Arranged by the Stars Read Free

not some magical weapon in his hands. “I wear them
for the same reason you wear your ridiculous suit in tropical Goa.”
When his gaze went from his suit to her in confusion she shook her
head. “Because I can. My name is Ash, no one calls me
Ashwariya.”
    He let go of her arm and
watched her. “You could have returned the ring to me later or given
it in to the hotel.”
    Even billionaires were
made with the stupid gene. “How was I to know you weren’t about to
propose to the woman of your dreams, and find that you’d lost the
ring? You’d be there on bended knee, putting you hand in your
pocket and then realise it’s empty.”
    His lips
lifted at the corners and she couldn’t help but admire the effect.
He was one of those charismatic people. At least that’s what her
aunt used to call them. People you would see in the street and just
watch them and say, ‘ Stand there and let
me watch you forever.’
    “ You’re a
romantic,” he said.
    Wrong again. “I don’t
believe in love and happily after, but that doesn’t mean you can’t
have yours.” She handed him the box.
    She saw the vein in his
neck go taut and wondered about the woman this ring was meant
for.
    Without another word he
took the box from her and flipped it open. “It’s there. Nice size
stone, although I prefer sapphires to diamonds.” She craned her
neck to admire the large set diamond nestled in the box. “You know
you could feed a small country with that somewhere in the world.”
She laughed thinking about the times she had to talk about world
peace and saving the world when she didn’t know what it really
meant to do so.
    “ With those
eyes I would have thought you’d prefer emeralds.” He cocked his
head and she couldn’t be sure he was flirting.
    Ash felt a flutter in her
chest. “That’s probably one of the cheesiest pick up lines I’ve
heard.”
    His cheeks flushed. “I
didn’t mean it like that. Your eyes reminded me of
emeralds―”
    She laughed at how
uncomfortable he was. “You are quite the charmer. I still prefer
sapphires. Ever since Prince Charles gave Lady Diana those
sapphires, I don’t know why but I prefer them.”
    He was quiet and looked
down at the ring in the box. “And you say you’re not
romantic.”
    “ Kieran? Are
you getting married?” his mother had followed them.
    They turned together to
face her and ended up bumping heads in a not so attractive
way.
    “ Ouch.”
Holding her head like she’d been hit by a rock she elbowed
Kieran.
    “ Ma, what are
you doing here?” Kieran tucked Ash neatly behind him as he faced
his mother.
    Mrs Kanna reminded her of
her sixth grade teacher. She was as sharp as a tack and could tell
before you opened your mouth if you were about to lie. Back in
school there were bets her teacher might have been psychic, she was
that good.
    Kieran pulled at that tie
and Ash grunted. Men were so foolish sometimes. She reached across
and removed his tie, as his mother’s gaze widened.
    She swallowed and Ash
knew she’d crossed a boundary. Again.
    “ Your father
would want to know what’s going on when he wakes. So I came to see
what’s happening.” She turned to Ash, “Kieran, when were you going
to tell us? Is she the reason you came to Goa this time instead of
sending someone like you usually do? Is this the real reason you
are willing to stay for a while and work in the clinic?” She turned
to Kieran. “Will she work there with you?”
    This was getting
interesting. Dr Kanna who was normally cool and so in control was
flustered and as red as a tomato.
    Ash looked from mother to
son and put her hands up. “I think it’s time I left. Dr Kanna, see
you later.” If she had known returning the ring would come with
this much drama, she would have placed it in the lost and found
box, and forgotten about the promise of reward money.
    Mrs Kanna cast another
look that had her feeling like one of the girls who worked in the
topless bar in the shady part of town. “Later?