All of them fill their glasses and started playing while waiting for the food.
Siddharth suddenly placed his glass down,"And listen carefully—strictly flirty questions only. No serious tension, no heartbreak energy, no psycho analysis. Just vibes."
"Especially you," he added, looking directly at Arsh.
Arsh smirked lazily. "I didn't even say anything."
"That's exactly why I'm worried," Siddharth replied.
Even Aakrati laughed softly at that.
For the first time in a while, the tension loosened slightly.
The warm lights of the restaurant, the late-night tiredness, the teasing atmosphere—it all suddenly felt lighter.
At least on the surface.
—
"Fine," Shrisha said, leaning back comfortably. "I'm actually excited now."
Siddharth grinned. "Good. I'll start."
He cleared his throat dramatically.
"Never have I ever… flirted with someone just because they looked good."
Shrisha immediately took a sip. "Obviously."
Siddharth followed. "Same."
Krish chuckled softly but didn't drink.
Aakrati smiled, shaking her head. "That's such a shallow question."
"Which means you've definitely done it," Siddharth accused.
"I have not," she protested.
"Liar," Shrisha muttered.
Aakrati laughed and finally picked up her glass, taking a small sip.
The second she did—
Krish's hand slowly slipped over hers on the table.
Gentle.
Warm.
Not possessive.
Just soft enough to make her heartbeat skip.
Aakrati looked at him in surprise.
Krish simply smiled faintly, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And somehow—
that affected her more.
Across the table, Arsh noticed immediately.
His eyes dropped to their joined hands.
His jaw tightened.
—
"My turn," Shrisha said quickly before the silence became weird.
"Never have I ever… checked someone out at this table."
Siddharth instantly grabbed his drink. "Proudly."
Shrisha laughed. "You're impossible."
"What? Everyone here is attractive."
Aakrati rolled her eyes but smiled.
Krish finally took a sip this time.
Aakrati blinked. "Oh?"
Krish glanced at her calmly. "What?"
Siddharth nearly choked laughing. "BRO."
A faint blush crept onto Aakrati's cheeks before she quickly looked away.
And that—
that was enough for Arsh.
Under the table, while everyone was distracted laughing—
his hand brushed against Aakrati's leg.
Aakrati instantly coughed in shock.
"Water?" Shrisha asked immediately.
"I'm fine," Aakrati said too quickly, grabbing her glass.
Her pulse had suddenly gone wild.
She shot Arsh a warning look.
He looked completely relaxed.
Like he hadn't done anything.
Which somehow made it worse.
—
"Okayyyy," Siddharth dragged out suspiciously, looking between them all. "There's definitely drama happening here."
"There isn't," Aakrati replied immediately.
Too immediately.
Shrisha narrowed her eyes. "You're acting nervous."
"I am not."
"You literally coughed like you saw a ghost."
Aakrati glared at her. "Eat your food."
Everyone laughed again.
Meanwhile—
Krish's thumb slowly brushed over the back of her hand.
Soft.
Comforting.
The complete opposite of the chaos happening under the table.
And Aakrati hated how both sensations were affecting her at the same time.
One made her feel safe.
The other made her pulse race uncontrollably.
—
Arsh leaned back casually.
"My turn."
His eyes stayed on Aakrati.
"Never have I ever… enjoyed making someone jealous."
Shrisha gasped dramatically. "That is toxic."
Siddharth raised his glass immediately. "Absolutely guilty."
Krish smirked faintly but didn't drink.
Aakrati stared at her glass.
Then at Arsh.
His expression practically challenged her to react.
Slowly—
she took a sip.
Arsh's lips curved slightly.
Krish noticed.
Of course he noticed.
His fingers intertwined lightly with hers now.
A silent statement.
Aakrati's breath caught for a second.
—
"Okay this is getting fun," Siddharth declared.
Shrisha pointed at him. "You just enjoy chaos."
"I really do."
"Red flag."
"Yet you're still sitting with me."
Shrisha opened her mouth—
then stopped.
Because she had no comeback.
Siddharth grinned victoriously.
—
Krish finally spoke again, voice calm and smooth.
"Never have I ever… liked someone more after they got engaged to me."
Aakrati froze.
Shrisha's jaw dropped. "OH MY GOD."
Siddharth slapped the table laughing. "Krish has entered the game!"
Even Arsh's expression darkened slightly.
Krish didn't look away from Aakrati.
Not once.
Aakrati's cheeks burned.
"Krish…" she whispered.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"You're impossible."
"But did you drink?" Siddharth interrupted immediately.
Everyone looked at her.
Aakrati covered her face for a second. "I hate all of you."
"DRINK," Shrisha shouted dramatically.
Laughing helplessly now, Aakrati picked up her glass and took a sip.
Krish smiled softly beside her.
And under the table—
Arsh's fingers pressed slightly against her leg again.
Not enough to hurt.
Just enough to remind her—
he was still there.
Still watching.
Still jealous.
Aakrati inhaled sharply.
Her stomach flipped.
Butterflies.
Nervousness.
Chaos.
Everything all at once.
And the worst part?
The game was only getting started.
Siddharth leaned back in his chair, looking way too proud of the chaos he had created.
"This," he declared dramatically, "is the best dinner I've had in months."
"Because you enjoy watching people suffer," Shrisha replied.
"Correct."
Everyone laughed again, though Aakrati's heartbeat still hadn't settled properly.
Krish's hand remained wrapped softly around hers on the table, warm and steady.
And every now and then, she could still feel Arsh's attention on her—intense enough to make her nervous without him even touching her again.
The mix of it all was making her dizzy.
—
"Okay," Siddharth said excitedly, "Final round."
—
"Question one," Siddharth announced.
"Never have I ever… replayed someone's compliment in my head later."
Shrisha instantly drank.
Siddharth smirked. "Cute."
"You literally flirt with everyone," she shot back.
"Only the interesting ones."
She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway.
Aakrati slowly picked up her glass too.
Krish looked at her. "Which compliment?"
She immediately glared at him. "None of your business."
"That means definitely yes," Siddharth interrupted.
Krish chuckled softly beside her.
Arsh watched the interaction silently.
—
"Second question," Shrisha said quickly before Siddharth could continue teasing.
"Never have I ever… gotten nervous because someone was staring at me."
Aakrati nearly choked internally.
Siddharth took a sip immediately. "I'm gorgeous. People stare."
"Your confidence needs medical attention," Shrisha replied.
Krish finally took a sip too.
Aakrati looked at him in surprise.
He leaned slightly closer and said quietly, "You stare at me sometimes."
Her eyes widened instantly.
"KRISH," she whispered, horrified.
Siddharth burst out laughing. "OH, he's smooth smooth."
Aakrati hid her face for a second before finally drinking too.
Across the table—
Arsh's expression hardened slightly.
Jealousy looked good on him.
Dangerously good.
—
"Third question," Arsh said calmly.
"Never have I ever… imagined kissing someone here."
The table exploded immediately.
"WHAT?" Shrisha shouted.
Siddharth nearly fell laughing. "BRO WOKE UP."
Aakrati's face burned instantly.
Krish looked straight at Arsh.
Arsh didn't look away.
Not even slightly.
The challenge between them was becoming impossible to ignore now.
Shrisha slowly took a sip while avoiding eye contact with Siddharth.
Siddharth noticed instantly. "Wait—"
"Shut up," she warned.
He looked far too pleased.
Aakrati stared at her glass for a full five seconds.
Then—
slowly—
drank.
Silence.
Even Siddharth stopped joking for a second.
Krish's grip on her hand tightened slightly.
Arsh leaned back with the faintest smirk.
And Aakrati suddenly wanted the earth to swallow her whole.
—
"Okay okay okay," Siddharth said quickly, saving the atmosphere before it became too intense again.
"Fourth question."
He grinned wickedly.
"Never have I ever… enjoyed two people fighting over me."
Aakrati looked up so fast she almost looked guilty.
Shrisha screamed laughing. "THAT QUESTION IS TARGETED."
Krish shook his head, amused despite himself.
Arsh smirked openly now.
Siddharth pointed dramatically at Aakrati. "Answer honestly."
"I hate you," she muttered.
"Drink if true."
Aakrati tried to stay serious.
Really tried.
But then she looked at the two men sitting beside her—
one calm and protective.
The other jealous and intense.
Both completely focused on her.
And against her own will—
a small smile escaped.
Shrisha caught it instantly. "SHE SMILED."
"Oh my God," Siddharth laughed.
Aakrati groaned, covering her face before finally taking the tiniest sip possible.
Arsh laughed quietly under his breath for the first time that night.
Krish just looked at her with an unreadable smile.
—
"Last question," Krish said finally.
Everyone looked at him.
He stayed quiet for a second before asking smoothly—
"Never have I ever… wished this night would last longer."
The teasing softened.
The laughter faded just a little.
Aakrati looked around the table.
Shrisha smiling beside Siddharth.
Siddharth still joking around.
Arsh watching her quietly.
Krish holding her hand gently like he didn't even realize he was doing it anymore.
And despite the chaos—
despite the confusion—
despite everything—
she hadn't wanted the night to end either.
One by one—
everyone drank.
No teasing this time.
Just quiet smiles.
—
Eventually, the restaurant staff started cleaning around them, hinting very obviously that it was closing time.
Siddharth stretched dramatically. "Fine. Society hates happiness. We leave."
Shrisha laughed. "You're insane."
They slowly stood up.
Chairs moved.
Phones were picked up.
Bills argued over.
Outside, the night air felt cooler after the warmth of the restaurant.
For a brief moment, all five of them stood together near the parking lot lights.
And strangely—
it felt nice.
Complicated.
Messy.
But nice.
Krish moved toward Aakrati first. "I'll drop you."
Before she could answer—
Arsh unlocked his car too.
Siddharth noticed immediately and whispered to Shrisha, "Round two starts now."
Shrisha elbowed him. "Behave."
Aakrati sighed softly.
Of course nothing could ever stay simple.