27. Sujit
SUJIT
F rom the moment she stepped out of the car, Aarti commanded the attention of every camera around us.
People whispered, trying to figure out if she was an actress.
Cameras flashed all around us, and the crowds behind the ropes screamed at celebrities to get their attention.
Aarti remained unperturbed by any of it.
She was used to this. She didn’t smile or pose for the cameras.
Holding her cool composure, she walked indoors, making sure to maintain a few inches of distance between us.
A host escorted us to our assigned table. When we had settled, I excused myself to get drinks. I waited while the bartender poured a drink for a guest standing nearby. The guy grabbed a bourbon on the rocks and turned to me.
“So you’re her latest toy?” he said.
With a quick glance around to ensure he was addressing me, I said, “Excuse me?”
“Aarti Bhatia,” he said, taking what he assumed was a cool sip of his drink. “Are you her date tonight?”
I knew men like him. That power move of taking a sip between sentences was so clichéd, it came across as rehearsed. I turned to the bartender. “Two sparkling whites.”
“Dude, I’m not the enemy here,” the bourbon guy said, and I suddenly remembered where I knew him from.
The opening at the art gallery. The vault where I had stored his information unfolded before my mind’s eye.
“Is that right?” I said, now curious about his angle.
“She’s a bitc?—”
“Watch it,” I warned with a stern look.
“Chill, dude. I’m in your corner. I don’t know if you’re aware, but she was dumped publicly and unceremoniously. Yet has the nerve to fuck around with men. That’s a metaphor, of course, she doesn’t really fuck. Just toys with them.”
I was about to respond when the bartender offered me the wine. With a nod, I signaled him to deposit the flutes on the counter and turned a menacing sneer at the bourbon sipper.
“And that’s what bothers you, isn’t it? You go on two dates with a woman, and you think she owes you her body.”
He smirked. “Hey, man, don’t get cocky. You might think you’re special, but she’s going to toss you away?—”
“Like she did you that night after the gallery opening?”
His expression turned quizzical as he tried to place me. I returned a menacing glare. “Ashutosh, Ash, is it? Still at Swinstz?” I said, pushing my left hand into the trousers pocket. “I’d be very careful talking smack about her.”
Color left his face as he realized the threat in my words. He stumbled backward, fortunately finding the barstool behind him that helped him regain his balance. He gripped it with one hand, the fingers on his other clutching the bourbon tumbler so tight, his knuckles turned white.
“The name’s Sujit. Sujit Rao, and no one calls me dude,” I said and his eyes darted behind me. I turned around and saw Aarti standing a few feet away. She looked shaken, as if she’d heard it all.
Flashing her my best smile, I offered her my arm. “Shall we?”
Sharp that she was, she recovered swiftly and hooked her arm in mine with an elegant smile, completely ignoring the fool who stood dumbfounded, still gripping the bar stool.
Aarti squeezed my arm, and I squeezed her hand back. I heard her pull in a deep breath. “Did you just do the Bond thing?” she asked with a straight face.
“I did, and we’re never going to talk about it,” I answered in the same formal tone.
I escorted her to the expansive balcony overlooking the city. It was cold, but the strategically placed heaters made it bearable, enjoyable even. We walked over to the railing at the edge, where couples had lined up with drinks in their hands and lust in their eyes.
Aarti gripped the railing, watching the city lights, and I put my hand on hers. She reassured me with a nod, and I removed my hand. As I did, she spotted someone behind me.
“Is that who I think it is?” she exclaimed with a sparkle in her eye.
I gently crossed over to stand behind her with my hands reaching the railing so I could see the person. It was a famous movie star.
“Certainly looks like him,” I leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Unless he’s a body double, it’s definitely him.”
“He’s even more gorgeous in person,” she turned her neck to whisper in my ear.
I stole a quick glance at him. “Taller, for sure.”
She let out a soft giggle as the celebrity turned to her and flashed his trademark irresistible smile. Of course he did. She looked spectacular.
His gaze lingered on her, but she gave an elegant nod and stepped closer, her back flush against me. It was her way to indicate her unavailability, and my chest swelled with pride that she had chosen me to convey it. The warmth between our bodies traveled to my heart.
The movie star now noticed me and flashed a formal smile. I returned a short nod and leaned in toward Aarti’s ear. “Well, now here’s a really good-looking hunk for you. I hear he recently broke up with his girlfriend.”
“But as you also heard, I’ll just fuck with him and cast him aside,” she whispered bitterly.
“It would be a shame if you let him go before that anyway. He’s quite the stud, they say.”
That amused her, but she tempered her laugh.
“I’m sorry you had to hear that,” I added.
She returned a small shrug. “I’ve heard worse, unfortunately.” Then, moving closer to my cheek, said, “Did you threaten him with just your name?”
“And his. There are some benefits to being known in the industry. And to being friends with influential people.”
At that moment, a buzz from my jacket pocket surprised us both. I retrieved the phone she had handed me before we stepped out of the car.
“It’s my family,” she said, taking a look at the screen. “Probably worried that I’m sad and distraught, eating ice cream in my bed. I’ll call them later.” She pressed decline and handed the phone back to me.
I slipped it into the inside pocket of my tux. “You didn’t tell them about tonight.”
But before she could respond, someone opened the door, and we heard music drifting to us.
“Are you ready to dance?” I asked, stepping away from her.
She smoothed her gown and held out her hand for me. “I am.”
The tempo was slow, and the crowd was still warming up to the music. There were only a handful of couples on the floor, and more joining in with the gradual swelling of the music.
“You lead,” I whispered to Aarti as she gracefully began the Waltz.
I had claimed I could dance, but I wasn’t nearly as blithe or elegant as her.
She had received formal training, and it showed.
Tapping into my memory, I tried to recollect the correct sequence.
But Aarti led us beautifully. With every turn, her gown flew out, revealing her seductive legs, and I didn’t miss the looks she got.
“You’re a sight, Aarti. Everyone’s looking at you,” I said as we drifted to my right.
“There’s only one person I care about impressing tonight,” she said.
I grinned. “Oh yeah, that handsome hunk’s got his eyes glued to you as well,” I teased her, and she narrowed her eyes at me.
With a light laugh, I swung her, and she dipped with the elegance of a true dancer.
The spotlight had caught us and now followed us as we swirled around the dance floor.
I’d been in the limelight several times before, but it had never felt this good.
When the song ended, Aarti was treated to a heartfelt round of applause, and she took a gentle bow.
We returned to our table with the promised drinks. Two songs later, the Tango music began gently fading in. She got a happy glint in her eye. “Tango?”
“I’m not terribly good at it,” I said, returning my scotch to the table.
“You’ll be fine,” she said and grabbed my hand.
We began, rather clumsily, on my account, but she leaned in closer and whispered, “The eight-step.”
I recollected the classes I had taken and attempted again. This time, I didn’t fail completely. I grabbed her in my sturdy arms and danced.
“Goodness, you are a sight to behold tonight, Sujit,” she cried breathlessly during one of the pauses.
“Just tonight?” I smirked, and she laughed against my cheek.
As the music swelled, she took charge, and I was ready to melt into her arms. Her smile, her laughter, the giggles and tears that no one else got to see, I wanted it all. Her divine fragrance seeped into every pore of my body and I could lie to myself no longer.
I was in love with Aarti.
The music gave way to a resounding round of claps and polite cheers, but I refused to come down from the high of being in her arms.
As I dropped her back and escorted her to her apartment, she said, “Oh, I completely forgot to tell you. I think I have found the perfect space for Creators’ Studio. I will call you this week with an appointment to see the building.”
“Sounds good. Thank you, Aarti.”
She blinked with her soft eyes that were drunk on happiness from the dancing. “Thank you for tonight. You were right. This was good. Just what I needed. I will call my family now. They must be worried and waiting for me to call back.”
“Good night, Aarti.”
“Sorry you didn’t get to tuck me in,” she said with a mischievous glint.
“That’s alright. I think you can manage that, my sweet girl.”
I didn’t regret using the possessive, especially when she returned an unfazed smile and said, “Good night, Sujit. You’re the best thing that could have happened to me.”