Everything is more beautiful

Because we are doomed.
You will never be lovelier
Than you are now.
We will never be here again.

-HOMER. THE ILIAD.


Scarlett's pov

We both went inside.
Xander's hand was still on my waist.
I guess he was also surprised enough to not notice that.

We entered the living hall.
Maria was standing there with two other persons. I looked closely at them. The man on the right side of Maria looked strangely as my father and....the woman beside him looked like my mother.

Oh, shit! No!
They were my father and mother.
No , no, no, please tell me Maria didn't call them.

They turned around on hearing our footsteps.

"Mumma, Papa. Aap Yaha kese?" I asked looking at them in surprise.
(How come you guys are here)

"Hum tumse gussa Hain. Tume hume btaya kyu nhi?" My mom asked as if she's talking to a child. She wasn't angry, I know. Just disappointed.
(We are angry with you. Why didn't you tell us?)

"What? What didn't I tell you?"
I asked. I was confused. What were they talking about?

"Scarlett, you never told us you are getting married." My dad said.
My dad wanted me to complete my studies first.

"That's not her fault. She told me to that she'll only marry if her parents agree. That's why I invited you guys. I got to know you guys were in Connecticut, staying at your friend's because of some family function. So I thought there can't be a better time to talk to you." Maria explained patiently.

Now it all made sense. Maria was the one who called my parents here. I know my parents were here because of Uncle Raj's daughter, Maya's wedding. I visited them before. But I don't know how Maria knew it. And why she called them here?

Wait.... don't tell me that she.....
Yes, exactly. You are thinking right. Wow! You are smart to figure this out, idiot.
It's obvious she called them here to talk about your marriage.

Oh, no, no . This is bad.
Oh god! What should I do?

"But still, she should have told us that she was in a relationship and loved Xander." My mom said frowning.

Whaaaaat? What again?
I ...me? In love?

My eyes were wide looking at mom.
They went from her to dad and then finally to Maria who was looking at me with a sheepish smile on her face.

Okay, I get it now. Well, I hope so I do.
She told my parents that Xander and I are lovers and wants to get married.
That's why at the entrance, she told us to act like we are in love.
Which reminds, Xander still hasn't taken his hand off my waist.

Not that I mind. It feels good.
Wait...what am I saying?

I could feel someone looking at me intensely. I turned around to face who this person was. It was Xander.
As usual, his face was unreadable but his eyes....they held something, something rare, something beautiful, something deep and intense. I couldn't name that emotion. I don't what was it.
But it was gone within the blink of an eye.

"So , what do you guys say? I told you everything about Xander and I." Maria asked my parents.

At this point, Xander looked straight at her looking somewhat uncertain.

"Yeah, we think...." My mom started.
I intervened in between,
"but mumma, ye to Indian nhi h."
(But mom,he is not Indian.)

I needed a reason and I used the one I used before with Maria.

"What? What are you saying,beta? Xander is Indian, isn't that right, Maria?"
My mom said smiling at Maria.

What? How come...?

"Yes, yes absolutely. Xander is Indian." Maria said grinning widely.

Is she telling a lie? Wait...no
Maria wouldn't lie about such a thing.
I should listen to her first.

"But how?" I asked confused.

"Oh. Actually Xander's mother , Zara was Indian. Her father was Indian too."
She explained.

This whole time Xander was silent.
Only his grip tightened on my waist, but not to the point of hurting.

"Ohh." I sighed.

"So, it's settled then. These both sweethearts are gonna get married.
And I want to do everything with you guys." Maria was so happy. It could be seen in her face clearly.

But then she furrowed her eyebrows as if thinking hard about something.
Then again smiled like she solved the toughest sum on the paper.
"I was thinking about doing it western way or Indian. And then I thought, why not do it both. After all, I want it to be the best and the most memorable."

"What?" I asked.
It felt as if "what" was the only thing I was saying today. So much surprises were coming one after the other.

"The wedding." She answered in a duh tone.
I was really dumb at that time.

"Yeah. It's a great idea. I'm so happy.
My little girl has grown so much. She's going to get married now." My mother's eyes shined with unshed tears. She came forward and hugged me tight.

My dad didn't say anything. I knew she didn't want me to get married. She was adamant on me completing my studies first. I felt so bad. He must be thinking that I let him down.
But I didn't,I never loved Xander or anyone,I didn't get into any relationship.
I want to tell him the truth

My dad came and side hugged me. I was surprised. I thought he wouldn't talk to me for a day.
He looked into my eyes, "are you happy, Scarlett?"
Thus wasn't a taunt or something.
He was truly concerned for my happiness.

I just nodded my head.

"I am happy for you." He said.
I could see he was saying the truth.

"You are?" I asked.

"Yes, I am. I know I wanted you to complete your studies first but somewhere in me, I also wanted to see you happy and loved. I wanted you to enjoy your life,your college years. That's why I never stopped you from having any boyfriend or something. ..." He was cut off by me.

"Yeah but I didn't want to.."

"Uh uh,let me finish. But you still didn't have any. I was worried for you . I thought you were taking too much stress, being too serious. But now,I an really happy. Xander is a great guy. He would be great for you. The only thing that I didn't like was you not telling me about all this. If you would have told me,I would have been happy. But it's alright.
Now, only a year is left of your studies. I know I don't need to tell you this but don't let this wedding distract you from your studies. And I'm sure everyone here understands what I'm trying to say, right?"

Everyone nodded their heads. Including Xander too.

"And Xander, don't hurt her. Or you'll have me to answer." He said with a serious look on his face.

Xander looked at me and then back at my father, "I won't. I can't."

My dad nodded approvingly.

Maria called everyone to the balcony outside. It was really big with white sofas lying there and a soft white rug was laid down. There was a cute, round table too in between. It had white gold rimmed tea cups laid on it. We all sat around except Xander who went up to his room to freshen up.

The elders started discussing about the preparations for the wedding.
I just sat there enjoying the beautiful weather outside.
It was cloudy and a little wind was blowing. It looked as if it was going to rain. I got excited. I love rain and getting wet in it.

I was still admiring the painting in the sky that nature offered when Maria called me.
"Dear, can you please go and ask Xander to come downstairs. We need to ask him something."

"Hmm. Okay." I got up and went inside.
He have been up in his room for quite some time. What he might be doing?
I wondered.

It was Maria's house. I already came here a few times but still didn't know my way around. It had three floors. Xander's room must be on the top floor.
I don't why I thought so but u think top floor suited a person like him.

There were only four rooms on the top floor. Hmm, which one would be his room.
Let me think.
He's so arrogant thinking he's the best.
He might have chosen the biggest room definitely on here.

So....the biggest door was on the left side. Really far from the other three rooms.
It was dark grey, almost black in colour with initials "X.V.S.R.K" engraved on it in
golden colour.

X and K for Xander Knight.
What are the other letter's for?
I didn't bother much.

I slightly knocked on his room. No response.
I knocked again. Nothing.
I knocked again with much force. Still Nothing.

I put much more force and tried to know but instead the door slightly opened.
I realized the door was opened the whole time.
I pushed a little.

Should I go in? Naah, I shouldn't.
But Maria told me to call him. I should.
Naah. But still..
Okay, I should go in. Also, if he'd sleeping, I'll enjoy more in waking him up.
With that,I pushed the door some more and it opened fully.

I looked inside. There was no one inside.
And my , my, the room looked almost in pristine condition. It was so immaculately clean and tidy.
Wow! He's not a messy person, unlike me.

I took some more steps inside his room.
He had a large , king sized bed which was covered in silky grey sheets.
The pillows were big and fluffy.
There were two more door inside his room. One I might assume must lead to bathrooms and other, I have no idea.
He also had a big bookshelf on the left side of the room. It looked like it contained a lot of first editions. I went to explore the bookshelf. I love books and I love reading them. I especially the hard bound books and here, in his bookshelf, there were many.

As I was admiring the books, I heard the sound of a door shutting.
I turned my head to see who it was.
No one was at the door.

I turned around again.
Aaah! Xander was standing beside his bed. Only in a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair were wet and water droplets were sliding down from his hair to his face, to his muscled chest.
He looked so invitingly handsome standing there.

Hey, hey, what are you doing?
Oh my god! Are you drooling?

Nope, no I'm not.
My inner voice always comes at the wrong times.

Sure. Sure. I believe you.
By the way, drool as much you want.
He's going to be your husband.

I immediately turned around. It wasn't as if it was my first time seeing a man shirtless. I have seen many whenever I go to beaches or pool parties.
But he, there was something different about him.
I was affected by him. This was new to me.

"I'm... I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were...."I started.

"Didn't know what?" He asked in his deep voice.

I foucused my eyes on the door in front of me.
"Maria....she asked me to call you downstairs." I quickly said.

I didn't hear anything for a minute. There was no sound, nothing.
For a second, I thought he's magical and disappeared into thin air but that doubt was cleared as soon as it occurred when I felt his hand on my waist. His breath tickling the back of my neck. He was taller than me. He must have bent down his head a little.

He rubbed his nose on my skin, slowly gliding it towards my collarbone.
I closed my eyes. What was happening to me?

"I'll be there." He whispered in a deep, husky voice.

I immediately opened my eyes. He was gone in a second. I turned around to see he was beside his drawer taking his watch out.
I didn't realise I was holding my breath all this time.

I went downstairs and closed the door behind me.
I could feel his gaze following me till the door.
© Asterin