The Secret to Enjoying Weddings

Two months since she last saw her husband.

Sara regarded herself in the mirror. Wrapped in a luxurious black velvet sari, adorned with delicate dull gold embroidery on the “pallu”, she admitted she didn't look too shabby. Her dark hair was hoisted in a bun, encircled with white motia flowers. Gold and pearl jhumkas dangled from her ears, caressing the curve of her neck. She had intentionally kept her neck bare, letting the creamy length speak for itself. Her makeup was light; a shimmery lip gloss upon her fine lips and dark kajal accentuated her eyes.

It was her cousin’s Nikkah today. The ceremony was to start in an hour, after the maghrib prayers. Giving herself one last assessing look in the mirror, she made her way down.

----------------

The wedding reception was alive and vibrant. “Gajra ray” drifted in the arena. Women and children adorned with colorful attire scuttled to and fro. The sound of heeled shoes and the clinking of bangles were heard from all corners. People laughed, children wailed but the air of festivity and delight permeated

Round tables, draped with white tablecloths with gold trims were scattered throughout the magnificent hall. Along with crystal chandeliers, the ceiling was ensconced with Victorian baroque work, giving the entire hall a palatial vibe.

-----

Saad tugged at his collar and loosened his necktie which felt like it was choking the life out of him.

“ I hope this is the right event” he murmured, as he eyed the incoming guests.

He sat unobtrusively in the corner, where most of the serving staff had gathered. He didn’t want to be seen or recognized yet.

For the life of him, he didn't recognize a single person, who paraded down the hall. He flicked through his phone to have another look at the wedding invite. The address and hall seemed correct. Where was Sara?

They hadn’t had the best of goodbyes when he had to fly out to Berlin for a training for three months. Unthoughtful words were said, feelings were hurt, grudges were held. They would Facetime off and on, but the unresolved feelings from their argument hung silently in their midst like an invisible wedge between them.

But Damn it he had missed her; Their easy rapport, her silly humor, and also her whiney ways. A sensitive soul, she hurt quickly, but recovered as well, when love was shed on her. He may have been harsh in his words, he realized, but so was she.

They had met almost three years ago, at a Sonology clinic, where he had accidentally gone to get a scan under the incorrect name. He had entered the room, and there she had stood, wearing a white lab coat, with her back towards him going through a file.

“So we are scheduled for a penile scan, Mr. Saad. The nurse will just be here with a gown you can wear, and then we will begin.”

Too stunned to speak, Saad blinked in utter confusion.

She still didn't look at him and was busy making notes in the file.

“ Umm…” he had finally managed. “ I am here for an abdominal scan.”

She finally glanced at him, a quizzical look upon her features. She then looked back at the file she held.

“ Mr. Saad Mirza?” She read.

“ No, Saad Ghazi.” he corrected.

She looked at him like he was an idiot. “ Do you have trouble recognizing your name sir? The nurse had called out Saad Mirza three times.”

“ I… I am sorry, I must have misheard” He stammered.

She didn’t seem amused. She seemed annoyed. She was about to say something when the nurse walked in with the real eighty-year-old Saad Mirza, in a hospital gown.

Saad eventually did get his abdominal scan three patients later and was secretly happy that he would see her again. He had found something charming about her petite form and irritated disposition.

Upon his turn, he could tell she was miffed to see him again. And just to rub it in, she asked him to repeat his name to her. Twice.

He apologized profusely regarding the earlier incident. She blandly said it was alright, and moved on to scanning.

As she moved the probe on his abdomen, he could see her eyeing the black splotches on the monitor. He wanted to talk to her, to say something, anything. He was not in his element. He was lying on his back, with his shirt pulled to his chest, with sticky weird gel stuff on his torso.

“ I didn't know there was such a thing as Penile scans” he blurted.

The probe stilled for a mere two seconds and then resumed scanning. He cursed his luck, his foul mouth, his tactless mind.

“ Yes, they are normally done to assess flow and check for blockages. It is a fairly common scan” she replied without looking at him.

“ I see” He had created a ginormous bubble of awkwardness. He wanted her to shove the probe through him and end him. Couldn't he have commented on the weather? Couldn’t he have….

“ Mr. Saad. I need you to take a deep breath and hold, so I can take pictures.”

The scan went on in silence from there, with nothing else but the hum of the machine and her clicking on the keyboard.

As he had laid miserably with his shirt up, he had vowed that he was going to turn the situation around and go out with her.

The next day he had shown up at her clinic again, with a bouquet of red yellow, and white roses and a box of Patchi chocolates. The gesture had created a bit of a scene at the hospital, but she had eventually agreed, and she had even smiled.

Saad smiled at the memory. He took a sip of water and eyed the incoming guests. Where was she, he wondered. He recognized a few people but preferred not to speak to anyone just yet. He wanted to see Sara first.

And then he saw her, at the other end of the hall. Her slim form clad in black with specks of gold, she was animatedly speaking to someone, as she played with her left earring. Saad’s heart did a small flip at seeing her, and damn it she looked good. His prick began to stir.

She was joined by her cousins, and it seemed they were making their way in his general direction. He didn’t want her to see him, especially not with her hoard of obnoxious cousins. He wanted her alone.

Saad slipped away from where he sat. His mind was formulating a plan.

-------------------

Sara marveled at the lovely ambiance. The air smelled of flowers and the festive music put her in a better mood. She had received several compliments about her sari. Sara was not always a sari girl. Initially, she had felt clumsy with handling its graceful fall. But the more she wore them, the more she enjoyed the feel of regality it elicited.

She sat with her cousins, talking about what all girls do at weddings. Other people’s clothes. Though an avid contributor to the verbal shredding of Auntie Pareveen’s dress, her heart was elsewhere. In all honesty, she didn't like doing this anymore.

She missed her husband and was still injured from their last argument. The two opposite feelings for him swayed in her heart.

“ Sara Auntie, Baji wants you to come see her immediately.” Said a little girl, dressed in a baby blue frilly frock.

Sara blinked at the girl. “ Which baji?”

The girl eyed her shyly and began walking towards the exit, “ I’ll show you”.

Sara sighed and followed the girl. Her cousins were too busy looking for the next prey.

The girl led her to the foyer, which was crawling with guests. Sara nodded and smiled at a few people she knew.

The girl pointed towards a narrow passageway and promptly ran away. Sara eyed the dark passage skeptically as she walked to it. It seemed like an abandoned part connected to the foyer. At the end of the passage she saw one of the bride room’s lights on, and the door was left ajar.

“Mehak?” she called out her cousin’s name as she advanced to the room. She stepped in to see that the room was sparsely furnished with a divan, some chairs, and a glass coffee table. On it lay a single white rose.

All of a sudden the door behind her slammed shut, making her heart jump. She whirled around only to knock herself into someone. She gasped at the unexpected contact and began to fall back on the glass table when strong arms gripped her, stopping her fall.

“ Saad!” she choked, catching her breath, as their eyes met. Relief flooded through her. All her anger melted and her heart sprang with joy. She threw her arms around him, relishing the feel of him. He in turn held her tight, squeezing her into him.

They remained locked for a few beats. For some reason, tears sprang to her eyes. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed him, and how terribly sorry she was by how they had parted.

Saad rubbed her back, “ Sara, you ok?”

She nodded into his shoulder, still unable to let go. She vaguely realized her tears would ruin her kajal.

She pulled back, sniffing, and dabbing her eyes with the tips of her fingers. She drew in a deep breath calming her nerves, and said, “ Saad. I am sorry about the last time… I…”

Saad placed a finger on her lips, quieting her. “ I am sorry too, love. I have been miserable. Let's never part on a bad note...hmmm?”

Sara gazed into his eyes, which were filled with sincere remorse and affection. He then leaned into her and planted the softest of kisses on her lip. Sealing a promise.

She felt his hardness through his trousers, “ Saad, are you…?”

He cut her off by thrusting into her. “ “We”…have missed you,” he said with a wicked gleam in his eye.

“ Saad! We absolutely cannot. Anyone can walk in'' she gasped disbelievingly.

“The door is locked,” he said with another thrust, staring down at her hungrily. “ And I. Need. You. Now”

The way he was looking at her, was turning her insides into mush. Before she could respond, Saad bent down rasped in her ear, “ You look stunning darling. Give me some.”

Almost unconsciously Sara dug her hands into his hair, and she pulled his lips to hers. A groan escaped him as their lips touched, sending a jolt through her. Their kiss was desperate, fervent, and longing. Their teeth gnashed, he bit her lower lip, causing her knees to buckle. She pulled him deeper into her, their mouths fused, as they hungrily kissed, nipped, and sucked. Her heart thudded in her chest, she felt herself moisten with need. She moaned into his mouth, flicking her tongue with his.

Saad began to bunch up her sari, drawing the voluminous fabric to her waist.

“ Holy fuck” growled, when he came across her saree’s petticoat barring his access.

Sara giggled at his annoyance. His hand scrambled at her waist till he found the hook and let the satin material fall to her legs, followed by her underwear.

His fingers slid into her moistness, causing her to be lightheaded with need. “Oh baby, you’re ready for me.”

Sara squeaked when he drove her back, pinning her to the wall and hoisting her up by cupping her hips. She was surprised to see his pants were at his feet as he rubbed his member against hers, sending sweet shivers down her legs.

Part of her mind was in utter disbelief at what they were doing, and the other half of her was in complete surrender. She had missed him. Her body had missed him.

“Rub some of that honey on me” he croaked.

Removing her hands from his hair, she slowly reached for her moisture. She gasped at her own touch, at how sensitive she had become. Saad watched her, still holding her by the hips, against the wall. She locked her eyes into his, as she rubbed her moistened hand across his cock, lubricating it in her liquid. A groan rumbled in his chest, as she stroked him, readying him. He clashed his mouth on hers and drove himself into her simultaneously.

She gasped in his mouth at the sudden fullness, which began to send small tendrils of pleasure through her. He thrust himself into her, pushing her into the wall. She moaned with pleasure at every thrust.

The beat of the dhol reverberated from the outside. Her bangles clinked with every thrust, music made by their rhythm.

His pace became faster, urgent as plunged into her. She met him with every jerk, taking him deeper inside, where a sweet tension built between her legs. Stroke after stroke ignited her inside. Her bangles clinked faster. They panted in unison with every joining. He squeezed her hips, driving himself deep until she could bear it no longer and a million nerves exploded inside of her, dizzying her, elevating her. Her cry was muffled with his lips, as he took it into himself. She felt her body stiffen and shudder with his, as he relieved himself, convulsing within her.

They remained joined, catching their breaths. Sweat trickled down his temple.

“My God Sara.” He breathed.

Sara held on to him, with her arms and her legs. She inhaled Saad’s scent, mixed with that of their lovemaking. Her mind was still foggy, but her body was deliciously expended.

As her mind gingerly came back to reality, she was shocked at the insanity of what they had just done. At her cousin’s wedding. In a bridal room, not 10 feet away from all her family members.

A part of her was thrilled and exhilarated at the whole experience. It made it more sexy somehow. And Saad! What a surprise!

“ Baby,” Saad nipped her cheek. “ I am all spent. I don't think I can hold you much longer.”

A few minutes later, the couple righted themselves.

Sara was still a bit woozy and also in a state of disbelief as to what had just transpired. But the thrill of it was absolutely something else.

She was in the middle of finally getting her sari right when Saad walked up to her and took her hands into his.

“Sara, that was incredible. And I am sorry for scaring you like that, but when I saw you earlier, I just wanted you.” He looked into her eyes and gave her hands a squeeze emphasizing his point.

Sara couldn’t help feeling a little zing of satisfaction at hearing his words. She was glad to see she still had that impact on him. A tiny giggle escaped her lips at the utter craziness of their predicament. But it was a memory she would forever cherish.

“ I still cannot believe what we just did, Saad! It was certainly crazy but in an amazing way. I missed you so much, you buffoon. Thank you for coming down, and I know how much you hate weddings.” with that she stood on her toes and planted a quick peck on his nose.

“ I think…I am beginning to like weddings, especially if we continue a certain ritual” he winked.

Sara laughed and playfully hit him on the arm. Her lipstick was gone, her sari seemed a bit off, and her Kajal was a tad bit smeared, opening her to all kinds of ridicule from her cousins about her outlook. But she didn't care. And off she went arm in arm with her husband, to finally enjoy the wedding.