him guiltily and said in a soft voice "I asked her whether she would like to be friends with me even if she is older than me."
Just this sentence made Akash understand the whole case and he felt his head hurting due to becoming a game of girls. His wife really thinks too much. But it is still so cute. He looked at Varsha and said while smiling "So, did you become friends?"
Varsha smiled and said "Yes."
Akash straightened his back on the chair and looked toward Swati and said "Now I need to do some investigation. Your friend already knows many things about us but she has not told anything about herself."
Swati is still eating. After hearing the words of Akash, she laughed and said: "It's not my fault that no one wants to know about insignificant people."
Hearing the words of Swati, Varsha felt really awkward and also bad for not asking about Swati. She looked toward Akash with a guilty expression. Akash smiled at her and said "This girl is joking. Can't you understand that? What is with your expression?" Then he looked toward Swati and said: "It is your mistake trying to be a friend without telling about yourself properly."
Swati looked toward Varsha who is speechless due to being played and she nudged her from the side and said "You are really very gullible. You really need a friend like me to teach and protect you. Haha." Although Swati said this thing as a joke but Akash felt this thing is really right. Suddenly he thought Swati being a friend of Varsha is not a bad idea.
Varsha reverted to her calm expression and Swati continued "Actually I completed my schooling in my hometown Satara which is a 3-hour ride by bus from Pune. My parents are small farmers in Satara district only. After schooling, I did my bachelor degree and also an MBA from Pune University. My parents are very supportive of me pursuing my dream." She remembered her parents and small brother and felt a bit emotional and continued "Even the fee of Pune University is too much for my family and that is why I am planning to start something to pay off my education loan. Even my father has some loan which he took for me and my younger brother's studies and is already struggling in paying it off and my brother has yet to go to college. I need to make them proud and happy."
Swati seemed so immersed and a bit emotional talking about her parents that she said something she had not planned to say and when she realized she laughed with 'he he' and said "Now I told you the story of a pitiful person who is also your friend. Are you going to help her start a business now?"
Varsha saw all the changing expressions on the face of Swati and could not help but feel emotional herself. But when Swati joked in last, Varsha felt sadder due to the failed attempt of Swati to hide her emotions. Varsha looked hopefully toward Akash and said: "I want to start a business."
During the narration of Swati, Akash has been paying attention to Varsha and he has almost understood what she must have felt. He looked at her hopeful gaze and then smiled and said: "Whatever you want."
The response of Akash made Varsha happy but she suddenly thought of something and then added: "I want to use the business idea of Swati and make her my partner."
"I know." Akash also replied instantly with a smile.
Swati felt awkward due to the exchange happening between husband and wife and she knows that Varsha wants to help. She felt awkward and guilty to make Varsha trying to help her after being her friend. She said "I know you are trying to help me. But we just talked about being friends and now you are planning to help me. If it was some person genuinely interested in my project idea, it won't feel so odd."
After getting the confirmation from Akash Varsha is feeling more enthusiastic. She said "Why not? You work and I invest. What is the best that we are friends and we can trust each other." Seeing the hesitation of Swati, she became more determined "Please. I have also not proved myself. Help me prove myself as well. Okay?" And Swati could only nod seeing the persistence of Varsha.
Meanwhile, Swati has finished her dinner. Akash is already done with dinner. There is also one desk which makes a record of people who are investing in some projects being presented at the event. This way the Ministry of commerce and industries can show the success rate of the event they organized. Akash walked to the desk and Varsha also dragged Swati with her. They registered their detail of Student and the person investing. Akash provided his name as an investor.
After completing all the formalities Akash said goodbye to some important people he met today. He avoided the group of Mahat Pawar and the troublesome duo as he has termed them in his mind. Varsha also did not wish to interact much and stood at a side with Swati and the girls just talked a bit of everything which came in their mind. Varsha also interchanged the numbers with Swati.
Swati felt much gratitude toward Varsha. She felt like Varsha is such a genuine person and also felt like she is too innocent. She promised herself to protect her and fight whoever tries to bully her. She also laughed and said "Having a rich friend certainly is a blessing."
Varsha smiled and said "I am a person who has just smelled the scent of money. So, now I wish to see how to use it." She is also affected by the openness of Swati and has no qualms about the use of words among them. Just by the interaction of one evening, Varsha has understood the value of a friend on her side. If helping her friend can make her earn the gratitude and strong bond, she felt it was worth it.
After completing all the formalities, Akash walked toward the girls and walk to exit with them. Akash looked at the girls talking and laughing and felt like he has found a solution to protect the original nature of Varsha. The new friend of Varsha is an outgoing and a hard to handle person but she can also distinguish good and bad people. Varsha might have to attend many parties or functions like this in future and he can just arrange an invitation for her friend also. Her friend can act as her friend, business partner and protector all of them. This way she can enjoy and also tackle many awkward and hard situations. He smiled and hailed himself on this thought internally.
The trio walked to the exit. The roommate of Swati has come to fetch Swati at the gate. Varsha said her goodbye and asked her to call before leaving herself with Akash.
Varsha felt elated by making a new friend whom she can interact with without any worry or caution. Even Akash is feeling calm and relaxed due to her happy expression. Varsha has been holding his arm whole time and thus they walked and reached their car.