Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters

by Shilpa Suraj

  His hand shot out and grabbed the hand she was just withdrawing. Bending his head, he planted a soft kiss on her wrist. Sensation shot through her and made her ache to lean into him.

  Stiffening her spine, she tried to pull her hand back but his grip only tightened. His lips feathered gently over her thrumming pulse in a caress that had every nerve ending tightening. A soft moan escaped her as she lost the battle with her mind and reached over to sink her hand into the thick silk of his hair.

  Lifting his head, he hauled her up against him and whispered against her lips. “Me.”

  His mouth came down on hers in a kiss that singed her soul. For the first time in her life, Alisha understood why people obsessed over kisses.

  Helpless in the grip of desire she’d never experienced before, Alisha threw caution to the winds and wrapped her arms around him. A hard shudder racked his body as her trembling fingers slipped under his t-shirt and stroked the taut skin at the small of his back. Tightening a fist in her long, thick hair, he tugged her head back and deepened the kiss.

  For a moment out of time, Alisha let herself feel. Every stroke, every caress, every touch brought to life a part of her she’d thought hadn’t existed. Like a starving woman at a banquet, she let herself feast and be feasted upon. Pushing her gently on to her back, Vivaan lowered himself to lean over her. Tugging at the hem of her t-shirt, he let his fingers trail over the satiny skin it revealed. His lips followed their own path along the curve of her cheek and to the delicate skin of her earlobe.

  “Alisha.” Her mother’s soft call cut through the sensual haze enveloping her like a knife through butter. Shooting up into a sitting position, her head collided with Vivaan’s with a violent whack.

  On a groan that was all pain and no desire, he toppled over on to his side. Scrambling to her feet, Alisha frantically righted her clothes and stumbled to the door. Her hand was inches away from it when her mother pulled it open from the other side.

  “What are you doing still awake?”

  Though her mother whispered the question, Alisha flinched like it had been yelled.

  “I couldn’t sleep so was sitting outside for some fresh air,” she mumbled. A quick sideways glance reassured her that Vivaan had vanished around the corner and was now out of sight.

  “Come inside soon or the mosquitoes are going to chew you up.” Shutting the door behind her on the soft command, her mother disappeared back into the house.

  Alisha turned slowly to find Vivaan lounging against the corner of the wall. His hair stood up at various angles making her fingers itch to settle it again. Remembering what that had led to the first time, she wisely kept her hands to herself.

  She rested one hand on the doorknob and said, “I’m going in now.”

  “Coward.” The taunt had her hand tightening on the doorknob before releasing it to face him.

  “Yes,” she admitted freely. “Yes, I am.”

  “What are you scared of Alisha?”

  “This.” With one hand she gestured between the two of them. “I don’t want this.”

  “Liar. If that was you not wanting something, I wonder what you’d be like when you do.”

  “Alright. Maybe I should be clearer.” Taking a step forward, Alisha faced him. “I don’t want to want this. I don’t want to want you.”

  Hurt darkened his eyes for a brief moment before he wiped his face clear of all expression.

  “Fair enough.” He turned away from her and towards the railing. Leaning his forearms against the metal frame, he stared out into the night waiting for the surprisingly vicious pain ravaging him to subside.

  Feeling like the biggest bitch in the world, Alisha tried to explain herself better. “Vivaan-“

  “I don’t think there is anything left to say.” Keeping his back to her, he added, “Goodnight Alisha.”

  Knowing nothing she said would make things better and not sure she wanted to make things better, Alisha stayed silent. It would be easier to walk away from Vivaan and all the things he made her feel if he disliked her. She opened the door and let herself in to the house without looking back.

  ---***---

  I don’t want to want you.

  The words played in a continuous loop in his head the next day as the family packed up in preparation to heading back into town. In the middle of lugging an exceptionally heavy suitcase to the car (what was in it? Rocks?), it took him a couple of seconds to realise Arav was talking to him.

  “What?”

  “I asked you what you thought of her,” Arav repeated patiently.

  There was only one her in his Alisha-obsessed mind, so he asked cautiously, “Of whom?”

  “Pooja, of course. Who else?” Frowning at him, Arav asked, “What’s going on with you? You’ve not been yourself the last couple of days.”

  Shrugging the question aside, Vivaan mumbled, “It doesn’t matter what I think of her. Your opinion is the one that matters.”

  “Don’t be an idiot.” Frowning now, Arav dumped the box he was carrying in the open trunk of the car beside him and turned to face Vivaan. “You’re my brother. Whether or not you like your future sister-in-law matters.”

  Tossing the suitcase he carried in to the trunk as well, Vivaan said, “Not really.”

  “It matters to me.” The firm words had Vivaan flinching. He was behaving like an ass. Just because he’d been rejected by a woman he desperately wanted to be a part of his life didn’t mean he had to be a jerk to his family.

  “She seems nice.” Slipping a packet of cigarettes out of his jeans pocket, he offered his brother one.

  His peace offering was met with a frown. “You’re a doctor. How the hell can you smoke when you know what it does to your body?”

  “I’m trying to quit and anyway, it helps with the night shifts.” Shrugging that aside, he asked, “What do you think of her?”

  Answering his question with a question, Arav asked, “You don’t think she’s too young for me?”

  The question scraped across Vivaan’s already raw emotions. “For God’s sake, what is wrong with you people? Just because someone is younger than you doesn’t mean they aren’t worth being in a relationship with. Age really isn’t that big of a deal.”

  “We people?” Arav’s startled question stopped him mid-tirade. “What the heck are you talking about?”

  Feeling foolish, Vivaan crossed his arms and stared down at his feet. Stared anywhere rather than at his brother. His extremely perceptive brother.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  The unexpectedly gentle question had him shaking his head violently. “No. No, I don’t.”

  Wanting to change the topic, he asked desperately, “What was it you were saying about her being young?”

  “I just meant that sometimes I find her a little too immature and before you bite my head off again, young or younger doesn’t always mean immature.”

  Vivaan wished everyone felt the way his brother did. A sudden burst of chatter had them both turning towards the stairs leading down to where they stood. Pooja and Alisha dragged suitcases behind them as they made their way down.

  “That bad, huh?” His brother’s quiet murmur had his head snapping away from staring at the women.

  The dawning knowledge in Arav’s eyes only made him feel worse. Great, now his humiliation wasn’t even private anymore.

  “I’m assuming from your recent rant that the problem is that you’re younger than her?”

  Arav’s question had him shoving his sunglasses on so he didn’t have to meet his brother’s eyes.

  “If you really want her-“

  “The problem is she has to want me back.”

  There wasn’t much Arav could think of to say to that. Squeezing Vivaan’s shoulder sympathetically, he moved past him and walked over to take Pooja’s suitcase from her.

  Vivaan stayed where he was as Alisha continued to drag her suitcase across the uneven ground. When the wheel got stuck in a hole and she stumbled, he swore un
der his breath. Walking over, he shouldered her to one side and lifted the suitcase.

  “It’s very heavy,” she said, her polite, distant tone setting his teeth on edge. “It would be easier if you dragged it.”

  Not bothering to respond, he strode away from her towards the cars waiting to be loaded. How much could people pack for a goddamn overnight stay? All you really needed was a toothbrush.

  Slamming the trunk of the car shut, he walked away to light the cigarette he still held in his hand. It couldn’t be more dangerous to his health than this ridiculously strong attraction to a woman who didn’t feel the same way.

  ---***---

  Chapter 14

  Alisha had almost made her escape from the madness that enveloped her house nowadays when her mother’s voice hailed her. Groaning, she turned and waited for her mother to catch up with her. She couldn’t in good conscience have ignored her call and kept walking to the car. Could she?

  She was still mulling the good behavior versus mental sanity dilemma when her mother finally caught up with her, huffing and puffing.

  “When do you get back from work?” she huffed rather impressively.

  “I have a 9:00 PM video conference, so I’ll be late.” Waiting for her mom to catch her breath, she asked, “Why?”

  When her mother only continued to wave one hand in front of her face in a vain attempt to get some air in the dry heat of what was turning out to be an exceptionally hot and still day, Alisha repeated impatiently, “Why, Ma? What now?”

  “Come directly to Kapoor uncle’s house,” her mother finally said.

  “Why?” Alisha asked again, this time warily.

  “Arrey…The families are getting together for dinner and you have to be there.”

  “Pooja has to be there.” Alisha glared. “Why do I have to?”

  “Arjun will also be there and it is a good chance for both of you to spend some time together.”

  So would Vivaan, Alisha thought grimly. Pushing her sunglasses up with one finger, she turned away from her mother before lying. “I’ll do my best.”

  “No, Alisha.” The firm tone stopped her in her tracks. “You’ll be there. If you’re a little late, it’s okay but you have to come.”

  Starting to feel like there was only one word in her vocabulary, Alisha asked again, “Why?”

  “Because I said so.”

  Ahh the old parental fallback. At thirty three, Alisha really thought she’d gone beyond that. She wondered if her mother would send her to her room next.

  “And if I don’t?” she asked, tongue-in-cheek. She really had to know. Truly. Maybe her mom would ground her or take away her T.V privileges.

  Narrowing her eyes, her mother leaned closer. “Don’t take that tone with me, young lady. You’re never too old for me to swat your bottom.”

  Laughing, Alisha raised her hands in mock fear. “I’ll come. I’ll come.” Walking over to her car, she unlocked it. “But only because you called me young lady.”

  ---***---

  Alisha was halfway through drafting a press release announcing the appointment of the new CEO of the company when her phone shrilled. She silenced the ringer without looking at the screen only to have it start up again. Alarm flashed through her as she saw her mother’s name blinking. Her parents never called her at work unless it was an emergency.

  “What happened?” she asked without bothering with niceties.

  “Alisha.” Her mother’s strained voice had her sitting up straighter. “Come to City Hospital. The one in Begumpet. Your uncle has had a heart attack.”

  Alisha didn’t wait for her mother to finish before she started typing out an email to her boss. It didn’t take long for her manager to acknowledge and approve her request for a half day off. Grabbing her laptop bag, she ran for the bank of elevators.

  She made it to the hospital in record time. Double parking and tossing her keys to the valet hovering nearby she ran through the crowded reception lobby towards Emergency. Spotting her mother sitting outside the door with her arms around her aunt, she rushed over to them.

  “What happened?”

  “He just slumped at the dining table.” Her aunt looked like she was in shock. She reached over to grasp Alisha’s hand with trembling fingers. Squeezing her hand in reassurance, Alisha addressed her mother, “What did the doctor say?”

  “They won’t tell us much. They just keep telling us to wait outside.” Worry darkened her eyes as she looked over at Alisha. “Your father is stuck in traffic and won’t be here for another hour at least.”

  “Where’s Pooja?”

  The question had anger flaring in her aunt’s eyes. “She left to go shopping this morning and when we tried her number, she isn’t picking up.”

  Shaking her head, Alisha stood. “Let me see what information I can get.”

  It took three tries and a firmly raised voice before the nurse at the counter deigned to look at her.

  Mouth compressed into a tight line, the unhappy looking woman glared at her. “For the last time, when we have news, we’ll inform the family.”

  “I am the family and I want to know how he is now,” Alisha shot back. “If you don’t have any information, point me to the doctor or nurse who does.”

  “Madam-“

  “No.” More than ready to go toe to toe with the dragon lady, Alisha slammed her hands down on the nursing table and leaned forward. “Don’t even think about asking me to wait. I want to know NOW.”

  Not intimidated in the slightest, Nurse Dragon leaned forward too. “If you don’t leave, I will call security and have you removed from the premises,” she hissed.

  “That won’t be necessary.” A calm voice interjected even as firm fingers grasped Alisha’s arm and pulled her back.

  Swinging around, Alisha collided with Vivaan. In his white coat with a stethoscope slung around his neck, he looked nothing like the man who’d kissed her senseless just a couple of nights ago.

  “Doctor, this lady is being rude and-“

  “I know,” he soothed. “It’s a chronic problem with her. I’ll handle this, Sister. Thank you.”

  The firm dismissal had Nurse Dragon blinking. Hesitating, she asked, “Are you sure, Sir? I can send for security-“

  “That won’t be necessary,” Vivaan interjected. “She looks dangerous, but I promise you she isn’t.”

  Alisha’s muscles tensed under his fingers causing him to tighten his grip in warning. With a last charming smile, he led her away from the nursing station before the now blushing nurse could protest any further.

  Flirting to get his way, Alisha fumed. Temper, fear and worry swirled in a nasty mess inside of her.

  “Let go of me.” Wrenching her hand away from him, Alisha spun to face him. “Who the hell do you think you are, you juvenile jackass?”

  Her words stung like a swarm of bees. Hurt snaked through him changing to anger in a heartbeat.

  “Don’t.” The single word had enough steel infused in it to halt the rest of Alisha’s tirade. “You think I’m beneath you. I get that. But this is my place of work and you have no bloody right to talk to me like that. Especially not in front of people I work with every day. You don’t have to respect me, but you will respect my place of work.”

  Suddenly tired beyond belief, he scrubbed his hands over his face and turned away from her without another word. He made his way over to Alisha’s family leaving her to trail behind him quietly.

  “Aunty.” Kneeling in front of Alisha’s aunt, he took her cold hands between his. Gently rubbing them, he said, “I’ve spoken with the doctor on Uncle’s case. The good news is he’s stable for the moment. He’s had a heart attack and what they’re doing right now is assessing how much damage it’s done to his heart. Once they’ve run their tests and have more information on their course of action, they’ll come out to update you all.”

  “Can you attend to him?” Her aunt gripped his hand with a desperation born of fear.

  “I’m not a cardiolog
ist and more importantly, Dr. Sinha is an excellent doctor. You can trust his judgement. I do.”

  “But-“

  “But,” he interrupted her agonized whisper. “I won’t be there as Uncle Kamal’s doctor, but I promise to be there as his family member.”

  Grateful tears filled her eyes as she looked into his calm ones. “Thank you, beta. Bless you.”

  His phone buzzed. Checking it, he noted the message before slipping it back into his pocket.

  “I have to get back to work now.” Giving her hands one last reassuring squeeze, he stood. “I’ll have the nurse’s station notify me when the doctor is going to speak to you and come down at that time. Have you all eaten?”

  Both ladies shook their heads at the question. “Why don’t you come to my cabin? I’ll have some food organized for you there.”

  “No. I don’t think I can eat until I know he is going to be okay.” Giving him a watery smile, Pooja’s mother said, “Don’t worry. You have done more than enough for us already.”

  Understanding that fear and concern outweighed bodily needs for the moment, Vivaan nodded. “Do you have my number?”

  When her aunt shook her head, he reached over and took her phone from her unresisting fingers. Feeding his number in, he saved and set it to speed dial on the number 1.

  “Press 1 for your personal genie to appear.” With a cheeky smile, he bent down and kissed her cheek before stepping back. “I’ll be back as soon as I’m done with my next case.”

  He turned without thinking and collided with Alisha who it appeared was standing right behind him. Silently for once. This was the longest he’d known her to stay quiet.

  “Thank you.”

  Acknowledging the soft words with a brusque nod, he stepped around her and walked away without looking back.

  ---***---

  Be careful what you wish for…..

  Alisha’s mother had uttered that warning for years, but she was just starting to understand how true it was as she watched Vivaan ignore her. She’d spent days wishing he wouldn’t pursue her and now that he wasn’t even acknowledging her existence she felt like crap.