rajendraxsingh

[rajendraxsingh]

A sex tape just landed in your hands... and you get to watch! Who would you not mind seeing in action?

"What? This is the most ridiculous question I've ever been asked. I don't want to watch anyone's sex tape."

[rajendraxsingh]

would you be able to forgive someone if they betrayed you?

"I guess it depends on what the betrayal is. Not all things are forgivable but there are a lot of factors that are going into this question."

[rajendraxsingh]

why are you afraid of commitment?

"Well, I don't know if it's that I'm afraid of commitment or that I haven't found the right person to be committed to. I don't want to make a mistake and commit myself to the wrong person again."

[rajendraxsingh]

snog marry pie: kennedy, reina, livia.

"Marry Livia, snog Kennedy and pie Reina."

@liviachar @kennedyastor @reinayourparade

[rajendraxsingh]

If you accidentally killed someone, who are your top three people you'd trust to have your back?

"I don't think I've ever had to think about this before, but, if this crazy scenario somehow happened. Tanvi, Livia and Cem if I was really lucky."

@tanvimvshra @liviachar @cemcerkez

[rajendraxsingh]

got your eye on anyone?

"Did my mom put you up to this? I haven't had my eye on anyone in a while."

[rajendraxsingh]

👐 If you could do ANYTHING, no consequences or repercussions, what would you do?

"I'm thinking I'd wipe all the student loans out for people if this were possible. I've taught too many kids that are going to have a hard time once the loans start for college. I don't want that for any of them."

[rajendraxsingh]

think there could ever be something more between you and Livia?

"There has been something more, but it has been a while.. Could there be again? I'm not opposed to the idea. If the timing was right. But for right now we are just friends."

@liviachar

[rajendraxsingh]

"Yeah, Tanvi is more like a sister to me." And one simply did not get involved with someone that felt like family. "My type?" He reached for his own cup, buying a few seconds. He swirled the drink absentmindedly, "I really don't even know anymore," he shook his head, "I haven't really had my eye on anyone in a while since things ended with Livia." His shoulders lifted into a shrug. He'd been thinking about her again, though he wasn't sure that he ever really stopped. He hadn't loved her right the first time, but he knew he would if they loved again. "Plus, if I did," his smile grew, "I'd be worried you'd be comparing notes with my mom," he teased as a minor distraction. @vanna-huang

Vanna furrowed her brows, a grin playing at the corners of her lips when Raj mentioned that they weren't in some Bollywood drama. She could relate to that sentiment and chuckled softly. One of the main reasons she and her mother didn't see eye-to-eye was her mother's relentless attempts to set Vanna up with "a nice Chinese man." Vanna nodded in solidarity as if she truly understood. "I hear you, Raj," she said, smiling as she took another bite of bread. "Tanvi is amazing, gorgeous, and pretty much wife material—but she doesn't quite tickle your fancy..." Vanna chuckled to herself, leaning forward to take a sip of her hot tea. "So, what is your type? Do you have your eye on someone else?"

[rajendraxsingh]

Raj deserved the words that felt like a slap to the face. It was rare to get into disagreements with Tanvi, their friendship spanning longer than any other ones he held in his life. "We haven't exactly seen much of each other." Not that it was an excuse, but it felt a lot like one as the words rolled off his tongue. He fell silent with her next words. Her words crashed over him, knowing that they were too damn true. "I wasn't thinking, not really." He could admit that to Tanvi at the end of the day. He rubbed his hand against the back of his head. "He asked and it made me feel useful for once." Not that he was referring to any of the times with Tanvi. "I suppose, as childish as it sounds, I've wanted Cem to not think of me as just the math teacher that hangs around here and is in the way." Raj admitted with a lift of his shoulders into a shrug. "I should have put more thought into it. I didn't," Raj shook his head, "I didn't think it went as deep as it did and that was foolish of me." He chewed on his bottom lip. "I won't be doing anything like it again. I promise." @tanvimvshra

Leaning back in her seat, Tanvi's arms came up to cross over her chest as she looked at him. Despite the playful retort sitting on the tip of her tongue about his mother and her love for Tanvi, she couldn't get past the feeling of betrayal that sat like a rock in the pit of her stomach. So she remained silent, just watching him and listening as he did his best to explain himself. Though nothing he said quelled the anger simmering beneath her skin, ready to break through at any moment. "Oh yeah?" She challenged, eyes narrowing slightly. "When?"

Reaching out to grab one of the bottles of water, Tanvi easily unscrewed the cap and brought the bottle to her lips, taking a slow drink as she listened to him. "Did you ever think that maybe whatever Cem was getting you involved in was too dangerous and that's why he didn't tell me?" The question hung in the air, her eyes never leaving his, before she continued. "You're a math teacher, Rajendra. I know we like to bring you around to help out on some things, and I know you're capable and you enjoy it, but this shit is dangerous." Sighing, she recapped the bottle and leaned back once more. "He has very specific training, he's been in these situations before. You haven't. Did you think about the fact that I'd have to be the one to tell your mom if something happened to you? That you're going into something completely blind, with no experience and no idea what to expect?" Her voice had been raising as she'd spoken, leaning forward towards him. "What were you thinking?"

[rajendraxsingh]

"You mean besides eternal glory and bragging rights?" His grin grew as he looked at Liv. He stretched his arms over his head with ease, "Loser buys the smoothies," he paused, his tongue slipping across his lips. "And winner gets to choose the playlist without judgement," Raj shot her a sideways glance before laughter bubbled over his lips. His tone was teasing, a softness that he had always continued to hold for Liv despite their relationship ending. "Unless you're scared I will find that throwback playlist that you absolutely pretended not to love." @liviachar

Competitiveness was definitely a word that could describe the both of them. And that was made clear once more by this conversation. Livia raised her eyebrows at him and shook her head with a smile on her face. Interacting with Raj was easy. "Leave me in the dust? I don't think so." She leaned over so she could pick up her bag and yoga mat, before looking at the man next to her. "Let's get going, champ. What is in it for the winner of this run?"

@rajendraxsingh

[rajendraxsingh]

"The patience of a saint? I've heard that one before," he chuckled, shaking his head. "It's a real endurance test," one that he tackled for most of the year. Summers off were cherished to Raj since his career shift from engineer to teacher. He glanced at the cigarette stub in the tray and then back to the man, "You can borrow some of my celebration," he offered, "whiskey neat on me." Raj added on, "Or if you're really feeling tequila more," he trailed off, leaving it up to Mateo what he wanted to order. "I need someone to cheers to making it through another year of wrangling students." @mateosal

Mateo let out a quiet huff of laughter, the kind that barelt made a sound but tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Exploding microwaves and existential dread over fractions? Sounds like you've got the patience of a saint." He shifted slightly in his chair, more open now as he rested one arm behind his head, watching the guy settle in. "Respectable choice. I don't have much to celebrate right now." Probably more vulnerable than he anticipated to be, he quickly glanced down at his cigarette, now a stub in the tray and then back up. "Nah, these are just habit. But if I were to be celebrating, I'd do a whiskey neat or maybe some tequila. I like the burn."

[rajendraxsingh]

Her teasing sparked a familiar warmth in his chest. It was like when he had flipped through an old photo album, "That torture routine is almost perfected, I see." He teased her right back, folding his arms loosely across his own chest. "After we haul our stuff home? It's a bold move, but I think I can keep up." Her challenge about the run made his grin widen, unable to help the competitive edge that was rising in him. "Count me in. Just promise me you won't cry if I leave you in the dust, okay?" @liviachar

"Torturing you has always been a fun way to spend my time, Raj. You should no that by now," Livia smiled up at the tall man. Yes, their time had been in the past but that did not mean that they couldn't be friends, right? Raj had been a great friend to her all these years. "Great, let's see if you can keep up or not. After we've brought home our stuff and we get a quick sip of water in before making our way down to the boardwalk for that run. You in?"

@rajendraxsingh

[rajendraxsingh]

"Still," Raj confirmed, the slight nod of his head to follow up his singular word. "I promise we are not in some Bollywood drama," though if they asked his mom, she'd beg to differ. Raj leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Tanvi is great, don't get me wrong. Smart, funny and makes a mean biryani that almost rivals my mom's, but I swear," he wagged a finger at her, "don't ever breath a word of that to my mom." Despite his stern tone, his lips curled into a playful smile. "I've never liked her that way." He shook his head, "Just never has been like that." Even if they had found themselves with fingers intertwined or lips locked when she dragged him into her investigative work. "I love Tanvi, one my of best friends but it's never been more than that." @vanna-huang

Vanna tilted her head in agreement, deciding it was better to agree to disagree about what kind of conversations Lobster intended to bring. However, when Raj offered a discussion topic that captured Vanna's interest, she couldn't help but sit up straight with a wide grin. "Wait, still? I mean, yes, I definitely want to hear about this," she chuckled, reaching for another roll. She broke it in half, setting one piece down on her plate while she tore the other into smaller pieces and tossed them into her mouth. "So, do you not like Tanvi in that way?" she asked, raising her brow and smiling eagerly at the topic. "It sure would make Momma proud."

[rajendraxsingh]

Raj fidgeted with his suit for far too long before he realized that he was going to be late if he didn't leave right now. Luckily, traffic was on his side as he pulled up in record time, handing his keys off to the valet attendant and stepping through the French doors and makes his way to Cem on the second story balcony. It wasn't hard for the man to spot Cem as he stood alone. When he approached, he accepted the glass of scotch without a word. The weight of the glass grounded him in the moment.

The clink of the glasses against one another was almost ceremonial. As Cem laid out the details of the job, ones that he had heard before and ones that were new. The silence stretched between them, barely long enough for Cem's words to settle before he replied. "Saving the pretty job for me," he half-joked, though the look in his eye indicated that he was serious about the task at hand. This was a step up from the fake boyfriend stints he partook in with Tanvi.

He met Cem's gaze, turning to do so. "I'll put what I can, plant what we need all before our velvet distraction finishes her second martini," Raj continued, "Playing dumb if I'm caught? I can do that, too." Honestly, Raj figured that would be the easiest part of the job and if he hadn't been wearing a suit, he worried that the sweat would be noticeable from his growing nerves. "I'll follow any instruction you say and if it happens to go sideways and you don't tell me to run, you better have a damn good reason." Raj stated, draining the rest of the scotch. @cemcerkez

status — closed for @rajendraxsingh

location — evening. some briar ridge charitable gala.

The estate is draped in polite opulence—crystal chandeliers inside, twinkle lights outside, and enough bespoke cologne in the air to choke a small horse. Waiters drift by like ghosts in tailored black, champagne flutes balance like weapons. Somewhere, someone is playing jazz that sounds expensive.

Cem stands alone on the second-floor balcony, the hum of the event just beneath him. His tie’s already loosened, jacket slung casually over one shoulder. He’s got that posture again—the one that says he doesn’t belong, but he’s watching anyway. A burner phone buzzes briefly in his pocket. He glances down, reads the text, then deletes it.

When Raj finally steps into the golden spill of light from the French doors, Cem doesn’t look surprised.

“Right on time,” he murmurs, offering Raj a glass of scotch without being asked. He clinks his own against the rim with practiced ease, gaze flicking toward the sweeping view of the estate grounds below—security guards tucked into shadows, VIPs swirling like sharks in gowns and cufflinks.

Then, without turning his head: “Vernetti’s in the north wing. Private room. Same security detail we flagged in Zurich, minus the shaved head.” A beat. “He brought muscle and subtlety. That’s new.”

He finally looks at Raj.

“Decoy's already inside. Slipped past the perimeter thirty minutes ago dressed like temptation in a velvet wrap. She’ll create the distraction at precisely 9:10. Your job is to make it look like you belong long enough to breach the upstairs server terminal. Pull what you can, plant what we need. I’ve got a dead drop ready outside the wine cellar.”

Another sip. His tone lowers.

“There’s chatter about a third party sniffing around tonight—unknown interest, possibly private intel. If they approach you, play dumb. If they name you—burn the alias and get out.” He leans back against the balustrade, letting the silence stretch for a beat too long.

“You’ve got fifteen minutes once we’re live. After that, the whole place gets tighter than a banker’s conscience. And Raj?” Cem turns, expression unreadable in the low light.

“If I tell you to run, you run. No hero shit. No double back.” There’s steel in his voice now, coiled quiet beneath every syllable. Because this isn’t just another party. And whatever Vernetti’s hiding? It’s big enough that Cem doesn’t want to be right.

[rajendraxsingh]

Tilting his sunglasses down just enough to peer over the top of them when he heard a voice. His lips began to curl into a grin and he dropped one leg off the side of the lounger. "It's a steep price, I won't lie." He said with a hint of amusement lacing the words. "Half a lounger is a sip of that bottom-shelf beer and a story worth the trade," he found himself raising a brow, gesturing toward the cleared space, "as for the whole thing? Well," he lifted a hand, his pointer finger tapping against his lips as if he were contemplating an important decision. "That might include fries, a story and a bottom-shelf beer of my own." His lips curled into a grin, "But for you?" Raj quipped, "I'd offer a Sunday special, first come, first serve with an ocean view," he moved his hand, patting the cushion and scooting over more to allow space for her. "One time time offer, though. Limited time only." @kennedyastor

WHO: @rajendraxsingh WHERE: Golden Hour Beach Bar

After a long day at work, Kennedy found herself meandering over to the outdoor bar still in her waitress uniform, ready to order the cheapest beer on the menu and relax into one of their lounge chairs. Maybe even kick off her shoes if it wasn't too busy and give her poor feet a break. But as she walked in she realized that despite it being late afternoon on a Sunday the place was buzzing. Probably busier than she'd ever seen it in the few months since she moved to town, and it caused an exhausted sigh to escape her lips. For the briefest of moments she debated on turning around and heading home, but the wind blew and the scent of the ocean had her changing her mind.

Instead, she found herself weaving through the crowd to get to the bar, using the tip money she'd just earned to request 'the cheapest beer you have' from the bartender before making her way towards where she knew the lounge chairs facing the ocean to be in hopes there would be at least one empty seat. However, her luck remained the same (nonexistent) and every single lounger was occupied.

She was ready to turn back to find a different spot when a familiar face caught her eye and a small smile pulled the corners of her lips up. Maybe her luck wasn't so bad after all. "What would it cost me to get a little part of your lounger?" She asked Raj as she approached. "Actually, what are the going rates for the whole thing? I need to weigh my options." She mused.

[rajendraxsingh]

"That's what you get when you are friends with a math and science teacher." Raj followed suit, popping a piece of bread into his mouth . Her next words gave him pause, "I wouldn't say lobster is the worst the worst setting for complicated." Yet, he left it at that. Breaking down Vanna's walls when she clearly did not want to seemed like a battle that might end with him eating alone anyway. "But sure, work seems like the most exciting things in my life most days." He shrugged his shoulders, knowing he was not at liberty to discuss any of the work he was doing with Cem. "I mean do you want to hear about how my mom is still trying to get me and Tanvi together?" His brows raised with the quip. @vanna-huang

Vanna's brows furrowed, and a snort escaped her. "It's basic chemistry, and yet you're doing math?" she pointed out while stuffing more bread into her mouth. "Seems like a load of BS to me." She waved her hand dismissively, pulling apart another piece of bread to eat. When he asked what was new with her, Vanna looked up with a flicker in her eye and a smirk forming on her lips. She sighed, a hum escaping her. "The new stuff about me isn't really the kind of conversation you have over lobster," she chuckled, considering the fact that she wasn't sure how much she wanted to unload onto the unsuspecting and uncomplicated Raj. "You’d rather tell me about your students than yourself?" she raised an eyebrow. "What happened, Raj? Have you become the type of person who only talks about their job, as if that's all there is to you?" It felt especially loaded for her to say, given how empty she felt after not touching a paintbrush since last year.