I opened my latest post: 123,482 likes. I stared, mouth open. I pulled the screen down to refresh. ‘This must be a mistake,’ I thought. The screen reloaded—125,801 likes. I quickly tapped on my follower account: +15,000 followers in the last eight hours. I put my phone down on the bed in disbelief. It started as a smile, but quickly maniacal laughter overtook me. I composed myself, belly aching, I downed my drink before opening another and taking a sip to make enough room for the bottle of vodka. I opened my phone and stared at the numbers again.

Opening my messages and selecting Kavya, I typed a quick message.

‘Changed my mind. Coming back.’

I rummaged through my suitcase to find something appropriate for the night set. I put on a black, short-sleeved bodysuit and a pair of loose-fitting cobalt blue, high-waisted pants. I slipped on a pair of gold sandals and a gold headband I was saving for the final night. I downed what was left of my second drink before emptying the contents of the third can and third mini vodka into a bottle supplied by Burn Promotions. I took the empty cans and bottles and put them in the bin in the bathroom, being careful to hide them underneath the garbage already in there. I grabbed my phone and bag and walked outside. I wasn’t too sure if it was the energy drinks or the follower count, but I was on a high, and I was hooked, needing another perfect photo to bring in the likes. I flashed my wristband at the entrance to the VIP area; loud music and lasers thumped through me, matching my heartbeat. I walked up to Kavya, giving her a hug as she handed me a gin cooler, the same type we had the night before. I waved my hand, not wanting to repeat the same mistakes as last night; I gestured towards my bottle. She didn’t need to know what was in it.

When we landed in Mumbai on Monday morning, I was changed. I had almost fifty thousand new followers, an inbox filled with businesses who wanted to work with me, and a new way to keep my energy levels up. No thoughts of Puneet entered my mind, no reminders of failure. Only the high. I was hooked, and I didn’t care.

14. ASHRAY

14

ASHRAY

I was hoping to catch up on some sleep, but Rishi had other ideas. In the taxi to the airport, he spoke nonstop about his time in the VIP tent and how he was partying with some influencer girls. He was hoping that he would be able to get the one woman’s number after he walked her to her hotel room, but her boyfriend barged in just as he was pouring the woman a drink from the hotel minibar. Her boyfriend had let him leave without the mandatory beating he believed Rishi deserved.