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Chapter 40
Chapter 40
THIRD PERSONAL'S POV
Soon, the lift stopped on first floor and the door dinged open, they walked out and and then began walking straight. All this while, Jenny had been drinking her surroundings with great interest. Even during such an odd timing of the day, the hotel was bustling with activity. Some people were checking in while some were moving out. The staff was groomed well in sarees and kurtas. Is someone would cross them, they would smile tenderly like she knew them all.
She wanted to know more about the place and hence out of sheer curiosity which no longer could be contained, she asked, "Where are we? This place is beauti- .... umm good." She said, still not willing to show her admiration for something associated directly or indirectly with the devil.
To this, the girl replied with a smile,"We are in the one of the seven-star hotels of Dhanu bhaiya. This is the Anjali Bhavan. This the leading hotel in the country, and comes in top 5 list in the world. You know, Anjali was the name of-" but she was interrupted by the older lady,"Enough Shyama, we are almost there."
To this the girl went silent, embarrassed of taking it so far. Soon, they reached the end of the corridor, and Jennifer froze on seeing the sight before her.
The three of them were standing at the foot of a fleet of stairs which descended down in front of an open door. The stairs were covered with rose petals. The railings had blue and white roses arranged in a bundle, with a small yellow lighted bulb in the middle. The lady whispered, " From here, you lead madam."
Jennifer's heart began to race in her chest. She clutched the sides of her dupatta in front of her face, but despite of being nervous, she took a step.
Now is the time to face him, to prove that I am not a quivering damsel in distress! I am wounded, injured emotionally but not chained to this beast. And I shall prove my point, whatever it may take!
She thought while descending the stairs.
Once, she reached the entrance of the colossal hall, she lifted her head up and saw a hundreds of lavishly dressed men and women present in there. All of them were engaged in their talks. This area had the seating arrangements for the invited people, drinks at one side, number of counters of food lined on the other side of the hall. Huge tear-drop chandeliers were hanging from the roof while the floor had red-coloured vinyl flooring. There was also a stage located on the extreme left, were some musicians were playing live music. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
The moment she stepped inside, all the pairs of eyes snapped to her, watching her from head to toe, assessing her beauty, her way of carrying herself. The hall gradually got covered with the theatrical fog, giving a feeling of walking through the white, cotton clouds. The lights dimed and except of the chandeliers, no more lights were on. Then suddenly, all the paintings filled walls began shining because of the golden-coloured rice lights illuminated. The lights would illuminate and turn off gradually now and then, giving a heavenly effect to the place.
Jennifer was left mesmerized. Her eyes fluttered and widened as if wanting to capture every bit of the beautiful sight around her. She kept walking and the people on her way, on their own made way for her by stepping aside. She didn't realize when she had crossed the hall and was standing on its opposite side, where a large courtyard was located. She dragged her gaze from the hall to her front.
Now the sweet fragrance of the flowers present in the foyer was replaced with the piquant smell of camphor lingering in the garden air. She moved towards the courtyard. As she stepped on the lush carpet of grass, hanging lights got switched on illuminating the whole courtyard. There were scented candles everywhere which she had not noticed till then.
And then, she spotted her fate boring his brown eyes into her black ones. The devil was wearing a cream-colored rajputi sherwani(type of Indian wear) with a heavily embroidered achkan(a type of clothing wrapped by men during a wedding)on his left shoulder. He had a blue colored turban contracting to her lehenga. He was looking sizzling with a larger than life image oozing out from his overall dark persona.
His eyes were doing such things to her which she could not even imagine someone else's hands to be capable of doing.
His eyes were boring into hers with an unparalleled fervour. While Jennifer was returning the gaze with an equal intensity. Their stare-down continued as none out of the two batted a single eyelid.
"Miss Mathews, please walk to the mandap. We have to commence the marraige." The priest said. She blinked.
And she did walk, as despite of her best efforts, panic gripped her. She moved to the mandap with heavy steps, praying to the Lord, to either engulf her within the ground or strike lightning on her captor but nothing happened.
Once the bride and the groom were present in the mandap, the priests began the wedding.
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Chants filled the air and the fire was ignited in the pyre. The priests were performing the ceremony in a very pensive mood. Every now and then, panicked gasps were leaving Jennifer's mouth. She was resisting even the slightest of brushing of her arms with her captor sitting beside her.
The guests had collected in the courtyard to witness the function. Not all of them were from underworld, but surely most of them were corrupt. While some were bureaucrats, some ministers of the central level
and many were from the world of business. Hence, everything had to be kept normal like any Indian Wedding without any suspicion.
"Please place your hand above the groom's and repeat the chants after me." The priest instructed. Jennifer followed the instructions blindly. But it was hard to control the urge to snatch her hand away from the large one enclosing hers in a firm grip.
It also took tremendous effort to stop her hand from trembling. She gritted her teeth and tried her level best of showing courage. She couldn't show fear in front of him in such an early stage. For once, she was glad that she had the veil in front of her face or anyone who would have seen her expressions now, would have known that she was being forced in this marriage.
The priest could sense the tension between the couple as like any normal couple, they did not steal glances at one another. Neither anyone of them smiled for once at each other. While the groom had a small, hardened smile etched on his face, the bride had downcasted eyes, not lifting her head up anytime.
While some people were giving her looks of pity, some gave her looks of pure envy, and some seemed to romanticize the hurried wedding. But oblivious to all of it, the bride and groom proceeded with the Marraige.
"The bride and the groom now should get up for the seven rounds around the sacred fire." Continued the priest. As in cue, the guests, began showering flower petals on them. Both of them continued the rituals, as instructed to them which included being seated and applying the vermilion on the head of the bride.
Soon, the marraige was accomplished.
"The bride and the groom may stand up now. From now on, you are husband and wife." The priest said.
Hearing this, a dark smile appeared on Dhanush's face. He turned towards now petrified Jennifer. He leaned forward and lifted the veil. He brushed his nose along her jawline making her shudder. The priest had to avert his eyes to give them space, hence he got up and left them alone.
"You heard that sweetheart? I had promised myself that I shall make you mine FOREVER. And that 'forever' starts from now!" The beast whispered in his beauty's ear, lacing his words with an untold promise!