'Maybe his were the
eyes I ever looked into'

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Reception for all

Sadhvi’s POV

We were at the Venue for our wedding reception.

Both I and Avrudh sharing a room, the more conscious I was the more aware I became of his presence in the same room with me.

Avrudh was in the other corner of the room with his stylist, getting dressed for the reception party and I was sitting in front of the dressing with mine. I was wearing a bathing robe and getting my make up done when a fully dressed to kill husband of mine came into my view.

He stood behind me in black tux and looked into my eyes through the mirror—awaiting my approval.

Which I did as early as my senses returned me back from mars.

The stylist stopped sensing the need, with half done lipstick I stood up turning to smile at him, I pointed with my hand up and down,
“Somebody knows how to clean up”

Avrudh grinned, “I try” winking at me

I bit back a grin of my own,
“If only there wasn’t your stylist”

He laughed,
“If only you knew how least he did”

Behind him his stylist nodded at me for no reason. I don’t need him to remind me of my husbands’ beauty.
He is my princess to slip glass slippers on.

“You look handsome” I said

So mouth watering that my mouth is almost running dry because of recent loss- I forgot to add intentionally.

“Thank you very much” he said keeping a hand over his heart bowing his head

I chuckled,
“Now go before your brother and Sanidhya come barging inside, they need you for some stuff”

Avrudh sighed looking into the mirror and scratched his left cheek grazed with beard, my gazed zeroed at the dimple fighting to come out.

He looked at me longer, like wanting to say something when he nodded and moved to leave the room.

I saw his retreating back and behind him his stylist left soon after. I sighed and turn to sit back when my stylist decided to speak

“You are very lucky ma'am”

Smiling in confusion I looked up at her,

“From the past half n hour sir hasn’t taken his eyes off you” she said now completing my lips do.

Deciding not to say anything because I wasn’t feeling very intelligent at moment I kept my mouth mum just smiled a little at her.

Or maybe I blushed. God only knows.

Why was I being so mushy? I sure wanted to know but the feeling was filling my stomach with warmth and my knees going weak- I somehow liked it more than the curiosity for answer.

.

.

I was brushing my hair out of my face when Avrudh walked inside, I was alone finally and got a chance to admire my look.

I have checked myself sideways just to see how slim my stomach was, how sexy the curve of my back was looking.

I even cupped my small bobbies to check if I was wearing a push-up bra were they going to look any tasty or I am just thinking they would.

And yes I was right, they would've looked better but too much attention on that body part I couldn’t afford.

Too much sexy was good for me, for my sister and my friends definitely, for my husband— which he wishes, but for my parents and in-laws I wasn’t sure.

The dress I was wearing was red strappy with V- neck. The bodice of  the dress ending at the line of my rib cage and skirt falling down gracefully with a mid thigh high slit.

Exposed too much for winters but suitable for the occasion.

So sighing I just turned to look at my face first, I was adjusting my hair a little when the husband of mine decided to grace me with his presence.

When I said he walked inside, I literally meant he walked only inside. Just inside past the door

Avrudh stood there at the door gawking at my open back. I looked at him through the mirror raising my eyebrows.

I turned when there was no response from him for about fifteen seconds now, his eyes moved.

He looked at me good, from head to toe and then again toe to head. With the second round sweep of his eye I moved to stand a little closer to him. His eyes zeroed on the slit of my gown.

I was looking hot I knew and Avrudh’s reaction proved me right.

I walked in front of him and looked at him through my lashes, “How do I look?”

He blinked and murmured, “This dress on you should be illegal, Sadhvi”

This was time for me to blink. I have been called beautiful, been called hot even but here in my hell I was expecting sexy. Avrudh left me speechless once again.

My face matched the colour of my dress and I turned to walk past him where he held my wrist and made me turn to face him,

“Stay by my side the whole night” he said looking into my eyes with so much love

I was planning to anyways.

I smiled from the outside.

He nodded looking at me and opened the door for me to walk out.

Once out I turned back to look at him, I needed him to walk by me, we were to go out together.

Me turning to look back, waiting for him to hold me made me feel a little dependant but I reminded myself this wasn’t me being that, this is me looking for my rock.

This wasn’t a moment for me to be afraid; this was a moment to accept him as my own.
I was getting a hand to hold on to, the hand that was willing enough to accept all of my decisions leaving me to learn from my mistakes, no guiding no correcting. I was independent even with him because we chose to learn and grow together.

He smiled at me and my heart shattered inside my rib cage once again, closing the door of the room Avrudh snaked his hand around my waist and my breath knocked me out too.

Well I wanted my all belongings to leave me for him anyways. I wasn’t complaining. He was making me feel funny in my stomach and I was welcoming that feel.

Asking for a small engagement party and even smaller wedding I surely earned a million dollar wedding reception for myself.

I looked at the blue carpeted path where both us, husband and wife were walking, going to climb-up the stage and beam at others to take picture of and congratulate.

I looked at my golden heels, paying attention to my foot work when Avrudh squeezed my side; I held back the urge to gasp and looked at his face with big eyes.

He grinned down winking at me.

That little tease.

We walked up on the stage posed for a gazillion pictures and after were joined by our parents.

My mother nagged me a little about not wearing gold jewelries and even eyed my gown slit when Avrudh laughed.

Mummy didn’t paid much attention to it but I looked at him and he winked again

“I am wearing gold maa” I whined

“I can’t see anywhere. I wanted you to wear the kundan set I bought.” She pouted

“I will wear it another time, I promise. And this sun-pendant I am wearing is gold” I pointed to the only pendant around my neck

She sighed and looked at Avrudh who was busy talking to Papa ji and Dad, she turned once again and looked at my forehead, “Sindoor also is light”

I laughed this time, “Maa” whined I again

To my rescue Bua ji came and hugged me, “You look incredibly hot!”

I grinned at her and then looked blank at my mother.
“See… that’s compliment”

Bua ji laughed when my mother shook her head saying
“It isn’t like you listen to me anyways”

From the corner of my eyes I saw my mother in law and sister talking, standing near the gift table to my left.
They were hitting it off already.

Since from our childhood days Meheka has been someone who mingles up good with females and me being a good talker when male party is involved.

Well I am a good talker for both parties to be honest.

When the chances of parents were over, relatives from both the side came running. Avrudh’s distant relatives from both mothers’ and father’s side came.

Friends came rushing in next. Some teased, some complimented but every one of them congratulated.

Soon the stage was filled with doctors and lawyers, congratulating and blessing.

I was greeting one of Avrudh’s court friends when he came, the guy from my back days

“If this isn’t the infamous Sadhvi Nanda” he said walking up the stage with a huge grin plastered on his face and a bouquet of white lilies in his hand.

I smiled big looking at him
“Look who decided to come. Finally.”

He walked upto me and looked at Avrudh smiling, “Congratulations man.”

Then he looked back at me once again still holding Avrudh’s hand, “someone finally got a hold of her” 
He handed me the flowers and beamed

I rolled my eyes but smiled nonetheless, “Avrudh this is Vikram my college freind and Vikram this is Avrudh, my husband.”

I snaked my hand around Avrudh’s arm and leaned my cheek on it

“Nice to meet you” said Avrudh

“You too Avrudh, I am amazed that she finally got what she was looking for”

I blushed and rubbing my face and looked at Avrudh first and then at Vikram.

Of course I found what I was looking for but that still doesn’t explain that I need Avrudh to know about that. Not so soon at least.

Avrudh’s face was blank when he looked at Vikram, he was measuring him up and down for some reason I wasn’t quite able to put my finger on it. Was he jealous?

But an emotion such as jealousy here is too soon.

He couldn’t be, because it was evident Vikram was referring Avrudh having me, he was clearly stating that Avrudh is the guy I decided to settle with because he has what I have been wanting.

Yet again what goes through the mind of my husband was new to me, I was new in this field to write thesis upon.

Vikram even looked intimidated by Avrudh.

Besides history of Vikram and me, it was of a year of late night talks and of two dates, I was twenty back then and when I realized Vikram’s feelings were too intense for me than mine for him, I decided to back out.

There was no mean of hurting him we wouldn’t be able to have a future together.

And anyways things were never mutual with him to begin with.

We stood together, with me and Avrudh at right and to my left vacant space Vikram, posing for a picture.
“Help yourself with some drinks Vikram, I will join you shortly. Enjoy.”

I said waving him bye. Nodding at me and Avrudh with a smile he left the stage.

“What’s with that blank face?” I asked when we got some time for ourselves until someone else could join

The waiter passing by brought wine for us, me being someone easy to get buzzed was keeping a count of my intake tonight.

Avrudh taking a glass for himself took another one for me too. He passed it to me and I beckoned him to move towards the corner for a while where an heater was placed.

It was December and the temperature couldn’t get any cold in Delhi.

Avrudh sipped from his wine and I looked at him waiting,
“Nothing I am little tired I guess”he said

“Oh… want to sit for awhile, I don’t think anybody is left” I said mentioning to the crowd with my eyes and sipped my wine looking at his face.

He was thinking something and was hesitant to share.

Avrudh just shook his head and said pointing to my leg,
“Don’t you think that slit is a little too high”

My eyebrows rose up on their own,
“High? You previously seemed fine with it”
As if on purpose my body covered itself in the cloth material around my leg.

I turbed conscious suddenly for a second.

He said nothing and looked away from me
“Avrudh, look at me. You cannot do that to me, you were fine just awhile ago and now you are suddenly pissing this night for me. Don’t do that...it is an important night... for both of us.”

There goes my night.

He had something in his mind and I couldn't afford ruining it with my own train of thoughts, I decided to let him rest and think it out.
He is a mature guy. He will understand.

Avrudh looked down and toyed with the rim of his glass. Shaking my head I decided to take a break. Maybe he was really exhausted.

I walked down the stage and met my family of both the sides near the dining area. And joined them for a little snack, I decided to eat dinner when Avrudh will eat.

I have decided to give my heart to him and I trust my judgement more than my instinct. He will come around.

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'We found each other in this sky, maybe this was the meeting pre-planned. Beautiful as this can ever be.
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Hey,
How you doing?

You know when I was writing this
chapter my playlist was on shuffle
and then it played 'Death by thousand cuts by Talor swift'
Maybe that is why this felt a little too twisty to me.
You know like, you know the kind of person they are but they did something very spontaneous, totally out of their character and you... you just stood there confused, whether to react or to let them have their moment.
Maybe when they will realise how irrational it was or how un-required it was they will find their way back to you.
You stay there waiting for them in hope.

That is how the song made me feel.

I talked here too much so please ignore most of it amd do share you views.

With love,
Ankita 🐿️