Boxset: Destiny Decides.. & Destiny Embraces..

by P. G. Van

  He turned to look at me with a smile and continued, “Anika, where was everyone’s presence of mind when Sameera identified that the baby was with people that didn’t look like her family? Where was that business family girl that didn’t save the baby, and who was it that ran for their life at the sight of a mere three-inch kitchen knife?” Nick said in a cold tone looking at Anika and added, “She dove into that man even though she knew I could take him. I love the fighter in her that will do what it takes to protect the people she loves.”

  A dead silence fell over the group even with the music playing in the background.

  “Why is she refusing to get married to you then?” Anika asked not giving up and added, “Meera is not convinced that you are the one, that’s why she is not ready to get married to you.”

  I debated if I should just tell everyone about the Rajput family’s ceremony, and Nick and I were destined to be together. It wasn’t my story to tell and to people who may not value my beliefs and sentiments.

  “Nick, I know how to put an end to this,” I said sounding frustrated and added looking at my stepdad and mom, “Dad, Ma. Do you still want Nick and me to get married on the same day as Nate and Srini?”

  My mom and stepdad looked at me blankly.

  “Nate and Srini, are you guys okay with that?” I asked and Nate and Srini smiled back nodding.

  I smiled at the friends and family gathered and announced, “My dear friends and family, sorry about the interruption to the mehendi party. My fiancée, Nikhil, and I will be getting married in two days. I hope you can attend our wedding and bless us.”

  My mom and stepdad looked at me in shock as the crowd cheered.

  “I will believe it when it happens,” Anika barked and stormed out of the banquet hall.

  “You didn’t need to do that Sameera,” Nick said in a gentle voice.

  “Yes, I do. If one person can question our relationship and if we don’t nip it in the bud, those questions can create a toxic environment for us.”

  “Meera, are you sure you are not doing this out of spite?” Nick asked in a concerned voice.

  “I am not, Nick. I had a promise to keep but some promises have to be broken to keep my promise of love to you,” I said in a flat tone but felt sick inside that I may be destroying the dreams and hopes of the Rajput family.

  “Meera, what was that all about?” my mom asked as she walked up to me.

  “Ma, it was just Anika being her usual self,” I said shaking my head.

  “Were you serious about getting married on the same day as Nethra and Srini?” my mom asked hesitantly.

  “Yes, Ma,” I said smiling with confidence and saw her face glow.

  “I have to go tell Dad because he still thinks you said that to shut Anika up,” my mom said as she hurried to find my stepdad.

  “Let’s continue with the mehendi?” I cheered looking at the dumbfound girls that were still processing what just happened.

  Nate and I posed for a few mehendi pictures and continued with our mehendi designs. We sat around talking and teasing Nate, and I saw her blush and glow with every statement we made of her and Srini.

  The only person that was missing at that event was Ann, Nick’s sister. She had to stay back a few more days to take care of the stuff at work as Nick decided to travel to India a week early.

  As I watched the girls dance and play the various games being hosted, I noticed that the mehendi artist was working on an elaborate pattern on my hands, and I knew instantly that it was a bridal pattern.

  I looked at the artist and said smiling, “I don’t need such an elaborate design.”

  The artist smiled back and said, “This is a bridal pattern and from what we heard a few minutes ago, you need this pattern.”

  After two and half hours of being rooted to one spot, the mehendi artists released us feeling comfortable that the mehendi had dried up enough.

  Nate and I were getting the finishing touches applied and the excess mehendi removed from our feet when suddenly there seemed to be an uproar of conversation around us. I looked through the group that was dancing and my eyes met Nick’s mocking eyes. I sat in my spot while the mehendi artist finished up. Nick made his way to me with his beautiful smile, with his gorgeous dimples showing. He knelt on the floor next to where I was sitting and planted a kiss on my lips.

  “Nick, where have you been for the past couple of hours?” I asked my cheeks burning.

  “I talked to my mom and dad and told them about the wedding, and they are thrilled and excited,” he said and planted another kiss on my cheek making me turn crimson.

  “I love the pattern on your hands,” he said smiling.

  I blushed and said smiling, “Your name is hidden in this intricate design, and you need to find it.”

  “Only your husband is supposed to do that,” Nick teased and added when he saw the surprise in my face, “I did learn a few things at Ann’s wedding.”

  “I am glad that I have a cousin like Anika to knock some sense into me with her nonsensical talk,” I confessed.

  “Nick, I need some fresh air. Let’s go sit in the outdoor patio,” I said as Nick slipped his arm around my waist.

  Nick led me to the patio doors of the banquet hall and opened the doors. I stepped out into the patio and felt the refreshing air fill my lungs. Nick put his arms around me from behind and said, “I just can’t wait to be married to you.”

  I smiled and turned around and just as I was going to put my arms around him, I stopped as I realized the mehendi on my hands was only partially dry. I stood in Nick’s arms with his fingertips drawing imaginary art on my waist.

  “Nick,” I said my voice intense, as I took my lips to his bare chest exposed at the collar of his kurta.

  “Yes, baby,” Nick said taking in a deep breath and tightening his hold on my waist with one hand while his other hand eagerly hunted for my waist chain.

  “Nick, I need you to pull out the waist chain,” I said taking my teeth to his skin. I felt him catch his breath with the hunger in my voice and felt his pulse quicken as I took my lips to his neck.

  He gently ran his finger along my waist exposing my yellow gold waist chain that I had worn at all times for more than a decade. The chain was my dad’s, and he had worn it for traditional events. I had started wearing it in his memory after he passed away. It was a long chain so I had worn it around my waist and kept it concealed.

  Nick held me close to him as we both calmed our breathing. I took a deep breath and said in a steady voice, “Nick, I want you to have this chain.”

  Nick suddenly pulled back to look at me and asked, “Sameera, I know how special this waist chain is for you. Why would you want me to have it?”

  “Nick, there is nothing more special than you. Please unhook it for me,” I said and added, “It might be a bit tight as I pressed the hook hard so it would not get accidentally unhooked.”

  “Are you sure?” Nick asked as he kneeled down next to me to unhook the chain from my waist.

  “Yes, Nick,” I said and took in a deep breath as I felt his cool fingertips on my heated body. I quivered internally with every pull and tug I felt as Nick struggled to pull out the hook. I squealed as I felt his lips on my waist and then realized that he was using his teeth to pull open the hook.

  “Nick, you will damage your teeth,” I said my voice trembling, and I was having a hard time standing without having the option to grab onto something. He finally managed to unhook the chain and stood up holding the chain in his hands looking into my eyes.

  “Nick, please put the hook back on and hang the chain on these two fingers very gently,” I said holding out my index fingers pointing at each other.

  “Sameera, what are you doing?” Nick asked smiling as he hooked the chain and pressed the clasp together.

  “Making you mine forever,” I said taking the chain gingerly from him. I used my thumbs to keep the chain from rolling on my index fingers and asked smiling at Nick, “Nikhil Bhatia, are yo
u ready to me mine?”

  He smiled and ran his fingers through his hair and said, “I have been yours for a while now, Sameera Vaasi Swaminath.”

  I laughed and said, “This will make it official,” and added, “I am going to put this over your head like a garland. If you move, it will mess up my mehendi, so hold still.”

  I very slowly reached up to put the chain over his head and saw it fall smoothly to hang around his neck. Nick looked at the antique piece of jewelry looking at me smiling and asked, “Do you realize what you have done?”

  “What?” I said giggling as I saw Nick’s eyes deepen and when he spoke, his voice was husky. “In many cultures, the act of a woman putting a garland or a chain over the man’s head is considered marriage,” Nick said coolly and teased. “Do we really need another ceremony?”

  Chapter Four

  “Meera, wake up!!” Nate said bouncing with energy and added, “Today is the big day.”

  “Nate, you are still jetlagged, the wedding day is tomorrow,” I said pulling the sheets up over my face.

  “I know that silly, I meant it is a big day for you. Your dance performance is today,” Nate said reminding me about my classical dance performance was planned for later that day as part of the Sangeet ceremony.

  “Oh and look,” Nate said and paused as I pulled the sheets away to look at her. I saw Nate’s glowing face and her grinning eyes, as she held out her hands to show me the beautiful deep red staining on her hands from the mehendi that was applied last night.

  “It’s beautiful Nate, and you are glowing,” I said sitting up in bed.

  “Look at the color of the mehendi on your hands,” Nate said in awe.

  I looked at the staining on my hands and the color was a shade darker than Nate’s, and looked all the more beautiful.

  “I told you your love is special,” Nate said beaming, and I rolled my eyes at her, as I knew what she meant.

  “Nate, as you like to believe, the color of the mehendi has nothing to do with how much your fiancée loves you. It is purely dependent on the amount of heat your body produces to allow the bonding of the dye substance from the mehendi with the protein in your body.”

  Nate laughed and said, “I am sure he gave you the much needed heat on the patio last night.”

  “Nate,” I whined and added, “You should stop spying on us.”

  Nate laughed hugging me and said, “I missed you so much.”

  “Me too,” I said putting my arms around her.

  My mom walked into the room to see us hugging each other, and smiled and said, “My happy beautiful babies.”

  My mom inspected the mehendi on our hands and said, “I am so happy with the designs you guys picked.”

  “Nate picked mine too, Ma. I would have picked a simpler one if it were up to me,” I said smiling at Nate.

  “I am glad to hear you girls had a lot of fun last night,” my mom said in a teasing tone and said, “I am glad you and Nick decided to get married.”

  “Yes, Ma and thanks to Anika,” I said sounding annoyed.

  My mom and sister burst out laughing and Nate said, “Anika has some real talent. She managed to get you to change your mind.”

  “I didn’t like the way she talked about me and Nick so I had to shut her up and anyone else who had any doubts about us,” I said shaking my head and added cheerfully, “Now, I can’t wait to tell the world that I am getting married to Nick tomorrow.”

  My mom looked at me in silence for a few seconds asking, “Is that why you have Nick wearing your waist chain around his neck?”

  I looked at mom in shock not saying anything, and my mom continued, “Nick told me and your dad about the chain and wanted to make sure we were fine with him wearing the chain.”

  “You gave him your waist chain?” Nate asked in disbelief.

  “Both of you get a grip and listen to me. I understand it is a family heirloom, but nothing in this world is more important to me than Nick, and I wanted him to have it. It is my gift to him for our engagement,” I said in a stern voice looking at them.

  “That is just adorable,” Nate said planting a kiss on my cheek and added giggling, “Thankfully, my family heirlooms are bangles, and I don’t need to give them to Srini.”

  My mom laughed and urged, “Get out of bed girls; I have invited Srini’s family, Nick, and Ann for breakfast this morning.”

  “Ma, why? I want to sleep in today,” I whined.

  “We need to discuss some important stuff with Srini’s parents, and we wanted to meet Ann at our house before the Sangeet,” my mom declared and asked mocking me, “Good enough reason, I hope?”

  I laughed and got out of bed to get dressed and prep for one last practice before my performance later that night. Ann had arrived during the early hours and was staying at a hotel close to our grandparents’ house.

  It was quarter to seven when I walked out of the shower and went upstairs to the open terrace on the third floor to practice my dance bit. I had composed a twenty-minute playlist for the performance to start with the prayer for Lord Ganesha and close with my dad’s favorite song.

  I knew it would be a total emotional roller coaster for everyone in the family when they saw me dance. I was confident that I would totally enjoy my performance with my dad looking down on me. I smiled to myself thinking of Nick as I adjusted the anklet on my feet.

  I wondered if he had arrived with everyone else for breakfast as I wrapped up two rounds of practice. I gathered my stuff I had brought upstairs and opened the door to the staircase, and I almost jumped out of my skin.

  “Nick,” I screamed lightly when I saw him sprawled on the dimly-lit staircase and asked as my breath rasped in my throat, “How long have you been sitting here?”

  Nick looked up laughing as I moved towards him and sat next to him on the staircase. “Not for long. I heard the music playing when I got up here so didn’t want to disturb you,” he said, planting a kiss on my neck.

  I took in a deep breath as I felt the burn from his stubble and asked teasingly as he ran his lips along my neck, “Have you forgotten to shave, Nick?”

  He groaned against my neck pulling me closer into his embrace. I ran my mehendi-stained fingers through his hair pulling him against my chest and said gasping for air, “Nick, we are not alone. We need to stop what we are doing.”

  “Everyone is busy downstairs,” he said his voice muffled as he nuzzled my hair. I took a deep breath and pulled away to look at his desire-driven eyes and said, “We should go to join them. It’s not nice to be away like this.”

  Nick smiled and ran his fingertip along my lower lip and said, “I was asked to be with you because Srini’s parents and your parents are talking. Nate and Srini are in the bar room.”

  “Where is Ann? Is she here?” I asked with excitement in my voice.

  “She is bonding with your grandparents, and we should let everybody do what they are doing?” Nick said as he brought his lips to mine with hot hunger. I felt his tongue tease my tongue and when I moaned complaining about the tease, Nick tightened his hold on me with one arm and ran his cool fingertips to find my bare waist.

  He groaned when he could not find what he was looking for and I said against his lips, “It’s around your neck now, Nick.”

  As if overcome by a deep primitive hunger, he came down on me with his lips sucking the air out of my lungs. I felt his fingertips dig into my waist as the pulsation in my throat went out of control. I gasped for air against his mouth and pulled back to take my lips to his chest. My waist chain that had draped delicately on my waist for a decade now added a bold and sexy dimension to Nick’s masculinity. I gently traced along the chain with my tongue and felt his grip around me tighten.

  “Meera, I want you baby, now,” Nick said through clenched teeth.

  “Sssh, Nick. We have people in the house,” I said warning him as I buried my face in his chest. Nick and I steadied our breathing before heading downstairs to check on everyone else. Nate and Srini were
nowhere to be seen, and my parents were in the living room with Srini’s parents talking to the priest that would be conducting the wedding the next day.

  “Let’s go see, Ann,” I said taking Nick by his hand towards my grandparents’ bedroom on the lowest floor of the house. We heard laughter as we approached the bedroom door. I realized that Ann and my grandmother were bonding over Nick’s and my swimming pool episode. I blushed, and Nick shook his head as I reached for the doorknob and opened the door wider.

  “Meera,” Ann cried out getting up and walking towards me and said, “I am so happy to see you,” she hugged me and said smiling at Nick, “I can’t believe you guys are getting married tomorrow.”

  Nick smiled and walked over to sit down next to my grandpa. “I am so glad you are here, Ann. It’s too bad that you couldn’t come in time for the mehendi,” I said twisting my lips downwards.

  Ann laughed and said, “No worries. Your mom told me she had asked the mehendi artist to come by later today so I can get a simple pattern done,” and she looked at my palms and added winking at me, “I love your mehendi design and very nice color, Meera.”

  “Thank you Ann, and I am surprised you believe in the color myth,” I said laughing, and added, “You and Nate will get along very well.”

  “Meera, why didn’t I hear about the lovely pool scene until today?” my grandma asked sounding upset.

  “Sorry, Nani. It was pretty traumatic for Nick so I didn’t bother mentioning it to you,” I said poking fun at Nick.

  “Don’t worry baby, I will get my sweet revenge very soon,” Nick said confidently, and we all burst out laughing.

  *****

  Nick walked into the dressing room of the open-air party hall where the Sangeet party was being hosted that night. He was wearing a black linen kurta with threadwork on the neck. The kurta was slim fitting and showed off his toned torso, and the yellow gold chain around his neck peeked through the V-Neck teasing me.