Our wedding
this heart of mine
He blackmailed me. Oh not for the job I was not that desperate. I quit the next day and applied at an employment agency. Guess what my first job was. I was his secretary for two weeks. His secretary had gone on vacation to Barbados. Later I got to know he had pulled some strings to get me where he wanted. And then it happened. By now you could have guessed we can't keep our hands off each other. First day he kissed me, second day I grabbed him. Third day I avoided him as much as I could. Fourth day he went out of country but not before kissing me silly. He was out for two days. Then came the weekend. I was wishing that his secretary would come early and I do not have to go there again and miraculously it happened. Later he told me he was just giving me some space. He started to haunt me, in my dreams. Whenever I spotted a guy with blue eyes I remembered his midnight blue ones. On the streets, in my bed I saw him. I was thinking of going to a psychiatrist. But then I landed a job which was physically and mentally very strenuous. I was so exhausted at the end of the day that I just fell on to the bed. I thought I was cured, but the devil was waiting just for me to relax my guard. As soon as the job got over, I landed another at some beach house as the live-in housekeeper for a week. Guess whose home was that. I was made to sign a contract saying in no circumstances can I leave the job before the week was over. I read the contract carefully; the beach house was of some Mrs. Braganza. The address was in the same locality as that of his, but since I have heard that he was out of country for the week I signed it. The pay was generous, the hours flexible, and I was informed that no one will be there this week. When I went to the house, I was escorted in the house by the present housekeeper who was going to visit her daughter. She explained everything within an hour, than left. I went to my room. I was not given the usual staff quarters instead my room was quite luxurious. I thought maybe it was because I was temporary staff.
I was in the shower, when I thought I heard the gate being opened and closed. But I often imagine things in shower, when I know anyone can enter the house without my knowing. So I ignored it, it still felt spooky, but the bath tub looked so inviting that I ignored my instincts. Good thing I did, though I didn't think so at that time. When I came out all wet wrapped in a bath robe from the recent bath, I found a man longing in the luxurious sofa bed in my room. His back was to me, so without thinking, instead of slipping past him to the door, finding a phone to call police, I shrieked and that alerted him. As soon as he turned to me, I was so astonished that the scream didn't make it past my throat. He walked towards me with the grace of a lion prowling his prey, when he was within touching distance he closed my mouth which was hanging open just a moment ago in astonishment. Regaining my composure, I shirked away his hand and desperately searched for an exit. But he was in the way of the only exit and unless I would climb down the balcony there was no way out. Before I could think anything else, "so we meet again. You didn't like my surprise did you? Never mind. It is time."
I was bemused. I didn't know what he was talking about. He must surely be crazy, and instead of panicking I just need to find an exit.
"You have had enough time to ponder over my proposal. What is your decision?"
"What proposal? What decision? What are you doing here?"
"Ah, Bella you are such an innocent."
"I am not Bella, I am kripa."
"Kripa Sharma, 24. Lives in bandra, RJ at 94.3 FM. Lives with her maternal uncle, aunt, their son and daughter-in-law. They adopted you when you were 14. "
"How do you know all this?"
"Your name? You worked for me for a week. You have such short memory."
"No all other things, except my name and rj bit."
"I investigate all my employees. As for you it was necessary to know all there is to know about my future wife. That's the proposal I am talking about."
"You are deranged, do you know that?"
"No you are the one who enlightened me; it will bring me great pleasure to make you eat your words."
"Get out before I call the police."
"Ah kripa, as I said so innocent. This is my grandmother's home. I co-own it with her. So you see you can't throw me out of my own home." After an uncomfortable silence, in which kripa tried to make sense of what was going on he said, "But for you I will go just this once, don't run. Remember the contract you signed. Don't think I will not sue you. See you later."
A week later
They married at his grandmother's beach house. His gammy was lovely and loving. She treated her as her own daughter, insisted she needed a honest to god white wedding dress. She wore a flowing white ankle length wedding gown. The neckline was boat-shaped with beautiful lucnowi work on it. Though I adored it and everything else about the wedding I wish I had meant the vows back then as angad did. Angad, angad khanna is my husband of five years and the love of my life, the person who changed my outlook towards life, who made me realize happily ever after exist, and I too have a right to be happy.
Edited by ...anshu... - 15 years ago
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