The Malhotra Bride by Venkatraman Sundari

Author:Venkatraman, Sundari [Venkatraman, Sundari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flaming Sun
Published: 2014-02-10T16:00:00+00:00

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.

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