Tuesday 11th of May 1997:

Paul sat under the shade of a vacant trees in the collage enjoying a quiet afternoon with one of his girls sat on his lap while he drank from his cup of jasmine green tea.

“Now poppet I have some business with a friend of mine. He will be arriving and you will have to leave me. Will that be alright with you Nicole?” Paul mentioned to his favorite girl from his harem.

“My name is Mariah. I’ll go when this friend arrives but when will you upgrade me to be your main girlfriend?” she mentioned running her hand though his auburn locks.

“Well you see love that won’t happen anytime soon. You see I have plans soon and they don’t involve you” Paul replied coolly taking another sip from his tea.

“But why? I thought you loved me Paul!” Mariah gaped at him flabbergasted.

“Eh am I interrupting?” A young male voice injected before Paul could reply to Mariah.

“Ah Adil you are not interrupting anything at all. Mariah this is the person I mentioned earlier. Can we talk later hm?” Paul replied with a casual smile.

Mariah huffed before getting up from his lap to storm off in anger. Adil stepped aside to avoid her wrath watching her walk away.  

“Woah you have to teach me to get a girl like that” Adil gushed happily bending down to sit by Paul’s side.

“Kid it is a gift to be this charming but nonetheless you have to build the charm up and get to the level of girls I have. Before I continue is your brother on his way?” Paul replied staring behind Adil in hopes the other boy would appear.

“He won’t be joining us today.” Adil replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Alright kiddo. You’ll just have to explain my words to him. Now do you have something with you to write with..?” Paul replied changing the subject.

The rest of the afternoon the duo spent chatting about Paul’s tips and tricks. At one point using Paul’s taught charm on ladies earning Paul more phone numbers. While Adil managed to get two phone numbers from some of the girls he spoke to.

Paul told the younger boy about his family business reminding Adil of past conversations with Vikram bringing up a ‘gentleman club’ he went to once in a while.

“Eh Paul if you see a man named Vikram Khatri watch out for his silver tongue” Adil warned in a serious tone.

“Sure kiddo. His name sounds familiar. I have seen his face amongst the guests but I never had the chance to speak to him directly. Don’t worry kiddo my charm is practically dipped in diamonds” Paul replied confidently but inwardly wondered how this man could possibly be connected to Adil’s family.

In between the days before flying out to Dubai to attend the 20th anniversary party for ‘House of McCartney’. Michael choose to spend Thursday afternoon with Eva. The pair sat together in his car both munching on Jaffa cakes parked near Eva’s home.

“Look Eva I just wanted to tell you I’ll be leaving on trip with Paul this weekend.” Michael mentioned as he wiped off cookie crumbs from his lips.

“That’s why you decided to lure me into your car and give me these biscuits! So you could use these biscuits to distract me about your sudden trip away” Eva accused teasingly. Recently the twins had introduced her to the popular chocolate biscuits. She couldn’t help falling in love with the chocolatey treat.

“I didn’t know you liked these biscuits! It was a random snack choice” Michael implied innocently.

“You can’t lie Michael! when you can handle spice then I will believe your lie instead.” Eva replied snickering behind her hand at the look of annoyance on Michael’s face.

“You always have to remind me about that weakness? Why?” Michael groaned tiredly.

“It’s because you simply can’t handle the spice.” Eve answered with a smirk.

“Even though I’m going on this trip. I will miss you” Michael confessed bluntly looking away from Eva.

“I-I’ll miss you too! B-b-but I won’t be too lonely. The boys will be home keep me company! It will be like you never left Michael.” She stuttered in response taken back by his sudden outburst.

“I’ll miss you too Eva. I won’t be gone for long to the point where the boys would drive you crazy” Michael responded holding her hand to squeeze lightly.

“let’s hope I’ll have some peace of mind when your away but I have to go back inside now Michael. This was nice” she responded feeling the butterflies in her stomach from his touch.

Not allowing the moment to linger any further Eva withdrew her hand from his to gather her things before opening the door to walk home. Michael waited till she was safely indoors before starting the engine to drive back home.

:. Friday 14th of May 1997:.

Friday morning the pair of friends strolled into the airport with their suitcases secured in the trolley looking around for Marissa. After sometime they gave up their search deciding to stand in the middle of the busy environment hoping she’d spot them.

“Where could Marissa be?” Michael inquired.

“If I knew I’d tell ya buddy” Paul replied sighing.

“Let’s hope Marissa acts calmly in public” Michael grumbled in response.  He hadn’t seen Paul’s over affectionate sister in months and frankly he’d love to keep it that way.

“You called?” Marissa announced whispering in Michael’s ear startling him to bump into Paul’s back.

“What on earth has you frightened buddy? Oh I see why you’re frightened. She does have a rather scary face!” Paul said titling his head to see his sister in a black and white stripped jumpsuit standing in front of them.

“Hello poppers. It’s wonderful to see you finally taking interest in the business. Michael babe how are you? Did you enjoy hearing my voice?” she said to the duo.

“eh it’s nice to see you again and your voice is comforting” Michael lied with a forced smile.

 “Aww you’re so sweet. We should go on a date sometime” Marissa replied flirtatiously running her hand down poor Michael’s arm.

“Now milkshake. I won’t let you ruin Michael with your strange fantasies! Leave my friend for his girl” Paul jumped in smacking his sister’s hand away from his friend’s shoulder sensing his discomfort.

I’ll just ignore Paul’s about me having a girlfriend and be grateful he saved me from Marissa’s clutches. Michael thought inwardly grateful for his friend having a six sense when it came to his sister.

“New girlfriend?! We can talk about this on the flight to Dubai. We have a long flight ahead of us” Marissa replied.

The trio walked together (Paul in the middle) to keep his sister away from his friend as they chatted till they were sat comfortably in first class enjoying a snack or beverage to themselves mentally preparing for the long flight ahead.

Arriving late in the evening the trio exhausted from their long flight decided to have a light dinner from the first class hotel menu before going to bed to wake up for their busy day.

During the day as Paul and Michael escaped from Marissa’s clutches ended up exploring one of the small mini shopping malls and not forgetting to buy something for Eva. They also decided after buying her gift to discover the beautiful area they were settled in till the evening.

Nighttime descended on the trio and they hurried to get dressed in their best casual outfits for the planned 20th Anniversary of ‘House of McCartney’ that Marissa had been planning last year.

Before they walked into the room Marissa hired for the event she gave a warning to her brother “Alexander I want you to please learn from this experience and charm as many men as we can to continue our business. Create conversation perhaps flirting might work”

“Excuse me sister I do not swing that way. And you shouldn’t call me be that dreadful middle name” Paul replied wincing.

“Good. It means you’re taking this seriously. Michael babe follow Paul to keep an eye on him” Marissa replied to the duo.

Now the small talk was over the trio walked together to the door. The butler gave a curt nod before opening the door for them. They walked in one by one to see several gentlemen scattered in the elegantly decorated room. The guests engaged in various conversations creating a quite buzz inside the spacious room till the sudden appearance of their awaited hosts ceased the conversations. Curious eyes focused on the sudden arrival of their hosts.

In a spur of quick minded thinking Paul broke the hushed silence by spreading his arms in welcome with a cheeky smirk present on his thin lips.

“Hello gentleman! I hope you all are enjoying yourselves as my sister and I have arrived at last. I know it’s been awhile since I was last here but I see I haven’t missed much.” Paul announced to the people earning entertained chuckles in return.

“To conclude my brother’s statement we hope you all enjoy yourselves as we celebrate our parents 20th year anniversary running the McCartney House” Marissa added with a charming smile.

The conversations picked up once more as the trio stood together chatting momentarily till Marissa’s gaze connected with a younger caramel coloured man standing alone with a glass of iced vodka in hand. Paul watched his sister strut to the younger man and he couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

“So buddy now that we are alone. Need a drink?” Paul mentioned facing his friend who had been quiet though out the whole exchange.

“Please. I’ll stand over here by this plant” Michael replied stepping aside to stand by the plant.

“Are you sure you won’t be lonely? The tree doesn’t talk my friend!” Paul teased as Michael scoffed at him before walking away to the indoor bar.

On a mission to get himself and his best pal a cool beverage Paul strolled towards the bar greeting people along the way.

After placing the orders he stood tapping his fingers against the marble table waiting for the drinks, till a mellow voice broke the silence startling Paul out of his stupor.

“You must be Paul McCartney I’ve heard the older gentleman sing praises about”

“Hello sir. How do you know who I am? I don’t recall meeting you” Paul replied in a wary tone.

“Excuse my manners my name is Vikram Khatri. I knew your father before he passed away. He was quite a gentleman.” Vikram replied solemnly.

Why does that name ring a bell? Didn’t Adil warn me about this silver tongued fox?

Paul thought inwardly remembering the words from his prodigy.

“Well it is nice to meet you Vikram. I don’t see you as often in the club. You have a lady friend?” Paul replied in a joking manner just as the drinks he ordered were placed in front of him.

“I have been slightly busy in various business ventures and making sure my wife to be is settled in the UK” Vikram replied with a light shrug of his shoulders and smirk on his lips.

“A wife to be? Now that is interesting to hear from you Vikram. May I see what she looks like?” Paul replied with one eyebrow raised.

“If you insist…” Vikram replied dropping his glass on the marble table to shuffle though his blazer pockets to find a picture of Eva. Once he felt the crisp photograph tucked in his inner pocket he pulled it out and handed it to Paul.

Paul couldn’t stop the strangled gasp from his lips. His eyes couldn’t believe it was Eva in the coloured photo staring back at him.

What sorcery is this? How does Eva know this man?

Paul thought inwardly.

“Isn’t she beautiful? She’s quite the catch. I was lucky my parents were able to arrange this union” Vikram answered smirking at the shocked expression on Paul’s face.

“Ah yes she certainly is beautiful Vikram. Do you love her?” Paul replied snapping out of his stupor to look up at the older man with a small tight smile.

“She is a great accessory to look at but she isn’t exactly highly intelligent to have a full conversation. Is that enough for you?” Vikram replied to the inward disgust of Paul who could only nod his head. He politely bid him farewell grabbing the drinks.

Paul was glad to be in the presence of his friend instead of that disgusting fella. Paul handed him his drink before immediately gulping down his own beverage.

“Whoa pal what has you so riled up? Slow down” Michael blurted to his friend.

“I have some distressing news pal. I doubt you’re going to like it…” Paul answered explaining what he had just been told observing his friend’s jaw tighten in unleashed fury.

“Now Michael don’t go charging over there and ruin what chance we have with …. Eva’s fiancé” Paul replied trailing off swallowing the spit forming his throat before finishing his sentence.

“I don’t understand how she didn’t tell me Paul. Was she playing with my emotions? I-I don’t know if I can believe if this is true or not” Michael ranted to his friend choosing to gulp his own drink down in one gulp.

“Don’t worry buddy when we get back you will have a discussion with Eva and tell her how you feel as well maybe find a way out of this terrible situation but right now we need to find a way to get you close enough to see the proof” Paul responded patting his friend’s shoulder in hopes to calm him down.

Once Michael calmed down the pair of friends stood together looking around the room to find a way to somehow get close to Vikram. Paul felt the sudden rush of an idea spring to his mind looking down at the tree that stood beside him and his buddy.

.

.

“Sitting together between this tree isn’t one of your best ideas!” Michael hissed at his friend. The duo peered from their hiding space to hopefully spot Vikram.

“Blasphemy my friend! I always have great ideas you just never see the brilliance- -“Paul said before Michael scoffed cutting him off to say “Like when you were so close to hitching yourself off to that spoilt daughter for a company contract? That is just one example of a not so great idea Paul I can list every single crazy idea you have had in last five years”.

“She had a great body pal. We could have worked something out. You never know! Besides you are just saying that because that was one time” Paul replied looking back at his friend to give him an eye roll.

“You’re lucky I saved your ass pal. Imagine everyday having to hear her awful high pitch squeals which I might add no one should be able to reach to that level of squealing on any gender” Michael replied rolling his eyes back at his friend.

The waiter (named Frank) had been making his rounds around the spacious room serving drinks to the men in the room spotted his boss and friend hiding behind one of the larger trees in the room.

What on earth could those two be doing wedged together between a tree?!

Frank wondered staring at the odd image presented in front of him.

Allowing the curiosity to surface Frank went to find out why the pair of friends were sitting in such a weird position. He approached them politely asking if they needed anything.

“My friend and I would love two bottles of ice cold beers. Don’t worry we are completely fine in this position” Paul replied detecting the look of interest on Frank’s face.

Wordlessly Frank turned around and left the pair of friends returning minutes later with the ordered beverages on the tray.

Paul raised himself up taking the drinks from the tray thanking the puzzled Frank who could only walk away to continue his duties in the room.

Bottles empty on the wooden floor the duo sat waiting for another hour till Vikram finally appeared swaggering confidently to where they hid only a three feet away. They watched Vikram chat and mingle with other guests and when asked bought out the picture confirming what Paul said was right.

“You were right Paul. I can’t believe it” Michael mumbled miserable that Paul’s statement was true.

“Now buddy don’t be sad about it we can sort this out once we get back home. Now—“Paul said reassuring his friend. His hand accidently knocked the empty beer bottle to the ground producing a loud crack.

“Did you hear something?” Vikram said turning his head back to the source of the sudden noise luckily the pair hid once more squeezing in-between the tree quickly to avoid embarrassment.

“Can you move please Paul? You’re barking up the wrong tree!” Michael hissed at his friend feeling choked by Paul’s hair in his mouth and excessive body heat.

“Excuse me? You’re taking all the room in my TREE. Get your own tree buddy because frankly I feel choked by your hair in my face” Paul snapped back coolly.

Before the pair of friends could argue even further they saw Vikram spin around to stroll towards their hiding spot. The duo held their breaths in fear luckily Vikram changed his direction heading somewhere else instead.

“Thank goodness he didn’t find us out that would have been disastrous” Paul answered wiping his brow from the sweat forming on his forehead.

“Let’s be glad we were not. Let’s go find your sister” Michael agreed. The pair stood up together from the hiding spot pushing the tree back to give themselves room.

“You want to find my sister? A change of heart buddy?” Paul teased ignoring the glare he received from his friend.

They continued to walk around the room avoiding Vikram speaking to a few gentleman here and there till one in the morning. Around 1.45am the guests emptied the room to the relief of the drained and hungry trio sitting cross-legged on Marissa’s Egyptian silk covered bed sharing a Chinese meal to themselves to fill their deprived stomachs.

 “So Marissa who was that dashing specimen you were talking to? You know the guy who had a nice haircut and athlete build” Paul suddenly announced out of the blue shocking both Michael and Marissa to splutter their drinks.

He grinned cheekily waiting for his sister to calm down, it didn’t take long for Marissa to reply in a sarcastic tone “were you eyeing him? Are you sure you are not in the closet? hm Alexander?”

“Now Marissa let’s not change the topic to my sexuality hm? Admit it right here and now. You love a good looking chocolate gentleman” Paul said waving her words away.

“I-I.. I love black men! Are you happy gremlin?” Marissa snapped at Paul who could only raise his hands in surrender.

“Don’t bite my head off. I only said what you have been burning to say for years. Now I know why you’ve wanted to jump poor Michael’s bones since he hit puberty” Paul replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

“I rather not have my bones jumped” Michael added in before continuing to munch on his meal quietly.

Silence walked into the room as the trio continued to enjoy their meals till Paul once more announced to the horror of Marissa.

“So is Joel’s mystery father a black man? One night stand instance perhaps?”

“PAUL!” Marissa yelled.

“What? You think I wouldn’t connect the dots? Such little faith in my intelligence” Paul drawled sarcastically.

Michael could only sigh watching the sister and brother duo argue back and forth quietly eating his meal.

.

.

Daadi Riya sat with the piles of Asian wedding magazines cooing at the beautiful designs she saw flicking though the pages in the comfort of her bedroom speaking to a relative on the phone.

Eva finished wrapping the towel around soaking wet hair walking pass daadi’s room when she heard her laughter from inside.

Eva knocked on the door softly and Daadi on the other end paused the conversation allowing entry.

Eva strolled into the room to see Daadi laid in bed with a stack of magazines by her side placing the landline phone back on the wire cod.

“Child I’m glad you came to see me. Look at all these beautiful saris!” Daadi greeted with a sweet smile aimed at Eva who had never received a smile from the elderly woman since her arrival to the UK.

“They look so elegant daadi” Eva replied approaching her bedside. She gazed down at the designs worn by the beautiful models in the glossy magazines.

“Now what remains is to decide which one suit will your skin and those eyes of yours but first call that card number. I found a photographer from a friend who recommended this young man for me to take the couple photographs and the wedding photographs” Daadi replied to her.

Eva sighed softly at the jabs Daadi always loved throwing at her heritage and now looking at the designs reminded her how close Vikram was coming back to take her away. She didn’t want to do this.

She obeyed her quietly getting off the bed to her bed table to see a black and red neatly designed card that had unique designed ‘M’. She flipped the card around to see the contact details to and to her astonishment to see Michael’s details.

She did not expect to find out that it was him they were interested in using for the photoshoot.

“Child why are you wasting time? Call the number I want to book this boy quickly now since I have booked the temple. All is left to do is other arrangements” Daadi barked at Eva.

“I-I can’t make the call Daadi” Eva replied stuttering on the verge of tears dropping the card on the floor.

“Why can’t you!? You will do this so we can hurry the preparations for my son in law to send the money!” Daadi replied harshly.

“I’m sorry daadi but you will have to call the number or get one of the boys to call it for you” Eva replied rubbing the tears that threatened to fall down her face. She stepped back to run out the door ignoring the angry howl from the old woman.