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

by Sundari Venkatraman

  “Oh, anytime, Gokul. I’m sure the marriage will also happen without a hitch.”

  In the flurry of goodbyes, Leela noticed that Sunita had not stepped out. Her hand was still locked in Akshay’s.

  “Come Sunita, let’s go.”

  “You all go on, Aunty. I’ll drop Sunita home in a while,” Akshay answered for her.

  Her face turning red, Sunita waved to all of them with her left hand.

  “Mom, we’re both in my room if you need us,” Akshay called out to Tanuja as he pulled Sunita up the staircase.

  They entered his room. He switched on the light and shut the door.

  “At last.” He let go of Sunita’s hand to circle his arm around her waist.

  Sunita made a big show of flexing the fingers of her right hand. “Ooh, what a relief!” she sighed dramatically.

  “Oh, you didn’t want to hold my hand.” It was a statement.

  “Akshay, be reasonable. You’ve been holding my hand for the last two hours.”

  “So what? I’ll hold your hand the whole day if I please.”

  “I give up.”

  “Not so fast.” He put his other arm around her waist and pulled her fully into his arms. “Do you realise that it’s three days since you gave me a proper kiss?” he growled against her ear. “You wouldn’t even look at me today. Why?” Akshay sounded genuinely confused.

  Sunita looked up into Akshay’s eyes, surprised. She placed her arms on his shoulders and stood on tiptoe to kiss him on his lips. It was obvious that he was upset even she didn’t know why.

  Akshay’s hands roamed restlessly on the bare skin of her back as he traced his tongue over her lips, seeking entry. Silence reigned for a while before he came up for breath, burying his face in her neck.

  His lips traced the neckline of her blouse, leaving a hot trail as he reached her cleavage. Unable to take any more, Sunita tugged at his hair.

  He raised his head with great reluctance. “Please, Akshay,” she whispered, unable to deny him. He curbed his passion to pull her head against his shoulder.

  “Feeling better?” she asked.

  “Hmm.”

  “What were you upset about?” she asked him.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “Akshay?” She looked up at him imploringly, her hand caressing his cheek. She pressed her lips to his jaw.

  He shrugged. “Why did you ignore me?”

  “I did?” she didn’t understand.

  “You wouldn’t even look at me from the moment you arrived,” he accused.

  “But, Akshay,” Sunita raised a hand to wipe the frown off his forehead. “There were so many people watching us.”

  “You can’t punish me for that,” he was angry as he recalled the evening.

  Sunita looked at him in confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just didn’t have the guts to look at you with two hundred guests around us.” She was on the verge of tears when she thought that she’d probably spoilt the evening for him.

  She was so young. He kept forgetting that.

  “I’m so sorry,” Sunita touched his cheek.

  He shook his head, the smile back on his face. “Let’s forget it.”

  “Akshay,” she whispered, “you look amazing in these clothes and the tikka. And the earrings suit you so well.”

  She was going overboard with the compliments. Colour ran up his cheeks as he had a tough time keeping control over his libido.

  “And I had a difficult time keeping my hands off you through the evening,” he countered. “You look sexy in that outfit,” he murmured as he bent down to kiss her again.

  The next time they came up for air, Sunita asked, “Don’t you think the marriage date is set too early?”

  “No.”

  “So many arrangements to be made,” Sunita was worried.

  “Don’t worry your pretty head about it. Everything’s been taken care of. Now come along and have a look at our room.”

  Sunita liked it on sight. It reflected Akshay’s personality. “Feel free to make any changes, sweetheart. I’ve converted the room next door into a dressing room for you,” he took her in there.

  Comparatively small, floor-to-ceiling wardrobes were fitted on one wall of the room. She gasped as she noticed the opposite wall which was one large sheet of mirror. The third wall had French windows that opened into the balcony that extended from the bedroom.

  Akshay opened the wardrobes to show her the storage. One of the doors was fitted with wooden sticks that could be removed. “These are for your bangles,” said Akshay as he caressed the ones on her arm. So thoughtful! Sunita hugged him in delight.

  She was fascinated with the jungle of potted plants in the balcony. She had fallen in love with the suite.

  They sat on the garden chairs, talking away till Sunita said reluctantly, “Time to go home, Akshay.”

  He couldn’t wait for the day when she would take permanent residence here.

  They went down and Akshay removed the Audi from the garage. There wasn’t much traffic as it was very late.

  The car stopped at a signal. A wooden club came hurling at the driver’s window. One minute, there was absolute peace in Sunita’s world. The next, everything shattered, literally. There was glass, everywhere. Akshay tried to drive away from the scene when a bullet zipped past his nose and lodged itself in the car’s upholstery.

  Akshay acted quickly and pushed Sunita down as the next bullet caught him in his right arm, just below the shoulder. He pressed the brakes as he was losing control of the car. There was no more shooting.

  Akshay removed his left hand which had been pushing Sunita down - to touch the right arm that felt numb.

  Sunita raised her head to see Akshay’s hand come away with blood. She bit her lip hard to stop the scream that rose within her. “Akshay,” he turned around to give her a weak smile. He was losing blood, fast.

  Sunita jumped out of the car and ran to the driver’s side. She rummaged in Akshay’s pocket for his handkerchief and tied it tightly above his wound to arrest the blood flow or so she hoped. She looked around desperately for help. She thought she heard the sound of a motorbike. But there was not a single soul on the godforsaken road. She pushed Akshay across to the passenger side of the car. He was too feeble to protest.

  She got into the driver’s seat and started the ignition. “Dr. Ramprasad,” said Akshay, his voice low as Sunita strained to hear him. “He has a private nursing home nearby. Take a left at the next signal and then the first right—” Akshay passed out.

  Sunita bit her lips to control her tears and drove the car in the direction he had pointed her in unaware that she was chanting ‘Hare Krishna’. She reached the right turn and now what? She looked at Akshay. His eyes were closed, his face grey. There was blood everywhere. Sunita looked up and down the road. Thank God! There was the ‘red cross’ sign indicating the presence of medical care at the end of the lane. She drove towards it and saw the name ‘Dr. Ramprasad’ on the board containing half a dozen names of eminent doctors. She slammed on the brakes, opened the car door and ran inside the compound.

  She rushed to the reception, tears pouring down her cheeks, screaming for “Dr. Ramprasad.” A white-coated figure came out hearing the noise. Sunita recognised his face. He had attended the ceremony earlier in the evening. She caught hold of his arm and said, “Doctor, emergency - Akshay Malhotra - in the car. He’s been shot—” she fell to the floor in a dead faint.

  Thirteen

  Sunita woke up to find herself on a hospital bed. She jumped up when she remembered what happened. She ran out of the room, into the corridor. She looked around for a minute, confused about which direction to take. A sob escaped her as she ran towards her right, correctly guessing the direction in which the reception lay.

  She ran headlong into Raj Malhotra’s arms as he walked into the private nursing home with Tanuja behind him.

  “Uncle,” sobbed Sunita, a dam bursting forth as the events of the past hour c
ame tumbling out in a rush. She cried her heart out to them over the bullet wound Akshay had suffered. She turned around to ask the nurse in charge of the desk, “Where’s Akshay Malhotra?”

  “He’s undergoing an operation. Dr. Ramprasad won’t be long. Please be seated,” she replied politely.

  Tanuja was in a daze. She didn’t open her mouth. Raj led the two women over to the vinyl chairs and made them sit down before pacing the floor. Tanuja held Sunita around her shoulders. Despite her pain, she felt sorry for the younger woman. It must have been a shock.

  “Uncle, why would anyone want to harm Akshay? They didn’t try to rob us or anything. No one came near the car actually.” Sunita shuddered, her active imagination at play.

  “Calm down, Princess. Let’s leave the police to deal with it.” Sunita’s eyes widened in horror as she realised the magnitude of the situation!

  The doctor came out of the Operation Theatre. He took Raj’s hand in his. “Your son’s one lucky chap, Raj,” he smiled. “The bullet was lodged in his muscle and hadn’t even touched his bone. The main issue was loss of blood. I think it’s Sunita,” the doctor smiled at her, “who was smart enough to tie a handkerchief in the right place. I’ve removed the bullet and patched him up. He’s fast asleep and nothing to worry. He should be fine in a week or so. You may go in to see him one at a time.” The doctor cheerfully patted Raj on his shoulder.

  “May I see him?” piped up Sunita. Then she saw Tanuja and said, “Sorry, Aunty. Please go in.”

  “I won’t be long, darling,” Tanuja reassured her son’s fiancée, seeing the small face pinched with anxiety. Raj spoke to the doctor for a while before removing his cell phone to call Sunita’s residence. It was long past midnight.

  An extremely angry Gokul picked the phone at the other end and barked, “Is that you, Sunita? Don’t you have any sense at all, girl? Do you know what the time is? No decent girl would be out at this time of the night. What’s wrong—”

  “Gokulji,” Raj interrupted in a soft voice, “This is Raj Malhotra. There’s been an emergency—”

  Gokul was too upset to care. “What emergency? Whatever it may be, where’s the need for Sunita to stay out so late Mr. Malhotra?” His tone was insulting. “What’s the use of your being good at business? You don’t have a daughter and have no clue of the responsibility that comes with bringing one up. It’s such a shame. I—”

  “Gokulji,” Raj interrupted, controlling his irritation and speaking in a calm tone, “as I told you, there’s been an emergency. I’m calling from the hospital.”

  “Hospital?” Gokul’s voice rose further. Grandpa Ratan snatched the receiver from his son’s hand when he heard, ‘hospital’.

  “Hello. This is Ratan Rishi.”

  Raj was glad to hear Grandpa Ratan’s voice. “Ratanji, Akshay had a small accident on the way to your place with Sunita. He had to be hospitalised immediately.” Raj hugged Sunita close as he spoke. “Sunita’s presence of mind saved his life.”

  “Which hospital, Raj? I’d like to see Akshay.” Grandpa Ratan was shaken. He had become too fond of his new grandson.

  “Not this late, Ratanji. He had to undergo an operation. They aren’t allowing visitors. Sunita’s safe with Tanuja and me. Please don’t worry. Here, talk to her,” Raj passed his cell to Sunita.

  “Dadaji,” Sunita’s voice almost broke. She pulled herself together and said, “Dadaji,” once again.

  “Hello, my dear.” It was a relief to hear Granpa Ratan’s gentle voice. “How are you?”

  “I’m perfectly fine, Dadaji. It’s Akshay,” she caught Raj shaking his head in her peripheral. “He’s badly hurt. He’s okay now, the doctor says.”

  “Don’t worry, little one. By the grace of God, Akshay will be fine. You stay beside him and take care of him—”

  Gokul grabbed the phone from his father and shouted, “You come back here immediately. Do you hear?” he thundered. “The old man’s senile. I’ll not have any daughter of mine staying away from home at night. Do you hear me?” shouted Gokul Rishi once again. Sunita just disconnected the line as she saw Tanuja walking out of Akshay’s room.

  “Aunty, how’s he?” she asked.

  “He’s sleeping peacefully.” Tanuja smiled for the first time that night as she hugged both her husband and daughter-in-law. “He’s okay, thank God! You saved his life, Sunita. Thank you, dar—” Sunita pressed her fingers against her mother-in-law’s lips.

  “No, Aunty. Akshay saved himself. He told me where to bring him before passing out,” her voice trembled as she recollected the nightmare. Raj went to see his son.

  “Aunty,” Sunita’s voice pleaded. “Please let me stay here at the nursing home with Akshay.”

  Raj came out with a satisfied smile. “You go on in, Sunita. I’ll drop you home after you see Akshay.”

  “No Uncle, please.”

  “You go on, Sunita. I’ll talk to Raj,” said Tanuja gently.

  Sunita smiled gratefully at her mother-in-law before going into Akshay’s room.

  Only a night lamp was burning in the room. An IV tube was connected to Akshay’s forearm. He was fast asleep. Sunita went close to the bed. Tears welled in her eyes as she recalled the amount of blood he had lost. Thank God the bullet had hit only his arm. She placed a gentle hand on his forehead. He was running a light temperature that the doctor had warned them about because of the operation and blood transfusion. There was a big white bandage on his right arm.

  Sunita put her hand in his as it lay on the bed, palm open. Akshay’s fingers curled around hers, holding it in a loose grip, very much unlike his. Tears flowed freely down Sunita’s cheeks as she realised that he must be in quite bad a shape. She gently freed her hand from his and stepped out of the room after wiping her face.

  There were a couple of policemen talking to Raj Malhotra. They turned towards her as she came out. “Come here, Princess. Tell the police all that you know.” He was sorry about this so late at night, but it had to be done.

  Sunita recounted the events of the night while one of the policemen jotted down everything in a notebook. They kept questioning her repeatedly to get the details right.

  Raj put out a hand and said, “That’s enough for today, Officer. I don’t think Sunita’s fit enough to take any more.”

  The policemen left at that, promising to come back the next day to talk to Akshay.

  “Uncle, I don’t want to go home. Please let me stay here with Akshay.”

  “Tanuja did mention that, Princess. I’ve arranged for them to have an extra bed moved into Akshay’s room. Do sleep well. He’ll need all your help tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Uncle, Aunty,” Sunita smiled tiredly. The day had been packed to the full, first the engagement ceremony, then the accident and surgery. Sunita sighed.

  “Goodnight, child.” Raj and Tanuja left the nursing home.

  Sunita walked into Akshay’s room to find a bed placed beside his. She removed her shoes and lay down in the same clothes she had got engaged in, fully prepared to stay awake. She fell asleep soon secure in the knowledge that Akshay was out of danger.

  Fourteen

  Sunita woke up suddenly when she heard someone groan in pain. She opened her eyes and couldn’t make out where she was. Slowly she recollected the events of the night and turned to look at Akshay.

  He was moaning in his sleep, a deep frown on his forehead, restlessly shaking his head.

  “Akshay,” she laid a hand on his left shoulder. The IV tube had been removed sometime during the night. He was sweating profusely despite the air-conditioner going full blast. Taking a fresh towel from the side table, she gently wiped the sweat on his face. The fever had broken and so had the effect of the painkillers.

  Sunita filled a glass with water and approached her groaning fiancé once again. “Akshay,” she placed a hand on his left shoulder. He suddenly opened his eyes and stared at her for a few seconds before recognising her.

  “Sunita, what are you doing here in my be
droom in the middle of the night?” He looked at his watch. “My God! It’s four. Sunita?” He frowned at her. He suddenly realised that he could not move his right arm freely as he became conscious of a dull ache. He slowly raised his right hand as if to find out how far it would go.

  “Akshay, don’t,” cried Sunita, her soft voice anxious.

  He turned around to look at her, recalling the events of the night. He gave her a weak smile saying, “I’m so sorry you were dragged into the middle of this.”

  “Akshay,” Sunita looked at him strangely, “What do you mean?”

  “You must’ve been scared out of your wits,” Akshay continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “And,” his eyes were pained, “you could’ve been shot.” He raised his left hand and covered his eyes, trying to block out the thought.

  “Akshay,” Sunita spoke gently, “would you like some water?”

  “Oh yes,” he turned his head eagerly towards her. He tried to get up and fell back on the bed in frustration as his body refused to co-operate. There was a heavy scowl on his face as he looked at her. “No Sunita, I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want any water.”

  “I thought that’s a lady’s privilege.” Her face broke into a smile as she guessed correctly that the macho man did not want her to see him in this state. Placing an arm under his shoulders, she raised him carefully to a half-sitting position and placed the glass of water against his lips. Pride warred with thirst. The latter won as he drank from the glass without stopping for breath till the last drop was finished.

  “Go ahead and laugh all you want,” he growled at Sunita’s smile.

  “Oh Akshay,” Sunita placed the glass on the side table before hugging him close and planting a kiss on his forehead. Then she laid him down on the bed with great care and continued, “Thank God you’re alive.”

  “And thank you,” he said.

  “Who’d want to shoot you?” She couldn’t quite get around to using the word ‘kill’.