MY ORPHAN BRIDE

ARE YOU A THIEF?

ALICE

It was already 10 P.M. when we reached the venue, THE TRAVELERS’ PARADISE.

We were welcomed by the booming music. The hotel was lit with lights and, since there were no houses nearby, there was no way that police would invade that place. The surroundings were bounded by high walls and there was a queue of vehicles and two wheelers all along the way.

How many people have been invited? I wonder.

Well, the VIPs like the Managing Director were lucky enough because there was a reserved space in the parking lot unlike the queue that we saw earlier lined all along the hotel compound.

[This is insanely crazy. I think as we enter the hotel premises.]

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-..--.-.-.-.-.-.

“Babe…..You really know how to make me wait!”

As soon as we entered the main door, we were welcomed by the voice of Prerna Annay.

She hurriedly engulfed Mr. Managing Director in her embrace. [Wow! So Prerna Annay is the clingy type. I make a mental note of that specialty of hers.]

I wanted to give them their privacy, hence I tried to move a little, but the grip that he was having on my left hand wouldn't let me do so.

What the hell do you want? [My eyes question him.]

I struggled for some time at the angry look in his eyes and told me to stop that instant.

I am annoyed. I really am. How dare he hold my hand so shamelessly while he is engulfed in his girlfriend’s embrace?

‘Alice! Thank you! You finally came.’ Prerna Annay said, looking my way.

My cheeks are already red as a ripe apple and I am so worried that she would see her boyfriend’s hand holding mine.

“H…Ha..Happy Birthday Prerna Annay.” I said with the utmost difficulty.

The angel she is, she did not bother to be asking us questions because I saw how she looked at our hands. She brushed the issue like nothing happened and put an arm across Mr. Managing Director and went ahead.

Or did she take it to heart because she did not even respond to my wishes?

I followed them like a lost puppy amidst a herd of people. And she was introducing him and me to almost everyone that came across us.

She ultimately took us to what I should call a living room!

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

People were resting lavishly on the couches.

I am quite unaccustomed to these kinds of gatherings, and it was obvious that I started feeling uncomfortable.

I don't know why people are eyeing me like I am a ghost. [ Alice! didn't you say you look perfect back at your house? I scolded myself internally.]

I checked my reflection on the huge glasses of the hotel windows. I forgot that I was wearing an off-size jacket on top of my gown. [So it must be this jacket. Silly me! I should have removed it earlier.]

I took it off and took my seat.

We were served drinks and I chose to go with the juice. I mean, I have never consumed alcohol, so I don’t properly know which has the least effect. I can't afford to get drunk after all.

I enjoyed every sip of pomegranate juice that was served to me by the waiter.

Prerna Annay went away with Priyam and I was left alone to explore the grand hallway on my own.

I am social, but I can’t start a conversation at first. One has to take the initiative to let my true self out and, in this elite society, I believe, nobody would want to talk with me.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

I started off my time alone checking the details of the Travelers' Paradise. I am amazed by almost everything.

I don't properly remember, but my head has been hurting for a while. It hasn’t been long since we arrived here, but I am starting to feel dizzy.

There is this heaviness in my head and it is excruciating.

I also feel like I need to drink water. My throat is turning dry and I feel that my ears and cheeks are burning.

I wanted to go back but my feet are feeling as if they've run a thousand miles recently and they can take no more. In short, they do not have enough strength to take me back to where I came from.

Thus, I chose to walk towards the array of rooms ahead of me and luckily found an open one.

I don't understand how to quench my thirst. There is no water in here.

Yes, the bathroom. It struck my mind finally and I went in.

I kept flushing my face with cold water but it wasn’t helping. My eyes were turning red and I could see myself turning beetroot red in the mirror.

I look like a mess. And I have to fix myself.

Whatever s**t is going inside my system is not good, because I am biting my lips to such an extent that a small thread of red blood has appeared on that area of my lower lip.

I want to call for help but the music is too loud.

I dialed Prerna Annay’s number, which straightaway went to voicemail.

I don’t know any other person over here. I am worried about how I will find help in such a situation.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Moans are threatening to escape my mouth. What the hell is happening?

I have the urge to touch myself. I am panting so hard trying to suppress this feeling within me. I am fisting my hands tightly but it is not helping.

The bathroom is exquisite and the walls are mirrored, displaying my seductive image all across.

The heat that initially started there in my throat has spread all across my body now. I could not control my hands and they were searching for something in my upper torso.

My lips are shivering and tears are pooling in my eyes. I don't like whatever the hell is happening right now.

But it seems as if I am under the influence of a bad spell or something like that. I am doing exactly what I don't want to do.

I shut my eyes tightly and caressed both of my bosoms in high hope of clenching my inner thirst.

“Alice? What the f**k are you doing?”

I got startled and turned around in the direction of the angry voice.

I realize it now that I forgot to close the doors, of the room and of this bathroom.

I felt so embarrassed but I couldn’t control the want and lust that was currently engulfing me.

“Mr..Mr..ahh…please help me..”

I couldn’t even recognize my own voice. It was ecstatic and very seductive.

I don't have any intention of seducing anyone tonight. I don’t even know how to do that but the way I am pleading, him to help me seems as if I want him to make his move. It is not like that.

He is frozen near the door of the bathroom. He is looking at me with furrowed eyebrows and a very angry look. “Alice?” He scolds me again.

“Please help me!”

I said one last time and the tears that I was holding started finding their way down my cheeks.

He punched the door of the bathroom and left it shaking vigorously for some seconds.

He came near me and held me tight with my shoulders.

"Come to your senses Alice!"

I let out a soft moan upon hearing his deep angry voice. And I could see how his jaw clenched.

His attempt at retaliation furthered the fire of desire in me. I couldn’t help but touch his clenched jaw with one of my hands.

“Stay still, Alice!”

He scolded me again, but that led me to brush my thumb on his red lips.

They looked inviting and the way his Adam’s apple flickered for a while, I lost all sanity that was left in me and kissed him on his cold neck.

'Yes'

I know now that I've found what I was searching for a while ago.

I need to cool myself down and, by kissing him, I can gain my sanity back.

His neck feels cold and that somehow is cooling down the heat that formed on my lips.

I pulled him forcibly by the collar of his shirt and placed a kiss on his lips.

His eyes widened at what I did, but I repeated the same action again.

He yanked me away but my grip on his collar was strong enough to let me cling to him.

I can hear him muttering some abolished words. But every movement his lips are making right now is only inviting me more.

“Please help me, Mr. Fezong”

I said as I inhaled his perfume and closed my eyes.

I was taken to a whole different universe by I don't know what.

But when the drizzles of cold water started drenching me from the shower overhead, I was startled.

I was kept standing under the shower for a long time.

He is looking at me intently while holding my waist firmly. I am being drenched from top to bottom and he is not an exception to that as well.

My head becomes heavy and my eyes start to shut every now and then. I feel like I could faint anytime.

My knees are becoming weak and I think they can no longer support my own weight.

Right then I heard a woman’s angry voice that was hinting at me.

“So you are a thief, Alice? You want to steal another’s boyfriend?”

"....."

"How dare you? Get off of him right now!"

I want to explain to her that whatever she is thinking is untrue. I am innocent and her boyfriend is only helping me. But my tongue isn't reciprocating.

"Alice"

"Alice"

I can hear Mr. Managing Director calling me but my eyes won't open anymore.

He is shaking me vigorously too but I can do nothing. I am sleepy and tired.

What is happening to me? I want to know too.