Gauri's poor brain went into overdrive trying to control the heart which had now started galloping and was threatening to jump out of her mouth anytime now.
"Now that you reminded me, I was wondering if you could do me a favour," Vindhya asked tentatively.
Hoping for a change in topic, her friend could only nod her head, mutely.
"Actually, my parents have asked me to invite a few family friends who are also studying at the Gurukul. Since I don't know them personally, it would be awkward for me to handover the invite to them. Can you help me deliver the same?" Vindhya asked in a gentle, helpless voice.
"Oh, such a small thing and you make it sound like a huge deal. Of course, I will go and deliver it. You just leave it to me," Gauri replied warmly.
They left the bathroom and went towards the foodhall. The truth was that Vindhya had expected Yashvardhan to come looking for her immediately after the first meeting. But she hadn't heard even a peep from his end and that irked her to no end. This was the first time that she had taken the initiative of walking up to someone instead of vice versa.
His indifference should have put her off. Instead, it made her think of him and see him as a challenge. This time, she definitely didn't want to go upto him herself, especially to invite him for the party. He may not acknowledge it, but she knew that their parents had already reached an agreement about their alliance.
As far as she was concerned, it didn't matter to her whom was she getting married to. The only thing that the person needed to do was - not to interfere in her life. Her parents' marriage was a perfect example of how an alliance with mutual benefits looked like and she wanted something similar for herself. She honestly thought that true love etc. was a waste of time and energy.
Yashvardhan seemed to be a good choice for a husband for a couple of reasons – he was younger than her and should be easy to control, his mother was a zilla head currently which would help her cause in becoming the queen, lastly, to be honest, he was easy on the eyes!
For a brief moment, her mind speculated about the girl who had been with him that day but she scoffed it off the next second.
"She was too plain to even stand next to my shadow. He cannot possibly be interested in her after meeting me," she thought privately.
Looking at her serene face, no one could have fathomed the thoughts going on in her head.
Next Morning
"I can't keep procrastinating over it. I have to go tell him," Mriga had been miserable about having to cancel her date with Yash since the previous day.
With laden steps, she walked towards the Finance department where Yash usually went after morning classes for his internship.
"Uh, please convey my thanks to the family for the invite. Can you let them know that I will be there on time but will have to leave early since I have a prior commitment on that day," Yash had just been given the beautifully engraved invitation by Gauri and was responding to her.
By the time Mriga walked upto him, she was already turning away after bidding him farewell.
Waiting for the girl to be out of earshot, Mriga commented in a low voice, "you seem to be extremely popular amongst the girls these days. Every time I see you, there is a new one hanging by the sleeve of your kurta."
Grinning at her caustic words, he replied, "I guess you were being sarcastic just now. There is no reason for you to feel this angst. As for the girls, it is a long story which I will tell you about this weekend when you are not running away for an errand or coming back from one. For now, I need to apologize to you. We will have to delay our going out on that day by an hour or so. I have just been invited to attend the birthday of the daughter of my parents' friends. Since I am representing my family, I couldn't have said no. But don't worry, I will simply go show my face and step out. Actually, why don't you come along. I won't take too long in offering my greetings to the family. Then I won't waste any time in coming and going from the Gurukul."
Jealousy forgotten, Mriga felt even worse now for what she had come to say. Yash had given their date a priority over a family function and she was going to cancel it without even being able to give him an honest reason for the same.
"Is this how it's going to be every time on the path to becoming a spy?" was the thought beating a tattoo inside her head as she tried to think of a way to let him down, gently.
"Uh, Yash… I actually came here to tell you that due to the big trade fair which is being organized this weekend, I have been asked to report to work on that day. I think they are understaffed and have called for all hands on the deck,' she spoke in a rush.
"Wait, what? Are you talking about the evening that we are scheduled to go out on?" he asked her again in case he had misunderstood.
At her mute nod, he got incensed and spoke without thinking, "how much? How much are they paying you for that day? Is it worth cancelling our plan for?"
Mriga had been looking down all this while in embarrassment.
But now she raised her eyes and said in a miserable tone, "it's not about the money. They need me to be present and as an employee, I need to report to work when asked."