
Act I (viii) - Where the Heart Is
"Love is a sudden revelation; a kiss is always a discovery"
~Unknown~
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"So, you are tired out?"
Aabha nodded, she was never enthusiastic about large gatherings and the constant necessity to have a smile plastered on her face would wear her patience thin. If it had been anyone else, she would have just made a perfunctory appearance. But for Ishaani's sake, Aabha had gone through almost four hours of smiling and greeting the guests, so much so that her jaws ached and her feet hurt. Finally, when she saw that the guests were making their way towards the long dining tables, she smiled at Ishaani and said, "please, cover for me, five minutes at least, I need a break, " and had stepped outside for a breath of fresh air.
The entire grounds were lit with thousands of fairy lights and she saw that there were a few gazebos that adorned the gardens of the Rathore grounds. She had picked out the farthest one, in hopes of staying undiscovered for some time but was quite pleased that the intruder was Shaurya. She stood twiddling with the leaves of the jasmine creeper that wound its way around one of the pillars, absolutely comfortable with both his presence and the silence that surrounded them, though his next question had her floundering a bit.
"Tell me Aabha, if you had to have a guy propose to you, how would you like it?"
She did not answer, surprised at the suddenness and nature of his question. However, while she did not want to keep quiet, she was not too sure how to answer, so she slowly asked, "And why do you want to know?"
Shaurya shrugged, "I still remember your bewilderment at seeing Reyansh propose to Ishaani at the coffee shop. I thought that is what impresses most girls, a very public declaration of the man's affections, a ring that looks like the metal band is struggling with the rock it is holding onto, huge bunch of flowers that resemble the flowering bush rather than a bouquet; he had even bribed the assistant to play their favourite song and blackmailed me into videotaping the whole event. Though Ishaani loved it, you looked like you would have hit the guy with the bouquet."
Aabha smiled and suddenly feeling mischievous, decided she could tease him a little. Pretending to think, she answered, "I would want it to be private but in the open, maybe under the wide blue skies. I do not want any witnesses to the proposal except our hearts, no one around but you and me."
Aabha did not realise the slip in her words for she continued with her fanciful notions, "Further, it should be a lovely heartfelt speech and in the midst of a shower of petals."
Shaurya narrowed his eyes as he registered the use of the phrase 'you and me' but instead of pursuing that line, decided to tease her back, "For someone who professes to be unromantic, not only is your idea whimsical, it is quite impractical. How do you expect a shower in the open and with no one around? It would be near impossible to pull it off, but I have to admit, I seem to have taught you well, though I am going to have my work cut out for me when I have to fulfil your wish."
Aabha felt the change in his tone as he spoke the last line, his voice had grown deeper and seemed to echo of a nameless longing and when she realised how close they were standing, it appeared to her that the very air around them was sizzling. Suddenly uncomfortable with the topic, she looked down at her ghaghra and asked him, "Do you recognise this dress, it is the one you helped me select. I would have to give it to you, your choice is good."
He smiled, absolutely aware of why she was changing the topic but then unwilling to let the moment go, said, "Good? My choice is excellent, which is why I will always choose you."
Aabha, who had been smoothing the non-existent creases of her skirts, looked up sharply at him when she heard his words. She saw that familiar ardour, which she had always presumed as playfulness, shine in his eyes. Aabha felt as though she could simply drown in those pools of chocolate and even as she watched, she saw that brown darken and the ardour deepen to a desire. He gently slipped one arm around her waist and pulled her towards him, his hand gentle yet firm against the small of her back. With his other hand he stroked her cheek lightly, causing Aabha to shiver under his touch.
The tingles that she had always felt at Shaurya's touch were nothing compared to the fire that now blazed through her, a liquid heat that left her both breathless and gasping for more. She wound her arms around his neck and stretched on her toes, till she realised that they were so close, she could feel his breath on her lips. She did not want to fight that attraction anymore and as she closed her eyes, she felt his lips press against hers.
She stayed still, not sure of what to do, till he slowly parted her lips with his, taking in her breath before tenderly touching the tip of his tongue to hers, then softly pulling back to nip her lower lip, tugging it, teasing it before capturing her lips again. She gently let herself go, brushing his lips, tracing their shape as though committing each line to her memory, marvelling as to how well they fit against her mouth so perfectly.
And then when he released her, Aabha kissed him again, this time, parting her lips wide in invitation, allowing a part of her soul to cross over in that gesture, something that had her blood rushing and her heart pounding. Shaurya tightened his arm around her, cupped her face with his other hand and holding her hard, kissed her back furiously, unable to resist her impassioned appeal. He had wanted to be gentle but he could not help respond to the need that coursed through his veins and seemed to echo in Aabha as she curved against him.
When he finally broke the kiss, both were breathless, their faces flushed and a fine sheen of sweat visible in the cool moonlight. They stood in silence, his forehead resting against hers, and then she whispered, "I guess I have to accept that love exists."
Pulling back slightly so that she could look into Shaurya's eyes, she confessed, "I love you, Shaurya."
She did not even need him to say that he loved her; she could see it in his eyes, shining brighter than any light she had ever seen.
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Ishaani noted that her sister was absent for much longer than the five minutes she had requested; she was aware that Aabha was not very comfortable during such ceremonies and actually detested the photography aspect of such functions. And she had overheard Reyansh tell his chaachi that Shaurya had stepped out to take a call so there was no point in waiting till he came, they should simply have the photographs taken and if Shaurya finished his call he would join them. That gave her another possibility as to why her sister was not in the hall with the rest of them. She simply convinced her mother and Grandmother to stop worrying about Aabha, who had stepped out for a breath of fresh air. She had a very knowing smile as she thought about the fun she would have teasing Aabha, if her suspicions were correct.
Thus both Shaurya and Aabha, lost in each other's arms, were happily missing from every photograph of Ishaani and Reyansh's engagement. In fact, the entire album would not have had a single photograph of them if the photographer had not received a call just as he started packing up. He took the call and continued his conversation deferring his departure by a few minutes.
And when Aabha and Shaurya finally walked into the great hall, still talking gently to each other, so lost were they in each other that they did not notice that the ceremony was over and the hall was empty as the guests had all but departed. It was the photographer who chanced on them and noting the happy couple that they made, clicked a few photographs of them as they walked together. He checked his screen, 'it has come out beautifully' he thought, 'they make as beautiful a couple as the one who had gotten engaged, the love they have for each is visible in every single frame.'
He would know, for he could see in photographs what most people could not see on the faces. What he did not know was that he had managed to capture an elusive picture of infinite love before the fates would strike it out forever.
And here ends Act I. I know it is short and I am aware that the 'foreshadowing' does not bode well. But then I had to end it somewhere, so here it is.
Next update is Act II. In the meantime, could you let me know how this chapter was? All feedback, good or bad is welcome.
love,
Nyna
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