The Malhotra Bride (5 page)

drastic decision. He’s right in persuading you to wait for a week,” said the wise Grandpa.

“What’s in a week,
Dadaji
? What difference is it going to make?”

“Hmm.” That set Grandpa Ratan thinking. She was absolutely correct. Unless something special

happened to change her mind, what difference would a week make? He reached a decision and got to

his feet after moving Sunita’s head from his lap. “Okay, little one, sleep well. I hope morning throws

better light on the situation.” Kissing her forehead, he left for his own quarters.

Sunita refused to go down for dinner. She did not want to face her parents’ accusing eyes. She went

to bed after a warm shower and managed to sleep for a few hours despite all the confusing thoughts.

Six

Sunita woke up in the morning and got ready for her class. She usually had a glass of fresh fruit

juice for breakfast. But today, she was hungry as she had not had dinner the earlier night. She went

into the kitchen to persuade the cook to make her a
paratha
before turning towards the dining room.

“I’m worried about this alliance, Gokul. What do you think the Malhotras will say after one week?”

That was Leela’s voice, soaked in anxiety.

Sunita did not mean to eavesdrop. But she couldn’t just walk in on the conversation or walk away

from it either.

“Leela,” Gokul Rishi’s impatient voice answered, “don’t bother your head with this. What will be

the worst? They will say ‘no’.”

Sunita relaxed on hearing that. It looked like there was some hope left for her.

“But,” panic rose in Leela’s voice, “how can you be so cool about this? What will happen to Sunita

if they say ‘no’? How will she get married?” Anyone listening to her could be mistaken into thinking

that Sunita was old and ugly without a chance in heaven of catching a reasonably smart groom.

“Don’t be silly, Leela! What if the Malhotras say ‘no’? Next week, I’ll have a queue of boys outside

our house and conduct a
swayamwar
for our Sunita.” Gokul’s voice gushed with pride and arrogance.

“Thank God for that, Gokul,” Leela sounded relieved. “I didn’t sleep the whole of last night

worrying about this. I should’ve known that you’ll have an alternate plan.” Her voice was full of

admiration for her husband’s strategy.

Sunita was shocked. Even Akshay Malhotra’s warning had not prepared her for this. ‘Oh, my God!’

she thought to herself, ‘can’t I escape matrimony after all?’ She imagined meeting prospective grooms

as her father made them queue up in front of her and lost what little appetite she had. She quietly left

the house by the back door without meeting her parents.

She was distracted in class. She probably should have stayed away. She waited until such time

when she was sure that her father would have left for work before returning home.

Sunita left the institute and walked out of the gate, her head hanging low, deep in thought.

“I hope I’m not the reason for that heavy scowl on your lovely face.” Only one person she knew had

that sexy baritone. Sunita’s head went up with a jerk to see Akshay standing just a few feet away.

She gave him a pained smile before saying, “Well, not directly.”

Akshay’s eyebrows went up in query. A deep sigh reverberated through Sunita’s body.

“You’re looking tired, Sunita. Didn’t you sleep well?” Akshay’s voice was gentle as he tried to

befriend her. He couldn’t believe it was the same woman from last evening. The spark was missing.

Sunita gave him a bitter look, shaking her head. “No sleep, no breakfast! My whole life’s gone

topsy-turvy.”

Placing a gentle hand under her elbow, Akshay firmly led her towards his car. She walked a few

steps before realising what he was up to.

“Hey!” She came to a stop in the middle of the road, making a Maruti screech to a halt, the driver

swearing wildly. Akshay dragged her to safety after apologising to him.

Sunita tried in vain to prise Akshay’s fingers off her elbow. “Just let go of me,” she hissed, shaken

by the near accident.

“Sunita,” said Akshay, “get in the car and let’s go somewhere private.”

“No, let me go. I’ve to get home.” She was adamant.

He dragged her to the passenger side of his Audi none too gently, opened the door and pushed her

into the seat. Or he tried to! She refused to put her feet in and did her best to get out of the car.

“Sunita,” Akshay lost his patience, “don’t be silly. I just want to talk to you.” He bent down to lift

her legs in. She was wearing a midi-skirt and his touch on her bare legs disturbed her more than she

cared to admit. She pulled her legs in a hurry and sat back in her seat, her arms folded primly. Closing

the door, Akshay sprinted over to the driver’s seat. Sunita was on the verge of getting out of the car as

he got in.

“Sunita,” For a minute Akshay’s hard tone reminded her of her father’s that she became still.

Akshay saw the shock on her face and guessed correctly that he had caused it. He waited for her to

settle in before closing the door and driving to McDonald’s in Bandra.

Sunita didn’t utter a word as Akshay led her into the restaurant. The place was quite empty as they

had just opened. He seated her at a table and bent down to whisper in her ear, “Please don’t run

away, Sunita. Both of us are hungry. Yeah, I missed breakfast too,” as she looked up in query, “Let’s

have something to eat and then sort out our problems.

Sunita gave him a weak smile before nodding her head. Nothing mattered any more. Her life was

doomed.

Akshay came back with a tray holding two burgers, French fries and two paper cups of hot coffee.

Sunita’s mouth watered while her stomach growled but she was too angry to eat. He placed the tray in

front of her and sat down.

“Thanks for not running away,” Akshay placed a hand on her shoulder. He could read the confusion

on her face. “Let’s eat first and then talk.” Saying this he popped a potato fry into his mouth.

“No,” Sunita turned her face away from the food, “I don’t want to eat. You can have my share too.”

“If you aren’t eating, I won’t either.” Akshay said quietly, pushing the tray away. “But I’m very

hungry,” he looked at her, his brown eyes pleading. Was there a twinkle?

“Akshay, you’re being unreasonable. Why don’t you eat if you’re hungry? I’ve too many things on

my mind. But that’s my problem. Why should you go without food?” Her voice cracked with emotion.

“Sweetheart,” Akshay placed an arm around her shoulders, bent his head close to hers and spoke in

her ear. “Humour me this once.” Sunita’s head went up at that. “I know there’s no reason you should,

but please,” his breath caressed her ear and drove Sunita to distraction. “And,” he continued, “You’ll

be able to better face your problems on a happy stomach.”

Sunita pulled the tray closer. His blood sizzled as he watched her pearly teeth take a small bite of

the burger. “You saved my life,” he joked. “I’ve never had breakfast so late in the morning.” The hunk

obviously needed his calories to start his day, thought Sunita as she devoured the food.

Suddenly remembering, she checked her watch to see that it was 11 am. “I need to go home,” she

insisted.

Akshay’s cool was wearing thin. “Sunita,
Dadaji
knows that you’re with me. There’s no need to

rush.” His voice grew impatient as he continued, “You are twenty years old and it’s broad daylight.

Why panic?”

“You don’t know my parents. My mother worries too much and my father has a vicious temper. Why

do you care anyway?” asked Sunita bitterly. “And what are you doing here? Don’t you have to

work?” she frowned at him.

Akshay shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think I’ll be of much use at work in the state of mind I’m

in,” he said, looking out of the corner of his eyes to check her reaction.

“Why? Are you having trouble at home too?”

Akshay did not deny it. Only he did not clarify that it was Sunita’s advent into his life that disturbed

him.

She was surprised. How could such a confident guy not be able to handle his problems?

“You tell me, Sunita. Why are you upset?” There was genuine concern in Akshay’s voice.

Sunita could read the sincerity in his question as her mind worked better on a full stomach. Looking

at him, she said in a bitter voice, “Congrats!”

Akshay heard the sarcasm. Puzzled, he asked, “For what?”

“You’re right in guessing that my parents plan to get me married to Tom, Dick or Harry. I didn’t take

you seriously when you warned me last evening. I heard my parents discussing alternate plans in case

you said ‘no’. My father’s actually planning a
swayamvar
, no less.” Sunita grimaced, her slender

body shuddering in distaste.

Akshay could relate to her anguish and wished to God that he hadn’t been proved right. He had

planned to court Sunita over a few months and make her fall for him. But it looked like he had no

time.

“Sunita,” she turned around and glared at him. “Come on, Sunita, you don’t blame me for this?

Don’t give me dirty looks. I’m doing my best to help you out of an impossible situation.”

“I don’t like your solution.”

Akshay shrugged. “I can’t think of an alternative. I s’pose you must lead your life the way you want.

Excuse me.” He got up to get some mineral water, giving her time to think about it.

Sunita realised she was depending on him to come up with a way out. She felt so alone in the

world.

Akshay stood near the sale counter for a while before returning to their table. She waited in vain for

him to say something as he sat there quietly.

“Akshay,” he turned to look at Sunita, an eyebrow raised in query. The words stuck in Sunita’s

throat. He was a stranger but she needed his help, desperately. Why was he so quiet? Sunita looked at

him pleadingly.

“What’s it?” Akshay asked.

“Tell me what to do, please,” Sunita placed a hand on his arm. Akshay put his right hand on hers to

reassure her.

“Listen to me, little one. I can promise you freedom from your parents. But for that you’ll have to

marry me. I can’t just take you away from them—”

“Hey,” Sunita’s eyes lit up, “I can always run away.”

“Where to?” asked Akshay reasonably, “and do what?”

Sunita’s face fell. “Sorry I interrupted. Please continue.”

“Just that one condition,” Akshay took off from where he left off, “the wedding ceremony, a change

in your name, status and address. After that you are free to choose the kind of life you want to live,

your time will be your own, no interference from either me or my parents.” His voice was hypnotic,

painting an attractive picture of her future.

“But won’t it be risky—?” asked Sunita.

“Of course there’ll be some risk involved. You’ll have an altogether different way of life. One thing

I promise is to protect you from hurt. It’s up to you now.” The ball was in her court.

Sunita desperately tried to think of another option. Nothing came to mind. The restaurant started

crowding and the two of them got up by mutual consent to leave. They got into the car without talking,

Akshay waiting patiently for her decision.

Sunita looked pathetic. “Akshay, I’m scared,” her voice was hoarse.

“Do you need more time?” asked Akshay gently.

“No,” Sunita cleared her throat. “No, I don’t. Let’s get married,” she gave him a nervous half smile.

“I promise you that you’ll never regret this decision,” said Akshay solemnly, holding her hand in

his. “I’ll let my lawyer make a pre-nuptial contract for three years.”

Sunita sighed softly as she straightened her shoulders, bracing herself for the future. She had the

look of one who has burned her boats.

Seven

While the rest of the world slept, Sunita lay wide awake in bed thinking about her impending

marriage to Akshay. The thought had been with her through the day, extremely disturbing. She could

neither concentrate on her yoga nor the books she loved. She shut her kindle reader and put it away

before going to stand at her window. Faint moonlight shone over the lawns in the still of the night. The

light breeze blowing through the window could do nothing to soothe her nerves.

She was too angry with her father to say it in words. And Akshay—she was sure he was taking

advantage of a bad situation. Her mind oscillated to and fro, weighing his personality. The next

minute she thought ‘Akshay’s not like that. He wouldn’t take advantage of her.’

What in case he had been bad looking or uncouth or both? Should she thank her lucky stars?

Akshay was a perfect catch as far as the society was concerned. He was tall, dark and handsome.

He was an MBA, heading a successful business. He was rich and an only child. More than all these

he had one special quality that Sunita appreciated. He was chivalrous. A rarity indeed! Then there

was the charm that oozed from every pore in his body.

Sunita finally came to the conclusion that she probably had the better deal. A light colour ran up her

cheeks when she recalled his heartbreaking smile while he gave her his complete attention. A woman

could feel cherished. She would probably be the envy of all girls her age when their betrothal was