*****
Chapter 4
The minute she got out of the cab, she got his call.
Smiling, she answered it, "Hello?"
"Hello, this is me Arjun. Have you reached?"
"Yes."
"Oh good. So what is Pooja's favorite juice?"
She frowned. Why was he asking that?
"Guava. Why are you asking?"
"To make sure you are not kidnapped. If you had been, you would have replied something else."
"Hm...that sounds clever. How are so sure I would have replied something else if I was kidnapped?"
"Instincts. That's what any intelligent person would do."
"Oh...hm...Thanks for calling. Good night!"
"Good night! Take care!"
She let out a happy sigh as the hotel boy carried the luggage to the lobby.
It was good to know someone cared for them after all.
*****
"Arjun, ein ivalo lateu?" asked his mother as she took his bag.
"Assignmentnu sonnen la ma."
"Nalaiku...illa...innaiku un kalyanam, nyabagam iruku la?"
"Aama. Athunala thayavu seithu ena thunga vidureingala?"
"Vandana keta diamond necklace vanguniya?"
Shit! How did he forget?
"cha...illa..."
"Unoda pondatiya aga pora. Nee ya avala samali"
"Good night ma."
*****
He tightened his hold around her waist with his right hand while his left hand slowly trailed the one lock of twirled hair which rested on her face, behind her ear. His thumb slowly caressing her left cheek making way to her rosy lustrous lips.
All she could see was a dark silhouette. She couldn't even make out if he was fair or dark. Whoever he was, he was tall, well built and knew exactly what he was doing.
Her heart rate rose.
She had no strength in her to push him away.
Her vision blurry because of reason she couldn't comprehend. Did she want him as much as he wanted her? Her brain made no effort to answer her. She closed her eyes and lifted her lips waiting for whatever that was to come after.
A disco number on the background. Was that ARR?
That didn't matter when this mysterious stranger in front of her cupped her face and kissed her softly on the corner of her lips building up the tension. Should she push him away? That's when his lips found hers. She gasped and he used the opportunity to suck on her lower lips. It wasn't soft and passionate but rather deep and demanding. He pressed himself against her, her body fitting itself to his. She tried to pull her mouth from him, but that only deepened it more. He backed her softly against the wall, jailing her in the corner of the otherwise empty dark room. His lips tasted of wine and olives. She responded slowly. With a satisfied moan, he caressed her hair and tugged at her upper lip. She responded with an equal fervor nibbling his lower lip. After a while they pulled themselves apart as they rested their foreheads, both of them breathless. He kissed her again, this time, his lips finding way down from her lips to the nape of her neck along her collarbone, her toes and fingers curling against the wall to his passion.
He stopped, swayed a little and looked at her.
She, who didn't even know who this mysterious intruder was could make out that his eyes were dark chocolate brown that had a sparkle in it which seemed to be belonging to her and only to her. She was filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness but she didn't have the time to think as he pulled her into his arms again.
She responded as she ran her fingers in his hair pulling him closer, giving him the assurance he didn't even need in the first place.
*****
She sat up straight sweating. She looked around and it registered that she was in a hotel room. She noticed that she was sweating inspite of the 18 degree air conditioning. She got out off the bed, fished for her sandals and made way through the darkness to the bathroom. Splashing some water on her face, she looked at herself in the mirror. It had been ages since she had that particular dream. If her instincts were right, it wasn't just a dream but a memory. A memory of the day Pooja was conceived. Not that she remembered any of it.
Sighing she entered the room and looked at the sleeping figure covered from head to toe in blankets. The only light was from the windows. If there was one thing that happened right in her life, it was Pooja.
*****
Morning, 9 : 30 am,
She got out of the auto and looked at the well decorated marriage hall in front of her.
She brushed off her tears and took a deep breath.
"For Pooja!" she told herself, before walking towards the entrance.
She had no choice, did she?
She only hoped she wasn't too late.
*****
He nonchalantly repeated after the priest, as he put the flowers on the sacred fire. Today was his wedding and he had already got into a fight with his future wife for not buying her requested necklace.
Why the hell was he even marrying her? Was it because he couldn't say no to his superior, being her father?
He half hoped a miracle would come and stop his wedding as he took the scared thread from the sacred tray.
"STOP!"
And there it was, his miracle.
He slowly lowered the sacred thread he was about to tie on his fiance's neck.
What was this woman...what was her name? Priya? What was she doing here? Why did it look like she had been crying?
"Yaru nee? Ena venum?" he heard his future father-in-law speaking but he didn't take his gaze from her, and hers was locked in his, trying to convey something.
"I'm here for justice," she said slowly.
"And that is?"
"He loved me and promised a life and is now trying to marry someone else."
"WHAT?" he heard himself shout. He got up and took off his garland and got off the dais to reach them both.
"Ena solluranu puriyutha? Ithu oru police officer oda kalyanam."
He saw a moment of dread in her face, which she masked rather quickly.
"Yes."
"Etho misunderstanding nu nenaikuren. Scene panama poirunga," said his future father-in-law.
"He slept with me," she said without hesitation, her face masking any emotion that would reveal her lie.
He heard gasps and whispers around him and his future father-in-law (not any more, he could foretell that much) looked at him, first time in acquisition.
He saw his mother and father run towards him.
"Ena sollura?"
"Ithu poinu sollu da."
"Yen amaithiya iruka?"
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Vandana throw away the garland and look at him with utter disgust.
"Say something, ACP Arjun," said the DSP, no more the future father-in-law.
He ignored then all and took a step closer to her. She still had his gaze locked on hers and only he could tell that she was trembling inside.
Why was she saying such a lie?
"Miss. Priya..." he started.
"Ava peru theriyuthu."
"Unmaiya thaan irukum."
"Entha ponnu ithula poi solla mata."
"Epadi ipidi pannitan?"
He heard the guests mumble.
"I will ask you this just one time. Have I slept with you?"
*****
His gaze burned her.
She had to tell herself that she was doing this for Pooja and she had no other choice.
"I will ask you this one time. Have I slept with you?" he asked, his eyes scanning hers.
Swallowing, she closed her eyes and said, "Yes!" For Pooja, she added to herself.
She opened her eyes when the complete hall broke into gasps.
Wide eyed, she realized the gasps were not for her answer but for him tying the sacred thread around her neck.
(To be continued)
*****
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
