The security in charge didn’t look pleased, but she had insisted.
Before they changed their mind, she quickly stepped out, hurried to the nearby cafe, and took the corner table.
It felt strange sitting in her old neighborhood waiting for her friend, as usual, even though her life had changed drastically.
She wrapped her hands around her chai cup and told herself to breathe.
Pooja arrived seven minutes late, slightly out of breath, but her eyes were already bright.
“Are you alright?” Yamini asked with a short laugh.
“More than alright,” Pooja announced, dropping into the chair opposite and immediately stealing Yamini's chai for a sip. “First of all, Rajasthan was insane. The family had four hundred guests, three separate function venues, two camels that were not in the original plan, and a mother of the bride who changed thecolor scheme the morning of the wedding.” She set the cup down and spread her hands. “And I handled all of it. Perfectly.”
Yamini smiled. “Of course you did.”
“The feedback was incredible. They want me back for the younger sister's wedding next year.” Pooja leaned forward. “I'm thinking of hiring two more coordinators. Expand properly.” She rattled on, describing the venue and the lighting and a particularly dramatic moment involving the groom's aunt and a peacock that had wandered in from the garden.
Yamini listened and smiled. She knew how passionate Pooja was about her work.
Twenty minutes later, Pooja stopped to take a breath. “Okay, enough about me. What’s up with you? How are things? Is Tina Mehta still bothering you?”
Yamini had almost forgotten about Tina Mehta. Although she had seen the woman barely three days ago, it felt like a lifetime.
“She tried to get me fired,” Yamini said. “Accused me of corporate espionage in front of the team.”
Pooja's mouth fell open. “She did what—”
“I handled it.” Yamini waved a hand. “Mentioned defamation. She backed off.”
Pooja looked both furious and impressed. “That’s good.”
Then suddenly, Pooja’s eyes widened as she looked past Yamini. “Whoa, some big shot must be coming in. Why would they come here though?”
Yamini turned slightly to see the royal security team hovering outside the small cafe.
She sucked in an annoyed breath. She had asked them not to follow her, but they still came. Most likely because they were ordered to by their boss, the Jogra maharaja.
Controlling jerk.
He probably didn’t trust her and thought she would run away, even though they were married.
She turned back to look at Pooja, who was still watching to see who the big shot was that the security was guarding. “Maybe some celebrity secret affair,” Pooja said in a conspiring tone. “This place wouldn’t be frequented by the media or anyone important. So it’s safer, I guess.”
Yamini looked down briefly at her chai.
It wasn’t pink-hued or salty like the one she had in the morning.
“They are here for me,” she muttered.
Pooja turned to frown at her. “What do you mean?”
Yamini took a deep breath. “Something happened recently.”
Her serious tone immediately caught Pooja’s attention.
“What is it?” Pooja asked, looking concerned.
“I… uh… got married yesterday,” she said.
