THE ROYAL AFFAIR

PREPARATIONS

The next month Eric didn't come but he promised to be their at her exhibition .

Shnaya's father and brother arrived a week before . Shnaya had already sent her designs and checked the pieces on facetime .

But still when they arrived she was keen on rechecking every thing . Everything was perfect except for some slight changes which Shnaya completed at her college workshop .

She had taken a week of from college to help her father .

All was done by Thursday . The exhibition was to start on Saturday and would go on till Tuesday . Though her father had finalised the venue but they were not alone . Many other jewellary houses had also joined them .

Shnaya's father told her that they had invited Vikram as well but she was doubtful of his arrival .

Eric however arrived two days before . Ajay had become good friends with Eric so all of them went to dinner together .

Mr Kunwarbir was noticing that Eric was paying a lot of attention to Shnaya . He knew that Eric was a nice man but Shnaya was now married so he was not very happy about it .

Ajay on the other hand wanted his sister to be happy and if Eric made her happy he was ok with it . Vikram had not even called her once during the past eight months so that was not a good sign for her marriage . Hence if Eric was ready to accept the situation Ajay would support him .

Shnaya looked so tired today . Eric asked her if her eork was finished and she told him everything was done .

He asked her if she wanted to go for lunch the next day but she refused as she wanted to take rest .

The next day Shnaya woke later than usual . Her father and brother were staying nearby at a hotel because Shnaya's appartment could not accommodate both of them .

She had just finished when she received a call from an unknown number . When she picked the phone it was Maya .

After speaking to Maya and seeing those damning photographs Shnaya cried for close to one hour . Now it was final . Her marriage was over .

Again her mobile rang . She was scared it could be Maya again but it was Eric . She spoke to him for five minutes and then hung up .

In half an hour her doorbell rang . It was Eric with flowers and a box of chocolate.

Actually he had heard her subdued voice and realised something was wrong . He had decided to come over and brighten her mood .

Shnaya was in no mood to speak to someone but Eric had been so sweet to her so she allowed him inside .

Eric noticed she had been crying . He asked her to get ready as he had planned something for her . He quickly called his P A to book movie tickets and then a table at some nice restaurant for dinner .

He knew she was not in mood for sightseeing so a movie might change her mood .

Shnaya got ready reluctantly but she knew that sitting at home was no solution. Eric was a good friend and he could help her forget her sorrows .

They went directly for the movie . It was a good lighthearted comedy and she enjoyed it . After the movie Eric took her to meet her designer friend . His friend turned out to be a very well known designer.

Her new collection was very simply styled but elegant . Eric persuaded her to try some dresses .

She liked a trouser suit but Eric didn't allow her to pay for it .

A dark red gown had also caught her attention but it reminded her of a dress Vikram had bought for her so she didn't buy it .

After their little shopping expedition Eric told her that he had dinner reservations at a very famous night club . She told him that she wasn't even dressed properly for the club . He handed her a black dress he had purchased at the designer without her knowledge and asked her to change .

It was a beautiful knee length offshoulder dress . It was a decent dress nit at all revealing but perfect according to her figure . She had a lipstick and eyeliner in her handbag which she applied in the changing room and loosened her hair from the ponytail.

When Shnaya came out of the changing roomshe looked so stunning that Eric felt like dropping dinner and taking her to bed and to make love with her . He knew he was wrong to have such thoughts but he loved her . His feelings and love for her was growing day by day . It was getting difficult to control his emotions and to keep his hands off her .

When Shnaya came out of the changing room she noticed desire in Erics eyes . She wasn't sure that dinner was a good idea in that situation but then now the situation had changed because her husband didn't belong to her .

Their table was secluded and the ambience was romantic but she was here with Eric not her love Vikram.

Their were tears in her eyes .

"Shnaya I know you are uoset since morning . You can tell me . After all we are friends?"

"Its nothing Eric "

"If its nothing then why are you crying ?"

"Eric please leave it "

"No Shnaya . I can't see you suffering . Please tell me . I promise to be a good listener and will not judge "

"Eric I think my marriage is over "

"Why dear ?"

Shnaya opened her mobile and showed him the first two photographs. She didn't have the strength to show him the third and most damaging photo .

Eric was stunned . How could Vikram have deceived her . She was so innocent and so beautiful. How could Vikram have done something so devastating?

"Are you sure it's Vikram? And do you know the lady ?"

"Eric I know my husband .And the lady is my stepsister Maya who was initially engaged to Vikram "

"Shnaya I unable to understand . She was engaged to Vikram not you ?"

Shnaya then told him her entire story right from Maya's engagement to her marriage to Vikram .

To say Eric was surprised was an understatement.

"Dear Shnaya don't cry . Maybe it wasn't mean't to be between you and Vikram . But you have your whole life before you . And you are so beautiful and intelligent . You will definitely find love again . And I promise I will always there for you , supporting you in whatever you do " he wiped her tears with his hands

"Now lets enjoy this lovely dinner and make the exhibition successful tomorrow " Eric encouraged her .