SS: Zombie Bride [04/08] Hiatus after ch 6 - Page 3

She is never naked, far from it. But her style of dressing is enough to make a man go wild in milliseconds. It's not as though she is consciously trying to attract attention. Thigh length pastel dresses with over the knee socks can hardly be called provocative. It's the way she carries herself. When she is lost in thought, strolling around his room carefree, he watches her so. The male gaze is first to detect intricate motion underneath the barely translucent fabric of her frock. The little shimmer of skin where her socks ends and a skirt begins widens when she reaches over the table has him shivering. He slanted his head for a better view but never quite got it.

Her breaths got louder as he stepped closer and closer behind her. He knew she felt his presence but not the courage to voice it. Her hand stopped midair and he conveniently caught it.

"Madhu..ba..la", he used his best seductive voice as his lips hovered over her ear. She fumbled into his grip unable able to speak or struggle. He could not contain his chuckle. The girl was melting right into him.

"I...I..got the registration form", she managed to form one complete sentence. What a feat!

"Eh?"

"I...you don't have to submit it. Just keep it in a vault so you miss me when I am gone", she hiccupped.

"Way to ruin the moment woman!"

"Sorry", she looked down at the ground awkwardly.

"Have you thought about the wedding yet?"

"Let's do it tonight".

"Eh?"

"You are not getting in my pants unless you marry me", she boldly declared.

"So you caught me", he nodded.

"Well, when you've been burning holes through my frock the last hour, what do you expect?"

"No, that...I was"

"Staring at my breasts?"

"That too but...", he admitted defeat.

"Let's sign the documents in a pub, chug a round of beers with strangers and call it a night".

"Didn't you want it to be a lavish affair? Seeing as you caught a rich fish and all", he straightened his collar.

"Open bar is a lavish affair for any lab rat. Come on, I practically live in a pub. For a physicist, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all held in close proximity to an alcohol facility. The pub's my second home. Let's go at it, eh?"

"If you say so", he reluctantly agreed. "Don't come crying later for not going all out on your dream nuptials".

"I won't"

He let out a pent up sigh. This was cheaper than he imagined.

"But, I will still milk you for your money's worth on my dress".

"Go ahead".

"I want a poofy white ball gown".

"For a pub wedding?"

"Why not?"

"As long as I get you by the end of the night, fine by me".

"We have a deal Mr. Kundra".

"So it seems Mrs. Kundra".

"I am not changing my name".

"Eh?"

"Don't even think about it".

"Whatever Mrs. Kundra".

"Stop calling me that"

"Mrs. Kundra".

"YOU"

_____________________________

Five hours later, the couple were hitched.

"Get me out of this dress", Madhu said nonchalantly. But, of course, Rishabh made a bigger deal out of it. From unzipping the long winded zipper to ripping the sweetheart silhouette off Madhubala's already gifted body took a battle of two hours between Rishabh and the lace knit. Ultimately, Rishabh won but not without the help of two sharp pair of scissors. One wasn't enough you see.

"I should not have bought a small", Madhu had regret written all over her tired eyes.

"I agree. With your fat arse, you should have known better".

Someone was not getting laid tonight.

"Rishabh! Where is your sensibility?"

"Don't worry, I like your arse".

"Stop trying to backtrack. You clearly do not have a way with words".

"Does this mean I am..."

"Go shower".

"Madhu, sorry I didn't.."

"Let's not start a fight".

He decided it was best to obey. Madhu spent a little over five minutes pacing outside the door before bursting into the shower where he stood wet, wallowing in his shame. She viciously pulled on his hair and turned him around.

"Aren't you angry?" he asked equal parts afraid and excited by her unpredictable actions.

"That's why I won't be gentle", she said as she kissed his red lips over and over again until the stream of water washed away all ill feelings.

"But Madhu", he put up a weak defence.

"You make me and my fat arse very happy".

"Madhu"

"Um?"

"Do you have some gora in you?" he asked caressing her leg.

"Where is this coming from?"

"You've got blond hairs all over your body".

Was this a back handed remark because she didn't shave yesterday? If she had to married to this man for the next ten years, she swore she'd go crazy. Thankfully, it was only a few months (or so she thought ^_-).

"That's called peachy fuzz you idiot. Never see a woman before".

"Yes but never this close. I usually do not bother".

"Should I throw a party for being your special someone then. Get off already".

Saved by the bell.

"Hello?"

"Hello professor Malik?"

"Yes"

"Thank god you picked up. We have an emergency".

"Take a breath Stan. Speak slowly and clearly".

"Ah, well. That. The Norway prototype is missing, eeek".

"What?"

"The Norway..."

"Okay, calm down. Did you look around the lab Stan?"

"Yes"

"Did you ask the others?"

"Yes"

"Did you happen to take it out of the glass case? Speak truthfully, I won't punish you".

"I did not".

"Okay, call campus security. Lock down the lab and make sure no one enters or leaves. Prep the surveillance footage and call the dean. I will be right over".

"But aren't you on an administrative leave professor?"

"I will be on the first flight home".

"Thank you professor".

"Stan"

"Yes?"

"Get a beer, you need it".

"Yes professor".

She gave Rishabh 'the look' and he knew it was time. She was leaving albeit for only three days but a feeling of loss still came over. It would take another month for things to settle down to normal pace.

[One month later]

She was tempting him again. Dressed in a pink overcoat and winter booties, he could see the collar of his mustard sweater peek through as she bent down. She placed a fresh bouquet on the corner table and smiled with those button eyes of hers that closed shut when she was happy. An unruly strand of hair fell in front of her forehead blocking his view. With an unwavering smile, she pushed it away. He sighed in relief.

She him down on the sofa and scooted on the floor herself. "I have something to tell you", she said with uncertain eyes. She was nervous. Perhaps their destined time was coming to an end. He sensed something was wrong but did not have time to ponder over it.

"First, let's wash up. I prepared a bath".

He was just prolonging the suffering. Wasn't that something new.

"Rishabh..."

She didn't protest much. Everything else was blur until she woke surrounded three parts by his limbs and the rest by the milky bathwater.

"I still have something to say", she whispered an unintentionally seductive tone.

"Don't do that, you're testing my patience".

"You don't have much to begin with mister".

"What is it?" he stared at her fingers, preparing his heart for what was to come. Just one more day with her. God, he didn't want her to die.

"I am not dying"

What? WHAT? WHAAT? Did he hear that right?

"I knew for sometime now. No, I knew the day after our wedding. I am sorry".

He was tongue tied.

"I was selfish. I took advantage of my situation. I wanted to hold on to you but this isn't the way. You have every right to be angry".

Hold on, he needed a minute or ten to gather his thoughts.

"When I got called back to the lab I realized I couldn't put your life on hold for me. You have people who depend on you, so do I. You've suffered enough. I am sorry".

She turned around to face him but didn't have the heart to decipher his expression.

"I thought if I stay perhaps I can make you change your mind"

"I doesn't matter what you thought", he screamed.

"Since there are no legal complications, we can just go our separate ways".

She lifted her body out of the tub.

"I really loved you Rishabh", she said as she walked out on him, perhaps forever.