10. Mayukhi
TEN
Mayukhi
“This is where you live?”
Mayukhi did a slow turn in the bizarrely large and luxuriously furnished penthouse. Her designer’s eye told her that everything had been professionally put together. It was beautiful and yet, impersonal. Nothing in this sumptuously decadent apartment hinted at who he really was. Just like his droolworthy suits, she got the feeling that all of this was not who Ishaan was. It was just the way he wanted the world to view him. Rich, successful, and with every single luxury at his fingertips.
“Did you think I lived in a cave?”
Ishaan walked over to where she stood, a glass of red wine in his hand. Mayukhi took it from him and waited for him to pick up his glass of Scotch, neat with ice.
“Cheers,” she murmured, taking a small sip. “And no.”
“No what?” Ishaan eyed her, amusement in his voice.
“I never thought you lived in a cave. There would be no place to hang your suits.”
He smiled, a slow, wide curve of his lips that had warmth pooling in her stomach. Startled by the feeling, Mayukhi took a step back from him, her heel tangling in the edge of the shag pile rug. Ishaan’s hand shot out, grabbing her by the elbow and steadying her so she didn’t go flying and land on her butt. She stumbled, one hand going to his chest to brace herself. He wrapped a patient arm around her waist and let her find her balance.
Heat surrounded her, the hard burning flame of his presence seeming to ensconce her in a bubble. She felt punch drunk from the smell, feel and sight of him. This was dangerous, her mind told her. Her body didn’t seem to care. If this was dangerous, Mayukhi wanted to run full tilt into that danger.
The sound of the front door opening had her snapping out of the trance she’d been in. Mayukhi stepped away from the temptation of Ishaan, careful this time to make sure she didn’t fall over like a klutz.
Dhrithi Gokhale walked in, laughing at something the handsome man beside her was saying. Mayukhi eyes widened as she took in the other woman. Dhrithi’s hair swung loose in a wild, lustrous cloud around her smiling face. Happiness clung to her like a cloud and love for the man who was now watching Mayukhi with caution shone from Dhrithi like a mini sun, beaming out and warming everyone in its vicinity.
Something that felt an awful lot like envy pricked at Mayukhi as she watched Ishaan walk across and hug Dhrithi, a warm bear hug that almost lifted her off her feet. He smiled down at her, his expression open and happy, in a way that it never was when it way directed at Mayukhi. For that matter, she didn’t know anyone who looked at her the way Ishaan and the other dude were looking at Dhrithi.
“You certainly don’t look like a victim of domestic abuse.”
She regretted the words the minute she spoke them. She knew she had a tendency to lash out, to speak before she thought things through, to hurt when she was hurt. But even she knew she’d gone too far this time. The laughter and warmth in the room fled like it had never existed.
Dhrithi stepped forward putting herself between Mayukhi and the men who looked ready to tear her head off.
“Hi Yukhi.” Dhrithi didn’t smile, her steady, assessing gaze meeting Mayukhi’s own.
“Dhrithi,” she said tersely, shame making her words clipped and her voice curt. “You look well.”
“I am well,” Dhrithi replied. “Very well.” She looked over her shoulder at the man she’d entered the room with. He was looking at Mayukhi like she was a pile of shit he’d stepped in. “You remember Amay from school?”
Amay? Amay Aatre? Well, well, well, he’d cleaned up good.
Mayukhi nodded, “Hello.”
“Hello,” he said, his voice cool with dislike. “Dhriths, what can I get you to drink?”
“Just a beer, thank you.” Dhrithi smiled at him, clearly trying to thaw the frost encasing Amay but it wasn’t working. He walked away from them and towards the humongous fridge in the kitchen.
“Don’t take my corn chips,” Ishaan called out.
Mayukhi pulled a face. “Trust you to like corn chips.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ishaan asked, sipping on his scotch and walking over to where they stood. “What’s wrong with corn chips?”
“It’s like the food of serial killers.” Mayukhi grimaced, following a laughing Dhrithi to the couch.
“Sounds about right,” Amay murmured, coming over to hand Dhrithi her beer. He sat down on the couch and dragged her closer, until she was leaning against him, her head resting on his shoulder.
The front door opened again and a new entrant strolled in. This one…this one she recognised immediately.
“Hello Mayukhi.” His serious gaze rested on her seeming to clock every inch of her in a second. “Hope you’re well.”
“Virat Jha,” she said, her eyes widening as she took him in. She’d met him a few years ago at her father’s business partner’s office. He’d been there for a meeting. She was pretty sure he was wearing the same jeans and ratty black t-shirt as he had on that day. Clearly, he didn’t share his friend’s love for fashion. It did nothing to detract from that face and body of his. Virat, the quiet, introverted nerd at school, had grown into a walking, talking embodiment of every woman’s most sinful dream.
And still, her gaze was drawn to Ishaan who was watching her closely, looking for something. The frown on his face told her he hadn’t found whatever it was.
“Of course,” she murmured, “Why am I surprised? The three of you were inseparable at school. Clearly, nothing has changed.”
“A lot has changed,” Dhrithi said from her cosy little seat beside Amay. “We’ve all grown up for one.”
“We have,” Amay confirmed. “Except for Ishaan.”
Mayukhi laughed, the sound of it startling everyone. The men looked at her like she’d sprouted horns. Dhrithi grinned, her earlier ire receding. Mayukhi looked over at her, shame at her earlier behaviour causing her to shift uncomfortably in her seat.
“I’m sorry,” she told Dhrithi. “My comment was uncalled for.”
Dhrithi stopped smiling. “It was,” she said simply, not bothering to elaborate on that response.
Mayukhi met her gaze. “Can we start over?”
Dhrithi leaned forward, her gaze warming. “I would like that. Welcome Yukhi, to our little group. Condolences on your engagement.”
“You mean congratulations?” Mayukhi asked with a small smile.
“Oh no honey.” Dhrithi laughed, loud and clear. “You’re engaged to that one.” She jabbed a thumb in Ishaan’s amused direction. “Condolences is all I have to offer.”