Hello friends, in the last post I spoke about my new book – Forever. Today I’m posting the prologue and first chapter of my book, that is available on Amazon Kindle and Pothi.com
You can read through the sample chapters and decide if you want to pick this up for a read. If you are interested, you can buy my book using the following links. Readers with kindle unlimited subscription can read the book for free. And those who prefer paperback/hardcopy can choose the Pothi.com link. Book will be delivered to your home. Links:
PROLOGUE
As the priest chanted the mantras, Arun and Megha sat expressionless before the holy fire. Their eyes and mind were vacant of emotions. As directed by the priest, the groom’s sister Anjana came forward to assist in the ritual. She handed him the mangalsutra. One look at it and he is reminded of her.
The beautiful dimpled smile that always took his breath away.
With a blank face he tied the mangalsutra around the neck of the woman who is now sitting beside him.
Megha closed her eyes. She remembered the first time a mangalsutra rested on her neck.
He was leaning forward to tie the mangalsutra around her neck when he whispered only for her ears.
“I promise to be with you forever and this is the evidence of that promise Jaan”.
She opened her eyes when she felt her maang being filled. Arun and Megha shared an eye lock while their faces remained deadpan.
Anjana saw their exchange and turned to her husband Karan with nervousness written all over her face. He held her shoulders reassuringly.
The bride and groom stood up for the pheras. Shashi and Garima Gupta looked on with moist eyes.Their daughter is getting married, again. They made a silent prayer for their daughter’s happiness and this time for it to last till eternity.
While the atmosphere screamed tension and heavy emotions, three little girls couldn’t contain their excitement. Aparna Arora, Akhila Arora and Pari Singhania are beaming with joy.
The pheras ended and the priest declared Arun Arora and Megha Singhania man and wife. Aparna and Akhila race into their father’s arms while Pari is handed to Megha by her mother. It is a new beginning, a second chance, for all of them. While the kids are thrilled at the turn of events, the two adults involved doesn’t know if they are ready for what lies ahead.
CHAPTER -1
The drive home is silent; Arun and Megha are lost in thoughts. They feel helpless as memories of a similar car ride wash over them.
“Stop crying Jaan. Anyone who sees you now will think you were forced into this marriage. But you did say you love me or was that a lie?”
“Shut up Akash. I had to leave behind my parents today. Do you know how difficult it is? You just have to marry me and take me home. You never leave your house”.
“So you want me to leave my home to set the scores even?”
“No, I want you to let me grieve my loss”.
“Not happening. Think about what you earned today jaan. A handsome husband who adores the floor you walk on” he winked.
Megha rolled her eyes but couldn’t resist the smile that tugged at her lips.
The car stopped at the signal. Karan threw a glance at the couple sitting behind. Their body language is rigid and their minds lost elsewhere. He sighed.
Arun is holding Lavanya’s hand and she is resting her head on his shoulder.
“You look happy. Not sad that you had to leave your home for me?”
“I am Arun. But this is our dream. I became your wife today. How can I spoil this wonderful moment with tears?”
She smiled at him, her dimples being omnipresent. He leaned forward to kiss her.
“We are home” Karan’s voice brought Arun and Megha back to reality. They exchanged a look. Arun got out of the car and opened the door for Megha. Megha eyed the two storey house before her. Ignoring the dread filling her, she walked with Arun, to his home.
****
Anjana welcomed them with Arti. Arun and Megha looked uncomfortable as they went about the griha pravesh ritual. Arun and Megha took the blessings of Neelima Arora, Arun’s grandmother who is paralysed.
Pari who was in Aparna’s arms made a cry for her mother. Megha immediately took Pari in her arms and tried to control the tears that threatened to break out. Anjana could see Megha is scared about this new transition in her life. But before she could make a move to console Megha, Aparna and Akhila hugged Megha.
“Welcome home Ma” they screamed in unison.
The warm exuberance the kids perpetuated made Megha feel overwhelmed. But she hugged them back with a small smile. Arun felt relieved for the first time that day.
“Anjana, it is way past their bedtime, take the kids to their room”.
” Sure Daadi”.
“But Ma just came home” they whined.
“And she is going to be here forever. So let her rest. You can catch up tomorrow”.
They nodded grumpily and wished Megha goodnight. She smiled back at them.
“Megha, Anjana will put Pari to sleep”.
“She needs me at night” Megha held Pari closer.
“Today is your Suhaag Raat. So let her sleep with Anjana”.
Before Megha could object, Arun spoke.
“Pari is too small. She’ll need her mother at night. Let her sleep with us”.
“But…”
“I’m going to my room”.
He glanced at Megha. She eyed him with gratitude. He nodded in acknowledgement and walked out of the room. Anjana forbade Neelima with her eyes before ushering Megha out of the room.
****
Arun came out of the bathroom and saw Pari asleep on his bed and Megha fidgeting as she went through her suitcases.
“Megha”
She turned to look at him.
“We were honest to each other before marriage. We are not over Akash and Lavanya. We are in this for our children. We can focus on being their parents for now. I don’t expect anything else, relax”.
Megha’s shoulders lost stiffness.
“Thank you” she gave him a genuine smile.
He nodded. She went back to her suitcase and he slept on his side of the bed, with Pari next to him. *****
Megha came out of the bathroom an hour later. Arun has his eyes closed but she knows he is not asleep. She settled down on the other side of the bed. But sleep evaded her. Naturally her mind went back to her first night with Akash.
Megha is on her period on her first night. She is not sure how Akash would react. Even before she could decide how to present him with this information, she felt Akash kissing his way up her hand. When she felt him hovering over her lips she blurted out.
“I am on my period”.
Akash did not know how to react when he was interrupted from kissing his bride, by the bride herself. He chose to verbalise his immediate thought.
“Okay. But we can kiss, right?”
Megha doubled over with laughter seeing his pained expression.
Megha suddenly realized she is on her period, on her first night, again. Something twisted inside her and she couldn’t control the tears that rolled down her cheeks. Arun heard the faint sobs. But he was not sure if he should react. So he lay beside her in silence, giving her the privacy she needed. They waited for the next dawn; for what lay ahead but with no will to hope.
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