The iconic Taj Palace, New Delhi, spread out over six acres of lush gardens in the heart of India's capital, held a distinguished position among the finest, making it the appropriate location for such a high-class event - 'The presentation of a Green Building project at Gorakhpur by Rachna'. The Durbar Hall was the place where top representatives of India's big five energy-producing companies assembled in its exquisite event centre. They all sat at the high table before the grand stage, waiting for the presentations of Mr. Solanki and Mr. Rahul. Behind the high table were smaller round tables scattered all over the hall, its occupants being those with high status and authority, all waiting to hear the new plans and ideas to better the green building. Payal Solanki sat at the very front beside the elevated table in a velvet purple dress by Prada. Its long excess swarmed around her feet like waves, its thigh-high slit exposing her lush and creamy legs, which hoisted on top of the other

‘Honestly, Dave,’ Rachna said for the second time, this time with a hint of breathless exasperation, ‘I told you, I can’t help your cousin with his music career.’ Dave grinned in a way meant to be ingratiating and pursued his case. ‘I heard boss man dabbles a bit into music.’ ‘Why don’t you speak to him then?’ Rachna demanded. Dave cringed a bit, his left eye twitching. He suddenly looked small, and she couldn’t help but sigh and relent. ‘I do not promise anything, Dave. But I’ll see what I can do.’ Dave bloomed again. ‘You are a life-saver, Ms.’ Finally, Rachna left his station at the office building lobby after being detained there for nearly ten minutes. She could feel the latte in her hand growing steadily warm and would hate it to be tepid before she got up to her office. Sighing, she stepped into the elevator, and Dave gave her a little wave before the elevator’s doors slid shut. With a hum, she was borne up the fl

It had been a long night and an even longer morning, and even though it was a Thursday, all Rachna wanted to do was put her sweats on and watch TV. Take a break from everything that was going on. Yet, she found herself with a forgotten latte in hand and a pad on her lap, flicking through plans with a slight furrowing of her brows. Her eyes felt heavy, and she was always a split second away from a wide yawn that four cups of coffee through the night couldn’t fix. Rachna knew she could have slept, but she was nothing if not obstinate to a fault. She wanted to go over the brainstorming meeting they had over again to the last details, iron out the wrinkles and see if she could develop any new ideas. Her architect friend had told her she was overdoing it but didn’t complain. She’d rung him up at midnight to answer a barrage of questions. Ultimately, he’d laughed and said some of her suggestions were fanciful. Despite ironing out some, others eluded her, and she would have persisted in bar

The red seemed a bit tacky in the light overhead. Rachna wrinkled her nose at her reflection and fished a wipe from the pack. The lipstick smears on the wet wipe were like slashes of blood. She grimaced, placed it on the counter, and inspected her lips in the mirror. It was a bit chapped. She tilted her chin up and slowly turned her head from side to side. Was it the mirror, or was she looking a bit underfed? The days she had gone by in a flurry of events and meetings with investors and technicians. Rachna was always at Rahul’s side or working out kinks in the plans when she ought to be asleep. As genius as Rahul was, he was also a perfectionist. He envisioned things in the grandest scale and scope and pursued them to the minor details. Nothing seldom escaped his eyes but the little that did. Rachna liked to be the one to pick up on them. She was invested in the idea as he was, even more so after she gave that pitch at the seminar. It was more her idea than his, more her project than

Preparations for the wedding had commenced in right earnest, and both families of Rachna and Kabir became busy. They had all agreed to the Gorakhpur location. Solanki had planned the stage set up, tables, chairs, general decorations, music, and entertainment. His family would have a wedding, which could be nothing less than grand. Rahul resumed his official duties while he let Rachna, Payal, and Urmi deliberate on managing the gala event and catering arrangements. They brought Suman into the loop. They needed the best invitation cards with the best style and colours to send to their relatives, friends, other family members, and business associates in India and abroad. Rachna led Manan along through the crowded square at Ramphal Chowk. She was in haste, and he was struggling to keep up. She was to get the invitation cards settled and proceed to meet with Rahul, and she fidgeted at the thought. Her whole body ached to see him, and all she wanted to do was finish the shopping quickly so