Chapter - 28 Battle of Virtues and Ceremonies

" You can't come here" I say admonitoryingly to Kiyansh on the phone.

" As if anyone's going to stop me. " He says in his self complacent tone.

" Kiyansh.... Nani would be there. " I take her name , hoping he would be threatened by her.

" Look I....I promised you when we were kids. I promised you that I would be there whenever you will feel nervous. And I know you. I just want to be there. Like atleast for today. "

Every voice coming from downstairs subdues and I just hear him breathing from the other side of the phone.

" You won't take no for answer. "

" No " he says in indomitable tone.

" You.....you... are an idiot" and my best friend and I also want to kiss you and just like cling to you for the rest of my life.

" Let me see you first okay? Passage 109?"

I laugh, my heart melting like ice cubes in warm weather. " You still remember it? " It's the back of my yard near a big beak tree.

" Yeah now come downstairs" I can hear him smiling.

" You are already here? " I stand abruptly and move left and right pronto.

" I am waiting " he says and cuts the call.

I roll my eyes but with a smile on my face. The power to renegade authorities have always been my forte. I am talking as if it's a heist.

Let's get the game on.

I dodge out of the bedroom seeing left and right. Hallway- clear.

I just have to take the backyard stairs and pray there isn't someone. But the backyard stairs goes from Ayan's room.

I groan and knock on his room. He opens the door his white teeths giving me a cheeky grin. " Missing me? " He winks at me. " Oh oh someone's looking beautiful. " He says sizing me up and down.

" Stop being a pervert and let me through your room I have to go somewhere." I his and shove him aside.

" How defiant, your Nani would be so amused to find you in another man's room just before the ceremony. "

I throw his kurta on the face. " Wear some clothes. " And slide the glass door to open balcony.

" What are you doing? " He asks bewilderely.

" Call me if someone asks for me. And please do not tell them I am in the backyard. See you. " I say with a gleeful smile on my face and take the iron stares which directly takes me to the backyard.

**

My insides do a somersault when I see him standing under the beak tree. He is dressed in patch pocket cotton mustard colour kurta. His chiseled jawline like sharp cut mountains his eyes the colour of brown salvation his brown hair shining like perfect patched dark chocolate. His dimpled smile when he sees me makes me almost topple on the ground.

" You took your time. " He says amusingly.

" Sorry Mr. wasn't expecting you to barge in here even today. " I say with narrowed eyes, the problem was my eyes were narrowing on his lips.

" I have every right to be here. It's our marriage. We can do whatever we want. Our parents should be happy that we are even listening to their ideas about marriage." He says standing straight still giving me his defiant smile.

" No Kiyansh seriously are you mad? We are not allowed to do that. "

" Come here " his Adonis face breaks into a grin.

I shake my head and look back to check if there is someone. " Like seriously why did you want to meet here? We should go inside."

" To do this " he says and takes my arm dragging me into the sheild of the tree. His lips find mine without a word. I nearly tremble from the intensity. He takes my waist and wraps me around him, saying lot more than words ever could.

After his sudden onslaught of his lips on mine he takes my face in his hands.

" Okay? "

I nod my face turning like a red popsicle.

" You look beautiful " he says kissing me on forehead. " Everything would be fine okay? " He says touching my pendant that he gave me.

" You look perpetually handsome yourself how was the ceremony at home you smell like turmeric more than chocolate and woodpines today. " I smile and tease him, he is like me not so much good at ceremonies. " Nani would be delighted to meet you " I giggle at him.

The sudden blanched look on his face tells me he knows she wouldn't be. " You certainly like to make fun of me. "

My phone rings and he says " Go Inside everyone must be waiting for you. Meet you in five minutes? "

I nod and take flight towards the stairs.

" Where were you?" My mother shreiks standing outside my room in the hallway. " Just helping Ayan in choosing his kurta."

" More like throwing it on my face." Ayan says under his breath and I pass him a warning look.

" Okay Okay just let's go downstairs. " She says fussing over my clothes.

****

The whole wooden staircase is decorated in yellow coneflowers and white tulips. I sigh and look nervously downstairs. Our whole living room is buzzing with atleast fourty people. There chatter stops and everybody looks up when I come downstairs with my friends.

Grinning Rohit takes my right arm and Ayan takes my left. I instantly feel a little bit releived when I hear them making jokes.

I laugh when Ayan says " looks like your Nani is going to murder us today. "

We come downstairs and as Ayan says she comes forward with wide saucer eyes " you are not supposed to come downstairs with two men. Where are your female friends. "

" Mom please. " My mother says and directs us towards a big square place where there is a small golden coloured stool is put in.

My eyes roam and I search for Kiyansh he hasn't given them the shock yet? I wonder when he will stop making his entry on the perfect time. The thought makes me smile and without any hesitation, I meet people and give them a real smile.

Just as the door opens and everyone's head turn in the direction of.....