Page 43 of Born in Ruin

Mayukhi laughed. “Yeah it is, isn’t it? When I destroy his leverage and break this off, I’ll have the pleasure of breaking his heart too.”

Even saying the words made her own heart hurt. What was wrong with her? She knew this was all an act. One good kiss, okay fine two phenomenal kisses, did NOT mean she was catching feelings. Especially not for an obnoxious, overgrown man child who-

“Excuse me, Ma’am.” Payal stood beside her. “Your twelve o’clock is here.”

Mayukhi held up two fingers to show her she needed a couple of minutes and then said, “I’ve got to go, Sri. Let’s catch up soon for a boozy brunch. I’ll give you all the dirty, filthy details.”

Even as she disconnected the call, she knew Sri would be frantically dialling her husband who would then proceed to tell all his friends. Gossiping twats, she thought derisively as she went into her next meeting.

She was in the middle of the bride’s waffling over colour when her phone lit up with a message from Ishaan.

Design Diva. Design Diva. Come in.

A startled laugh escaped her making the bride glare at her. “You don’t like the idea of turmeric and green? My best friend who lives in the US suggested it. She saw it on a Desi American show.”

Desi American, my arse, Mayukhi thought but refrained from saying. She needed this order. It was a massive one, given shewas dressing the entire family and the publicity from this high profile wedding alone would be worth its weight in aggravation tolerated.

“Not for a bridal lehenga,” Mayukhi said now, gritting her teeth to sound pleasant. “Maybe for the haldi?”

While the bride and her tribe hummed and hawed over the options, Mayukhi typed out a response.

Design Diva to Tech Whisperer. Proceed.

A silly giddiness spread through her, dissipating the heavy weight of what they were trying to pull off, for the moment.

“I think I want lavender,” the bride said now.

Lavender. For a wedding ghaghra. Mayukhi sighed and said, “Sure. But why don’t you take a day to sit on that decision and then we can discuss it further? In the meantime, the design is confirmed?”

Some more whispering and muttering commenced.

It’s Defcon 1. I repeat Defcon 1. Target information procured.

Mayukhi pressed her lips together, struggling to keep her laughter in at the sight of Ishaan’s response. She surreptitiously typed in a quick reply before putting the phone down and pretending to be focused on her meeting.

Target?

How long had it been since she’d played like this with someone? Had she ever? Had Ishaan been this fun at school too? The only memories she had of him was of a sullen, snappy, boy who’d had the worst haircut in the world. She had a feeling he’d beencutting his hair with kitchen scissors over the bathroom sink. He had been like a scruffy, angry terrier.

The Golden One of course. Possibility of a bathroom cabinet is high. Heist preparations are underway. Confirm availability for 10 PM tonight?

Ahh the trophy. Mayukhi grinned as she typed out a quick yes. She was definitely available for any heist shenanigans he had planned. His reply came immediately.

Excellent. Will see you at rendezvous point, aka my bedroom. Tech Whisperer over and out.

His bedroom? Tech Whisperer was feeling over confident tonight, wasn’t he? She was about to reply when she heard a nasally voice ask, “Can we add more frills around the bust area?”

The bride from hell, that’s what this woman was. But Mayukhi pasted a smile on her face and leaned forward to tell the other woman what a flaming idiot she was to consider adding frills to her choli, diplomatically of course. She was, after all, the Design Diva.

TWENTY-THREE

Ishaan

Ishaan waited by his car for Mayukhi to arrive. She’d been working late and had told him she’d meet him at the nightclub rather than have him pick her up. Tonight, they were meant to sell the whole he was in love with her and fighting with his friends story. Fatigue crept through him as he leaned against his car and reached for the cigarette he’d stashed in his pocket. For someone who was so focused on eating healthy and living a mindful life, this was one shitty habit he just couldn’t quit.

He'd just taken his first drag when a cab pulled up and Mayukhi got out of it. The sight of her was like a punch to his heart, pain tearing through him along with a longing that he felt in the depths of his bones. She adjusted the hem of her simple black bandage dress that hit her at mid-thigh and left her toned shoulders bare. He wanted to put his lips there, kiss her, taste her, breathe her in.

She tapped something on her phone, probably paying for the cab ride and then she tossed her hair over one shoulder and scanned the area around her. He saw the exact moment she clocked him, her shoulders tightening for a second before sheconsciously relaxed them. She walked up to him and did a twirl when she got close.

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