The smell of jasmine flowers and rose incense permeating the air adds to Meera's anxiety. It is not uncommon to get the blend of these sweet smell in an Indian household.But, today, the scent is irritating her olfactory nerve making her nauseous. It is a day she dread-her marriage is to take place this evening.She simply loathes the thought of it. Meera has just turned sixteen two weeks ago and is blessed with a fertile reproductive system seven months ago. When the news of her fertility spread across the neighborhood, as it is celebrated splendidly with the finest sarees, great amount of various Indian food that can feed an entire family for days, the large ladoos and sweets-palkoas, Mysore paks and the blasting Tamil, Hindi and folk songs, it is not a surprise that those who don't even know of her existence are well aware that she is capable of reproducing. As such she got her marriage proposal. Meera happen to be the only daughter to her rich parents and hence very tiny details concerning her is dealt with with uttermost importance and very often in a large scale.She had always felt like a princess. Yet, she had always felt trapped. Her mama and papa are still very orthodox in every way. And that squeezes the life out of her. Meera has a soul of of an eagle. She loves to soar high in life and explore the world is what she intend to do.Like all girls her age, she loves shopping, going through teenage magazines and drooling over John Abraham's six packs and had always dreamed of marrying Shah Rukh Khan and to be a successful working women one day and to fall in love with a man. A man as Meera defines it would be one of those characters in the romance novel that she reads- broad shoulders, smokey eyes, sexy smile and a dashing look that melts any woman's heart, a little mix of Abishek, SRK, Imraan would be amazing!However the news of the proposal had crushed her dreams and discussion with her parents is a battle.Meera knows she can always win a war but never a discussion with her parents.Thus, she gave in without a fight. But she worked up a plan to escape this marriage without bruising her parent's ego.She has decided to talk to the groom into disliking her. "Chechi, the groom is here!" exclaimed Mona, the servant girl. "Hmm, okay Mona." Meera looked out of the window. The welcoming ceremony was grand. It was easy to find her groom in the crowd. He had the most outstanding sherwani. Unfortunately, Meera can't make out his face. But, he was thin build, like any other 20 year old his age. After a while, her mum came running to the room " Mol, Sid wants to talk to you, make sure you talk like a girl.Always be soft spoken and Meera, remember, don't spoil our family name" mum warned with a straight face looking directly into her eye as if she is able to scan through and read Meera's intentions.Mothers and their instincts,creepy, Meera thought to herself.There was something bothering her with the fact that her future husband to be, wanting to talk to her. It was to her advantage however. She can smoothly cajole him into believing she would not make a perfect wife and she will do it simply by showing him the true her- by bringing out the outspoken and extrovert person in her. It was a simple theory that she had known for long.Indian man are never to keen to marry a woman that outshines him in every aspect.They have always been the hunters, the providers and she was sure if she were to show her independent side, she is going to scare her so called future husband to be. The thought of it boost her energy and she is looking forward to meet Sid.
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"Meera?"
His eyes was somewhat a mixture of brown and green.His nose is not all that perfect, however his smile is heart warming. His eyebrows are a little bushy but weirdly it seems to suit him and adds to his charm. He is moderately built, not thin she observed. She can give him credits for his voice, deep, very manly."Manly? What is wrong with you Meera? Tell him that you don't want to marry him, go ahead girl, you can do it, just te......" the voice in her stopped abruptly. She has managed to quiet the voice in her that have been her companion and her guide in deciding what is good and what is bad all these years, but, today, she had manage to take control of that voice.What was happening to her? Why isn't Meera, the extrovert talking!
"Meera right? Hi, I am Sid...(with an akward smile) which I am sure you have heard of. You did didn't you?
"Did what?"
"Heard of my name at least?"
"Oh that, yes, yes, I did, I heard mum mentioning just now"
(smiling shyly)"Thank god, I am glad. You are at least aware of it a few hours before the ceremony.It is bad enough that we have not meet before , it would have been worse if we don't know each others names"
Meera wanted to put on the stern face that she has been practicing the whole afternoon to shoo him away, but it was pointless, she could not resist her laughter.
"Meera, there is exactly two hours left before we tie the knot. I,well... this is not exactly how I had planned for us to get married,Meera. I have all that I need, abundance of wealth, that working hard is not really a requirement.I can provide us both. But, I am a dreamer. I want to craft a name for myself. Earn enough, fall in love and build a home. This is not how I planned everything would work out.You know how our parents are, getting married and producing babies keeps them happy and are their only priority. I am not saying it wont make us happy but it is just that there is still time and there is a lot more that I haven't explore.We are still young, Meera.
Is she dreaming?What was he trying to say? He sounded more like her. She was afraid that he would call off the wedding. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU MEERA SHREE! You dont want to get married and he is making life easier for you. Why are you afraid??? You cant be falling for him!"She could hear her little voice screaming into her eardrums. But she was already falling deep into the mess called love.She liked how he uses us.Somehow it feels complete. Love at first sight? That is so not Meera, but the feeling is pure.
" I never believed in love at first sight."
"What? Meera almost screamed. Was this man reading her mind just like her mother does?
I mean, sorry, what were you saying?"
"I was saying I never believed in love at first sight. I have always wanted to fall in love and to get to know the lady well enough until I take the next step. Sort of like in the movies, falling in love and then shaadhi."
"Is there singing and dancing as well?" Meera asked innocently.
( laughing) " No, really no, I mean I wouldn't mind, if you would teach me?"
Okay, was he asking for her hand in marriage. Meera feels stupid, because she is well aware that she was going to marry him but she teaching him dancing and singing sounded more like a proposal to her.
"Are you proposing? she blurted. She knew she was blushing. She could almost see her red reflection on his face. He let out a laughter.
"Well, I see you are quite fast at picking up hints."( rather cynically smiling)
"Of course, if you think you were going to marry a plain housewife that would shake her head to all you have to say, than I am sorry to disappoint you. I am not one!" What got into Meera was not known, she had to say what was in her mind. Normally, this would end up in a serious verbal war. But the way Meera expressed herself was childlike and Sid couldn't stop giggling.
"So, you are more of Meera the extrovert huh? "
"Yes!"
"Well, than Meera the extrovert, will you marry and than fall in love with me? You see I don't want to get married to a plain housewife that would shake her head to all I have to say. I want to marry the person who will make my life colorful and you happen to be the one. So,what you say?"
Do you know anything about sea horses?
"What!?" Sid couldn't help laughing. "Hmm, what has sea horses got to do with what I just asked?
"Do you know or not?"
"Hmm, let me see....well,the male sea horse gets pregnant. Oh, common, you want me to bear our babies, that's what this is about. Okay than, done. I am not so sure how we are going to do it, but we can work something out." Sid laughed out loud.
Meera was annoyed, but he truly had his way of making her laugh.
"No,no not that....Yes, Sid" she instantly said, she never gave it a thought. No, she didn't.Neither did she listen to the voice. It was her decision. She knows she loved him.He was her Shah Rukh Khan.She knows her parents are not getting her married to a male chauvinist pig. He was different. He was willing to bear their babies,after all. Meera knows how stupid she was to let emotions influence her decision but yet it felt right.
"Yes to what Meera?" He took a step closer to her. With each step, she felt butterflies in her tummy flying crazily. He held her hands and slowly cupped her face and she could feel his breath on her skin.Warm and it was driving her to madness. "Yes to what Meera?" he repeated.
(clearing her throat) " Yes, Sid, I will marry you"
He very gently kissed her. She froze but her body knew how to respond to the kiss. Probably it was all the romance novel that she have been reading that helped her or, well ,it could simply be love. She is now ready to fall in love.
The wedding that she dreaded had turned out to be her dream wedding. That night, when Sid was working his magic with his hands on her body, he couldn't resist himself from asking her.
" So what is wrong with the sea horses?"
"Seahorses are monogamous, they stick with one mate for lifelong"
He smiled. " I am one now honey,forever your seahorse"
She smiled.
" I can still help you bear our babies though" he added.
She slapped him naughtily on his shoulders and whispered " I want to have your babies. It is an order."
"As you please princess, lets start making one now."
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