Chapter 20
With this ring I thee wed
With my body I thee worship
And with all my worldly goods I thee endow……
(Christian wedding vows)
December 24…6 P.M.
Fort Aguada Beach Club was a large, sprawling building, 2 stories high, with a dome on top, which made it look like a planetarium! On the top floor, there were game rooms, card rooms, billiards (pool-room), a library and two meeting rooms for guests…..the ground floor consisted of two huge halls, one dining hall accomodating up to 200 guests and one HUGE ballroom with a stage at one end and chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling! It was brightly decorated with Christmas decoration this night……a Giant Christmas tree stood in one corner with colored balls, tinsel, sparkling gifts and twinkling lights!
Rows of fake mistletoe hung over doors and large windows lined on one side! There was a giant Christmas Ball in the Centre!
Kripa arrived holding Angad's arm, looking excitedly at the decorations and the crowds of well-dressed men in suits and women in saris and dresses, mostly red and maroon and green! She pressed against Angad's arm, almost jumping up and down in her excitement and happiness! Angad smiled indulgently at her infectious enthusiasm, enjoying her closeness!
There was Dinner and Dance that evening! Dilip and Naina arrived a little later with the Mehras and other golfing friends of Dilip's! He frowned to see Kripa on Angad's arm….: Yeh ladka yahan kya kar raha hai?
Mishti quickly said: Papa…Wo Kripa ka dance partner hai….ab Baby yahan akeli toh dance nahin kar sakti….
Dilip was displeased but didn't say anything more, his friends were with them…..
First, they went for dinner in the dining-room! There were Long Buffet tables on one side with a Gala Feast spread out..…..there was Roast Turkey, Chicken, Salmon, Lobster, seafood of all kinds, pasta, Roast Lamb spiced Goan style, other Goan dishes, Pulao, all kinds of Bread, salads and veggies, etc etc.
Angad and Kripa sat down with Mishti and Kartik at a table, chatting with them and eating….Angad fed little morsels to Kripa from his plate from time to time! She ate from his fork as easily as if she'd done that all her life! Mishti and Kartik saw that and smiled at each other…..Kripa was so comfortable with Angad now!
After dinner, they gathered in the Grand Ballroom…..at 8 P.M. the lights dimmed slightly, a DJ came onstage:
" Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the Fort Aguada Beach Club!! A Very Merry Christmas to all of you!
Let us all celebrate this Holy night of the Birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ!
Please welcome a singer with an amazing voice, Ms. Josephine Diaz! She will sing some Christmas songs and carols to grace this occasion!"
A petite girl in red dress came onstage….she started singing with a high, clear voice…she had awesome vocals….she sang "Oh Holy Night" "Silent Night" " Noel" and then " All I want for Christmas is You"
Thunderous applause followed her performance….Kripa told Angad: "Kitna achha gaati hai na? I wish I could sing like that" Angad : "Haan, phir hum duets gaa saktey the…..waisey bhi bathroom mein toh duets gaa hi saktey hain" Kripa pinched his elbow!
After Josephine, a short, squat man came onstage with a guitar and, strumming it, he sang this beautiful Christmas hymn: (Harry Belafonte)
http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Belafonte-Time...75630948&sr =1-3 (Mary's Boy Child)
Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen what they say
That Man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day
While shepherds watched their flock by night
Them see a bright new shining star
Them heard a choir sing
The music seemed to come from afar
Now, Joseph and his wife, Mary
Come to Bethlehem that night
Them find no place to born she child
Not a single room was in sight
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day
Trumpets sound and angels sing
Listen what they say
That Man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day
By and by, they find a little nook
In a stable all forlorn
And in a manger cold and dark
Mary's litlle Boy was born
Long time ago in Bethlehem
So the Holy Bible say
Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ
Was born on Christmas day
Hark, now hear the angels sing
A new King born today
And man will live for evermore
Because of Christmas day
Kripa sighed emotionally and put her head on Angad's arm, awed by the beautiful lyrics and melody of the song! Angad gently kissed her forehead.
After the song was over, the DJ announced that all couples should now start dancing as it was time for some waltzes and cha-chas!
The giant red ball in the middle started spinning as it became a strobe-light…..streaking red, yellow, green lights from its different facets!
Slow waltz music started playing….Angad took her in his arms and they began to dance……. swaying gently to the music, gradually drawing closer and closer ….Kripa put her head on his chest, hearing his deep heartbeats, content to be in his arms, dancing so close to him!
He rested his chin on her hair, drawing her closer to his thudding heart! Both felt complete ….in harmony with each other, like two parts of a whole had come together!
Dilip saw them from across the room: Yeh ladka iss tarah dance kyun kar raha hai Baby ke saath? He asked Naina angrily!
Naina: Now Dilip, don't make a scene, waltz kar rahey hain dono, toh thoda kareeb to hongey hi….don't worry so much about her….she will be okay"
After waltz they had faster numbers, where Angad swung her around in circles, both laughing and enjoying, followed by cha-cha and rumba-….which Kripa didn't know but she just followed his steps and let him lead her!
Mishti and Kartik also danced nearby, both couples smiling and waving at each other from time to time.
About an hour later, Angad quickly slipped out unnoticed, pulling Kripa into a small cloak-room…..he pulled a mistletoe from the door, held it above their heads and kissed Kripa hard on her lips!
She looked at the mistletoe above their heads and asked: Yeh kisliye hota hai?
Angad laughed: Yeh Kissing ke liye hota hai! It's a custom that a couple who stand under the mistletoe have to kiss!
Kripa giggled: Tumhey kiss leney ke liye Mistletoe ki zaroorat kabsey pad gayi?
Angad: Haan, wo to hai, lekin yeh toh rivaaz hai…..mauka hai aur dastoor bhi hai…..toh phir kyun na….he pulled Kripa hard against him and kissed her deeply, probing her mouth with his tongue……she kissed him back, arching herself against him…..he lifted her hips upto him, caressing her back as he deepened the kiss, making her breathless!
When he let her go, she ran out, blushing…..he caught her elbow and pulled her back in his arms….he whispered in her ears: Aaj raat gyarah bajey tayyar rehna…..I will take u somewhere!
Kripa's heart pounded in excitement…..she asked: Kahan?
Angad: It will be a surprise!
Kripa kissed him on his cheek and said : I will wait for you!
The Christmas party ended at 10 P.M. Most of the resort employees and workers were Goan Catholics and they would have to attend Midnight Mass to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Kripa went back to the Suites with Mishti and her parents….. Before leaving, she promised to meet Angad in front of the buiding at eleven.
Mishti went to bed early, tired from the days shopping and party.
Kripa didn't change her dress….she felt like Cinderella waiting for the clock to strike eleven when her pumpkin will turn into Angad's motorbike and they could go on a midnight escapade!!
At eleven, Kripa tiptoed silently out of the Suite, locking her bedroom door and taking both room and suite keys with her! Angad was waiting for her outside the building, still in dinner clothes…..they went to the gates where Angad's bike was parked! The night air was slightly chilly and Kripa's shoulders were bare, she was shivering slightly…..Angad took out his brown suede jacket from the bike's saddle and wrapped kripa in it, zipping it up.
They roared off into the night…..going towards the town which was still awake, celebrating Christmas in full swing! There were crowds of formally dressed people on the streets, walking to churches for Midnight Mass, Christmas music was playing everywhere, Fireworks lighted up the night sky from time to time, at some places there were young people with guitars, singing and dancing on the streets! It was like a mini Carnival of sorts! Kripa looked amazed at all the midnight activity in town!
Angad stopped his bike in front of a little white Church on the outskirts of the town……he led Kripa inside by her elbow…..alongwith a group of devout people going in for the prayers!
Just as they were entering the Church, he pulled Kripa into a little ante-room in the foyer of the Church….Kripa was a little surprised!
Angad went down on one knee in front of her …..her heart started beating faster…..he took both her hands in his, looked up adoringly into her startled eyes and gently said: Ms. Kripa Sharma….will you do me the honor of being my wife? Will you marry me?
Kripa's eyes teared up with emotions…..Angad was proposing to her!! This was the happiest moment of her life……she smiled tearfully at him, squeezed his hand and said: Yes, yes, Mr. Angad Khanna, I will be honored to be your wife"
Angad kissed both her hands lovingly…… he got up, took out a little box from his pocket and opened it…..there was a beautiful ring in it…..a gold band with a tiny emerald (Kripa's birth stone) surrounded by tiny zircons! Kripa gasped to see it…..she was overwhelmed…..Angad was getting betrothed to her…..she shook with her emotions!
Angad looked into her tearful eyes and slowly slid the ring onto her left ring finger! He said huskily: "I give my heart to you, keep it safe and feel my heart in yours"
He looked down at his ring on her slender finger, brought her hand up to his warm lips and kissed it softly!
Kripa was so moved, she couldn't speak for a few moments…….she hadnt expected his surprise to be so beautiful …..she looked deeply into his eyes, feeling such love and tenderness that she was trembling!
She reached up to him and kissed him on his cheek…. "Thank You, Angad!
Angad kissed her softly on her lips, wiped her joyful tears gently and took her out to the foyer, leading to the main Chapel!
They kneeled down on the pews as the other devotees were kneeling…..Hundreds of candles were lighted in front of the statue of Mother Mary and a crucifix of Jesus……..the Priest appeared at the altar and started reading the Mass from the Bible! They folded their hands in devotion, Kripa prayed to God to keep her always with Angad! Both thanked God from their hearts for giving them the love of their lives!
Father D'Souza finished reading the Nativity from the Bible, then he called everybody to come up front and receive the blood and flesh of Christ! Kripa asked Angad what that was….he explained that the wafer offered by the Priest signified Christ's flesh and the wine signified blood that the Savior sacrificed for the good of mankind upon the Cross!
Angad and Kripa received the wafer and wine from Father D'Souza, who had known Angad from childhood. The aged Priest smiled at the good-looking duo, looked down at the ring on Kripa's finger and blessed the couple…..
" God Bless your Union, my children! In nomine Patris et fillii et Spiritus Sancti ( In the name of the Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost" AMEN!
he made the sign of the cross on the bent heads of Angad-Kripa! Kripa felt tears come to her eyes again at the sanctification of their union!
Church bells tolled loudly and joyfully as they came out of the church, hand in hand, both lost in each other, awed and humbled by what just happened in the Church……the ring and the Priest's blessing had put a seal on their Love….a seal that nobody could break now!
Angad got up on the bike, Kripa behind him…..she didn't even ask him where he was going next…..she would go wherever he would take her….
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
(Romeo and Juliet..Act 2, Scene 2)
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Pallavi
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