Trouble Has a New Name (14 page)

T
HE WARM WATERS
of the Indian Ocean washed over Rayna as she surfaced and pulled the mask off her face. Climbing onto the speedboat, she felt Neel’s steadying hand on her back. This was her first attempt at scuba-diving and the experience of swimming underwater had completely blown her away. Her nervousness at the thought of diving twelve metres into the deep had disappeared as soon as she got her bearings. Neel was right next to her—swimming alongside, keeping an eye on her—and she’d never felt safer. Nothing could have prepared her for the magical world around her—it was as if they had stepped into a green treasure chest with sparkling jewels strewn all over. Multicoloured fish and sea creatures swam past her as she marvelled at the corals and the multitude of visions of the water world.

Neel pulled his mask away and smiled down at her. ‘Speechless, huh?’

She smiled back at him. ‘Pretty much. I have never seen anything so spectacular.’

Neel pulled her close to him and she felt the familiar thrum of her senses. ‘But I have…and she is right here with me.’

‘No way! Just give me a moment to get out of my Superfishwoman suit and I’ll show you spectacular!’

He grinned back at her, a familiar wicked sparkle in his eyes. ‘I’m waiting.’

‘Shameless.’ She pouted. ‘I didn’t mean in-the-buff spectacular.’

‘You didn’t?’ he intoned with exaggerated dismay.

He stripped off his wetsuit—as she ogled him shamelessly—and pulled on a pair of board shorts. ‘Your turn next, sweetie.’

She laughed and shook her head. ‘Nope…you turn around right now.’

‘Come on, it’s not as if—’

Arms akimbo, she glared at him. ‘Now!’

As he reluctantly turned around to face away from her she warned, ‘And no peeping! Otherwise we’ll never get off the boat!’

Life had been amazingly spectacular ever since Neel had stormed back into it. She had taken permanent residence on cloud nine. And she had a new and vastly improved Book of Immutable Laws that she had renamed the
Love Nirvana Book.

Rule #1: When you’re with your Mr Right nothing can go wrong!

She had learnt to love Neel in a whole new way. There had been times when he seemed withdrawn and she had understood. She knew it couldn’t have been easy for him loving her—not when he had had years of practice at shutting himself off from the world. He needed space to deal with his anxieties and she was more than willing to be patient about it. The most stressful period had been when he’d taken her to meet Meera. But, as luck would have it, she and Meera had felt an
instant connection. The bond had only strengthened with each visit. She was happy that Meera accepted her as part of her family—and she had seen the relief and gratitude in Neel’s eyes. She counted her blessings every day and she knew it would mean nothing if it weren’t for this man in her life—her very own Mr Right, who was not perfect by any means but she wouldn’t want him any other way.

Within minutes she had changed into a bikini top and sarong and announced, ‘OK. You can look now!’

He gave an appreciative whistle and she did an exaggerated model-walk that ended with her being swept up in his arms and kissed thoroughly. When he dragged his mouth away from hers she groaned in protest.

‘Hold that thought, sweetheart. But for now I need to ask you something.’

The look that he gave her made her heart swoon. He clearly had a little surprise tucked away for her. And she was more than happy to go along with it.

Rule #2: Trust Neel to make her feel extra special and throw in some wonderful surprises too!

The next thing she knew, he was down on one knee and holding out the Blue Nirvana ring. ‘Will you marry me, Rayna? Will you be my forever woman?’

Nothing could be more special or perfect than this. She nodded happily. ‘Oh, yes, yes, yes!’

He slid the gorgeous ring on her finger and she threw her arms around him and kissed him long and hard. As she came up for air, breathless and deliriously happy, he said, ‘Let’s do it!’

‘What?’ Her eyes were wide with surprise. ‘You mean, get married right now?’

‘Yes!’ He beamed at her and they sped off towards the shore.

Neel and his surprises!
Her brain was spinning like a top gone crazy. ‘I can be as bohemian as anybody else, but even I draw the line at getting married in a sarong.’

‘I would marry you if you didn’t have a stitch on you,’ he shouted above the roar of the water.

She gave his arm a well-aimed punch and his only reaction was to howl with laughter. But she had a sneaking feeling that this sudden decision to fly down to the island for a lazy weekend was far from an impulsive move. ‘You planned all this…right? Come on now—tell me you did!’

He winked at her and grinned. ‘You’ll find out soon enough.’

The speedboat approached the jetty. Rayna’s mind was whirling with scenarios. When Neel had proposed they spend the weekend at the island she had been delighted. They had checked into a different hotel as Nirvana on the Beach was fully booked for a business conference and the guests would only leave the next day. It had never occurred to her to question him on that and now it seemed as if it was just a ruse for a surprise wedding.

Neel anchored the speedboat and helped her onto the boardwalk. She stood her ground. ‘I’m not budging until you tell me what’s going on!’

Neel grabbed her hand and, in a mock solemn tone, said, ‘No can do. It’s a surprise.’

‘Come on, Neel, please!’

He pointed to the shore. ‘Look there!’

He could have knocked her over with a feather. Coming towards them were Mi lee and Chris, Agra Aunty,
Robi Da, Sudha Bhabhi, Meera and Neel’s mother. They were all there. As well as the entire Agra gang. Waving and shouting out her name. Neel had pre-planned the wedding and had made sure that all her nearest and dearest ones were there to celebrate with them.

Her heart filled with love and happiness. ‘Oh, Neel… You have everything planned! The wedding, the guests… Oh, my God!’

She was close to tears. Neel bent down and picked her up in his arms. ‘Sweetheart, just tell me you’re happy. That’s all I want to hear.’

‘You know I am. The happiest woman on earth. Can’t you tell?’

The smile on his lips spread to his eyes, which twinkled with love and happiness. ‘That’s what I want you to be every day of our lives together. Deal?’

‘Deal!’

And the best rule of them all. Rule #3: There is no better deal than Happily Ever After!

* * * * *

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© 2014 Adite Banerjie
Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.”

Published in India 2014 by
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eISBN 978-93-5106-505-0