Arranged marriage : Married to an unknown man

Ariana

“In one word, what you live for?” He asked in a low whisper.

“Hope” (And you are everything I hoped for.) I wanted to add this too but I stopped myself from saying it.

We were engrossed in our talk that we didn’t know when we reached the park. The park was empty, no one was there.

“Hey, see there’s a swing, let’s go there. It’s been ages since I sat on a swing.” I happily exclaimed. I didn’t care if I was wearing heels, I ran towards the swing, leaving Xavier behind. He was calling me but I only stopped when I reached near the swing.

Basically, I wanted to distract him from asking questions. I felt as if the talk we were having was going too deep which was ruining the fun. And I wanted to enjoy every single moment of the night.

“Come, Xavier, sit,” I said, pointing at the swing.

“Are you serious, Ariana? That’s for kids.” He stated, looking at me weirdly.

“Oh come on, don’t behave like a grumpy old man.” I was behaving so childishly that I didn’t know what I was saying.

“Old man?” He gaped at me. Then a smirk started forming on his lips. He came closer to me and stood just inches away from me.

“You think I’m an old man? Should I show you how much of an old man I’m? You’ll be amazed to see the stamina of this old man. Just say yes and I’ll show you.” He winked. I stepped back, looking everywhere but him which made him laugh.

What does he mean by that? I was just joking & I don’t want to see him showing off his exercising skills.

“You don’t want to sit? Okay then, give me a push.” I said, waving off his playful remark and sat on the swing. He first rolled his eyes then chuckled and came behind me.

“You’re lucky that I like your childishness.” He said and started giving a push to the swing. I was laughing heartily. I didn’t even know when was the last time I was so carefree. I felt like a kid again.

Tonight, Xavier surprised me by bringing me to a Thai restaurant. I hadn’t had Thai food for so long. I had been to a Thai restaurant before but not the classy one in which Xavier took me. I never had money to eat in exquisite diners.

Eating Thai reminds me of my father, whenever missing him becomes unbearable I either cook that food or go to a small Thai diner.

And Xavier just took my heart away by bringing me there. Since the day I married him, I didn’t have Thai food and I was missing my father so badly. And Xavier fulfilled that wish too.

After giving the push to swing for almost five minutes, Xavier stopped the swing abruptly. Holding the chains of swing with my hands, I craned my neck to look at his face to find him staring at me, intently. His eyes were full of emotions.

I slowly stood up from the swing and stood in front of him. He cupped my face with one hand and caressed my cheek with a thumb.

“Did you enjoy the Date night?” He asked in a low whisper. I took both of his hands in mine and looked into his eyes.

“I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the place where we had dinner. You really surprised me by bringing me to that place. Unknowingly, you fulfilled my wish of having Thai food. This is the first date I have ever been to and I’m gonna remember it for life. Thank you, Xavier, for giving me the moments to cherish for all my life.” I said with a smile.

He stared at me with many emotions lingering in his eyes.

“Ariana.. I.. I have something t.. to tell you.” He stuttered nervously, making me frown. He’s always confident, he’s never nervous.

“What is it, Xavier?” I asked softly.

“Umm…I…um.. let’s just sit on the bench first.” He dragged me towards the bench and made me sit on it. He then sat beside me.

“Xavier? Is everything okay? You’re behaving strangely.” I asked. Turning his body towards me, he held my hands in his.

“Ariana, just please listen to whatever I have to say, okay?” He was hesitant but serious.

“I’m listening, Xavier.”

“Ariana, I’m sorry, I’m really sorry for being a jerk to you. The way I treated you, I accused you of things you are not, I even said many bad things to you. I’m really, really sorry for everything. I was upset at that time, I was furious that my parents blackmailed me to marry a stranger. I couldn’t say no to them because I love them so much. So, I let out my anger on you. I compared you with Scarlet, I thought you’re also like her, brat, money-hungry, rude, and manipulative. And when I started spending time with you, I came to know that I was wrong, I had the wrong opinion about you. You’re not what I thought you were. You’re selfless, sweet, caring, and so down to earth. And I apologize from bottom of my heart for being rude to you. Please forgive me.”

I wasn’t able to take my eyes off him. He was apologizing. I felt so calm and composed, like every single cell of my body knew that this was going to happen someday. What I had learned about Xavier is, that he’s not a bad person, he’d never hurt anyone intentionally. Anyone would be upset when they get to know that they have married a stranger. I was upset too but unlike him, I endured all silently and kept everything in my heart.

He was asking for my forgiveness but he didn’t know that I had forgiven him the day I came to know that he took a stand for me. I forgave him the day I came to know that he threatened Mr. Smith for slapping me.

He never hides his mistake, he apologizes if he’s wrong, he takes a stand for the right. And that is what I love about him.

Did I say love?

My calm composure instantly vanished in the air and my heart starting beating at an alarming rate when I realized something. Love…

Oh goodness, I was such a fool!! I was looking for a sign to prove to myself that whatever I felt for him was love or not. But I failed to notice that all the signs were in front of my eyes.

His taking stand for me, his changed behavior towards me, his caring nature, his kisses, his smile, his touches… all those things made me feel something for him. All the things made me fall in love with him.

I had been in love with him for so long and I didn’t know about it.

“Ari, say something,” His low voice pulled me out to reality.

“I forgive you, Xavier,” I said without hesitation. My heart was still beating fast.

“Thank you, thank you so much, Ari. This thing had been eating me from inside.” He pulled me into his arms. After a few seconds, he pulled away and again took my hands in his.

“Ari.. I.. I have something…else t.. to tell you.” His eyes were showing hesitation and fear? What now?

“Xavier…”

“I like you, Ari.”

And that’s when my heart almost stopped functioning. His words hit me like a gust of wind. I couldn’t even blink, I sat there dumbfounded.

I like you, Ari…

He likes me. Xavier likes me.

“Ari.. I.. I don’t know how and when it happened. I just know that I have strong feelings for you and I’m not bluffing around. Ari, I was the one who acted like a jerk and told you to mind your own business. But here I’m now who doesn’t want you to stay away from me.” He looked at me, studying my face.

“Ari, You forgave me so easily because you’re a soft-hearted person but I’m sure you must be upset with me for behaving rudely to you. And I’ll do anything to correct my mistakes because now that I know I like you, I’m not letting you go away from me.”

I was listening to him so intently that I didn’t know when my emotions took over me and a tear ran down my face. In no second, I was a crying mess.

I couldn’t believe that the man I love, likes me. The man who gave me everything I asked for has feelings for me.

“Hey.. hey, Ari, why are you crying? Did I say something wrong? Did I hurt you again? I’m sorry if I did. But please don’t cry. It’s okay if you don’t like me. I’ll….”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I didn’t let him complete his sentence. I immediately lunged my arms around his neck and buried my face in the crook of his neck.

“I like you too, Xavier. I like you.” I mumbled.

I didn’t say love because I didn’t want to act clingy. I didn’t want to lose him. I wanted to take everything slow.

Tears were still flowing down my face. I didn’t care if it was the first time I was crying in front of him. I didn’t care if I was making a fool of myself.

I just cared that the man I loved had feelings for me. My husband likes me. He wanted to give this marriage a chance, he wanted to correct his mistakes. And I was ready for everything. I was ready to give any test, I’d do anything to be with him.

Because now that I know he likes me, I’ll do anything to prove myself to be worthy of him. Now, I can’t imagine my life without him.

He removed my hands from around his neck and cupped my face.

“You do?” He asked with surprise lingering in his eyes and on his face. I nodded my head.

“Then why are you crying? Please don’t cry. I can’t see you cry that too because of me.” He said, wiping my face with his thumbs.

“I.. I thought you’re upset with me because I was tied to you without your will. I.. I thought you’ll never forgive me, you’ll never feel anything for me.” I sniffed.

“I thought the same, I thought you were upset with me because of being rude to you.” He whispered.

“And I guess we both were thinking nonsense, we both were living in a delusional world.” He chuckled and a laugh escaped my throat.

“Ari, I may have messed up many things but the things I have done can’t hide the fact that we’re married and you’re my wife. My lawfully wedded wife. And I intend to keep it that way.” He stated, brushing strands of hair away from my face.

My wife.

Without thinking twice, I cupped his face and pressed my lips against him. He stiffened for a second, then relaxed and moved his lips against mine. I kissed him back with all my will, pouring all my love in it. He too didn’t let me go until he kissed me with all his will. We kissed each other passionately until we were out of breath.

He pulled away and pressed his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes to feel the moment, my breathing was rapid. He enveloped me in his arms and pressed my face against his chest.

“I’m not letting you go. Not now, not ever.” He mumbled, kissing the top of my head.

Being in the arms of the person you love is the best feeling in the world.

I felt like I was home. His tight hold on my body made me feel at home. I feel wanted in his arms, I feel loved, I find peace.

“You want to go somewhere else?” He asked.

Somewhere else? I was already at the place I wanted to be. In the safety of his arms. But still, we couldn’t sit there all night. So, the only place I wanted to go was where I would love to spend my life with my husband. The place which is made of love. The place where the best memories are made. Place where families are made. I want to go to my happy place.

“Home, I want to go back home,” I mumbled.

Xavier Knight

Home.. she whispered.

For a few seconds, the system of my body stopped working thinking that she considered my penthouse as home.

I had never considered my penthouse as home. I always saw my penthouse as a resting place where I could rest after a tiring day. I always considered my parents’ house as home. But listening to her, calling my penthouse home, made me feel satisfied and happy.

I recalled my mother’s words she used to say whenever I would come back home and say -It feels happy to be home- then she would always reply with-You feel happy to be home. Wait until you built your own home, you’ll be ten times more satisfied and happy than you are now. You’ll feel complete- And I used to counter back saying -I don’t think I’ll ever consider any other place as home-

Guess what? Mom was right. I felt much happier than I used to be. I built the house, but Ariana converted it into a home.

I was no more alone. Ariana was with me, she liked me and she shared the same feelings as mine. She gave me immense happiness by confessing her feelings.

I have my own home now. Our home.

“Let’s get you home,” I said and asked Finn to bring the car which was parked near the ice cream truck, in front of the park. We then drove back home.

“Ariana..” I called her name when she was about to enter her room.

“Ariana, please sleep in my room with me,” I said. Her eyes immediately filled with hesitance, she opened her mouth to say something but I cut her off.

“Ari.. please, I want you near me, close to me. I promise I’ll not make you uncomfortable. I will keep my distance, I won’t touch you until you ask for it. But please, sleep with me. I want to keep you close to me as much as I can. Please…Ari..” I pleaded desperately.

I couldn’t let her away from me, I wanted her to sleep with me to make her comfortable to me in every sense. I can’t bear the distance from her. I wanted her to take a new step, every single step will lead to closeness.

“Okay” she nodded her head which made me jump in excitement.

“Thank you, thank you so much for trusting me on this,” I said, hugging her.

She then went into her room to change and I went into mine. I hurriedly freshen up and changed my clothes. I waited for her while sitting on the couch. I glanced at the bed which in no time I was going to share with my wife. I couldn’t hold my excitement, for the first time I’d be sleeping with her. Though I had to keep my distance which would be difficult I would do it, for her. I wanted to make my room our room and only she had the power to make it so.

With a knock on the door, she slowly entered the room. She was wearing her comfy cute pajama shirt and ankle-length bottom.

“Umm.. you can take any side you want,” I said shifting on my feet. Goodness, why I am even nervous?

“Umm.. I don’t have any preference.” She said hesitantly.

“O.. okay, umm.. you can take the right side, I’ll take left,” I suggested. She nodded her head & slowly walked towards the bed. She hesitantly laid down on her side.

I laid on the utmost corner of king size bed to give her space. I turned towards her side to find her lying on her back with closed eyes. I itched to hold her closer to me.

I stared at her beautiful face, she looked so peaceful and calm. My heart broke when I saw tears in her eyes. I thought she was offended by what I said but she wasn’t. Whatever the reason may be, I can’t see tears in her eyes. Though I had seen her puffed, red eyes after that bastard Andrew Smith slapped her but I never saw her crying in front of me and I don’t want to even see her crying. Smile and laughter, that’s what I want to see on her face. I’ll try my best to keep her smiling.

I instantly closed my eyes when she turned her body towards me. I felt her twisting and turning in the bed, but I didn’t open my eyes. After a few minutes, her twisting and turning stopped, I felt her gaze on me.

“Xavier,” She called my name in a low whisper. I opened my eyes to see her staring at me.

“Yes, Ariana. Are you feeling uncomfortable here?” I asked uneasily, I didn’t want to hear an affirmative answer.

“Umm.. will you.. umm.” She stuttered.

“What is it, Ariana?” I asked softly getting up in a sitting position.

“Umm.. will you mind if.. I co.. come closer to you?”

“Never. Come here.” I laid back shifting towards her. Ariana too shifted closer to me.

Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I pulled her closer to me. She hid her face in my chest.

“Thank you.” She whispered.

“Sleep tight, Ari,” I mumbled and covered our bodies with the duvet.

I couldn’t hold my excitement and smiled secretly. I was damn sure that Ariana could hear my heartbeat because my heart was beating furiously in excitement and happiness.

I knew we still had many distances between us but I’d make sure to erase them.

Inhaling her enticing fragrance, I held her tightly and closed my eyes to sleep but I knew that sleep wouldn’t come to me anytime soon.

Tonight, I confessed my feelings to my woman, tonight she forgave me, tonight she made me contented, tonight she’s sleeping in my arms and I wish to continue this.

Her kind and humble personality made me like her more. I have many flaws but I’ll work on myself. I’ll try to work on my feelings. I want to be much more to her. No woman had ever made me fall for them.

Ariana made that possible. She made me fall for her.