CHAPTER 9

The wedding...

Brimming enthusiasm from their relatives and friends engulfed Sarah and her mother. Indian wedding is a celebration of a lifetime, where parents and bridegroom will spend tons of money to get it perfect, coming up with new schemes and ideas to outdo the previous relatives wedding. Non-stop dancing, alcohol, a variety of extravagant food, sweets, and flowers are just a few musts on the list. Scheduled to begin a week before the actual wedding date itself, leaving little rest for the bride and groom that at their wedding night, they would prefer sleeping rather than bonding.

Not to mention the unmarried eligible creatures roaming like helpless sacrifices around the event. Inquiries after inquiries followed by advice and solutions, ending with the presentation of possible suitors are inevitable– there will always be that one aunty that devotes her life to match-making.

Whether a successor or not, Sarah is on the top list just for her beauty, a guarantee of cute babies. Santha introduced Sarah to few people, mostly eligible bachelors from high standards, looking dashing especially for the day. Sarah was only getting more and more uncomfortable with these suffocating rituals where she is displayed to men–thanks to Santha’s choice of saree– as their secretive glances swept through her body. She pulled Santha to a corner

“Stop introducing me to your ‘possible match’ database, would you???” she emphasized the word possible match with an ugly frown. Her mom rolled her eyes.

“Ok baby, let’s get something to eat.” Finally, a break. Santha had to divert her daughter from her frustration, so she made small talks.

“You mentioned that you might come with your friends” Sarah nodded, placing noodles on her plate.

“Why did you come alone then? Is all 4 of them busy?” her mother probed even more.

“No...it’s my friends Laura’s birthday and they all went to some resort to celebrate”

“Oh dear, you should have gone with them. I could have asked my friend to come with me or simply travel alone. I don’t mind you know...” Santha did look genuinely upset, softening Sarah’s rage at her – mom's power.

“It’s ok mom, I can celebrate after I go back home” Sarah added, coaxing Santha.

Santha gave a pity smile and continued chatting.

Soon, Sarah’s cousin joined them and they all sat around a table, talking about their latest updates, mostly boyfriend and sex-related gossips, making Sarah more anxious. She excused herself to get some drinks when a young man approached her amidst pouring cranberry juice into a tall glass. Cranberry and white saree–deadly combination that requires complete attention. None of his features such as tall, good-looking, masculine with a natural smothering eyes registered in her mind.

“Hi. I’m Suman” he reached out his hand, startling Sarah

“Hi, I’m Sarah, auntie Santha’s daughter” they shook hands with Sarah flustering between balancing the cup of cranberry juice and a stern handshake.

Suman opened his mouth to say something when Sarah received a phone call

“Excuse me” and she walked away with her phone aiming towards her ears.

“Where are you?” It was Mike and his cold tone came through, even from the background noise.

“At the wedding. Why? What’s wrong?” anticipating a negative answer, Sarah had to cover her open-end ears to hear what Mike was saying.

“Come out, I’m at the entrance” the sweet damsel’s eyes snapped wide open.

“What?” she exclaimed.

As a doll wound by key, her feats immediately strides to the entrance with her saree slightly tugged in one hand, avoiding a flip over. Santha saw this from far away and was getting agitated too, as she followed Sarah, worried something might be wrong since Sarah looked anxious.

As Sarah reached the entrance, stepping down the little raised stairs, she scanned around the vicinity and found Mike leaning his butt on the black BMW bonnet. With a heavy sigh, she strides towards him.

Mike was stunned.

She is simply the crowning glory of bombshell angel’s town. Her saree was a tad see-through, as in 40% transparent chiffon material, revealing the outline of her hourglass shape – giving a glimpse from cleavage to that juicy navel. Her face reflected somewhat a goldish/ bronzy hue under the dimmed streetlight. Her long and shiny black locks of hair flowing over her busty assets, swaying in the beat of the wind. Her collarbone emitted an even brighter gold. Paired with a gold heel, her hip swing more intense as she picked up the pace. That woman is truly a head-turner with a contradiction in her edgy face as if she is ready to kill.

See, crushes will remain crushes until that crucial moment where one develops a sexual attraction towards the other and that is exactly what is happening to Mike now. His throat parched in a snap and he licked his lips to rehydrate– well, sort of.

“What are you doing here?” she smacked his arm as soon as she reached him– not so angelic now, is she?

He had actually found her car and parked next to it. Bright red mini cooper in the middle of almost vacant, 11 pm parking lot–who wouldn’t? Numbness tranquilized his senses. His tongue swells the containing cavity. Mike couldn’t help staring at her lips, subconsciously biting his own. A sweet cherry taste lingered at the tip of his tongue out of nowhere, as the memory played hallucinations on him.

“You look hideous...” Mike had to say something, right? Sarah pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes with an attitude.

“Sarah baby” Santha finally arrived at the scene to stop Mike from lurching forward.

“Who is this?” she pointed at Mike with a surprised eye, pushing him further into uncomfortable territory.

Sarah crossed her hand over her chest “A buffoon” before turning away.

Her rude comment was ignored and Mike stretched out his hand to Santha.

“ Hi aunty, I’m Mike, Sarah’s old school friend. You remember me, don’t you?” An image of a tall boy with active motion and benevolent nature simmered in her memory lane.

“Oh dear, Joseph Ricci’s son? My lord you have grown up!!!” she swatted his hand to be bumped against his bulging biceps, immediately raising her eyebrows.

“and pretty hunky too” she let out a girlish giggle and went on chattering with him casually, asking about Mike’s well-being, his career, his father, and so on for a considerable amount of time.

Sarah turned the other side and remained cold. Noticing this Mike came straight to the point

“Auntie, we had gathered up at The Gold Lotus Hill Resort to celebrate a friend's birthday. Sarah got left out. It's already 11 o’clock. If the wedding is over, can I bring her to join others, please?” Sarah opened her mouth in shock but before she can say anything

“Sure, you can take her away. The wedding is over and it’s just us having fun and chatting” Sarah darted to her mother.

“Mom, don’t be ridiculous. How would you go back? You’re going to spend the rest of the day here, alone?” she exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, give me your car key. I will stay here for the night and drive home tomorrow morning” Sarah opened her mouth to protest but before she could, Mike snatched her handbag and took out the car key, gave it to Santha. Santha wore a wide, malicious grin as she gingerly drew in the key.

“Mike, can you give me a hand with her luggage, dear?”

With a nod, Mike followed Santha and got Sarah’s bag from her car booth– Ignoring the beautiful lady as if Sarah is invisible.

Sarah lost her words at the spinning scene and stomped her feet, looking at the sky “Unbelievable” she exclaimed.

Mike then grabbed her by arm and pulled her to his car, not even bothered looking at her or hear her abusive curses.

“Bye auntie. By the way, you look so sweet today. Bring back a boyfriend, would you please?” Mike already thrusts the dumfound girl into the passenger’s seat, guarding the top of her head from bumping into the car.

“You naughty boy!!!” she giggled as if she is 16 years old.

“Take good care of my baby. And I want to see pictures” Mike just nodded with a smile as he strode to the driver's seat. The passenger seat window lowered and Sarah’s head popped out.

“Mom!!! Don’t listen to him. No bringing back a new dad– and– and no more sweets. Don’t forget your medicines. I've put an extra–” only muffled sound can be heard after as Mike has already shut Sarah’s mouth with his palm.

“Bye aunty, have fun” and he drove away as Santha waved at them.

“Crazy kid...” she mumbled to herself before retrieving to the wedding.