chapter 1

Chapter 1 Planning a getaway“Kashyap’s! You mean the Grand Kashyap? After the two-day getaway, Siddhartha is treating us at that gorgeous place? I have heard it’s magical, no doubt heavy on your wallet, but who cares? I am dreaming!” Ishiqa squealed with joy. Smriti smiled and suddenly jumped, as a piece of chalk knocked her on the head and fell with a sharp click. She looked up to see their sleazy lecturer smiling. With heavy spectacles perched on his nose, he looked like a toad. “Both of you can please leave the class. As it is, you are not interested.” “Sorry sir!” both of them piped up at the same time. “No more discussions. Out please.” Ishiqa had enrolled herself in this class, ‘Acting for beginners/refine your acting skills’, recently, much against her dear brother’s wishes. But after finishing college, she felt herself drifting and thought she would indulge in a long-cherished hobby till she decided what to do next.Her parents had died in a horrible accident not long ago, and she was left in the care of her brother, Akash and sister-in-law, Namita.  They were both very good to her and pampered her like a baby, but a fiercely independent streak in her would not permit her to live with them. On finishing college, she rented a flat not far from their house and lived by herself. She conducted tuition for children and supplemented her income with her popular ‘belly dance classes’ that she taught in the evenings. She was a beautiful young girl with a vibrant glow in her cheeks, and she embraced life with a passion, living it to the fullest. Soft hearted and easygoing, Ishiqa easily made friends. She had a very special joy in her life, in the form of her niece, Rabia; the only one who could melt her worries away in a second.Both friends giggled as they left the class and stood facing each other with hands on their hips. “Please leave the class,” and they burst out again into peals of laughter as they imitated their teacher. “So how does the plan go for Kashyaps?” Ishiqa asked excitedly. Smriti told her and then watched Ishiqa as she stood, chewing her lower lip, worried about something. “Hey! What happened to you now? Aren’t you excited?” Ishiqa made a face, “I am excited, but I don’t think I will be able to make it.” Smriti rolled her eyes. “What do you mean?”Ishiqa smiled pleadingly. “I mean, I had replied to an advertisement in the newspaper and I have my interview on Sunday evening. The job promises good money.” Smriti stared at her friend incredulously. “You cannot pull out now, Ishiqa! I am going only because of you and you know that. You better cancel that interview of yours.”  By Saturday, much to the relief of Smriti and her friends, Ishiqa had agreed to go with them.Smriti smiled happily on seeing her friend. “Good you could make it, Ishq.” Ishiqa grinned, “I am really glad too, but guess what? When I called to check if the interview can be rescheduled, they told me it was to be held at the Kashyaps. So I will be able to manage both. Great, no?”