A Bride Worth Billions (34 page)

Another week passed by in a blur. Life went at its usual slack speed for Aaron. He still woke up in the middle of night, panting, sweating hard and with incoherent thoughts. The nights were usually spent looking at the stars and remembering the old times; however, there has been one little change which he must admit was making him feel better.

He had started to hum. It hadn’t happened much in the last few years. Aaron remembered how he had loved singing and playing his piano. He still remembered how he was picked by the guys in his class because of his love for piano. There were tones of mean boys who had come up to him and called him gay just because he liked playing the piano. He never got what playing an instrument had to do with sexuality but he had left singing after too much brutal bullying. His brother had stood up for him and kept the boys off, but somewhere his muse had died.

On a few wintery nights at the war field, he remembered singing with Alastair. Al was tone deaf and had the worst singing voice. However, together they had sung and Al had told him that he should sing more because he had a talent. Ever since Alastair passed away, he never sang, but the piano was calling to him a lot more strongly since he had heard the bird song at Potter’s place.

He was due for an appointment at the therapist’s house at 11 AM again. This time, he made sure, he was there before time. So, he rang the bell and smirked as he saw the watch. It read 10: 45 AM. He chuckled and thought of coming up with another smart comment on Harry Potter only to find the gorgeous lady open the door.

“Hi, may I know who you are?”

It wasn’t the first time that Aaron was seeing her, but there was something about her that knocked him down. He found himself getting lost in the subtle green hues in her large eyes. Her face looked like God had spent a day, carefully and artistically working on it. Her cheek bones were full and the geometry of her face was so appealing that he wanted to touch it and brush his hand on those perfectly sculpted areas. “Excuse me, Sir. I asked who you are!” she said a bit too loudly, perhaps because she wondered if he had a hearing disorder.

He chided himself mentally for infatuating over a little girl. Hadn’t Potter said that she was too young or had he assumed. Either ways, he asked his mind to get a grip and said, “I am here to see Potter. He is my therapist.” Although, he resisted, but he found himself adding, “Remember I was here last week when you were singing the bird song.”

She tried to recollect and then said, “Uhm, perhaps. I am afraid, I don’t recall much. Anyways, come in. Dad will be back in 10 minutes. Is he late for your appointment or did you come early?”

“I am early. He gave me a disgusted look when I turned up 5 minutes late last time so I thought I would make up for the loss,” he grinned and flashed what he thought was his sexiest smile.

She smiled and just like that, the world seemed a little happier. He didn’t want to waste whatever time he had before Potter came in and so he found himself asking more about the beautiful girl sitting right in front of her.

“Do you mind asking me your name?”

“Of course not. I am Elsie and you would be?”

“Aaron, Ex US Army Man.”

The moment he said that, he regretted it. He didn’t want her to go into the details of his army life. He wanted to have an identity that didn’t include an ex life. He wasted to make something of his current life. He thought Elsie would pry but she simply said, “That’s awesome”.

Before the moment could slip away, he asked, “So, Elsie, did you learn singing professionally?”

“No, no. My dad says I was a born singer. I am working on my vocals but I really love learning musical instruments.”

“Which ones do you play?”

“I can strum the guitar but it is the violin and piano where my heart lies and I don’t really know how to play either.”

“Wow, you like the piano?”

“A LOT! Why? Do you play it?”

“Ah, not really!”

“Are you lying?”

“What makes you say that?”

“You had that predatory and sensual look when you spoke about the piano. It was like the look a stalker gives to his ex. Pardon me for my choice of phrase. I have been reading too many crime thrillers these days.”

He couldn’t help buy chuckle. Looks like she really was Potter’s girl even though not biologically. He found himself saying, “I used to play the piano like a pro, but I don’t anymore.”

“Why? Would you teach me please?”

“Ah, I might have forgotten how to play it.”

“Don’t give me that shit. No one forgets to play an instrument they have played like a pro.”

“Ah! Perhaps, I wasn’t that good”

“Okay”

“Sad?”

“A little.”

“Maybe...”

“Maybe, what? Maybe yes.”

“I have to say that you have tremendous energy. I like talking to you. You’re an amazing person.”

“Is it so, Mr. Aaron?”

Aaron jerked to find the vicious Harry Potter standing at the door and he instantly checked his watch to find it was sharp 11 AM. This guy ruled time like he owned it. He cleared his throat and said, “I came in early to make up for the delay last time. You weren’t here so I was just catching up with Elsie.”

“I saw that very well,” the way he emphasized
VERY
told Aaron this was going to be another ridiculously long day. Before he could say something, Elsie jumped the sofa separating them and hugged her dad. “Daddy, Aaron plays the piano. Why don’t you ask him to teach me, please?”

“I shall talk, sweets. Go get ready for your college. I and Aaron will be in the reading room for my session.”

“Sure Dad”, and then she turned back and winked at Aaron and mouthed bye to him.

Potter then gestured Aaron to move to his reading room and he followed. Once inside, Potter settled down and said, “Before we begin our therapy session, I want to make this clear. She is my daughter and you are not going to f*ck around on my watch. Yes, she adores music and knowing your history, I now know that you love it too. Music has a way of healing the soul and I often recommend it as a therapist. You can have sessions with her as it will help the two of you, but remember, you are not going to mess with her. Am I clear?”

That was just too much information to process. Was he really ready to play the piano or have music lessons with her? Would he be able to resist her charm? Was he simply attracted to her or was there something deeper? Was it the sign of a trouble about to brew or was he simply reading too much into things?

Regardless of the tsunami of thoughts swirling inside his mind, he ended up saying, “sure, Sir”

He raised his eyebrow and said, “Sir? Why would you say that! You’re not dating my daughter, Mister!”

“F*ck you, Potter. This works better?”

Aaron was pretty relaxed and he could see that his mother wasn’t wrong in her decision. They spoke about his days at the war field as Potter wanted him to share his experiences. He recommended Aaron to maintain a diary of his events at the war field and gave him tips on how to make the diary a reminder of the good times.

The session lasted for just over an hour and this time, Aaron didn’t faint or even have a headache. It went smoothly. Yes, Aaron didn’t share all the information because you don’t bare your heart to a therapist on the second visit itself, but he knew he was headed in the right direction. He did let him know that he had nightmares consistently and hardly slept more than 4 hours a day.

To this, Potter had asked him to start with music therapy at the earliest. Though reluctantly, but he agreed to Aaron enjoying music with his daughter. He did give her the names of a few music classes which he could join, if he wished to. It didn’t come as a surprise when Aaron chose to spend time with Elsie over the music academies. He still wasn’t prepared mentally for professional singing and there was part of him that knew that being with Elsie would bring a lot more comfort to his heart, mind and soul. Overall, this was the first good day in a really long time. All that was unsettling was the fact that he felt a little like a teenager who has just developed his first crush. So much for Potter’s threat of staying away from his daughter!

As he got up to leave, Potter called Elsie and told that the two of them could arrange a time as Aaron could use some music and if he wished, they could play the instruments too. He murmured something in her ears and Aaron could see the instincts of a protective father. Elsie’s expression didn’t give anything away and then she simply smiled and asked Aaron, “what time would be comfortable for you, Aaron?”

He sheepishly smiled and said, “Whatever works best for you. How about tomorrow at 2 PM?”

“Cool. “

“Where do we meet?”

“Of course at my home”, said Potter a bit too loudly. Both of them agreed and smiled.

Aaron finally left and all he could think on his way home was why does a day need to have 24 hours. He couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come.

“It’s not a date”, he told himself for the umpteenth time, wondering who he was trying to convince. Despite knowing that it was
not
a date, he put on a red shirt and combed his hair, styling them just right. He also put on his cologne, something which he hadn’t done for a long while too.

He looked at his face, wondering if it seemed bit too dressy and then chided himself for being so girly. What did he think it was, a prom date! Still, he couldn’t escape the fact that he was pretty nervous. Perhaps not having courted the girls for a long time had a way of making you feel like a teenager all over again. He could use Alastair right now. He always knew what to do to impress the girls. Sigh! No matter what happened, the ghost of his brother was not leaving him. He suddenly felt a big dread in his stomach as the signs of stress started to victimize him.

He needed to be composed and so he quickly took a glass of cold water and gulped his tablets. So much for stress therapy! Stealing a look in the mirror and convincing himself that he didn’t look like his mind was deep in shit; he decided, he would not fuss further.

So, he marched away and found himself waiting at Potter’s porch at 1: 55. Always a gentleman, he whispered to himself, justifying his early presence of what was perhaps a date! As he rang the doorbell, Elsie opened it and Aaron was dumbstruck. She had dressed up in a short floral dress that reached to her knees. She was barefoot and that image in itself was enough to conjure his fantasy.

She had applied just a little dab of lip-gloss which gave a very reddish touch to her luscious lips. A little mascara on the eyes accentuated their beauty and he swore that he had never once in his whole life laid eyes on something so magically beautiful.

Before he could control himself or process his mind, he blurted, “Damn, you look gorgeously sexy!”

She blushed and said, “Thank you. You are looking extremely hot and handsome too. Come in Aaron.”

As Aaron sauntered inside, he saw that Elsie was a little nervous too. May be, he wasn’t in it all alone.

“Dad’s not home. He has been called for a conference on inner psychology of patients with MPD. He will be back in 10 days. He asked me to relay the information to you because you will be missing out on the therapy session scheduled for next week.”

“Awesome!”

“Sorry? Did you just say awesome? Ha ha, you’re a funny man Aaron.”

“I didn’t really mean that... it’s just... I thought... I mean”

“That he will not let us talk
alone
?”

“NO... I mean, yes... I mean. Shit I am nervous!”

“So am I!”

“Are you, but why?”

“For the same reason as you!”

“Why am I nervous?”

“You’re such a tease!”

“Nobody has ever called me that before. I suppose this is a first.”

“Oh Boy! The first is always so special. Shit, that came out wrong. I mean I didn’t hint anything else.”

“I won’t mind if you would”

“Are you flirting with me?”

“I guess, I am.”

“Why?”

“Maybe, I like you?”

“Hmm.. maybe I like you too”

“Like for real?”

“So, are you seeing someone?”

“Nopes. I am not the guy to sail on two boats. I have not been in a relationship for ages now.”

“Okay”

“That’s it. Just an okay?”

“Have you read The Fault In Our Stars by John Green?”

“Would it be a chic lit novel?”

“Not really!”

“Well, then I haven’t.”

“Why? You’re into chic lit novels.”

“I don’t really know but right now, I am very much into you!”

There! He had said it and it had shocked the hell out of him too. He did understand that there was a level of attraction and chemistry between the two, but the moment he said the words out loud, he knew this was a girl, he will find very hard to resist.

She looked at him with those predatory eyes and before he had time to process, they were suddenly kissing softly and then very fiercely and passionately. She met him for every stroke and for a moment, he forgot that the girl was barely 18 perhaps!

“Holy shit!” he murmured. “That could have set the room to fire. I am sorry but I really need to ask this, how old are you?”

“Can I lie?”

“Oh babe, is it that bad?”

“I am 25”

“Tell me. You’re killing me now.”

“Okay I am turning 20 in three months. I am not a kid. You are not the first guy I have kissed and it is totally alright for us to behave the way we did. Can we now cut the crap and taste the tongues again?”

‘Taste the tongues’!
Heck only a teenager could come up with a phrase like that
but as he was sure that he was headed to doom with the PSTD, he decided why not to have a little wild fun!

Without giving her a chance to say something, he grabbed her and soon they were busy ‘tasting the tongues’ with a passion that could put nuclear reactors to shame. Since when did he get so fired up? Being so close with a girl made him realize that his body had missed the company of a woman. She threw herself over him and he was more than delighted to devour parts of her. They had no clue of the time as they spent a long time exploring the terrains of each other’s body.

No doubt, his body relaxed a great deal and he could swear that he hadn’t felt so good ever since the day he had left the battlefield.  Finally, when they had spent a great deal of time snuggling and touching and kissing, they finally decided to get their attention back to music, at least for some time.

He asked her to sing the bird song which had stirred feelings inside him at the very start.

She sang in her voice and as he looked at her fluttering her eye lashes and smiling at his face, it occurred to him that she was not just a one day fling. Strange as it may sound, sometimes love doesn’t happens after numerous dates. Sometimes, all it takes for you to fall in love is one look at the perfect face, one kiss with a fiery teen, one afternoon with a passionate girl and you know that your heart will never be yours again.

Before he could come up with a logical way of explaining, he found himself singing

“Oh you little girl

I’ve seen you become

The queen of the land

Where I shall rule and be the king.

Come to my arms

And let me kiss.

The kind of kiss

That will leave

The marks of eternity.

I promise to love

From dawn to dusk

And from dusk again

Till the sun rises to shine.”

And then skipping the beats because it was no longer a poem, he said, “I LOVE YOU” and with a dramatic pause added Elsie.

Elsie didn’t know how to react. One second. He was singing and in the next he had proposed of his love. Was this high school musical or was she dreaming or was all of this really happening? She knew she was meant to say something, but what could she say.

Standing in front of her was the guy she had been stealing glances at, ever since he had first entered her home. She had intentionally sung the song hoping that he would notice because she had heard his footsteps in the room.

She had pretended she didn’t remember his name the other day when she knew exactly every detail about him. She had thought it was nothing but a wild crush, but her heart had been beating a bit too wild for him. Piano was one instrument she was rarely interested in but she had secretly seen her dad’s file about him and known that he was a piano pro and had urged him to teach so that she could spend time.

“I don’t really know how long the love lasts and what happens in love, but all I know is at the moment, I think I love you. Is that enough Aaron?”

“More than enough! However, I don’t want you to stay in the dark. I have my issues Elsie. I am not your regular guy. I wake up in the middle of the night and cry like a baby. I have scars and too many of them. I am still haunted by the ghost of my brother whom I failed to help when he needed me the most. I faint in broad day light and sometimes; I go on for days without talking to anyone. Do you think you could deal with all this shit? Do you think we could figure this out together? You’re young and naive and it’s okay, if this is too much on your plate.”

He let out a long breath because it had taken every single ounce of strength to tell the words out loud. Perhaps, the first real step in overcoming PSTD is to accept that you are suffering from it. It had drained him. Keeping his feelings locked inside had been eating into him.

Elsie walked the steps that separated them and then held his hands and said

“
I have seen Dad attend a lot of PSTD patients and I know about every ghost you wake up to. I am not scared of your scars. I promise to stand right beside you and will help you when you feel like the world is crashing apart. I don’t promise that there will be no nightmares, but I promise you, a lot of sweet nights packed with so much love that the ghosts would be scared of entering your mind. I promise to give you love, so raw and fierce that you will wake up with a smile. I don’t know what forever is or how long it lasts, but in this moment, I love you more than I have ever loved anyone and that for me is strong enough to drive away all those devil thoughts and haunted memories of the past.”

He looked at her and he didn’t see a young teenage girl, but he saw the girl who he would love for the rest of his life. Sure, there will be demons and nightmares and may be a lot of bad nights but as long as he had Elsie, he would fight because this is what Alastair really meant. He had felt the same for the first girl he had fallen in love with. No matter, what tomorrow bought for him, he was happy that his today had something beautiful.

“I love you Elsie”, he said again.

“I love you too, Aaron”.

He might not be a teenager but he felt the same in that instant. He picked her up in his big strong arms and planted a full length kiss on her lips as he slowly took her up the stairs to the room to show her what love felt like.

As he was teasing her lips, she said, “what about Dad? Didn’t he threaten you not to mess with me?”

“You’re such a stalker, aren’t you?”

“Yes I am, but what will you tell him. He is mostly sweet. I can handle him. I am an adult anyways. He would respect my decision.”

Aaron figured he needed to come up with some really smart Potter jokes to win over the guy but that was a problem for another time. The guy was off for 10 days and right now, he had a beautiful woman and a really long night.

The nightmares shall soon bid a goodbye!

THE END