HeartBeat - Chapter 8 (Marriage Reception Continued)

"Hey Sis, meet my friends." Said Minal’s cousin.

"Congratulations." They said.

Minal gave a weak smile in return as her mind was too occupied to understand thing around her.

As they turned to leave, Minal caught her cousin’s hand and pulled her back.

"Call my mom, please." Pleaded Minal in a low voice so that no one could here them.

"What’s wrong? Are you alright? " Asked her cousin in concerned voice, seeing her pale face.

"I am fine, just get my mom here." Said Minal trying not to sound frightened.

Not wanting the worst to happen, her cousin ran to find Mrs. Seth. Only few minutes later her mom came rushing towards her.

"What is it dear? Are you feeling sick??" Asked Mrs. Seth in a low voice.

Since Raj was talking to his cousins and rest of the guest were having dinner, none came to know what was going on between Minal and her Mom.

"Mom, who is he???" Asked Minal, fear seen easily on her face.

"Who??"

"Him. The one standing next to me."

"Him?? He is Raj, your husband." Replied Mrs. Seth still unable to understand were this conversation was going.

"But he doesn’t look like the one from the photo I saw. He is someone with a Mustache. The guy in the photo didn’t have a Mustache." Minal blurted out in a low voice.

Instantly understand the reason behind her daughter’s confusion Mrs. Seth gasped as she had totally forgotten about this in the pressure of handling the guest.

"That’s Raj himself. I totally forgot to tell you about his new look. Even we couldn’t recognize him in one glance. That Mustache really makes him look way different." Explained Mrs. Seth.

"Really??" Asked Minal.

"Yes"

"That’s him???"

"Off course"

"Are you sure??"

"Minal?" Said Mrs. Seth in a stern voice. "Stop being ridiculous. That’s Raj alright? Now behave your self, you both are the center of attraction today."

Minal starred at her feet, still unable to digest all that her mom said.

"Silly girl." Smiled Mrs. Seth. "Now relax, ok??" Mrs. Seth kissed her daughter’s forehead and left.

"Whoever ever heard of a person growing Mustache on the most special day of their life? Where the hell did he get this stupid idea to ruin his handsome face on the Wedding Day??" Minal thought irritably. "Don’t know to whom did I get married to."

Exhausted by all this she flopped on her seat and tried to figure out everything, Raj followed her suit and took his seat. They were alone on the stage again. She was deep in her thought when suddenly her stomach rumbled in a voice loud enough for Raj to hear it.

Raj turned to look at his wife, while Minal tried hard to hide her embarrassed face from him.

"Another half hour to go. Don’t worry your not alone in that." Raj encouraged her, trying hard not to burst into laughter.

"Oh wonderful." Thought Minal. "First impression, last impression, RUINED IMPRESSION." First my husband scares me with his new look. As if that wasn’t enough, my own stomach embarrasses me. What kind of a beginning is this?"

It was 10 pm and after a lot of crying and saying her final goodbyes to her family and friends, Minal and Raj was now in the car which headed towards the Verma Family’s house. When Minal had ultimately calmed down from her sobs, Raj stepped in. He pulled out a bar of milk chocolate and brought it in the range of Minal’s eye sight, since she was looking down at her fingers, figetting.

"I asked my cousin to bring this. I noticed that even though you were hungry, you couldn’t eat much, may because of nervousness. I believe you haven’t eaten much whole day." Said Raj placing the chocolate in her hands.

"Thank you." She replied in her soft voice. Happy that he was so caring, she turned to look at him and those glittering black eyes intently looking at her as if trying to express all that love he was controlling within himself. This was when Minal stared noticing every feature of his handsome face.

"Wow, this is MY husband. He is so... so Dashing. What lovely wavy black hairs. Those dazzling eyes and that…. That Mustache!!!! Ugh." Her eyes stopped at that black strip above his lips. "Damn that mustache. But what’s this? Am I imagining or that thing is really coming near me."

Raj was getting closer to her. Her eyes were stuck at his mustache but he thought that she was looking at his lips. He leaned in to Kiss her. She hesitated. He backed off. Thinking that he was rushing in, he tried to clam himself. "Its better to wait rather then to scare her. " he thought to himself looking out of the window.

Finally they reached at the Verma house.It was A big house with four rooms of which 3 rooms had attached bath room and one was the study room. Raj and Minal were welcomed by the round of crackers cracking loudly and rose petals falling on them. Everyone was eager to welcome their only daughter – in – law in her new home.

That Night after Fulfilling the rituals and having some fun everyone settled down to sleep.
Raj and Minal were escorted to their own rooms. The door was closed and they both were in their room alone. Not knowing what to do both just stood there for a second. Then Raj realized that from now on he will have to male the first move.

He cleared his throat and said, " Er.. So… well this is my….. I mean OUR room. That’s my…Our bed, that’s the computer, the cupboard, the dresser and on that corner is the bathroom." Pointed Raj. He look down to Minal who was trying to figure out everything. He could see that she was nervous. He decided to make her comfortable. He slowly took her hand in his and lead her on their bed. This gesture made he gapes. However, she quietly followed him. Both sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Don’t be nervous, I won’t bite you." Said Raj looking that Minal and Minal looking down at the floor.

"So…. Er…. You’re an MBA?"Said Raj trying to have a conversation.

She nodded "yes."
"Are you hungry?" he tried again.

Again a nod, "no".

Sighing disappointedly he started thinking of a way to make her talk and look at him, and the idea struck him.

"Do you want to ask me anything. You can ask whatever you want to." Said Raj.

After 10 seconds of silence she spoke, "What’s with the Mustache?"

Bowled over by this question Raj thought, "What???? Of all the questions in the world , she had to ask me this?? Nothing about hobbies, interest or sport?? She wants to know about this???

Hearing no reply Minal looked at him.

"Oh, those eyes will kill me." Raj thought and his heart started aching again as their gaze met. Minal reluctantly look down.

"Er…. Em ….. well…. This mustache is just like that. I felt like growing them."

Minal sighed audibly and Raj understood she knew he was hiding something.

"Alright I will tell you but don’t laugh. My friends told me that I look like a kid and if I grow a mustache I will look like a grown up man. They said it’s a sigh of maturity, I mean matured for marriage."

"He did this because his friends told him so, what a stupid decision to make." Thought Minal.

"I know I made a stupid decision." He said as if reading her mind. Both chucked at his confession.

"Do you think I look matured in this mustache?"

"Why are you in a hurry to grow old. Aren’t you happy that you are young and handsome?" Replied Minal , slowly lifting her eyes and meeting his gaze.

"You find me handsome even with this?" He said looking intently at her . Seeing all that love in his eyes Minal blushed and looked away, but Raj took her cheek in his palm and made her look at him. His palm felt so warm on her cheek. She closed her eyes to feel every bit of it.

"You didn’t reply."

"70%." she said opening her eyes and looking straight at him.

"and without it?"

"100%"

"Really??"

"Absolutely." She teased him.

"O, naughty are we?" Said Raj and started tickling her.

"Hahaha, stop it." Laughing both rolled over on bed with Raj on top of Minal. Becoming self conscious Minal tried to move away but Raj didn’t let her and locked her beneath him. There was something about her that was so compelling and endearing.

Eyes locked and breath heavy, both just starred not speaking only trying to read each other eyes. Raj traced Minal from hairs, forehead, eyes, ears, cheeks, lips trying to mesmerize every curve of her and then he stopped at her neck. He leaned in to kiss her neck. Taking his own time to feel her. Their hearts were racing and breaths were deep. She closed her eyes, and let her emotions over take her Minal couldn’t resist herself and encircled her hands on his back. With every kiss she could feel his love. She was so engrossed in his love that she didn’t wanted the moment to end, when suddenly she felt something poking and then a kiss on her lips.

"Ahh…" she literally pushed Raj aside sat up on bed and.

"What happened?" asked raj sitting up as well.

"What was that? You almost bruised my lips with whatever it was." Since her eyes were closed she didn’t know what hurt her.

"But I don’t have anything?" showing his empty hands.

"But, it felt like needles poking my….." She stop and understood what it was when she saw Raj’s hand on his mustache.

"Sorry, did that hurt much?" he came near her to inspect her upper lips and tried to kiss her again. But Minal backed off.

"Please don’t…. I can’t….I…." She said irritatingly and not looking at him, "I am tired, goodnight."

Before Raj could say anything, Minal got up, went to her side of the bed, and slept pulling her cover all over her head to toe. Raj just sat there still trying to absorb everything that happened a minute ago. This was not how he thought his first night with Minal would end.