LOVE AND BETRAYAL

Chapter - 1

"Let me do this on my own Papa, Please have some faith in me. I'll call you back soon " With a slight tint of irritation in my tone I end the call with my father. Having supportive parents is great until you want to do something on your own and they still think of you as their little girl in the pink fluffy dress.

The sound of my heels clicking on the marble floor echo around the historic architecture I am in, I open the glass door where the auction is about to start and wait patiently for it to begin. But I am nervous, I want to bite into my nails but I just got them freshly manicured so that's not an option, I look around for a distraction untill my nerves settle down.

90 percent of the gentry here is male, clad in suits with an authoritative demeanour surrounded by assistants and their trophy wives, the remaining are women who are trophy wives. According to my quick math I am the only single women came here with the same purpose as these men- to buy this historical museum.

The auction conductor clears his throat into the mic and begins, " Situated in the heart of the city London, this historic building stands with all its glory. Crafted with Italian architecture it took 34 years to build this and yet after so many decades no one seems to claim it as it's own. Being orphaned in an inanimate way this building was transitioned into a museum which failed to gather as much tourists as the government thought for its maintainence, Hence this Glorious building is up for auction and the starting bid is of 1,00,000$ dollars.

The bids started, all the businessmen of London were present here trying to outbid each other, puffing up there male ego's with the aim of transforming this architectural beauty into a elite club or bar, but I had different plans.

When I packed my bags and came to London from India to become a veterinary doctor I never thought I would be sitting here in an auction trying to buy this building, on my way to work I crossed it daily, the craftsmanship of this museum never failed to stop me in my tracks and admire it's beauty.

When I read the newspaper that this place is being put up for auction I made up my mind to buy it and since then I have worked hard to acquire funds so that I can make it mine, This buliding will no longer be an orphan and will be treated how it's supposed to be with glory and respect.

When the bid was on 20,00,000$ dollar the hall quitened, the only whispers was of disappointment and grunts of men who were unable to put up a higher bid.

Then an Italian accent pierced the silence "25,00,000$ dollar" he said and he was aware the eyes were on him now.
" It's show time" I whispered to myself.

"30,00,000$!" I said turning towards him and raising my board.
"40,00,000$!" He smiled at me with an dirty expression.

Time to end this cat and mouse game , I think to myself and announce               " 50,00,000$!".

And now the attention gravitates towards me, I can feel the eyes on me,
"SOLD!" The speaker says out loud followed by claps of people which are filled with disappointment.

"This gorgeous place is all yours Miss Raavi Singhania" the speaker says  handing me the keys, but I must say I dint expect a women to buy this place but I beleive you plan on doing something which will justify it." the middle aged speaker says .

After signing the paperwork and completing all the formalities I make way to my car but I see someone waiting for me in the hallway, it's the same man with the Italian accent.

"Congratulations lady" he says without a drop of joy in his voice, "My boss won't be happy that I lost the auction to a woman".

"It's sad of you to think that I care what you and your boss thinks, dimwit." I say with a sly expression.

"This isn't over young lady!" He says trying to threaten me, " For me it is dear, you and your boss can play your little game." I reply closing the car door.

Securing the documents into the glove compartment I put ignition in my car and drive along the busy streets of London, my heart is pumping with pride but there is a small compartment which is reeling back to the conversation with that man but I try to push it away and call my father.

"I did it papa!" I say while my voice is dripping with joy, "I am proud of you beta!" My dad says and I can practically imagine his chest sweeling with pride, " I will call you in a while Ravi, I have a meeting with the ministers okay?".

When I left India, I also left behind the life of royalty and luxury. Being born as a princess in India is a road paved with privilege and luxury but growing up I always felt that I need to do something of my own , I need to build something that is mine and not just passed down to me as generational wealth.

My decision to shift to London and become a veterinary doctor was met with a lot of opposition, because there were princely duties that I had to fulfill and many other things.

When my older sister Vedangi came to know how passionate and strong headed I was about my decision she became the sail to my boat in a stormy sky, She maneuvered our parents decision into letting me go and live my life and she stepped up to fill in for my responsibilities too along with her's.

Intially I thought that me going will make her sacrifice her life and ambition but my sister is a force to be reckoned with along being a princess and diligently doing her responsibilities she is a best selling author, I really don't know how she does but she does.

" I am a fucking princess!" She says whenever she comes face to face with an obstacle and I try to channelize the fire and calm she has in tough situations.

Parking my car I make my way to my office and get in the mindset of a surgeon, I get in my scrubs and get started to remove a tumor from a 12 year old German shepherd and make him live a longer life.