Borrowed But Mine: An Arylie FF

Borrowed But Mine: Chapter 20

Previously, 

Imlie takes a chance and reveals her true identity to Aryan's Rathore, Narmada, who believes her albeit with some reservations. 

We pick up the very same night in Mumbai. 

Song choice today is Gumsum by Aakanksha Bhandari

https://open.spotify.com/track/5on36dq2B35S2RRGvNQCRo?si=1eb1064e2e0d4b52

Chapter 20

Monday night, Mumbai...

Aryan surveyed the venue of the party, a tall fluted glass in hand, utterly bored but of his mind. A large outdoor lawn, decorated with fairy lights, pink, red and white roses, green vines, lanterns, tables laden with food and of course, a wet bar. 

Who arranged parties on Mondays?  But apparently this was an auspicious day for the engagement ceremony of a prominent minister's daughter and Aryan had been invited to attend. 

Obligations and networking. That was his sole purpose of being here tonight.

An arm slipped into the crook of his elbow as he looked into the distance at an elaborate dais bedecked with a profusion of the pink, white and red blooms, where the young, newly engaged couple was greeting their guests. 

"What a f**king mundane party! I'd rather be home curled up with Sheel, a good book and a glass of wine." Manjeera muttered.

Despite himself, Aryan grinned at the attractive woman next to him.

Manjeera Batra had been a part of his friend circle from childhood. Her father Abhinav Batra was an affluent, well connected politician, now a cabinet minister in Delhi.

A prodigy in her field, Manjeera had recently been appointed as DCP of Mumbai Police and moved here from her previous posting in interior Maharashtra.

With her movie star good looks, she was used to the limelight from a young age thanks to her father's administrative and political aspirations.

Manjeera was one of those social beings that was easily able to grace a party with her beauty and presence while still keeping her private life carefully under wraps.

And so, almost no one other than her family and close circle of friends knew that she had recently proposed to and was now engaged to her childhood sweetheart and his other best friend, Sheel Malhotra.

Sheel, the lucky b*****d, had bowed out of an appearance at this party, at the last minute feigning illness. And now, the two of them were stuck at this gig, with fake smiles plastered on their faces.