Welcome back Jalebi Jane. It was awesome to read your story again. I am loving the setting and characters. Please continue soon.
Can u please let me know how I can find ur other stories.. thanks
APRIL 5, 2021
EPISODE 2
When Pallavi had confided in Krishna that she intended to dress in a provocative manner to gain Raghav Rao’s attention and interrogate him about the ring, Krishna had asked a perfectly reasonable question: “But why must you present yourself as a—you-know—?”
Pallavi had smiled at the girl’s modesty and explained, “Mr Rao has the ring—which means he may somehow be connected to Mandhar’s disappearance. If I confront him with direct questions, he may panic—” She hadn’t been able to complete her sentence.
“—He may panic and come after you,” Krishna had finished, grimly. “That’s what you mean, isn’t it? You want to present yourself as something other than what you are, so if he tries to track you down, he’ll be looking in the wrong direction.”
Once Krishna had understood the necessity of the disguise, she had helped her dress for the evening. She had even invited her to spend the night at her place. Aunty was away on a pilgrimage. This way Pallavi could leave for Sagar Lake directly from Krishna’s. Nobody would know where she was going and how late she may be in returning.
These thoughts reminded Pallavi she had promised to text Krishna intermittently. She quickly sent a thumbs-up emoji.
“Here,” Raghav said, handing her a business card. “This has my direct line. If you’re interested in a job at Jayati Jewellers contact me.”
Pallavi took the card.
“Thank you, Mr Rao, but I know nothing about gemstones,” she said. “I just recall seeing a photo of a rare diamond that was this shade of green and I made a lucky guess.” She bit her lip hoping this sentence would generate more information about the ring.
It worked.
If you want a man to speak, Sisters, ask about his work.
“Most green diamonds are sourced in Brazil but some have been mined in Andhra Pradesh and I believe this one is Indian because of the setting.” He slipped the ring off his finger and leaning towards her he showed her the architecture on the underside. “The trellis dates this to Indian workmanship from a century ago. And this stamp indicates it’s an ancestral piece. Probably made for a rajah by his court jeweller.”
She pressed, “And how came you by it?”
He met her eyes. “You seem unusually interested in this ring.”
Pallavi said, saucily, “The longer we discuss the ring, the longer I may stay and the more champagne I can drink.”
He allowed a small smile and refilled her glass.
He is even more handsome when he smiles, she thought.
Instead of returning the ring to his finger, he placed it on the bartop. Right there. Within her reach. Should she pick it up and pretend to examine it? Or more audaciously—should she try it on her finger?
With champagne-fuelled courage, she tried the ring on her thumb where it fit snugly as she knew it would.
She asked, “So you purchased it at an auction?”
“No. From a couple who came to the shop to have it appraised—”
“—A couple?!” she blurted out.
Fortunately Raghav ignored her outburst and continued, “The appraiser brought it to my attention. I made them an offer and they accepted it.”
Pallavi’s heart was hammering with anger. Mandhar had gone to a jeweller—with another woman!—to have the ring—her family ring!—appraised!
“Just like that?” she asked.
There must have been something in her voice which caught his attention. He looked at her intently and said, “I made a strong offer.”
“Still. Did he appear desperate for money? Was he barefoot? Starving? Dressed in rags?”
He threw her a bemused look.
“How could he sell it?” she continued. “A piece so beautiful, so rare, and so carefully preserved—as you said—for well over a century. How could he be so foolish to exchange ancestral history for quick cash?”
Pallavi knew she was rambling, her emotions tumbling from her lips. She was not only thinking of how Mandhar had squandered her legacy but how he had also put at risk the legacy of his own family.
She knew she had better stop speaking. She must not say another word. She was livid and if she continued railing she would inevitably say more than she should. To Raghav—who knew nothing of the significance of the ring to her—her reaction must seem overblown.
She held her tongue and reached for the champagne, draining the glass without tasting any of its deliciousness.
Raghav refilled her glass as he said, “Stones do not hold intrinsic value. Humans attach value to them. Even this rare green diamond—beautiful as it is—is nothing more than an old chunk of carbon.”
An old chunk of carbon?!
Her one material connection to her parents described as an old chunk of carbon. It was unbearable.
“For a jeweller, you speak very prosaically,” she snapped, unable to keep disgust from entering her voice.
“For a whore, you speak very sentimentally,” he retorted.
His words were spoken so casually—without bile—that it took a moment for Pallavi to absorb its full insult. When she did, she almost started out of her seat.
“How dare you!” she exclaimed.
And then disaster struck.
Her barstool wobbled. She grasped the bar to prevent herself from falling—but instead her frantic arms swept the ice bucket which held the champagne. It toppled and she caught the full contents over her hair, her face, and her bosom. She was drenched in watery ice.
The bucket clanged loudly to the floor. The champagne bottle followed rolling awkwardly until it stopped at the wall.
But clearly the gods had decided that her mortification was not yet complete—because now her barstool lost balance and she was unceremoniously deposited on the floor.
There was a split-second of complete stillness—and then Raghav acted.
He helped her to her feet.
Faces emerged from the private gaming rooms.
Raghav assured them that all was fine and they should return to their former activity. Some did but many found this scene too interesting and remained. Now they were the voyeurs.
The bartender came rushing with bar towels. Pallavi mopped at her face but it was ineffectual. Her hair was so thoroughly soaked it continued to drip over her face.
Raghav removed his jacket, extended it to her, and said gruffly, “Put this on.”
Her resentment at his earlier words coupled by her acute embarrassment made her refuse the article. “I’m f-fine,” she shivered.
He moved behind her and forced her arms into the jacket sleeves.
It was then that she realized how completely compromised she was. The combined effect of the icy onslaught and the nature of her flimsy dress left every aspect of her breasts outlined. In her otherwise frozen face, her cheeks burned at the knowledge of what he must have seen. She drew his jacket close over her chest.
Handing her clutch to her, he gripped her wrist and led her away from the crowd.
Edited by JalebiJane - 3 years agoI believe it's against FORUM rules to promote external websites.
Please DM me and I'll be happy to share.
Welcome back Jalebi Jane. It was awesome to read your story again. I am loving the setting and characters. Please continue soon.
Thank you, Sister. Nice to see you again.
Wow dhamaka .. waiting to see how she finds out about mandhar and if she gets her ring back
I am absolutely intrigued 👌 This is a different flavour in RaghVi and I am loving the episodes! Your writing is reminding me of the narration of Jane The Virgin 😆 The whole vibe of the casino and mystery elements are well written. Can’t wait to read more ❤️
PS - You can mention your Wattpad ID, instead of posting the link (the latter is against IF COC). Would love to explore more of your writing
It is getting more interesting...
While offering that jacket Raghav would be like “ I have seen everything and don’t want everyone else to...”😆
Your narration style is really captivating... specially the way you let the reader know what the character intented to do in light of what she ended up doing...
Great work👏
I am absolutely intrigued 👌 This is a different flavour in RaghVi and I am loving the episodes! Your writing is reminding me of the narration of Jane The Virgin 😆 The whole vibe of the casino and mystery elements are well written. Can’t wait to read more ❤️
PS - You can mention your Wattpad ID, instead of posting the link (the latter is against IF COC). Would love to explore more of your writing
Thank you, Sister.
I remember bingeing on S1 of -JtheV- a few years ago. I enjoyed it so I appreciate the compliment :-)
(Am not on Wattpad.)
