Sorry for delays
here we go....
RAM
Priya was seated inside the house.
I know she wanted to come into the garden and inspect what I'm doing, but I told her that it was a surprise and she had to wait.
She pouted adorably when I told her that.
"I just want to see, Ram," she told me, crossing her hands over her chest. Her bottom lip jutted out when she pushed out her jaw.
"I know you do, but it's a surprise," I told her, with a grin.
"You do understand that your windows are made out of glass and I can see into the garden, right?" she asked.
"And that's why you have to stay in the study until I come and get you," I told her and laughed at the look of outrage on her face.
"Ram, this is unacceptable," she said, and then her expressions changed. She looked sweet and coy, "I could give you pointers on how to make it good."
I smiled and took a few steps towards her. She looked hopeful, like she might have won.
I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder. She squealed, "Ram!"
I walked her into the study and put her down on the table. Lowering my head to hers, I kissed her.
Immediately, she wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. I gave into her; all I wanted to do was to give into her and let her do whatever she wanted with me.
Priya kissed me, earnestly, like I hadn't been kissed before.
I had kissed many women in my day, but none of them made me feel the way Priya did.
"Priya," I breathed, against her neck.
She sighed, blissfully.
"I must go and set your surprise up," I mumbled into her skin.
Her fingers squeezed my shoulder blades and she sighed.
Slowly, I pulled away from her.
Her pout reappeared, reminding me of the day that I found her drunk. I smiled. "I'll be back very soon," I told her and backed out of the room.
It may have been fall, but the sun shone, happily in the sky as I set up our private picnic in the garden.
I laid down a cozy blanket and a wicker basket with some baguettes and a bouquet of flowers I had snuck into the house without Priya's knowledge. There were fruits and croissants and some bianco frizzante I had stashed for a special occasion.
Any occasion with Priya felt special.
When I went into the study to call her out, she was still sitting on my desk, legs crossed and reading a copy of "The Count of Monte Cristo" that I had.
She looked up, apparently in a more chipper mood than when I left her. "Ready for me?" she asked.
"Ready," I nodded and held my hand out to her.
She hopped off of the table and came forward to take it. I intertwined my fingers with hers and pulled her into the garden.
Priya gasped as she saw what had been set up for her; her eyes sparkled like she was a child and I had just handed her the biggest candy cane on the planet.
"Oh, Ram, look at all this! It's beautiful!" she exclaimed, squeezing my hand.
I pulled her over to the blanket and sat her down. "I know we're not going public with this yet, but I figured that that doesn't mean that we can't have a nice picnic right here."
Priya smiled at me and sighed, happily. "This is so sweet, Ram. I don't think I've ever had a picnic since I was about twelve and my parents took me to the park."
"Do you like picnics?" I asked her.
"I love picnics. Aren't they just so peaceful?" she sighed, happily, stretching out her legs.
"Can I interest you in some bianco frizzante?" I asked.
She nodded, excitedly.
I poured her a glass and handed it over. She clinked it against mine and took a sip.
I watched her eye light up.
"This is amazing!" she told me and took another sip, "This put you in a great mood."
"You put me in a great mood," I told her, making her blush.
We laid on the blanket, looking up at the sky and she told me about her parents and I told her about mine. We talked about so many things and there, in that moment, I felt like pieces in my life were falling into place.
The memory of Juhi Singh seemed like something from another life.
I looked at her profile as she traced the clouds with her fingers. "You know, Priya, I've driven past your office a million times. If I knew then what I know now, I would have stopped everything and come running to you. I would have walking into that office of yours and declared that you were mine."
She reached out a finger and fiddled with a button on my shirt. "That day when you walked in with Juhi almost seems like a lifetime ago."
I sighed. "I don't know what came over me. I don't know why, but at the time, I felt like I owed my Dad. I think I felt like I needed to do something for him; I think I still feel a little guilty for buying out part of his company, so out of that guilt, I think I went along with what he told me to. Meeting you, Priya, and knowing you and realizing how much I want you in my life was like a wakeup call. I'm so grateful to you for saving me from making the worst mistake of my life. You gave me strength, Priya."
I held her hand and she sighed.
"I get it. You felt a duty to your father, but Ram, you shouldn't have gone through with it just for him."
I nodded. "I know that. I don't know what came over me. The only think I know is that I'm glad I came to my senses; I'm glad that I met you."
She giggled, softly. The sound of her laugh filled my ears and I wanted to spend the rest of my life hearing that laugh. I wanted to hear just her laugh, and no one else's. Priya's laugh made the world better.
"What did you think of me when you first met me?" she asked.
I thought, still holding her hand. "Well, I thought you were professional and accommodating. You were so patient and attentive to all of Juhi's demands. Even when she changed her mind thrice in one meeting about one thing, you never showed any anger or annoyance. I was impressed by your work ethic. You were always honest with us, though. The way you worked, there was so much transparency. And God, you're kind, Priya. I've met successful people, but not many of them retained their kindness, their innocence. That day when you told me about how you got into wedding planning, I marveled at how much you had pursued what you love; it's commendable. I did think you were beautiful, too."
