Chapter 31 #2
Kartik scoffed. ‘It’s not about ego. It is about her negligence. Her absence is a stain on the overall flawless plan.’
‘In that case, I’m sure your expertise at lying and spinning stories will come in handy,’ Abhay said with a ruthless smile.
As much as he wished, Kartik didn’t take the bait. ‘All I’m saying is we could’ve avoided this fiasco if she’d shown up like everyone else. I should have known she’s too dumb to be trusted, especially on a crucial night like this.’
Abhay raised a hand to stop his incessant tirade.
‘You don’t get to talk about her after everything you’ve done to her.
You can flash a smile all you want, but Siya had more to do with this exhibition than you ever did, and whether she’s in front of the camera or not, that doesn’t become any less true. ’
Kartik opened his mouth, then shut it again. For once, he didn’t have a comeback.
Abhay buttoned his jacket as he walked into the grand hall for the gala. Orbs of lights were scattered across the high ceiling, with murals made with string lights across the walls.
When they’d seen this auditorium for this exhibition, he’d thought it looked too sterile but Siya said this was perfect. She was right. Under her vision, this room had transformed.
It was brimming with people mingling and talking amongst themselves. Their teeth shined just as much as the jewels they adorned. Some real, some fake, but all too bright.
He nodded at a few familiar faces as he made his way to his family, who were causing chaos near the bar.
‘Look who finally decided to show up,’ Swayam said as he slipped into their radius. ‘I thought maybe you ran away with Siya, and left the rest of us to fend for ourselves.’
‘We thought about it, but couldn’t trust you around this elite crowd so we had to come,’ he said, playfully ribbing him.
‘Then what, were you busy fixing your hair in the mirror? We’ve been waiting for an hour,’ Luv asked.
Abhay clapped a hand on his back and said, ‘I feel bad for everyone who had to tolerate you for that long.’
‘That’s us,’ Kashvi said, raising a hand.
‘You just got here!’ Luv pointed out.
‘Just a few minutes is too long to be around you,’ Kashvi taunted, and Swayam, who stood behind her, hid her laugh in her hair.
‘Ignore her,’ Meera said. ‘Luv rated her outfit six out of ten and now she’s pissed.’
‘What?’ Abhay laughed.
‘These two idiots,’ Raghav pointed at the chaotic duo of Swayam and Luv, ‘have been rating everyone’s outfit since we got here.’
‘Incorrect. I’ve been giving them scorecards,’ Luv argued.
‘Yeah, and bonus points for iconic jewellery,’ Swayam said, backing him up.
‘So, who’s winning?’ Abhay asked.
‘There’s a woman over there wearing an emerald choker the size of a tennis ball. She’s the only one who got nine out of ten,’ Meera answered.
‘Hey! I admire her. It takes guts to come to an event that is the talk of the town wearing something that looks like a guava,’ Luv said in defence of himself.
Their playful conversation continued, but his attention drifted across the room. Though nothing gave him relief, all he felt was the dull ache of waiting for someone he was starting to believe wouldn’t come.
Kashvi, who was standing next to him, leaned forward and asked, ‘Still no sign, huh?’
Reluctantly, Abhay shook his head.
‘She could still come,’ she offered.
His gaze drifted toward the entrance as more guests arrived, except her. ‘If she planned to, she would be here by now.’
Kashvi must have sensed he wasn’t ready to say more because she turned slightly to respond to something Meera said. Abhay noticed how Swayam watched Kashvi with a smile as she threw her head back and laughed.
Abhay shifted just enough to observe him without drawing attention.
His gaze followed her with a flicker of tenderness that didn’t look like simple friendship.
It was in the way he hovered closer when someone nearly bumped into her and in the way he made sure her drink was safe until she picked it up.
Was he aware of how possessive he seemed of her? Or maybe he did realise and just didn’t care to hide it anymore? Abhay smiled to himself, eager to see where this madness would lead to.
The room hushed as the emcee announced, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the exhibition will begin shortly so I request you to take your seats.’
Together as a group, they walked toward the elevated ramp stage at the centre of the auditorium. Chairs had been arranged in precise, symmetrical rows on either side of the stage. He opened the velvet barricade to their exclusive front row view.
His eyes trailed toward the front row where their names were printed on discreet white cards. He found his seat, second from the centre, bearing his name in calligraphed embossed silver. And next to it, untouched, sat the card marked Siya Kashyap. That chair was empty.
Everyone took their seats as the stage lights came on. Abhay smiled genuinely when Neena took the seat to his right, followed by Mihit. She patted his arm as she said, ‘It looks beautiful already. We’re so proud of both of you.’
‘It’s all Siya,’ he said, and meant it.
Kartik slipped to his left, with Dhruv taking a seat beside him. ‘You’ve pulled off quite a night,’ he murmured.
Abhay didn’t acknowledge him. He simply adjusted the cuff of his sleeve and fixed his gaze on the stage.
A spotlight shone on the stage as the room lights dimmed.
Music came on just as the first model stepped onto the runway.
She moved with a deliberate grace and his attention locked onto the necklace around her collarbone.
A multi-layered choker crafted from uncut diamonds set in platinum.
It was refined yet rebellious, and unapologetically feminine.
The second model followed, wearing a necklace crafted into layered floral clusters, but with a daring twist. Instead of diamonds, it was studded with deep blue tanzanite nested in the centre, wrapped in gold filigree so fine it almost resembled lace.
He heard a soft gasp of awe from somewhere behind them. He was brimming with pride, and couldn’t help but feel Siya should’ve been here to witness every reaction as her vision translated into reality.
Abhay leaned toward his mother and said, ‘I remember the first sketch of that piece. She argued with the stone-setter for three days because he wasn’t maintaining the symmetry.’
‘Of course she did,’ Neena chuckled under her breath.
The next model sported a pair of jhumkas shimmering with diamonds and white opals, with a chain with dangling pearls pinned in her hair. Matching kadas adorned her wrists, made with pearls in meenakari intricate design.
There were no coincidences here. Every stone, every clasp, every setting had been touched by Siya. Her efforts lived and breathed in these designs long before they made it to the runway.
‘Look at them, they’re awestruck,’ Mihit murmured, pointing toward the other side of the stage where their investors and elite buyers were sitting, their eyes glued to the pieces.
His father was right, they were awestruck. But none of it mattered the way it should have because the seat beside him was still empty.
And then, the model glided onto the stage, wearing the pièce de résistance.
A full bridal set glittering in scarlet colour.
A layered necklace paired with long, shoulder-grazing earring.
The bangles were etched with tiny leaves and vines, and the kamarbandh was full of uncut rubies.
The applause began even before she turned around and walked off the end of the runway.
It was—without question—Siya’s masterpiece.
A staff member approached him, bending slightly at the waist to not hinder the view for the guests beyond the front row. She handed him a folded card and whispered, ‘Sir, when the announcer calls on the designer, you’ll need to step in. Siya ma’am is still not here.’
Abhay accepted with a nod.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?’ The announcer came on stage.
‘Thank you for joining us this evening to witness this extraordinary collection. We know many of you have been waiting for a glimpse of the creator and the official designer of this launch. Please help me welcome the incomparable powerhouse, Siya Kashyap!’
A thunder of applause rang as anticipation rippled through the crowd.
Abhay began to rise but then the spotlight shifted toward the entrance of the stage. And then suddenly, she was there.
For a heartbeat, Abhay thought he was imagining her, but when his mother held his hand excitedly, he knew she was no illusion.
She wore a mauve saree edged in Kashmiri white threadwork, pinned and draped with effortless poise over her left shoulder.
Around her neck lay one of the most legendary original Kashyap vault pieces that Abhay had only seen in old catalogues.
A regal, thick necklace glittering with diamonds and rubies.
She’d opted out of wearing earrings, instead choosing to sport a thick tear-shaped ruby bracelet.
And yet, none of it shone half as much as her.
One look at her felt like cool water against his parched throat, and his shoulders relaxed an inch as she directed her bright smile to the room.
‘Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is a historical night, and it would be incomplete without your support and love, so thank you for being here tonight,’ Siya spoke into the mic. Everyone energetically applauded her, happy to finally get a glimpse of her.
‘Our collection has been a labour of love and dedication and it belongs to far more people than just myself. I want to gratefully thank every artisan and kaarigar who worked tirelessly to bring our vision to life.’
She looked toward where their families were sitting, but when she didn’t meet his gaze, his heart sank. She gestured toward their parents and said, ‘And also a huge thank you to both Kashyap and Agrawal families for their generous contribution to this project.’
Abhay felt the room’s energy shift until only his wife remained in focus. She had them wrapped around her finger, just like him.
She looked at Kartik as she said, ‘Now, I want to invite someone very special to join me on stage to unveil the name of this new collection. He is the driving force behind why I stand here tonight. Dad, will you please join me?’
There was a stir in the crowd as Kartik contemplated whether to go up there, because he was unsure of where this was leading, but when Siya urged again, he stood up. Reluctance was etched in his rigid posture as he buttoned his jacket and hopped onto the stage.
Siya had not looked at him once since she came on, but now, as Kartik came to stand beside her, she did.
There was a deadly calmness to her that unsettled him. She held his gaze and he felt a prickle of suspicion at his nape. He couldn’t put his finger on it but something was different about her. She looked like a woman on a mission.
And when she flashed him a confident smile, he found himself wondering what game she was playing at.
Kartik touched her arm briefly, clearly trying to exchange a private word, but Siya flipped his hand with hers and looped her palm around his elbow.
The movement was so quick and smooth that Abhay nearly missed it.
Kartik clapped along with the rest of the guests, but the crease between his eyes deepened.
‘I know many of you have been wondering what the name of this new collection would be, and I’m so thrilled to finally share it with you tonight.’
The screen behind them lit up with the name in cursive with the official launch monogram.
‘Vintage Reverie is a dream from the past, reimagined for the future.’
Applause pounded through the room as the screen showed their complete catalogue of vintage and modern minimalist jewellery pieces. The cameras ate it all up with a never-ending thirst.
‘Without my father, this would be just another idea on paper. Many of you know him as the face behind Kashyap Luxe, the man who made it a household name, but to me, he is my inspiration.
Kartik turned to her, his brows lifting in surprise. ‘Siya…’
‘No Dad, you deserve all the credit for being the wind under my wings, because had he not insisted I prove myself for a seat at the table, I might never have built one of my own. So, it’s my honour to stand beside you as I announce my new brand.’
Suddenly, there was pin-drop silence in the room as everyone froze, wondering if they heard her right. Kartik’s mouth was slightly open, and he looked dumbstruck.
Siya gracefully turned back to the screen and tapped a button. Vintage Reverie faded into the background as a transition slide slowly overtook the focus. There was an audible gasp from somewhere in the room when the new name shone on the screen.
House of Karielle: Adorning Every Era
by Siya Kashyap-Agrawal
‘I’m proud to announce that Vintage Reverie and every jewel within this collection is the maiden launch of a new brand I’ve built and nurtured with love, House of Karielle,’ Siya announced with a bright smile, and all chaos broke loose.