The Malhotra Bride (10 page)

her fists, which were crushed between their bodies as he used both hands to hold her steady.

Sunita didn’t know what hit her. The last time, it had been just a peck on her lips. But now, oh my

God! She didn’t know what hit her. Her whole body was on fire. Akshay bit her lower lip gently. Her

defence mechanism kicked in and her teeth clamped tightly together in fear of the strange sensations

that he was invoking in her.

“Open your lips.” Sunita looked at Akshay, her startled eyes round. Akshay smiled at her, “Open

your lips and let me in, Sunita. I want to kiss you properly.”

Sunita’s lips parted and she shut her eyes tightly. Akshay’s lips closed over hers once again and

Sunita felt as though her heart was being drawn out through her lips. She was breathless by the time

Akshay raised his head. Sunita hid her blushing face against his shoulder.

Akshay shuddered, pulling himself under control with an effort. He thought it best to leave the beach

to head towards home.

“Let’s go home, sweetheart.”

Sunita was relieved that he wasn’t teasing her any more. She hadn’t quite recovered from her first

kiss. Her slight body shook in remembered delight, though.

“Are you cold?”

“No,” came the squeaky answer.

“Sure?”

“Hmm.” She leaned against him, warm in the cocoon of his embrace, as they walked along the

beach to his bike.

He stopped suddenly to reach into his pant pocket and pull out a jeweller’s case. “This is for you,”

he said, handing it to her.

Curious, Sunita opened it to gasp at the most beautiful emerald bracelet she had ever set eyes on.

“But, Akshay, I can’t—”

Akshay sighed dramatically, “Can’t you just accept a gift from me without objecting?”

“Yeah, roses,” she replied promptly.

“Next time, I promise. Just take this now. I’d like to see you wearing it,” he said throatily.

Her hands trembled as she took the bracelet from its velvety bed to snap it on her wrist. Her fiery

blush was lost in the darkness thankfully. “O Badshah! Anything for your pleasure,” she teased,

shaken by the passion in his voice.

He lifted her hand to admire it. It looked perfect on her, just as he thought.

“I don’t know whether to strangle you or kiss you senseless,” he declared, his eyes on her lips.

“I thought you didn’t treat women with violence,” said Sunita, not done with her teasing

“Then a kiss it is.” He turned her around in his arms.

“No, Akshay,” she placed her fingers on his lips to stop him. “Please.”

Akshay looked at her face. Such a baby! It just struck him that she was still perturbed by the kiss

they shared.

He kissed the fingers pressed to his lips and said, “Race you to the bike.” He paused to allow her a

few feet lead on him and sprinted behind her. They got on the bike and went home to Raj and Tanuja

who were waiting dinner for them despite the lateness of the hour. Dinner at the Malhotras’ home was

noisy and fun.

It was quite late by the time Sunita helped Akshay pack the leftovers into the mammoth-sized fridge.

The Malhotra men were quite useful in the kitchen, it seemed. The servants had retired as it was late.

“Do you cook too?” asked Sunita, amazed to see the efficient way Akshay transferred everything

into small containers, placed lids and put them in the fridge. She felt superfluous.

“What do you think?” Akshay looked at her, an eyebrow raised in query.

Sunita shrugged. “Well, if you know how to cook, I’m sure you excel at that too.”

“Bulls-eye,” grinned Akshay.

“Hmm,” a mischievous glint appeared in Sunita’s eyes, “What say we extend the contract? I could

get used to having you cook my meals.”

Akshay looked into her beautiful eyes, just wanting to drown in them. He kept his hands to himself

with great difficulty.

He did not want to discuss their contract. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow; I don’t want to drag your

Pappa’s wrath on my head,” he said, looking at the kitchen clock.

Sunita’s eyes flew to the clock and she was shocked to see that it was way past eleven.

“Don’t panic,” ordered Akshay as he pulled her into the circle of his arms. He stroked her back

gently, calming her down. He kissed her lightly on her cheek and led her out. He picked up her jacket

that had been placed on the bike and draped it on her shoulders. She thrust her arms into the sleeves

and looked at him expectantly.

Akshay’s mobile eyebrows went up in query.

“Button up my jacket,” came the firm order.

Akshay’s jaw dropped. Always the unexpected! Eyes sparking devilry, he raised his hands to the

front of her jacket and said, “My pleasure.”

Sunita panicked at his expression and said, “I think I’ll manage thanks.”

“Oh, come on, sweetheart, lemme help you.” His hands held the front of her jacket and her agitation

increased. She seemed to lose control whenever he came too close or touched her intimately. She was

too shy to tell him so. She moved away and shook her head.

“Please let’s go, Akshay. I’m late.”

“Okay.” He gunned the bike. Sunita hesitantly locked her hands around his waist.

“What’s it, sweetheart?” He sensed her discomfort.

“Just tired.”

Akshay let it go at that. When they reached her bungalow, Sunita slid off the bike and raised a hand

in farewell. Respecting her mood, Akshay blew her a kiss. “Bye, sweetheart.”

“Bye, Akshay.” Sunita ran inside the house and locked the door behind her. She went up to her room

to wait for her cell to ring.

“Hey, I’m home,” came his cheerful voice.

“Hi,” she replied, her voice low.

“Am I crowding you Sunita?” he asked.

‘The man was too bloody observant,’ she thought.

“Well actually I—” Sunita hesitated.

“You’re an innocent baby and have never been kissed before,” Akshay finished the sentence for her.

“I only hope I haven’t put you off kissing,” he said, tongue-in-cheek.

“No,” she hoped he wouldn’t stop kissing her. Akshay heard the vehemence in her voice and

chuckled to himself. “Only my heart beat so hard; I thought I might suffocate,” she told him. It was

easier to talk about it over the phone.

Akshay wished he was not so far away when they were having this discussion. He sighed. “More

tomorrow, I promise. Good night.”

“Good night, Akshay.”

Sunita was dissatisfied at the abrupt end to the conversation. She was mixed up about the kiss and

was restless. She slept badly that night.

Eleven

Sunita had a strong sensation of being observed when she stepped out of her classes the next

morning. Akshay was waiting for her at the gate, looking heartbreakingly handsome in a three-piece

suit of charcoal grey; a snow-white shirt and maroon tie with a geometrical pattern. His hair was

slickly combed, the ends touching his jacket collar. Leaning against his car, he watched the entrance to

the institute. He straightened on seeing Sunita and walked forward. Her heart hammered against her

ribs. What was he doing here? Pleasure and panic vied within her as she recalled the kiss. She

needed all her courage as she went towards him.

A frown marred Akshay’s features as he caught her tired and listless appearance. He opened the car

door without uttering a word. She felt so breathless by his proximity. He got into the driver’s seat and

took her trembling hands in his. They felt cold. She refused to meet his eyes.

“Hey sweetheart!” He rubbed her hands to bring some warmth to them. “You’re so cold. Shall we

go get some hot coffee?”

“Hi,” said Sunita in a small voice as she nodded her head. Anything was better than sitting here

alone in the car with him.

Akshay decided that he’d better address the issue that was disturbing her before they went any

further. “Tell me something; you didn’t sleep well,” he accused.

“I—”

“And that’s because of me,” he declared.

Sunita didn’t reply. She never lied and she wasn’t going to start now.

“Somehow I don’t feel flattered. Did I shock you with that kiss?”

Sunita shook her head. She was too nervous to discuss the kiss. She didn’t know whether it was

proper behaviour or not. She felt she had betrayed her parents’ strict upbringing in responding the

way she had. She had enjoyed it and felt terribly guilty. She didn’t know what was right and what was

wrong.

“I s’pose I did.” Akshay answered his own question. “I’m not going to apologise for something that

gave me such joy. Damn it, Sunita, don’t be upset; I didn’t mean to shock you. Don’t know about you,

but I’ve never enjoyed kissing anyone as much as I did you. I can offer to wait till we get married, but

not beyond that.” He banged his fist against the steering wheel in frustration.

What kind of contract was she getting into? Would he demand his conjugal rights as a husband?

Just now Sunita couldn’t be bothered about it. She felt her heart give at the pain on his face. One

thing was clear though. She trusted this man who had come into her life only a couple of weeks ago—

implicitly. She knew he’d never harm her. Her parents were old-fashioned while she wasn’t such an

innocent to believe the storks brought in babies. Okay, she had no experience of French kisses. So

what? She could learn. And she loved his kiss too. Sunita straightened her shoulders as she shed

away her guilt and placed her hand on his clenched fists at the wheel.

“Shall we give it another try?”

Akshay turned with a jerk to look at her smiling face. “What did you say?” he growled, unable to

believe his ears.

Sunita lifted her arms and placed them on his shoulders linking her hands behind his neck. She

pulled his face close and said, “Why don’t you kiss me again? Maybe it won’t be so shocking the

second time.”

Akshay didn’t need another invitation. He pressed his masculine lips against her soft ones, nibbling

gently. She opened her mouth and pulled him closer. It was Akshay who was shaken as his

enthusiastic student made him oblivious to everything.

He raised his head in wonder. “You certainly choose the time and place, lady,” he grumbled.

Her wing-shaped eyebrows went up at that, “Oh really! Did I choose to wait outside the class?” she

teased.

He grinned. “That was one helluva kiss. You pack a good punch—with your fists, your lips and

tongue—”

“Hmm, don’t stop. I’m flattered.”

He shook his head, his eyes crinkling with laughter. She looked gorgeous and thoroughly kissed.

Better yet, she looked thrilled to bits. Was he glad that he chose to meet her! He had a disturbed night

too, after their half-baked dialogue on the phone.

“I just had to see you after the call last night.”

“And I’m glad you did.” She touched his cheek in wonder, “I feel infinitely better, thank you.”

“How about that coffee before I run you home?”

“Aren’t you getting late?”

“That’s the advantage of Dad being my boss,” he winked.

“Great then, let’s go.”

They went to Lotus Café at JW Marriott. They had a corner to themselves as they placed their

orders and sat back looking at each other.

Akshay held her hand as he spoke, “You look lovely.” She was in jeans and a t-shirt, her hair

knotted at the top of her head. “But where are your earrings and noisy bangles?” he asked.

“Didn’t feel like,” she shrugged. “Do my bangles disturb you?”

“Oh they do that alright.” The mischief was back in his eyes. He turned serious as he said, “They’re

so much a part of you.”

The waiter brought their coffee as Sunita hid her blushing face behind the menu. She added sugar to

hers while Akshay had his without. He watched avidly as she sipped from the mug, his brown eyes

devouring her lips.

She caught his look and wrinkled her nose at him.

“Listen, I’ll send Kamat to pick you up at four. You come to the office and we’ll go to the boutique

as its closer from there. Is that okay with you?”

Sunita nodded, suddenly weary.

He lifted her hand to press it against his lips. “Do get your beauty’s sleep. You’re looking tired,” he

said considerately.

He dropped her outside the bungalow gates and left with a wave.

Sunita was walking on clouds, not quite able to relate to her surroundings. She nodded and agreed

to everything her mother told her, not really listening to what she said. She went to her room and lay

down on her bed, happy thoughts crowding her mind. She fell into a deep, dreamless slumber.

Her euphoric state lasted through lunch. It’s a good thing nobody asked her what she ate. She

couldn’t have replied to save her life.

She knew what she was going to wear. The
Gurjari salwar kameez
in yellow, green and maroon put

together in a typical Gujarati style. The hand-woven cotton was printed with vegetable dyes and had a

richly embroidered border on the neck, hem and sleeves. She wore gold earrings etched with

meenakari
work of red and green enamel. A thin gold chain with a matching pendant embellished her

slender throat. Wooden bangles of matching hues graced both her wrists. She carried a
Gurjari
pouch

with draw-strings that complemented her clothes. A thin and long maroon
tikli
decorated her forehead