Wow, so much for a fund raiser.

It almost looked like a ball. Everything was so beautiful and so many royal looking people. Everyone looked like aristocrats.

I looked at my dress. It was a peach satin floor length gown with a bit of cleavage. Nothing too trashy but definitely there. I did not have much time to actually do something with my hair so I just straightened them and let them flow over one shoulder.

I love my long hair. I remember how in college I set out on an experiment spree. The first semester I rocked a short bob cut with burgundy and purple streaks. I had at least ten piercings and two of them, I won't even mention where. I loved that look until I developed a huge crush on a senior in college and I knew this rebel look won't help me get anywhere near him. So I let my hair grow, as they started reaching the nape of my neck, I got rid of the purple and burgundy streaks and got caramel highlights instead.

Looking at my long black wavy hair now, I sighed in relief. Thank god I still don't have purple here. Especially when I have three men to impress.

I am only kidding.

As I searched for any familiar face, I saw Raven walk towards me.

"Hi, you made it." He said giving me a nod of approval.

"Of course." I said smiling."I really expected a formal dinner with a bunch of people asking us to donate. But this.....?" I said taking in a deep breath.

"Now, now, how would that be fun Nea? We are going to raise money."

"How?"

"Bidding."

I suddenly realised what he meant. A few feet behind him was a huge exhibition of brilliant shine, it was almost blinding. Jewellery.

"Oh my god." I said taking a breath. So thats why so many millionaire looking people were around? It was actually because they are millionaires.

"Diamond jewellery and its all vintage." He stated proudly. "1920s to 1970s."

"This is going to raise a hell lot of money."

"I know right? My team treated this old woman at our hospital. She said she wanted to make a change before she dies. All I did was tell her how I had come up with some trial experiments for treating stage IV lung cancer and needed funding for research. After she died, her family told us she donated all her jewellery to our hospital. And an antique jewel expert told us it was all vintage. Hence, the fund raiser." He said with a proud and excited.

"Its all so beautiful."

"So is your ring." He pointed at the pink diamond ring on my engagement finger which Aryan had given to me. So that Mark could see it, now I know. "Thats a pretty big rock that your fiance got you."

I just blushed at that. "So where is he?" He asked.

"I told you he is busy, he is going to be a bit late."

"Well, I hate to leave you alone but I need to meet some people. Why don't you check out the jewellery?"

"Sure, no problem." He gave me one last look and left and I walked towards the exhibition.

Well, I only saw such beauty in movies. I went to a table where laid a gorgeous bracelet. It was made of gold rings attached to each other by emeralds and in the centre of each ring was a beautiful tear shaped diamond. It was too beautiful. It was encased in a glass box.

"Its from 1947." Said the woman behind the table.

"Its exquisite." I said marvelling at its beauty.

"You can place your bid by writing on this chit here. The highest bidder will get the bracelet."

Oh no. I can't spend so much on a bracelet. Especially since this looked like it was going to cost more than what I have earned in five years. But......No. Be practical Nea.

"No thanks, I am good." I said politely.

"Liked the bracelet?" I recognised this voice behind me inmedaitely. Doctor Amit. He made it.

With the car speeding off to my shopping destination, I took the time to gather some courage and saw the number mom just texted me. I clicked on it and hit call.
"Hello?"
"Hi Doctor Amit. Its me, Nea."
"I know, I have your number. What is it Nea?"
"I wanted to know if you would like to go to a formal dinner thrown by a friend of mine, with me? Its more like a charity ball though."

He paused and then asked, "Why are you asking me?"
"Because you have done so much for me, you came in my life just when I needed you. I would love it if you accompany me. I have invitation for two only though otherwise I would have invited your wife too."
"What a load of bullshit." He said and laughed.
"No really! I would have invited Lara too..."
"Not that part. The part where you said I have done so much for you nd you want me to accompany you. You do know Nea that I didn't just buy my degree in human psychology but actually studied hard for it? Your lying is insulting all the hard earned money my parents gave for my education."
"Oh." It was all I could say.
"Although it is interesting to know that you would think that I find the 'invited your wife too' part a lie. Is it because it is a lie?" He asked.
"No of course not. Why would I mind inviting your wife?"
"Who is this friend Nea? The one with the charity ball?" He completely ignored me.
"Raven."
"So are you still in love with him?"
"No! No of course not. He invited me. He is my friend. I couldn't say no."
"But he did not invite me."
"He did actually." I said coyly.
"Huh?"
"He saw you carrying me to the car when we had gone to see Manvi. So when he asked me I couldn't say you are my therapist! You understand right?" I asked pleadingly.
"Okay. So? You could have said that I am your friend."
"My friend carrying me to the car? And also my attempts of trying to hurt you by hitting your back went across him as 'getting cozy'. He probably that that I was massaging your back as well."
"You were. Admit it already. You did not want to hit me but.......hit..on..me." He said laughing.
"No!!!!!" I shouted.
"Alright. Alright. So you told him I am your boyfriend?"
"More like fiance." I half whispered.
"Why did you do that? I don't think there was any need to do that."
"Please just come tonight. Please."
"I don't think I can. Even if I want to I can't."
"I know! I know! You don't want me to do anything wrong. Look, just once and then I will drop the whole story."
"This has nothing to do with right or wrong, Nea." He paused. " I will try but don't expect anything." And then he hung up.

I just figured that if he did not show up then I will come up with my "we had a fight...." story. But I knew he was going to come. You can call it intuition.

I turned around to face him. Handsome as always. "Its a beautiful bracelet." I replied.

"It is." He replied.

"Thank you for coming." I said sheepishly.

He did not say anything but came closer to me and placed his hands on my waist and kissed my cheeck. It felt like all the oxygen in the room just disappeared. I was too surprised to say anything until his lips left my cheeck and went to my ears.
"You wouldn't greet your fiance like that would you?" He whispered and pulled back. And it made sense to me. I saw Raven coming towards us from a distance. Oh, I see. We have to pretend to be engaged in front of Raven. But how did he recognise Raven? He probably saw us dancing at that horrible double date .....

"You must be the man Nea kept hiding. I am Raven." Raven said with a huge smile and offering his hand to Amit to shake.

Huge smile.

"Amit. And if you mean her fiance then yes I am the one. God knows how many men she hides." Doctor Amit said while pressing me closer to him.

And Raven laughed at that joke.

Laughed.

"Trust me, I know what you mean." He said while smiling down at me.

Smiling.

You know what he means? I don't. What the hell does he mean?

"I have a good crazy piece right here." Doctor Amit said kissing my forehead.

Ok. Too much acting Doc.

"I agree." Raven said nodding in approval.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

And I always thought that I came across as mature and sophisticated. I shouldn't say that out loud or these two will burst out laughing.

They also seem to get along quite well. How funny would it be if I leave the party alone tonight and these two leave together?

Why do I have to make all men I know, gay?

"Where are you lost Nea?" Raven asked. He was smiling.

Poor Raven. Look how devastated he is. Pretending to be happy when inside he is breaking apart. He came back for his one true love and now she has finally moved on with one of the most eligible prince in town. And now she will marry the prince and rule the kingdom with him and their three beautiful dogs. Definitely not three children because I wasn't going to put my body through that much stretching and squeezing.

Did I just mix two different fantasies?

Oh well.

He genuinely looks happy.

And that genuinely makes me sad.

"Nothing. I am just really happy." I reply.

"Of course. I am happy for you too."

Are you trying to make my already deep wounds across my delicate heart hurt more?

I should stop reading romance novels.

"Thank you." I said.

"Well it was nice to finally meet Nea's fiance. I have to go. But please enjoy the rest of the evening." He said before leaving.

"Why do you look like you have cramps?"
"Please. Enough." I said rolling my eyes at Doctor Amit.
"Well you look disappointed."
"No. I am not."
"Do you have feelings for Raven?"
"No!"
"Good thing. Because otherwise it would have been an obstacle."
"Obstacle? I don't have any feelings for Raven. So no obstacle for Mark."
"I wasn't talking about Mark."

Thank you for reading Pink Diamond. I don't know why but I love this chapter. If you like it as well please hit that vote button or just leave a comment. :)

The final chapter is coming closer and closer but I have to say I really enjoyed writing this chick flick girl drama.

Next chapter will be posted soon. See you then! :)

Praxsii