With the amount of reading I've covered, I've come across various dedications by authors, and believe me, I've skipped them all, I have never related to the emotion of dedications by an author, i.e. till today, when I sit down to write this post.
This one's for you Rhea, for making me want to love someone as immensely, deeply that you do, for being the fighter you are, and for being the angel you'll always be. I am alive today, and I owe it to you, we know that, and I'll miss you forever, but I haven't lost you, you're here deep in my heart, embedded in my soul.
Also, this one's only for you Gunjan, for I am writing this because of you, as this is the only birthday gift I could think of for someone who has everything. Also, thank you accepting me as one of your own. I promise to uphold and cherish this place.
Pardon the colors of this post, the colors are all bright, like Rhea, like her choices, her favorites.
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Date:- 15 June 2014
Venue:- The Palladium Hotel, Mumbai
Occasion :- The 4th wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs Arthath Agarwal.
"Excuse me Ma'm, you need to get a body-scan done before you enter. We are sorry for the inconvenience, but it's a mandatory security guideline now."
Myra steps into the security rooms, raises her arms to be frisked, all the while staring at the lobby of the hotel.
It's a breathtaking sight. Done up in ornate golden hues, the high dome structures like the ones at the Dome Church Paris, are intricately carved with flowers like Claude Monet's Water Lilies. The furniture - ornate yet not opulent, classic yet not ancient, the lines all so elegant yet so simple. But it's not just the decor that enchants her, it's the feel. The crimson of the furniture blends with the golden hues to make it seem like the sun at dawn. Rising high on the horizon, wanting to break the night's monotony into splendid glory. The vast area's doesn't seem pressing, it seems more like a close-knit family living together with the same set of values, traditions, yet so different as the rest. It captivated her, it awed her, it and her presence there.
Myra slowly walked towards the ballroom, pausing at the entrance, overwhelmed with the spectacle. For this hall was decked up in all the finery, celebrating a love between a couple who are said to be cupids excess, his biases. The reality was as distant as the two poles.
Soon she sensed a frisson down her back.Her body knew and reacted immediately. The back of her neck prickled in warning. Her stomach tensed. Her muscles clenched tight in automatic response. She stopped pretending to gaze at the bold colors and people before her and let her eyes drift closed to ward off the memories. And the pain—so much pain.
But it was all in the past. It was time to look forward to today, to the man standing across the room,
Myra's heart jolted to see the tall figure she’d spotted leaning against the wall watching the dancing. Watching her.
Her heart flipped over to see him so groomed and utterly gorgeous in a snazzy pinstriped suit, the top buttons of his crisp blue shirt undone, exposing the top of his broad chest and the pendant he wore around his neck. The one with her photograph in it.
Arthath walked over to her. "You look hot Mrs. Agarwal."
'No I don't' Mr. Agarwal, I look like a bloated balloon, I don't know how you talked me into this entire celebration, when am eight months along and bloated up like a ball?' cried Myra with a down turned mouth.
"I really thought that if you'd not show up, what excuse I'd concoct this time around?"
' I did consider running away, but going through the same motions of a budget hotel, being looked down as a pregnant hooker, train tickets that don't get confirmed, travelling by the door at night, looking for a cheap accommodation in Ahmedabad, it didn't appeal, especially when the appeal is of so much money and um richness around.' Said Myra with a straight face.
Even though she was joking, a flash of vulnerability surprised her. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, wouldn't humiliate her anymore. But the fears still lingered. She suppressed it.
Arthath was rendered deep in shock for a moment. He loathed himself. But then he saw the teasing glint in Myra's eyes, and relaxed. He picked her up and twirled her. "Am sorry Mrs. Agarwal, but I have bought you for life. Didn't you read the fine print of the contract you signed 4 years back? So you could kiss me now , and that’ll be the end of it. If you run I will not come look for you, I will not pursue you. And if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will make you mine. But I will not let you run."
'Which movie was that?' teased Myra
"Taken" said Arthath in a grin that melted the cold away...
And Myra stood on her toes to kiss him.
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