"Mannu, what are saying? Virat really said that?"
"Ahaan. And he is just so romantic Priya... I cannot even begin to explain how I feel right now."
I cannot hold myself together in all the excitement. I was telling Priya about everything that happened right from the time we were out with Virat's boss.
The road trip was just awesome. It took us three hours to get here, to Vegas and Virat is just so different - he is smiling, singing to me, pampering me. I am seeing a completely different side of him that I wasn't even aware existed a few days ago. I feel like the luckiest girl on the planet.
"Aww, our little Mannu and Virat are in looove." She said dreamily.
"Little? By the way can you please stop passing on 'adult' information about me to my parents. They freaked out on me in the morning."
"Ugh, forget that." "Sooo... Mannuuu????.." she was dragging each of her words in a teasing sort of way.
"Yeaaah?" I mimicked her voice mocking her.
"Are you nervous?" she asks with a tinge of naughtiness in her voice.
"For?"
"Forrr?" she snaps outraged.
"For what?"
"You know...the next step babe...with your Viratji?" she explains.
"Elaborate please." I asked furrowing my eyebrows.
Is she really talking about what I think she is talking about?
"Arey meri adult ki bacchi..tu nahi sudregi." She mutters. "Maybe Virat brought you to Vegas to make it special for you, you know.." she trails off.
I am smiling and I cannot find any words to reply to her.
"Huff! Your first time together Manvi..making love..Don't tell me you haven't thought about it."
My face warms up. God, she is blunt. Are you kidding me, I cannot stop thinking about it and especially considering how strongly he is coming onto me since the last few times we kissed . He is getting more and more intimate, physically. Can I talk about this? I do have a lot of questions.
"Priyaaa.." I am dragging my words now, like her
"Yeaaah?" she teases, mimicking me now.
"I am really, really nervous." I tell her honestly and I am aware I am biting my lip. I feel so shy talking about it and my stomach has butterflies fluttering their way out creating these tense ripples inside me.
"I would be worried if you weren't nervous Mannu." she laughs.
"Were you nervous, your first time? How was it? It did hurt?" I bombard her with questions.
"It was earth shatteringly good." she giggles.
"Bhabhijiii!!!!!...you really are shameless."
"Psshttt! jisne ki sharam, uske phoote karam."
"Tussi great ho bhabhi jaan..now tell me...I am really nerrr'vous."
"Relax! If you don't like something, just tell him. I am sure you will have nothing to worry about. But..but don't make the first move and don't let him know you are nervous. Let him sweat." She laughs.
"Whatever that means." I roll my eyes.
"Manvi, let's go.." Virat calls for me.
"I got to go Priya. Virat is taking me out. Talk to you later."
"Good luck my baccha. Hope you have lots of fun - you know what I mean?"
"BYE!" I hang up.
Virat is standing in front of me gazing down with a raised eyebrow.
"Who was that?" he asks.
I am blushing and am unable to look at him in the eye. "Priya..."
He lifts my chin up with his fingers so that my eyes meet his. "What were you talking about that is making you blush so much?"
I blush some more and look away gently pushing his hand off my chin.
"Um? you have me intrigued. But, we are getting late." He leans in and I feel his warm, sweet breath on my face but he doesn't kiss. I look at his lips and they show a hint of a smile. "You look red hot." he whispers.
Red hot! Huh? How about that?
My conscious pumps up its fist in the air - Up until now, he has called me nice, sexy, cute, adorable, beautiful and now hot! I am wearing a sleek red dress and shiny, pointy red pumps. I feel confident of myself, inspite all the tender feelings of anticipation.
"You don't look too bad yourself." I tell him. However, may I say, that is the understatement of the year - he looks simply dashing. I suddenly feel very possessive; I do not want anybody else to look at him like this. He is wearing a black plain full-hands shirt and black trousers. And his hair is gelled up and sexy - he is wicked!
~~~
"Manvi, why aren't you talking?" he smirks at me. We were at a booth in a really fine nightclub - dance club. It was almost midnight and I am shocked out of my wits looking at the half-naked fine specimens dancing their ass off on the elevated ramp in the middle. The club was full and most of the people were around the ramp - I think it is because it is Friday night or maybe it is always like that in Vegas - I have no idea.
"You know, you have been chanting stripclub, stripclub, stripclub and now that we are here, you are sitting like a statue?"
"Do you want me to check those dancers out?" I snap at him.
"Isn't that what you have been doing?" he laughs. "What did you expect baby - a cartoon show with Popeye munching spinach and showing you his biceps?"
"Hey, I like that show!"
He shows his hands up defensively and rolls his eyes.
"I want a drink." I tell him.
"Orange juice alright?" he signals for the waitress.
I scowl at him. Why can't I have an adult drink? The waitress shows up and I suddenly get intimidated by her. She is so pretty and she is dressed sparingly - or may I say undressed liberally - depending on which way you look at it. She leans in front of my husband so that her ear is in front of his lips. I know that's because the club is noisy and she can barely hear him but nevertheless..Can I have some distance please?
"One blue moon and one orange juice for the lady..." he shouts into her ear looking at me.
"..with Vodka" I add.
He smiles, shaking his head.
He orders some other snacks too and she shouts our order back to him in his ear, putting her hand on his shoulder flirtatiously.
Err..hello!!! Do you want to get you fine glittery ass kicked girl? I stand up glaring, but before I could strike, she moves away smiling at him.
Virat looks at me confused.
"What?" he asks. I frown at the waitress leaving. He follows my line of vision and chuckles. He holds my hand, gently tugging it and I go and sit beside him.
"You are quite the jealous type." He comments amused.
"I wish I could say the same about you." I sulk.
"You want me to be jealous?"
I look at him but I don't say a word.
"Why would I be? You are my wife and you are mine, legally." he asks curiously, fondling my ear lobe and I lean into his finger. His nose is in my hair and nibbles my ear. It resonates deep inside me. Why does this feel so good?
"Don't you think you will get jealous if someone hits on me? And guys chase me all the time, you know - just for your information, I was pretty popular in college.." I tell him trying not to stutter.
"Were ya?" he blinks. I cannot read his mood. Is some guy wanting me such an unforeseeable possibility for him? Something unpleasant taps my mind.
"Did you date anyone after Simmi?" I asked him. It somehow, had never occurred to me before?
"Yeah. Briefly. Just dinner, a couple of times, I think."
"What happened?"
"Nothing. I wasn't interested. Rahul set me up."
Oh? I can totally imagine the plight of them. He can be such a closed book - stoic and impermeable. Except in rare times when he is with me. I grin happily with content.
"They must have felt the same." I mutter under my breath.
"What do you mean?" he asks moving his head back. He is looking at me hurt.
"You know, you can be very hard to be with, sometimes. You don't react and you are taciturn. You can never let down your guard. You can't just relax and party."
"Manvi, are you calling me boring?" he lets go of my hand and stares down at me bewildered.
"No, that's not what I meant. I just mean girls usually like outgoing guys more you know, who are easy to talk to and a bit flirty, charming." Okay, I shouldn't have said this, but I guess I am little hurt about his reaction about guys hitting on me. How can you not get jealous? That's just mean.
"So I am not charming, I am not outgoing and not easy to talk to!!!!!!!!!!!"
"No. I just mean - like why can't I have a drink. You know couples get drunk together all the time. It is supposed to be fun."
"Manvi, I don't want you to have a drink because you cannot handle alcohol. I am appalled that you think about me like that. I can be outgoing and I can party crazily too - if I want to - and just for your information, I can get any girl in this room." His voice is serious.
"Right!" I roll my eyes and laugh. "You couldn't even tell that the waitress was flirting with you."
He is standing over me, with his hands on his hips and he looks at me with a piercing serious gaze.
Is he confused? hurt? or just plain mad? I can't say.
"I didn't mean to upset you Virat. People are just different. I like you like this - you are sweet and you are amazing, only with me..."
He wasn't even listening. He pulls the waitress who was passing by holding her elbow. He gulps the five shots she carrying to someone - one after the other. I spring out off my seat.
What was that?
"Get me a couple more sweetheart." He asks, looking at her, checking her booty out and she literally squirms.
"Hey! You can't do that!"
"I thought girls like flirty." He quips and disappears into the crowd before I could stop him.
"Virat...Virat..." I cry after him.
What have you done Manvi??
No! I am wailing.
I want my sweet Viratji back! I stomp my foot frustrated. Where did he go? What is he going to do now? My conscious goes and sits in a corner, intermittently peeking up at me angrily. Dumbass!!!! - She yells.
Where did he go? I was looking around and the waitress comes with my orange juice. I sit at the bar alone and lost, sipping my juice. Please come back Virat!!! Suddenly I see him, up there on the ramp - tipsy and crazy - dancing. A song comes up -
Tonight I am loving you - Please listen along.
I know you want me..
I made it obvious that I want you too.
So put it on me..
Let's remove the space between me and you.
What the F.U.C.K?
VIRAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! My eyes pop out!
I cough out my drink. I see the dancers swooning around him. No, you cannot do this! His shirt is partially untucked and first few buttons open huh!! I feel a pang on jealousy as the people around were going crazy and crooning along with him. Especially the ladies - he is dancing with a gorgeous looking dancer, moving her along with him, so close.
I want to punch her in the face. I guess I would be needing that popeye's spinach afterall.
He scans around and his amused and twinkly eyes find mine. Serves you right - my conscious shakes her head disapprovingly at me.
My face falls. Ok! Lesson learnt. Please stop this torture.
Here's the situation
Been to every nation
Nobody's ever made me feel the way that you do
You know my motivation
Given my reputation
Please excuse me I don't mean to be rude...But tonight I'm loving you
I am nailed to the ground.He is looking at me and his gaze is magnetic. I am completely mesmerized and I feel a strange pull of electricity between us. Who is he? Where has he been all this time? He looks smoldering hot, like molten iron. You touch him and you burn your skin off, deeply. When did this solid rusty iron become this fluid and flow-y? On one level, I grin and smile at the affect of my words on him. And on other level, I pout as my conscious kicks me in the gut - You should be the one in his arms - it points out, painfully. The way he is moving, his broad open chest, his smile and his dreamy and drunk eyes - so captivating. I cannot stay away.
I still have his bottle of beer that the waitress had bought. I need courage - I lift it and finish the whole of it - bottoms up! That felt good. I walk upto the ramp and I know he knows I am there but he completely ignores me.
Move ladies - he is mine!!!!!!! I push them away and take his hand boldly. He gives me with a "How may I help you?" look. I look down guiltily. He doesn't linger. He tugs my hand and rolls me into his arms and starts to move. Oh my god! He is really good. I am not a good dancer but I am able to keep up - spin to spin, flip to flip, turn to turn.
You're so damn pretty..
If I had a type then baby it would be you.
I know you're ready..
If I never lied then baby you'd be the truth.
He turns me around and I feel his entire body against my back. His hands are on my waist and he moves me along with him - oh, so close. This should not be done outside the privacy of our house. Good God! Give me strength. I am surprised I am still able to stand on my legs. This isn't tender or slow dancing, it is hot and dirty and I love it.
Now rock your body...
Damn I like the way you move
So give it to me, oh, oooh
cause I already know what you wanna do...
As the song comes to an end, he dips me down so that my hair is touching the ground - hollywood style and he looks into my eyes - all his anger making a come back. He releases me quickly and walks away.
~~~
"Virat, stop. I am sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" he stops and turns around.
I look down. I don't know what to say.
He is waiting for an answer.
"I am sorry to have said all those things. I didn't mean it in an offending way. It was just that initially, you were so reserved and I never knew about what was going on inside you. Frankly, we wouldn't be together if my parents hadn't forced your marriage with me - you had closed yourself up so tightly without any space for anyone to come into your life. I could only wiggle in and but now that I have, I see it is like a candy shop..a sweet world and you are so sweet. I just meant to say that you come across as a serious person. That doesn't necessarily mean that you are one. You are the opposite of serious, but I didn't know that initially."
Hmphh! I know that I am blabbering and I also know that he knows it. He is looking at me like I am an idiot.
"Please don't be angry at me." I plead.
"Is that how you feel? That we are together because you were forced upon me?"
Yeah. That is the truth - it is a bitter truth, but nevertheless, the truth.
"Come with me.." he holds my hand and drags me out.
"Virat, where are we going?"
"To rectify the situation."
"What do you mean?"
He is silent. It is two in the night and we are driving and I notice with horrid surprise that there are so many people like us on the road. He stops by a chapel.
"Erm, why are we here?"
"To get married."
"Virat, it's two in the morning and I know you are drunk but errrm..gentle reminder - honey, we are already married."
"We were forcefully married, right?" he looks at me and I am shocked. He cannot be serious.
He drags me in and there are three other couples in line. "Virat, this is silly.."
He smiles turning towards me - "I am sorry Manvi."
Oh thank god! Sanity returns. I drop my shoulders relieved.
"You are right Manvi. I was a closed and reserved person. But, I wasn't like this. Over the years, I somehow became cautious, scared and was always wound up. I stopped seeing the colors of life, I stopped seeing the beauty of everyday. I stopped having any hope of happiness and joy in my life - I settled for neutral and I had accepted bland.
But, you entered my life and turned it upside down. You filled my life with color, you are my color, my hope, my desire and my joy. You are like a sweet thrilling dream baby and I hope to never wake up and find you missing from my life. I became so close to you in such a short time - almost inseparable."
He gets down on his knee holding my hand. "Manvi, I want to share the rest of my life with you. I want you to hang around me and keep driving me crazy. I am falling in love with you, and myself, again, each passing minute. Will you get married to me and be mine forever?"
I look at him speechless. He is proposing. I know he is drunk, but whatever he just said is so good, so unbelievably sweet. I had always rolled my eyes at the heroine when she cries after her guy proposes but I cannot stop myself. I am crying and I am blubbery mess.
The Pasteur looks at us, waiting impatiently.
"Manvi, my knee hurts." Virat smiles sweetly.
"Yes Virat - I will, happily." I hold his shoulders and he stands up smiling.
He takes my other hand and puts my ring back onto me. Wait a minute, when did he flick it. "Hey, that's already mine."
"Like me." he smiles.
"Couldn't you buy me another ring?" I ask wiping my tears.
"I will buy you the whole world baby. Now, let's finish this. We have plans."
"More plans?"
"Yes." He winks. He holds my hand but I don't move.
"Virat, I want a veil."
"A veil?"
I nod petulantly.
"Get the lady a damn veil." Virat shouts.
We get one and I put it on with glee. This is like a dream come true. Is this really happening? I embrace these moments with joy.
"Do you Manvi, take Virat to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do.." I smile. He has locked my gaze with his and he is sporting a dazzling sweet smile.
"Do you Virat take Manvi to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"You bet I do.." he grins.
He is getting married to me, again - completely by his own volition. Can there be anything else that can put all my doubts and insecurities to rest for the rest of my life? The father on the night shift apparently, pronounces us man and wife quite indifferently, but we both look at each other like teenagers. Virat lifts my veil and pulls me into a passionate and hot kiss leaning towards me.
"Virat.." I pull away flushed and embarrased. There are atleast ten different people staring at us.
"What?" He looks annoyed.
"You are very drunk.." I tell him looking at the line of the couples still waiting behind us, some yawning, some acting as cranky as us. Some of them clap.
However, Virat is oblivious to everyone. What has gotten into him? "Let's go Mrs.Vadhera.." he smiles lifts me up in his arms and carries me out to our car.
I smile shyly and put my arms around him, giggling. That's the first time he was called me that and he carrying me in his arms!!
It is two thirty in the morning and he has more plans. This is crazy and one heck of a day. I thought I was the crazy one. But, I had no idea he was so much more crazier than me.
Together, we are one crazy couple. "Where are we going now Virat?"
"Back to the hotel."
Oh?
"Tonight, I am loving you.." he whispers in my ear.
~~~
Anupamaa
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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