Sree
I looked around the house,.. I had been here before, but hadn't explored it..
I found the way to the small garden, where Vikram proposed me. The glass doors were closed and inside there was a reception like area..
I walked along.. And opened a room..
My mouth opened wide when I saw a big screen,.. Spanning the entire wall..
The room was a home theater.. There were a few cosy seats..
"Hey, here you are... I was looking for you, ", said Vikram coming behind me..
" So we can see movies here together? ", I asked in excitement.
He chuckled. " Yes, I don't see much movies, but guess I would love to see with you ", he said.
" Can we see one tonight? ", I asked
" Tonight? Aren't you tired? ", he asked.
" Nope" I said and moved across the room..
Then I went out of the room, with Vikram following me..
There was a small swimming pool too
"Indoor pool, cool", I said
" I could teach you swimming sometime if you want ", Vikram said.
I smiled
" How many bedrooms do you have? ", I asked.
" 2 rooms in the ground floor 3 on the first and a study room", he said
"What are you going to do with so many rooms", I asked
" Well, let's see, we can have one room for us,.. One playroom for the children.. "
"Children? ", I asked.
" Ya you know.. Yours and mine.. ", he said and laughed looking at my bewildered expression
" You thought about that? ", I asked
" I am going to live my entire life with you, so of course... ", he said , moving closer to me..
" And if you'd want, we have rooms for your grandpa and your mom too", he said
"Hmm.. Really? You won't mind? ", I asked
" Of course I won't, your family is mine", he said and took my palms in his. .
"Ok.. Now which is my room.. ", I asked
" You don't want to stay in mine?", he said teasingly
I blushed "nope"
He took me to the first floor and opened a room..
Everything including the bed seemed brand new..
"No one was here before? ", I asked
" Why would anyone be.. This is a new house, I got just a year back, I haven't decorated this room yet.. We could do it as per your choice.. Changing the wall paper, painting , furnishings and all" he said
The room had a bed and a good dressing table with an attached bathroom. There was a small balcony.
It was lovely and I felt that it would look better when we decorate it more ..
"This could be your room, its the biggest after mine", he said
I went and sat on the bed.
"Vikram btw, do you have any woman's clothes that I could change into. My things haven't arrived yet. " I asked
"Why would I have any woman's clothes, though.. Maybe.. One sec wait here" he said and went out of the room.
He came back with a shirt and T-shirt of his
"You can wear this", he said
" No way... I'm wearing that ", I said
" Why what's wrong in wearing it", he teased
" Because I don't want to ", I said,
He grinned.
" And Vikram, I want to tell my mom that I'm staying here, and you know my mom right, so can you somehow convince that that it's ok for me to stay here. ", I asked
" Of course baby, I'll call her tomorrow morning ", he said
" Good night, ", he said looking into my eyes, and left the room.
I noticed that he had kept his shirts on the bed.
I took the white shirt.
I recollected how in movies, the heroine wears their boyfriend's shirt.
So out of curiosity, I went into the washroom, and changed my clothes, and wore his shirt alone.
I came out to look on the mirror. The shirt covered my thighs.
I looked into the mirror..
"Uh.. Actually", Vikram came inside the room startling me.
He saw me and smiled.
" At last you decided to wear it", he said and came closer..
I covered by knees with his other shirt
"Noo.. I just wanted to see,.. ", I stammered.
He came closer and took away the other shirt which was in my hand..
He then pulled me closer.
"You look hot, in my shirt", he said..
I looked down..
He put his fingers on my chin and lifted it up to meet my eyes..
" I had forgotten one thing, before leaving.. "
He said and kissed my forehead..
"A goodnight kiss", he whispered..
"You forgot this button" He said
I noticed that one of the button's of the shirt was open..
Before I could do anything.. Vikram brought his hand to my shirt and buttoned it..
I stood still, not being able to move..
"Goodnight baby.. " He said and took away his arms from me.
I couldn't speak as he let me go and left the room.
I slept in his shirt, the smell of its fabric reminded me of him and his warmth.
It was a really different feeling..
The next morning, I woke up to a tray of food before me..
My mouth opened as I saw, pancakes, dosa, parathas, bread toast, juice and coffee.
I looked around.. And Vikram entered my room in a minute.
"You woke up great, have your breakfast, have to get ready for the interview with journalists", he said wearing his watch..
I looked at him, he was in his casual wear.
" Interview? Today.. Do I have to speak? ", I asked
" Yes, don't worry, you needn't be nervous, I'm here with you, I've chosen your dress.. Do good makeup, there are going to be a lot of photos" he said.
"I don't have my things",
" Yah, they got your things,.. See.. I kept them here.. ", he said and I looked at large bags of stuff.
" How do I know where, which thing is in? " I asked
He shrugged, "do you want me to help you? " He asked
"No... I'll.. Manage", I said
" Eat your breakfast, it's getting cold", he said
"All this is for me?? I can't eat this much", I said
" Eat as much as you can Sree.. "He said
" I have to brush, I said and moved to the luggage to find my toothbrush..
I opened a bag and my innerwear fell out..
I got embarrassed and hurried to cover them..
"You don't need to be worried with me about that", he said and I realized he saw my expression.
" We aren't married yet" I said
"So? " He asked.
I shook my head and continued searching for the toothbrush
"You.. Why are you waiting here? ", I asked Vikram as I saw him standing there looking at me
" Do I need any reason..to look at my fiancé" He asked.
I ignored him and continued my work.
I finally found the toothbrush and ran to the washroom.
I came out to see Vikram sitting on the bed looking at his phone.
"Don't you have to get ready for office? ", I asked him
" Yup, you too.. But we are going late, after the interview as I said", he told..
"I've sent you a pdf with possible questions and what to answer, as what we both tell should match..
We are going to keep the love part to minimum and keep focused that it was arranged" , he said
"Why? , why do we need to lie" I asked
"Because I don't want people to get a chance to speak what they wish,..
When its between an employee and a boss , it's always taken the wrong way, ya we will still have that talks, but it would be lesser,
One more reason is less questions, .. It's easy ,just look at the pdfs", he said.
I looked and gaped when I saw it was 20 pages long , I had to remember all this!
"Eat, Sree" Vikram said pointing at the breakfast.
"Don't I have to read all this? ", I asked
" Feed me", I said , and immediately wondered what made me say that
Vikram raised his eyebrows.
"Seriously? ", he asked
I looked at my phone, ignoring him..
I was surprised when he really took the food and sat next to me.
He took a piece of the dosa,.. And fed me..
I looked at him.. I felt so happy at this moment, Vikram looked very caring..
The way his eyes moved.. And his lips twitched in a smile as he fed me.. Made me feel warm and at home..
I felt that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the pdf with him feeding me, but I didn't stop him.. The food seemed delicious too..
After breakfast, Vikram introduced the maid Mary, to me..
"She will help you get ready too" He said and finally left the room.
I took a bath and came out and took a look at the attire , he had chosen..
It was an off white, beautiful full length cocktail dress,..
With pearl works on it. It looked quite grand and classy..
It fit me perfectly, and I almost gasped as I realized, that I looked perfect in it.
I've never worn such dresses..
Mary helped me with the makeup and the hair..
She was really good in it.. The girl in the mirror, blinked at me and I couldn't believe she was me..
I read the pdfs silently.
Vikram entered in a few mins, wearing a matching cream tux..
His hair was sort of styled too..
He really looked like a prince..
He came to me..
"Sree, you are looking so Beautiful" he said
"You clean up well too", I replied to him , grinning..
"Shall we go to the Hall then? " He asked and raised his hand..
I took it, he placed his hand around mine and we walked down the stairs..
I was quite nervous, but Vikram's hands gave me the warmth and courage..
They started taking photos as we descended down the stairs.. I immediately got nervous, but Vikram smiled perfectly at them, he was really good with cameras.
We sat down next to each other, as they began asking questions..
"Is it a love or arranged marriage", was the first question
" Both together, arranged mainly ", he said smiling at the cameras..
I tried to smile too
" When is your marriage? ", asked another
" In 4 months, I'll let you know the exact date later", he said
"What do you think about Sreedevi? ",
" She is perfect for me, she has a great heart and is very sweet and lovely, I love her. " he said..
I looked at him.. He had officially announced before the words, that he loved me..
I felt really happy, something that I couldn't believe.. I pinched myself to see if I was not dreaming.
" Sir, so you were the eligible bachelor, so many ladies are going to be disappointed in this, what are you going to say to them", one person asked..
"Well.. Nothing much.. I'm marrying the love of my life and I guess, one day they would find theirs", he said
" Sree, do you think you are lucky to get a person like Vikram sir? ", they asked me
I felt a little nervous before the cameras, but Vikram gave me a reassuring smile and he held my hands.
" Yes.. I am lucky to get a person like Vikram, because he is a really good person, he is really compassionate.,caring..", I said
" We heard Vikram is strict at office, is he compassionate? ", they asked
" In office, he is the CEO, he has to be in a way so that the employees follow him and do work properly, you should see how much the employees respect him and how he works..
Personally he is a really warm person once you get to know him", I said smiling..
This was a little out of the script, but I hoped it would be ok..
I looked at Vikram, smiling at me..
There were a few inappropriate questions which Vikram brushed off.
Towards the end, there were a few more photos.. And we stood together..
Vikram put his hand on my waist..
Finally it was over..
I lied down on the couch, tired..
"I'm not coming to office today, tell my supervisor, that is you ", I said
" Don't we have work to do? You just got your promotion", Vikram asked
" Tired", I said
"Me too, still I'm going", he said
" I'm not a workaholic like you ", I said
and bit my tongue and looked up to see if he was angry at that remark
However , he had no expression.. On
" Work from home then, you already took many leaves", he said
"You are very strict, can't you give me some slack.. I'm your fiancé", I said
" Exactly why I don't want to show partiality to you, when already the whole office is talking about that", he said
I recollected the words of the employees..
I didn't want to hear that.
"Which is why I should have left your company", I said
He shrugged . " Well you can, I felt it would be a better experience here,.. Give some time.. People would get used to it", he said
"Can I tell people, that you will fire them if they talk bad things about me? ", I asked
" Absolutely not! ", he said
" Why not? You are ok with people bashing about me? ", I pouted
Vikram was silent for a minute, thinking how he should word his reply.
" No, as your fiancé I'm not, but as a CEO, I can't fire people for that, though if people torture you a lot you can approach the HR", he said
"What HR? There are only 2 HR managers for this branch, and they don't seem friendly", I said
" Sree, why do you want to fight with me.. Now", he asked tiredly
"Because you won't give me leave", I said
He sighed. " I gave you the option of work from home", he explained.
I glared at him. "Not same"
"Or work on a Saturday", he said
I groaned. " Alright... Saturday ", I said closing my eyes
After a few minutes of silence, he spoke..
"Good job Sree, by the way.. We did it..the interview", he said
" Yah.. Finally.. So many questions.. And Photos, I felt so self conscious ", I said
" Are they going to like follow me always? ", I asked
" Well not always, until this fire if the news runs down. " he said.
I nodded and fell asleep as Vikram got ready for the office...
I felt strong hands carry me to the bed and cover me with a blanket..
I felt his lips on my forehead,
But I was too sleepy, to open my eyes..