Reluctant relation
Finally everyone had left. Finally she was alone. She was so over this day. Over this wedding. She didn't want to do it but her parents had practically forced her. Not in so many words but they made sure that she knew that if she does not agree to this match it would be the end of the family business that her great-grandfather had built up from nothing. Their family name was what "sold" this alliance. Although they could not provide much in the way of dowry anymore as the business has not been doing well since her farther has taken over. He father was a good man, but not the best business man and her mother was ambitious. She was the driving force behind this marriage. She was not willing to let go of the lifestyle into which she has become accustomed. Her mother was from a middle class family and it was apparent to all but her father that she had married him for his money. Her father was blind to her faults as her loved her with all his heart. She had agreed to this marriage only for her father. She couldn't see him hurt. She knew her mother would never forgive him for her humiliation if they were to lose all their money and status and that would crush her father.
Now she was sitting here in a room decorated for a bride, in a family of strangers. They were an old fashioned family that expected their bahu to be housewife. This frustrated her to no end. She had fully intended to assist her father in their family business. That was what she has studied for. Now what was the use of all those years of study? What did these people think that she has studied for? To clean their house, when they already has a whole entourage of servants. To cook for them, when the servants and their other daughter-in-law probably did the cooking already. And probably to bare their offspring. She was so not interest in having children. Not any time soon anyway.
And her husband, oh her husband. He was such an important man. So important that he couldn't even make it back to India before the day of the wedding. She hated him. In fact she hated him before the wedding. What kind of man accepts a bride to secure business interests? What kind of man does not care to meet the girl that he has to marry? What kind of man does not even show enough interest in his marriage that he only comes home on the day of his wedding? She had refused to look at his picture. All she knew about him was what her parents had told her. It didn't matter to her anyway.
So she only met him on the wedding day when the rituals started. Then she cringed. No she didn't. She met him before that. He face went crimson at the thought. She wished that she has stayed in her room like she was supposed to.
"Flashback"
She was so frustrated at her situation that she wanted to retaliate. But not to retaliate so much as to embarrass her father completely. So had a plan. She would have her last bash. She snuck out of her room on the eve of her wedding to go clubbing with Mansi and Paridhi. The successfully snuck out of the hotel that was the wedding venue and went to a popular club in the area. Aarti was having a good time with her friends. She was dancing to her hearts content. She didn't normally drink but she was convinced by Mansi to have a cocktail. She only had one. She was dancing with a strange guy and he got a little handsy. She moved away and almost fell over the person behind her. He caught her.
"Are you OK?"
She was fine. She was in the arms of this gorgeous hunk. She could have stayed there forever. It felt so good. And his eyes were so beautiful. It felt if he was hypnotising her.
"Miss, I asked if you are OK.
"Yes, fine. I am fine" she finally came to her senses.
He has a bit of smirk on his face.
"Seeing that you are already in my arms, would you like to dance."
She then got upright, now very embarrassed.
"Please don't say no. I have had long day behind me and a long day ahead of me tomorrow. I need some distraction now. Not the creepy kind. Just to dance the night away with a beautiful stranger"
She like the sound of that. Even she needed that.
"Let's dance she said."
And dance they did, till they were too tired to continue. They went outside to get a little fresh air.
"So what is pretty girl like you doing alone in a night club?"
"I came with friends but they seemed to have deserted me."
"Nice friends you have" he mocked.
"And you. What is a handsome man like you doing alone in a night club."
"Like I said, I needed some distraction. I was stressed out. I got home today but I couldn't face anybody yet so I chose to come here. And now I'm glad I did. So tell me more of how handsome you think I am?"
"And not conceited at all. I would have loved to stay and tell you how gorgeous you are but I have to get back." She smiled and turned to leave.
"Wait where do you stay."
"I am staying at the Courtyard Bhopal tonight"
"Me too. Let share a taxi, he said."
She knew she shouldn't but she said "Yes"
They reached the hotel and made their way to the lift in the hotel. They were alone. They were standing facing each other and they did what both of them wanted to do the whole night. They kissed.
It wasn't her first kiss but it was the most intense she has ever experienced. Her body was re-acting like never before. She couldn't stop herself. She wanted more.
"We are at my floor", he said breathlessly when the lift stopped, "Come with me to my room."
She took the hand he was reaching out to her and followed him. When he finally closed the door behind him, they grabbed each other and continued their arduous exploration of each other's mouths. He lifted her and took her to the couch and continued kissing her. His hands were at the back of her cocktail dress. He unzipped it and slipped it down to get access to her breasts and started his attack there as well. She was in ecstasy. Then she vaguely heard a familiar sound. It got louder and louder. It was her cell phone. That brought her to her senses. She pushed him off her, pulled her dress back up and ran out of there. She was mortified. How could she do that? She had never done anything like that before. Why now, with him, and she was getting married tomorrow. She eventually answered the phone. It was Mansi asking where she was. She told them she was back, took a shower and went to bed still shaken about what she has almost let happen.
She was to meet the groom the next morning. They were all having breakfast together. She nearly died when she saw him, the guy from last night. He was her husband to be. She was feeling nauseous. She saw the recognition in his eyes. The look of disapproval and disgust on his face. What did she expect? She had nearly given herself to him and she didn't even bother to ask his name. She thought he would call off the wedding and tell everyone about her, but he didn't. He went through with it all.
End of flashback
"I am sure that he wants to torture me. Well I won't allow it. He is as guilty as I am. I will not allow him to walk all over me."
"Excuse me."
Aarti was so deep in thought that she did not notice the angry man that entered the room.
Seher Hone Ko Hai
