Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
SUNAINA
I was about to greet Tahira when I caught sight of the look on Viren’s face. He looked as if someone had hit him on the head with that big metal vase that stood on the console table next to him.
I walked towards him very slowly because I was worried my boobs would fall out of the dress despite all the boob tape we’d used. It was all very well for Sufi to say I could wear this dress. He wasn’t the one in danger of a wardrobe malfunction.
“Are you all right, Viren?” I asked worriedly.
He started and cleared his throat before he spoke gruffly.
“Yes, of course. Sufi was just telling me that you guys were planning to watch the fireworks display. I hope you’re carrying warm coats. Long ones, preferably,” he said, with a fleeting glance at my bare arms and legs.
“It’s a warm evening, boss. And don’t worry about us. The crowds will keep us warm,” replied Sufi insouciantly.
“Are you seriously wearing those shoes to Alexandra Palace?” barked Viren, staring at my sparkly Jimmy Choos.
“Yes,” I replied, staring at him in confusion. “What’s wrong with them?”
“There’s a long trek from the parking lot to the viewing point. How the hell are you going to walk in them?”
“We’ll manage, gorgeous. I’ll keep your wife safe,” promised Sufi, hiding a grin as he moved to the door.
I followed him with a weak smile at Viren. As soon as I turned my back to him, I heard a sharp exhale, and I realised that he had just caught sight of the non-existent back of my dress. I felt his gaze burning a trail along my bare skin, and I couldn’t restrain a little shiver.
“I don’t think so,” growled Viren. “You’re clearly out of your tiny little mind, Sufi, if you think you’re taking her out dressed like that in the cold. It’s November, for fuck’s sake.”
“It’s far too warm for November, boss. Sunaina will be fine. Let’s go, babe,” replied Sufi, heading to the door.
I ignored Tahira’s smug smile and hurried after Sufi.
“Hold on! I think Aisha would like to see the fireworks too,” called Viren, and I turned to him in surprise.
Tahira’s smile grew even wider, and I restrained the urge to smack it off her place. Really? He had a movie night planned with Aisha tonight and he was sending her out with us instead. All because Tahira was in town. I turned to shoot Viren a scathing look and was surprised to see his gaze fixed on me.
“Umm, sure. I do have an extra ticket,” said Sufi.
“You’ll need two. Because I’m coming along, too. Just to keep Aisha safe in the crowds,” announced Viren, without taking his eyes off me.
All my breath left my body in one big whoosh. What the hell had just happened? And why was he staring at me hungrily, like a big, bad, grumpy wolf? The heat in his eyes almost made me melt into a puddle on the parquet flooring. Despite my resolve to treat him only like a friend, I couldn’t help smiling at him tremulously.
“And what about me?” cried Tahira. “What am I supposed to do while you and Aisha go out? You made plans with me, Viren.”
“Make that three tickets, Sufi,” replied Viren, rolling his eyes.
“Three tickets to what?” demanded Aisha, bouncing into the room.
I wondered how he was going to explain the change in plans to Aisha. She had been looking forward to her movie night with her uncle. Viren had always put her needs first, and I was worried she’d be upset.
“You can’t cancel your plans with Aisha just because something better’s come up,” said Tahira slyly, playing her trump card. “Besides, she’s too young to go clubbing after the fireworks.”
Everyone knew Viren’s niece trumped his fake wife, and that was how it should be. Too bad Tahira didn’t know that I would never try to get between Viren and Aisha. Not even for an evening.
“That’s okay, Tahira,” I said softly. “Viren can bring her home after she sees the fireworks while Sufi and I go to the club.”
“Fireworks?” Aisha piped up. “I’d love to see fireworks!”
“It will be very crowded, beta,” said Tahira shrilly. “Trust me, you’ll enjoy your movie night a lot more than the fireworks display.”
Aisha shot her a scathing glance.
“I’m almost eleven, Aunty Tahira. Not seventy. Of course, I’ll enjoy the fireworks more! And if I’m going, Chachu has no excuse…I mean…no reason to stay home.”
For fuck’s sake, I thought with exasperation. Aisha knew exactly what was going to happen within the next few months, and she was doing her best to throw me and Viren together to prevent our divorce. Just like Daya Bua and Sufi. But you couldn’t force a relationship where none existed.
Tahira looked like she had bitten into a lemon.
“That’s settled then. You’re all coming with us. Chop, chop! We need to find a vantage viewing point, so Shorty here can enjoy the fireworks. You guys have ten minutes to get ready while I scrounge up two more tickets,” said Sufi, waggling his eyebrows at me meaningfully.
When the three of them raced out of the room to go and change for an evening out, Sufi turned to me.
“Told you he was going to come with us, gorgeous,” he whispered, his eyes dancing with triumph.
“That’s only because he wants Aisha to see the fireworks.”
“Uh-huh,” he replied, rolling his eyes at me as he called the limo service.
The limo ride to Ally Pally was fraught with tension. Tahira was sulking in her seat next to Viren, who sat directly opposite me and looked exceedingly grumpy. I, on the other hand, had to sit on my hands to make sure I didn’t haul off and punch the bitch every time she leaned over and whispered in my husband’s ear. Aisha and Sufi were the only cheerful people in the car, oblivious to the vibes coming from the rest of us.
As soon as the car pulled to a halt in the cobbled parking lot of Ally Pally, I hopped out and stomped ahead, wanting to get away from the sight of Tahira slobbering all over my husband, who looked sinfully gorgeous in his polo-neck sweater and a pair of jeans that cupped his ass lovingly.
I had scarcely taken two steps when my pencil heel stuck in a crevice in the walkway and my ankle twisted sharply.
I let out a cry and fell on my face. Well, almost fell on my face. Because a pair of strong arms caught me before I hit the ground and pulled me upwards. I didn’t need to see who it was that caught me because I could recognise that familiar mix of Versace perfume and his unique scent with my eyes closed.
“This is exactly what I was talking about,” growled Viren in my ear. “How are you going to walk all the way to the top?”
He let me go before I could savour the feeling of being in his arms, although he made sure I could stand on my ankle before he let go. I tested my ankle and was relieved to find it fine.
“I’ll be fine,” I replied curtly, shrugging his hands off my arms.
He was okay with Tahira clinging to his arm like a limpet, but he couldn’t bear to touch me for more than a few seconds. Viren couldn’t have made his disinterest in me clearer, and I wanted to make it equally clear that I’d crawl to the top of the viewing point before I accepted any help from him.
“Hold on, guys,” said Sufi as he caught up with us. “I’ve ordered a couple of golf carts to take us to the top.”
Aisha came to check on my ankle, and Tahira took the opportunity to plaster herself against Viren’s side for the duration of the ride to the top of the hill. The golf cart dropped us off at the entrance to the viewing area, and Tahira made a face when she realised that we weren’t going to the VIP viewing platform on the terrace, but we were joining the crowds on the hill.
“Ugh! Viiiireeeen,” she whined. “You know I can’t stand crowds. I guess Sunaina is used to them since she grew up travelling by crowded local trains, but I’ll get crushed by all these people.”
“Stay in the car if you’re worried about your safety, Tahira. Or better still, wait in the restaurant in the Palace,” he replied bluntly, which silenced her complaints once and for all.
“Oh no! I wouldn’t dream of missing the fireworks,” she said hastily as she hurried to keep up with him.
Viren and Sufi found a nice spot for us, unencumbered by trees, and we settled down to wait for the event to begin. The place started filling up when the DJ began to play, and I held Aisha’s hand firmly to make sure we weren’t separated in the crowd. There was a drone show before the fireworks. Aisha and I gasped in awe at the beautiful display while Tahira glared at us from Viren’s other side.
At one point, Aisha’s view was blocked by a tall couple who squeezed in front of us, so Sufi picked her up and sat her on his shoulders. She was too big for that now, and I was worried his spine would telescope in a few minutes. But I knew Sufi would do anything for Aisha.
“Enjoy, princess,” he said with a laugh.
She kissed the top of his head and settled down to watch the fireworks from her vantage point. They had just started when someone jostled me from behind, and I bumped into the couple in front of me. I turned around to glare at the person who had jostled me, but he gave me an unrepentant wink as he continued shoving his friends around in jest. They were little more than teenagers, and I realised they were already half drunk and weren’t going to stop their fun.
I craned my neck to see if I could find another spot for all of us, but the place was packed. A few enterprising people had even climbed up trees to enjoy an undisturbed view. With a sigh, I resigned myself to an evening of being jostled and tried to focus on the gorgeous display in the sky above me.
Before I realised what was happening, Viren pulled me to stand in front of him and wrapped his big arms around me firmly. I froze in place, wondering what was happening.
“Relax and enjoy the fireworks,” he whispered in my ear. “You’ll be safe now.”
The puff of his breath against the shell of my ear sent a shiver down my spine. I knew he felt it, too, because his arms tightened around me reflexively. But he said nothing. And neither did I.
I knew this was just his way of keeping me safe in the crowd. It meant nothing. But it felt like a big fucking deal!
The man who had taken great pains to avoid touching me for the past two and a half years had his arms around me, and it felt like heaven. I was sure he could feel my heart racing against his forearm, and he could feel the rapid rise and fall of my breathing against his chest, but there was nothing I could do about it.
I tried to hold myself upright, but the music, the atmosphere, the vibes and the glorious display of fireworks in the sky combined with the fact that I was in Viren’s arms melted my resistance away, and slowly, almost against my will, I relaxed against the hard, warm wall of his chest.
I felt Viren’s deep sigh feathering the curls at the back of my neck as he tightened his arms around me even more. Thankfully, I was wearing a light coat over my dress. If I had to feel his touch on my bare skin, I was sure I’d disgrace myself by melting into a puddle at his feet.
I half turned my face to sneak a quick peek at him and found him staring down at me hungrily. There was that big, bad wolf expression again. As if he couldn’t wait to eat me up.
“Thank you,” I whispered, and his gaze dropped to my lips.
I licked them nervously, and I could have sworn his eyes darkened. His throat worked as he swallowed hard, and my eyelids began to droop as I slowly tilted my chin up. He nuzzled the side of my face before he bent his head.
But before his lips could touch mine, we heard a familiar grating whine.
“Viiiireeeen, this place is soooo crowded. When can we leave?” asked Tahira, shattering the moment.
My fingers flexed reflexively and it was only when Viren’s fingers caught mine that I realised I was digging them into his forearms. I let go immediately and turned to face the front, my face flushing with embarrassment. What the hell was I thinking?
Viren was my fake husband and nothing more! I had no business kissing him. And that too in front of thousands of people on top of a hill in London. I tried to pull away from him, but his arms tightened around me to hold me in place, and he grasped my fingers in his.
And I stood like that for the rest of the show, in Viren’s arms, with his fingers entwined around mine, as we both pretended it meant nothing. Even though, to me, it meant everything !