Page 44 of Born in Ruin

“How do I look?”

“Perfect.” The word escaped him before he could collar it but when he saw the smile spread across Mayukhi’s face, he couldn’t find it in himself to regret it. “Ready to sell the dipshits on our love story?”

He thought he saw a hitch in her stride at the word ‘love’ but she recovered so quickly he couldn’t be sure.

“Sweetie, I’m ready to sell your soul to the Devil.”

“Is it a buy one get one free offer? Also,” he slid her a droll look as he held his arm out for her to take. “Sweetie?”

Mayukhi laughed, the sound sliding through his veins like warm honey. “Darling?”

“No.” They were almost to the entrance of the nightclub. Mayukhi’s hand clenched slightly on his arm, the only visible sign of tension. He wrapped his other hand around it and squeezed, offering wordless comfort.

“Baby?” she asked just as they reached the door.

Ishaan winced as he pulled the door open and a blast of sound hit them. “Now that’s just mean.”

“Baby it is,” Mayukhi said cheerfully, preceding him into the dimly lit, noisy space.

They spotted the Dusty Devils almost immediately, at a cordoned off table in the corner. Even as he watched, Ashish did a line of coke, brazenly dismissive of the crowds of people watching.

It had taken Mayukhi’s gossip lure to have Naveen’s wife Sri invite them tonight and include them in the party. And since she was richer than Naveen and the financier behind his middling business, she also held the strings to her puppet husband. Clearly she was salivating at the thought of watching Ishaan make a fool of himself over Mayukhi. Ishaan fully intended to put on a show worth watching.

He dropped his hand to Mayukhi’s lower back, pressing gently to steer her towards the table. There were no empty chairs and no one at the table made the effort to get them one. Ishaan signalled to the server who hovered nearby and told him to call for the manager. It took less than two minutes to organise the chairs they needed. Nobody moved to help them. Nor did anyone acknowledge their presence beyond a squealing hello from Sri to Mayukhi. Charming lot they were.

He sat Mayukhi first before taking the only other seat at the table, next to her and with Naveen on his right. Joy! They placed their orders, a margarita for Mayukhi and a beer for him. The waiter arrived, minutes later, and placed the drinks on coasters before them.

Ishaan was reaching for his beer when Naveen’s elbow knocked it over and into his lap, the fizzy liquid spilling down the front of his pants.

“Oops,” Parash giggled, his eyes wide and his pupils blown. “Looks like you had a little accident.”

What were they? Fucking twelve again? His hand curled into a fist and for a split second he thought of slamming it into Naveen’s smirking face. But then, Mayukhi leaned into him, her hand on his thigh, directly on the wet patch, a silent fuck you to the rest of the table. The contact burned through him likea brand and had him unclenching his fist. Ishaan did nothing other than reach for the tissues to wipe himself down. Thank God for black pants.

The waiter appeared with a mop and another beer. Ishaan smiled and thanked him, making a mental note to tip generously when they left. He was pretty sure these dicks wouldn’t be tipping anybody.

“So, Ishaan.” Sri gestured for his attention like a Queen sitting on her throne. “Have you met the others?”

Ishaan allowed her to introduce him to the other women on the table, ignoring the suggestive smile Parash’s new wife was giving him. When she leaned over the table to flash him her cleavage, he twined his fingers with Mayukhi’s and lifted it to his lips for a kiss. A silent message but one that had her smile sliding right off her face.

The woman took her fake watermelon size boobs off the table and tossed her hair extensions, pouting and turning to her husband who ignored her in favour of the ridiculously pink cocktail he was gulping down.

The men ignored him, trying to pretend his six foot two frame didn’t exist and wasn’t currently occupying a seat at their toxic table. Right on cue, as planned, his phone rang, Virat’s name flashing prominently on it. He saw Ashish and Naveen glance at it, their faces tightening. He grabbed the phone and answered, not bothering to get up from the table to take the call.

“Hey man.”

“Are you with those assholes?” Virat cut straight to it without bothering with pleasantries. His voice came through thespeaker, loud and clear, which was to be expected since Ishaan had it set on full.

Ishaan shifted uneasily in his seat, turning his back on Naveen and cupping a hand over the phone. “Look, I told you Yukhi wanted to meet up with her friends tonight and I-“

“And you forgot that you hate those same friends? What about your friends, dickhead?”

Aggressive actor, his friend was. Idiot and his overacting were going to be the death of their plan.

“You know what those guys are upto, Ishaan?” Virat was still giving the performance of his lifetime. “Are you planning to be a part of that also?”

“I know nothing,” Ishaan said loudly. “We all know nothing! Just back off man.”

“Whatever! Fuck you!” And with that Virat disconnected.

---