Closure

27. Engaged

It was the day of the engagement, and the grand celebration was set to unfold at The Leela Palace in Udaipur. As the sun cast its golden hues over the city, Abhi and Akshu prepared for the momentous occasion in their separate suites at the opulent hotel. Once Abhi was dressed in his suave maroon suit with a black open-buttoned shirt, he picked up his phone and called Akshu.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice laced with anticipation.

"Almost. You?" she replied, a hint of excitement in her tone.

"I'm ready. Who else is there with you?"

"Only the stylist, but she forgot something and has gone to grab it."

"Nice."

"What?"

"Nothing. I'll have to put you on hold. Give me two minutes."

Abhi knew Akshu's room number. His heart raced as he took the elevator up and rang her doorbell.

"Who's it?" Akshu called out.

Abhi went off hold and said, "It's your husband-to-be."

Akshu opened the door, a mix of surprise and delight on her face, and quickly pulled him inside, closing the door behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"I was ready, and you said your stylist was gone, so I thought I'd help you get ready. What should I do?" he asked mischievously, his eyes twinkling. Then he noticed Akshu, looking breathtaking in a maroon sleeveless gown. He placed a hand over his heart, sighing deeply. "Wow!"

Akshu, blushing at his admiration, took in his appearance. "You too," she replied shyly.

He moved closer to her, his presence intoxicating. "I can help. Really."

"Okay," Akshu said playfully, "Help me decide which set to wear—this silver one or this platinum one?"

Abhi smiled, his eyes never leaving hers. "You'll look good in anything."

"Wrong answer," she teased.

Abhi picked up one necklace. "Let's try it on and see."

He gently placed the necklace around her neck, his fingers brushing against her bare, soft skin as he traced the curve of her collarbone. His touch was slow and deliberate, each movement sending a shiver through Akshu's body. Her mind whirled, caught in the whirlwind of his tantalizing caress.

"Nice, isn't it?" Abhi asked, his voice low and intimate.

"Huh?" Akshu responded, trying to collect her thoughts.

"The necklace," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

"Yeah," she managed to say, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotion.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and Mimi spoke, "Akshu, are you ready? Can I come in?"

In a moment of panic, Akshu seized Abhi's hand and yanked him into the closet, shutting the door behind them.

Mimi, holding the room keycard, entered without getting a response. 

"I'm such an idiot. This is my room. Why am I hiding?" Akshu mouthed quietly.

Abhi stifled a giggle.

"Shh..."

In the confined space of the closet, the closeness between them sent electric currents through their bodies, making it hard to think clearly. Abhi's breath was warm and uneven against Akshu's neck as he murmured, "Stay very still." He nuzzled her neck, leaving a trail of soft, lingering kisses from her shoulder to her jaw. Akshu's breath hitched, and she clutched his arms for support. Abhi then wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, steadying her with a firm yet gentle embrace.

Outside, Mimi's phone rang with a call from Manish. "I came to Akshu's room, but she's—" She stopped mid-sentence, noticing the washroom door was closed and the light was on. Realizing Akshu might be inside, she quickly added, "...probably in the washroom. Okay, I'm coming down."

As Akshu emerged from the closet, her face still flushed from their intimate moment, Abhi received a call from Neil. He leaned in to place a tender kiss on her cheek and whispered, "See you soon," before slipping out of the room.

Hours later, the engagement ceremony began with all its grandeur. Abhi and Akshu exchanged the rings they had chosen for each other, each one a symbol of their deep connection. When they took to the dance floor, they moved as if in a world of their own, lost in each other's gaze. The evening culminated in a lively feast filled with joy and laughter.

After the celebration, Abhi took Akshu on his bike to the temple where she had confessed her love to him. They prayed to Shiva, thanking Him for guiding them and helping their relationship reach this milestone, and asked for His continued blessings.

Sitting together on the temple steps, Akshu rested her head on Abhi's shoulder, their hands intertwined and their engagement rings sparkling in the moonlight. They sat in comfortable silence, letting the profound sense of having taken their first step towards a shared future fully settle in.