Florence, January 2024.
"10!9!8!7!6!5!4!3!2!1! Happy New Year!" The crowd chanted as everyone shared a kiss, but not everyone, because while everyone was busy cheering, a beautiful woman, on the other hand, was busy clicking pictures of Florence as its sky was lit with brilliant fireworks.
She may have taken twenty different shots when a video call disturbed that moment. Putting her camera down, she picked it up and saw the beaming faces of her parents. "Happy New Years, Kathani!"
Kathani Iyer laughed as she saw her Amma sending her flying kisses while her Appa was making funny faces while wearing a party hat. "Happy New Year, Amma, and Happy New Year, Appa!"
"Wish you were here, Beta; even Vikram has joined us to celebrate the new year." Her Appa moved the camera and showed her friend, who was drinking and dancing with her other friend, Tripti. "I am glad you all are having so much fun. I really miss you both."
"Then come home, beta." Her Amma suggests, as she took the phone from her Appa and moved to the other side. "Do you know Mahesh Shetty has returned from America? He works for a big Hollywood company, and I am sure if you meet him..."
At that point, Kathani groans because it seems once again that her Amma has found an eligible boy ready to introduce her. "Not this again, Amma! You know I want a love marriage like you and Appa have."
"And how will you find a respectable South Indian man to fall in love with if you always travel around the world? You will be 26 this year, when will I have my grandchildren? Kathani tell me have you found some Italian guy and that's why you are refusing me? ! Ayeo! Milan! Come here and talk some sense to your daughter!"
Her Appa's jovial face suddenly appeared, and he looked sheepishly at his wife and apologetically at his daughter. "Kavari, my love, please let her come home first, and then we will talk with her together about this marriage business."
"Appa!" Kathani complained but stopped when he winked at her behind Amma's shoulder. "Alright, fine, but this year Kathani will find her husband, and that is final."
"I love you, Amma, and we will discuss this when I return home in a few days." Kathani then said goodbye and sighed as the video call finally ended. She then called her assistant Sophia, as she instructed. "Find me my next assignment as soon as possible; otherwise, my Amma will definitely hitch me up with her friend's son."
Sophia laughed as she assured her. "Go home, Kathani; I am sure with your popularity as award winning historical photographer, a new assignment will soon come up."
So with that, Kathani left Florence Beauty as she returned to her hotel to pack for her journey back home.
A few days later, Mumbai.
Kathani arrived at her house, and as usual, she was greeted by her Amma's beautiful voice as she did Pooja (prayer) in their homemade temple.
Kathani took off her shoes and snuck inside as she walked quietly towards her Amma and Appa. She was just about to surprise them when her mother suddenly stopped singing and prayed loudly. "Hey Bhagwan! Give my daughter some wisdom to listen to her old Amma and find herself a husband, or better yet, let me find her a good-looking South Indian man who treats her with respect and love."
"Hey Bhagwan! Please give my Amma wisdom to stop fixing my marriage." Kathani says it loud enough, making her Amma laugh as her Appa sighs. "Hey Bhagwan, please give me strength and strength to that man who became this house son-in-law."
"Milan! Appa!" His wife and daughter scolded him as all three of them concluded their prayers before turning to embrace each other. "Come, let me give you something to eat; you look so peckish, beta!" Kathani and Milan rolled their eyes as Kavari complained about how thin her daughter was getting. "I swear this girl did not take care of herself at all. Once she gets married, she will have someone to take care of her."
As Kavari Iyer walked towards the kitchen, Kathani walked with her Appa as she inquired in a low voice. "So, Appa, how many guys did she find this time?" Milan looked towards the kitchen before he replied in a low voice. "Six most respectable South Indian men are ready to be served. I am warning you, beta, your Amma will see you get married this year by hook or by crook." At that, Kathani smirked as she challenged her Appa. "We will see."
Apparently Kathani underestimated her Amma's determination and her Appa's warning because, in the upcoming six days, she was introduced to six different men, plus two more are arriving any day to meet her. "Gautam is my friend Ritu's nephew, and he is a banker in Kolkata and can arrive any day. Now Dev, on the other hand, will be arriving in three days, and you will be delighted to know he is a nature photographer from Madras."
"I bet they will be great like all the other six men I have met so far and dozens before them." Kathani says uninterestedly, making her Appa chuckle as her Amma glares at both of them. "Stop joking, beta; this is serious." Kathani sighs as she tries to make her Amma understand. "Amma I know you are worried for me, but why cannot you understand that I will only marry a man with whom I fall in love? The man who is destined for me, who is my soulmate, just like you and Appa are soulmates of each other,
Kavari's eyes softened as she gently cupped her daughter's face. "Every mother wishes the same thing, and I pray day and night that you find your soulmate like I found mine in your Appa." Kathani smiled and embraced her mother, who then spoke in a hopeful voice. "Maybe one of these guys is your soulmate." Kathani leapt up and threw her hand in surrender. "Amma, I am not meeting anymore guys."
"But beta!" Kavari's words were drowned out by the ringing of Kathani's phone. She quickly picked it up and heard Sophia's voice. "Congratulations, Kathani, you have been chosen to do special coverage in old London called Mayfair."
"Really! Did the Museum of Britain offer this job?" Kathani ask. "No, Kathani, this job is offered by a private sponsor. Duke of Hastings is the one who wants you for this job." Kathani then gathered a few other details before hanging up as she announced to her parents. "Appa ! Amma, I have another job! Some Duke of Hastings wants me to do coverage for old London Mayfair."
Her Amma looked dissatisfied, but her Appa looked fascinated. "I heard little about that place; that is where all elites used to live in Regency times."
"Wait a minute! What about your marriage, and beside, you just came home, and now you are leaving again?" Her Amma face fell in sadness, and Kathani quickly embraced her mother as she had promised. "How about we make a deal? If I do not find the love of my life on this trip, then I will let you find me a perfect South Indian boy."
Kavari sighs as she embraces her daughter back. "I just want you to find all the happiness in the world, and if love is what you want, then I will pray you will find it; there is no need to make deals so you can leave."
Kathani screamed in delight and kissed Amma's cheek. "I love you!" Her Amma kissed her forehead as she smiled. "I love you too." "And I love you all three." Her Appa joined in as he embraced his beautiful wife and daughter and prayed that his daughter would find what she was searching for.
Three days later, London.
In a huge, lavish mansion, a man's eyes suddenly opened as visions of his beloved swam around in his eyes. A furry little corgi barks as he realises his master has sat up.
"She is here, Newton; our Kathani has once again returned to us." The dog yipped happily and bounced on his master lap, who embraced his friend as he concentrated on images. "I know where to find her.
At that moment, Kathani Iyer had just arrived at the hotel and checked in her suit. "Wow, Sophia, it seems this Duke is quite generous." Her assistant whistled as they checked out of their suite. "I must agree because, in all our previous jobs, we were never offered such lavish accommodation."
As they settled in, Kathani inquired about her meeting. "When are we meeting His Grace?" Sophia returned to her already dressed in pyjamas as she checked her phone. "We are scheduled in the morning. I guess we will get other details then."
Kathani frowned as she stared out the balcony. "How far is this Mayfair from our hotel?" Sophia was already walking towards her room as she yawned. "Couple of miles, but let's worry about it tomorrow; right now I am heading to that comfortable bed." Kathani laughed and waved her friend goodnight as she stared at the starry night.
"Come to me, my love."Kathani gasped and looked around, but she saw no one in the room. Feeling it was her imagination, she decided to head towards the hotel bar for a drink to help her sleep.
Changing into a dress, she took the elevator and, a few minutes later, arrived at the hotel bar. The bar was not that crowded, but she could see people drinking while a few dancing on the dance floor. Approaching the bartender, she was about to order her drink when suddenly the bartender placed a glass of whisky in front of her. Kathani gaped at the drink before looking at the bartender. "How did you know I was going to order whisky?"
"I did not; the drink is from that gentleman who ordered it for you the second you stepped inside this bar." Kathani turned towards where the bartender was pointing, and the man she saw literally took her breath away. A shiver ran down her spine as her heart beat wildly against her chest. Kathani was completely gone as she stared at this man's hypnotic, intense eyes. He was the most handsome man she ever saw, but when he smiled at her, she realised what a charming smile that was.
Before she knew it, she was walking towards that gentleman as if she were in some trance, but Kathani knew she had to speak with him. "Hi." She managed to say, but the man only smiled before lifting her hand and kissing on top of it. "Good evening, my lady. I hope you enjoy this drink."
Hand kiss, my lady? Kathani felt herself swooned by this guy's charms and manners, but she tried to appear strong. "How did you guess I am into hard drinks? Any other man would buy me soft cocktails or something fruity."
The guy smiles confidently as he leans closer. "Two things: first, you look like a beautiful, strong, independent woman, and I would never dare offer soft drinks to someone like you, and second, the most important thing when it comes to a beautiful lady like yourself, my guesses are always right."
"Confident much, huh! Can you guess what I want next?" Kathani challenged with a flip of her hair, and then, to her surprise, he held out his hand as he asked. "Can I have this dance with you, Miss?" She grasped this stranger's hand and somehow trusted him enough to tell her name. "I am Kathani, Kathani Iyer."
The man kissed her hand again as he bowed a little. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Iyer. I am Anthony, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton."
He then led her towards the dance floor, where some pop songs were playing, and Kathani danced wildly with others, but then she noticed her partner was not moving but staring at her with some strange fascination. "Don't you like this music?" He scrunched his face adorably as he replied. "To loud for my taste, beside, how am I supposed to hold you if you are jumping like that?"
Kathani laughed because this man may look sexy as hell, but he is adorable too. "So then tell me, how do you want to dance?" In the next second, three other things happened at the same time. The lights suddenly dimmed, the fast song changed into old romantic music, and while the crowd complained, she was already in Anthony's arms as they began to slow dance around the floor.
Kathani was so lost that she did not notice how everyone gave them space to dance alone, and finally, when it was finished, everyone was applauding for them.
Kathani smiled at her audience, but Anthony was staring at her intensely as he kissed her hand. "Thank you for the dance, my lady. I hope we meet again." He was about to leave when, in a moment of bravery or madness, Kathani pulled him back and kissed him passionately in front of everyone.
He too kissed her back with equal passion and seemed to inhale her scent as he squeezed her closer with strength that made her gasp. "Anthony." She moans against his lips, but he shakes his head and smiles dazedly at her.
"Not now, my lady, but soon I will give you everything you desire." With that, he kissed her sweetly before making a swift exit, and only once he was gone did Kathani curse herself because they had not exchanged each other's numbers.
As she was walking towards her room, the same bartender stopped her, now presenting her with her favourite vine, as a card was attached to it that aid. "Until we meet again. AB"
Kathani smiled in surprise as she made her way towards her room, feeling confident that the trip was going to change her life forever.