Where Ruhi might have otherwise startled, it was the smell of the familiar cologne that announced Kian’s arrival before his words in her ear. The corners of her lips curved up ever so slightly at the whispered words and she waited for him to come around from behind her before she leaned against the counter of the bar, looking up at the man who she’d met at this very bar and who she’d since spent her nights with. “Hmm, I guess you’ll do. But how are you so confident I’m being stood up?” She asked with the same playfulness in her tone. “Did my hot date inform you that they’re not coming?” / @pcvrlys

closed starter @ruhixmarathe

He spotted Ruhi across the room at TRIC and a smile tugged at his lips. They'd been sleeping together for a while now, no strings attached, just two people enjoying each other's company. And he appreciated that more than she probably realized. Since Diana, the idea of being with someone else in that manner didn’t sit well with Kian. Making his way over to her, he leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Waiting on a hot date?" His voice was low and teasing, before pulling back just enough to flash her a playful grin, his blue eyes sparkling as he smiled at her. "Because I hate to disappoint, but I don't think they're gonna show. Guess you'll have to settle for me instead." 

“Why do you say that?” She questioned at the explanation. Ruhi was a better people pleaser than confrontationist. Hence why she would have never chosen a career in law. Ruhi did not have it in her to be argumentative or assertive. The few times she tried, it had gotten her told off. “Was?” She asked, curiosity twinkling in her gaze as she watched the stranger. She took a drink from her cocktail before continuing. “I followed what was I thought was expected of me, what I thought I was good at. But I left a career in New York to come back here, which might seem like I went nuclear on my life. But I don’t think I did.”  / @margaux-thompson

She knew why. Self-actualization wasn't lacking from her life. "Because I'm a better lawyer than artist." And she enjoyed being the biggest fish in the bowl, enjoyed the benefits it afforded her. If it left her skin a little itchy, her mouth a little dry, she'd figured those were only growing pains. "Was-" she amended. "I was a better lawyer."

She took another sip from her beer before asking. "What was your poison?"

WITH: yasemin akman // @embrcssemoi LOCATION: open house

“Yas,” Ruhi greeted with an easy smile as she caught sight of the agent walking into the house ahead of time. As she usually did. It was her event after all, so it was only natural she would come to make sure everything was going smoothly. Even when Ruhi had done these a million times, she appreciated the company and a second set of eyes to make sure everything looked alright. Fixing a few of the brochures located at the front, she flourished her hands. “Walk around, let me know if anything is missing. We have time to change things out. I kept it lowkey since the decor is gorgeous. I’m not trying to upstage the house.”

“Julian,” Ruhi began with a touch of concern that he did not immediately reach the same conclusion she had as well. Then again, it was not necessary that everyone would view the breakup the same way. So the flash of disagreement was quickly masked behind a soft smile, careful to not come across as judgmental. “They were supposed to get married in a week. It’s great for her, but it is hard explaining that the wedding is off because his fiancée wanted to join the circus rather than be with him.” // @quietlght

OPEN STARTER anywhere, any context!

‎ "i have to be honest with you— i can't tell if you're joking or not." there's some real concern in julian's eyes as he tries to read the other person's facial expression, leaning back slightly as he sizes them up. "'cause that'd be pretty sick if true. and i'm not sure if it's in the good or bad way, either."

WITH: @wcndxrlust LOCATION: feel the beat

“So it isn’t as bad as having two left feet,” Ruhi began as she stepped into the dance studio and surveyed the talent with which her friend performed in comparison to her own lackluster attempts. She’d always thought she was a fairly good dancer, but clearly professionals were a class above. “But I feel like I’m doing the macarena when I’m around you and I don't love being outshined in my own hometown like this. So let's go. It's my turn to show off my expertise.”

WITH: @pcvrlys LOCATION: axel's office

“Knock, knock,” Ruhi said with a saccharine smile she’d learned to put on from as young as three. Stepping into the office, she held up two cups. Was she stopping by unannounced? Yes. But she figured that doing so with caffeine would make up for the ambush. Besides, she was just being filial. “I heard through the grapevine that you’ve taken to the coffee and scones at Cozy Cup. So figured I’d pop by with a midday boost since I was doing a coffee run anyways.”

Ruhi turned her attention to the woman sitting beside her, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes as she shared her desire to completely upend the life she was living. Had Ruhi ever wanted to completely change gears? “We all have,” she said with a soft smile, choosing not to spill how much Ruhi had craved Chernobyl-ing her life throughout her childhood and into adulthood. “But it’s a risk that not everyone’s willing to take.” Evidenced by the fact that her present company hadn’t done so either. “Why didn’t you?” | @margaux-thompson

OPEN Location: TRIC

She was four drinks deep when the words started flowing. "You know I had this stupid fucking impulse when I was younger. I'd drop out of school, move north - like New York City or something - and I'd become a tattoo artist. See how long it took the oldies to realize I was gone. Send them some vintage ass postcard as a last middle finger." She hadn't of course. Those adventures were left for her brothers. She twirled the coaster for her beer between her fingers. "You ever just get that urge to go Chernobyl on your life plan?"

INTRODUCING . . . RUHI MARATHE

full name: ruhika vani marathe

nicknames: ruhi, ru, vani

age: thirty-one

date of birth: april 14, 1993

gender: cis female

occupation: wedding planner

neighborhood: wrightsville beach

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

infidelity tw ruhi grew up as the youngest of three to an affluent family of real estate developers in wilmington. she was always doted on and had a magnetic personality that could charm even the toughest of people. growing up, she was surrounded by friends but the constant attention quickly made ruhi conscious. she felt the need to be perfect at all times. this tendency was exacerbated by her foray into pageants from a young age. and though she did not particularly enjoy the shows after the first few wins, she was a natural and it did not make sense to stop. this naturally grew into a career into modeling and though she graduated college in new york with a hospitality degree, she focused all her energy in modeling. ruhi met the man she thought would be the love of her life at twenty-two. four years together and they split up when he cheated. she left modeling and fell back on her degree and started working in hospitality for a few years before deciding to pivot into event planning. from there, she specialized in weddings and moved back from new york to wilmington to build her business here.

IN THE WEEDS . . .

A bundle of joy as the youngest of three, Ruhika grew up as pampered as a child could get. This came both by virtue of being the youngest and being her parents’ only daughter. As a result, every single person in the house doted on her and she grew up seeing nothing but love and adoration. This translated into a vivacious personality, and a knack for drawing people to her from a very young age. To this day, she will recount one time in kindergarten when she was asked to divvy up her time with everyone in class to avoid kids feeling ignored and left out. Almost like a scheduled playtime, it was an odd occurrence, and yet it set the stage for what would characterize many of her relationships moving through life. Structured and manufactured, almost like she did not have autonomy over the decisions to make in her life. Ruhi never complained, but for a while she did hold a chip on her shoulder that where everyone else was allowed to pick and choose, she was not. And the whole time, to avoid making enemies or coming across a certain way, she was forced to smile and act as though nothing bothered her.

This talent and personality landed her in the spotlight on stages in the local beauty pageants. Her mother did not know much about the competitions and didn’t think that her daughter would make it too far. It was only at the suggestion of a teacher that she entered Ruhi, but she was a natural. She was meant to be before people and had enough charisma to charm. But it also meant that once again, the mask was up. Once again, she wore plastic smiles and was judged on the basis of traits that she did not feel fully encompassed her. Like a doll on display, she continued to excel at pageant after pageant. And for the most part, Ruhi didn’t complain. Her parents kept her in thinking she enjoyed it. She continued thinking it was what was expected of her. Yet as the trophies stacked up in their house, the emotional burden of being in the spotlight and striving for perfection at all turns started to weigh on her. Yet Ruhi, unwilling to disappoint the people who had invested so much time and money in her success, continued to plaster on a fake smile for the world.  

While there was no more scheduling of her playtime, Ruhi did find it hard to make close friends at school. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way. She thought she had to be perfect, so she wore a mask. And in turn, the people around her who were drawn to her outgoing nature and manicured personality quickly pegged her as ‘fake’ behind her back. She left her hometown of Wilmington for the Big Apple, a city where she was certain she could reinvent herself. Yet once there, she again fell into a familiar pattern and the crutch of her put on personality as she was thrust into the modeling industry by the same people that had successfully helped her accumulate a number of titles throughout her childhood. If the world of pageants was difficult, this was another beast all together.

She met the man that she thought would be the last love of her life after a shoot one day. It was cliché to meet in a dimly lit bar around the holiday time. While Ruhi had family waiting for her, she opted to stay in the city for that Christmas, knowing that the strain on her heart would show in her eyes if she returned. And like that, she found her comfort in a man that she felt safe around. One who did not only love her for the personality she wore for the world but was willing to look beyond and accept the flaws she’d spent so long hiding from others. And maybe seeking validation and acceptance in a relationship was her first mistake.

A few years later, as her career was on the brink of taking off, she was faced with the reality of her relationship when she found her boyfriend in bed with one of the women that she worked with. Her world crumbled and that was indication she needed that years later, it was time for her to finally leave the world that had never been hers to begin with. The negative reinforcement stunted this personal growth much too soon and she reverted right back into her old ways after her first serious heartbreak. Because maybe the only side of her that people could love was the one that she projected, not the full person that she was. Ironically, it was her ability to wear a smile through everything and talk her way out of anything that landed Ruhi in hospitality. And soon after, wedding planning. Because it was much easier to manage other people’s stress and build their perfect day than it was to showcase her own. She worked outside of Wilmington for a few years, but it made sense for her business to move back home where she knew more people and could tap into her extensive social network.

MRUNAL THAKUR for The Man Magazine (September 2022) 📸 Colston Julian