Page 30 of Born in Ruin

That’s what phones were for, Mayukhi thought, but had the presence of mind not to say it. “Shall we go back to my cabin?” she asked, waiting for Dhrithi to nod before leading the way.

“I’m sorry,” Dhrithi babbled from next to her. “I should have checked if you were free before coming over.”

Mayukhi shut the door to her cabin behind her, shutting out Payal’s curious gaze and gestured to Dhrithi to take a seat. She rounded the large table and sat down in her chair.

“Tea, coffee?” she asked.

“Green tea?”

Dhrithi was perched on the very edge of her seat, like a terrified bird about to take flight. She’d lost a ridiculous amount of weight, Mayukhi thought, noting the toothpick like arms.

“Sure.” Mayukhi used the intercom to place the order with Payal and then leaned back in her chair. She waited for Dhrithi to tell her why she was here but Dhrithi was too busy examining Mayukhi’s office, her gaze taking every inch in and leaving Mayukhi feeling strangely naked.

“Did you need something?” Mayukhi’s abrupt question stopped Dhrithi mid scan. She flushed as she met Mayukhi’s gaze.

“Sorry,” she said. “I-“

“You have to stop apologising,” Mayukhi interrupted her.

“I’m sorry?”

“There you go again.” Irritation rose to the top of her jumbled, confused emotions. Mayukhi wanted to shake her. After everything Dhrithi had gone through, she was still being sweet and submissive. If it had been Mayukhi, she would have burned down the world in retribution.

“Don’t be so nice.” Mayukhi leaned forward, her perfectly manicured nails tapping on the leather planner on her desk. “You want something. Tell me what it is.”

Dhrithi’s cheeks went a fiery red before she murmured, “Having social graces are not being submissive.”

“Fuck social graces,” Mayukhi said bluntly. “Or save it for the people who care. Tell me why you’re here.”

“I was feeling a little cut off from the world I’ve lived in for the majority of my life. I thought connecting with you would help ground me a little. Clearly,” she said stiffly. “I was wrong. I misinterpreted the other night thinking your offer of support meant the start of a friendship.”

“Don’t your little tribe of men give you all the support you need?” Poisonous envy leaked through Mayukhi’s veins making her more abrasive than normal. If only one person would look at her the way the three of them looked at Dhrithi, maybe she would feel differently. They looked at her with affection, with loyalty, with trust…And in Amay’s case with the kind of love that spoke of moving mountains for her.

Dhrithi’s eyes flashed, anger chasing away the embarrassment. “They are my tribe and they have my unquestioning loyalty. Do you know why? Because they are the only ones who offered me the same. We may need your help, Yukhi, but we don’t needyour judgement. So, you can take your horrible attitude and stick it where the sun don’t shine!”

“Is that the best you can do?” Mayukhi asked. “You’re not even going to call me a bitch?”

Dhrithi stared at her.

“Come on, Dhrithi. If you’re going to take on the world, you’re going to have to do better than stick your horrible attitude where the sun don’t shine.”

When Dhrithi still didn’t say anything, Mayukhi added, “I have a lot of friends,” she said. Dhrithi opened her mouth but she held up a hand staying whatever she was going to say. “There is not a single one of them I would turn my back on. So, I guess what I’m saying is, I’d like a friend too. A real one.”

Payal knocked on the door and entered with a helper behind her. “Ma’am the green tea,” she said.

“Well,” Mayukhi asked Dhrithi. “Green tea?”

Dhrithi smiled. “How about you take the rest of the afternoon off and we get to know each other over Cosmopolitans instead?”

“Make that a Margarita for me and you’re on,” Mayukhi grinned. “I’ll even leave my horrible attitude behind.

Dhrithi laughed. “You have a deal.”

SEVENTEEN

Ishaan

Balls of steel baby…balls of effing steel.

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