Mine Forever

The Devil And His Angel

The Devil and his Angel

Sameer

Well, they say things often change after marriage, indeed the change that I could see today was that I was sitting at the head of the breakfast table with naanaji and my mother flanked on two sides along with the snake and her vipers. Not a pleasant change, though, but then I wasn't really minding their presence. My eyes were rather trained on the beautiful woman dressed in a peach silk kurta while the diamonds of the mangalsutra glinted off giving out seven colours. The red of the vermillion shone brightly in her maang while she commanded the situation. I wasn't even bothered what these people around the table except for my naanu and mom, my heart swelled at the thought that I am finally Naina Maheshwari's husband. The effect she had on me is phenomenal! I had hoped to wake up today with her in my arms, that's where she had been ensconced all night. Though I had remained in my boundaries but the temptation to hold her close was too much and hence I didn't resist so didn't she. Now that was the surprising part after she had changed in to her night suit and mind you my bride was smart enough to choose a simple flannel one and came to bed, I just pulled her to me, she was startled at once but didn't resist, rather she relaxed into my arms. Bliss is what I felt at that point. So I was talking about my morning, so when the sun shone through the curtains and I eventually woke, a feeling of emptiness creeped in since my love was no where to be seen. My arms were bereaved of her presence but her smell lingered on along with that of the flowers in the room. I could hear the cling clang of the utensils which was a sound, I was never used to me, my nostrils were soon met with the inviting smells of food, and freshly brewed coffee. I could tell the change already, I knew today was to be her first day for Rasoi as intimidated by my mother during one of the rasms the evening before and yes we were all to have breakfast together. It could have been a less insufferable event sans the Somanis but obviously they were far from budging anywhere given this hasty marriage. I had seen the suspicious looks that the snake and her vipers would give me every now and then, snooping around for that non existent contract. So that is the plan and here we are and after this we are all to bid adieu and go to our respective homes. I was excited at the prospect since it is to be her official grihapravesh. But before that the snake was all ready with her fangs and here she comes.

Sunaina: so Sameer, how was your first night? I mean, sorry not yours but Naina's?

I could see my bride go still at her question and the grip on the spoon that she held to stir the halwa on the gas tightened

Sameer: none of your business

This time I knew I had to take charge and cut her off or else she would continue with her snide to and fro. My glare was enough to shut her off! And also I saw the husband on the other side was not too pleased at the query and so was Mr Somani.

After the snub, they siddled away and kept quite for the rest of the evening. My demure bride on the other hand, continued serving us all around the table with the halwa that she had prepared. While naanaji couldn't stop gushing about the perfection and kept on blessing her and my mother smiled in encouragement, the snake and her vipers diligently went on a castigation spree, some calling it extra sweet while others about the lack of dry fruits or too little in it. Maamaji went an extra mile taking a dig at Naina's middle class roots and how it is often considered a luxury at a house like theirs. I could see Naina flinch at her words while maamiji and sunaina gleefully giggled away. I saw my mother beckoning me with those big eyes not to make any scene since my thunderous expression left a little for imagination. I obliged because it is a big day for my bride and I didn't want to spoil it and that is just what Sunaina had been wanting since morning and hence the pokes.

It was time for gifts, rather one gift mine, I had planned to give her one for our wedding night too but then that turned to be different story thanks to the snake and her vipers. But this was one moment I couldn't let slip through my fingers. She was made to sit in the hall with the dupatta on her head. I could see her nervous fidgeting with her dupatta and in the background the sniggers and the sneers continued. But in all of this I could see only her. Her head bowed, her simplicity reflecting in that salwar kameez, and just the right amount of jewellery or the lack of it. She chose to flaunt her mangalsutra on her neck while her ears glittered with the diamond danglers that naanaji had fondly gifted her. She looked ethereal perfect. And my heart and mind thrummed only of one word, that is mine forever.