Chapter 28 - Tuesday 8.30pm

Priti sashayed up to Raj. “Hello stranger, what are you doing here? Are you following me around?” she asked playfully.

Raj smiled, genuinely happy to see her. “Hey, nice to see you again. We’ve been invited as guests of my grandparents. What about you, did you plan the party?”

“No!” Priti responded with a smile, shaking her head.

Raj chuckled “Not to your standard?”

“No, it’s lovely…” she backtracked sweetly. “I just usually plan engagements and weddings. As well as events for launches, and I’m boring you… Who is your friend?”

“Varun, Priti. Priti, Varun.” Raj introduced the two of them. “And you weren’t boring me. I like that you take pride in your work.”

“Hi” Varun offered his hand, Priti gently shook it. “Nice to meet you. So what brings you here?”

Priti smiled sheepishly “My parents were invited, and as I’m their youngest child, and the only one still living with them, I get the pleasure of joining them. They seem to think I’m 6 as opposed to 26! So, Raj, how did you spend your day?”

Varun smiled politely and half listened to Raj and Priti’s conversation while he tapped into his phone.

Varun: Hey what was that about? Did I offend you in some way?

Jas: Hey. Not at all. Why?

Varun: You and Aarti walked out.

Jas: Oh sorry, we are going to be coming inside in just a minute. Aarti is just chatting to some of her high school friends that she hasn’t seen in a long time.

Varun: I haven’t seen you in a long time, come chat to me ;) 

Jas: How do you manage to think of these cheesy lines?

Varun: It’s a special gift! 

Varun put away his phone and rejoined the conversation. “Priti why do you sound like you grew up in London?”

“Thats because I did grow up in London. Well sort of, I was at boarding school in Brighton from 13 until 18 and then I studied Law in London.” 

Raj couldn’t put his finger on it, but something about Priti felt familiar. As though they had met before. But they couldn’t have, he would have remembered. Hers was a face not easily forgotten. “Where did you study Law?” Raj asked. 

“Kings.”

Raj was seriously impressed, “So, you’re telling me you studied Law at one of the top universities in London, you’re drop dead gorgeous, you’re creative and own your own business! Seriously how is that fair on the rest of your gender?!”

“You’re making me blush!” Priti quickly changed the subject “Hey guys, shall we get something to eat, I’m starving.”

“She eats as well! Oh my goodness Varun I think we have stumbled upon the perfect woman!” Raj joked as he followed Priti to the buffet table.

Varun played along as he fetched himself some street food snacks “I think you’re right Raj, we should probably kidnap her!”

Priti laughed out loud, amused by their double act. “You two need to stop being so charming. But on a serious note, shall we get out of here, we could go Soho House and grab a bite. This stuff looks like its been sitting out for a while.”

“Soho House… isn’t that members only?” Raj asked impressed.

Priti nodded, as she put down her plate. “Shall we go and have a chat to our parents and ask if one of them can give the others a lift home?”

“Thats not necessary, we came in two cars, we can take my car and driver if you want?” Raj said as he placed his plate beside Priti’s. “Come on dude. Let’s check out Mumbai. All we’ve done is play Playstation and go to the gym!”

Varun was torn. He really wanted to see Jas, but he could completely understand why Raj didn’t want to stay. Aarti had been rude and had the shoe been on the other foot and a girl had treated Varun in that way, he would never have stayed. 

“I still better tell them I’m going. I don’t want them to worry.” Priti turned away from the boys and made her way towards her parents to let them know what the plan was. 

Raj took the opportunity to have a private conversation with Varun. “Dude if you want to stay and hang with Jas I don’t mind. But I’d rather leave, I feel really uncomfortable.”

Varun put his arm around Raj “Nah man, I’ll come with you. You’re my number one!” he winked. “Should we go tell your parents and grandparents?”

“Not unless you want my dad to beat us with a stick! Let’s just sneak out as best as we can.” 

Varun put down his plate on a nearby table and began following Raj to the front door where Priti was standing waiting for the boys. Out of his peripheral vision he could see Aarti and Jas re-enter the room through the terrace doors. “Oh no!” he muttered to himself.

Chapter 27 - Tuesday 8.25pm

“Aarti! Why did you walk outside?” Jas asked in a whisper. 

Aarti had walked out through the double doors out on to the terrace. She had seen him. She saw him see her. But she had still walked away!

The outside space had been decorated with white twinkling lights. There was a pleasant breeze amid the distant hum of Mumbai traffic. People were standing in groups or sitting on the sofa’s; chatting, eating and drinking. The crowd outside was younger, which was reflected by the music playing on the speakers, and the inclusion of a dance floor under a white canopy in the centre of the space.

“I don’t know what to say to him!” confessed Aarti, she pushed her hair back nervously with her hands.

“Um, hi!” prompted Jas.

“No, I don’t want to be normal with him. I’m angry and hurt. He should have contacted me.” Aarti explained.

“Didn’t we just have this conversation upstairs? You need to put your big girl pants on, and go back inside and have a conversation with him.” Jas said firmly.

“I can’t go in now, it’s embarrassing.” 

“So what now?” Jas asked, a note of irritation creeping into her voice.

“He can come out here and greet me. I’m going to go and speak to some of my friends and I’m sure he will come out eventually.”

“That’s too rude. He’s your guest. It’s your job to introduce him to people. He knows no one here!” Jas chastised gently.

“I’m not going to introduce him to everyone I know, and then have to answer questions about him forever more. He’s not interested in me. I’ve moved on.” Aarti said as she grabbed a drink for herself from a passing waiter.

Mrs Chaudhury, walked out on to the terrace and towards the girls, she stopped in front of Aarti and smiled. “Your father won’t be happy with you, but I’m glad you did what you did!” she said, patting her on the back enthusiastically.

Aarti stepped away from her mother, her drink swishing in the glass from the motherly attentions. Befuddled, she asked “What did I do?”

“You snubbed him and his parents. I’m so happy.” Mrs Chaudhury crowed. “His mother annoys me. She’s a social climber! No way was I going to let you marry him. Even if your father does think he is great.”

“Dad likes him?” Aarti asked, shocked her parents had even discussed it, she took a large sip of her drink and exhaled loudly.

“Of course, it was all your father’s idea. He and Dr Gupta had planned for the two of you to meet and get married.”

“Well you don’t need to worry about that. He doesn’t like me like that!” Aarti explained dejectedly.

“Of course he does, didn’t you see his face when you walked out without saying anything?” Jas interrupted. Jas rarely spoke to Mrs Chaudhury, she had always found her manner immature and petty. But in this instance she felt that she had to say something. “Aunty he is a nice guy and he seems to really like Aarti. Apart from his mother, is there any other reason you dislike him?”

“He lives too far, he’s not a doctor, he’s got nothing to offer my daughter.” Mrs Chaudhury said belligerently. “And after the way Aarti just ignored them, I doubt his mother will let anything happen.” Mrs Chaudhury turned on her heel and marched back inside, oblivious to the storm she left in her wake.

“She’s not wrong. He does live too far, he isn’t a doctor and he really does have nothing to offer me!” Aarti said spitefully.

“You’re just hurt.” Jas said. Her phone beeped with a message.

“No, I just don’t give a damn!” Aarti said as she began making her way to her other friends.

Chapter 26 - Tuesday 8pm

The car pulled up to a large blue and cream apartment block, with palm trees surrounding it and a brown sign stating “FLORIDA” in yellow capitals. Aarti and Jas lived in the coveted district of Breach Candy. Many affluent people had now moved to bungalows in the area because of the stunning sea views. It had taken forty minutes in the awful Mumbai traffic for the family to arrive. Raj’s grandparents were in the other car with his father, while Raj, Varun and his mother had travelled with Salim. Raj’s mother sat at the back with Raj, and Varun sat up front with the driver.

“How many people have they invited Aunty?” asked Varun, half turning in his seat to look at Raj’s mother.

“I think there will be a fair few families. Their duplex apartment is bigger than our entire house in London, so it shouldn’t be too busy. At least there will be other people to talk to, so I wont have to spend the entire evening having to speak to that Mrs Chaudhury, she always looks like she’s swallowed a lemon!” 

Raj ignored his mothers comment “But isn’t it a bit much for a Tuesday night? Can you imagine having a dinner party midweek and then having to go to work the next day in London?” Raj interjected.

“It’s not like in London, the food will be either catered or made by the help, and then there will be a crew that will clean up afterwards. It’s the same as going to a restaurant for them. She wont even serve, what effort is she really making? We are a lot more ‘hands on’ in the UK.” The driver stopped in front of the entrance of the building and ran around the car to open Mrs Gupta’s door, while the boys let themselves out.

“To be fair mother, we usually get our parties catered, and the cleaner cleans up, but we would never have people over in the middle of the week, Dad would go mental.” Raj said as they entered the elevator and pressed the number 9 on the keypad. “Oh they’re in the penthouse. Fancy. Ok Mum, best behaviour. Please don’t offend anyone.”

“Raj I don’t know why you feel the need to warn me against being rude, I’m never rude!” she said huffily.

“You’re right Mum, you aren’t rude, just passive aggressive sometimes. Please just be nice.” he said in a gentler tone.

The elevator doors opened onto a large foyer with white marble flooring, and glass floor to ceiling sea facing windows on one side, and large brown double doors on the other framed with white walls, and square frosted light fittings. Raj’s grandparents and father were waiting for them, they stood looking out at the night sky, the skyscrapers and the sea.

“Have you been waiting long?” asked Raj.

“Literally just a minute.” replied Dr Gupta, he turned to his wife “Best behaviour please.”

“I’m always polite!” she said sharply, while Raj and Varun tried not to snigger.

Dr Gupta pressed the door bell, as everyone adjusted so that Dadaji and Dadima were at the front of the pack and the boys were at the back. Mrs Gupta stood in the middle. Raj leaned forward and whispered in her ear “You look good Mum, Dad better be careful, you might get a better offer!” Mrs Gupta smiled at her son, and straightened as her husband took his position beside her.

A maid opened the door to a luxurious entry way which again was white marble flooring and bright white walls. Dr Chaudhury and Mrs Chaudhury stood just behind the maid, they politely greeted each of them and ushered them into the main entertaining space which was a colossal room with six over sized white leather sofas arranged on one side creating a hexagon, and on the other side was a giant glass dining table that could seat up to 30 guests comfortably, behind the dining table there was a row of tables set up as a buffett. 

Across from the sofas there was a man in a white tuxedo playing a grand white piano and double doors that led out to a large terrace which had been decorated in small white lights. There were a few people already seated outside, and a number of people milling around the room. 

A maid carrying drinks came over to them as they were taken over to the indoor seating area by Dr Chaudhury while his wife mingled with another set of guests that had just arrived. He offered them each a beverage from the tray, while another server brought over canapés.

“Dude, is it me or is this less “two for Tuesdays” at Dominos, and more Dinner with the Queen?” Varun said to Raj in a low voice.

“It’s a bit much, isn’t it?” Raj looked stunned, he was not expecting such an extravagant evening. He had expected it to be a simple meal shared between his family and Aarti’s immediate family.

“Your in-law’s seem to have some serious bank, there’s a pianist over there, and I wonder what time they’re releasing the doves?!” Varun joked.

 “Bro where are the doves?” Raj asked panicked, looking left to right.

“No doves, I’m just kidding! Why are you so stressed?” Varun asked Raj while taking a bite of a tiny vegetable samosa.

“This party suggests that they have very high expectations of where this is going. Also who lives like this, is this normal?”

Mrs Gupta had been eavesdropping, she leaned in and whispered “Raj this is normal. This whole hoopla isn’t for you, they’ve invited some high society guests and are probably trying to ‘outdo’ the last party they went to. You know what a social climber that Mrs Chaudhury is. Relax Baita. No pressure. Personally I prefer Priti, you know her mother and I were best friends in college. She studied in England and is a lot more your “type”. Trust me, Aarti is too career focused.”

“Hey mum have you tried the chaat, it’s delicious.” Raj picked up a puri filled with lentils and directly put it into his mother’s mouth.

“Nice save.” Varun whispered into Raj’s ear. “Dude, look, she’s here, to your right.”

Raj turned in the direction Varun was looking, and noticed Aarti and Jas descending a glass stair case. “She looks amazing!”

“Jas looks good too, right?” Varun commented approvingly.

Jas spotted Varun and smiled. She turned to Aarti and gestured towards the boys. Aarti turned her head and looked straight at Raj and then looked away. She promptly changed direction and walked out toward the terrace. Jas paused before shrugging and following her out.

“What was that all about?” Raj was shocked and a little hurt. Her behaviour was beyond rude. She had actively avoided eye contact with him, and then walked away, despite seeing him and knowing that he wasn’t familiar with any other person in the room.

Varun was also a little perplexed “Did you guys have a falling out?” he asked.

“Not that I’m aware of. You were there the last time we spoke. It was all sunshine and roses! Apparently Aarti doesn’t believe in greeting her guests.” 

Mrs Gupta had seen the whole thing and gently nudged her husband with her foot. He was deep in conversation with Dr Chaudhury and his own father. She looked pointedly out of the glass doors at Aarti and then at Raj who was sitting beside her. Hoping her husband would get her subliminal messaging. Dr Gupta nodded his head once and continued his conversation.

“I really fancy getting out of here.” Raj whispered to Varun, being careful to make sure he wasn’t overheard by any of the adults.

“Where would we go? Also it’s rude. They’ve invited us here, we need to mingle. Stop being a wet blanket and get up.”

Raj and Varun, both stood up and made their way over to the buffet, the selection of food was endless and every thing was presented flawlessly. On a silver sequin encrusted tablecloth there were large silver and glass serving dishes, filled with bright curry’s, pizzas, pastas, and other food from around the globe.

“At least the food looks good!” Varun commented. 

Raj heard a familiar booming male voice behind him and turned to see who it was. By the door he spotted Mr Singh chatting animatedly to Mrs Chaudhury. Behind him he saw Mrs Singh and Priti looking stunning in a pearl embellished beige saree. “Well my evening just got more interesting!!!” he said, while smiling at Priti.

Chapter 25 - Tuesday 7pm

Aarti was exhausted, she’d spent the majority of her day in lectures. At 4pm she had rushed to the salon and had the works. Her hair, nails, eyelashes and make up all looked amazing, but she just felt worn out. She was not in the mood to mingle, all she wanted to do was curl up in bed with a good book. 

Raj’s family were due to arrive shortly, and although Aarti was eager to see him she couldn’t help but feel irritated that he hadn’t contacted her since Sunday night. He had her number and yet had chosen not to use it. All day Monday she had kept the phone close just in case, but there had been nothing, no call, no text, no whatsapp, no snapchat, no smoke signal, no nothing and Aarti was livid.

How could he expect them to have a relationship if he wasn’t capable of keeping in touch?

Sunday evening at Ming Yang had gone very well, they had shared food and chatted. Raj had been his usual flirty self and had tried to hold her hand under the table. He had insisted on paying the bill and had been disappointed when Aarti and Jas had had to rush off. When she had explained that she had a curfew, and that 'good girls’ didn’t stay out too late, he had leaned into her and whispered in her ear “Tussi jaareho? Tussi naa jao!” (Are you leaving? Please don’t go!) Aarti couldn’t believe that he was quoting lines from KKHH. She loved that movie, and loved even more that he was willing to make a fool of himself to make her laugh. It had been the first time she felt that him being the one might be a probability rather than a possibility.

Aarti looked in the mirror surveying herself, not bad she thought as she adjusted her blue satin saree. Her mum had insisted she wear a traditional outfit, as after all, this was a formal occasion, Raj’s parents and grandparents would be in attendance as well as other family friends.

Jas knocked on Aarti’s door and walked in as soon as Aarti called her in. She was dressed in a pair of acid jeans and a supergirl t shirt. She sat down on the edge of Aarti’s bed and crossed her legs under herself. “You look lovely.”

“Thanks, but why aren’t you dressed?” Aarti asked.

“I couldn’t find a thing to wear. Have you got anything for me?”

Aarti laughed “Go look in my closet, I’m sure you will find something. Trying to impress Varun are we?”

Jasmin went into Aarti’s walk in wardrobe. Rails of clothing were organised into subsections and hung in colour order against each of the three walls. There was a freestanding mirror in the centre of the room beside a waist high square cabinet that showcased shoes along the sides and a glass casing at the top that held all of Aarti’s jewellery. 

“What would you recommend?” Jas called out. She was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of clothing.

Aarti walked into the room “Pick something from the saree section, I don’t want to be the only one wearing one.” as she placed a number of options onto the island.

Jas chose a midnight black velvet waist length blouse and paired it with a navy netted saree, “What about this?” she asked.

“I never thought of putting them together before but I think it’s a match! I’m sure he’ll love it!” she said, winking suggestively.

Jas began getting changed “He seems nice but I’m not really looking for anything permanent. Not like you and Raj.”

Aarti sighed “Raj hasn’t called or texted since Sunday night. I don’t know whether I should be offended or not?”

“I’d be pissed.” Jas said repositioning her outfit.

“It’s not like I’m his girlfriend, I have no right. He doesn’t owe me anything.” Aarti felt the need to protect Raj despite Jas’s poignant response.

“Whatever Aarti, you always do this, you’re a doormat.” Jas inspected herself in the mirror.

“Whats that supposed to mean?” Aarti responded while handing Jas a pair of earrings from the glass cabinet.

Aarti had never lacked male attention, but there had been two “ex’s” and both had taken advantage of her easy going nature. The first had cheated on her constantly, and Aarti had chosen to believe his stories regardless of how farfetched the lies were. They had only broken up because Jas had dumped him for her. The second had been controlling, he had wanted to track her every move and had questioned her relentlessly if ever she was late. He had  felt that Jas was a bad influence and had issued an ultimatum, at which point Aarti had told him where to go and precisely what to do when he got there

Jas placed the earrings on her ears. “I’m just saying that you should start as you mean to continue. You teach people how to treat you. So if you want to be dismissed and forever chasing him, then accept his behaviour. Alternatively have a conversation and express yourself. Tell him you expected him to call, and the fact that he hadn’t, without prompting, is a red flag for you. His reaction to this conversation should give you an indication of whether he’s interested or not.”

“But how do I even start that conversation? ‘Hi, why haven’t you called me?’ I’ll sound super desperate!” Aarti picked out a pair of black open toe heels and passed them to Jas. “I’m better off, just keeping quiet. If he’s into me he will make an effort, if he’s not, he won’t. It’s that simple.”

Jas inspected herself in the mirror “Everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made. If you want a different result, make a different choice.”

“You’re obsessed. Stop quoting Dr Phil!” Aarti held a gold clutch in her right hand and a black shoulder bag in her left “Which one?”

“I can’t! That man’s a genius!” Jas reached out and took the gold clutch “I’m ready, lets go impress some people!”