Betrothed

7 \ enter Karan

It had been a week since they had resumed work, 10 days since they got married. It was finally a weekend. As much as Divya was always keen to go back to work, she needed the weekend to relax, to take some time off to think about how she was going to go about the entire marriage thing.

Thankfully, they had maintained a respectable distance from each other at all times. They hadn't sucked on each other's faces like deprived animals. They had begun talking more, given that they had to communicate during work. It had been a crazy couple of days and she was glad that things had finally calmed down.

Her 25 year old self could not be happier.

It was a Saturday afternoon and she was returning home with Vikram after a half day. She scrolled through her phone looking at all the congratulatory messages she had received from colleagues and friends.

It looked like they had managed to pull off a great PR stunt after all. Media houses were swooning over the coming together of two royal families. The business world was intimidated by the merger of two leading hotel chains. Young fans were going bonkers about how good the two of them looked together.

And yet she felt hollow from inside. It was all a show. It was nothing more than playing a part in a drama. She felt exhausted keeping up for just 10 days. How was she supposed to last a lifetime.

Divya felt her throat close, tears threatening to fall. She gulped audibly, trying to swallow all the anger and helplessness that she felt. Even through the years of growing up without friends or siblings, she had never felt so alone as she did right now.

Vikram glanced at her momentarily, trying to figure out if she was on the verge of crying. Was she really so upset about something? Yes, the situation that they were in wasn't ideal. However, it did not seem that significant to him.

It was like having a roommate for life. Everything else was the same.

Divya's phone buzzed on her lap catching her attention.

Karan calling. A small smile made way to her lips. It was only his calls that kept her sane the past weeks.

"Hey"
.
"What?"
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"You serious? When?"
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"Don't just come for 2 days. Get some more leaves."
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"You were not there for the wedding too."
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"Fine. Just come."
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"Bye."

Vikram noticed how his wife's mood had suddenly turned better. It was as if listening to the person on the other end made her happy.

"Karan, my childhood best friend, is going to be here tomorrow and the day after that." she announced to him making him look up from his device. She seemed very happy, so much so, that she had willingly initiated conversation with him out of nowhere.

"That's great. We can have the caretakers ready a room for him." He said trying to match her enthusiasm.

"Thank you but that won't be necessary. He is not into all things royal so he will stay at a hotel. That's how it has always been."

"If you say so."

Vikram stroked the side of his phone, his mind crowded with questions. This Karan guy seemed way too close to the princess. While it would not matter if they were a thing in the past, it certainly would if they caused any negative impact on their marriage.

"I won't be able to join you for the museum tour tomorrow." she said realising she was going to be busy with Karan.

"Right, I will ask the PA to reschedule it."

"I mean, you can still go."

"Yeah, but won't I be with you to meet him, err, Karan?"

Divya held back her tongue. How could she tell him to not accompany her without coming off rude? "It's just Karan, so you are not obligated to join me. I mean, it isn't a formal engagement."

"It's no problem, really."

Divya puffed her cheeks looking away. Why, just why did he have to join her? She was looking forward to a day without anything reminding her of her bad fate. She decided she would not let that mess with her mood. She was happy that she was going to meet him and she was not going to let anyone change it.

.

"So, what does Karan do?" Vikram asked as they settled under the comforter after dinner. When Divya had informed everyone that the museum tour had to be cancelled, they had responded really well about meeting her friend.

"He is an investment banker in London. I have known him since school. We went to university, both grad and post grad in England. We studied different subjects but we made it a point to meet each other regularly."

"That's good to hear."

Vikram found the next 10 seconds to be extremely awkward. Was he to ask another question, was she going to add to the previous information, were they done talking. As silent seconds rolled by, Vikram thought of pulling the comforter further up his body and slipping into slumber.

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"If it isn't the princess herself." Karan teased opening the door to let them in before getting tackled into a bone crushing hug.

"Aww, I missed you too Dee." He teased again.

However when she did not let go of him for another 5 seconds, he pulled her close, his palm on her back, "You okay?"

To that she nodded, stepping back with a smile. She moved away to reveal a very uncomfortable looking Vikram.

"Hi. Karan." Karan introduced sticking his hand out for a handshake.

"Vikram, I have been hearing so much about you." He returned the handshake politely.

The three of them settled in the seating area of the suite, Karan and Divya seated right next to each other while Vikram seated opposite to them.

"I am really sorry for not making it to your wedding, I really am. I had to close a deal that day."

"That, you will have to pay for. I don't care what deal or engagement you had, you could not miss my wedding."

The conversation continued for another 30 minutes with Karan and Divya doing most of the talking and Vikram chipping in with a couple of comments here and there.

"I have news." Karan announced.

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Eeek, I know, a very short update. But i wanted to get the ball rolling. I was busy with exams so could not update. 

Sowieee

See you soon!

xx