'Come dance with
my wildness
and play in my beautiful mess
and drip wild poetry on
my lips
when we kiss'
By butterfly rising
_____________________

It was all a game

Sadhvi's POV

Both Avrudh and I were seated with elders. They were our guests gathered to join in our happiness.

Distant relatives left by the time almost mid-night kicked in.

Our parents were leaving too, soon. Well that is what I was hoping for.

They sat among themselves talking about how things went and how to do what is to be done next. We have a wedding to plan within 12 days.

The youth side of the party was across the venue, seated near the bar occupying the lounge area. Even from here I was searching for the place where I will be resting my ass on.

The criteria for my liking was simple, one very comfortable well cushioned chair near the fire place.

I don't like cold or cool breeze. Not even a bit.
Neither do I like heat or sunlight and don't get me started with Rain.

There were almost twelve or fourteen of them in our team. Including Meheka, Avesh, Sanidhya, Rajveen and Shireen (their families left), Avrudh's elder cousin sister Jiya and younger cousin Jagriti with some friends of Avrudh, their names I was yet to remember.

Avrudh bumped his head with mine sideways and leaned in close to whisper in my ear,
"We should join the people our age. Don't you think?"

Despite the hair that come alive on my nape I smiled a little shy at him nodding towards our parents. We can't leave if they are still here, Avrudh.

Something established between us after the date night.
Maybe it was mutual liking or maybe infatuation or maybe it was our feelings developing, I sure was enjoying it.
A little shy sometimes and little bolder next, I was watching myself changing colours.

He, still leaning into me sighed in my ear and my whole being went to mars.

Holy fuck!

How erotic was that.

He pulled back to his normal position and leaning onto his chair he looked at his watch saying,
"Oh it's 12:45 already, time just moves so fast in winter"

Avrudh, did something to my tender heart and now was acting all oblivious, as if he isn't aware about me listening my heartbeats in my ears.

He said that loud and every eye looked into their respective watches, few gaze on the mobile phone screens too.

Nodding to themselves our parents decided to leave,
"We didn't realise, both of you had your cocktail to attend too"

Kanika aunty said from my side and cupped my chin to pull my face down so that she could kiss me forehead saying,
"I am looking forward to see you as my daughter in law"

I beamed and bend to touch her feet when she hugged me.

"Enjoy your party kids"
My papa ji said and walked out with Samarpreet uncle beside him. Few more chairs shuffled.

My mother kissed my forehead and walked out with Harpreet bua ji and Kanika aunty and few of their relatives on tow.

Behind me Avrudh sighed deep.

One time he was far and the next he was standing so close to me now, I was enjoying the warmth his body was radiating.

By now I was wrapped in a Shawl- my warm as my soul shawl- but it was helpful just a little, if it wasn't for Avrudh leaning close to me every now and then I would be an ice block by now.

I was a cold baby for a reason.
Always cold feet and hands.

When I felt his chest on my back my world arrested, I stood there waiting for him to say something, "About time" he said and the wave of strong cold air stuck me. Hard.

I nodded and turned to look at him, he was just a breath away, we looked into each others' eyes realising we have nothing to say when he nodded towards the cocktail party.

With his hand on the small of my back, radiating heat, keeping me warm we joined our team.

As soon as we reached there, the small crowd of people we own started screaming, clapping their hands.

"Congratulations" they shouted

We both looked at each other and smiled at them all.

Avrudh walked upto his friends sharing boyish hugs and those slap like back pats.

He then from the bartender took a bottle of Champagne and popped it open at once.
He sure knows his way around drinks.

The bottle came to life with a strong fizz and white foam came out, the bartender arranged flutes on the counter and Avrudh took one filling it for me.

Beaming he handed the flute to me, my eyes zoomed onto the dimples when making eye contact the man of mine licked his finger afterwards. The rest of the crown applauded.

And with a thundering chest I made my way out of the scene.
Taking the glass from him I made my leave when his friends patted him on the back to gain his attention back.

They pushed the bottle towards his lips-a little wildly I might add, I raised my eyebrows laughing to myself meeting Avrudh's eyes once again.

I with a shake of my head moved to join the group of ladies, where my friends, sister and Avrudh's cousins were seated.

"How do you find him?" I asked in a whisper to Rajveen as soon as my back hit the cold cushioned chair.

The fire place was still a feet far.

Rajveen gulped from her glass of coca cola before looking at Avrudh and then at me.

Avrudh was laughing among his friends, his eyes pleased and face looked all happy.

Rajveen wasn't drinking because she was still breastfeeding her kid.

His friend said something to which he nodded with a chuckle before filling their glasses too. I smiled moving my attention back to my best friend.

She smiled at my face, "He is very good yaar"

I with the wide of my eyes nodded at her but I wanted to know more, hear more from her. Her opinion always matters.

"He is mature, a man... like you wanted" I nodded, "and most important thing I noted about him is that, he is mentally very strong."

I pulled eyebrows together when she elaborated.

"What I mean is... the guy knows when to speak, what to speak, how to react and there isn't any hint of impatience on his face"

I wanted to laugh, what a strange thing to notice. The waiter took the bottle from my soon to be husband and started to serve others some champagne.

"He is genuine... very calm, poised and composed. He listens and then draws the answers"

I nodded.

"All I mean is the guy is your mirror image but just more calm than you. You are a disaster" she said sipping on her drink

I laughed, "I am not. I am a saint."

"Oh baby you are anything but a silent person, we cannot just ignore this twenty-four seven running mouth of yours"
said Shireen while taking her glass of champagne from the waiter before turning her attention back to me

I made a face at her, "Mean!"

They both laughed, "I am dying to see how he is going to tame you"

"I am no wild cat" I said with a scrunch of my face sipping my champagne

We were just in between our conversation when Avrudh's older cousin, Jiya, piped in saying, "Avi, bhai I have question to ask"

The background music was a little loud still so she said that with a loud voice gaining everyone's attention.

Avrudh was talking to his friends when he turned to look at her with raised eyebrows.

"You were a frog before kissing Sadhvi or you are a frog now?"
she was definitely drunk.

I looked at her in horror.

"You did not just used Khoobsurat movie's dialogue"
Rajveen said laughing, she was drunk too but not on alcohol. Dear lord.

Everybody laughed.

"Avrudh you have kissed Sadhvi na?" Jagriti completed her sister's dialogue and all of them burst out laughing including my sister.

Avrudh and I were the only spectators who didn't find the situation funny.

I looked at him and he smirked looking at me. I shook my head but I was totally unaware of Shireen's eyes observing me closely.

"No! They haven't kissed yet"
Shireen declared raising her glass and taking a sip from it, while giggling to herself finding entertainment in my misery.

That drunk asshole woman.

Avesh laughed and walked upto his brother patting his back,
"We can fix that"

Avrudh stared at him, dead. I gulped. This isn't going where I wanted this night to.

Jiya didi's husband held my hand which wasn't holding the flute of champagne and pulled me up from my place,
"Milady"

Too stunned to utter a word I was at the bar in front of Avrudh within seconds.
I gulped again.

"So now that all the old people have left, let us see some live action" Jiya's husband said

"Oh! But keep it R-rated"
Rajveen said laughing from her place, hi-fiving with Shireen and Meheka.

Avesh held my shoulder that was when I realised I was turned to face Rajveen and he brought me to face his brother and whispering in my ears,
"Make his first kiss special Bhabhi"

This wasn't news to me

I snapped my head at him he chuckled winking at me and flew the scene joining Meheka's side.

I looked at Avrudh and he pursed his lips to stop smiling. The bastard was enjoying it.

I glared at him when with a smirk he walked into my space, his favourite pass time.

I crossed my arms in front me and whispered to his face when he was inches from me,
"I am kissing you in front of everyone"

He smirked even bigger,
"Does it look like you have an option?"

I opened my mouth but he cut me in,
"I promise this will be quick"

"This isn't entertainment Avrudh"

From the background Meheka shouted, "Di, don't be a spoilt sport"

I glared at her and faced Avrudh before whispering, "This is your first kiss"

And so is mine

"Sadhvi, I promise, I will make your first kiss special"

I looked at him with a blank face, the more calm I look the more in a turmoil I am from inside. He read me again.

"With you every kiss will be special. I promise"
he said and wrapped me in his arms, his hands resting firmly on my waist over the shawl.

I wanted to give in. His eyes were speaking volumes.

"I won't kiss you ever again after this unless you ask me to" he said brushing his nose with mine and looked me in the eye

"That's never going to happen"
I barked out quick earning a laugh from him. I felt his abdomen moving touched to mine.

Hey Mata Rani!

"Okay" he said before leaning to brush his lips over mine once.

My ears suddenly felt like lava.

He looked into my eyes one more time and dipped his head for a peck.

My heart sky-rocketed in my chest, I was counting back from ten for a launch to mars.I just saw in discovery there are possibilities of water in mars.

One peck for the first time on my lips. This wasn't sitting right with me.

When his lips lingered, my palms moved flat on his chest-he was awfully warm.

He dipped his head a little more, his lips pressed now on my lips firm just like his palm flat on my back firm and gripping, he kissed my upper lips in between his.

I inhaled a deep cold breath in.
Fuck! This was happening.

Parting my lips I kissed him. My fingers curled, the fingers of my both upper and lower limbs. They felt that magical.

We repeated the same movement for a while and pulled apart staring at each others' lips and eyes. I blinked once and then twice.

Avrudh moved his one hand from my waist and touched the right side of my lower lip saying,
"I never noticed this mole before"

I blushed crimson, if I wasn't earlier.

The crowd which called for us hooted and clapped, bringing us back to this world from mars. We both pulled apart but Avrudh never let me out of his embrace.

We performed strangely good for our first performance of kissing, regardless to what I've heard - you will create a mess during your first kiss- it takes a lot of practice to master the art, they say.

Avrudh managed to set my person on fire if this wasn't speaking for itself then I don't know from where I was hearing those sirens.

I hope I left the same impact.

His left hand too snaked around my waist receiving every compliment, we were apart from upper body but our lower body still remained connected.

Rajveen and Shireen were fanning themselves, "That was soooo hot"

I rubbed my forehead hiding my face when Avrudh pushed closer to me whispering in my left ear, "Like I said I will not kiss you again until you ask me to"

I turned to look at him with a challenging look when he winked saying, "This kiss is going to wake me up at nights so please ask me soon..."

Not knowing what to react I pushed at his chest and escaped his embrace where everyone laughed and hide behind Jiya didi.

.

.

Ten days left for the weddingand here everybody was busy shopping or attending important calls.

I was most in my days busy with wedding planners, sometimes stylist or mostly at my workplace.

I was taking a leave for 15 days and didn't wanted to leave a havoc behind.
We hired another therapist, Raghav, and the past few days went teaching him and getting him familiar with everything.

Thank god that Raghav was a fast learner or else Rajveen was going to burst a vein or two in her brain. Raghav got a cabin on Rajveen's room since we have more treatment beds there.

Within blink of my eyes the wedding day arrived.

I was being escorted inside the car in a rush from the salon where I was getting ready.
Since the wedding venue was a temple where there are hardly three rooms apart from the priest's own, we decided to get dressed at houses and salons

The moment Sanidhya and Meheka saw me they both shed a tear or two. We shared a moment of emotion in each others' arms.

I cried a little into Sanidhya's arms, he was younger than me but took care of me as if my older brother.

I couldn't imagine myself not being able to make fun of him, not being able to save him from papa ji's anger everytime he does something silly.

I cannot bring myself to imagine not sharing a room with Meheka, not screaming at her after finding out she went to work wearing my clothes yet again. Not snapping when she shushes me off with a whatever.

Like everytime.

I don't want to believe that even after all these years of my crying over being single forever I still didn't wanted to leave my family.
I was getting myself a soulmate but I was leaving a house where I made tonnes of memories wrapped in their arms.

I was going to look at someone else's mother everytime I feel I was loosing all the hope after encountering something bad.

I was going to miss my father's arms holding me tight everytime I come crying over something I did.

I was going to miss convincing my parents to go out to meet my friends or seeking their permission to do something new.

They were always hard to convince when I wanted to leave my house to hang out and now they are sending me to someone else's house with no tantrum shown.

How strangely funny is that.

I walked locking my arm with my father to my right and my brother my left who holding a flower curtain at the top of my head with few of our cousins blinked reassuring at me.

Everything will be fine. You are not going to jinx your happiness.

You have a beautiful journey ahead.

I repeated inside my head trying to knock some sense into my anxiety. If only I could get an assurance more than this.

I held in a deep breath when we reached the stairs to the main hall of temple where the Mandap was set and I looked at my father squeezed his forearm.

Papa ji smiled looking down at me and patted my hand. "All the best"

He wished and kissed the side of my head.

The back of my husband came into view, he was already seated to pandit ji's left leaving a seat vacant for me.

As soon as I was in the range of vision the people around us whispered looking at me which caught Avrudh's attention and he turned to look at me.

His eyes widened.

When I was climbing the stairs to join in Meheka rushed upto me lifting the front of my bridal skirt of to ease my walk up-but I noticed her sneaky act of slipping Avrudh's shoes into her feet and winking at me she flew off.

I smiled.

Until I was beside him, he never left me out of his view and I was a blushing mess.

The pandit ji, asked me to join Avrudh's hand where he was holding a Paan leaf with rose and marigold flowers kept on it, with the chants of mantras pandit ji closed his eyes.

Avrudh's younger cousin sister came forward to tie the knot of my veil and Avrudh's scarf. To representing our unison.

Soon my papa ji was called to give me away and I blinked back my tears.

Another leaf of paan on my father's hand was kept then rose petals and few marigold flowers. Pandit ji with the continuation of his chants kept my open palm on my father's and soon my father handed me off to Avrudh.

When the rhymes were being sung I met my father's eyes and his eyes welled up, he looked down too soon not meeting my eyes.

The man still being my rock. My superman.

When the ritual was over papa ji joined his hands in front of Avrudh and said,
"Take care of my pride, my daughter" and I inhaled looking into the havan flames

Shaking his head Avrudh joined my fathers' hands with his and bringing his one hand on his head he said,
"Bless me papa ji please"

I looked at Avrudh with so many emotions but he only looked at my father until Papa ji did bless him smiling. He left patting Avrudh's back and running a hand through my head.

The assurance I was talking about was sitting right beside me.
With my hand in his.

All through the mantra chanting and performing rituals, Avrudh filled my hair partition with vermilion, when most of it fell on my nose.

"Avi beta, she is your wife and now everybody knows that, you don't need to stake that big of a claim" Bua ji said earning laughter from everyone.

Avrudh looked down at my face and when he realised how red my nose he had made, the man widened his eyes and moved his pinky to wipe it clean.

"Your nose is so tiny" he said in a mere whisper trying to brush my nose clean, he patted it with his pinky once and then twice before I opened my mouth

"Unlike your gigantic one"
I retorted in a whisper too

Avrudh paused for good looking into my eyes when I was clearly avoiding it since the moment I stepped here. I was still looking in the front where some rose petals fell.

Before he could say something else Bua ji stepped into the scene and offered to clean my nose with a silk cloth.
"Here let me do it"

Avrudh nodded but hinted a big smile that was about to break. Stupid you Sadhvi!

"You have a strange way of marking your claim Avrudh" his mom joked from behind me

He sure does.

I blushed when Avrudh bumped his shoulder with mine, "She knows that" he announced.

And I called dear lord for my death.

The pandit ji handed Avrudh a mangalsutra which was kept in a silver plate with rose petals and asked him to tie it around my neck.

While bringing his face was so close to me that I was smelling his cologne, he whispered tight lipped,
"From the day onwards, I promise to cherish you for the rest of my life"

I blinked nodding like a fool when his lip felt like brushing my cheek, if anybody noticed this moment we shared, no one mentioned and I was glad because I was this close to crying.

I wasn't a cry prone but with so many emotions from pain to happiness I was torn to choose in between

______________________

'And just like that
we got entangled for life'

_______________________

This was a big, very big chapter for me to write.
And I felt every word of it.
I hope you guys enjoyed it because I sure did.

The queen here is someone who is hard to tame but would you look at her... How silly she comes when she is in his vision.

I SO WANT THAT FOR REAL.
Share with me your views on my latest chapter.

And do follow me on Instagram...
The link is in the bio

With love,
Ankita 🐿️