Forever Yours (Stay With Me Sequel)

Chapter 43

Diwali – one of the most glorious and famous festivals of India, happened in November. Termed as the "festival of lights", it marked the triumph of good over evil.

Although I'm a Christian and Diwali is a Hindu festival I embraced all the Hindu festivals like my own. And Diwali was definitely one of my favorites.

Burning crackers is a major aspect of Diwali. Jenny and I used to burn crackers like we mastered on them. Nothing could stop us, no cracker could scare us no matter how dangerous it was, and we waited for that day throughout the year, spending as many crackers as we could burn. My mom would scream at my dad, saying, "I don't understand this. Why would you spend thousands of money on crackers? And why in the earth's name would you do whatever the girls say?" I loved Diwali. It brought our family together.

It was the third year I was spending Diwali without my family, and the first year with Niall. Aryan invited us at his house for dinner, and said that he had something very "exciting" to inform. I thought it would be about work, maybe a new project we were assigned to or promotion (to notch it up a little more.)

My fiancé – the blue eyed, pale blonde boy, was quite inquisitive about celebrating Diwali with me. Impressively, he had a lot of information about the festival, claiming that it is very famous in the West. Honestly, I had no idea, but happiness swirled in me, learning that he knew so much about a festival of my country.

Both Naina and Rita made me swear that I would wear sari. My mother hardly wore saris, but whatever few numbers she possessed were good hence, I grabbed a royal blue one that I knew would match with my complexion. Niall wanted to wear a Sherwani for which he even asked Aryan, but thankfully my friend discarded that possibility terming the get together to be an informal one.

So, finally at 6.45 Pm, I found myself behind closed door in the bedroom, draping the sari around my body. I've never been a fan of too much make up hence; I simply wore my brunette hair in its natural waves down my shoulders, applied a little eye liner and mascara on my eyes, and dabbed some nude lip gloss before spraying my favorite rose scented perfume on my body. A pair of silver earrings shined on my ear lobes, and I felt pretty. I smiled at myself on the mirror before turning around to open the door of the room.

Niall was already ready before I walked inside to wear the sari. He like always let me have the whole room to take my time.

When I walked towards the sitting area, I caught my fiancé smiling like a child, hands clapping in sync while watching Americas Funniest Home Videos. He sniffed occasionally, and ran a hand through his perfectly set hair that he wore in a new way – side brushed with the tips of the accumulated hair falling over his forehead. He looked like a bad boy you can't resist much like the heroes of Mills & Boons stories.

I massaged briefly on his head, grabbing his attention as he smiled. "WOW," he stood up, and turned around, hands on his hips.

"What?" my cheeks flushed pink as I bit my lower lip.

"You," he scanned me from top to bottom. "Look gorgeous."

"Thank you," I smiled, looking him in the eye.

He wasn't looking any less handsome himself, wearing a pair of dark black skinny jeans, white buttoned up shirt and a black coat over it.

He rounded the couch, and walked over to me. He placed his hands on the sides of my waist, his rough palms against my soft skin produced electricity through my body. He pulled me towards him with a subtle force as I rested my palms on his chest, grabbing the hemline of his coat.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice just above whisper. Niall scampered his left hand inside the front draped part of my sari to place it on my belly.