Chapter 33: Chapter 33

"Who gave this?" Anahita asked reading the note aloud. She had an idea but she wasn't going to instigate herself further to dwell over it.

"Room no. 498."

"Obviously, why not? How much more memorable it could be when I am receiving some kind of this generous way of thank you." She burbled sighing up and looked at the bellboy, greeting him with her best faux smile. "Thank you!"

In cue, the bellboy nodded at her and left. Anahita chewed the inner flesh of her cheeks considering the possibility that she could do with the bunch of flowers in her hands. The feeling was unsettling. Blinking, she inhaled sharply and turned to her heels. It felt right to deliver it to the person, for she wanted to know more of the story.

"It's for you." She said, closing the bedroom door behind her and frigidly flung the bouquet at Yuvraaj. Some of the flowers kissed the ground in abrupt motion. Unaffected, Anahita pushed past him to the dresser and began to fix her attire.

"Lilacs and orchids! Who sent this?" Yuvraaj asked, fondling the downy petals. Anahita glared the petals in animosity through the mirror.

"Who would? Of course, It's your fan girl." She scoffed, showing her teeth to him. Yuvraaj's eyebrows touched the heaven in surprise at her tone. He sneered at her demeaning comment but stifled it with a fake cough. Before slithering his arm possessively around her, he made sure to discard the bouquet on the bed. The satin ribbon that had held the flowers together untied, making the petals and filigrees spread on the bed sheet. Careless of it, Yuvraaj kissed her contours before resting his chin on her shoulder and sized up her moping reflection.

"Am I smelling something burning?" He feigned sniffing the air.

"Yeah. Your ass!" Anahita jibed, pursing her lips in a seam to prevent her smile. When in his arms, her anger melted away like ice in heat. His modus operandi of coaxing her has always helped. Yuvraaj swept her tendrils away from her ear and sucked her earlobe.

"Really?" He tilted his head more in her neck, caressing her curves. "I hadn't thought that you'll agree so easily on the fact that you're an ass." He pressed a kiss on her neck. A feathery one. So soft that she was confused whether it was his breath that had just traced her skin or his smoothly perfect lips which drawled upon the length of her neck.

"A dumb one." He added, tugging her sweet flesh and she moaned, losing herself in the symphony. Yuvraaj's arms tightened around her frame providing him the hangar. He peppered kisses from the side of her neck to end of her jaw. Her sweet notes added perfume was playing havoc in his senses. He kissed her nape, wondered how Anahita was being accessible. He could touch the sensation oozing out of her and engulfing both of them in a heating embrace, compelling to flow with the streams and claim their bodies together. Her eyes snapped open as she felt his lips drawing to her right shoulder.

Immediately, she unlocked the barrier of his arms and invoked distance to crawl between them. She had to cover up the situation because Yuvraaj's heavy breathing told her that he was hanging by a loose thread. So was she. And there was a lot they both had to settle before their confluence.

"Get lost. I am not burning and I am definitely not an ass. Not yours!" She muttered turning to him and pressed her hands on his chest before widening her eyes, "What the hell! You just humiliated me, Yuvraaj!"

Yuvraaj slammed his lips upon hers, chalking her banter to a stop and pulled her closer to him. His tongue invaded in her mouth dripping with passion and he stroked her waist up and down, sending shivers down her spine. Anahita garlanded her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. She fell on the bed with him over her. They giggled without breaking the kiss. Yuvraaj pulled away for a brief second, admiring her before cupping her nape and deepening the kiss.

Contented, Anahita arched her back as Yuvraaj shimmed kisses from the corner of her lips to her jaw and traced her neck with his teeth, seizing her shoulder in tight grip. He pecked her lips constantly before caressing her cheek with his knuckles and gazing deep in her eyes.

"Do you wanna continue it? We always have a blanket to cuddle in." His soft voice reached in her ears, instantly reaching on the pinnacle of her most favourite music lists’. She lifted her head and pressed a kiss on his nose. "We always have a full night for cuddling but this prom night will come once only."

"We can dance here only. I can fix something for you." Yuvraaj suggested, holding her waist as she tried to get up and Anahita shook her head, propping on her elbows. "No, we're going and that's for sure."

"Wear your lipstick then, it's smudged off." He traced his thumb on her swollen lips, making Anahita blush. She smiled and bit his thumb, "You've ruined it."

Yuvraaj winced pulling her hand back and jerked his hand, "You're biting your own husband? Now, you're not in place to complain if I do the same and I assure you that I will bite you in places where you won't be able to show it to anyone."

"As if I am scared of you?" Anahita rolled her eyes, fixing her make-up and hooked her arm with his. "Shall we go now because you can think of it after this night?"

"Don't worry. I've already thought it over." Yuvraaj kissed her forehead, clasping her palm with his.

***

The blaring of native Italian songs in the loudspeakers and busty women ducked in hot sexy dresses made Anahita a little conscious. She considered her look once again and looked around at everyone having drinks. Colorful stripes of satin dresses flew before her eyes and having this as a first hand experience, she felt out of place. The place screamed splendor. Bespectacled waitresses danced around with soft drinks in their hands and a bar was specifically installed in a corner for the men to pick their tastes from.

A wave of uncertainty and discontentment seeped in her. She rubbed her arms together gathering Yuvraaj's attention and he draped his arm around her. She knew she looked good, she knew she had nothing to be feel belittle about, yet again she leaned on to Yuvraaj's shoulder.

"Hey, what are you thinking?" Yuvraaj snapped his fingers before her eyes and she smiled, looking at him. "I've never been in such place before. This is a bit....overwhelming. I think I don't suit the ambiance."

Yuvraaj chuckled, delving his hands in his pockets, "You never cease to amaze me Anahita. I mean if I had said this, you would have been attacking me with the nearest weapon and now you are admitting such piffle."

"No, it's...just, I don't know, something," She sighed, "Yuvraaj, I am suddenly not feeling good."

"You are just a bit off. That's it." He blew air in her forehead and called a waitress, "Here, drink something, you'll feel good." He picked red wine for her and the waitress stormed away. Anahita took the drink from his hand and sipped slowly, travelling her eyes around to witness everyone enjoying their hearts out.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen!" The Manager stole their attentions and silence prevailed upon the place for a moment. The dance floor concreted as the manager proceeded, "The Welcoming party is a ritual our hotel performs every year. It's a celebration of enjoying in the beautiful ambiance of Sardinia and we're grateful that you've picked us to be a part of your special moments."

Everyone clapped as he announced for the ball to begun. Yuvraaj held out his hand for Anahita, "May I have this dance with the most beautiful lady in my life?"

Smiling at his advances, Anahita slid her hand over his. "Since when you've started having your way with your words with me?" Yuvraaj brought her to the dance floor amidst of the swarm of couple and pulled her closer. "Since we've gotten married. You realise, I always get my way with words."

"You can be extremely brutal with your words sometimes as well. What about that?" She smiled at him, resting her hands on his shoulder for a fleeting moment.

"You should reconsider the person I am dealing with." Yuvraaj chuckled spinning her around and pulled her in him with her back bumping against his chest.

"Do you understand what track is playing on?" Anahita closed her eyes swaying in the rhythm and Yuvraaj kissed her hair. "Does it matter when we are enjoying?"

"I guess, no." Anahita inhaled deep, feeling better. Her cure was with her. Yuvraaj was her panacea. His fingers sensuously tapped on her waist and he swirled her around. Anahita stares in his eyes, intending to drown deep or worse being hypnotise for rest of her life. She looped her arms around his neck and rested her head upon his heart. "Yuvraaj!"

"Hmm..."

"I don't regret it." She began, counting his heartbeats. "I don't regret anything." She breathed in his scent as his steps slowed and they stopped moving. "I don't regret you. I don't regret this marriage. I regret nothing." Her palm caressed his cheek.

Time paused for them, they stood together wrapped in the blanket of euphony. Chocolate brown to Tusset brown. Emotions teleported with them from hers to his. She licked her lips before, lifting her head and pressed her lips upon his before everyone and her fingers intertwined with his. Yuvraaj's eyes widened as he hadn't bargained for her such blunt step and he stood like a mannequin when she retreated. She tucked the bang of her hair behind her ear.

"Say something..." She urged, coyly. Her cheeks were red and the baby hair in the back of her neck erected. She couldn't anticipate his next move when Yuvraaj draped his arm around her waist and kissed her hard. Hard and dominant, completely assassinating the concept of public display.

"I love you, Anahita!" He murmured loud and clear against her lips. The steps and howls around them turned into hoots as he continued to kiss her hungrily, paying no heed to the crowd and contented himself with the last traces of her breath. Lack of oxygen propelled them to break the kiss and they rested their forehead against each others.

"Anahita..." She heard him calling her name again. "Anahita...Why did you stop? Are you alright?" She was confused when he snapped his fingers before her eyes, wiggling his eyebrows questionably.

"Huh?"

"Where are you lost? I am calling you since five minutes now. Are you alright?" He ran his knuckles down on her cheek and Anahita gazed at his lips that were hushing something but her brain refused to register a single word. She recalled kissing him and turned around. No one was looking at them. They were standing erect before dancing mass of people. Music was at its peak and Yuvraaj was visibly tensed at her amnesia.

"You okay?" He asked again, bracing her face in his large palms. Anahita nodded, gripping his wrists and stepped back.

"Um. I...need to use the washroom." She excused herself, practically running to save herself from the embarrassment, leaving a dumbfounded Yuvraaj behind.

"What's wrong with her?" Yuvraaj mumbled under his breath, shaking his head. Sauntering to the bar, he made himself comfortable on one of the stool. "One Scotch please!"

Anahita slammed the door shut of powder room and leaned against the washbasin, turning the faucet on. Heat raised up in skin as she recalled her shameless reverie. She couldn't believe that she was hallucinating. She glanced at the mirror, "You fool!" And chuckled heartily. The thing which wasn't sure came crystal clear. She liked Yuvraaj. She took a fancy to the worst person she's ever witness in her life. She was madly in love with her husband.

She squealed in happiness at her revelation and sighed, grinning stupidly. Biting her nails in anxiety about how to confess, she tensed. The fear was still prominent, what if he finds someone better than her? What if he doesn't want to be with her? She was a woman full of flaws, it needed a person to be extremely patient to understand her and a control freak to channelise her emotions. Yuvraaj happened to be a perfect combination of both but the thought was itching her; is she perfect for him?

She hadn't done anything which could earn his appreciation and she had hurt him a lot, so the chances of having him like her were next to impossible. The thought didn't leave behind when she realised that he brought her Sardinia for providing her a chance to run away with Mukund. She found it difficult to tell him what she would feel for him. He was barbaric enough to reject her right on her face, she contemplated.

Will he understand my love? Will he accept me? Does he like me? No, I think he will judge me and think that I am trying to sponging off on him but I do like him. I love him a lot.

"Be brave Anahita. Just confess it to him. You both don't have much days left. Just go and confess that you like him." She emboldened herself looking up in the mirror and adjusted her dress.

"Be a woman, Anu. Just go out and tell him. He is your husband anyways and if you want, he won't be able to leave you. Law gives rights, okay!" She groped for all the possibilities, "On second thoughts, you can complain Aai and baba that he doesn't want to live with you. I am sure, They will definitely make him kneel before you. After all, who knows better what an emotional blackmail can do!" She smirked at her reflection and the women sliding off from the toilet section gaped at her, accepting her a mentally retard when they saw her talking to herself.

Anahita put a big smile on display and sashayed out of the powder room in search of her beloved husband.