Posted:
PROMISE
"Shh ... shh ... it's okay, Gauri ... He fanned his fingers through her hair, cupping her face in his palms, his gaze a tender caress. "I'm here now, he whispered, kissing her forehead, her temple, her cheek ... Her pulse quickened while her weeping stilled to soft, little heaves, and when her eyelids drifted closed, her heart stuttered when he brushed them with his lips. "I'll keep you safe, I promise, he whispered, and a silent moan faded in her throat as his mouth trailed to her temple. "I swear no one will ever hurt you again ...
Heat throbbed within as she lost herself in the caress of his hand, her mind dazed while his mouth explored. The soft flesh of her ear, the curve of her throat, her body humming with need as never before. She felt his shallow breaths, warm against her skin and with a low groan, he cupped her neck to capture her mouth with his own. "Gauri... he whispered, his voice hoarse against her lips, "I want to be there always, to protect you, cherish you ... He deepened his kiss, and she tasted the salt of her tears.
All reason fled and she was lost, the air hitching in her throat a mere heartbeat before she returned his passion, her mouth warm beneath his. She knew it had never been like this with anyone not anyone her mother wanted her to marry ...A merging of souls as well as bodies, where hope soared and love swelled in her chest until she thought she would burst.
Omkara- Her Omkara ...Tasting her like this, loving her like this, felt so right, so natural, the missing piece of her soul. Kisses both tender and hungry, uniting them, changing them, molding friends into lovers for the rest of their lives ... Because of a sacred ritual called marriage.
"God, forgive me, she whispered, her body shivering from the caress of his mouth to her throat. Her words vibrated beneath his lips, fragile and tinged with awe. "I never knew ... never dreamed ... it could be like this ...
He clutched her close, his uneven breathing in rhythm with hers. "Gauri , I'm so stupidI never saw this coming, but God help me ... I'm in love with you.
No! She jolted away, his words searing her conscience with a pain more awful than any Kali had inflicted. Fear clawed in her throat, forcing her back against the wood arms of the couch. "No, Omkara, pleaseyou can't!
He stared, his face filled with grief. "It's too late, he whispered. "I can't not love younot now, not after this... We are married Gauri."
"But it's wrong! She put a hand to her neck, her chest heaving and her mind convulsing with frustration. God, how could I have done this? Tears stung her eyes as self-loathing rose in her throat like bile. She was everything Kali had branded hera liar and a wh**e, scarred and hideous, not fit for any man's bed. She was infamous because of Kali Thakur and his brothers. She looked away, nauseous at the thought that Omkara might see her for the vile woman she was called to be. Her voice shuddered with tears. "We can't do this, Omkara, everdo you hear? Kali Thakur has paid the price of my life , and you need to marry someone ... Who will honor you."
Tragedy welled in his eyes as he shook his head. "No, Gauri, I belong with you ...
Her head jerked up, eyes crazed and fear burning inside as if a scarlet letter singed her very soul. She stared, voice bordering on hysteria and hands clenched. "No, don't say that
He reached to feather her knuckles with his thumb. "It's the truth, Gauri, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel. I suspect I've been in a love with you for a long time; I just didn't know how much. His voice held the barest trace of a tease, obviously intended to lighten the moment. "A late bloomer, remember?
She found no humor in his jest. "Omkara, no. You can't love me that wayit's wrong.
"No, Gauri, he whispered, "the only thing wrong is that I can't show you how much. He quietly folded her into his arms and eased her head to his chest. The warmth from his body seeped into hers as his hand slowly fondled the back of her neck. "Heaven knows I've tried to fall in love with the girl my mom wants me to marry but it was never really there, and now I know why. My mom was rightI am dense. I can see now I've been in love with you for a long time.
She squeezed her eyes shut, fists clenched on his chest. "Stop saying that, You don't know me properly Omkara."
"That may be true, Gauri, but nothing has ever felt more right in my life.
She wrenched away, pain suffocating until she thought she couldn't breathe. "NoI'm ... She paused, the very words on her tongue proof that Omkara deserved better. "another man's purchase.
His eyes were gentle as he twined his fingers with hers. "That is nonsensical and disgusting, Gauri ... you are my wife ... Meant to spent a lifetime with me not him.
She yanked her hand from his and shot to her feet. Out of desperation, she forced a hard tone. "To me, it's wrong Omkara and I won't do thatnot to someone I love and not to God.
His eyes never strayed from hers as he rose. "I know that, he said quietly, feathering her arms with his palms, "but it doesn't change the fact that I love you ... and you love me.
"No, I don't love you! Not like that. A sob broke from her throat.
Against her resistance, he slowly gathered her into his arms to rest his head against hers. His voice was soft and low and so full of love that it made her tremble. "Yes, you do, he whispered, "but I love you too much to ever hurt you with that love. He lifted her chin, his gaze tender. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Gauri Kumari Sharma, and I want you in every way a man could ever want a woman. He stroked her jaw with the pad of his thumbs. "But if you don't want me to act on it, then I give you my word that I won't.
Chin quivering, she flung herself in his arms, clutching him so tightly that the buttons of his cotton shirt ached against the bruise in her cheek. She could hear the pounding of his heart and she closed her eyes, her heart spilling over with gratitude for this man whose love made her feel almost whole. Almost worthy.
Almost human.
Pain shifted in her throat. "Omkara, what are we going to do? she whispered. His scent enveloped her, soothing her senses with the clean smell of soap and Musk.
"Well, for starters, he said with a stroke of her hair, we're going to eat soup.
She glanced up, acutely aware of the bristles that shadowed his chiseled jaw and lips that had kissed hers, now curved in a smile. "You know what I mean. What are we going to do about us?" Kali's men will come and hurt you Omkara ... They want to kill you for marrying me ... Please go away ... Don't risk your life for me."
"No. His voice was firm, leaving no room for debate. He palmed the side of her face, his touch gentle, but his mouth as rigid as the set of his jaw. "Nothing has changed. We loved each other as friends ... and now we're simply friends who love each other and are married to each other. And we'll go on as before. His fingers grazed her chin, lifting to emphasize his intent. "Because if I am to be denied loving you as my wife, Gauri, then by God, I will love you as a friend. I promise you, we can do this. A nerve pulsed in his cheek. "We will do this. We will make this work ... You are my ritually and rightfully wedded wife."
With a stiff smile, he gently buffed her arms and then strode toward the kitchen, his tone taut with authority. "You go change while I warm up the soup, and then pack a bag with whatever you'll need for a week. We'll come back for the rest.
"What? She wrung the top of her lehenga together, fingers cinched at her throat. "What do you mean? she whispered.
He turned, hands loose on his hips and gaze slatted enough to know she had a fight on her hands. "I mean I'm not going to leave my wife here so that lowlife can hurt hurt her again. You'll stay with me and my family as and where girls are supposed to be after getting married, until I feel it's safe to come back.
"With you? At your house? Her voice edged toward shrill.
His lips cemented into a hard line. " In my mansion with my whole family or at my apartment , take your pick. But either way, Gauri, you're not staying here, and that's final.
"But I can't! ... Maa is hospitalized ... Richa is kidnapped ... I cannot leave them here suffering."
" Your mother loves you and wants you to be safe. She will be taken good care of and she wants that you take good care of your husband, she already told me so. The brown of his eyes steeled to black as he peered at her, the flicker of a dormant temper glinting in his eyes. "I won't stand here and argue with you, Gauri. I'm not usually a volatile man, and you know that, but this is too important. Trust me on thisI will take you by force if I have to. So I suggest you pack your bags while I warm up the soup. He turned away, disappearing down the hall where sunlight streamed into her kitchen.
A heave shuddered from her throat and she put a hand to her eyes, numb over how her life had changed in just a few short hours. From being chained in the haveli's dark room to being the wife of soneone who saved her from death. Yesterday she had been content to be alone and had tried saving herself from fear as foreign to her now as Kali's violent scorn. And yet, with one generous twirl, her yesterday had shifted into a present steeped in marriage, family and attention, all neatly laced with his love and care.
"We will do this. Omkara had said.
The memory of his mouth caressing hers burned in her thoughts, unleashing a flood of a variety of emotions that caused her to quiver. Her hand trembled to her lips as tears slipped from her eyes.
"We will do this." Gauri promised to herself.
