How to Woo Your Bride

30| Blowing the Trumpet

Author's Note:

You'll be reading a lot about Riya and Madhan now that the whole Sheila drama is behind them! :) Hope you enjoy the chapter :) x

I can resist everything except temptation. 

Oscar Wilde 

Chapter 30: Blowing the Trumpet

   Madhan braced himself for an earful when he rang the doorbell. He adjusted his dress and waited for the door to open.

   A very sleepy looking Riya opened the door. Her eyes widened when she looked at the sight before her.

   Madhan was wearing a suit. And his hands were hidden at the back.

   She stood aside and waited for him to come inside, but he didn't move.

   "Hope I'm not too late," he said, cautiously.

   Riya crossed her arms. "Well well well, this isn't the first time. Last time you were three hours late. This time, just a bit later. FOUR HOURS," she scowled.

   Madhan removed one hand from behind and rubbed the back of his neck.

   "Are you going to come in, or not?" Riya asked, impatiently. Wasn't it enough that he had to wake her up? Unlike last time, she didn't eat. She wanted to eat with him.

   Madhan removed his right hand and held a bouquet to his chest.

   Riya gasped. She brought her hands to her mouth.

   "What, why? You didn't have to do this. This wasn't a part of the deal."

   "No, it wasn't," he agreed. "But this is the start of something new. Thought I would do things right this time."

   He handed her the flowers, which she took gratefully. Flowers were her weakness. No girl can say no to flowers! However, she was confused when he said it was the start of something new. Their deal? She decided to wait till she asked him why.

   Riya looked at the bouquet. "It's beautiful," she said. There were roses, in all colors. Red, white, yellow, and pink. There were also a few tulips.

   She inhaled the flowers and smiled. Riya kept the bouquet on the table stand next to the door, temporarily, to help Madhan remove his coat as he walked inside.

   "Raymond," she said, appreciatively. "I approve. Who's selection?"

   "Sheila's."

   "Okay never mind. I don't approve," she snapped. "Are the flowers her selection too?"

   "No, of course not."

   It slipped out so easily that Madhan thought it was true himself. No way was he admitting that the bouquet selection was hers as well. He had no idea if Riya would burn the suit.

   "Liar," she said, as she picked up the bouquet again. "I have no idea what these flowers are for, but if you wanna impress me, it better be your own selection. If Sheila were to give you ideas, I might as well marry her instead." She rolled her eyes at Madhan, who looked at her thinking about something.

   "You guys would make a great couple," he said, laughing.

   Riya shot him a dirty look as she searched for the perfect place to keep the flowers. She inhaled it once more and placed it beside the kitchen window.

   "Thank you, Madhan. May I ask what it is for?"

   Madhan was about to speak but was interrupted with a sneeze.

   "Aaaachoo." Riya covered her nose with her hands and rushed to the bathroom to blow her nose.

   When she came back, she saw Madhan had already placed the plates on the table. The dishes had to be warmed, however, thanks to Madhan's wonderful punctuality.

   She placed the dishes in the microwave and waited till the timer finished. Madhan took out two glasses and poured Tropicana Orange into it.

   Once everything was set, the two took their seats.

   "Mmmm, it smells delicious, Riya."

   "Thank you. I learned it in a cooking class. So continue," she said.

   "Yeah, so I went -"

   Riya closed her eyes as she felt the itch crawl up her nose. Madhan saw her about to sneeze expression and silenced himself.

   "Aaaachoo." Riya once again rushed to the nearest sink instead and blew her nose like a trumpet.

   Madhan looked at his food and didn't feel like eating. He hated and was absolutely disgusted by that noise. His sister used to do that all time, and there were times he had gone without eating when his sister would do it on purpose.

   Sadly, he couldn't tell Riya anything when she came back and sat down.

   "Let's just finish eating and talk, yeah?" Riya forked her lasagna and savored the taste.

   Madhan meekly nodded. Picking up a fork, he picked a piece and chewed.

   "Wow, Riya! The best Lasagna I've ever tasted." Madhan forked in a few more bites before Riya got up from the table to sneeze and blow her nose again.

   "Riya, do you mind," he called out. Being honest was always the best way to deal with a situation.

   "Mind what?"

   "Not blowing your nose? It's spoiling my appetite."

   Riya washed the rest of her face and nodded. "I'm so sorry, " she said as she wiped her hands on the towel. "My dad used to tell me not to do that in public. He used to get grossed out too. I didn't think," she trailed.

   "Nah it's okay."

   "It's okay if you don't want to finish it. I understand."

   "I love it. I'll finish it."

   Another sneeze attacked her, and Riya rushed to her bathroom, the farthest away from the dining table and blew her nose, again.

   Madhan was now concerned. It wasn't natural for someone to sneeze this much.

   He heard a couple more sneezes followed by trumpet sounds. He ate the last of his lasagna and rushed to where Riya was.

   "Are you okay? What's gotten into you?"

   Riya rested her palms on the sink as she panted.

   "I forgot that I'm allergic to pollen," she said as she began to fall.

   X-------------------------------X

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