Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters from India Box Set (The Malhotra Bride; Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom) Read online

  “Just a minute, Akshay. You said Sunita’s not too keen on the wedding. Does it make sense to rush into it? Maybe we should give her time to know you more?” asked Tanuja.

  Akshay shook his head. “No mom. I’m not even sure Mr. Rishi’s going to let us go out together. It’ll be an everyday tussle. Sunita gets to live a full life when she gets out of that house. Marriage is the only option and she knows that.”

  “In that case, we need to rush the wedding.”

  “Exactly,” said Akshay before he stepped out of the dining room.

  Raj looked at Tanuja, his eyebrows raised. “So early?”

  “I don’t think he’s going to the office,” she replied.

  AKSHAY WAS ON HIS WAY TO GOKUL RISHI’S WORKPLACE. He knew the address and timings thanks to Grandpa Ratan. He was an ally, the old man.

  Gokul Rishi arrived at his desk at 8.30 every morning and gave appointments only after ten. Akshay was confident of catching him alone so early in the morning.

  Rita, the receptionist of Rishi Enterprises, was just settling into her seat when she saw the tall, handsome hunk walk in.

  “Good Morning! I’m Akshay Malhotra,” he charmed her with his smile. “I’d like to meet Mr. Rishi. I don’t have an appointment, but it’s urgent.”

  “Good Morning,” she smiled back. “Please take a seat, Mr. Malhotra. I’ll just check with Mr. Rishi,” she said, reaching for the intercom.

  Akshay put his hand on hers to stop her. “I’m engaged to his daughter Sunita. If you’ll only tell me where his office is, I’ll get myself there. I’d like to give him a surprise.”

  Rita knew this to be unusual. But the Chairman’s daughter did not get engaged every day. She directed Akshay to the fifth floor.

  “That’ll be the door on the right, Mr. Malhotra.”

  Akshay smiled his ‘Thanks’ and left for the fifth floor.

  He stepped out of the cranky lift that was as old-fashioned as Mr. Rishi. Looking through the glass window on the door at the right, he could see Gokul Rishi at his big desk checking some files. Akshay knocked on the door and heard him say, “Come in.”

  Saying that Gokul Rishi was surprised is an understatement. “Good Morning, Uncle.” Akshay greeted Sunita’s father.

  Gokul Rishi got up from his chair and rushed to greet Akshay. “Good Morning my boy. And welcome! This is a surprise indeed. Your father called me in the morning to confirm the wedding. I’m so glad.” He shook Akshay’s hand hard. “Come sit down. What will you have, coffee or tea?”

  “I’ll have some coffee Uncle.”

  Gokul lifted the intercom and barked, “Send two coffees to my office.” He turned to Akshay and asked, “Now tell me, what can I do for you?”

  Akshay came directly to the point. “I’d like to take Sunita out with me today evening. We’ll get to know each other. I don’t want to marry a stranger you see.”

  The boy was educated in America and obviously had modern views. While the idea was completely against his principles, Gokul Rishi was a businessman first. The alliance with the Malhotras will only improve Rishi Enterprises’ business. And Raj Malhotra had already given his word on the wedding. He only stood to gain in the long run.

  Gokul Rishi shrugged his shoulders. “Why not? When do you suggest—?”

  Akshay just managed to stop his jaw from dropping. He’d never expected it to be so easy after what Sunita said. “Today evening at about 6.30. Will you confirm with her?” asked Akshay.

  “No problem at all, Son. Sunita will be waiting for you at six-thirty today evening. Hahn, here’s the coffee.”

  Akshay took a mug in his hand and marvelled at Gokul Rishi’s highhandedness. He hadn’t bothered to find out if it was convenient for Sunita, even if she wanted to go in the first place.

  He drank his coffee and got up to leave, “Thank you Uncle for being so understanding. Have a nice day!” He shook Gokul Rishi’s hand and turned to the door.

  “May God be with you, Son, bye!”

  The minute Akshay left, Gokul Rishi phoned his wife, “Leela, Raj Malhotra called to confirm the wedding.”

  “Oh really! Thank God!”

  “Yes. Akshay wants to meet Sunita. I don’t understand these modern people. Anyway, tell your laadli to be ready at 6.30 sharp. Let her not keep him waiting and tell her to be on her best behaviour. I don’t want the ‘Boy’ to change his mind now.”

  “Don’t you worry, I’ll talk to her,” Leela assured her husband.

  Gokul Rishi disconnected the phone without even saying, ‘bye’.

  Leela called out excitedly, “Sunita, Sunita beti.”

  Sunita went into the hall, hearing her mother.

  “Hahn Mamma.”

  Leela hugged her daughter, a wide smile on her face. “Your Pappa called. The Malhotras have agreed to the wedding, my dear. Akshay is coming to meet you in the evening. Pappa wants you to be ready at 6.30,” she spoke in a hurry. “You’re happy nah?” she asked in the same breath, a small frown between her brows.

  Sunita shook her head in disbelief. How did Akshay manage that one?

  “What? You aren’t happy.” Leela’s face fell in shocked disappointment.

  “Oh, Mamma! I’m pleased about the wedding—only amazed that Pappa wants me to go out with Akshay.”

  Leela sighed in relief. “You had me worried for a minute there.” Smiling, she continued, “I’m surprised too. But what does it matter? You just be ready on time. There will be so many things to do. Let me call Sandhya. She can come to stay here till the marriage.” Her mother walked away, still talking to herself.

  Leela stopped suddenly and turned back to say, “Sunita, Pappa wants you to be careful what you say to Akshay. What if he changes his mind?” She looked worried.

  “Yeah, Mamma,” Sunita gave her a demure smile. They didn’t know Akshay. A shiver of anticipation ran through her. She couldn’t wait for the evening.

  Nine

  Sunita was ready at six and went to meet Grandpa Ratan. “ Dadaji, do I look okay?” She asked nervously.

  Grandpa looked at her with a twinkling smile. “For the benefit of your Hero, I presume?” He teased.

  “Please, Dadaji.”

  “You look lovely, my dear.”

  Sunita wore an off-white churidhar kameez of cotton. The close fitting churidhar hugged her slim legs, gracefully ending in a number of folds at the ankle. The knee-length kameez with long sleeves had chikan work on it. The intricate, hand-made, Lucknowi embroidery, also in off-white, made the dress very rich. A long dupatta, the same shade of white, was draped on her left shoulder. She wore large, oxidised silver earrings with a chunky neck-piece to match and bangles of the same metal clinked on her slim arms. Off-white open-toed shoes with three-inch heels decorated her feet. She’d left her hair loose and it fell in a shining brown curtain all the way to her waist. A white clutch completed the ensemble. Foundation, a white tikli between her brows, eyes lined with kohl and lipstick of a natural brown shade made her face glow. She pirouetted for Grandpa’s benefit.

  “Perfect, my dear. I’m sure this will bring Akshay down to his knees,” Grandpa pulled her leg once again.

  Colour suffused Sunita’s face. She hadn’t known Grandpa was such a tease. She felt a fraud for keeping a secret from him for the first time in her life. She was sure he wouldn’t approve the three-year contract with Akshay.

  She heard a car horn and went to the window. It was Akshay. She drew her head back and did her best to calm herself. Her palms were damp with perspiration.

  “Go Sunita, don’t keep Akshay waiting,” Grandpa encouraged.

  She ran out into the corridor and down the staircase. She took a couple of steps into the hallway when Akshay entered. He looked dashing in a pair of designer jeans and a white full-sleeved shirt with a Chinese collar. His eyes twinkled their pleasure when they met Sunita’s.

  Sunita noticed the huge basket full of roses that he was carrying. Had be bought out the whole shop? There must be a hundred
of them, all red in colour. A thrilled Sunita gave him a wide smile of welcome.

  “To the most beautiful woman that I know,” said Akshay as he handed the flowers to her.

  “Are they all for me?” asked Sunita, awe in her voice.

  “You bet,” he whispered throatily, “I can see only one beautiful woman here.”

  “Mm—” she buried her face in the fragrant blooms, a sudden shyness overtaking her. She felt unable to meet his intense eyes. “They’re wonderful. Thank you so much.”

  “Tell me something. How will I know where the roses end and your face begins,” Akshay sounded genuinely confused.

  “Akshay, please.”

  “Please what?”

  She raised eyelids that felt extremely heavy and gave him a look from under her lashes, quite stunned at the strange feeling springing within her. She shook her head slightly before saying, “Give me a minute. I’ll leave these in my bedroom.” She needed to get away, even if only for a couple of minutes.

  “You do that. I’ll just pop in and meet Grandpa,” he went up the staircase with her, his proximity shaking her up all the more.

  Sunita came down before him. Leela stepped out of the kitchen. “Sunita, where are your manners, dear? You didn’t even ask Akshay to sit down,” she accused her daughter. “Do offer him some refreshments.”

  Between the excitement of meeting Akshay and receiving the bouquet of roses, Sunita hadn’t thought of taking care of her guest. Her face shadowed with remorse.

  The moment he came down, Akshay sensed that all was not well with Sunita. A frown gathered on his forehead when he noticed Leela. He forced a smile on his face and went to greet her.

  “Hello, Aunty, how’re you?”

  “I’m fine, Akshay. Welcome to our home. I’m sorry Sunita forgot her manners. Please sit down and let me get you some coffee and snacks,” she fussed.

  “But Sunita did offer me, Aunty. I’m not hungry.” Sunita gave him a startled look. His right eyelid dropped down in a wink.

  “We’re getting late. Are you ready to leave Sunita?” He couldn’t wait to get her away. He held her hand firmly as he drew her away to his car.

  The evening had lost its charm. She’d been so looking forward to this outing with her new boyfriend. It looked like she could never make her parents happy. Now she’d failed Akshay too. A subdued Sunita took her seat in the car. He drove away without saying a word. His silence made her all the more uneasy.

  He cruised along for a few minutes before reaching a quiet by-lane. He stopped the car and released the seat belts before turning to her.

  He gently placed his knuckles under Sunita’s chin and raised her face up to his.

  “What’s wrong, Sweetheart?”

  A tear escaped from under her lashes and rolled away. Akshay’s heart bled for her.

  “Please don’t cry Sunita.” He took a tissue from the box on the dashboard and wiped her eyes carefully. This brought another onslaught of fresh tears. There was only so much a man could take. He pulled her into his arms. He rubbed his cheek comfortingly on top of her head and waited for her sobs to subside. Sunita calmed down after a few minutes and raised her head. Her tear-drenched eyes tore at his heart. No woman had the right to be so lovely after a bout of stormy weeping.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  He placed a finger on her lips and shook his head.

  “I suppose that was bound to happen after all the tension you’ve undergone. I’m glad you got it off your chest.”

  Sunita found it difficult to believe that a guy could be so understanding.

  “I’m sorry Akshay, for not just the tears. I forgot my manners back home. I didn’t think of asking you whether you were hungry after a long day at work.” She buried her face in her hands in shame.

  Akshay pulled her hands off her face and held them in his large ones. “I’m not a baby that needs to be fed. I’m capable of asking if I’m hungry. I don’t stand on formality. It’s you I came to see. Do you get that?” His voice turned mischievous as he continued, “And when you saw my dashing personality along with the roses, you just forgot yourself, right?”

  Sunita didn’t know where to look. It was incredible—this feeling of being cherished. It was completely new to her. She tried to bury her face in her hands only to find them lying in his. Not having a choice, she hid her face on his broad chest. Akshay let go of her hands to put his arms around her. His chest swelled as he drew in a deep breath, inhaling her perfume. It was heaven hugging her close.

  “Feel better?”

  She nodded without lifting her head. Her hair tickled his chin.

  “Did I tell you how lovely you look?”

  Not a peep from the woman in his arms. Sunita felt too secure to move away. As minutes ticked by, Akshay placed a hand under her chin to lift her red face up. She still wouldn’t look at him.

  “However did you manage to convince Pappa?” she asked, her voice low. She looked up at him as he keenly watched her. “He called in the morning to tell Mamma to expect you. Poor Mamma, she prepared some special snacks. I forgot everything in my excitement. Tch!”

  “Hmm. You were excited seeing me.” It was a statement.

  “Akshay,” Sunita clenched her hands into fists as they lay on his chest. “Don’t tease me. I saw all those roses—”

  “Okay, it was the roses you were thrilled with—”

  She hit his chest with both fists, her cheeks aflame with colour. She wasn’t going to tell him that she was delighted to have him for a boyfriend. He definitely did not need the ego boost.

  “Ouch! You’re hurting me.” But his voice was shaking with laughter. All traces of tears had disappeared and her blushing face made him desperately want to kiss her. Akshay moved back and fastened his seat belt. He asked her, “Anywhere special you want to go?”

  Sunita had been hoping that they could visit the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple at Juhu. She so wanted to introduce Akshay to her other friend—Lord Krishna. Her cousins probably would laugh at her. But she needed to ask. Will Akshay agree? Visiting a place of worship was not so cool.

  “Will it be okay if we visit Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple? It’s nearby and I won’t take too long.” Her voice was hesitant as she made the request.

  Akshay shrugged. “Of course we’ll go if that’s what you want.” He wasn’t religious by nature but believed in God. Though not a regular visitor at temples, he wasn’t averse to the idea. “You’ll need to thank your favourite deity that you met me, right?” he asked, tongue-in-cheek.

  She wasn’t going to tell him that was exactly what she planned to do.

  Akshay drove the car away from the kerb, his large hands competent at the wheel. They reached the temple soon and went in. The place wasn’t very crowded as it was a week day. They entered the hall and turned right towards the sanctorum that was divided in three parts. There was Lord Rama, Goddess Sita & Lakshmana with Hanuman kneeling at their feet. Then there was Lord Krishna playing the flute along with Goddess Radha in the middle. The third section was taken over by Lords Nitai & Gauranga, staunch devotees of Lord Krishna.

  They knelt in the centre of the hall for a few minutes, with folded hands and bowed heads, offering their prayers.

  Sunita was glad to show off her boyfriend to Lord Krishna and walked out hand-in-hand with Akshay, a peaceful smile on her face.

  They left to go to Tangerine Café at Ramada Plaza Palm Grove. They found a corner table for two and sat down opposite each other.

  Akshay ordered a fruit mocktail for Sunita and a Martini for himself. The waiter left them alone after serving the drinks. “So, why Interior Design?” asked Akshay, genuinely interested.

  A dam burst forth as Sunita regaled him with her ideas. She was also keen to know about his stint abroad. He had visited the whole of Europe. He was a fascinating story teller and the two chatted comfortably as they ate their way through a plate of kebabs. Time flew on wings and she recalled that she had parents to answer to.
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br />   “What’s the time?”

  Akshay looked at his sleek silver watch and said, “9.20.”

  He caught the shocked look on Sunita’s face as she paled. “Hey! Calm down. What happened?” He knew the answer even as he asked the question.

  Sunita raised her panic stricken eyes to Akshay. “It’s late. Pappa will be angry. Shall we leave please?” She was already on her feet.

  Akshay called for the bill and left immediately on paying. Sunita frantically checked her cell phone. She had kept it on silent when they entered the temple and forgotten all about it. There were seven missed calls from home and her father’s cell.

  Akshay could feel the tension bouncing off her as he drove to her home. He didn’t want to open his mouth as he was too angry with her parents.

  They reached the Rishi residence. The bungalow was blazing with lights while Gokul Rishi was pacing outside briskly.

  Sunita looked at Akshay, nervous. He put a finger to his lips and shook his head making it clear that she keep quiet.

  When they got out, Akshay walked casually towards Gokul Rishi to say, “Good Evening Uncle.”

  No self-respecting man would treat his son-in-law with disrespect. Gokul Rishi replied in a low tone, “Good Evening to you, Akshay. Hope you had a good time. It’s rather late, son. I was getting bothered.”

  Sunita watched the two of them, fascinated by their exchange. Her mother was standing beyond in the hallway, anxiously wringing her hands.

  “I’m sorry, Pappa. Sunita told me that. Then, you know how late it is when I get out of my office. I’m sure you understand that we need to spend some time together to understand one another. But women!” he rolled his eyes dramatically, “She nagged me so much, going on about getting late that I brought her back in a hurry.” Smart move!

  “Oh, I understand what you mean. Sunita, you’re not being fair to Akshay. I don’t want to hear any complaint the next time you go out. You should know how hard he works and gets home so late. What if there’s a delay? You need to learn to adjust,” he insisted in a weary voice. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone! Akshay was a genius.

  Sunita nodded her head demurely, her lips tightly shut to stop a grin from splitting her face. She looked at Akshay from the corner of her eye as he winked at her.