Arjun had difficuty breathing. Did he really just see his Radhika doing that?

Wow.

He swallowed and blinked unaware of the condensing gazes locked onto him.

Where had she been hiding this wild side of hers? That backless top, those scintillating moves. He needed a really cold shower.

What the frick, he had simply come in to say goodbye to her as he was leaving for his own bachelor party. But now....it was too hot to think. His brain had completely shut down.

"Arjun, you cannot be here," he heard Preeti's head blocking his striking view.

Arjun looked at her irritated, “Get aside."

As he tried to step into the room, Geetika obstructed his path, “You aren't supposed to be here."

"Well, I can't think of being anywhere else," Arjun sent her a wicked smile.

"Arjun," Geetika protested.

Arjun shook his head, “Let me talk to my fiancée."

"Sorry, not allowed," Ambika Khanna entered the obstruction party.

"Mum, hell, she is my soon to be wife."

He caught Radhika eyes as she blushed at the desperation reflected in him.

She knew he had been wanting to talk to her but whenever they had tried to get away, someone or the other would pop out separating them and their ‘not so innocent’ motives.

Wasn't it unlucky to see the bride just before the wedding. No one told him he wouldn't be allowed two days prior to it.

Why couldn’t they just run away?

Stupid morals!

He was struggling to keep still as the ladies had decided it time to be done with politeness and were shoving him, more like trying to jostle him out of the room

As he bravely resisted their attempt, controlling his rage which wanted him to charge at his own female family members, his breath caught in his throat. He heard, saw swishing of her skirt as she walked, glided towards him.

Oh, those legs...he sighed as his eyes scanned her cleavage. He did not care about abstaining anymore. Everyone could go and jump off the building. He was kidnapping his would be wife and keeping her with him.

Rituals be damned!

Arjun was hypnotized. His would be wife was simply sexy. No polite word needed.

He mustered his strength as he blocked, a what could have been a really painful jab at his stomach by his mother.

They were hell bent on injuring him. Did they forget he was the groom?

"Okay, okay, let me just talk to him for two minutes," Radhika said to no one in particular but addressed everyone as she rushed to help him.

"My super hot savior is here," Arjun smiled as he indicated by his eyes that looking at her, he was going to swoon forcing Radhika to roll her eyes at his adorable antics.

"Really, Arjun, I thought men were supposed to be saviors?" Geetika chimed as she pulled his ears.

"Says the dictator," Arjun retorted tweaking her nose.

"Chivalry is so dead nowadays," Preeti shook her head and took a direct hit at Arjun's arm.

Arjun glared at her, “That really hurt woman. And someone told me once, knight in shining armor are so eighteenth century," he directed the words at Radhika who smiled remembering the time when her car had broken down and he had come of  nowhere to help her. Which as conveyed by him later, his arrival had been infact an intergral part of his wooing strategy.

As Arjun took another hit, Radhika spoke to Geetika," What do think the guests are thinking? Give me two minutes."

She was cut off by a loud roar that seemed to have erupted from Arjun," Woman, if you hit me one more time. I will forget you're my annoying younger sister."

“Let's have it, strong man. I can so beat you," Preeti piped.

As a war cry was resounded, Geetika swiftly slipped between the feuding siblings," stop acting like kids, Arjun you can have your two minutes."

Radhika sent a helpless shrug and a smile to her guests as her mother and mother in law went back in to get the party started.

Preeti narrowed her eyes as she pointed her index finger at Arjun," You get her back in two minutes."

"We're monitoring the time," Geetika piped in as she pushed Radhika making her stumble into Arjun's arms.

He clasped his hand on to hers and dragged her to an empty room.

He held her back holding her, as his gaze flittered from her legs to her thighs to her cleavage. Arjun moaned as his hands skimmed her thighs moving just under her short skirt.

"God, I have seen you naked and I didn't know you could look like that," he said in a husky voice, his need pressing into him.

Radhika smiled as she entangled her arms around his neck and leaned closer, licking his lips as he dragged her in closer for a proper fulfilling kiss.

"How am I supposed to abstain now?" Arjun asked, and dragged his one finger to her cleavage, the other hand sliding up her bare back.

She shivered.

"Radhika, I want you. I want you now," he muttered in deep agony as he buried his head in her breasts, trailing his tongue up her cleavage.

Radhika gasped in pleasure.

"Why aren't you at your bachelor party?"

"I wanted to see you before I left."

"You don't know what I want to do with you?" He said as he pressed a kiss on her bare shoulders.

"What?" Radhika asked breathless.

"Lick every damn part of you," he turned her and pulled her close to him, his hand on her stomach holding her tightly, while he licked her bare back.

"But Arjun." Radhika said as she pressed her pert bottom onto his hardness making Arjun groan.

"No buts, I am going to seduce you now, here."

Radhika smiled as she turned and cupped his face in her palm and lifting herself on her toes said," Tough luck, I am abstaining till the marriage," she pressed her lips on to his as Preeti and Geetika rushed inside dragging her away from him.

Radhika turned and said," If you behave well I might just do that dance for you on our wedding night," she winked at him, before walking away leaving him gasping and aroused like hell.

...............

"Beautiful, no wonder Arjun fell for you," a voice spoke from behind her.

Radhika turned.

"Ethan," she ran to him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much for coming."

"Pleasure is all mine, gorgeous," he said as he engulfed Arjun in a one arm hug," You're one lucky man."

Arjun draped an arm over Radhika," That I am."

After introducing Ethan to everyone, they sat down discussing everything under the sun.

"So what are all the ceremonies?" Ethan asked as his eyes roamed around, taking in the friendly atmosphere and the good looking men.

"We will have the mehndi ceremony today. Basically, women will apply red paint, made out of crushing the leaves on Radhika's hands."

"I have seen the marvelous designs, you do have the perfect ceremonies," Ethan said as he sipped his wine.

"Why thank you but they can be a bit bothersome too, they carry on and on and on."

Radhika hit Arjun's arm playfully," Shh! Don't say like that. Basically, mehndi signifies the love between the couple and the advent of the girl into married life, it's a beautiful ceremony, I love mehndi," she gushed.

"Well, I love you," Arjun clasped her hand in his and nuzzled her knuckles as Ethan tried hard to hide his grin. He was happy his friend had found his love.

"Arjun," Radhika turned scarlet.

Ethan and Arjun laughed at her sweet, flustered state.

"A night before the marriage, we will have a musical night called sangeet, filled with dancing, singing, drinking, good food," Arjun looked at Radhika," stunning women..."

"For you," Radhika interrupted him," its 'stunning woman'."

Arjun laughed," Definitely and.."

 "After that the wedding and the wedding night," Ethan completed his sentence enjoying Radhika’s cheek go completely scarlet.

..............

Radhika was dressed in a peach colored salwar suit (Indian traditional dress).

As she stepped into the room, there were admirable gushes. Her eyes sought one man whom she found already gazing at her. He smiled and pressed his palm to his heart indicating the place she occupied.

Radhika blushed. Today was a significant day for them. The culmination of these ceremonies would bring them a step closer to being joined for forever.

Arjun did not try to approach her. It was something that wasn't allowed. If they would have been in India, this ritual would have been done in her house without his presence but here they had decided to overlook that aspect. This wedding was a celebration of two families uniting, and they had vowed to enjoy as much as they could.

Radhika smiled, Mehndi for her, was not just any ceremony. It symbolized belief in the greatest institution of all, marriage.

Radhika was made to sit on a small stool as Geetika, Preeti and her friends surrounded her.

Turmeric paste was brought in by her mother as her relatives erupted into melodic songs, Renu applied the paste on Radhika's face, feet and hands.

“My daughter will glow on her wedding day,” she focused on applying the paste on her face, a tear slipped out of her eyes.

"Mum," Radhika whispered her voice heavy with emotions.

Renu smiled and shrugged vulnerably.

"I love you," Radhika said as she wiped her mother's tear.

"I love you too, my little girl," her mother whispered back hugging her tightly.

Renu pulled back and smiled, before giving her daughter a teasing grin," Now, mehndi time. You know what they say about mehndi?"

"Yes, yes," Preeti twinkled at Radhika," the darker the color of the mehndi, more the husband will love her."

Geetika laughed as she hugged Ambika her mother in law," Let’s see Radhika how much Arjun really loves you."

Renu looked at Ambika," Do you want to apply mehndi on her hands?"

Ambika smiled as she hugged Renu," After you, Renu."

Renu sat down as Radhika exchanged a glance with Arjun who was busy chatting with her father. He smiled at her, their chemistry, those glances made the air around them sizzle inviting a chorus of teasing and laughter.

"Do you want me to write the alphabet 'A' on your hand?" Geetika asked as she swiped the mehndi cone.

Preeti decided to answer it for Radhika," yes, but you better hide it well, after all Arjun should be made to work to find it amidst the design on the," she giggled.

"On the?" Meera, Radhika's friend enquired.

"Wedding night," Geetika squealed.

"It seems the party is alive in this corner," Arjun's voice carried out towards them.

"Yes, afterall the dazzling bride and her companions’ here," chirped Preeti.

"I can see that," Arjun gazed at her with so much love that it invited sighs from around him.

Radhika lowered her lashes as she gave him a shy smile.

Shy, innocent yet feisty. That was his woman.

The thought seemed to enlarge into a happy bubble," May I see your mehndi?" Arjun took a step only to encounter a punch on his arm from Preeti.

"You're not allowed," she shrieked.

Arjun looked at her as he reined in his anger," Woman, sister or not. One more hit from you and you're going to have it."

"Oh please. That's what you said yesterday."

While the siblings fought like little children, to the immense amusement of Radhika whose heart  couldn't help but float at the thought of being so wanted and cherished, Renu smiled and stood up to find her husband.

.................

Raj stood on the side as Renu walked towards him. She knew how he felt; the marriage of their daughter entailed within them a whirlpool of emotions. Radhika would leave them, needless to say they would always stand by her but her welfare, and her home would be with someone else. Renu was happy that someone was the man her daughter loved.

She laid her hand on Raj's shoulder as he leaned his face on her hand and gathered her in his arms.

Renu looked up to see his glassy eyes; she kissed his cheek and laid her head onto his shoulder.

They stood together, reveling in each other's warmth, joined by the same emotions.

A shout of laughter made them turn, their eyes locked on their blushing daughter, giddy with happiness.

Raj sighed as he gave Renu a smile; she squeezed his arm in return.

"No matter what, she will always belong to us."

He took her hand in his, kissed her palm," She did, she does and always will."

.................

The sangeet ceremony was being held outside in the lawns. Fairy lights, strategically put candles, flowers decked in every little nook and corner gave the entire environment an ethereal look. Literally five hundred people were in attendance. All close family, friends of both families had been invited to this function.

Arjun had been engrossed in a conversation with his friends when the sight of Radhika rendered him speechless.

His heartbeat quickened as he looked at the woman descending the stairs, clad in a sleeveless aquamarine dress, low cut blouse, with her enticing bare shoulders on display, the dress showcased her lavishly exposed figure, and she looked like a blood stirring temptress. His temptress.

Arjun wanted to tug her blouse down and flick his tongue over the tips of her breasts, making her moan in ecstasy.

He found himself right in front of her, pulled by her magnetic beauty, his mouth quirked into a grin ad he asked her, “who are you?"

Radhika tilted her head and gave him a small smile, her nerves were flickering dangerously, in the black tux, Arjun looked enchanting, the broad shoulders, the muscles of his arm tempting her to wildness," Don't you know me?"

A smile appeared on his handsome face, “I intend to."

She brushed her hair away," It might be possible that I belong to someone."

Arjun leaned close to whisper in her ear and growled," You only belong to me."

His lips brushed her throat, as she quivered in anticipation of something tangy, his kiss.

"May I dance with you," he held out his hand and firmly held hers in his.

Arjun put his arm around Radhika's waist dragging her closer to him as they swayed to the music.

Radhika found bliss to be here, like this. Where she could feel no one but him. He exclusively belonged to her.

"I love the way you move," Arjun said as he moved still closer and lightly nipped her ear.

Her pulse throbbed in excitement," You do know exactly how I move, don't you?"

Arjun groaned," Let's not talk about that lap dance please; it gets damn uncomfortable for me."

"Uncomfortably hard," Radhika corrected.

"Radhika, don't force me to ravish you here."

“You know what?"

"What?" He asked her as he spun her before tightly winding his arms around her.

"Someone claimed he could seduce me," Radhika purred as she licked his neck before pretending to lay her head on his shoulder for everyone's benefit.

"You need seduction, is it?"

"It's not easy to seduce me, Arjun."

"Do I sound the makings of arrogance, Radhika?" Arjun asked as he kissed her temple when in reality all he wanted to do was take her then and there in the middle of the dance floor.

"Nah, not arrogance but a challenge," Radhika whispered as she snuggled closer to him.

Arjun looked at her, his eyes meshing hers," Hmm, Radhika I think your sandals have come loose, come here," Radhika frowned as Arjun pulled her, guiding her onto a chair.

What was wrong with him? Her sandals were perfectly fine.

He bent down in front of her and before she could ask him what he was up to. He lifted a bit of her skirt and ptouched her leg. Their eyes locked onto each other as Arjun feathered his fingers on her leg, moving them sensually towards the ankle before sliding them down to her foot. Her breath stopped as awareness slammed into her. She was deeply aroused, and she quivered when his hand clasped her toe, the heat of his hand penetrated into her, burning her with dire need.

Arjun smiled at her, as he stood up and pulled her up. He leaned close to her as if kissing her ear when he whispered, "I can seduce you anywhere, darling fiancée, just with my touch," and proceeded to kiss her earlobe.