‘Interesting,’ she hums.
‘I left you a note.’
‘I’m checking him out on Insta.’ She adds, ‘Fire!’
‘I’m going to come up with a plan,’ I say with a confidence I don’t feel. ‘A plan that will persuade this Jaipur prince to call off the alliance himself.’
‘You’re assuming he’s on board with your dad’s plan?’ asksLavanya of the many accents. Right now, it’s the New York twang. It can change in the next few seconds.
‘That right there is an out! That’s why you are my bestie!’
I’m practically screaming. It startles Raju, who is beside me.
Which of-the-times, hotshot royal would ever agree to an arranged match so out of his orbit?
I feel a surge of hope, but the relief is brief, too brief. Because Appa can’t be making plans with the desert air.
‘I’m meeting him in two weeks’ time, Monday after the next.’ I sigh.
‘Confirmed?’ Lavanya asks.
‘Yeah.’
Raju looks at me with a mix of excitement and alarm. ‘Date set!’ he says.
‘Wait a minute! Is this arokain two weeks?’ Lavanya asks, her voice climbing decibels.
‘What?’ My heart is sinking. ‘No way! Whatroka?’ The alarm bells in my head go off.
Raju’s laugh is bouncing off the walls. ‘Rokameans engagement?’ he asks. ‘Say again, his name?’
‘How does it matter?’ I snap, holding the phone away from me.
‘Are you with Raju?’ Lavanya asks.
I put my phone on speaker when Raju announces, ‘Vedveer Rathore Singh.’
‘Do you have a plan to get me out of this mess?’ I turn to Raju.
‘No!’ Raju smiles, his teeth sparkling.
‘How about we find you a man?’ Lavanya says. ‘Some model type, who we all will vouch for. We’ll tell your parents you two have been a couple for a year already.’
The idea is entertaining. I laugh.
‘I’ll shop on Insta and send you boyfriend options,’ Lavanya adds. ‘I recommend an equal degree of fire.’
‘I’m not part of this plan,’ Raju says, throwing up his arms as he makes his way to the door.
All I need is a believable plan. No pressure.
2.
Vedveer
Just Another Royal Morning, Until...
i ease off the track; my strides have slowed toa shuffle,and my arms drop to the side. The morning breeze is working on my face, drying the moisture, as I make my way through the inside gates, inhaling the wholesome scent of frangipani in bloom.
