chapter 5

Chapter 5Meeting grandmaHe walked out to another room adjoining hers and opened it to show off a huge circular bed. She followed, demanding, “And what if I had not agreed to your proposal?” He guided her forward, and though she took in the elegance of the massive room, her mind was on the answer he would give. When he didn’t reply, she turned menacingly, with her hands planted on her hips. He took a step forward, “The point is that you have agreed so congratulations, my gorgeous love.” Her heart beat wildly as she took a quick step backwards. Feeling herself fall she caught his shirt and brought both of them heavily down on the bed. He looked into her eyes, desire swimming in his own, and kissed her lightly on her parted lips. She struggled and pushed at his chest furiously to get up. “How dare you touch me? Keep your hands to yourself!” and she walked out of the room. Ved raked his hand through his hair yet again and wondered, ‘What is wrong with me! I just have to see her and my libido runs haywire!’He straightened his clothes and left the room closing the door behind him. “Where do you think you are going, Miss Ishiqa?” She whirled around furiously and, pouring venom into every word, said, “I have an acting class to attend, if you have forgotten, sir.” “Ved Kashyap’s to-be-bride does not need to go to an acting school. Please come, I will introduce you officially to my granny.” he said. He offered her his arm so that she could loop her hand through his elbow. Seeing her about to protest, he said, “Before you say anything again, that matter is closed for discussion. Now, please flash that sweet smile of yours and show me what your acting school has taught you.” Ishiqa thought of her dear friend Smriti- how was she going to spend any time with her henceforth? She sighed. Her life was turning upside down.Grudgingly, she put her hand in the crook of his arm and plastered a nervous smile on her face.He led her to a well-ventilated room at the bottom of the winding staircase to the right, where she saw a small lady sitting on a heavily carved wooden rocking chair, loudly chanting, beads held in her frail fingers. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be in deep meditation. Ved kneeled at his grandmother’s side and rested his head on her lap. Automatically a warm hand came over his head, making Ishiqa feel a sudden pang of loss as she remembered her mother. She turned around to wipe away a tear from her cheek and then tried to pull herself together. His grandmother opened her eyes. “Good morning, Ved.” She turned to see the newcomer. She hit him playfully on his arm, “So you have finally brought me a present! My grand daughter-in-law!” Granny beckoned to Ishiqa smiling. “Come, darling, let me have a closer look at you! Let me see if you are as beautiful as your photo.” As Ishiqa walked with heavy legs towards the old lady, granny adjusted her moon rimmed spectacles and looked piercingly at her. “Ved, she is gorgeous! Nice pink cheeks and big beautiful eyes.” Ishiqa was horribly conscious of herself as she felt two pairs of eyes looking her over from head to toe, one pair looking at her with motherly love and the other pair, God help her! She dared not succumb to those feelings that his gaze brought on, although she felt a shiver of excitement run through her spine. His gorgeous eyes moved over her, slowly and sensuously, starting from her eyes and caressingly went down, stopped at her quivering lips and then wavered again, at the rapid rise and fall of her breasts and then down, sending butterflies racing into her stomach as she felt herself go hot all over. She caught the back of the chair, feeling faint, when the spell was suddenly broken. The old lady said, “Come, dear, what’s your name?”  She opened her arms to hug Ishiqa.Ishiqa hugged granny back and smiled, “Ishiqa.” “Welcome home. I am so glad Ved found you and that you two are patching things up! I am sure you will be happy with him. He is very childish at heart but is a lovable person. I am sure he will love you a lot.” She had been trying so hard to keep her smile pasted to her lips, but now the grandmother’s loving tenderness had her in tears. She hugged the old lady reassuringly and stood up as she felt a hand on her elbow. “Granny, you rest now, we will come in again later,” Ved said gently. He bent and pecked the old lady’s cheek. “I love you granny.” He pressed a hand to the small of Ishiqa’s back and almost pushed her out of the room and up the winding staircase, into her room. She shoved him away and turned on him furiously, “Damn it, don’t touch me! And who do you think you are, pushing me around like that?” He gave her an endearing smile, which immediately made her want to kiss the corners of his mouth. “Your boss, sweetheart.” She took a step back, “Keep all your endearments for your future wife. Do not use them if you don’t mean them, they sound like insults,” she said, her eyes spitting fire. “Oh really? So you feel insulted… hmm?” With that he caught her upper arms, pinned her against the wall and looked straight into her eyes. “And what, may I ask, do you want me to make you feel? Passionate, sensuous?” She felt a liquid fire engulf her and she closed her eyes when Ved brought his head down slowly!  Softly, he whispered in her ears, “I love that beautiful look on your face, when you go hot all over.” She stirred, moving closer and her eyes flew open when he whispered again, “I know what you want, sweetheart, but I really am a busy man and I have other important things to attend to.” She punched his chest with tight fists as he laughed and gave a peck on her nose and turned, still laughing. “I think I am going to have a blast with you as my fiancé.” He ducked a pillow, which she threw at his head. “Better luck next time.” Still laughing, he walked out of the door, closing it behind him.Â