Mohabbat (3)

When Cadeau received the message from Akarui she was already at the mall shopping with Fleur and Natasha, though she was disappointed by Lijie's late coming she couldn't help panic if he was gonna make it on time to the venue to see if everything was according to what they wanted.

She picked a dress but then again left it, she looked at where Fleur and Natasha had been standing a moment ago and  figured they where in the fitting room, she unlocked her phone and typed a message to say she had gone to the jewellery section, 

"we'll find you there," Tasha replied,

 she walked there and started looking for a pair of earrings or necklace she could pair with the evening dress she chose to wear for the appreciation party  the night after the wedding. She was looking at the necklaces, bracelets, bangles, rings, anklets and all other accessories displayed but still didn't like any, she moved closer to the necklaces looking gracefully one by one, everything  was either to big or intemperately decorated, she didn't like any and nothing so far caught her eye. She hesitated to leave and promptly looked at the wall to find what she was looking for, a simple silver necklace with a blue twisted ruby lay there, shiny but the blue ruby radiated it to life, 'he is very choosy when it comes to jewelry but on this one he'll have to applaud me,' she smiled to herself as she pointed out, "that one please," 

" the one on top with the twisted ruby?" the girl on the counter called out,

 "yes"  two women responded instead, the girl looked confused , she got the hook and removed the necklace but debated on whom to give-Cadeau or the governor's wife? 

Cadeau was busy on the phone and obstructed, she heard the woman next to her say yes to something but thought she was pointing at a different necklace.

"whom should I give the necklace?"

Cadeau pointed first but the woman was friends with her boss- I mean, who never knew the governor's wife? even those that never knew her claimed they did- and should the woman complain to her boss that would be the end of the world_ "am afraid it's first come first serve, so I would be wrong if I didn't give it to her," she handed it to Cadeau but the two of them caught it at the same time, she frowned and raised her eyebrows to look at the woman but then realized what had just happened, she looked at the necklace and back at woman as if to say let go! but neither of them wanted to, she pulled a struggle but the necklace was tight like a thighcling on the woman's hand, she smiled and then let go to tell the shop keeper girl the woman could have it

 The girl's eyes widened in disbelief,

  "I said she can have it" Cadeau repeated,

 "hey?" Cadeau snapped her fingers, 

"Ohh" she cleared her throat, "she, l meant she can pay using the membership card or in Cash," she responded to pack the necklace, Mrs Wang Lei fetched for the card but couldn't find it she counted the money in her purse but it didn't add up either, "look, I think she can have it, I've left my card at home and the money I have here is not enough," she paused to look at the girl, "can't I pay using another card maybe?"

"No it's not possible," 

the girl got the necklace and handed it to Cadeau, "you can have it,"

she didn't, instead, she got the card and swiped for the payment, put it back and said to the girl, "now you can give it to her,"

"I beg your pardon?"

Cadeau was half way to the exit..

"does she know who I am?"

"if she did I doubt she would have paid" the girl laughed in disbelief

"Cadeau? Ohh thank goodness you're here, we've texted you so many times but you're not responding," 

"What's going on? " Fleur looked where Cadeau was from,

"it's nothing, am sorry I kept you waiting. let's go," 

Tasha nodded and looked at Mrs Wang Lei, "don't just get us arrested, okay," she knew she had been talking to the woman..

The three of them walked out of the building straight to the car.

Once they got in Fleur turned to Cadeau "how do you know Takusan?"

"Fluer stop questioning Cadeau will you,?" she glanced from her wrist watch to Cadeau, "this is twelve already, will Lijie fetch you or we should take you?" "no, you take me," 

" alright. "

- - - - 

30 minutes later they were outside the Dance Season building.

 Natasha pulled the car to a stop and faced Cadeau, "should we come and pick you up or maybe you'll come with Lijie,?" 

Cadeau stepped out of the car and leaned on the rolled down window realm, "I'll come with Akarui, Lijie is not back yet, so I'll find you guys there," she tapped on the canopy for them to go,

" okay wait, but will he be coming to the Southern moon hotel?"

"yeah,sure,"

" cause truthfully speaking he hasn't taken part in any of these preparations, It's almost like you're getting married to yourself, " 

Cadeau drew in a deep breath and breathed out, "don't worry he'll be coming," she fixed her dress and said,

"and just to be clear_ if Lijie hasn't taken part it's cause he wanted everything to be according to my taste. Lijie trusts my choices and he entrusted me with our wedding, so, do you now understand why he hasn't interfered? besides, he likes what I like," 

"fine I understand, I didn't say you become all defensive I was just speaking my mind, actually you know what, just go ...go, bye, I won't miss you," Cadeau laughed and just shook her head and walked away, "I know you love me!" 

"no i don't !" Tasha shouted back whilst starting the engine to drive back, "I'll miss Cadeau when she goes," 

"that's my fear to," Fleur soported,

a part of Cadeau wanted to believe what  Tasha said but she couldn't let her instil doubt in a love she had grown for so long, not now, now ever.

Cadeau stepped out of the elevator and freed her hair, she looked at her watch and realized she was 10 minutes late though she hoped Akarui wasn't there yet, he was always punctual and she couldn't help feeling guilty for having stolen hours of he's time each day for  the whole past week, but again she was grateful for he's tireless commitment or never having to complain about anything. 

She opened the door and the first thing she saw was Akarui, standing in the corner talking to someone on the phone, she charged in and closed the door behind_he looked very tall and strong in sweatpants and a muscle shirt such that  he reminded her of a freedom statue, she had to admit he looked handsome,

Akarui turned and immediately she lowered her gaze, "Hey, hope am not late,"

"no, though you look like you're at your funeral,"

" do I?" she laughed and set her purse down "and how do people attending their own funeral look,?" she said poking he's chest with a finger, 

"Ouch! " he pretended to be hurt and closed the distance between them, "you know what? yes you look like a ghost at a funeral," 

she laughed even louder, " you're such a pervert, who told you ghosts attend funerals," 

"Ohh and am a pervert,?" he crossed his arms, "fine, mess up tomorrow and see what Lijie does to you," he faked to leave, but she quickly hugged him from behind,  "Okay am sorry...you're just half a pervert, no! sorry, I mean you're not, how can you be one when you're a saint," 

 he knew she was joking but it's how she touched him, He looked at her small fragile hands on his chest and how perfect they looked,it almost felt like she was clenching on to his soul and not his skin,

Akarui's chest was more hard than Cadeau expected, not that she ever thought about it, but as he inhaled and excelled she could feel it rising and collapsing like a squeezed sponge, but what she didn't know is that the more she talked and breathed down he's spine the more Akarui's body became warm and he knew he was gonna lose it if she continued, he turned instead and smiled, "so am not a pervert?"

"Mmmmm..just a little" she measured with a hand and they both laughed, he hugged her and told her, " you're lucky I've forgiven you, now come," he broke off to kick he's slippers off and took her hand, "time to practice," he clapped he's hands twice and the music began, the same song they had been dancing to the whole week.

"you remember the moves,?" he asked as he unbuckled her shoes but Cadeau's gaze said it all.

They stood facing each other 

as she placed her hand on his shoulder and joined her right hand to his left, he affixed he's hand to her tiny waist and  pulled her closer sensually, 

she took a step back and he followed; he moved to the left, right_two steps back_three steps forward and he let go; she fell on her left sweeping her hair to the ground and pulled her up; he raised her hand to a spin_on one leg as she rotated like a spindle rod, he moved closer as she put her leg down and fell on his left hand

he patiently tressed her hip-up her waist and kissed her forehead instead of her  mouth as supposedly; she stretched her arm as he tressed it too,- reaching her palm with his face close uptide to her lips; she slowly got up with his help without letting go of his hand

she turned to a force leave as he pulled her back and both swayed with the rhythm,

she fell on her back and he caught her with an arm as he heaved her to the sky and slowly paced the floor in a circle to put her back on her feet as the music came to a stop! 

Cadeau and Akarui both were left panting and just when she was about to speak a crowd burst in through the door. They had been watching them through the silver static cling glass walls of the room the entire time. 

Cadeau and Akarui looked at each other and back to the crowd as a tall slender man made his way forward, "everyone back to class... come on." 

One of the teachers they supposed.

"That was lovely," he told them and turned back to crowd of pupils, "I said everyone back to your classes, now." The man followed behind.

"seems like they loved it" 

"yeah," Akarui sat down and pulled a bag from the corner, "some water or yoghurt?"

"Yoghurt will do, thank you." she sat opposite him.

Akarui opened one for her and got one for himself. "You know what Cadeau," he began, "I think I have spent so much time and effort teaching you this dance you'll have to pay me,"

"mmh..how so? I thought I paid with a thank you?"

"A thank you,?" Akarui laughed, "that's not enough you'll have to pay me more," 

she laughed and took a sip, "how much are we talking about?"

 "Mmm..?" he scratched his head, "you'll have to pay me 20 genuine smiles each  year after you're married so I know you're happy ohh and don't worry I already told Lijie the same,"

"that's easy, I'll pay," she got he's hand and massaged it softly, "I promise you, me and Lijie will live happily ever after." 

"Hey," she cleared her throat, "that reminds me, you said you would tell me the meaning of the mohabbat dance on the last day of our rehearsal. So here we are"

he gave her a light pinch on the check to look in he's eyes, " you surprise me you know? you're half Indian yet you know nothing, first of all who even suggested it to you guys? " 

"it was Lijie," she blushed, "he said he learnt it some years ago and had always wanted us to perform it on our wedding. Though it's a shame he had to leave before edifying me, "

 "Yeah what a shame, But? thank God I know it otherwise that dream of he's wouldn't have come true," 

"and for that we're grateful" she hugged him and she sat back down, "now will you tell me it's connotation already? " 

He shook his head, "it's nothing that important, it just entails the process of love and it's meaning or should I say it demonstrates a couple can go through pain and sometimes even separate But if two hearts are mastered then their love is found in each others soul"

" And I assume that's the part I pretended to leave and you pull me back,? " 

"exactly, and the part you fall on my hand means if you fall I'll catch you, and if you jump I'll hold you to the sky," 

she looked at him, "and the part you made me spin on one leg? what does it mean,?" 

"that represents the sacrifices and choices we make to sustain the one we love, It also means that for you I can suffer and go through any challenge even walking on one leg but to support you," he took a sip, "but there's also trust you know cause you let me lift you without doubt,"

"Ohh..so it's a thing like I trust you with my body, blah blah blah?"

"Damn! you're so intelligent."

"But then they're no good moments it's just sacrifice and trust? " 

"of course not," he sighed, "the good moments are represented by a kiss on the mouth and the close encounters," 

" Ohh I get it..."

He stood and helped her up. "So, what would you like to eat for lunch?"

"Mmm is that necessary?" she said halfway to the door. "yes, this is our last day together if am not mistaken or should I say before you're officially married?"

" if you say so, but stop making it sound like after today I'll be caged forever,"  

"you will, Actually, " he wispered, " I heard it's it's worse than prison, everyone wants out,"

"stop kidding me, will you," she pushed him out of the elevator, "that only happens if you're married to a demon and not an angel like Lijie,"

"Mmm....Is that so.? " he opened the car door for her.... 

- They ate lunch together and drove to the Southern moon hotel.

*

Some minutes later, Akarui and Cadeau arrived at the hotel.

They got out of the car and went straight to the ceremonial hall.

"I have a little surprise for you," Akarui said as they stepped in,

"really?? what is it,?" Cadeau's eyes were already searching,

"look around you'll see it."

She took a step further.... but everything was okay, the chairs, tables,  chandelier in place, flowers-though she noticed something; next to each flower vessel on the tables was a different frame with a different picture of her and Lijie in it, she looked back ^and her eyes landed on the wall.....

Cadeau's veins lightened as the blood stopped flowing up and away from the ground she was standing...ohh my God Akarui,"...her unconscious twitching hands moved to her heart, "how did you do that.." her eyes welled up in salty water, "I..i don't know what to say? I love it ..ohhh my God...

It was her favorite picture of her and Lijie at the beach when he had tried to kiss her for the first time.. and on top it read 'Lijie Weds Cadeau 4 love' and the shock in Cadeau's eyes is what he treaded for, a smile twitched on he's lips_ " you like it,?"

..it's the whole wall!..she tried to surpress her happiness.."and those words..I..I told Lijie on our engagement, wait! were you listening,?"

Akarui pretended not to have heard and walked away,

 "of course you did, come back here!"

" You're welcome-Cadeau!" he shouted back.