Third person's pov
"Maa! I don't know what to do! "
Meera cried to her mother on the phone, leaning against the bedpost with head resting on the knees. The first thing after leaving the penthouse she did was to hide in the bedroom she shared with Elijah in his mansion. Spending the whole evening contemplating over the sides of the past from Evelyn and Elijah wrecked her brain into confusion. And having enough turmoil, she confided to her parents.
"Daughter, tell me. Is your love true and deep? "
"Yes, Baba! We love each other"
Meera replied instantly, having no doubt in mind. Her heart beats faster every time she thinks about her Eli. His presence, touch, and kisses light up her like a Christmas tree. She knows her Eli is not the greatest and kindest person out there but however he is she loves him. Love sees no boundaries and restrictions and the nature of the person. It happens when you least expect it. And her love story is no fairy tail with a prince charming. Rather her prince is no hero.
"When two people love each other, their honesty and faith bind them. If either one is fragile, a relationship can never sail in the vast ocean of life, my daughter. The boat will sink one day if you lose trust. If you believe son in law then whatever may be the problem, it will be solved with the strength of the love you have. Because love is the ultimate power of this universe "
"Yes, your mother is right. Trust your judgement. The world is full of lies. Even though I don't trust that man I want my daughter to be happy. So if your happiness is with him, you have our blessings, Meera. But I don't like how he is and what he did in the past though"
Meera teared up listening to her parents. She was nervous when she told them the whole truth from the moment they came back from Goa. She wanted her parent's approval before remarrying Elijah. One time is sufficient that they were not present at her wedding. As expected, they were furious and demanded her to leave him and come back at first. She couldn't blame them. No parent wanted their child to experience what she had to. She tried very hard to convince them. They didn't support her decisions. At last, surprising her Elijah had gone out of the way and sat down on his knees before her parents through video call and begged for forgiveness and approval. It was a shocking sight to see a powerful and wealthiest man bowing down who never begged to anyone before for anything. Still, her parents refused as they should. Elijah then promised to always keep her happy with his heart and soul. He gave them legal rights to punish him severely if he fails. Seeing his love and determination finally her parents agreed. Reluctantly though. They still don't trust him. And now listening to her father accepting her Eli filled the heart with overwhelming emotions.
"Maa, Baba, thank you so much for understanding and accepting Elijah. I know he is not the ideal husband you wanted for me but he cares, worries, and makes me happy. He loves me so much. And I do too. He has several shortcomings and is very possessive and dominating. And I accepted him with all that. I understand why he is this way. Not everyone understands him Maa, Baba. I need to, want to be beside him to show and live life with love"
"That's good. We are always with you, don't forget. And if you need and want to ask anything, don't hesitate. We love you so much, daughter. I hope you got what you were looking for"
Smiling softly Meera nodded, feeling her heart ease. The talk with her parents helped to see things clearly and mind processed everything properly. She now knows what to do.
"Yes Maa, Baba. I have decided. Thank you for helping me. If not for you I don't know. Maybe I would have done something wrong"
"It's our duty daughter, to guide you"
"I know Baba. By the way, when is your flight? Everything fine there? "
She heard her parents laugh in joy as if remembering something. Unconsciously she smiled wider, glad that they were happy.
"Don't worry. Your husband sent his plane over for us. He won't listen even when we insisted to take a commercial flight. He is a stubborn man"
"Yes, yes! Son-in-law even has sent several people to help us here to arrange and prepare for your marriage. Because of them, we have nothing to do except sit on the plane and come to you"
"What? When did this happen? "
Meera asked perplexed, sitting straighter on the bed. She had no idea that Elijah sent people over to her house. And even his private jet to bring her parents to New York. Elijah didn't tell her a single thing.
"You didn't know? We thought son-in-law told you"
"No, Maa. He didn't tell me anything. What else did he do?"
"Well, the people came over yesterday morning and since then have decorated our whole house and colony like a bride. It's too much you know. Even during Diwali, we don't decorate this much. The neighborhood is so lively as if a festival is being celebrated. They distributed expensive gifts and cards to all the people in the colony and relatives who came over and are currently living in five-star hotels and some in our house. Your husband through video call announced to everyone about the marriage and asked for blessings. He even arranged for our relatives to come to New York"
"Listen to your Baba! Haha! I tell you son in law is too much. It is all so unnecessary. The most surprising thing though is to show respect to our religion, he arranged pooja and havan for the longevity of your marriage and eternal togetherness. He asked us to prepare for a traditional Bengali wedding to be done in New York. For two nights, thousands of diyas are lit in the river to ask for blessings from God and all the temples in Kolkata have been decorated on the occasion of your wedding. Countless donations have been made in your name daily in the temples and orphanages, the homeless are getting home, the hungry are being fed, and beggars are getting jobs, we wouldn't even know about it if not we visited the temple and panditji didn't tell us. Literally, Kolkata city has turned into a city of light and happiness over these two days. I am so happy for you my daughter"
"He did all.... that? "
Meera choked on a sob, unable to control the surge of emotions closing on her throat and eyes. Her heart swelled with love for the man who was doing so much without telling. Just to show how much she matters to him. He didn't say anything and blessed her with the good wishes of countless people. Even if she tried, never in life would she have done well for mankind like him. All on her name. If these actions didn't show his love for her then she doesn't know what will.
"Yes. At first, I thought your husband would throw his money into a lavish wedding with no meaning but he proved me wrong daughter. And I am glad he did. I never thought he would search about our religion and tradition and go to such length even we never could to fulfill all the duties of the wedding and do social and religious welfare"
"Baba, I don't know...what to say"
Meera said in between soundless sobs. Hearing about the good deeds her Eli did in her name and their wedding, newfound respect sprouted in the heart for him and she fell in love all over again.
"Doe?"
The sound of a door opening followed by footsteps interrupted her. Hurriedly, she wiped all the tears from the face and sat properly. She heard her father say before Elijah turned the lights on in the dark room,
"You don't have to say anything. Sometimes all we need to do is accept reality and go with the flow. I don't know if it's a game of destiny but luckily or not your husband is proving to be good for you. See you soon daughter"
And the call ended. Meera slowly put the phone on the bedside table looking at Elijah in a daze. She can hear loud beatings of the heart in her ears. With each hurried step her Eli took toward her, the heart beats louder and louder. However hard she tried the tears kept filling her eyes. How can he love her so much? Why did he do all that? What good did she do for him to deserve this? All kinds of questions ran in her head miserably, showing the distress of love that was surging in her body like a tide.
"Doe? What's wrong? What were you doing in the darkness? Were you crying?"
Elijah asked cupping her face softly, frowning in worry. He saw how his doe was unblinkingly staring at him and saying nothing. His heart constricted seeing tears in her eyes. He can't tolerate them. Wiping the underside of her eyes, he kissed her forehead.
"Please tell me, my doe"
Meera bit the bottom lip, terribly failing to keep it from quivering. Seeing how adoringly he was gazing at her, she couldn't control the tears at bay. Her heart was crying for him, his love, and his devotion. He didn't need to do any of what her parents told her, but he did. Why? Because he loves her dearly and unexplainably. So much so that words fail him and his actions speak for him. And when that fails him, his heart soars out to her. And right at this moment, she can feel the irregular beats of his heart stressing over her tears, pleading to stop. Finally, tears spilled and she bursts into cries hugging him around the waist. Burying her face in his stomach, she wept terribly.
"Please my sweet doe, stop crying. You are scaring me"
She can feel the pain underlying in his voice. She feels like the worst person in the world at the same time as the luckiest to be the recipient of his love. Before talking to her parents, she was doubting her Eli. Her Eli who can't see her tears, who for her can be philanthropic and can do anything as far as learning about her religion. Speechless. That she is. No emotions can determine the turmoil she is in. She hates herself for questioning her Eli's love.
"Eli--El--Eli, I, I--am so--sorry"
She let out in between heavy sobs. Her heart was aching indescribably. How dare she for a second believed her Eli lied to her? She has seen his love every second from the moment he confessed. She is by his side, then why did she? She doesn't care what he did in the past. She only wants to be with her Eli and wants only him. Nothing else matters.
"Hey? Hey? Doe? Why are you apologizing? My lovely doe never needs to apologise. Don't kill me with your tears and apology, my doe. Tell me what happened? "
Elijah tried to pull her back but she clung to him like a koala, unable to face him. She felt guilty and remorseful. Thus, could only sob in her own created misery.
Sitting on the bed, Elijah pulled her on his lap. Hugging her tightly to the chest, he murmured sweet nothings to stop his doe's heartbreaking cries. He showered kisses on her head and forehead.
"I lov--love you E-Eli. I love y-you"
"I love you too doe, you can't imagine to what extent"
Elijah replied in a second, voice not more than a sweet whisper. He kissed lightly under her ear. Until her cries subsided, he rocked them slowly in a rhythm as if shushing an infant.
After a while, Meera stopped crying though she remained in her Eli's warm and loving embrace. A new determination shone in her eyes. She has decided, that whatever happened in the past can never come in between their love. She loves her Eli and that's it. Whatever he did and however he is. She loves him. The way Elijah Mancini is, the cruelty he is, she loves him.
"Eli please never leave me"
"Even if you run away from me and want to leave, I will never let you go, my doe. That's my promise"
His voice lowered a few octaves showing the darkness edged on his feature from thinking about the separation from his doe. Never ever would he let it happen. Not in this or any life. She is his forever. Unconsciously his hold tightened around her. Burying his face in her neck, he kissed the hickey possessively.
Meera shivered to feel the warmth of his lips and breath on the skin. Turning her face, she placed a kiss on his chest through the shirt where his heart was beating erratically. Meera for the first time was glad about his possessiveness. It gave her a feeling of belongingness that she is her Eli's. Her Eli would keep her always to him. It eased the growing fear in her heart. She knew the truth can't be hidden forever and he will know eventually about her and Evelyn's betrayal. And she herself would tell him everything. She can't marry him by lying. As her mother said a pure and honest relationship with love is the key to happiness. She wishes to have that. And for her love, her Eli, she can't lie and betray him anymore.
Elijah froze momentarily in surprise taken aback by his doe's action of affection. It took his breath away. The action was innocent and held heavy meaning. It meant a lot to him as coming from his doe who used to despise him. Overwhelmed, he pulled her face up and kissed passionately pouring all the feelings flowing in the body. Their lips danced in the rhythm of love, the action no more about satisfaction instead only devotion; of love and admiration.
Meera detached their lips and cupped his face, breathing heavily. She placed kisses on his forehead, both eyes, nose, cheeks, and finally lips. She smiled looking into his eyes which held the universe. The entirety of it is as vast as his love. Caressing his cheeks affectionately, she confessed,
"I met Evelyn in the afternoon. We talked and I--"
Elijah waited patiently for her to continue as she took a deep breath. Although he knew where she had gone through the bodyguards, he was happy she was telling him. The troubling thing was why his doe cried. If it had to do with any person, he won't spare them. They will suffer; hell will pale in comparison. His doe is his everything. Nobody gets away after hurting his doe.
"Eli I love you, never forget that. Everything I have done in the past though I regret but can't change. I wish I could desperately, seeing the consequences"
"Doe, nothing matters anymore. It's us in the present and future. You have forgiven me for everything I did to you. Please try to forget about what you did too, hmm? "
Elijah affirmed attaching their foreheads. Meera smiled bitterly. Only if it was as easy as forgetting. Her heart was beating fastly in fear of what will be his reaction. Knowing she has to tell him the truth, beating around the bush is futile. Before that though, she wants to tell him all her feelings. And if this time together is their last, she wants to spend it happily making memories to last forever, engraving in the heart.
"You are right. It's not you and me. We are one. My love, heart, and soul, are all yours"
"And mine yours doe. Always will be. I have happily given up them to you"
Meera smiled with all the love and adoration. Elijah pecked her lips and finally asked,
"Tell me doe who made you cry? "
Meera clearly felt the wrath brewing like a broth behind the words. Her smile faltered a little with a pit in the gut digging deeper in guilt and agony. Composing herself, she softly kissed back.
"I cried remembering our past. I don't know, just all the emotions overwhelmed me after talking it out with Evelyn"
Elijah didn't pay mind, considering she talked about their past with his sister. Gently rubbing soothing circles on her nape, he assured,
"I am glad that you had someone to talk with. My princess is still childish like you. Might be easier to get it out of the chest, hmm? "
"Who are you calling childish, Mr. Mancini?"
Meera playfully slapped his shoulder and pretended to be angry. In a fit, she tried to wiggle out of his tight hold and lap. Alas! Tugging her closer he laid down on top of her leaving nowhere to run. A second later, he attacked her with tickles.
"So my doe is angry. Where is it though?"
She laughed and giggled uncontrollably, writhing in joy. Elijah was chuckling seeing her sweet laughter. She squealed happily,
"Eli stop! I am very ticklish"
After torturing her with sweet tickles some more, he laid down on his back pulling her to the chest. Meera snuggled circling the arm on his waist and laying her head on his chest. Both laid in the warm embrace in comfortable silence, basking in happiness. Raising her head, she met his beautiful emerald eyes shining in the love like in hers. Staring, she softly asked him,
"Will you play one last game together?"