Page 72 of Born in Ruin

“Well, we’re just going to hang out. Did you have anything else in mind?” Naveen asked, sitting down beside Parash and crossing one leg over the other.

“No.” Ishaan took another sip. “I have nothing in mind.” He glanced around the room. “I thought there would be other people here.”

“Shut up with the people questions, Ish,” Virat’s tense voice murmured in his ear.

“We don’t let just anyone into our little circle.” Ashish smiled, clipping the end of a cigar before clenching it between his teeth. “We’re very selective.”

“I know,” Ishaan said dryly. “You certainly didn’t let me into your circle at school.”

“That’s because you were a poor, bug riddled loser then,” Parash cackled. Naveen flashed him a hard look and the cackling died away.

Was it Ishaan’s imagination or had there been a little extra emphasis on the word bug? He didn’t bother to respond to that, holding his counsel.

“But now, you’re rich, successful, and marrying one of our own,” Majid interjected, when the silence dragged on for too long. “And so, we’re okay with you being a part of our inner circle.”

“I’m honoured,” Ishaan murmured, allowing some of his sarcasm to leak through.

“So, let’s party man.” Majid slapped him hard on his back before dragging him over to where Naveen sat. For the next few hours, Ishaan pretended to drink an obscene amount of alcohol, refused countless offers of an array of drugs, and worked really hard to look like he was having a good time.

A large, buffet table was set up at one end of the room, laden with enough food to feed an army. But this lot were less interested in sustenance and more in whatever drug could get them tripping.

“Ishaan?” Naveen got to his feet and beckoned him over. Ishaan rose, shrugging off the joint Parash was waving in his face and walked over to where Naveen stood. “Come with me,” he said, walking out of the room. Ishaan followed.

They stepped out of the house and onto a small pathway that led to the beach. The cool, night breeze was welcome after the smoke filled rooms they’d just exited.

“I really am grateful, you know,” Naveen said. “To you.”

“I did what anyone would have done in that situation.” Ishaan’s hair lifted in the breeze.

“Please,” Naveen muttered. “You’ve seen these guys. None of them would have been in a fit condition to do anything for me.”

Ishaan stayed silent knowing there was no way to refute that with any sincerity.

“I want to give you a little gift,” Naveen said now. “As a thank you.”

“I thought being invited to this, being added to your inner circle was the gift.” Ishaan glanced back at the house, for some reason feeling uneasy being away from the circle of its light.

Naveen laughed, genuine amusement in his voice. “If we just wanted you to drink with us, Adajania, we could have done it in Mumbai. This, tonight, is special. We don’t let just anyone into our club.”

“What club? Like an old boys club or alumni club or something?”

“Or something.” Naveen grinned. “And we’re going to let you into it. Tonight.”

A dull roar sounded in the background and a speedboat sped up towards them, coming to a halt a little out in the water.

“Shall we?” Naveen asked.

Ishaan hesitated for a moment, his gaze going back to the house.

“Go,” Virat said in his ear. “We’re tracking you.”

Ishaan followed Naveen to the speedboat, the waves wetting his pants and making them stick to his legs. He sent Mayukhi a mental apology for ruining the suit that bore her label. They’d barely gotten into the boat before the man piloting it sped away. The waves crashed against it, throwing the nose up and havingthem focus on not going overboard. Ishaan glanced at the silent man at the helm of the boat. He was pretty sure he saw a bulge of a gun under his shirt.

Night closed in around them, the sound and light from the party fading away into the distance. Up ahead, he spotted a small bungalow, shrouded in darkness, the only light coming from a room at the back.

“Who does that belong to?” he asked Naveen.

“Everything belongs to me, my friend. I am the King of this Universe.”

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