The Malhotra Bride (16 page)

nurse came in and shooed them out.

Akshay looked at Sunita piercingly. “What happened, Sweetheart? Where did you disappear after

you left me?” His scowl had deepened.

Sunita refused to meet his gaze. “I, err… went to sleep.”

“Don’t lie to me, Sunita,” Akshay snarled. He was disturbed by her sad face and wanted to know

why.

“Please, Akshay,” Sunita laid a pacifying hand on his chest. “There’s nothing worth discussing. You

please rest, you need it.” She raised a hand to push the lock of hair that had fallen on his forehead and

was shocked when he moved away from the caress.

“Sunita,” his voice went softer as his temper mounted. This was no chivalrous and loving boyfriend

she was used to dealing with. “I’ve been tied to this damned bed for a whole day. Don’t you dare tell

me to rest some more.” She was fascinated to see his dark brown eyes blazing with anger.

With a smile on her face, she bent down to kiss his rough cheek, the fuzz tantalising her lips. Her

smile grew wider at the confused look on his face. Akshay crushed her to his chest and kissed her

passionately.

“Mmph,” protested Sunita. Akshay moved his head away to take a look at her, his temper cooling

rapidly. “That hurt.” Sunita raised her hand to rub her lips that throbbed from the violence of his kiss,

her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Akshay’s face darkened. “I’m so sorry, Sweetheart. I’m taking out my frustrations on you.” He

hugged her close, rubbing his chin against her hair. “Please forgive me. My only excuse is that I

missed you terribly. Your father wasn’t any help when I called in the morning. I’m sorry Sunita,” he

repeated.

“What happened?” Akshay was like a dog after a bone.

She shook her head, not meeting his gaze. She didn’t want to break down. With his strength down, it

was not a cry baby he needed on his hands. She said, “You’re obviously better,” hoping to distract

him.

“Sunita.”

“Hmm.”

His voice went up an octave, “Look at me.” Nuzzling her ear, “What’s it, Sweetheart? You can

surely tell your boyfriend,” he cajoled.

She slowly lifted her eyelids to look at Akshay who gasped at the pain he saw in her grey-green

eyes shining with unshed tears. “Sunita!” He pulled her close to his body, his left arm tightening

protectively around her.

She looked at his right arm. The skin around the bandage was discoloured in varying hues of purple.

Startled, she laid a gentle hand on his arm. “Does it hurt awfully?”

“Obviously not as much as you seem to be,” came the reply. He gently stroked her hair. She looked

at him with shimmering eyes.

“Akshay, please don’t ask me anything. I don’t want to cry.” She burrowed her face in his broad

shoulder with a shuddering sigh.

“Okay.” Akshay decided to let the matter rest for now as his gut wrenched at the pain in her voice.

“Did you have lunch?” he asked.

“Did you?”

He looked at her pinched face. “No,” he fibbed. “Let’s go out.” Akshay got out of his bed, quite

steady on his feet.

“Akshay!” Sunita yelped. “You’re in no fit state to go out for lunch. Get back into bed.”

“Is that an invitation?”

Wild colour flooded Sunita’s cheeks. “Akshay, please.”

“Hey Sweetheart. You don’t need to plead. I’m thrilled to oblige.” Akshay walked around the bed to

her, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Sunita put her hands on his chest, unsure what he was going to do. He took her hand in his and

walked purposefully out of the room. He had slung a cotton jacket over his right shoulder. Looking at

him, no one would guess that he had been ill. He looked dashing in jeans and a sleeveless tee.

She went along, having no energy to protest. He winked at the nurse-in-charge before stepping out

into the sunshine. Kamat opened the car door after enquiring about his young master’s health. Akshay

replied to him with a smile before directing him to Busago at Bandra. She sat quietly, calmness

stealing over her, her hand engulfed in his, her head against his shoulder.

Akshay sat at the table sipping a cold drink as she tucked into the
Kaukswe
and
rice noodles
she

bought at the counter.

“You’ve eaten,” she accused.

He nodded, grinning at her. It felt good to be out.

She studied his face, looking for signs of strain. “Do I pass muster?” he asked. She nodded, refusing

to rise to the bait.

She felt much better as they got back to the nursing home. He was tired when they returned to the

room, where they found Dr. Ramprasad staring at the empty bed.

Akshay promptly held his hands to his ears and said, “Sorry, Uncle.” The twinkle in his eyes belied

the statement. Sunita looked fearfully at the Doctor.

“Akshay,” sighed the Doctor who had treated him since childhood. “You play truant the moment I

turn my back. Not changed much since school days, have you?” an answering smile appeared on his

lined face.

Dr. Ramprasad checked his pulse and temperature and pronounced him fit. He directed the nurse

who came in to remove his bandage. “The wound’s healing well. You can go home tomorrow. And

listen, one more day at home before getting back to work.”

“Yessir!” Akshay nodded his head vigorously as the doctor applied a fresh bandage.

“You’re a rogue, Akshay. You shouldn’t have left the hospital,” she scolded him after the doctor left.

“Come on, Sweetheart, we’d fun, didn’t we?” He grinned incorrigibly, unabashed.

He finally got her to talk about the morning, reading between the lines as she glossed over her

father’s behaviour. He was glad that their differences were settled now.

“Does your arm hurt badly?” she asked a frown on her face.

“Nothing that a kiss from you won’t cure.” She gave him a wide smile before obliging his whim.

Eighteen

Akshay was out of the hospital and back to work in no time. The flesh wound hadn’t taken long to

heal and he was fine except for the scar on his right arm.

The next couple of weeks were frantic. Invitations needed to be sent. Approximately 1500 guests

were expected to the merger of two foremost business families. This was over and above the 200-odd

relatives.

A smaller number of people were invited to the
Sangeet
on 11th and
Mehendi
on 12th.

There was loads of shopping to do. While the actual wedding arrangements were being taken care

of by an event company, loads of gifts needed to be bought for the near and dear.

Despite protests from her parents, Akshay insisted on buying everything Sunita needed. Most of her

ethnic wear were ordered from Tanuja’s boutique. Gokul was equally adamant when it came to the

wedding sari and jewellery. It had to come from the bride’s father he said.

Her clothes and accessories were directly delivered to Malhotra Park, to be unpacked and stored in

her dressing room by a maid.

They put a stop to all these activities a few days before the wedding. Akshay was concerned that his

bride-to-be wasn’t too tired at their wedding.

Sunita glowed after a visit to her beautician and loving attention of her fiancé, when guests from

outside Mumbai began to arrive. A mood of celebration hung around the Rishi residence with about

50 guests staying there. Sandhya came to live in her
maika
along with her kids ten days before the

wedding so that she could help her mother and sister. A number of local relatives and friends dropped

in to meet and greet the visitors.

A choreographer had been roped in to train everyone with the latest dance moves from Bollywood.

The sound of music blended with laughter. Leela hired some extra help in the kitchen and to wait on

the guests.

Being the bride-to-be, Sunita was the butt of a lot of banter that she took in her stride. She was

surprised at herself. It was barely some weeks ago when she fought with her mother on her wedding

being arranged with a stranger. Was she the same person?

While Akshay worked harder than usual as he planned to go on leave for the wedding and

honeymoon, he made it a point to meet Sunita every day even if it was for just a short while.

The
Sangeet
was set for the evening on the lawns of the Rishi bungalow. Sunita was radiant in a

bright green
ghagra choli
. She wore the bracelet Akshay had gifted her along with emerald

chandelier earrings and matching necklace also bought by her fiancé. Akshay looked stylish in a

cream
churidhar
and wine red
kurta
.

He came with his parents and directly made a beeline for his fiancée.

“Hey sweetheart, you look gorgeous,” his voice was soft the words meant only for her ears as he

checked her out from her shining head to her painted toes. He raised her hand to his lips.

Her face shining with joy, Sunita said, “You look awesome too.”

They took seats next to each other in the front row to listen to the singers who had especially come

in for today’s programme.

Professional singers played the
dholki
along with songs; the drum beat adding rhythm to the music.

Many of the guests and members from both families joined in the boisterous singing. Some of the

lyrics were made along the way, making fun of just about everyone. Lots of cheeky advice was

imparted to the bride on how she should conduct herself in her husband’s home. The groom had his

turn when he was musically taught the best way to find a place in his bride’s heart.

The next on the agenda were the Bollywood numbers as the trained guests got up to dance. Akshay

joined in the melee while Sunita sat glued to her chair, suddenly taking fright despite all the practice

sessions.

He saw her still sitting there and went to get her. “Oh, come on, it’s fun.’

She shook her head, her teeth biting nervously at her lips.

He went on one knee, put out his right hand to her and said, “Please.”

How could she refuse? Amidst laughter, clapping and teasing, Sunita took his hand and joined in.

People moved away in a circle and made space for them in the middle.

Akshay took the lead as Sunita threw away her inhibitions. She loved it. He was a natural dancer

and it wasn’t difficult to follow him, especially as the choreographer her taught her well.

The party was a grand success and went into the wee hours of the night.

The next day dawned bright. A paste of turmeric and sandalwood was applied on Sunita as she sat

on a low stool. This ceremony was performed by all relatives and even a few friends joined in.

After her bath, she dressed in a simple
salwar kameez
for Henna to be applied on her hands and

feet. The aroma of freshly ground
mehendi
leaves pervaded the house. Ten artists had been hired to

work on all the women and girls. One of the artist’s jobs was to take care of the bride-to-be as bridal

mehendi
took 4-5 hours to complete.

The
Mehendiwali
sat in front of Sunita with a cone and drew a design from her inner elbow and

worked towards her hand.

Tanuja came in along with her group of female guests. She sat next to Sunita and gave her a hug.

Sunita rested her head affectionately on her mother-in-law’s shoulder and said, “Hello, Aunty.”

“Hello darling. I think you’re going to make a glowing bride tomorrow. All set?” she smiled.

Sunita blushed a bright pink as she gave her a small nod.

Akshay walked in just then and inspected her hands. “You’ll be keeping this paste on for how

long?”

“Till at least 10 at night.”

“Rather you than me,” he grinned. “Shall I get you something?”

“Yeah please, some fresh lemonade.”

“Sure. You Mom?”

“Nothing for me. I’ll move on. Just came to say ‘hi’ to Sunita. Take care, dear,” with a kiss on

Sunita’s head, Tanuja left the room to join the others in the hall.

He brought two glasses of lemonade and held one for Sunita to sip from. “That’s lovely, thanks.”

“You can’t get away with just a word of thanks.” He enjoyed the rising panic in her eyes.

“Akshay, please—”

“Thanks Sandhya,” he smiled at his sister-in-law who brought him a tray loaded with food.

“You’re most welcome, Akshay. Do you have everything you want?” she asked solicitously.

“It’s perfect. Why don’t you and Raghu join me?”

“We’ll do that,” said Sandhya as she left in search of her husband.

Akshay offered Sunita a
jalebi
. She let him feed her the sweetmeat and look a surreptitious bite of

his finger.

“Ouch, what was that for?”

“What are you talking about?” she gave him an innocent smile, her eyes dancing with mirth.

“Hello, children.” Grandpa Ratan walked in.

“Hello,
Dadaji
. Come and sit down.” Akshay patted the chair next to his. “Have you had lunch?”

Grandpa nodded. “Sunita, show me your hands,” he commanded. Sunita thrust out her hands for

Grandpa Ratan’s benefit.

“Beautiful, my dear. I’m sure the design is going to turn a deep shade of orange after you wash away

the
mehendi
.”

“How do you know,
Dadaji
?” asked Sunita.

“My dear, the bride’s
mehendi
colour depends on the love her groom has for her. The more he loves