Chapter 10

Wedding Bells

Everything was going too well or so Abhi thought to himself. His phone started ringing. He picked it up from the glass table and said,

"Hello, uncle."

"Hi Abhi. We have safely landed."

"Yes, sorry I couldn't come. I had some important business matters to attend to before the wedding."

"Yes, yes. No problem. We understand."

"I sent a few cars. My secretary should be waiting in the visitors' section of the airport."

"Oh, yes! We see him. Okay, see you at home then."

"Bye."

It was his Pinky's wedding. His uncle's daughter. The wedding was to take place in Abhi's mansion. That is the place where the wedding was fixed, the meet up of groom's and bride's side and everything. Part of the reason, the groom's family was so keen on the marriage was because of Abhi's money. His aunt predicted this and so after the groom's family had said no to her daughter's hand, she had scheduled another meet up in Abhi's house and everything worked out well. Abhi had spared no expenses for his cousin's wedding. He had his secretary hire the best photographer, wedding planner, decorator, designer, music band and chef for the wedding. They were already working on the mansion to make sure everything goes smoothly.

As Abhi walked out of his study, bouquets of flowers were being brought in by the decorator's team. He saw Shanaya stop to smell the flowers. Her eyes lit up when she saw them and she kneeled to smell them, a big smile came across her face. Abhi also smiled remembering the time Shanaya had brought him flowers for his birthday when his grandma was in the hospital. Racks of colourful clothing were being brought in by the designer's staff. They had taken all of the family members' measurements from before. But a few nights ago, they were called in again to take Shanaya's measurements. Mr. Tata couldn't stop from admiring Shanaya's body. He said the dress would look so great on her and that it is an absolute honor to make something for her.

Abhi knew from the small suitcase she brought from her apartment, that she didn't have anything to wear. So, he had made sure she wouldn't have to feel awkward in the wedding in her jeans and shirt. He smiled again thinking that The Shanaya Singhania was in shortage of clothes these days. The old Shanaya would have never been caught in just a plain shirt. She would always wear the trendiest clothes. At one of Abhi's work parties, this designer had complained to Shanaya as to why she was wearing something that was clearly made for the men's section. Shanaya had truthfully replied that it was because it was the cheapest option. Although, not many people can appreciate Shanaya's blatant honesty, Abhi really admired her newly gained virtue. But he also made a note to himself, that he is going to make sure that she soon has everything she ever wanted. And knowing Shanaya from high school, he knew that she loves fashion. He knows that she still wants those nice, pretty things. He had seen her admiringly look at the clothes on the mannequin in the high-end shop across the pharmacy she worked at, only to get a stiff look from her manager and then scram back to work. Abhi wouldn't normally go to pharmacy or grocery shopping, he would normally send someone but since Shanaya works there, he doesn't mind the occasional visit to the pharmacy right across his company's headquarters. It works out so conveniently that she got a job right across his workplace. Convenient indeed except it was no coincidence. It was Abhi's doing. He had made sure of that. Much better than that bar Shanaya had almost started working at.

"Ai Abhi! How are you? You have forgotten your aunt?"

"No, no. Everyone reached here okay?"

"Yes, yes. We have so much to do! Oh! Mr. Tata! How is my dress coming?"

His aunt had gone off with the designer. The designer had comically tried to avoid his aunt by hiding behind a big vase that the head decorators were transferring.

"Did you make my backless blouse right this time?"

Abhi's mean aunt had soon turned sweet from her extreme sourness when Abhi had landed his first big project. From then onwards she had been extra nice to him to leach off his money. If it hadn't been the fact that Abhi wanted a solitary life from any distractions, she would have successfully moved herself and her entire family to his mansion. But she is happy in her own big house that Abhi has given to her and his uncle. Her side of the family was even worse, making snickering comments on other people's body or lack of wealth.

"Abhi, I have some things to talk to you about. It's about the groom's side. They will be arriving tomorrow at…"

Abhi and his uncle went to his study together.

In this commotion, no one had noticed Shanaya. But that couldn't have gone for long as she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her hair had grown much longer than her school days as she could not afford trips to the hair salons anymore. As she just came out of the shower, her hair fell in loose curls. She was wearing a black shirt of Abhi's, one that was from his school days that was too small for him now and did not fit his muscular arms and back. He had kept it because for sentimental purposes. He had worn it the first day he had gone to Saint Theresa. Everyone had gone crazy that day, dancing to Kukad. As Shanaya was in a hurry, she had just put on a plum coloured lipstick very lightly before coming downstairs.

"Who are you?" Said Abhi's aunt's mom.

"I am Abhi's friend."

"Yes, but what are you doing here?" said his aunt coming forward.

"I am staying here temporarily." Said Shanaya hesitantly.

"What!"

Everyone was looking at each other in shock.

"What do you mean by staying here?"

"Abhi is just helping me out. I am in a bit of a problem right now"

"Yeah so you thought you would take advantage of Abhi and his wealth." Said his aunt, keeping in mind the countless friends she had promised that their daughter would wed Abhi. She would at least have to make one of them happy to keep her face, that she has the power over Abhi to make him marry her society friend's daughter.

"No. I.."

Shanaya was interrupted again.

"These girls these days are so shameless. What are you parents thinking? Or are they in on this too? My god I tell you," said Abhi's aunt's sister.

"Stop. This conversation is over."

Everyone turned around to see Abhi standing with a quiet but angry expression.

"She is my guest and you will respect her. All of you." Said Abhi in a calm and serious expression that meant if they did not do as he wants they all will be facing consequences. Everyone had become quiet except his aunt's mom.

"Kokila, you don't have any say in this house?"

"Yeah um, Abhi, it would be nice if she is not seen by the groom's family." Said his aunt to save face in front of her relatives.

"She will be seen. She is attending the wedding."

"That is not possible." Said his uncle from behind. "They will not like it that a young girl is living with you alone.

"Why don't we just say that she is one of your distant relative's daughter?" said Abhi's secretary, Rahul. He is always finding solutions to every problem.

"Won't do. We will get caught. They will ask where her parents are. They are very observant." Said Kokila.

"Just say that they passed away." Said Rahul, shrugging it off like it is no issue.

Kokila wanted to argue since she did not want Shanaya to stay near Abhi. But looking at Abhi's fiery stare, she thought otherwise.

Everyone had sat in the big table to dine. Shanaya ate quietly. She appreciated Abhi and Rahul's support. It is going to be a longer day tomorrow. She could only imagine how the groom's family must be like which Kokila had chosen for her daughter. She shivered at the thought.

"Mmm after we finish eating, we all must go upstairs and try on the clothes. See if it fits." Said Anjali, the soon to be bride to her cousins and friends. "Shanaya you should also come."

"Yeah, we are also coming. Us aunts also want to see how that Tata made our clothes." Giggled one of Kokila's sisters with joy.

Abhi's mind wondered as he looked across the table at Shanaya. He watched her intently as she ate her soup slowly. His mind then imagined her trying on clothes, changing. Taking off her shirt or more correctly his shirt, her jeans, her bra and then her panties. That is really stupid. Why would she take everything off to try on clothes, he thought to himself. That is when he realized that he wasn't thinking of her changing for clothes anymore. He is thinking of him taking off her clothes to do things to her in his bedroom, his den. Things no one has ever done to her before.