Story 2

The Gentleman Who Stole My Heart

Chapter 7

He pulled back breathing heavily. I stared into his eyes. A slow smile grew on his gorgeous face. Couldn't help but note his lips. Oh what am I doing? I closed my eyes. 

No sooner had I closed my eyes than I felt warmth on my forehead. He kissed me there. It was warm not hot. It was gentle not fervent. I could hear my breathing. My gaze crawled up to his eyes which were shining with love. It had to be love. Because I felt it was!

Realising how close we were. I stepped back and at the next moment he released my arms from his hold. I grasped the end of my dupatta nervously. Oh, God, we were kissing again. In the guest room of his home this time. 

"Take care" he whispered tracing and tucking my hair behind my ear. I nervously shook my head. Oh, this reminded me, others would be waiting downstairs for me. It was already late.

I almost ran out. Almost. Once I was down I waited for him to come down while my parents spoke to his uncle and aunt. Finally we left, when he came down.He smiled and waved at me. My mother nudged me slightly and I looked at her embarrassed. "Whatever!" I muttered as mom laughed.

* * * 

I looked at my dress. I had kept it simple. Like always. Daadi as usual was batting for me wearing a saree. Like seriously? Whatever. So I sat with my head buried into my phone waiting for Arjun. Well I was supposed go with him and finalize the dresses for the function. 

He greeted my parents and Daadi when he came. I smiled. He was a genuine gentleman. With others at least. My thoughts made me grin. Oh shoot. The awkwardness came back. Last night we kissed. Every time we were alone my heartbeats raced. Like right now. We were silently seated in the car. 

Thankfully the drive was short owing to less traffic. We entered his fashion house. 

"Tell me your favorite color." He said as people passed us smiles. The world was all set to makee feel like a fish out of water.

"Anything does for me."

"Really?" He asked amused at my answer.

"Yeah." I shrugged. "Just that they must be comfortable."

"Hmm. Alright, my assistant Neha will walk you through the wardrobe. I have briefly given her the sketch of all possible  functions S.H gave me. If you don't like anything tell her that, we'll get the second collection. As for my bride's dress that, I will come back and take you upstairs to the Bride room. "

"Bride room?" I asked anxiously.

"Relax. It's named like that because we store all bride collections there. "

Could he not stay with me. I felt extremely awkward being around his staff. First of all, all the ladies were checking me out from top to bottom. They were all dressed like out from a fashion magazine. Among them there I was his fiancée dressed in the plainest of all clothes. 

"Okay." I said moving away with his assistant while he went to check on a few stuff he had told me about in the car. One thing I knew from the half whispers I heard. Women were mad about this tall, handsome man who happened to be my fiancé. That only led to a conclusion they'd perhaps judge me and envy me. Why is all of this so complicated.

It had been more than forty five minutes and I hadn't picked a single dress. I was always used to Mumma and Daadi doing that for me. I didn't even know what I liked. Everything seemed all the same good. 

He joined us surprised that I hadn't picked a single dress. His assistant left us alone with the dresses.

"You don't like them?" He asked bewildered.

"No. I like them all. I couldn't pick one." I said awkwardly.

"Let me help." He said smiling. "Silk or chiffon? "

"Anything is fine. I am not allergic to any material." I said looking awkwardly at the dresses.  What was chiffon? 

He gave me a short grin. "Mehendi, I guess green, goes well with the theme?"

I nodded. Time run please. 

A few minutes later he sat exasperated before me, " Stop being formal and pick whatever you want. "

I stared at him. Was she getting angry?

"Is there a problem?" His sweet voice made me relax. Not angry.

"I ... I suck at making choices." I said honestly, as softy as possible. 

"Oh!" He blinked. I was sure he hadn't heard that excuse before, certainly not from a girl on shopping her clothes. 

The truth was I never made my choices. Most things were suggested by family and I did that. That's how  I grew up. From my career to courses, clothes to my toys were always choices of my family. Now even the bridegroom. I was like that. He'd never understand. No one would. 

He helped me choose. It took two whole hours. But I was surprised how he kept every dress on me and made remarks that I would agree or disagree with and ultimately we chose a few gorgeous dresses. 

" I guess, I know your choice now. So I will make sure your bridal lehenga is perfect. " he said as we moved out of the huge air conditioned room. 

I nodded. 

"Actually, the thing is I am very hungry. But if you want to choose..."

"No!" I said quickly he laughed, placing a hand on my waist as we walked out. My Brian paid no attention to what he said after that, the entire attention was on his hand on my waist.

After lunch he suggested that we went to his small bungalow where he actually lived. I had had enough for the day with him, it was all too overwhelming for me. Besides, the tiresome job of selecting attire had left me tired. I asked him if it was okay if we went some other time. He nodded smiling widely. I was rejecting his suggestion and he was smiling? Crazy man. He dropped me home an told me he was going out of town for next five days. Finally, two days to breathe and think of all of this was what I wanted.

* * *

I couldn't believe the words of the PanditJi, for a moment. He was now my husband bu both law and religion. Seven births, as the Panditji put it. Tied for seven births. Time had flied. How Two weeks had passed I didn't even know. My heart was racing at all sorts of thoughts and ideas. I couldn't believe o wouldn't be staying with my parents anymore. As I occasionally saw the faces of my parents watching me with tears in their eyesbthey struggled to hold back,my own eyes turned moist. 

Everything donez all rituals performed except one – Bidaai– the goodbye. I bit my lips lost in my thoughts walking beside him, go the parking lot. 

"Hey, Nisha. You can go back home whenever you went. In fact I will come along. " I heard him say. He had been a very understanding person in the past few days. He somehwere knew my demented state of mind. The impulsive Romeo had turned to a very cooperative companion. 

I passed him a smile. The next thing I knew his hand slipped into mine. Holding me delicately yet firmly. I looked atbhim gratefully, still awkward about his presence in my life, which now would be permanent. 

I hugged my mother the minute she took a step closer to me. They said daughters were more attached to fathers. Maybe true. Buy whoever the 'they' were hadn't met me and my mother. She was that best friend. I looked at my NRI brother Karan as he took my pictures giving me a grin. I smiled reaching out to hit him. We both, Arjun and I, had a Karan in our life. Now together, we head two. His cousin and my brother. Both were playfully annoying.

"Nishu, Happily Ever After!" My mother whispered in my ears and I laughed amidst my tears. As a young girl, I used to lobe listening to fairytale where in the Ned there was always a Happily Ever After, and mother always said, I would have one too. She carefully wiped my face with the tissue in her hand. I smiled remembering all those cute little moments when my mumma dressed me for school, even for the first day of my college she had combed my hair. Not to forget howbshe had cribbed about my bank uniform, that plain bluish shirt at the first day of work. Then there was today. Where she dressed me up as the bride. For every function, she was always beside me, driving away my nervousness with humorous memories from her wedding and making my every moment beautiful.

Papa hugged me and once again the rain from eyes stained my face. Who cared. This was freaking hard. To leave the only people I loved in the whole enormously huge world. I felt my mother's hands around me. Soon Karan and Daadi joined. It was the Singh family hug. I never thought, considering the person I was I would breakdown like that before everyone forgetting about everything else. That day I realised, separations were one of the hardest things that happened to humans. That day Nisha Singh was blurred and put into the background and Nisha Arjun Shenoy was given spotlight! Forever.

I have to thank, Shreya and Priya (sr_shivika and thelostjournal) of not for them I would have never even considered even putting this back up. And now I am resuming this! :) 

I enjoyed writing something light after a long time. Not conflicted or flawed. 

Do pour in your feedback!

-Anami!

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