For four months, Karan and Kathani were on the sea heading towards strange land with big hopes in their hearts.
"You will love Oxford darling. My fiancé will be best student they will ever have."
Kathani watched as Genevieve tried to cheer her brother with much-needed encouragement.
"You are bias Gen! I bet if given the chance I could best my brother easily." Kathani teased and he rolls his eyes.
"Can't you be supportive little sister?"
"First of all I am only young by two minute and secondly I am supporting you that's why I am here so far from my beloved homeland and from Mary and Edwina."
"We are doing this for them Kathani?" He reminded her. "These four years will be gone in the blink of an eye and soon all three of us will be heading home to give them a better life. The life our Appa dreamed for us."
"I know! I know but still I can't wait to return home." Her brother and his fiancée smiled and then pulls her in their embrace. "I can't wait for you both to meet my Papa. He is looking forward to meet my fiancée and his lovely twin sister." Genevieve informed him and Karan sweetly kissed her.
Kathani was happy that Genevieve decided to travel with her merchant uncle and Auntie to India two years ago and luckily they got engaged while their Appa was alive to give his blessings.
Suddenly it started raining hard and soon lightning struck the sea.
Kathani start breathing harshly and her brother who knows of her fear instructed Gen. "Gen, take my sister to your room! She is afraid of storms!"
"Where are you going?!" She yells."
"I am going to find out what is going wrong?" With that he embraced them both and left as lightning strikes again and ship lurched heavily on dangerous waters and soon screams were heard all over the ship.
Kathani woke up and then flinched as thunder voice reached her ears. Her eyes fell on her roommates and she sighed in relief to see them sleeping peacefully despite this not so peaceful night.
Her fear of storm has increased ever since she lost her brother to the sea in that stormy night. They didn't find out until next morning that Karan along with twenty men and five women went overboard when ship lurched.
In span of few months Kathani has not only lost her Appa but her brother too and when she arrived in unknown land she had promised herself that she will fulfil her brother's last dream and take care of their family.
So she mustered inner courage and laid down hiding her face inside her covers, willing herself to sleep so she could dream about a sunny day in her home surrounded by her family.
The next few days bring sunny days and while Kathani thought her Deal with Bridgerton will benefit them both she didn't thought that being around him can lead to strange kind of distractions.
For instance it hard to be mad at him when he couldn't understand simple concepts. "For the last time Bridgerton fruits and vegetables ratio is lower than grains and barley!"
"But why? When they both produced and distributed at same amount?"
The question was not the source of her frustration or distraction but the way he looked so adorable while his face scrunched up in a mixture of anger and annoyance.
He clutched his head and she had this urge to reach out and caressed his hair.
'Control yourself Kathani.' She chided herself before clearing her throat to make it sound more manly as she explains. "Bridgerton you need to remember that weight and climate play important role in any harvest. Grains are easy to preserve during production and distribution time, but with fruits and vegetables sometimes they get rotten and sometimes get bugged hence lower ratio."
Another distraction is how his face happily lifts up and his eyes shine when he finally understands the concept.
She watches in adoration how he concentrated hard as he solves the question again and then his anxious eyes as he watched his answer being checked.
"Well done Bridgerton! It seems you have finally mastered this problem."
"Thanks Sharma". Then to her surprise he gave her one arms hugged and it was so hard to control her reaction as she felt his strong arms leaving warmth on her skin.
"Your welcome." She told him as she quickly began with the next question, ignoring the fluttering in her belly while praying that their rowing practice would not arouse these feelings again.
How wrong she was when Anthony suggested that they start working their rowing exercise. "We will row without oars or on boat."
"Pardon?" She asked, feeling she must have misheard him.
"Come join me on grass." He sat down on blanket and opened his legs like they used to do on boat.
She hesitated but then settled in front of him. "Good now first we are going to work on your hand movement." To Kathani's horror she felt his arms on top of hers as he guide her hands in rowing movements.
Suddenly she was all to aware of their closeness and maybe it was okay for any out lookers who will think that two young men are exercising on this fine day but she is a young woman in arms of most handsome young man she laid eyes on and no one can understand how hard she is trying to remain in control and not let her body fall into his strong arms and inhale his musky scent.
"Karan why did you stop moving your arms?"
Anthony's voice behind her knocked some awareness in her head as she tries hard to focus on their practice. "Sorry, I got tired."
For the next hour, Anthony shows her several arms exercises to improve her synchronization technique.
"Great job Sharma, I think a few more days of ground practices will make you better enough to practice on boat."
Kathani gave him a weak smile and then took out her pocket watch. "Blimey! I am late!"
"Late for what?" Anthony inquires in confusion.
"Um, late for my job at Lumber Yard." She replied.
As she guessed Anthony's eyes widen. "So there you are off to for past few days after classes ends? We thought you were sulking in the library."
"No, a few days ago me and a few other guys who are sole breadwinners for their family were allowed to take part-time job for a few hours. I luckily found job in a lumber yard near these woods between university and village and this way I can visit my fiancé and sister every day."
Anthony felt a little jealous because Karan can see his family everyday while he could not. "Its nice you can see them. Give them my well wishes when you see them today."
With that Anthony took out his watch and checked the time. "Well I should go, I have an appointment with the fencing instructor."
"Good luck Bridgerton."
"You too Sharma."
With that they both went their separate ways.
Anthony quickly reached the Fencing instructor's office and found Fife there already. "Ah Bridgerton! Come inside. Now as the Autumn tournament is approaching I have decided that you and Fife will represent the first years of the fencing club."
"Thank you sir!" Both men say it together.
"Now you both better head towards Village and order your fencing suite to tailor shop there."
They both were dismissed and Fife looked excited. "Come Bridgerton we quickly gave our orders and measurements and then we could sneak in to the brothel earlier. I have heard they are quite empty in afternoon hours and we can pick the prettiest one."
Anthony refrain himself from remaking that Fife can go by himself because he is not interested but didn't say it out loud because no one not even Simon knows that he haven't been with woman yet!
Hell he didn't have his first kiss yet! So he decided to remain quiet and endure Fife company for this short trip.
When Kathani reached Genevieve house still dressed as her brother she knocked on the door.
A middle-aged man stepped out and beamed at him. "Karan! So glad to see you!" He hugged her and then called over his shoulder. "Genevieve come down your fiancé is here."
A Few minutes later a beautiful woman with curly black hair descended from the stairs. "Karan!" Like always, Genevieve acted better than her as she reached happily towards him and she kissed Genevieve's hand.
"Genevieve where is Kathani?" like always her father inquires and Genevieve answers without hesitation. "Oh! She had already left for the shop. in fact Karan will escort me there before he leaves for work."
She quickly kissed her father and showed him his breakfast. "Enjoy your breakfast papa and once you are done lock the home and then come to shop."
With quick goodbyes they both left and only sighed in relief when they were really far from her home.
For a while they both walked in quiet silence and then Kathani asked. "How long do you plan to keep the truth from your father Gen?"
"As long as Karan don't come back."
"Gen!" She tried to reason with her.
"No! I will believe he is dead when I see his body. I can't explain but I know in my bones that my Karan is still alive and I will wait for him as long as I can but if Papa find out truth about Karan being lost in sea then he will force me to marry and I will die but won't marry anyone else."
Kathani feels sorry for her friend who was going to be her sister in law and as much she wants to hope that her brother is alive she can't depend on that hope.
Soon they reached the shop and Kathani quickly took a bath and changed from Karan persona and dressed as Kathani in a simple purple dress with her hair down because she refused to pin them up after hiding them in wig for most part of the day.
Once she was out Genevieve smiled at her as she embraced her. "I am so glad to see you as you. Come let me show you today's work."
Half an hour later the door opened and two young men stepped inside.
Anthony noticed it was not just a tailor shop there are other accessories here too for both men and women and great collections of wigs got interest of Fife. "Look Bridgerton how do I look." He asked while wearing a blond wig.
"Ravishing Fife now put it back."
Fife puts it back and noticed a middle-aged man entering the shop. "Ah gentlemen how can I help you?" He asked in a jolly voice.
"We need to order fencing suites..." Anthony begins to explain but Fife rudely disturbed him. "Just quickly take our measurement! We are very busy men!"
The old man's eyes narrow as he led Fife away to the dressing room but not before calling over his shoulder. "Gen! Kathani! Come downstairs and show this young fellow a few materials.
As they were disappeared behind curtains Anthony heard footsteps behind him and then an intoxicating sweet flowery scent of lilies invaded his mind.
He turned around and saw a most beautiful girl of his life ,dressed in simple purple dress. descending from wooden steps. Her skin was glowing, her long curly hair was falling behind her in bouncy ringlets and then.
She looked up and their eyes met and he was sure that she would gasp and stumble and before he knew it he ran towards her just in time she was falling and she fell straight into his arms.
For a while they simply stared at each other no one moving as if afraid they would lose this moment until.
"Kathani?! What is going on?"
They both jumped apart and Anthony saw another girl coming downstairs carrying fabrics in her arms while she stared at them inquisitively.
"I, I slipped and this kind gentleman helped me."
"Oh really?" She drawled mischievously.
While the girl blushed beside him something registered his mind. "Wait minutes!? Did you say Kathani? Are you Kathani Sharma? Karan Sharma's twin sister?"
While girl in question gasped in shock the other one inquires in sharp voice. "How do you know her? Who are you?"
"I guess you must be Sharma's fiancé? Apologies Ms, let me introduce myself. I am Viscount Anthony Bridgerton. I am Sharma's roommate, classmates and teammate at Oxford and he was the one who told me about you both ."
He watched as both girls curtsied him. "Nice to meet you My Lord and yes I am Kathani and she is Genevieve, my brother's fiancé."
"Pleasure to meet you both." Before he could stop himself he reached out and kissed her hand and the way her eyes lit up, made his heart beat start beating wildly.
Genevieve noticed this change with great interest and suddenly her father came out with another man. "Papa! I bring your fabrics."
She quickly walked down and pulled Kathani away from this man.
"Good, Mr Fife, you can select these fabrics with me while the girls can take Measurements of your friend."
Fife whose eyes suddenly land on these beautiful women start complaining. "Why didn't they took my measurements?"
"Because you were in hurry!"
Genevieve laughs as her papa snapped at this snob. "Come Kathani! Let's take measurement of Lord Bridgerton."
Anthony quickly followed the girls inside while smirking at Fife, who left with a disgruntled look.
"Kathani you take measurements and I will write them."
"What me!? The girl yelps.
"Is there a problem?" He asked in a concerned voice.
"No my lord." She glared at another girl and then started taking his measurements with shaking hands.
Anthony, on his part, was lost in the presence of this beautiful woman.
As she measured his neck, their faces came so close and he had this urge to lean down and touch her lips with his. Her scent was slowly making him loose his mind and to his discomfort his trousers were getting tight with each measurement and brush of her fingers.
Finally after the most wonderful torture of his life he was allowed to leave. "Come My Lord please choose your fabric and your suits will be ready for fitting by next week."
Anthony tried to focus on different fabrics but he was unable to concentrate because she was standing behind him.
"I leave the fabric choice to you." He told the Tailor who smiled and told the girls to put these fabrics away.
"Come Bridgerton let's go." They all watched as Fife left and Anthony turned to face them. "Good day to you sir and to you Ms." He stared one last time at Kathani and they smiled at each other as he left.
Anthony was still smiling when Fife asked. "So shall we go to Brothel?"
"You go ahead Fife, I am quite happy to return alone."
It was true for some reason meeting Kathani Sharma made him quite happy as he kept smiling for the rest of the day.