The Malhotra Bride

THE MALHOTRA BRIDE

A romance novel by

Sundari Venkatraman

2nd Edition

Copyright © Sundari Venkatraman 2001

Self-published in 2013 under the banner Flaming Sun

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any

form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior

permission of the author-publisher.

Sundari Venkatraman asserts the moral right to be identified as the author & publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Cover Illustration: Prashant Kamble

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my Grandfather Raja, who laid the foundation for my knowledge of the English

Language. Thank you,
Thatha.

To my parents, Vijaya & Durairajan, who are the very reason for my existence.

To my husband Venkatraman, who encouraged me throughout and egged me on every time I was ready

to give up.

To Vinitha & Vigneshkumar who never thought it strange when their Mummy went crazy at times with

her imagination.

Acknowledgements

I thank my sisters Sujatha, Jayashree, Sabitha & Lakshmi for all their encouragement & help

I thank my friend Nilima for admiring my work and giving me the title ‘Indian Mills & Boon Queen’

I thank Rubina Ramesh for being a friend, guide & philosopher. She’s helping me tremendously with

marketing my books

I acknowledge all the bloggers and authors who have come together in reviewing my books

One

“No!” whispered Sunita in horror. Her beautiful grey green eyes were rounded in shock. Her hand

rose to her luscious, rosy red lips as she insisted in a louder voice, “No!”

Leela lifted her eyes from the peas she was shelling in the kitchen for dinner. She felt quite impatient

with her daughter. She knew Sunita of old. She could twist her mother around her little finger.

“Sunita, don’t make a fuss. You know that this is normal in prominent families such as ours—”

“Stop it,” burst out Sunita. “I’m quite fed up of hearing how important our family is. In fact, it’s been

shoved down my throat a million times as long as I can remember. Tell me something new, Mamma.”

Leela looked at her daughter’s shimmering eyes. She smiled sadly. “My dear Sunita, some traditions

have been followed by us for generations and we can’t go against them even if we don’t like them.”

“I can and I will, Mamma,” said Sunita belligerently. “We ape so many western customs - their style

of clothing, education and more. Times have changed, Mamma. It’s high time these traditions were left

behind.”

“My dear, all that’s fine till the time you get married into another family. There will be your duties

as their
bahu
and you cannot do whatever you please.”

“Mamma, please, I’m barely 20 and you’re all set to send me off to another home. Don’t you love

me at all?” Sunita ran her fingers through the shelled peas, looking at her mother from the corner of

her eyes, hoping to sway her with some emotional blackmail.

“
Pagli!
Your father will have our hides if I suggest that you remain unmarried for even a few more

months. As it is, the gossip mills have begun to wonder why there has been no engagement announced.

The Malhotras are
crorepatis
running an excellent garment business. Akshay is their only heir. He’s

well-educated, good-looking—”

“Mamma,” Sunita was desperate, “Look at it from my point of view. I just hate this 19th century

culture. Are you guys even aware it’s the 21st century? This is my whole future you’re talking about.”

“Exactly my child! That’s the reason your Pappa made sure that the boy is from a good family. Your

horoscope matches so perfectly with Akshay’s.”

“What?” spluttered Sunita. Words failed her as she felt claustrophobic. Things had been building

towards the most important event in her life and she had no inkling.

The younger daughter of Gokul and Leela Rishi was extremely beautiful with luxuriant dark brown

hair framing her perfect oval face. Sunita’s eyes were grey-green pools framed by long lashes that

mirrored her every thought. Her nose was slim and sharp while her lips were wide and sensual.

Their elder daughter Sandhya was happily married to Raghu, the eldest son of the Lalwani family.

She was quite contented and proud as a housewife and mother of Shyam and Shubha aged nine and

two. She had been more than ready at the age of eighteen to marry Raghu Lalwani. She had never

thought of questioning tradition. She had never felt the need to rebel against whatever her parents

decided for her. In fact, she had never even met Raghu in private before their wedding.

There was an age gap of eight years between Sandhya and Sunita. Although the sisters were friendly

with each other, you could not call them close.

Leela continued, “Yes, my dear. Akshay Malhotra’s horoscope matches yours on ten points, which is

rare. He is also handsome, educated in America—”

“Mamma, do you really think I give a damn because he’s educated in the US? I don’t know the guy

from Adam. How do you expect me to live the rest of my life with him?”

“But Sunita,” Leela had lost her patience by now, “that’s exactly what I’m telling you. The Malhotras

are coming home tomorrow. You can meet Akshay and find out for yourself how suitable he is.”

Sunita’s jaw dropped. She felt steamrollered. What the hell was going on? “Do you think I have a

fifty-fifty chance of saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’?” she asked aggressively.

“How can you be so negative Sunita? Your father and I have taken care of you over all these years.

Won’t we choose the best man for you? Can’t you respect our decision?”

“So, tomorrow I meet this guy and just nod my head before you lead me to the marriage hall like a

lamb to the slaughter,” snarled Sunita, her face red with anger.

“
Hey Baghavan!
”
exploded Leela, “Sunita, how can you talk like this? Look at Sandhya…”

“Mamma, I’m not Sandhya, okay? I accept that Sandhya is an ideal child who listens to everything

you say. She got married to Raghu
Jeeja
and is quite fine being an ideal wife and daughter-in-law. But

I can’t face such a life. You have to understand that, Mamma,” she insisted. Her slender body shook

with disgust at the thought of marrying a stranger.

“I think your father’s right when he accused me of spoiling you rotten. It’s high time you fall in with

our plans and follow the life of a girl who belongs to a traditional family,” said Leela, exasperated

with her younger child.

“No!” Sunita was vehement.

“Yes,” Leela was equally intense, “I know you’re a mature girl who’ll never shame her parents.”

She left her daughter to brood angrily.

Sunita worried her lower lip, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She was too proud to let them

fall as she held her head high and sniffed. Her thoughts ran fast as she looked for a solution to the

mess she was in.

Her life had been one long struggle for freedom. Gokul Rishi was a very strict father and strongly

believed that women should be occasionally seen and never heard. She had fought tooth and nail for

small things like riding horses and wearing jeans. Only because she was a woman! But all that had

only made her stronger.

Sunita went to her Grandfather’s room. The 67-year-old giant with snow white hair adored his

rebellious granddaughter. He had always encouraged her to find herself and never treated her

differently just because she was a female. The young woman so reminded him of his late wife Sharda.

He was so proud of his Sunita.

“
Dadaji
,” said Sunita as she hugged him tight. She felt so secure in his arms.

“You’re upset my dear. What happened?” he asked lovingly, running his hand over her head.

“The Malhotras are coming tomorrow to ask for my hand in marriage,” began Sunita before she was

interrupted.

“Yes, and—”

“You too,
Dadaji!
Pappa and Mamma want me married off to a stranger. But
Dadaji
, how could

you?” Sunita’s voice wobbled.

“But, little one, I’m not getting younger. I would like to hold my great grandchildren before I die.”

“You do play with Shubha and Shyam when they’re here and that’s quite often.”

“You’re right. But you’re more precious to me than anyone else. Is it too much to ask to play with

your kids? What have you got against marriage? Your
Dadi
and I had a wonderful life together.”

“That’s precisely what I’m telling you,
Dadaji
. You loved each other from when you were sixteen

and she was fourteen. Getting married must have been a joy.”

“Tell me if you love someone. I’ll get you married to him.”

“But,
Dadaji
, I’m not in love with anyone. I’ve been concentrating on my studies and have not had

the time to fall in love,” protested Sunita.

“You don’t need time to fall in love, my dear. Love just happens.”

“Are you people going to allow ‘love to happen’ to me?” Sunita felt triumphant as she pushed

Grandpa Ratan into a corner.

“Little one, the last two years haven’t been easy keeping your father from getting you married before

you completed your degree. That’s not possible anymore.” Grandpa Ratan was firm.

Sunita put her head on his lap. “
Dadaji
, Mamma’s given me no choice. She says that the Malhotra

boy’s been chosen for me with great care and I can’t refuse the alliance. What if I don’t like him?”

Grandpa’s eyes twinkled. “It’s like this. You’re off the hook if the boy says ‘no’. But I can’t see him

resisting you.”
Dadaji
grinned at her. “But seriously, my dear, if you take a dislike to him, anybody

who forces your hand will have me to answer to,” he promised.

Sunita gave him a relieved smile. “See you,
Dadaji
.” She ran away like a gazelle, so gracefully,

bringing tears of joy to Grandpa Ratan’s eyes. He knew her docile acceptance to be false. But with

the tolerance and wisdom of age, he accepted that ‘man proposes and God disposes’.

Two

Akshay parked his Red Audi on the portico and jumped out of the driver’s seat. Whistling

cheerfully, he climbed the porch steps two at a time and entered the huge hall through the elaborately

carved double doors. His mother Tanuja heard the car and came out of the kitchen.

Akshay hugged her close before lifting her straight off the floor and swinging her in a circle.

“Akshay! Put me down now,” ordered Tanuja, her voice shaking with mirth.

Akshay laughed with her as he put her down. “Ask me how my day was,” he insisted.

“It was obviously good,” declared Tanuja, sensing his exuberance.

“Fantastic, mom,” hooted Akshay.

“Tell me what the excitement’s about.”

“Mom, I clinched a huge deal with the most reputed firm in Mumbai. It runs to fifty crores of rupees.

Five other major companies were competing with us for the contract. And I got it.”

“That’s amazing Akshay. I’m so proud of you. Does Dad know?”

“You bet. I came directly home after the conference. He’s on his way from the office and should be

here soon.”

Akshay’s father, Raj Malhotra, walked in jubilantly and gave his son a bear hug. Both men were

tall, over six feet with Tanuja being a Lilliput of an inch over five feet. She was tiny only in stature.