Scandalous Wedding

Chapter 10

As she walked down the aisle, clutching her father's arm, she didn't feel any of those emotions she thought she would feel. Those silly romantic sweet things which she wrote in her diary in her teenage years didn't seem real, rather seemed like a fairy tale, where she was just a spectator but not the princess.

Few hours ago, when she woke up in her room, after that dreadful night- Dreadful? Her sub conscious asked. Okay, may be not, dreadful! She thought with a shake of her head. She distinctly remembered the night, where Eli spoon fed her the yogurt and made her drink water from such a huge pitcher she had no idea what the purpose of them were. And of course the most embarrassing part of the night, when she peed on the roadside, behind a rock. Ugh! She threw the pillow on the floor and fell face first into another one, to smother herself, hoping to die. She was her mother's daughter, always prim and proper, never had she had a moment of wilderness or spontaneity. And this was exactly why she never did.

While she mused over, how to live the rest of her life with that man who witnessed her most embarrassing moment, the door suddenly opened and people started to pour in.

Kaya, Nimmy were the first one's who came running to her and pulled her in a hug. She laughed at their dramatic faces, "What?" she asked them when they shared concerned looks, having a silent conversation, which hiked Sang's curiosity,

"Somebody spiked your drink Sang", Kaya said in a low voice and Nimmy nodded.

"What?" she chuckled cause that was near impossible. It was a hen's night and everyone were women and because it was simply crazy. Who would do that to her?

"It's true", Nimmy never lied and Sang quickly got pulled into the gravity of the situation, "When you got so high and went with that stripper, I knew something was wrong. Because you are just not the type to do something like that. I was just going to come find you when the fire alarm went off and Mr. McCoy showed up. I thought you... I am so sorry", a sob escaped her lips and Kaya pulled her shoulders down into a comforting gesture,

"I just went to find out who did it when the alarm went off. When I came back, neither of you were there. I thought of calling but...", Sang interrupted Kaya,

"but we left all our mobiles in my car", she nodded, "Oh my god", Sangavi placed her hands on her mouth as her eyes rounded wide, "My car?" she was about to get up to retrieve it from the club's parking lot when Nimmy cut in,

"You dad sent a driver to get the car. Don't worry",

"Ladies", came a feminine voice from the door, and Sangavi's mother walked through followed by Sang's Indian cousins,

"Sheila! Divya!" Sangavi exclaimed and went to hug her first cousins whom she met a very long time ago and only recognized because of the courtesy of face book.

"Hey Sangavi! How're you girl?" Sheila asked looking at her from top to toe, and the conversation flowed.

Soon she was getting ready for the wedding, which she didn't feel like it at all. All she could think was nothing. She felt numb. It was just like her birthday, or any other party where her friends and family gushed about her dress and make up. Except, she didn't even feel the little excitement she felt while getting ready for those parties.

Now as she walked towards Eli, her future husband, she didn't even feel the little nerves a bride should feel. She just wondered if this was how the rest of her life was going to be like, emotionless and numb when her father halted her steps.

She looked up to see that she was already there and it was time for her dad to give her away to her husband.

"Sangavi", her father's lovely voice made her look at him through the veil. And that one look brought tears to her eyes. His wrinkled face, which didn't do any damage to his looks, the bags under his eyes which said a lot about the sleepless nights he spent in thoughts of his daughter and his lips which trembled with every word he spoke, "You will always be my daughter. My princess. No matter what happens, always remember that we love you and we will always stand by your side",

"Dad", she choked a sob but held herself together. She wouldn't break down in front of such vast audience, she couldn't.

Her father turned towards Eli, who stood there wearing a wedding tux, looking ridiculously handsome. Young and handsome, actually. "You hurt her and I'll kill you", Eli gulped literally and his Adam's apple bobbed as he did that. Her father gave him a tight smile, just to make it look light but only a few knew that his threat was as genuine as it could be.

Eli extended his hand towards her and she took it, placing her gloved fingers in his surprisingly, cold hand. It bought a tiny satisfaction that he was dreading this event as much as she did. As they stood side by side holding hands, the pastor began the ceremony, "Today we are gathered here...", and Sangavi drowned out the whole speech. She attended too many weddings to know how it usually goes.

"You look beautiful", Eli muttered, so that only she could hear,

She was startled for a moment and looked around through her peripheral vision, "I don't think we can talk during the ceremony", she muttered back not moving her lips too much. She glanced at the pastor who was looking at the crowd rather than the bride and groom,

"Why ever not? And when your husband says you're beautiful, you must either blush or say thank you", she rolled her eyes as she could picture that stupid smirk on his face, though she didn't dare look at him,

"Because it's a ceremony and out of respect we shouldn't be talking. And for your information, I don't thank for a fake compliment", she pursued her lips trying to keep the smile intact when the Pastor smiled at her warmly while addressing something about a wife, bride, women something something.

"Seriously? This guy is boring the hell out of me", the pastor glanced at Eli as if he heard him, but quickly returned to the addressing, "Let's get out of here? And by the way, the compliment was real. Whatever made you think it was fake?"

"It is a marriage ceremony and not a business meeting where you can walk away. And yes the compliment was fake because I am wearing a veil, which means you can't see my face and that means you were lying that I am beautiful", she controlled her tone which turned into a hiss with each word,

"Pity it isn't a business meeting. This pastor wouldn't have lasted a day in my office", Eli muttered and suddenly the pastor paused, looking at both of them with narrowed eyes and continued with the ceremony, talking something about heaven and Jesus. "And Jesus, you've become so derivative. Where's Ms. de Silva from 12th grade who couldn't even make simple chemistry derivations? I thought I was marrying her! By the way, I don't need to look at you to know that you are beautiful"

"Stop it. He is conducting our wedding ceremony, you can't talk like that about him, even if he's a little boring", she could see Eli's lips twitching into a smile cause her's were definitely tilted up in a smile, "And stop being so cheesy, husband. Those lines won't work on me",

"I can't! He is boring. And look how old he is, I am afraid he would have a heart seizure before we both finish saying 'I do'", this time the pastor did pause in between and looked between the bride and groom,

"did you say something?" he asked and both Eli and Sang gave him their best innocent looks. The pastor sighed and returned to his speech,

"What lines would work on you, WIFE?" Eli asked, stressing the word 'wife',

"Stop insulting the pastor, he'll listen and why the hell should I tell you which lines would work on me?" she hissed through her smile, which was on the verge of breaking into a grin,

"He'll listen huh? So, can I insult him if he isn't listening? And yes, you should tell me what lines to use, cause I need to woo you and who could give me better advice in impressing you than yourself?" and once again the smirk was evident on his face,

Sangavi shook her head slightly, "Don't insult him at all. Regardless of whether he's listening or not. And where's the fun if I tell you everything? You must discover my weak spots on your own, don't you think?" , she teased back.

She could hear the suppressed silent from her side and knew she won at least one part of the debate, "I think the pastor is deaf, cause he's going on and on without realizing that we're talking under his nose. So there is no point in quitting with the insults. And as far as wooing you is concerned... you just wait and watch wife, I am going to sweep you off your feet with my charm",

"The pastor isn't deaf, he heard you talk thrice now. And let's see how far you're going to succeed in your mission to sweep me off my feet. Cause I am not one of your exes", she said in a sing song voice at the end. The pastor narrowed his eyes and this time it was in annoyance. Sangavi realized he must have concluded that they've been talking so she winced with a sorry look,

"Well, he isn't doing anything about it so, I guess we can continue our little conversation", he shrugged, and this time she knew that pastor didn't miss that either, "And I know you're not like my exes. That's the reason I am marrying you, becauseyou are different from the other women I met. Wish me luck wife, so that I can succeed in seducing you",

"It doesn't matter that he isn't doing anything cause it's disrespectful to talk during a wedding ceremony", she hissed, "And best of luck, I can't wait to see you fail",

"If it is disrespectful then why are you talking? And thanks, but sorry cause you're not going to see me fail because I will win sweetheart".

"I am not talking, I am stopping you from talking so it doesn't count and we'll see about that", she said with a mischievousgrin,

"DO YOU, MR. ELIJAH JOHN MCCOY TAKE Ms. SANGAVI DE SILVA AS YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE?" the pastor all but yelled at Eli, who winced at the ear piercing tone. Nobody noticed it other than Sang who stood in their close proximity and let out a soft chuckle,

"I do", Eli whined like a little kid who was getting scolded for being naughty,

"And do you, Ms. Sangavi de Silva, take Elijah John McCoy as your lawfully wedded husband?" he asked in a much gentler tone with a warm smile like he knew that Eli was the one badmouthing him and she was being the sweeter person. Sangavi couldn't help but smile as she replied,

"I do", smiling back at the old pastor. She heard Eli curse something along the lines of 'what-the-f**k'

"I pronounce you man and wife", he said with a jolly smile and towards Eli with narrowed eyes and added, "Now you may kiss the bride", with venom in his eyes and tone.

Sangavi chuckled while Eli scowled at the old Pastor. They both faced each other and slowly Eli lifted up her veil. He actually looked at her for the first time since she walked down the aisle and Sangavi could see the awe in his eyes. It was more flattering than those compliments.

She blushed and lowered her eyes for a second before looking back at him, "I was right. You do look beautiful", and the way he said 'beautiful' was enough to let her know that he actually meant it.

He slowly leaned forward and Sangavi tilted up her head to receive his lips on hers. And when they did, it wasn't anything like their first kiss which he stole at his office. This time, it was gentle, soft and... promising.