Chapter 2

The day I met HER

Sameer Maheshwari pov

'gosh this was exasperating! I was meeting the 15th girl in a span of a week! Apparently my mother is desperate to get me married. Gosh! And now am being dragged around people's houses to see prospective brides. And what brides! All they do is come dolled up in their finery while they smile their alluring smiles and bat their lashes and look at me as if I were some prize. And when I ask them a question or two either they are too dumb to answer or would just take the safe diplomatic way. Nobody had the guts to answer point blank or to express their opinions. My mother already had berated me before coming here today, since I was fast becoming an embarrassment to her given my rate of rejection. All she desired for is a lovely girl from a decent family with proper education. But what about me? my desires were not aligned with hers. I was looking for a life partner who can look me in the eye and walk with me matching every one of my steps.

But my mind today is distracted, while enroute I got the news that our company had bid successfully for a tender and the work was to start shortly. I was happy at the news but my mother seemed overjoyed. She took it as an amen that this particular girl was already spreading her pixie dust in my life and its her doing that I got the project. Bull!

My mom was already convinced and and now from across the lawn she has been sending me feelers as in, that I should just say yes.

To hell with the yes! This one is definitely not getting any yes from me. if the others were bad. This female is epitome for worst. She is KKamya. Don't get me wrong, I haven't spelled her name wrong its KKamya with a double K. from the moment this creature laid her greedy eyes upon me, she has been eyeing me like some lottery ticket. Her mother right from the start believes that ours is a match made in heaven. And if god would have bestowed her with special powers she would have married us off right at this instance rightaway. She kept on droning about Kkamya's beauty, still is droning by the way while I am being made to sit with KKamya at a distance from our elders where we can talk and the others can gape.

Now let me tell you a thing or two about KKamya. She has apparently taken part in all of her college's beauty pageants and won them all. She loves to shop and travel and my god the books that she reads, ranging from femina to cosmopolitan...she knows it all. And now she is stirring some hot water with two teaspoons of sugar. Actually am sorry she is making me some tea, yes but the tea is missing and the fool doesn't even realise that. While she stirs, she is batting her lashes, chewing her lips and also her eyes are shining like she has already bagged the prize.

But like I said, I am distracted today, not because her or the contract or my mothers summons that I should now choose KKamya as my bride and get married. My mind is wandering back to the moment when I stepped in to this very compound. When the gates of our car opened and I set foot here. Those curtains and those eyes.... The brown black orbs that stared back at me in awe. Yes I know, a lot of people tell me I am handsome and I am used to enjoying female attention. But this time the gaze was captivating, it spelled like some magic, I wasn't even looking in the direction when something, may be some wind beckoned me to look the way. And was I enamoured, and I could help but wink. I don't know I have never before done something of this sort before. It was not like I was seeing a beautiful girl for the first time. I have been in the company of few but never have I had the urge to wink at them. This one was different. The very first thought that crossed my mind was 'MINE'. It felt like I was being pulled in her direction. But why? And hence now I wanted to meet this girl. See her in person. And hence while miss ever so beautiful but dumb droned in about some beauty sorry make up tips I signaled for the father and moved in his direction. The father Rakesh Agarwal almost bounced up on his feet and sprinted to my side at once. He looked at me with so much anticipation and joy and I was about to burst his bubble. I leaned into her ear and wished to see the girl at the window. He looked flustered and at a loss for words even and even his lame attempt at lying was caught when the butler who had brought in our tea lovingly spelled her name.

Naina

Wow! The name itself had a magical ring to it and so apt. those eyes need to be commemorated, they talk, they emote and they captivate. I had to see this girl to know what she is and why this sudden pull.

Present:

Naina

The more the giggles grew and the sound of feet approaching the door grew closer, my heart thudded with an intensity I had never known before. My mind was busy berating me, why on earth did I turn down his offer to meet before marriage or why did I not go to choose the ring with him. Atleast I could have known him, as in how he behaves in private. Whether he behaves at all! He sounded respectful on the phone sometimes eager even to talk but I would always give clipped replies. What have I gotten myself into?

Sameer:

My mind was a myriad of emotions, mostly the emotion that dominated was happiness rather exhilaration. Finally I could be with her alone. Finally all her attempts to dodge me would fail. Today I was unavoidable. I tried to meet her before our wedding but she would always find a way to side step my attempts. Moreover her step mother dearest Savita Agarwal was insolent about the entire situation and how I was making the biggest mistake of my life. That Naina was bad news and she would spell doom over my entire being. She went blah blah blah and was not ready to let go until I had the final word. My mother was aghast and somewhat worried since Savita's words did have an impact on her and she felt may be I needed to rethink but I was sure. Especially when I saw her glide down those stairs in a pale peach salwar kurta and make confident steps towards me not leaving my eyes for once, I knew she was the one for me. and the very one was now seated on my bed sorry our bed at the very centre trembling like a leaf. She had a long veil covering her face and though her expressions aren't really clear, the gait seems like that of a terrified prey. I couldn't stop my smirk and then the peals of laughter that followed were automatic. God this girl! She indeed is a piece of art. Did she actually think that I would jump her, like some pervert. Well I agree its our first night and yes I intend to take a step or two towards progression but not without a prelude. But now seeing her my mind couldn't help but concoct a scheme of its own to trouble. If she believed herself to be the prey lets be the predator in this game and fool around a bit. After all she made me wait for long just for a glance. Lets show her that two could play the game and be party as well.

Naina:

Was it laughter? First he took his own sweet time to enter the room and then didn't take time at all to bolt the door that too with a thud and then he kept on taking baby steps towards me while eyeing me like some prize and suddenly he decides to stop and regard me from afar and then that devilish absolutely devastating smirk follows and suddenly laughter. Here am sweating under this long veil and while the AC seems to be on at 16 degrees am shivering simultaneously this man his having his moment of comedy circus at my behest. But what on earth is so funny? I just don't know what am supposed to do next. The days leading to the wedding were sheer torture. Kkamya and her mother never left a stone unturned to make my life a living hell. The snide remarks about how am a bad amen for all. That I was sculpted for destruction. I was denied of food even and somehow managed to sneak some bread in with the help of our household helps. My father refused to see me and be it my clothes or jewellery or make up were all sponsored by the laughing devil. I was miserable. First Daadi's demise and then being at the mercy of my father was already a big wound upon my self respect and then god had to add insult to injury with more complications in the name of Sameer Maheshwari. Since when did I become so weak or dependent? Preeti had urged me break free and run but my conscience didn't let me run and now my best friends were no longer talking to me. they had both deserted me. such a rut I had gotten myself stuck into.

My reverie was suddenly broken by the approaching footsteps. He was coming towards me.

Sameer:

For every step that I took in her direction, she shuffled and shifted towards the edge. She was seated at the very centre of my bed , sorry our bed. I was enjoying the show myself. It was entertaining the way she was shifting and I could see her fast moving towards the very last edge until she was in my arms. Yes! In my arms, before she could shift further and land on her butt on the floor, I leaped to her rescue and she was now in my arms, while her veil flew off and was now rolling across the floor and her body pressed against mine. Her eyes were big with shock while my eyes wandered over her form. Her eyes the black brown orbs that always held me captive, while her pink painted lips trembled and looked inviting. She was dressed as my bride rather my wife now and I felt a possessiveness course through me, to protect and love her. Her hair was done up in a bun that was adorned with sweet smelling flowers. The lehenga was deep red chosen by him, with gold borders accentuated her every curve just the right way. The wedding jewellery of diamonds and kundan added to her shimmer and shone like a beacon of purity that was alluring and enchanting simultaneously. I couldn't stop but tightened my hold on her. God how was I to control and not jump her tonight. No wonder is she scared. Having her in my arms I wasn't sure of my intentions anymore. The pull towards her seemed dangerous while my body tightened in response and want coursed through me. Here I was planning to prank her and now I had landed myself in a jeopardy. The spell was broken once she wiggled in my arms, and the more she wiggled the more I could feel the contours of her not so innocent parts brush against my being and my imagination went on an overdrive. All I could think of was how would she feel under me, the softness of her seemed inviting and I could visualise the pliant self hers with me on this very bed. God!

Naina

He groaned! I kept wiggling kept hitting him on the chest but to no avail, she stood like a statue with roving eyes. His eyes roamed on me from head to toe while I felt a soft tickle course through me. what was it with him? With any other man it could have felt lewd and I might have called him a pervert even but with this guy it felt more like he was drinking me in and while he was doing so it felt like he was worshipping my being.

Naina: am sorry, I misjudged the distance and hence.....

Sameer : why were you even moving? Aren't you the bride

Naina: so?

Sameer : so you are supposed to be sitting as still as possible

Sameer

I was enjoying this conversation. Though in the beginning I felt like I wouldn't be able form sentences especially the way my body had reacted to her proximity and my mind had gone on an imaginary overdrive. But within minutes of her speaking I regained my composure and now I was hell bent upon making it awkward for her.

Naina

The smirk was back and this man actually had the audacity to tease me. so what! I wouldn't back out. If he thinks that I would behave like a shy demure wife, no I wouldn't . I was irritated gosh!

Naina: why did you even choose me?

Sameer : ( while smirking in glory) why shouldn't have? I know you cant believe your good fortune. Look where it landed you. In my arms! After all I am the Sameer Maheshwari and usually girls die for my attention while here I am all yours truly HUSBAND. I know it must be hard to believe

Naina: you are exasperating, I don't think you are capable of a proper normal conversation. Its better we get changed and sleep instead. Anyways we both have had a hectic schedule given the various rituals of the wedding and are in dire need of some restful sleep. I'll just go change

With that I started moving towards the washroom only to be pulled back in to his strong arms. While in his arms I felt his hard chest, the well formed muscles of his arms and the musky smell that emanated around him put me under his spell. There was this magnetism around him that attracted me to him. I knew I was in trouble since my body started reacting in all the wrong ways and my mind stopped working as if I was drowning into him. I looked into his eyes to see the pools of desire darkening while I could feel him inching closer, his lips were about to touch mine, his breaths felt like hot embers against my skin and suddenly the desire to burn in this fire was inexplicable. I closed my eyes in surrender. Already the controlled life that I had led till now, after his advent into my life had started to slip. As if things were happening on their own and I was ready to be swayed off the shore and be tossed around. While I anticipated his kiss, he bent near my ears and whispered softly

'Naina I don't intend to sleep tonight. Just sleeping wouldn't do justice, since I have waited too long for this day for this time. To take you in my arms. I intend to be lost in you, while we drown into each other but before that I want you to know that all of this can wait. You have a lot of questions while I owe you answers that am yet to find. The answers of your question lies in the very journey of our relationship. And with every passing day you would be getting your questions answered while I would get to discover various new facets of you and together we would be peeling layers of our relationship until we reach the pinnacle where we become one. Today I just want you to know that I fell in love with you the moment those brown black orbs of yours met mine. Initially it was difficult for me to understand but then I realised that you are the very woman of my dreams. I just want you know today, that may be when you married me today, those vows meant may be little or nothing to you but to me they mean the world and with every step around the holy fire I promised myself to you and promised to protect you with my life. I want to be the force that drives you, I want you to be my aid, somebody who walks every step of the way matching my steps. I don't intend to hinder your life in anyway rather I want to be your pillar of strength and in no way should you believe that you are dependent on me or in anyway a burden since you are my responsibility and I yours together we are one"

With that he moved away, and when I opened my eyes I saw him staring at me with all the love. I felt my eyes glisten since never had I expected this what transpired today. While I entered into this marriage with no expectations at all, he had laid his entire life in front of me for me, his heart was at my behest. He gestured for me to go to the toilet to change while I blinked in daze. When I didn't move, he turned me gently and led me to the bathroom. Only when he clicked the door shut did I realise that I was actually the Cinderella who was living the dream that I had never dreamt off. While I turned the tap on I could hear the rustle of clothes and him changing. I heard him say something, and hence I peeked out to see, only to find him changed into his night suit. The room still smelled of the roses the candles still flickered while he had dimmed the lights.

He turned to me and said " I prefer the left side"

I replied "right is always right for me"

He smiled and with that I moved to the bed and soon inside the comfort of the fluffy blanket, he turned to switch the light off and murmured a soft goodnight. While I laid there, I felt his strong arms slither around my waist while he pulled me towards him close. When I gasped in surprise, he simply smiled and murmured " its our first night sweetheart, am I not allowed a little bit of guilty pleasure? By the way this is just the prelude, like with every passing day you would find new answers to your every question, we would progressing in terms of intimacy and do things that usually normal couples indulge in ok?"

And when I asked " what kind of normal activities Sameer"

He came closer, nuzzling his nose into the crook of my nose he whispered "in due time sweetheart"

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