Chapter 29

I got into the car and reached the hotel. Rahul was waiting at the reception. He smiled at me and he led me to a setting, which was specially created in one of the balconies. It was very beautifully decorated with aromatic candles and flowers. Soft romantic music was flowing in the air. There were no other tables. just one that was meant for us. He pulled out one chair for me to sit and then he sat in front of me. He was ogling at me. We placed our orders and it arrived shortly. We enjoyed it. He just kept looking at me, making me blush…



He said, " You are looking very beautiful, Priya. Finally, we are here and nobody is going to interrupt us tonight. Priya I need to tell you that, I always had feelings for one girl but could never tell her. Now I have decided to make her aware of them. So Priya, I love you. " My eyes widened as I heard what he said.



" What ??? But you… " He shook his head and placed his index finger on my lips and said, " No, please let me finish first. I have always been in love with you. But you were so young and pretty. I had strange feelings for you which I had never felt before. I wanted to look at you all the time. I was getting possessive about you. I didn't want to see you with anyone. I chased many boys in the school who wanted to date you. All I could think was about you only. But one day some friend of mine called you a child and I felt that I can't have feelings for you. You were like a child… " I was shocked at what he was saying.



" Our fathers are best friends. We all are like one big family. I thought it was unethical to have such feelings for you and if Uncle comes to know about my feelings for you, their friendship might get tarnished. I was even jealous of the way you were so comfortable with Rohit, but not me. I started to ignore and avoid you. But you were always there in my mind. I am sorry Priya, I tried my level best not to fall for you. But I couldn't help it. "



He was looking at me with such an intensity that I was lost in him. I didn't even realise that tears had started falling from my eyes. Love of my life just confessed that he had always been in love with me. He wiped my eyes.



" But why were you getting married to Leena?"



" I couldn't get married to you as I thought it was not right. But I was so much in love with you that I couldn't marry anyone else. It was not right either. But my parents were determined to get me married. So I thought that if they want me to get married I will give it to them even if it is a marriage of convenience."



" When You got ready for our marriage, It felt as if it was the best day of my life. I love you. Please don't ever ignore me like you did last night. I almost died yesterday, I always suppressed my feelings, but I can't do it anymore. Now that I have you, I can't lose you. I have wanted you in my life for too long I might not survive if you leave me..." Tears were flowing from my eyes. He wiped them and I got up and literally threw myself in his arms.



He hugged me very tightly and buried his face in the crook of my neck and kissed there. My hands were around his neck.



" I also need to tell you something, Rahul. I have always had this huge crush on you. In spite of the fact that you used to ignore me. I had eyes only for you. I used to get hurt that you didn't care for me, but still I was crazy about you. I even tried to make myself understand that you don't even like me so I should not think about you. But my stubborn mind never listened. When your parents told us about your marriage my heart shattered into a thousand pieces." He had moisture in his eyes and yet was smiling like anything.



" Though I could not even bear the thought that you were getting married to someone else, but I still came to attend your wedding as I wanted to see you getting married with my own eyes, to make my stubborn mind understand that you were happy with some other girl. So that I could move on. I love you, Rahul. I always have. Only and only you. " He placed his lips on mine and kissed me senseless.



We were so engrossed in ourselves that we didn't even hear that my phone was ringing. We were short of breath so he stopped kissing me and I saw that my dad was calling me. I looked at him and picked up the phone, " Hello dad... Yes, dad... We just finished our dinner. Ok, dad. " I disconnected and looked at Rahul, he just nodded.



" I am taking you there out of respect for Uncle. But I don't want to stay away from you. Please talk to him. "



He said with puppy eyes.

We reached my parents' place and dad was waiting. Rahul greeted mom and dad and left reluctantly. After he left I went to my room and changed and was lying on the bed fully awake. At around 1 at night, there was a knock on my window and I saw that Rahul was standing there... I opened it and let him in. He grinned and took me in his arms and said," I can't seem to sleep without you. So can I come in ??"



" But ... what if dad comes to know??"



" So?? You are my legally wedded wife. I have every right to be in your bedroom. And now that I know that you love me too, I can't sleep alone. " I was happy to hear that.



" I have one more confession to make, you never walked while sleeping. I used to pick and make you sleep in the bed." My eyes widened and I asked, " But why...? "



" One of the reasons was that, couch was not comfortable and another and more important one was that I wanted to hold you while sleeping."



" And I used to be scared that you might think, I was imposing myself on you. You are so bad. I hate you...."



" No, you don't sweetheart. You love me and I love you. I can't stay away from you and in the morning you are going home with me with your dad's consent. " He peppered kisses all over my face and neck. My heart was beating frantically. He got into the bed and hugged me. We both felt comfortable and we slept.



In the morning, there was a loud knock on the door. I was half asleep, so I got up from the bed and opened the door. My mom was standing there. She looked worried, she came inside and said, " Priya, Rahul didn't reach home at night after he dropped you, he didn't go home. Ram and Sunita are quite worried… " Suddenly she saw Rahul sleeping on my bed. She was shocked for a minute and then she smiled. I was as Red as a beetroot.



" So, he is here and everybody is worried about him. " Rahul woke up and got embarrassed to see my mom's standing there and smiling at him. He was blushing.



" Come on son, get up and come out, I'll tell Ram and Sunita that you are here. " She was smiling like a little girl.



We came out and dad was glaring at him and asked, " I think, I told you that you have to stay away from her and I said that she will be staying with us, but I didn't invite you. Why did you come back when you dropped her and went away? "



Rahul was blushing, he said scratching the back of his neck, " I am sorry Uncle, you said she would be staying at your place, but you never said that I can't stay at your place as well. After all, I am just like your son... Am I not? Is your son not allowed to stay at your house aunty?"



" Of course you are welcomed to stay here beta, this is your house. Kabir, why are you teasing him? He can stay here anytime he wants. He is married to Priya, so he can stay in her room. Please don't create a scene. Don't behave like an overprotective father, he is her husband." Mom said smiling at him and she glared at dad.



After About 10 mins Rohit, mom and dad ( Rahul's) came. They scolded Rahul for coming here without informing. Everyone was looking for him.



Rahul apologized for the inconvenience and then he said, " I am sorry for not informing you but now that everybody in our families is here I would like to say something. I was foolish to suppress my feelings for Priya. But now, we know that we love each other so in the presence of all of you. I would like to propose to her."



Then he bent down on one of his knees and took out a beautiful diamond ring and held in front of me, " Priya I planned to give it to you during dinner yesterday, but anyways, will you please marry me? "



Everyone was smiling, I couldn't speak as I was overwhelmed with emotions. So I just shook her head saying no.

" What? Why? What's wrong? " He was shocked. It looked as if his eyes would come out of his face. Everyone looked tense.



" I am sorry, I can't, I am already married to you." I said grinning. Everyone burst out laughing. He slid the ring in my finger. Everybody clapped. Mom asked everyone to have breakfast. They all moved to the dining table and Rahul leaned into me and whispered, " So as you say that we are married, how about going for a long honeymoon, Mrs Priya Rahul Kapoor?"



My cheeks were as red as tomatoes. He snaked his arm around my waist and said, " My beautiful, ever blushing, accidental bride… Let's go... I am starving."



He pulled me towards the dining table. My dad smiled and gave an envelope to Rahul. He opened it and smiled at dad.



It was a Honeymoon package. A trip to Europe...



" Thank you, Uncle." He said. But my dad said, " You will get it on one condition, You will not call me Uncle now. Dad would be fine..."



He started smiling and said, " Thank you, dad. "

" Please excuse both of us as we have to go and pack for the trip." He pulled me towards the door. Everyone was smiling and I was very excited to start our journey with the love of my life...