Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
DIYA
I don’t know why I felt so uneasy when Dheer got a call in the middle of our big, family lunch. He declined it, but something about his expression made me uneasy. I wondered who it was.
I shook the thought away because when did I turn into a suspicious wife? Was I going to start checking his phone next? I’d rather die than stoop to such things, I thought with a shudder. If I was reduced to snooping on my husband because I couldn’t trust him, there was no point in staying married.
My parents and Veer left soon after lunch, and I wished I could jump into the car and leave with them. For the first time, I felt like I wasn’t part of that family anymore, and it was heartbreaking. Isha hugged me tightly and led me to her room for a chat.
As we munched on bhujiya and chips, we talked about the proceedings against Ayush because we both did not want to address the elephant in the room - my marriage. Just then, my phone rang.
“It’s Caroline, my booker at the modelling agency,” I muttered, swiping to accept the call.
“Hey gorgeous! Congratulations on the wedding!” she squealed.
“Thank you, Caroline.”
“I think your new husband is your lucky charm,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“Darling, Valentino wants you to be the face of their Spring Collection,” she exclaimed.
I was speechless because this was huge! This could propel me into a whole different league professionally.
“Are you serious?” I whispered.
“Dead serious,” she replied.
“Get out of here!” I screeched, doing a happy jig around the room.
“They need you to do a go-see with their photographer in Milan in two days. I’m hoping that won’t be a problem,” said Caroline, sounding more serious now.
It was as if she had poured a bucket of icy water over my excitement.
“I beg your pardon? In two days?”
“Yes. And they don’t like to be kept waiting,” she replied sternly.
“Ohmigod, Caroline! I just got married. I still have henna tattoos on my hands!”
“It’s just a meeting, not a shoot. They need to make sure you’re the right fit for their collection, Diya. So the henna doesn’t matter, but you have to be there in two days. They are also considering a seventeen-year-old Somali model, and all said and done, while she might be too young to be the face of their collection, you are thirty years old. They will not sign you until you’ve done a go-see.”
There it was. The reminder that I was getting older in an unforgiving industry that worshipped youth. I worked very hard to stay fit and look good, but age was going to catch up with me, and there would always be someone younger and fresher vying for the same job.
“I understand, Caroline. But you don’t understand my situation. I’m married to a Maharaja. I can’t just up and leave two days after the wedding. I have social obligations that I cannot ignore.”
“I get all that, and I feel you, honey. But there’s nothing we can do.”
“Can they reschedule? I’m going to Milan for the Fashion Week anyway,” I said desperately.
“No, Diya. That’s months from now. They can’t wait for so long. If you’re not in the photographer’s office the day after tomorrow, you lose the job. I’m sorry, but it’s as simple as that.”
I thanked her and hung up, feeling miserable. My biggest dream was so close to fruition, but I was going to lose it all just because I was married.
“What are you going to do?” asked Isha worriedly.
I shrugged.
“What can I do? I can’t swan off to Milan two days after my wedding. Padmini Aunty was planning a mooh-dkihai for the close family on that day, right?”
We had kept the wedding very small. But Dheer’s extended family was insisting on meeting me, and Aunty couldn’t hold them off without being rude. That was our way of life. And my career had to take second priority to the social obligations that came with my marriage. That’s just how it was.
There was a knock at the door and Dheer frowned at me as he came in.
“What’s wrong?”
I shook my head.
“Are you missing your family?”
“A little,” I replied with a smile.
“Fancy a ride?”
“I don’t ride,” I replied sheepishly.
“What about all those lessons you had as a child?” he asked in surprise.
“Those were a big fail. I’m not very comfortable on horses, probably because I’m terrified of heights. I did a polo photoshoot once, and almost fell off my horse because I got dizzy,” I admitted.
“Okay, but what if you weren’t alone on the horse? You can ride with me,” he offered. “Pasha can carry us both. I’d like to take you riding in the moonlight. It’s an amazing experience, Diya.”
It did sound lovely. I nodded hesitantly.
“Alright, but if I fall off the horse and break my neck, I’m going to haunt you for the rest of your life,” I warned.
Dheer shot me a lazy smile that sent my heart rate soaring, and I looked away to hide my feelings. He was simply far too good-looking. It wasn’t fair!
My assistant came over to catch me up on work matters, and I spent the rest of the day closeted with her in our room. I went through the proofs from my last shoot while Bina read out my schedule for the Milan Fashion Week which was barely three months away.
“It’s a very tight schedule because it’s happening right after the London Fashion Week. Are you sure you can cope, Your Highness?”
I nodded absently because I knew I wouldn’t just cope but thrive on the madness of two back-to-back fashion weeks. A tight schedule would keep me far too busy to brood over my problems.
I approved the proofs and selected a few BTS images for Bina to share on my social media accounts. Then I did an hour of power yoga because I was feeling stiff and restless. I hadn’t been working out for the past few days, and it was time to get back to my strict workout schedule.
“Bina, can you call Roshan to Trikhera, please? I need to prep for the fashion weeks,” I said between the vinyasas, referring to my personal trainer.
After my workout, I sent her home and had a luxuriously hot shower to soothe my aching muscles. I looked like a lobster when I came out of the shower but I was a calm lobster, ready to take on my new husband and his panty-melting smile.
After a quick dinner with the family, Dheer asked me to meet him in the stables. I joined him reluctantly, sure that this was going to be the day I fell from a horse and broke my neck.
“Can I get a helmet?” I asked anxiously.
Dheer laughed loudly at that, and I wanted to shove him face down into the pile of horse poop in the corner.
“It’s not funny, Dheer. I have a photo shoot in two weeks, and…”
“And what?”
The butterflies in my stomach did somersaults and all kinds of aerial stunts on mini bikes as I wondered if I should try my luck. I knew there was no point in saying anything, but I couldn’t abandon my dreams so easily.
I stroked Pasha’s nose as I tried to find the right words.
“Dheer… I have a chance to be the face of Valentino’s spring collection.”
He turned to me with a wide smile.
“That’s amazing!”
“Yes, but they want me to do a go-see with the photographer in Milan the day after tomorrow.”
“What’s a go-see?” he asked.
“A meeting where we discuss the plan for the campaign and maybe try out a few looks to see what works.”
“Can’t they do it online?”
“No. He will need to take pictures of me to see if I fit the job. I know your mother has planned a mooh-dikhai for the relatives that day, but this is a very big deal for my career. I need to go, Dheer.”
He blew out a heavy breath and I waited for the inevitable. I knew there was no way anyone would let me go away when I was required to be here for the mooh-dikhai. They would never postpone such a big social event for my convenience. Even my own parents wouldn’t do it.
“Fine,” said Dheer shortly.
My eyes widened in surprise.
“I beg your pardon?”
“If this is so important, you should go to Milan. I’ll convince Ma to have the mooh-dikhai after you get back.”
“Are you sure?”
“Look, I promised you that I wouldn’t stand in the way of your career. And this is what it comes down to. It’s very easy to say I support your career when it fits in with our needs and expectations. But the real proof of that support comes at times like this. So, yes. You can go to Milan. Just make your life easier and take the Gulfstream. It’ll save you some time,” he said, leading Pasha out of his stall.
I was silent as he helped me into the double-seat saddle and climbed up behind me because I was trying not to cry. He recognised how much this mattered to me and he made it easy. I waited for Dheer to say something about how I owed him big for this. Something to show that he had just done me a huge favour, but he said nothing.
He wrapped his big arms around my waist and pulled me back to lie against his chest as Pasha set off trotting. It was very difficult to remember why I had to hate him when he did things like this. Ever since I met him again, Dheer had gone out of his way to protect and cherish me. It made me want to weep for the life we could have had if he hadn’t betrayed me. But it also made me want to forgive him for breaking my heart.
He had married me to save my life. And he consistently proved that he was on my side. If those weren’t green flags, I didn’t know what were. Maybe it was time to move past his betrayal and see if we could build something out of the ashes of the past. Maybe it was time to trust that he wouldn’t let me down again.
I dashed away the tears that sprang to my eyes at the thought and beat down the panic that welled up in my chest. It was a huge risk. Was I willing to take even one step out of my comfort zone and reach for happiness? I wasn’t too sure yet because I knew that this time around, there was a lot more at stake. Dheer had woven himself into the very fabric of my being, and I wouldn’t survive if he broke my heart all over again.
But I was done hiding from love. I had to take that step and leave the past behind, or I would regret it forever.
I cleared my throat and kept my eyes on the sand that gleamed silver in the moonlight.
“Would… would you like to come with me?”