‘So dinner reservations and drinks. What are the other bribes you give your employees to play nice?’ Ananya asked, her voice playful.
‘Salaries,’ I replied instantly.
Rishi chuckled from across the table. ‘They do an excellent job.’
No one asked you.
‘Thanks for the invite,’ Ananya said to him. ‘This is fun.’
‘Please,’ Rishi grinned. ‘The party hasn’t even started yet.’ He leaned in. ‘Real fun begins once everyone is a few drinks down. Might need to give it an hour or two.’
The server returned, carefully balancing two trays full of shots.
‘Or maybe ten minutes,’ Rishi added.
‘Shots!’ someone at the table shouted, and the whole group cheered.
Glasses were passed, laughter echoed and flashes from phone cameras captured the moment. ‘To HoA for bringing us together, and Jai for closing Harrods!’ Ayaan declared loudly. The group clinked their drinks, cheering as they tossed them back in chaotic unison.
As the night progressed, the music thumped louder, drinks flowed freely and inhibitions lowered. A large group had moved to the dance floor. Yuvraj was flirting with someone near the bar, and I’d spotted Ayaan sneak away with a woman.
‘I heard you graduated from Oxford,’ Isha said, tucking her hair behind her ear. ‘How was it?’
‘I did. Terrible weather, but they were the best few years of my life.’
My attention strayed to the other end of the table. Rishi said something, making Ananya laugh. My eyes lowered to my drink. I ran a thumb along the rim of my glass and took a swig of my Scotch.
‘You must have stories,’ Jasmine said, leaning in. ‘What’s the craziest thing you did there?’
‘Snuck a six-foot inflatable flamingo into a ball,’
I replied. ‘We got caught only when someone floated it in the quad fountain.’
‘Oh my God,’ she exclaimed, and they laughed loudly.
Ananya looked at me for a moment before she focused on Rishi again. What was he talking about that was so engaging?
‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you give off a very “broke-someone’s-heart-at-university” vibe,’ Isha giggled.
I wasn’t clueless. Or flattered.
They might be drunk enough to be bold, but I wasn’t interested.
I stood up, wanting an escape. ‘Don’t takethisthe wrong way, but I think you ladies have had too much to drink,’ I said with a polite smile. ‘Let me get you some water.’
I walked away and then glanced back. Ananya was smiling, and a guy I didn’t recognise pulled Rishi into a hug.
I felt a flash of irritation, sharp and swift. The music had gotten so loud that it was hard to hear my own thoughts. Everyone around me was drunk and dancing, or hooking up with someone they’d just met.What the hell am I doing?
Leaning against the bar, I flagged down a bartender and gave him my card. ‘I’d like to pay the bill for that table,’ I said, pointing to it. ‘And please send over two glasses of water.’
He took the card with a nod. I shot Ayaan and Yuv a quick text.
I sent another to Dilip, telling him to come pick me up.
Ananya walked over. ‘I’m ready to head home. Just wanted to say goodbye.’
‘So am I,’ I replied. ‘Let’s go.’
