College Friends

He tried to test me and I simply smiled.

"I'm sorry, you were saying something?" He sounded irritated, "So it wasn't that serious, was it? Because your agency created quite a scene about it."

"Ah. I was in a coma for more than a day, sir, and the doctor said they almost lost me but luckily I survived."

The word 'coma' had a visible dampening effect on him, and I cursed myself for my stupidity.

"I am so sorry about Armaan, sir. How is he now?" I asked awkwardly.

"Exactly as he was three months ago. You were his friend, right?" He spoke the last bit sharply, slightly suspicious of my claim.

"I am his friend, sir." My emphasis on the present tense made both Armaan and his father smile.

"So how and when did the two of you meet?"

I fell quiet for a bit, wondering desperately how I was going to explain the complicated story. Thankfully, Armaan came to my rescue.

"We did our under graduation together."

I repeated it verbatim, even though I was clueless about where and what Armaan had studied.

"You also attended M.Y.A?" He raised an eyebrow, reminding me uncannily of his son.

"Say no, but say you are my friend from outside of college. We bumped into each other one day and had some mutual friends."

As I repeated his answer, Mr. Oberoi instantly asked, "Oh. So, you are one of his girlfriends?"

I blushed in protest, but Armaan was even more shocked than me.

"He knew?!"

"No-no, sir, I was just a friend, but I am surprised you knew about his many girlfriends."

"Of course, he is no James Bond in hiding." His face glowed softly when he talked about his beloved son.

"His mother and I kept track of the females he was going out with, but we never heard of you."

Armaan helped me once again. "All my relationships were screwed, and you were too good a friend. So, I kept you secret."

When I repeated this, Mr. Oberoi's eyebrows went up in consternation.

"What relationships?"

Again, I repeated Armaan, trying not to reveal my shock at the revelation.

"Friends, family, every single relationship he ever had."

"And he told you about them?"

I was in deep shit, but I had nowhere else to go, so I dug myself in deeper.

"We were very close, sir."

"Really? It's very hard to believe."