Part 1: Only You...
Feet dipped in water, eyes admiring the moon, and face illuminated by the silver moonlight.
That is how he found his wife by the poolside.
Mesmerizing.
Not the moon in the sky. The woman. His wife.
She is the Sun in his dark galaxy. There have been a lot of planets and stars to shine for him. But none gave him warmth during the cold winters. None brought light with them. Yet she was here, to glow for him.
"Anika?"
"Haan?"
"Your still awake. Why?" I ask as I sit besides her, dipping my feet in the water too.
"Couldn't sleep. And you? What took you so long?"
"I was having a discussion with Daadi and Omkara. We are performing the Kul-Gotra Puja, tomorrow."
"But, you said we won't do it. And we don't know my lineage! Nayantara isn't my mom, Shivaay. And I still don't have a surname." She said with despair.
"It doesn't matter. Don't worry about you lineage. You are an Oberoi now. That's your identity when asked and that explains everything."
"What's the hurry? We can wait till that Cheapdi is out of your house."
"Our house, Anika." I keep my hand over hers, that rests on her lap. Squeezing for assurance.
"Of course. Our house." And she smiles back. But, it doesn't reassure me.
"What's the matter? It's been a while since you have blabbered about me. Is something missing? Do want to do something? Is something wrong with the wedding preparations? Do you need something?"
"Nothing like that. I don't need or want anything." She says, staring into the pool.
"Then? Why do you seem so upset?"
"Will it always be like this?"
"Like what?"
"Will people always think that I married you for your endless wealth? Will I be judged at every step I take? Will I always be the dirt-poor tramp that trapped the eligible billionaire bachelor?"
"Hey! Who said that? You are none of those! Anika!"
My heart clenches at her tears.
God! Who said that to her?
Why is it so difficult to leave us alone? Why does anyone bother about our story? After all the misery I put her through, she is still here. For me. I don't know what I will do, if she ever abandons me. I need her like I need air to breathe.
"You aren't any of those, Anika. You haven't trapped me. It's me. I trapped you in this relationship, leaving no way out for you. No matter how many times I apologize, it will never make up for the pain and hurt I've caused you. All I can assure you about is that it won't ever happen again."
I pull her into my arms and cradle her head against my chest. She weeps silently and her tears soak my shirt.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I guess, I'm just over-whelmed, you know, with all this that's going on..."
"What is worrying you, Anika? Tell me. You know, I hate it when you cry. Especially, when it's because of me."
"No! I'm not crying because of you. I'm not used to all this. Before marrying you, I had to keep track of every expenditure I made. Tonight when one of your mother's guests asked me how much do these kangan cost, I realized that I don't bother about my transactions anymore. Sahil is such an expensive boarding school- you pay for him. I have jewels, real diamonds on my body- you and Daadi paid for it. How am I repaying you and your family? By getting you humiliated. A dirt- poor tramp!"
"You deserve all of this luxury! You are my wife. An Oberoi. Sahil is not an obligation, he is my brother. I care for him and for you. These jewels and diamonds, are all yours! And that's how it is supposed to be. You shouldn't bother about a single penny. No matter what you do or how much ever you spend, I'm not gonna run out of money you know?"
She snorts and then smiles.
"And I know. I know you sent a few lakhs to the orphanage you grew in. So you are doing a good job too. I'm proud off you!"
"Really?"
"Really. You are my wife, Anika. Please believe me when I say that I believe you. No woman ever has done to me what you have. For some reason, I see a beautiful future for myself. For us."
"What do you see?" She asks, softly with a glint in her eyes.
"I walk into the kitchen every morning to make you breakfast in bed. Then I teach you to cook something edible and less poisonous..." I trail off to gauge her reaction.
And at the right moment I pull away to avoid a slap on my arm. She bursts out laughing, while wiping off her tears.
"You are such a gentleman, has anyone ever told you that?" She asks playfully.
"No."
"Good. Don't expect them to say it either."
"Hmm. Hey! We went off topic! What was I saying? Yeah, I'll teach you to cook. So that you don't cause any food poisoning incidents with me and our kids!" I laugh heartily, but stop when I see her staring at me. In awe?
"Kids?" She asks as she blushes deep scarlet.
"Yeah! At least 3, maybe 4? What do you think?"
She gapes at me with her mouth hanging open.
"Are you crazy? 4 kids? Who do you think I'm? You will be out, working and earning! While, I get to stay home look after kids and get fat!" She complains.
"I don't mind, Anika." I will still love you the same. I thought that to myself of course.
"No ways! Only two kids, Shivaay! I know it like my name, you are going to spoil them rotten and I have to be the bad cop! Just like you do it to Sahil! No. No. And a big no."
"Okay. I'm ready to wait. Maybe after we have our first, you might change your mind."
"I'm sure, I won't. Two kids, Shivaay! That's all."
"Okay. Lets have some now!" I say teasingly.
"Wh- what? Are you jo- joking?" She stutters.
"No. I'm not. You know, Baby making is a long, tiring process. Takes up your sleep. Then it takes nine mon-"
I'm forced to stop mid-sentence because Anika places her palm over my lips. And I'm forced to concentrate on her blushing face and her lips, that try hard not to smile. My gaze lifts to her eyes and we stare into each other's eyes.
That bloody muscle in my chest, tightens painfully.
I lean forward and so does she. Our foreheads touch and we move some more. I wait for a moment to see if she pulls away, she doesn't.
My heart skips a beat as our lips just touch. And I pull back, only slightly to see if she regrets our moment. She doesn't. Instead she lifts her hand to hold my hair and the other clenches my shirt collar and then suddenly she pulls me in.
There is no stopping now.
We entwine our lips, and I grip her waist and pull her closer to gain better access. She moans aloud when I bite her lower lip and thrust my tongue onto hers. Her nails painfully press into my shoulder.
Drug.
That's what she is. That's what her lips feel like. And I know immediately that she my personal brand of heroine.
I grunt lowly when she pulls hard on my hair when my hand slides further down to her butt.
We pull apart when we feel out of breathe. Panting hard, I look at her while she is blushing and avoiding eye contact.
"Anika? Look at me." She turns towards me but doesn't lift her eyes towards me.
"Anika? Do you regret it?"
She abruptly lifts her head and says, "No! I wanted it to-" and then suddenly places her palm over her lips and clenches her eyes in embarrassment.
I laugh and pull her into my arms. She hides her face into the crook of my neck and I feel the heat of her blushing face.
We hear a throat clearing at a distance and part from each other.
"Bhabhi, we knew Shivaay has no shame, I didn't know you were so bold too!" Rudra says mischeivously.
Anika looks at me in panic and gets up and dashes to the exit when I don't say anything. Only to crash into Omkara.
"Bhabhi? Are you okay? I was looking for you."
"Yeah! I'm fine. Why were searching me?"
"Daadi has asked for you. Probably to discuss the kul-gotra puja."
Anika looks back at me, blushes hard and runs out of the yard.
"What's wrong with her? Is the house on fire? Don't tell me you guys fought again!? I thought you guys were patching up, with the hugs and all..." Rudra questions.
Well... The house isn't on fire. Our hearts are. And our hormones definitely are.
------------
"Only you, you're the only thing I'll see forever. In my eyes, in my words and in everything I do."
- West Side Story.
End of part 1.
Edited by Akshata2010 - 8 years ago
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