Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters from India Box Set (The Malhotra Bride; Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom)

by Sundari Venkatraman

  Flaming Sun Collection 1

  Happily Ever Afters from India

  (Box Set)

  Romance Novel Collection by

  Sundari Venkatraman

  Copyright © Sundari Venkatraman 2014

  Self-published in 2014 under the banner Flaming Sun

  All rights reserved.

  All the three eBooks in this box set are licensed for your personal enjoyment only. These eBooks may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this box set with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading these books and did not purchase them, or they were not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author-publisher.

  Sundari Venkatraman asserts the moral right to be identified as the author & publisher of all three books in this box set.

  These are works of fiction and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Edited by: The Book Club Editorial Panel

  Cover Illustration for Box Set: Vigneshkumar Venkatraman & Vinitha Venkatraman

  Cover Illustration for The Malhotra Bride: Prashant Kamble

  Cover Illustration for Meghna: Unaiza Merchant

  Cover Illustration for The Runaway Bridegroom: Unaiza Merchant

  One

  “No!” whispered Sunita in horror. Her beautiful grey green eyes were rounded in shock. Her hand rose to her luscious, rosy red lips as she insisted in a louder voice, “No!”

  Leela lifted her eyes from the peas she was shelling in the kitchen for dinner. She felt quite impatient with her daughter. She knew Sunita of old. She could twist her mother around her little finger.

  “Sunita, don’t make a fuss. You know that this is normal in prominent families such as ours—”

  “Stop it,” burst out Sunita. “I’m quite fed up of hearing how important our family is. In fact, it’s been shoved down my throat a million times as long as I can remember. Tell me something new, Mamma.”

  Leela looked at her daughter’s shimmering eyes. She smiled sadly. “My dear Sunita, some traditions have been followed by us for generations and we can’t go against them even if we don’t like them.”

  “I can and I will, Mamma,” said Sunita belligerently. “We ape so many western customs - their style of clothing, education and more. Times have changed, Mamma. It’s high time these traditions were left behind.”

  “My dear, all that’s fine till the time you get married into another family. There will be your duties as their bahu and you cannot do whatever you please.”

  “Mamma, please, I’m barely 20 and you’re all set to send me off to another home. Don’t you love me at all?” Sunita ran her fingers through the shelled peas, looking at her mother from the corner of her eyes, hoping to sway her with some emotional blackmail.

  “Pagli! Your father will have our hides if I suggest that you remain unmarried for even a few more months. As it is, the gossip mills have begun to wonder why there has been no engagement announced. The Malhotras are crorepatis running an excellent garment business. Akshay is their only heir. He’s well-educated, good-looking—”

  “Mamma,” Sunita was desperate, “Look at it from my point of view. I just hate this 19th century culture. Are you guys even aware it’s the 21st century? This is my whole future you’re talking about.”

  “Exactly my child! That’s the reason your Pappa made sure that the boy is from a good family. Your horoscope matches so perfectly with Akshay’s.”

  “What?” spluttered Sunita. Words failed her as she felt claustrophobic. Things had been building towards the most important event in her life and she had no inkling.

  The younger daughter of Gokul and Leela Rishi was extremely beautiful with luxuriant dark brown hair framing her perfect oval face. Sunita’s eyes were grey-green pools framed by long lashes that mirrored her every thought. Her nose was slim and sharp while her lips were wide and sensual.

  Their elder daughter Sandhya was happily married to Raghu, the eldest son of the Lalwani family. She was quite contented and proud as a housewife and mother of Shyam and Shubha aged nine and two. She had been more than ready at the age of eighteen to marry Raghu Lalwani. She had never thought of questioning tradition. She had never felt the need to rebel against whatever her parents decided for her. In fact, she had never even met Raghu in private before their wedding.

  There was an age gap of eight years between Sandhya and Sunita. Although the sisters were friendly with each other, you could not call them close.

  Leela continued, “Yes, my dear. Akshay Malhotra’s horoscope matches yours on ten points, which is rare. He is also handsome, educated in America—”

  “Mamma, do you really think I give a damn because he’s educated in the US? I don’t know the guy from Adam. How do you expect me to live the rest of my life with him?”

  “But Sunita,” Leela had lost her patience by now, “that’s exactly what I’m telling you. The Malhotras are coming home tomorrow. You can meet Akshay and find out for yourself how suitable he is.”

  Sunita’s jaw dropped. She felt steamrollered. What the hell was going on? “Do you think I have a fifty-fifty chance of saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’?” she asked aggressively.

  “How can you be so negative Sunita? Your father and I have taken care of you over all these years. Won’t we choose the best man for you? Can’t you respect our decision?”

  “So, tomorrow I meet this guy and just nod my head before you lead me to the marriage hall like a lamb to the slaughter,” snarled Sunita, her face red with anger.

  “Hey Baghavan!” exploded Leela, “Sunita, how can you talk like this? Look at Sandhya…”

  “Mamma, I’m not Sandhya, okay? I accept that Sandhya is an ideal child who listens to everything you say. She got married to Raghu Jeeja and is quite fine being an ideal wife and daughter-in-law. But I can’t face such a life. You have to understand that, Mamma,” she insisted. Her slender body shook with disgust at the thought of marrying a stranger.

  “I think your father’s right when he accused me of spoiling you rotten. It’s high time you fall in with our plans and follow the life of a girl who belongs to a traditional family,” said Leela, exasperated with her younger child.

  “No!” Sunita was vehement.

  “Yes,” Leela was equally intense, “I know you’re a mature girl who’ll never shame her parents.” She left her daughter to brood angrily.

  Sunita worried her lower lip, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She was too proud to let them fall as she held her head high and sniffed. Her thoughts ran fast as she looked for a solution to the mess she was in.

  Her life had been one long struggle for freedom. Gokul Rishi was a very strict father and strongly believed that women should be occasionally seen and never heard. She had fought tooth and nail for small things like riding horses and wearing jeans. Only because she was a woman! But all that had only made her stronger.

  Sunita went to her Grandfather’s room. The 67-year-old giant with snow white hair adored his rebellious granddaughter. He had always encouraged her to find herself and never treated her differently
just because she was a female. The young woman so reminded him of his late wife Sharda. He was so proud of his Sunita.

  “Dadaji,” said Sunita as she hugged him tight. She felt so secure in his arms.

  “You’re upset my dear. What happened?” he asked lovingly, running his hand over her head.

  “The Malhotras are coming tomorrow to ask for my hand in marriage,” began Sunita before she was interrupted.

  “Yes, and—”

  “You too, Dadaji! Pappa and Mamma want me married off to a stranger. But Dadaji, how could you?” Sunita’s voice wobbled.

  “But, little one, I’m not getting younger. I would like to hold my great grandchildren before I die.”

  “You do play with Shubha and Shyam when they’re here and that’s quite often.”

  “You’re right. But you’re more precious to me than anyone else. Is it too much to ask to play with your kids? What have you got against marriage? Your Dadi and I had a wonderful life together.”

  “That’s precisely what I’m telling you, Dadaji. You loved each other from when you were sixteen and she was fourteen. Getting married must have been a joy.”

  “Tell me if you love someone. I’ll get you married to him.”

  “But, Dadaji, I’m not in love with anyone. I’ve been concentrating on my studies and have not had the time to fall in love,” protested Sunita.

  “You don’t need time to fall in love, my dear. Love just happens.”

  “Are you people going to allow ‘love to happen’ to me?” Sunita felt triumphant as she pushed Grandpa Ratan into a corner.

  “Little one, the last two years haven’t been easy keeping your father from getting you married before you completed your degree. That’s not possible anymore.” Grandpa Ratan was firm.

  Sunita put her head on his lap. “Dadaji, Mamma’s given me no choice. She says that the Malhotra boy’s been chosen for me with great care and I can’t refuse the alliance. What if I don’t like him?”

  Grandpa’s eyes twinkled. “It’s like this. You’re off the hook if the boy says ‘no’. But I can’t see him resisting you.” Dadaji grinned at her. “But seriously, my dear, if you take a dislike to him, anybody who forces your hand will have me to answer to,” he promised.

  Sunita gave him a relieved smile. “See you, Dadaji.” She ran away like a gazelle, so gracefully, bringing tears of joy to Grandpa Ratan’s eyes. He knew her docile acceptance to be false. But with the tolerance and wisdom of age, he accepted that ‘man proposes and God disposes’.

  Two

  Akshay parked his Red Audi on the portico and jumped out of the driver’s seat. Whistling cheerfully, he climbed the porch steps two at a time and entered the huge hall through the elaborately carved double doors. His mother Tanuja heard the car and came out of the kitchen.

  Akshay hugged her close before lifting her straight off the floor and swinging her in a circle.

  “Akshay! Put me down now,” ordered Tanuja, her voice shaking with mirth.

  Akshay laughed with her as he put her down. “Ask me how my day was,” he insisted.

  “It was obviously good,” declared Tanuja, sensing his exuberance.

  “Fantastic, mom,” hooted Akshay.

  “Tell me what the excitement’s about.”

  “Mom, I clinched a huge deal with the most reputed firm in Mumbai. It runs to fifty crores of rupees. Five other major companies were competing with us for the contract. And I got it.”

  “That’s amazing Akshay. I’m so proud of you. Does Dad know?”

  “You bet. I came directly home after the conference. He’s on his way from the office and should be here soon.”

  Akshay’s father, Raj Malhotra, walked in jubilantly and gave his son a bear hug. Both men were tall, over six feet with Tanuja being a Lilliput of an inch over five feet. She was tiny only in stature. She ran the house and her men folk on oiled wheels. She also had a golden heart.

  “You’ve really proved your prowess in the business Akshay. May God bless you with greater success! I’ve got some wonderful news too. Gokul Rishi has offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to you. They are a prestigious family. It would be an honour to find a match there.”

  “Really,” said Tanuja. “Have you checked the horoscopes; how does the girl look; what kind of people are they—?”

  “Wait a minute, are you guys talking about my wedding?” Akshay asked in a low voice. Tanuja caught on that he was disturbed by Raj’s news.

  “Yes, Akshay,” said Raj, rubbing his palms together in pleasure. He was blissfully unaware of the undercurrents. In fact, he was extremely satisfied with the way things were falling in place.

  “Why don’t you freshen up first? We can continue this discussion in the dining room. I have made your favourite pakoras, Akshay.” Tanuja hoped to avert the situation by distracting the men from the talk of marriage.

  “I’m not hungry,” bit out Akshay.

  “Now, Akshay, I don’t think losing your temper’s the answer. Why don’t you have a wash and come down? We can discuss this over snacks,” she suggested gently.

  “Right, Mom, be back in ten,” said Akshay as he walked to the staircase leading to the bedrooms on the first floor.

  The flight of steps ended in a small hall. His bedroom was on the right. It was the ultimate in luxury with an 8’x8’ bed in the centre. A full-length wardrobe took up the breadth of the room on the left. One of the doors set within the wardrobe opened into an attached bathroom. A full-length mirror was fitted right in the middle of the wardrobe.

  The room was decorated in shades of grey, navy blue and maroon. A floor to ceiling bookshelf was filled with Akshay’s favourite books collected since childhood. There was a collection of family photos, and a shelf dedicated to DVDs. An excellent music system had been set up with speakers placed on all four corners.

  There were French windows opposite the entrance to the room. These opened on to a balcony, which was about half the size of the bedroom. There was a box grill surrounding the three-foot high wall that was filled with potted plants on all three sides. The balcony looked out on to a rectangular swimming pool surrounded by lush green lawns.

  The fourth wall of the bedroom had floor-length windows facing the front of the bungalow. There was a recliner and a low table set beside the window at one corner. A study table with a PC and a revolving office chair created a cosy workspace on the other.

  Akshay stepped into the room pulling out the buttons on his shirt. The suit jacket was already on his arm. He was six feet, two inches tall in his socks, broad-shouldered, lean and muscular. He was twenty-eight years old and had a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Syracuse University.

  He was a handsome hunk, the ultimate among eligible bachelors. When he walked into a party, the hopeful mammas could be heard sighing and groaning in turn, literally pushing their daughters into his arms. He had a shock of thick, jet-black hair, cut close to his head and a clean-shaven face. His forehead was broad while his dark brown eyes framed by short thick eyelashes shone with intelligence. His nose was sharp and aquiline, giving him a haughty look. The smile on his finely chiselled lips never failed to leave a trail of broken hearts.

  Akshay helped his father run the family business empire, Malhotra Garments. They manufactured T-shirts and sold them under the brand name Maldi. They had thirty-two retail outlets in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram. The dividends had doubled, tripled and quadrupled since Akshay joined the firm. He worked and played hard.

  Akshay thoroughly enjoyed his bachelor state. Rich and handsome, he was never short of dates. He was out six nights out of seven gracing various bars and discotheques along with some society beauty or other. There was no model or actress who would not give her eyeteeth to spend an evening with him.

  Only he was careful not to date the same lady more than a few times. He was out to have a good time and preferred to love them and leave them. The society butterflies accepted the expensive gi
fts he showered on them as they grabbed whatever he was ready to give. He was yet to meet one woman who said ‘no’ to him.

  To Akshay, marriage was for keeps and he expected the event to take place sometime in the far future. His freedom was threatened by this talk of marriage, an arranged one at that.

  Akshay hurriedly pulled off his clothes and dropped them all over the floor, which just went to show the disturbed state of his mind. He was not one to be tardy. He had a quick shower. Towelling himself dry, he pulled on a pair of shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt. Slipping his feet into a pair of rubber slippers, he ran a comb through his hair in an absentminded fashion before taking off downstairs.

  In the dining room, Tanuja was studying her husband, trying to gauge his mood. Seeing he was his cheerful self, she asked, “Raj, are you aware of the shock that you gave Akshay?”

  Raj was busy removing the newspaper from his briefcase. Startled at his wife’s words, he looked up to ask, “Why, what happened?”

  Tanuja explained, “Raj, Akshay was shocked when you mentioned his wedding plans. Even I was rather surprised. He’s not a kid. I think we should consult him before making promises to people.” She was slowly working up a temper on her son’s behalf.

  Raj maybe a mite absentminded but he wasn’t insensitive. “I’ve only accepted Gokul Rishi’s invitation to their home. The wedding’s not fixed. Akshay and the girl have to first meet and then get to know each other before we talk about the actual marriage ceremony.”

  His parents stopped talking when Akshay walked into the room. “Ramu, coffee lekhe aao,” called out Tanuja to the manservant. Ramu had been with the family since he was eight years old. He was cook-cum-waiter-cum-butler-cum-general factotum. His loyalty to the family was absolute. Raj Malhotra had given Ramu basic education, got him married at the age of twenty-two and given him a small cottage to live on the grounds of Malhotra Park.

  Tanuja served the coffee along with hot pakoras, chutney and tomato sauce. Akshay ate his snack quietly and waited for one of them to say something.

  Tanuja said, “Akshay, the Rishis are a prestigious family. Their elder daughter’s married to Raghu of Lalwani Group. The grapevine says that she’s a respectable daughter-in-law and the Lalwanis are enamoured with her cheerful nature.”