Chapter 3
He reached the door of his room, only to find Daadi smilingly leave the room. "Billu tu aa gaya..Anika Teri hi raha dehk rahi thii" The older woman chuckled.
Shivaay gave an awkward smile. "Chal..Good night..! Tum log aaram karo." She said patting his shoulder. Slightly pushing him inside she shut the door behind her. Shivaay looked on. The room had been beautifully decorated with petals,aromatic candles and red and white chiffon decorative pieces of cloth. He wondered whether it was his own room. Then he remembered her. He ran his gaze around the room looking for her. When his eyes rested to the left he realised she was standing by him. Dressed in a heavy and richly embroidered red lehenga, with an equally beautifully designed blouse and matching duppatta. The duppatta was put around her in the most stylish yet traditional manner. Heavy necklaces around her neck complemented her blouse.Her hands adorned beautiful yet large set of Bridal Chuda. Long big Jhumkas hung majestically from her ears. His gaze moved upwards to her face. Her lips shining a glossy red perfectly complementing her dress. As his gaze shifted up, he noticed the red vermilion in the slight portion of her hair that had been tied into stunning messy hair bun. His gaze shifted lower to her neck to find the nuptial chain dominantly around her neck. She was his lawfully wedded wife! His eyes moved back up to meet hers.
She stared at him. "What!?"
"You are my wife!" He said aloud his thoughts. She squeezed her eyes at him."Yeah you realised that after two hours?'
He frowned, why was she so irritated?
"Umm.." he groped for words.
"Umm...aahhh..later...first help me out of this mess." She ordered him.
"What?" he looked at her confused. "What mess?"
"Shivaay.. This mess... She said pointing to her duppatta.
"Kya?" he asked wide eyed gulping. When did she become this bold?
"A penny for your thoughts! Help me take off his dhai kilo ka boj on my head. Nothing of what you are thinking."
He chuckled, "how do you know what I am thinking?" He advanced towards her.
"Ahhh...I will die if this is on my head longer.! " she cribbed.
"HellO. Talk to me properly if you are expecting help from me okay." Yes Shivaay, way to go dont let her dominate from the first day itsef otherwise she will dominate always.
"Ahh..SSO..! " She snapped at him.
"Fine." he turned the other way.
She made a grumpy face and moving towards him. She needed help. None of the ladies had helped her saying it was Suhaagraat. Now only her Suhaag could help her and for that she had to leave aside her ego because she needed to get that damn thing off her, that was pinned to her head by a million pins and decorated with ornaments she dint even know what they were called.
"Shivaaayyy...please." she camouflaged her words with artificial sweetness.
"That's better!"
He made her sit on the bed while he stood before her staring at her head wondering from where to start. She sat holding on to patience.
"Do something! its not a bomb to diffuse, why are you thinking so much? Look if you don't work fast I will die or I will kill you.! " She moved impatiently the chudas in hand were of no help, how she wished the beautician hadnt decked her up.
"Kar raha hoon naa..you just shhh. Shaadi ko teen ghante huye nahi, maarne ki baat kar rahi ho. Calls for a minus point for Wife Anika!"
"Shiiivay!" She wailed.
This is it! These two are so hopeless. On a general basis first nights are romantically set up with aromas of roses and scent of melting candles and the thudding of restless hearts. But there I was, on their first the two were already ready with swords. Sighs. Will Love Ever Happen, in this birth!?
"Ok ok.i m on it. " he held her head with one hand while his other delicately pulled out the pin.
As he slowly worked, occasionally commenting on the decorative chains and pins, Anika was lost in his scent. His chest leaning so close to her face - he was so close! After years she felt the same eddie currents in her stomach. Her breathing hitched, he felt it. He himself was breathing deep. Only now did he realised how much he had missed the warmth of her presence.
And suddenly, his life felt more complete.
Removing the last pin, he threw it aside. "Done" he stepped back holding his neck ns twisting it. "Precisely 54 pins of varied sizes, Damn how did you even survive past 7 hours plus in them!? Aahh my neck."
"How would I know, I slept through the entire process it took those ladies an hour to put up the thing and in total four hours for me to be the bride to a certain Baagad Billa!"
"Anika! Dont spoil my name alright!"How much he loved the way she called him names.
"O please..you should tell me thank you, I dint put up a fuss then" She struggled to get the duppata off her head which was now stuck in her bangles.
"Waise you owe me a thank you. Half an hour and an acing neck to get it off you. Never thought you ladies wear that many pins." He folded his hand looking at her struggling.
"Thank you toh meri Chamki bhi naa bole! After all... Ahhh" She frowned the duppata wouldnt leave the set of her bangles.
He cocked up a brow. "You can change your words before its too late." He smirked.
She made an annoyed face. First day and she was already loosing. "Thank You... Please." she said wearing a smile.
He suppressed his giggles. Taking her wrist in his palms and the duppatta in other he slowly broke their contact. While his eyes remain fixed at hers. She grew stiff. He still affected her the same! He could see that hue rise on her face. His fingers made contact with her skin at the wrist.
"Sparks!"
He immediately drew his hand back. She felt it too. The attraction had been there before but this time it was something else.
He slowly took off the duppatta of her head. She smiled. He smiled back. She got up and disappeared into the washroom after taking the clothes she had kept aside.
He smiled wider once she left.
Her smile grew as she walked.
What was happening! Something just wasn't the same. Never had they felt this way for the other. Suddenly the feeling of completeness and what not! Distance made hearts grew fonder! Was this what had happened.
Smiling arent you? Something that I was doing alike. It was there! How even I knew not. But the magic was finally there between them. Wait the night wasnt till there. There was more.
He walked up and down. Did she doze off in the washroom? He looked at the wall clock 23 minutes and she was still in. Finally deciding she had probably dozed off inside he decided to call. "Anika!" He whispered softly near the washroom door, knocking gently, lest the ever vigilant doors and walls of the room might hear.
She came out. Dressed exactly as the way she was when she went in. He looked at her from top to bottom. You dint change? He looked confused. She frowned, looking defeated as ever.
"I couldnt!" she answered when he repeated his question. "What?" He asked flabbergasted.
He peeked inside to look at the floor of the washroom. No cockroaches, no spiders his scan resulted.
"Because this thing refuses to come out. Never in my life have I ever felt so defeated Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi. Thanks to you.! " she spoke in a single breath advancing towards him as he hit the wall.
He looked terrified at her sudden burst. She looked ready to kill.
"Breathe! " He said taking in deep breaths himself. His sensors trying to measure her temperature. She did look fire in anger, nevertheless she looked hot. He mentally smacked himself at that thought.
"Breathing ki tai tai phiss! I want to kill those ladies and sue that parlour." she spoke animatedly squeezing her eyes and moving her hands in air. Suddenly silence followed. Her head was hurting now. The entire day had been super hectic - the fast until the pheras, then The 3 hours long pheras and then the consant chattering of relatives coupled with the band and everything and now getting off from this Billionare Bride mode. She anxiously moved a step ahead. How would she sleep in that damn thing. While Shivaay keenly observed her and realised the badly knotted doris of her blouse, that was the hindrance.
He walked up to her and sat beside her.
"May I help?"
She looked up at him. The sudden change from Tadibaaz to The Friendly Sweet Singh Oberoi had her confused. The man was ever confusing. She knew him from so many ears and yet she would never know what lay next.
She looked nervous. "Anika?"
She nodded in affirmation slightly. They had been close before, then why was the proximity so new and alien now? She turned her back to him, she sighed as he came close, he worked on her dori taking care not to make her uncomfortable. It din't come off. He clicked his tongue in frustration. On the second try it came off, she gasped in a long breath, and hurriedly moved to the washroom. The atmosphere has tensed up. Then acting on impulse she pivoted her head turning to him. "Thank You" she smiled slightly shy not waiting to see his reaction.
He grinned. He was enjoying this new feeling. There was something about her that wasnt there before. Or he had not seen her that way before? Perhaps now that she was his wife he did? Confused he shoved the thoughts off his mind and realised he was tired too.
They stared at each other as they stood on opposite side of the bed, in complete silence. It was already dark midnight. To be precise one past forty five minutes. Both were extremely tired.
"You sleep here. I can take the couch." She offered.
"No. I mean, you wouldnt fit there besides the bed is big enough. I...I mean its normal isn't it." He yawned abruptly.
She nodded in a yes still unsure. She was too tired to think anymore. She needed to sleep! Finally she settled on the right side while he took the left.
She kept three cushions in a line between them. He noticed but chose to ignore. Mentaly laughing, he had never seen her so nervous. And he actually enjoyed it. Such an eventful day!
"Shivaay!" the ten minute silence broke by her sudden gasp. She sat up and he woke up terrorized." What hapened now?" he asked annoyed and shocked.
"Did you take your medicines?"
"What? "
She repeated. " Oh I guess i forgot" he said rubbing his temple.
She quickly got off and despite the tiredness walked up to the dressing table took the box and went to his side.
He took the glass of water from her hand and and gulped it.
As they lay flat on the bed once again, he whispered, "Thanks,...OmRu?"
"Hmm" she spoke softly.
"Good night" she smiled looking at him.
"Good night" he smiled back.
The turned in opposite direction the smile not leaving their faces.
What was this new kind of feeling that wasnt ready to leave?
The flash backs of the day, of that specific moments ran in his head. Of putting the nuptial chin around her neck and vermillion on her head. He smiled satisfied. Her hands went up to the chain, she gently kissed it. Why ? Even she dint know.
P.S
Hope you all liked it.
Would love to read your comments.
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