Chapter 5: Welcome to India

After the longest flight of my life, I and my friends arrived at Delhi international airport, and Xandar and Alex were too excited for my liking. They hide my laptop already so I can stop working during flight.

After a very long period we all spend some time watching movies. They both have taken over their father's company last year, and it's becoming very difficult to handle both for them. So I became CEO so they can also give time to other companies. But they handle their whole work from Jax’s building. Someone is coming to receive us, we are trying to figure it out but in the meantime what we saw made me realize how India can be the most different country in the world.

Two people holding the embarrassing sized holding without our name instead James uncle's son and his friends. We were all shocked and looked at each other to see if we could approach them or not. As soon as we approached them three people came and hugged us, which caught us off guard. Then they put some yellow flower garlands around their necks. Their excitement was dripping out of their face which can flood the airport. Looking at their faces makes me want to run back.

“Welcome brothers, how was your flight?" One of them welcomed us in high pitch, but we were still quiet. I bet Xandar and Alex's thoughts are the same as my 'this country is full of energy and love. They are here just to receive us; they can just send a car with the driver.'

After seeing our quiet faces looking at them surprisingly he started " ohh, sorry it must be very tiring. My name is Nirmal and they are Ankur and Deepesh. Your entire luggage is already in our car." Two shook hands with us.

“There was no need to come to all of you; you can just send a car with the driver." After hearing this face became frowned and without taking air he shouted.

" You all are guests of us, you are coming to India brother and in India we treat our guests equal to God , then how can we just send a driver to receive you. '' We were shocked again after hearing his explanation.

Xandar started laughing and said "so, we are God now and you will treat us like God."

“Yeah, you are for us.” Ankur replied

''Nook I don't wanna be god, I am happy with being human” they three started laughing and said we are funny, we mean Xandar and Alex. Time went fast listening to their constant chatting about some bizarre things.

Finally we arrived in front of a large iron gate and entered and saw the palace, our eyes widened at the view. Huge and ridiculously beautiful place, it was surrounded by lush green grass with small flower bushes tracing the pavement along the road. Even tall trees planted beside the compound wall, standing like guards to the palace. Walls of the palace were decorated with delicate colorful carving which pooped out on its light brown paint. Windows and doors were standing out due to its glass works on its borders, making it jaw dropping. As I raised my head to witness the multistoried structure having stone carved elephants and horses at the edges of the palace standing in pride, showcasing the heritage of the building.

“We rented a palace for all family and friends. Also the wedding ceremony is getting here." Nirmal said as we got down from the car and started approaching the entrance. Pillars near the entrance were also carved with delicate designs of flowers and leaves, and the portion wall just after the entrance was carved in delicate net structures, making me raise doubt in our eyes. Alex’s voice made me come out of my trance.

"Are we staying here?" It comes out more like a question from Alex.

“It’s incredible, “Xandar utters, quaking everywhere like both of us. I can’t blame them for that. Nirmal gave a big smile and replied that you all haven't entered; we are at gate brother get ready your heart for shock. I thought he was exaggerating the beauty.

As we entered, we saw a beautiful garden separating the entrance and main premises, which was decorated with the rows of fountains tracing the path connecting the entrance with main premises. I was speechless.

Xandar and Alex quaking all were. I never saw anything like this. Hell, I never even imagined something like that. We entered the main premises, he was guiding us, god knows where but we had sight only for the palace not on the way. Even corridors were illuminated by multiple chandeliers, their light reflecting on the glass design of the walls making us believe that we are dreaming. Periodic arches were covered with crimson colored curtains like they are peeping out from the pillars of structure.

“You guys must be tired, I will take you to your rooms, rest well I will send refreshments and food in your room. After that I will give you a tour of the palace, how it sounds” Nirmal asked us.

“Perfect" we all said in unison. We arrived at our bedroom. We are going to share a bedroom. I didn't like that idea but I will survive. In the hostel we shared a room so I know what is going to happen with me. As soon as we entered the bedroom Alex nearly screamed wow, making me and Xandar startle a little in our place.

Bedroom is divided into three portions: a sitting area, a sleeping area where three beds are arranged already and a bathroom. This is called royal life. We were exhausted so we quickly freshen up and sleep like there is no tomorrow. After some hours of sleep, we all freshen up and I called dad,

“Hello, dad, we are here and freshen up already." I called him to inform that we were coming.

"Son, come to the dining area, we are going to have an Indian feast and hurry up. Everyone is asking about you. Now, food is more important for him than his only son, wow. India made magic on my father.

“Dad what had you told Ankur while receiving us all” I inquired as I remember the airport incident. That was super humiliating for us. People were staring at us holding weird gaze and some of them even laughing at us and that humongous holding.

“What happened? Why are you angry with me?''Is he acting innocent with me? But his voice sounds like he really didn’t know what happened.

“He wrote on a gigantic board that welcome to India, James uncle's son and his friends." As I completed his laughing sound burst through my phone making me hold it far from my ear.

“DAD” my annoyed sound made him stop but not completely.

“WHAT that's funny." He tried to give me a reason but couldn’t think better than that.

"NO dad it's embarrassing, haven't you told them our names?” I asked him as they wrote to choose that thing.

“I was helping to prepare the mehandi ceremony so, in a hurry, I told them to bring my son and his friends from the airport.” I signed loudly.

"Anyway, we are coming for dinner to see you, their dad.” I came directly on the point as I am meeting him just a few moments later.

I told Xandar and Alex to hurry up, we are going for dinner. I needed to call my assistant for some work so I left already, while calling Will thinking about work related stuff.

I heard some sweet sound of something. When I searched for sound I heard that it was cooking from another corridor which is perpendicular. Then I heard the sound of footsteps and no one was running in the corridor. It was a girl and was muttering ‘I am going late, I have to hurry. I promised sweets to Uncle James.’ Or something like that.

Dad's name caught my attention. So my footsteps automatically started walking towards her. And out of nowhere a sudden thud sound of falling metal plates resonates throughout the corridor and with AHHH my vision goes all white, it took me a moment to catch that all the flour is on my face.

I collided with some girl. Her sound was beautiful. When I opened my eyes they remained widened for some time due to her beauty. She is....., every word I knew felt insufficient to describe her. I was so stunned by seeing her beauty that I was left only staring at her without uttering any word, like trying to memorize all the smaller details. She was wearing a blue green dress with a long piece of fabric around neck.

She looks nervous and scared a lot due to the incident. She is a little small in size and her face was up to my chest. She tilted her head to compose herself from the incident but refused to meet my eyes, and then I saw the most black eyes I have ever seen. Like, black whole. Her eyes are big and almond shaped, also on the lower water line there is something black which makes eyes pop out and alluring like they are pulling you toward her. Anyone can forget to breathe in front of those eyes of hers.

"Sorry" she quickly said and again started running towards another way due to the wind. Her long Raven black hair is also blowing on her back. Then I noticed that a sweet sound is coming only when she moves. My attention moved towards her feet. She is wearing anklets which are the reason for that sound.

She was in a hurry, she didn't notice that her one anklet fell on the floor, and ran away. I picked up her ankle; it was decorated with small bells and had detailed work on them. What was that? What just happened now? She didn’t even see me and ran away, that was new to me.

I remembered that I haven't asked her name, fuck. I never froze in front of any girl before; actually I always get the opposite reaction, what's wrong with me? That surge of energy when I saw her...

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Reyana