Chapter 24: Chapter 24

"You know how to drape a saree?" Sanaya was astonished to hear him. He was not even Indian, how could he know how to wear a saree...

"I do I guess." Sanaya was astounded to hear him but now, she did not have any other choice. She needed to go to the kitchen and cook a sweet dish as in the ritual. She could not waste much time wearing a saree.

"How many fingers are here?" Moving her hand in front of him she asked him.

"Huh?"

"Answer me." Sighing, Nick countered, "Ahh, five maybe?"

"Ok. Go on." Sanaya tried to stay calm. She was checking if he could see anything. "He is my husband now. It's ok, calm down." Sanaya took a deep breath.

While Nick was figuring out the fall on the saree Sanaya was examining his movements. He began to twist it from the other end around her waist while telling her, "Tuck it."

"Tuck it." Sanaya was busy staring at her handsome husband but hearing him she cleared his throat. Nick was making pleats with the extra fabric when Sanaya was smiling like a silly.

He knew how to drape a saree. Wow, she was impressed.

"Now tuck this one on the right side of your navel." As he said so she mumbled, "I know where to...".

Nick had a blindfold covered his eyes the whole time he was helping her to wear the saree. "Done." Saying so as he removed the blindfold over his eyes he saw Sanaya standing just face to face.

"Wow, you are impressive." She announced, moving around while grabbing her pallu.

A smile played on his lips but soon receded. As she saw Nick stroll towards the door she asked, "Am I looking beautiful?"

"Hmm." Answering shortly he evacuated.

"Only hmm?... I wore it for him only... Maybe he was shy so he did not compliment me more. Yes, it might be the reason." She reckoned.

**

"From now on, I will take responsibility for your food and clothes." Nick offered her a plate full of rice and other food items. Then as he offered her a new saree he said that.

Sanaya then served payesh (a sweet dish) to all other members of the family.

The Next Day

Sanaya glimpsed at the mirror. An off-shoulder open-back ivory lace wedding dress that she wore made her look so stunning.

"Here we go," Clara added the flower crown on Sanaya's head then she smiled at her.

Sanaya smiled shyly. "So how are you feeling? Excited? Or unexplained butterflies in your stomach or nervous, anxious, whimsical, and afraid?" Clara asked her whispering near her ear.

"Mixed may be as we are married already?" Sanaya said casually.

Clara giggled, "Yes, I should answer." "Prepare. Maybe you will be the next?" As Sanaya teased her, both of them started laughing.

Nick had his eyes closed, his head laid on the couch. Maxwell ran to him, "You are relaxed? It's your wedding day, Nick."

"And so?" He asserted with his half-sleepy tone.

Maxwell sat on a chair as he recited, "What so? Ain't you excited? Or feeling anxious? Your palm might be sweating..."

"I'm not. Just a marriage. Why would I feel like that?" He said casually. "You are strange!" Hearing Maxwell Nick was still silent.

**

Nick was waiting for her at the altar when Sanaya was walking down the aisle. Everybody had their eyes on her. As she stood just opposite of him Nick glanced at her when she had her eyes down.

“I pledge my undying love to you, as I invite you to share my life. I promise to be kind, unselfish, respectful, and trustworthy so that together, our dreams of a beautiful future can come true. To this end I call upon all present to witness that I, Nicolas Davis take you, Sanaya Roy Chowdhury to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live.” Nick announced looking at her.

“I pledge my undying love to you, as I invite you to share my life. I promise to be kind, unselfish, respectful, and trustworthy so that together, our dreams of a beautiful future can come true. To this end I call upon all present to witness that I, Sanaya Roy Chowdhury take you, Nicolas Davis to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health for as long as we both shall live.” Sanaya proclaimed.

As they exchanged the rings the crowd started screaming, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Just after today's priest, Maxwell announced a little louder, "You May Have Your First Toast". Sanaya was nervous, it was going to be her first kiss. Would he kiss her? She thought.

As Nick moved closer to her she gobbled. He caressed her cheeks, making her raise her head. As they looked into each other's eyes he cupped her face then he traced the nape of her neck. As he leaned forward her breath hitched in her lungs. She closed her eyes thinking that he was going to kiss her on the lips but... He kissed her forehead, a sweet and affectionate forehead kiss. Sanaya opened her eyes and grinned.

When Sanaya tossed her bouquet backward at the crowd of unmarried women Clara caught it first. From the starting till this day, Maxwell had been capturing every single moment he could in his camera. "Bro and sis-in-law, please move closer." As Maxwell announced so Sanaya stared at Nick.

Grabbing her waist he pulled her closer when Maxwell clicked their photos. "New pose, new pose."

Nick took her in his arms all of a sudden, Sanaya was astounded. As if she was a doll, Nick took her in his arms, wrapped his hand around her waist, brushed his lips on her forehead gently, lifted her when Sanaya looked at him, touched her finger and kissed her hand, looked at her affectionately when Maxwell was taking their photos.

In the evening

"You are looking like a princess." Sanaya was putting on her earrings when Raina walked into her room. As she saw her she smiled.

"Bro is waiting for you downstairs," Raina informed her. "And he can't wait to see you." As she whispered Sanaya blushed.

Raina took Sanaya to the reception party. "There comes your wife." Nick was talking to some people. As heard someone saying so he turned around to look at Sanaya.

The spotlight fell on her as if she was the queen Sanaya had a crown over her head. With a cute smile, she was walking down the staircase. Nick's jaw dropped as he saw her.

"Bro, here's your wife." Raina grabbed Sanaya's shoulder and pushed her towards him all of a sudden. Sanaya widened her eyes. Before she could stand at a place Nick grabbed her waist tightly when she found herself hugging him.

"What a catch! Bro." Hearing Maxwell Nick looked at him giving him a cold gaze. Sanaya raised her head and found Nick looking at her. She bit her lips and moved away, "Sorry, I did not mean to..."

"It's ok." He said shortly.

Raina ran from there and vanished into the crowd. Both Sanaya and Nick were standing side by side, silent. She knew what could they do at that time but she was waiting for Nick to ask for her hand. Nick cleared his throat and taking his hand out of the pocket he enlarged his arm as he said, "Mrs. Sanaya..."

"Mmm?" She could understand what could he ask but hearing from his mouth was another level of pleasure. She looked at him with a confused look.

"Let's dance together." He said. Giving her hand in his hand she nodded her hand, "Ok."

Holding her hand he walked in the middle of the hall where other couples were dancing. Without moving his eyes off her he wrapped his arm loosely around her waist.

Taking her right hand in his left hand he pulled her closer. Her chest touching his chest, she blinked her eyes nervously.

Sanaya was more than happy, she had never been so happy like this. Everything felt like a dream to her. Their body swaying with the music, Sanaya put her head on his shoulder while they were dancing. She smiled and closed her eyes, enjoying the moment.

After cutting the wedding cake, they raised the toasts. At dinner time Clara pushed Sanaya a little to pull her out of her trance. Looking at her Sanaya said, "Oii, what are you doing?"

"The newly wedded bride is full-on busy thinking of the groom." She teased her.

Sanaya rolled her eyes at her. "Are you happy? Sanaya." Clara asked her.

Sanaya looked at Nick who was talking to some businessman. "I am very happy." She answered with a smile. Clara embraced her as she spoke, "I am happy for you, gurl!"

This was soon though. Sanaya never thought that she would get married this soon when she has run away from her home, not wanting to get married but now, she was married. Yes, she was missing her family.

She never really thought that she would get married without having them by her side but fate could not be controlled. This was not what she thought would be but this was what they call fate and she wished to accept her fate.

**

Sanaya was sitting on the bed, beautifully decorated with flowers. Sanaya wore a beautiful saree, waiting for Nick. It was their room. She looked at the petals of flowers, soon Nick was to get there.

Quite some time passed and she had been waiting but where was Nick? Moving the veil from her face Sanaya looked towards the door of the room. Nick did not come yet. "Where is he?" She sat on the bed and thought.

She was about to get her feet on the floor when she heard someone's footsteps coming from the outside of the door. Getting on the bed she sat on quickly, covering her face with the veil. She pulled her saree to cover her legs.

As she heard someone's footsteps she held onto her breath. Her heart started beating faster as she heard Nick lock the door. She sat still, holding onto her breath.

"You are still awake?" Nick asked her. Walking towards the couch he threw his suit on the couch.

Sanaya answered in a low voice, "Yeah..."

"Why? Can't fall asleep?" He questioned. "..." Sanaya remained silent. "It's... " She mumbled.

She did not know when did he walk to her. Hearing his voice from so closer she bit her lips. "Is it some ritual too?"

She bobbed her head. Holding her veil he removed it over her face. She swallowed hard as she saw him sitting just in front of her with the upper part of his body naked. As soon as her eyes caught on his sexy abs she gazed down at her hands.

Nick moved a little closer to her while grabbing her chin gently. "Look at me, babe." He said.

Sanaya was damn nervous. Her heart was beating faster, she looked at him, just to meet eyes that were observing her movements.

Seeing her nervousness he chuckled as he asked, "Are you nervous?" She nodded her head quickly in denial. Finding it funny a little smile left his lips as he pulled her face closer to his face that she could feel his breath closely. Sanaya felt like her heart was about to burst out.

"You are looking so damn beautiful you know?" He said looking at her. Vermilion on the head, different kinds of bangles on her both hands, a red saree, Alta in her hands and feet, red lipstick, make-up, the jewelry she was wearing. Nick could not stop looking at her...