A loud roar drowns the music.
‘Come on, Your Highness,’ his friends cheer. ‘We want a victory speech.’
What victory speech can Vedveer give you, boys? I’m the one who won the award. It’s sitting on my bedside upstairs.
‘Yeeeeesss!’ someone else shouts from one of the corners.
There are more cheers, and as if on cue, the room aligns in a chant. ‘Vedveer, Vedveer, Vedveer…’
I join the clapping, only because I don’t know what else to do. My eyes find Vedveer, imploring him not to pander. We barely know each other. What is he going to say? He, too, probably thinks I got here riding on Appa’s coat-tails.
The music is turned down, and Vedveer signals to the bar, ordering a round for everyone in the house.
‘Vedveer, Vedveer, Vedveer.’ More chants.
His Royal Highness raises an arm, and cutlery crashes to the floor somewhere in the room.
Vedveer pauses. His eyes are on his suede shoes, before he turns abruptly and looks in my direction.
I haven’t rehearsed, he mouths.
For a moment, I don’t know what he’s saying; then the list comes to mind. The damn cons.
Probably rehearses speeches in the mirror. Shirtless. With lighting.
I pull up my phone, turn on the torch and point it at him.
I keep my face still, even as everything inside me twists. He grins.
Vedveer clears his throat and starts speaking to the room,before shifting slightly to hold my gaze.
‘To Aaditha. “The Initiator” award is proof of the strides you have taken in the business world. Here’s to more accolades and even stronger coffee!’
Vedveer’s eyes linger on me for a touch longer than necessary. I mouth a thank you to him. He spoke honestly, and that is compliment enough.
People are raising their glasses, and another round of cheers goes around.
I hang back, away from the people, who rush towards Vedveer. This is his ground, his fraternity, even if the award I claimed earlier in the evening is mine.
As I watch the rush and roll around me, I wonder if this is a good time to announce the location of my Jaipur store, just beyond the gates of Ranibagh. I’m drumming my fingers on my glass.
Just to set the record straight, this store was planned well before my life became entangled in this circus.
The location… A genius idea dawns on me!
Having their to-be–daughter-in-law do business just outside the palace gates will doubtless anger the mighty Rathores. They’ll push me to make a choice.
Vedveer Rathore Singh, I didn’t even have to come up with a plan!
I turn hastily, and the heel of my shoe catches the back of the barstool, and I come down in a heap, the barstool on the ground beside me. Whatever is left of the sangria is on me. My phone pops out of my grip and falls face up.
Vedveer rushes to my side while motioning the waiter to bring him my phone. He wraps his hand around my bare ankle. ‘Are you okay?’ he asks, his voice strained.
I nod. I think I’m okay.
Vedveer’s eyes are locked on mine as he scoops me off theground. ‘We need to get you out of here,’ he says.
10.
