Page 86 of Forbidden

Oh!! That sounds sweet and needful. But will Aarav come to the temple? It’s not that he doesn’t believe in all this, does he?

Jaya messages Aman and then she drags me back home and helps me wear a pretty red saree. I don’t mind. I haven’t worn a Saree in a long time and the mere thought of Aarav seeing me in it for the first time is enough to boost me to wear the same. Jaya literally adorns me like a bride. Only the Mangalsutra is missing, which I had recalled I never got with me here in London. I left it in Aarav’s mansion, which I thoroughly repent now. Anyway, we dress up and Jaya drives me to the temple.

An hour’s drive and we are here at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden. I might not be a regular visitor, but I am very sure this extra lighting and decoration done today are special. As we get down from the car, I see Aarav in an Off-white sherwani, with a maroon veil around his neck. The rough stubble is still there, and he’s looking no less than a groom decked up for his own wedding. Whose wedding are we attending today? These thoughts consume me, but not for long as Aarav reaches and scoops me in his arms. When he stares at me with so much longing, all those negative thoughts I had about the change in his behavior, leaves my mind.

“You look gorgeous.”

His praise means so much to me. Warmth spreads through my body as his finger stroke the exposed skin of my lower back. That crackling chemistry is back as he pulls me to his body so hard that I feel every inch of him throbbing for me. Aarav Raichand is an enigma I can’t wait to explore. I don’t know how he does this, but the man has always made me crave for his touch. Last night, which was supposed to be our first night together, he left me alone and slowly now the reasons start filling in.

“What are we doing here?” I murmur, raising my chin.

“Nothing that we haven’t done before.” He rubs his nose with mine.

He’s warm!! I don’t care if this closeness is forming creases on my saree. I just don’t want him to stop holding me.

CHAPTER 38

Aarav

Seeing Jhanvi in a red saree has made my dream come true. I’ve secretly desired to see her in this attire, adorned for me, with a blush on her face, joy in her smile and the desire in her eyes, all for me. Today is finally that day when it’s happening and I can’t wait to share why we are here. With our bodies pressed to each other’s, it takes me a lot of effort to keep my hormones in check and communicate only with words and not with my mouth. I want to kiss her, I will, but not until I give my wife what she deserves today.

“The suspense is killing me, Aarav. Tell me, what are we doing here? In this temple?”

She pouts and all my resolve to wait gets ambushed. I kiss her gently. Then not so gently. We are both breathing heavily again by the time we pull back.

“I love you.”

I say it. I had to tell her I really loved her.

Jhanvi gapes at me like she never expected me to say this anytime soon.

“I love you Jhanvi. I think I always did. Ever since the moment our fathers wanted us to get together someday. Wish I was that strong enough to bring you into my life without any motives. Revenge had blinded me and made me hurt you when none of this was your fault. I do regret not giving you a marriage of your dreams and I didn’t want to drag this guilt forever.”

I cup her face with my strong palms.

“I want you to remember our marriage with a smile, and that is possible only when we build those memories again. So, today, here, I Aarav Raichand is going to marry my wife Jhanvi again before her friends and everyone near and dear to her if she lets me do so.”

She’s decidedly close to tears.

“Will you marry me again, Jaan?”

Her tears brim by the time I finish, but she gives me a nod. A nod, which then turns into a smile and then a chuckle.

“Yes. I’ll marry you every day if this is how you ask me.”

A sigh breaks through my lips as I bring her face closer and peck her lips again. This is why I put distance between us last night, though it hurt like hell to not ravish my wife when she was so desperate for me. I slept in the living room of Jhanvi’s home because I wanted our special night to be special in every way.

So, after I left Jhanvi alone in her room last night, I made a few calls to decide the best muhurat to re-marry her and was fortunate enough to get one this evening. When I shared this idea with Aman and Jaya, they equally were happy and supported me. Invites were sent out to Jhanvi’s friends who are here now to bless us and be a part of our happiness.

As I lead Jhanvi into the temple, her friends congratulate us, including Kate, who had an eye on me. Now she knows why I didn’t bother to reciprocate her advances. Sure, she understands and doesn’t mind. She’s happy for us.

Her friends have divided themselves into Team Groom and Team Bride. Kate is obviously on my side and Jaya at Jhanvi’s. Aman has looked personally into all these arrangements, so we miss nothing. Always, a true friend.

Sitting before the holy fire again, holding hands, me and Jhanvi complete all the rituals which make us soul partners once again. I fill her forehead partition with Sindoor and unlike last time, she has a blush on her face, along with tears. I don’t miss grazing her nape with my thumb pads as I hook the Mangalsutra, giving her a gist of how I craved to play with every inch of her skin once we are alone. Jhanvi touches the Mangalsutra happily as if this one ornament she is going to cherish for her lifetime. I know she will. We stand up for the seven Pheras and she reminds me how we took it last time with her in my arms. She’s not unhappy whispering that moment in my ears. Bad old memories are replaced with the new ones today. We take our promises and finally our marriage is complete. The first thing I do is bring her close and kiss her temple, then give her a hug so tight that her friends scream and tease us to wait till the night!! It’s night already, isn’t it?

After lots of teasing and fun, we all have dinner together in an Indian restaurant very close to Jhanvi’s home. This is one treat we couldn’t skip giving her friends. They have been such an integral part of her life; how could I not thank them? Though we are surrounded by almost 15 friends at that table, yet I don’t keep my hands to myself. I am constantly holding her hand below the table, stroking her wrists, her fingers while we talk to them. Our knees and thighs brush most of the time, eliciting even more desires to end the dinner and head home. But of course, no one here shows any rush to disperse. It’s high time I take the lead then. As we finish the desserts, I get up, holding Jhanvi’s hand, helping her rise.

“Thank you, everyone, for being a part of our happiness today, but now Jhanvi and I have to leave. Don’t mind, but I can’t wait any longer to start this night alone with her.”

---