"Dhruv, you have to find Navya and do this for me, buddy," Manik's whisper came across the cell phone.
Dhruv looked sleepily at the clock on his bedside, peering in the dark to focus on the backlit dial. What on earth was Manik rambling on about at goddamn 3 am! Some of us are not newly-married and awake half the night, he groaned as he tried to sit up and switch on the bedside lamp So as not to wake up Aliya.
"Manik, are you ok? What are you calling at 3 am for? Aren't you supposed to be in Paris? What the hell..." He whispered harshly, at being rudely woken up like this. This had better be good.
"Yeah," Manik whispered back sheepishly, "We're back tomorrow, but I want you to get in touch with Navya please."
"Why the hell are YOU whispering?" Dhruv demanded, mentally calculating that it must be about 11 at night there.
"Nandini has just gone to the loo, and I don't want her to hear, that's why," Manik's irritated voice came back, a little louder. "Can you just call Navya and tell her when we are returning and that she needs to get whatever ritual needs to be done for Nandini's entry into my house..."
"Er..." Dhruv listened in awe to this new most-un-Manik-like' request. "OK, I guess... I'll ask Aliya to get me the number from Mukti ... but, dude..."
"Ok, thanks ... Nandini's coming, I can hear the taps being shut ... thanks, bro ... I owe you one ..."
Dhruv sat in bed listening to the disconnected tone of the call. Rituals for her entry in his house! Was he serious! WOW! This really was getting more and more interesting, he smiled to himself, and switching off the light, got back under the covers.
***
Nandini was overwhelmed with flashlights and mikes being thrust upon her as soon as they exited the arrivals gate, at Mumbai airport. She had expected a furore on Manik's arrival but was not prepared for the extent or the magnitude of his celebrity status. Before she could stumble back in reaction, she felt his warm hand go around her waist pulling her to himself protectively, while his other hand rose as a shield in front of her. Answering some of the questions curtly he smoothly ushered her into the waiting car, shutting the doors firmly while the driver stowed their luggage. She swallowed nervously, seeing some of the journos still surrounding the car, getting last clicks of them. She would have to get used to this, she told herself bravely. This was Manik's world and she was going to a part of it. She smiled feebly when she felt his hand cover hers and give a reassuring squeeze.
"You ok?" he asked gently, bending his head towards her in the back seat of this luxurious car. Nandini nodded looking around herself at the plush leather interiors, mini bar, television and what not. "Is there a loo here too," she asked him cheekily trying to lighten the atmosphere as the driver moved out of the airport and into the Mumbai traffic.
"No ... but you just have to say it, and it will be done," he pulled her to himself and nuzzled her ear softly.
The rest of the short journey went by in him continuing to ignore her requests of the drivers presence by pulling across the divider between the front and back seats, and kissing her senseless.
***
Nandini stared in awe at the tall highrise that they pulled into. Surely her jaw had dropped open and remained dropped open as they drove into the private basement parking that had a private elevator that took them straight up to the penthouse. Unused to being waited upon, she felt self conscious stepping onto the plush lobby with just one apartment door which was now standing wide open.
She frowned and turned towards Manik questioningly. He had told her he just had a part time housekeeper, so why was the door open? Surprised to see a relieved smile on his face, she turned back towards the door and noticed that it was decorated with marigold flower garlands and a beautiful rangoli on the floor, with two beautiful brass diyas flickering on either side of the door.
What was going on? she wondered. She was not expecting to be welcomed like a new bride, given his relationship with his mother. So who had done all this? Surely not his housekeeper! She turned to ask him what was going on, only to be pushed gently towards the door.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she stood facing the door with Manik standing beside her, his arm never leaving her waist, and saw Navya, Mukti and Aliya standing just inside. They were dressed in complete Indian finery and with silver thaalis in their hands all decorated with the diya, flowers and the usual puja stuff. Oh my god! she covered her mouth with her hand as a cry of pleasure escaped her and her eyes teared up.
The three beaming ladies walked to the door and together raised their thaalis in unison, moving them in circles in the air to welcome Nandini and Manik. They each one by one put a tilak on their forehead and moving back pointed to the small copper pot at the edge of the door, that was filled with rice.
It took all of Nandini's self control not to get emotional and start howling her heart out. This had got to be the sweetest gesture that anyone had ever done for her.
Stepping out of her strappy heels, she gently kicked the pot of rice and watched it tumble into the house, signifying the new bride bringing prosperity into the house. Next she saw another silver plate with liquid red colour placed in front of her. She looked at the girls smiling tearfully, as they cheered and prompted her to step into the plate and then on to the white marble floor, pasting her red footprints to signify the entry of Goddess Lakshmi into the house.
Wiping tears that were now streaming down her cheeks she turned to where Manik stood behind her, next to Dhruv who had a video camera in his hand. He smiled encouragingly at her, his love shining visibly in the look he was giving her. She pulled a face at Dhruv's camera lens, mock angry at him shooting her in this teary state and continued to take a few tentative steps into the house.
"Manik?" Navya's voice stopped her and before she could turn to see what was being said, she let out a cry of alarm. Manik was suddenly behind her, his one hand under her knees lifting her off the floor in a single swipe. She clutched at shoulders instinctively and looked up into his handsome face. He winked at her naughtily and carried her the rest of the way into the house, with his friends cheering them on from the back.
It was Sameers sudden wail from the living room that stopped all the laughter for a second, "You all are making so much noise ... I can't hear my cartoon!" And they burst out into laughter again, walking towards the living room, where the little boy was sprawled on one of the couches watching a cartoon channel on the largest television that Nandini had ever seen in her life.
As Manik put her down, she looked about herself at the leather and chrome living room. Already her mind was ticking with the changes that needed to be done immediately. This cold bachelor pad was not going to do, she decided. "You can throw away whatever you don't like," his husky whisper suddenly came in her ear as he bent over her from behind. Nandini set her lips together, deciding that she really needed to work on being so easily read by him. How could he always tell what she was thinking, what she wanted. Why had she taken so long to be with this man? Wasted so much time?
"I'll give you lots of time to make up!" he promised her in a sexy drawl, that only she could hear.
"Stop doing that, Manik," she turned and gently pushed him away from her.
"Doing what?" he asked innocently, his eyes full of laughter.
"Yeah ... what is he doing?" Mukti chimed in from one of the sofa's where she had thrown herself.
"Nothing," Nandini blushed self consciously moving towards where she assumed the kitchen would be to help Navya who had cooked up some stuff for them to snack on.
She smiled as she heard Manik ask Sameer if he wanted to watch his fathers butt being kicked at the X Box followed by their loud shouts as Manik and Dhruv battled it out controllers in hand.
***
"Alone at last," Manik sighed wearily as he shut the door to the last of his friends. Nandini was already picking up the discarded cups and plates from the living room, clearing up the mess Manik, Dhruv and Sameer had made playing that game. All the cushions were scattered on the floor, along with popcorn and beer bottles.
"Come let me show you the rest of the house," Manik entered the living room as she picked up the last of the used tissues on a tray she was carrying. "Will you leave that. Florence can do that when she comes in tomorrow," he said, irritated seeing her doing the housework.
"I'm not leaving this mess the whole night, mister," Nandini informed him softly, "and it's all done in any case ... this was the last."
***
The tour of his huge two floor apartment took them half an hour. A lap pool, a sundeck, a running balcony all along the face of the apartment ... this apartment had it all. And sadly Manik was rarely here to enjoy any of it.
He saved the master bedroom for last as he led her up the stairs to his private space. Nandini gasped in awe at the bathroom that was probably the size of her entire apartment back in Atlanta. The walk in closet occupied a large section near the bath. "I'll clear out some of the space for you tomorrow," he murmured apologetically seeing her luggage stacked in one corner of the room.
Nandini turned and put her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest. "You don't have to do anything else ... you have done so much already." She looked up at him, "Navya told me you messaged her to set up my welcome today ... you didn't have to ... I would not ..."
"Shhh..." he placed a finger on her lips silencing her. "I need to. It gives me a lot of happiness to see the happiness in your eyes," he murmured softly, "and I knew you would love a traditional welcome."
She opened her mouth to thank him again only to have him shut her up again, "so ... where can I take you for dinner tonight Mrs. Malhotra? Its part of the welcome' you know."
"Why don't I give you a welcome instead?" Nandini nuzzled into his chest, "We..."
"I'm game baby," he growled pulling her tightly into himself "You want to start now?"
"That's not what I mean, Manik," she pushed him gently, looking at him with exasperation. "Let me cook us a dinner and spend the evening at home instead?" She didn't want to admit that she could not handle getting mobbed two times on a single day. She would get used to the adulation that was showered upon him, but today she wanted him all to herself without a million eyes upon them.
"Ok ok ..." he agreed, "but I get to decide the dessert?"
Rolling her eyes at his lewd suggestion, she turned and walked off into his fabulously equipped kitchen that looked like a MasterChef set to see what she could cook up to make this evening special.
"Empty your cupboards for me till then." she ordered him, as she walked out.
***
Nandini finished putting the last of the crockery out on the sundeck. She sighed at the beauty of the Mumbai skyline, lit and shimmering as a reflection on the Arabian Ocean. She was going to enjoy this view so much, she decide, as she walked back into the kitchen to check on her sauce. She had made a complete Italian dinner knowing he loved Italian. Manik had been busy making cupboard space for her and then on the phone discussing work with Dhruv. He had come into the kitchen once or twice to check on her, or to just stand and watch her cook. She had a sneaky feeling he could make out how his presence was flustering her as she went about locating things in the alien kitchen.
Seeing him already in the living room, dressed and pottering about the bar, she rushed up to freshen up and change into her single black dress. She smiled as she recalled the last time she had worn it and Manik had taken the vow not to touch her ... well not much of that happening now, she told herself turning red.
***
Manik turned away from the freezer where he just just put in a bottle of Champagne, to watch her walk softly down the stairs, wearing the black dress she had worn that evening in her apartment in Atlanta. Her feet were bare of any footwear, Her open hair tumbling down her back and around her face that was devoid of much makeup. Her only adornment was the trinity band that twinkled on her fingers. He drew in a ragged breath. She was actually here in his house. She was real. He still could not believe that they were married and that she was his. He had come into the kitchen again and to make sure that she was really here. That he was not dreaming up all of this.
He knew it was flustering her to have him watch her like that as she worked, but he could not help the rush of pleasure that it was giving him. Or the control he was practicing to just take her there and then on the kitchen counter. No. That would have ruined all her preparations that she was going about so diligently.
He shut the door of the freezer and watched as she walked into the kitchen to check on something still simmering on the stove top. She smiled as she passed him by, and he was sure he was standing there with a look of an adoring puppy ready to do her any bidding.
Shaking himself out of his daydream, he walked towards where she stood on her toes, peeping into the pan. "Something smells really good," he murmured as he leaned on the counter next to the stove, his eyes never leaving her.
Nandini dropped the ladle that was in her hand in shock. It fell with a clatter into the pan that she had been stirring.
Manik watched amused as she flushed at her reaction and was about to turn angrily towards him when his silky "can I taste?" silenced her. She watched in wide eyes fascination, as he reached out next to her and picked up the ladle from the sauce, all the while looking at her reddening face and wide eyed look. She gasped as he took a finger and swiped some sauce off the ladle before it fell back with a clatter into the pan in front of her.
Very slowly, Manik took his sauce dipped finger and put it into his mouth, as he shut his eyes in pleasure. Nandini felt the floor moving under her bare feet ... what was he doing? she wondered as a hot rush went through her that she could not explain. She licked her lips as she watched him finish the sauce on his fingers his eyes burning a hot track from her eyes to her now moist lips.
"Manik..." she moaned unknowingly, as these new feelings engulfed her.
"Wanna taste some?" he asked her huskily reaching out for her and slowly taking her mouth into his own. The spicy taste of the sauce on his tongue entering her mouth as she clung to him desperately for support.
"The dinner," she had the last thought, before she was lost in the whirlpool that he was creating inside her..
Reaching out with one hand to turn off the stove, not breaking the kiss Manik picked her up by her waist and hoisted her up on the kitchen counter purposefully.
"...can wait." he muttered against her lips.
Edited by Chickee - 19 April 2015 at 12:36pm
No comments:
Post a Comment