In the morning when She walked out of her room and an explosion of utterly unexpected color greeted her. A field of flowers spread on the floor before her and she walked in amongst the colorful blooms in wonderment at such a floral display in the corridor.
'Lucy stay where you are!' I told her, incensed to see her outside and unprotected and wandering with a toddler's absence of caution.
'What on earthโ?' she began, glancing up from the pink, purple and mauve blooms she was studying as she crouched.
I was already striding towards her, careless of the flowers crushed beneath my feet, clearly untouched by the beauty of the scene. I scooped her up bodily in my arms, exclaiming in Urdu. 'And what the hell are you wearing on your feet?' I demanded.
'I am looking for my Sandals!' she snapped. 'I was standing on the flowers .'
'Oh... OK.' Lucy nodded, recognizing concern and superior knowledge when she saw it. 'I didn't know...but the flowers were so beautiful.'
'It is your day and thought no better way than starting it with flowers', I said.
Aamir is so loving, she thought helplessly, standing there straight and tall, blushing as well as emotional, so very emotional. She had never met a man with so much emotion that he couldn't hide it. She had never met a man she could read so clearly. Reluctant hope, growing excitement, and the first seeds of satisfaction brimmed in his volatile gaze. She couldn't take her eyes off his, could still hear the faint echo of his fervent promise to protect her from all threats.
I carried her to my room, thinking that I would never forget that first glimpse of her in that sea of flowers, her beautiful long hair falling to her waist and glittering like highly polished platinum in the sunlight, and those huge eyes blinking dazedly up at me as I lifted her, full of shock and love. I walked slowly on pretty flowers and it bothered her. She was sensitive, also possibly a little ditzy to walk out thoughtlessly. It was my duty to take care of her, watch over her, my job to protect. And the enormity of such a responsibility sat heavily on my shoulders for an instant because I had never been responsible for another human being before.
Nor did I wanted to be responsible, I told to myself. I would take care of her to the best of his ability without ever forgetting that she was my first lover and I refused to think of her as a short-term prospect, not a keep. I would remain impervious to her charms always. There would be none like Lucy, as she looked adorable posed amidst flowers. What an astounding thought that was!
She was so Innocent cute and a virgin. I decided that I want to make her deflowering a special occasion.
During the day an agreement was prepared and duly signed and witnessed by Ms. Jane and Daina, where Lucy agreed to surrender herself to me and remain with me for her entire life and in turn will take care of her. Afterwards Jane and Daina provided all sorts of beauty treatments on Lucy for the special occasion. Surrounded by maids and Daina, her preperation was presided over by Ms. Jane, who sat in the corner, entirely dressed in a beautiful Red Gown, doling out instructions.
Though I had not married her, after discussions with Ms. Jane, the arrangement was more than a marriage, so I decided that she shall be dressed in bridal attire tonight. While getting dressed up in traditional bridal attire given by me for making the occasion a special one, Lucy studied her own reflection in the tall mirror. She was so heavily clothed in layers and jewelry that she was amazed that she could move. A gold headdress covered her brow, a veil covering most of her hair, weighty gold earrings dangling from her ears, hung there by a thread, and a big nose ring.
When Lucy wore the nose ring, Eva whispered to her that is the symbol of virginity. This is what Aamir shall take off today.
Lucy had very narrowly sidestepped having her ear lobes pierced there and then and she had Eva to thank for tactfully suggesting thread be used to attach the earrings instead. More primitive gold necklaces clanked and shifted around her neck with every movement while rich and elaborate henna swirls adorned her hands and her feet along with jewelry. What remained of her was enveloped in a white kaftan covered in richly beaded and colorful embroidery. Below that were several gossamer-fine silk layers, all of which rejoiced in buttons running down the back. Getting undressed again promised to be a challenge, she thought ruefully.
She had insisted on doing her own make-up though, having run her eyes over her companions, already festooned in their glad rags and best jewelry for the wedding, their faces over-rouged, their eyelids bright blue. Lucy had used more cosmetics than she normally did and had gone heavy on the eyeliner when urged to do so but at least there was nothing theatrical about the end result.
Eva said to Lucy 'This has been arranged so quickly that it is a very small and quiet weddingโbut the jewelry Aamir has given you is magnificent and you look so gorgeous in it'.
'What jewelry?' Lucy whispered.