by Isha Inamdar
She stood up on her toes and bowed like a ballet dancer. Turning around, she focused on the task at hand and began throwing the stones hopefully in the correct direction and at the correct angles. The sound of each falling stone reverberated across the lake. Along with the sounds of the wind and water, this rhythmic plonking sound felt oddly soothing.
‘I am so glad you found her, Bhaiyya,’ Harsh said, out of the blue.
What was it about an expanse of water or coming back to a place with memories that made people sentimental, Rudra wondered. However, he couldn’t deny the happiness his heart had filled with the moment Harsh had spoken. Anjana truly completed him in every possible way.
‘Though I don’t fully approve of Sam, I am glad you have someone too,’ he said with a grin.
‘Thanks, Bhaiyya,’ Harsh replied sarcastically.
They sat in silence, enjoying the tranquillity of the water, each lost in his own pleasant thoughts. Seeing that Anjana was collecting stones once again, Rudra said, ‘Let’s go, Maa’s expecting us for lunch, not dinner!’
NJ had already collected four stones and gesturing to them, she said, ‘All right. Just these four!’ and turned around to throw them.
Rudra looked at her, smiling fondly. She was full of energy and enthusiasm. He pictured himself hugging her from behind and standing there till it was the end of the day. But a display of emotions or love still wasn’t his thing.
It was NJ’s last stone and she threw it in frustration. This game wasn’t as easy and effortless as both the brothers made it sound. But to her amazement, her last stone skipped! Six whole skips before it went down majestically!
A sudden laugh of triumph made her turn. She knew her husband’s laughter, but she still wanted to be sure. He wasn’t someone to laugh out loud or had he become that person now? He was looking at her proudly. What was it about men and these stupid games?
Harsh patted Rudra’s back in a friendly way and said, ‘We finally have our third gang member!’ In their childhood plans of creating a gang, the initiation ritual had always been the ability to skip stones!
Though NJ knew Harsh had murmured with the intention of not letting her hear, she didn’t care. She had just managed to skip her first stone and she had loved the way Rudra looked at her with proud eyes. Adrenaline was gushing through her when she experienced something else for the first time.
‘The baby kicked!’ she said and Rudra and Harsh came to a standstill mid-action.
Harsh rushed to her and touched her tummy waiting for the baby to kick once more. ‘Make him kick again,’ he pleaded.
Instead of just walking up to her, Rudra walked around them and hugged her from behind – just as he had pictured it minutes ago in his head. It was difficult, but it was worth it, he reflected, as he felt peace takeover his being.
NJ was surprised at Rudra’s gesture. She knew he was struggling to open up, and supported him silently. He had rested his head on her shoulder with closed eyes. He seemed content, at peace. She turned her attention to her best friend who was still squatting in front of her with his hands on her stomach, waiting to feel the baby kick. He looked so happy.
She decided she wouldn’t spoil their happiness by telling them about Kaavya. She would help Kaavya manage things. She was there for Kaavya, and they didn’t need to know shit.
Acknowledgements
True Liars would not have been possible had it not been for the people who stood by me. I’ll take this opportunity to express my gratitude…
A big thank you to Divya Sherigar! For everything! For supporting me and for believing in me, more than I ever did. Thank you for sharing my vision and burning the midnight oil and living the story with me. Moreover, thank you for existing in my life, and for being you.
Pratapsingh Nathani aka Mr Singh! Thank you for allowing me (at times!) to prioritize my writing over my work. It’s remarkable how you have been more of a friend and less of a boss. And thank you for the privilege of your generosity and support.
Ravi Subramanian. It is time for the whole world to know what I have said to you time and again – it was the luckiest day of my life when I walked in to your cabin with Mr Singh to meet the CEO and met an author instead. Thank you for mentoring me, spending your precious time reading my work and for the 8.5 score!
Mom, thank you for teaching me to spread my wings and fly.
And Dad, thank you for forcing me to read my first book.
About the Book
Aspiring deejay NJ - Anjana - lives in Mumbai with her best friend Harsh and his boyfriend Sam. When Harsh has to go to Phalodi, his hometown in Rajasthan, for his sister's wedding, he convinces NJ to tag along, posing as his girlfriend to avoid being set up with any potential brides. At the wedding, though, she meets Rudra, Harsh's elder brother, and the two are powerfully attracted to each other. One thing leads to another and they kiss, only to break away bitterly. But NJ will not let Harsh's secret out.Wedding, vows, secrets, lies - of course, things get complicated. When Rudra visits Mumbai soon after, he finds that NJ is missing and no one knows where she is. Where could she have gone? Why are there rumours that she is dead? Will Rudra move on from the guilt and sadness that envelop him, or will he uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance?A big fat desi romance for those who stir a little darkness into their love potions.
About the Author
ISHA INAMDAR is a financial services professional and has previously worked in art direction in the film and advertising industry where her involvement with the sets made sure that she was always in her own world, constantly imagining stories and situations. Despite her day job, she pursues her passion as an art director in her free time. Isha fell in love with books at an early age and for her, nirvana means seeing her name on the book cover. True Liars is her first full-length novel.
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First published in India in 2017 by Harlequin
An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Copyright © Isha Inamdar 2017
P-ISBN: 978-93-5264-418-6
Epub Edition © April 2017 ISBN: 978-93-5264-419-3
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Isha Inamdar asserts the moral right
to be identified as the author of this work.
This is a work of fiction and all characters and incidents described in this book are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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