Page 62 of The Promise of a Traitor

“Want to go have fun?” she asked Amyra who nodded eagerly, forgetting to be star struck around Kabir at the thought of a friend her age, especially one who was so interestingly rebellious.

The two girls disappeared into the crowd before any of them could react.

“Oh dear,” Kabir murmured. “Was that wise?”

“Amu could do with some fun in her life,” Aastha said wryly. “It’s long overdue.”

“Now that’s more like it.” Kabir took a deep breath, visibly girding himself before turning to Aastha’s father. “Uncle, can I get you a drink?”

“I don’t drink.”

“Something to eat?”

“I’m fasting.”

Kabir stared at the older man, clearly at a complete loss. The other man stared back at him with zero expression on his face.

“Do you like music?” Kabir asked finally.

Advik struggled to hold back his laughter. An embarrassed Aastha intervened, “He mostly listens to devotional music. My father is very religious.”

“Right.” Kabir clearly had nothing to offer in that genre of music. “But you like my music right?” he asked Aastha, desperate to salvage the conversation.

“Love it,” she beamed up at him. “I came to see you in concert when you played in Mumbai three years ago.”

Someone called out his name out and Advik turned, trying to spot them in the crowd.

“Go,” Kabir told him, grinning. “I’ve got this.” With another herculean sucked in breath, he turned back to Aastha’s father and asked, “So, Uncle, about this devotional music…”

Advik turned and left, walking a few feet into the crowd looking out for who had called out to him. It had sounded like his mother….He made it another few feet before he gave up. If she wanted to reach him, she’d just call him on the phone.

He was turning to go back to Aastha and Kabir when he bumped into Manish. Vodka sloshed over the rim of the glass Manish was holding, spilling all over his pants.

“Shit man, I’m sorry,” Advik apologised.

But Manish wasn’t listening to him. His frozen gaze was on Aastha, her father and Kabir who now seemed deeply involved in conversation. Hopefully not about devotional music.

“Manish?” Advik nudged him. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to Aastha.”

But Manish didn’t move. “You’re getting engaged to her?” he asked, his voice harsh and foreign. “That’s your Aastha?”

Advik stilled. “Yes,” he said cautiously. “What’s going on?”

“You can’t do this man.” Manish’s burning, accusatory eyes swung to him. “This would be a big mistake.”

“Excuse me?” Advik’s temper started to rise. “What the fuck are you talking about? You know nothing about her.”

“Don’t I?” Manish snorted derisively. “I know everything there is to know about Aashika Agarwal. I was engaged to her before you even knew she existed. Don’t do this man. That girl is nothing but bad news.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Aastha

“Come.” Binita bustled up to her. “It’s time for the puja and the ring exchange.”

She led Aastha up on to the stage at the end of the hall that had been set up for that purpose. The Panditji was already seated and was busy getting a small havan going in front of him. There were two wooden chowkis placed to his left and Aastha took her place on the one on the right. She scanned the crowd that was slowly turning towards the stage, watching the proceedings with avid interest but she couldn’t catch sight of Advik anywhere. She spotted Amyra and Zara chatting and giggling in the corner of the hall, a sight that gladdened her heart. Her sister needed some fun in her life and it looked like Zara would drag her full tilt into as much fun as possible.

The heat from the havan was starting to make her sweat. She leaned back, trying not to breathe directly into the flames. Still no sign of Advik. She could see Tanisha and Vedika in a tense, whispered conversation and she felt her heart pick up pace. Her mother came over to hand her a handkerchief to dab at the sweat beading on her forehead now.