by P. G. Van
“That’s bad,” I said shaking my head and added looking at Sanjana, “I am sure Sameera is happy to see you.”
“We are very grateful for what you have done for us,” Sanjana’s dad said looking at Nick and me and added, “All my powers as a member of the Indian Parliament did not help locate my granddaughter. You were a godsend to rescue Sameera.”
“You are welcome,” Nick said and shook hands with the elderly man.
“If there is anything I can ever do for you, please do not hesitate,” Sanjana’s dad said emotionally and handed us his card with the contact information.
“Sameera, can I please have your contact information. I would love to invite you guys home once my husband is back from his business trip,” Sanjana said smiling.
I smiled and said, “We would love to come see Sameera soon, but it may be tough as my sister is getting married in a few days.”
“No hurry. Anytime works for us and Nick, you should join us too,” Sanjana insisted.
I smiled at her and exchanged email addresses. Sanjana and her family left with Sameera securely in her arms. I waved to the beautiful baby that had awakened my longing to be a mom.
Nick pulled me into his arms as soon as I closed the main door and asked, “Do you still feel like making a baby?”
“Yes, I do,” I teased.
“Baby, I want to too, but I am not ready to share you yet,” Nick said as he ran his tongue along my jawline.
“Nick, don’t get carried away now,” I warned and added, “The gang will be back any minute now.”
“Sameera,” he said in a hoarse voice with so much intensity that I clung to him for support, “that was just hot.”
I giggled and asked, “What was hot?”
“When you attacked the guy, I saw the tigress that would kill to protect her children,” Nick said trailing down along my neck with his lips.
“Nick...” My voice trailed off as he brought his lips to mine and wrapped his arms around me. His lips worshipped mine with dedication and care. He gently flattened my back on the main door to press his body against mine.
I felt his hard need for me against my belly and said against his lips, “You are so hard, baby.”
“I want you baby, so bad,” Nick said, as he ran his hand along my chest to curve his palm over my breast.
I took in a sharp breath and said, “I want you too baby, but we need to stop now. I am sure Nate and Srini are done with the ceremony and are on their way home.”
Nick brushed his lips over mine and asked looking into my eyes, “What is it with you and looking for trouble?”
“Hey,” I said pushing him away annoyed with his question and added, “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Attacking a crazy dude to save me and the baby?” he mocked.
“That’s not getting into trouble, that is getting you out of trouble,” I teased as I got out of his embrace.
He swiftly took my hand pulling me back into his embrace and said, “What about wanting to perform a ceremony for strangers?”
I took a deep breath and turned around to look into his eyes and said, “Nick, I already told you that the Rajput family is your extended family, and I need to do the ceremony,” and asked for clarification, “Again, how is that looking for trouble?”
Nick laughed shaking his head and said, “You got into trouble with me.”
“No, I did not. You will understand when I tell you why I have to do the ceremony,” I said in a firm voice and added, “We will talk about it after the wedding.”
“Fine, don’t tell me. Do you know what this ceremony is for and what you are supposed to do?” Nick asked as I walked towards the bedroom.
“I know why I have to perform the ceremony, and I have to do it as a Vaasi girl,” I said turning around to look at him and added, “I don’t know the exact procedure for the ceremony, but I am sure it will be some form of an offering to the Rajput family’s deity.”
“You have no clue what you signed up for, do you?” Nick mocked and added, “That’s what I meant by looking for trouble.”
“Nick, they are your family. I trust them,” I said annoyed at his comment.
Nick looked at me with a mysterious expression that made me wonder if he knew more than what I knew about the Rajput ceremony.
“Nick, what are you not telling me?” I asked remembering his other comment about the ceremony from earlier that day about me needing him for the ceremony.
He shook his head smiling as he brought his lips to mine and said against my lips, “It’s all good sweetheart.”
Chapter Three
“Meera, Daddy and I are leaving now to receive Srini’s family at the banquet hall. We are taking Nani and Thatha with us. Please make sure Nethra arrives on time,” my mom said speaking endlessly outside my bedroom door.
“I will, Ma,” I said opening my bedroom door.
“Meera, you look beautiful,” she said smiling at me and asked, “Is this the one I picked for you last year?”
“Yes, Ma,” I smiled looking down at the red ombré flare skirt with embellishments and added blushing, “I already wore this for a ceremony at Nick’s house.” I had put on the outfit so my mom could see the outfit she bought for me.
“It’s too bad you haven’t figured out how to drape the scarf properly,” she mocked as she adjusted the scarf draped on my torso and tucked it in so it stayed in place.
‘Thanks, Ma!! Nate and I will see you in thirty minutes,” I said as she headed downstairs. I went back into my room and completed my look with a pair of large earrings and the Maang tikka that Nick had with him all along. I spent some time to put on makeup and finished up with a deep scarlet lip gloss. I grabbed the car keys and my clutch and went into Nate’s room.
“Nate, we need to leave now,” I said knocking on Nate’s bedroom door and added, “I am sure the mehendi artists and the DJ have arrived at the banquet hall.”
The mehendi event was one of the major pre-wedding events where the bride’s and the groom’s family came together to celebrate while the mehendi is applied on women’s hands. The herbal paste stains the skin with a deep red color and is applied with a cone similar to an icing cone to draw intricate patterns on the bride’s arms and feet.
My phone beeped as I entered Nate’s bedroom.
Nick: Are you two at a different party that we are not invited to?
Me: Yes so you can enjoy a nice evening with Anika.
Nick: She is your cousin and u have to be nice to her
Me: yeah yeah
Nick: what is taking you guys so long?
Me: the bride is getting dressed for her mehendi event…
Nick: The groom is being extremely impatient
Me: We will leave shortly
“Nate, Nick tells me Srini is getting very impatient. Let’s go,” I urged, looking up from my phone.
Nate was sitting at the dressing table all decked up and ready to go in her multicolored, ankle length flare dress. She had picked out that dress when we had gone shopping right after the wedding date was finalized.
“Nate, that’s the perfect dress for the mehendi and you look hot,” I beamed and added, “The mehendi artist will appreciate the fact that your arms and feet are accessible for them to put on the art.”
“You look so pretty Meera. I love this color on you,” Nate complimented, looking at me through the mirror.
“Thank you, Nate. I am so glad mom got to see me in the outfit,” I said smiling at her.
Nate sat in front of the mirror looking at herself.
“Nate, we have to go,” I said impatiently.
“Meera, this feels so unreal,” Nate said in a soft voice.
“What are you talking about?” I asked with a puzzled expression.
“Last year at this time I didn’t know Srini, and now I am getting married to him. I have flutters in my stomach,” she said her voice weak.
“Oh, my sweet sis. It is real as your love for Srini,” I said putting
my arms around her and added, “Now get your butt downstairs so I can get you to see your groom.”
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into the main entrance of the banquet hall and followed the wedding coordinator to where most of the immediate family and close friends were gathered.
The DJ was playing some low-key music as he tested out the system. I took a deep breath as I entered the banquet hall that already looked crowded with around two hundred people, and I knew we were expecting about three hundred. I looked around the banquet hall and noticed Nick was in deep conversation with Anika’s dad.
I nudged Nate and said, “Poor Nick, do you think I should rescue him from that vortex of gibberish?”
Nate giggled and said, “For all you know, Nick may be enjoying that conversation.”
I scanned the banquet hall and spotted my stepdad with his friends and my mom with a bunch of her cousins and friends, and decided against interrupting their fun. Nate left my side as soon as she spotted Srini talking to my grandparents.
My grandparents were sitting very close to the low-height stage so they could watch the mehendi being applied to my cousins that were there for the event. As I walked towards the main event area, I saw Anika throw her head back and laugh loudly at something one of my cousins whispered to her.
Anika was Nate’s age but always saw a reason to compete with me for everything. When we were in middle school, she had to have the game that I bought; she had to do win a competition at school because I did. I had hoped after all these years she would have changed and become more mature. Her dad was into real estate and construction and was one of the wealthiest among our relatives.
“You sure are ignoring me today,” Nick said coming up from behind.
I turned to look at him and teased, “I did not want to interrupt that business meeting you were in with Anika’s dad.”
Nick smiled and said, “You look beautiful in this lehenga. I just need to make sure I am not caught drooling over you, again.”
I blushed and added with a wink, “I wore this for my mom and not for you.”
“That’s totally fine by me. I can still enjoy the view,” he teased.
I laughed and asked, “How is it that Anika was not sitting right next to you when you were talking to her dad?”
“Why don’t you ask her?” Nick said as he followed me to where my grandparents were seated.
“Are you guys ready to sing and dance?” I asked cheerfully, as I approached my grandparents.
My grandma laughed and said pointing at her ankle in the cast, “As always.”
“What took you guys so long?” Srini whined.
“Srini, you are asking the wrong person. Did you ask your fiancée why it took so long?” I mocked.
“I chose not to,” Srini teased looking at Nate as she settled down to get the mehendi applied to her arms and feet.
“Aren’t you getting the mehendi done?” Nick asked when he saw me sit on the chair next to my grandma.
“I am on bridesmaid duty. I need to feed Nate dinner, so I will get mine done after she is done eating,” I said, smiling at Nick.
“Srini can feed Nethra,” Nick said smiling and leaned over and whispered, “You should start on your mehendi so I get to feed you dinner.”
I giggled and said, “I am sure Anika is getting her mehendi done in hopes that you would feed her dinner.”
Nick’s expression changed, and I knew instantly that I went too far with my teasing.
“I am sorry, that was a bit much,” I said apologetically and added, “I am going to go get my mehendi done. I am counting on Srini to feed Nate and Nick to feed me dinner.”
“Deal,” Srini said laughing.
“You guys should get something to eat before that then,” I suggested as I walked towards the group of giggling girls.
Anika’s mehendi art was just about done when I went up the stage.
“Perfect timing, Meera. You can take my spot,” Anika said offering me her chair.
“Thanks Anika,” I said smiling, but shocked at her kind gesture.
“Where is Nick, Meera?” she asked scanning the banquet hall.
“Nick and Srini went to get something to eat,” I said as the mehendi artist started drawing the intricate design on the back of my hand.
“Nethra, Srini is such a good guy. I am so happy for you,” Anika said smiling at Nate. I looked at Anika in shock as she complimented on Nate’s outfit and wondered if this was the same girl we had known for years?
“I totally understand why Srini fell for you Nethra,” Anika said smiling and added in a cool tone, “I just don’t understand how Meera got Nick to fall for her.”
I stared at Anika blankly as I processed her statement. When I saw the sparkle in her eye at the look on my face, I decided not to give her the pleasure of an argument.
“What is that supposed to mean, Anika?” Nate snarled at her.
“Nethra, I don’t mean it in a bad way. That’s a skill too. I wish I had the skill to have a man fall for me blindly,” Anika said, and I saw Saahi and Maahi’s expression freeze at her comment.
“Anika, you better watch what you say. Do you not know that it was Nick that came back into Meera’s life?” Nate said visibly angry.
“Nate, it’s okay. Relax,” I said smiling at her and asked looking at Anika, “What is your point, Anika?”
“Well, I don’t think you and Nick are compatible and your relationship will not sustain,” Anika declared.
“Shut it, Anika,” Saahi said in an elevated voice.
“Saahi, it’s okay. I want to hear what she has to say,” I said in a cool voice even though all I wanted to do was pull my hands away from the mehendi artists and slap Anika.
“Anika, don’t shoot your mouth off just because you think Meera’s hands are not available at this time,” Nate said as if she read my mind.
“It’s my opinion and I am just stating it,” Anika shrugged and added looking at me, “Meera, I am the only one that will tell you the truth.”
“And the truth is?” I prompted.
The nonstop chatter amongst the twenty odd girls that had gathered to get their mehendi done had ceased as they watched Anika and me exchange words.
“The truth is that you are not a right fit for Nick or his family. I just want you to realize it before things get too serious,” Anika said with confidence.
“Too serious? Are you oblivious to the fact that Nick and Meera are engaged?” Maahi said rolling her eyes at Anika.
“It doesn’t matter, Maahi. It’s never too late,” Anika said maintaining her calm tone.
“That’s enough,” Nate commanded in a firm tone. I hoped that her voice was lost in the music and did not reach the guests.
“You guys don’t get it. Nick’s family is wealthy, and it needs a certain mindset to live up to those expectations,” Anika said and added, “A girl from a business family would understand how things work in business families.”
“Are you saying you or someone like you is a better fit for Nick?” Saahi asked in a cool voice.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I am saying. You do not have the mindset to accept the lifestyle. You will not appreciate the lifestyle that such wealth brings,” Anika said encouraged by the question.
“Really? Have you wondered why Nick is in love with Meera and has asked her to marry him?” Nate interjected.
“Like I said, it’s a phase. I am not saying Meera is not interesting, but their relationship moved so fast that it will come tumbling down very quickly. I don’t want her to be hurt when Nick decides he’s had enough of her,” Anika said looking at Nate.
“That’s very kind of you Anika,” Nick’s icy voice cut through the silence that had fallen over the small group of girls gathered on the center stage.
Nick was standing right next to the stage a few feet away from me, and I wasn’t sure how much he had heard with the music playing in the background.
“Oh, hi Nick,” Anika said with a sheepish smile.
Nick stood rooted to his spot and looked hot with his eyes burning with anger at Anika’s comment. He looked stunning in the royal blue kurtha that fit him perfectly.
“Nick, it’s okay. We are just indulging Anika with her theory,” I said winking at him.
“Well, let me make it very clear that I feel fortunate to have Sameera in my life,” Nick said looking at Anika and added, “I don’t care if she doesn’t value my wealth because her love is what I need.”
“Now, that sounds very sweet, Nick. In reality, I really don’t see why you are interested in her except for the fact that she has a great body,” Anika challenged Nick.
“Shut up, Anika,” Nate said on top of her voice, and I knew immediately that all the guests heard her and were looking at us as Nick and Nate fumed at Anika.
“I got this Nethra,” Nick said in a calm voice and said, “The girl I am engaged to is not only my best friend for life, but is also a caring sister, a forgiving friend, and a loving daughter, and I don’t care what you think of her Anika.”
I stared at Nick shocked at his statement but nothing seemed to faze Anika at all.
She shrugged and said, “It’s all very nice to hear you say Nick, but what is the proof that she is not one of your many conquests?”
Nick took a deep breath, and I saw him clench his teeth.
“Nick, you don’t need to prove to a nobody what I mean to you,” I stood up to go stand next to Nick.
I knew by then that the focus of everyone at the party was the heated conversation between Nick and Anika. I leaned against him with my mehendi arms away from him and whispered, “You have no need to waste your energy on explaining our relationship to an imbecile.”
“Oh and Meera, I don’t see any other reason for me to believe that you actually love him and not his money,” Anika fired at me.
“Anika, what are you saying?” Anika’s dad interjected but that did not help as she continued to stare at me expecting an explanation.
“I got this baby,” Nick whispered and took a step towards Anika and said in a firm voice, “For everyone here wondering why I am crazy about Sameera and for those who think she is with me for the wealth, let me remind you of the incident at the temple yesterday.”