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“Good evening, Commander Rathod,” the man greeted.
Sitara was surprised that the man knew Aarav’s real identity.
“Good evening, Captain Lalit.” Aarav greeted. “This is Dr. Sitara Narayan, my fiancée.”
The older man smiled. “I believe congratulations are in order, Commander Rathod and Dr. Narayan.”
“Captain Lalit is an ex-Navy officer and he is the captain of the cruise ship,” Aarav introduced. “This is his wife, Mrs. Lalit.”
Sitara was in too much of a shock to say anything beyond a customary greeting. “Nice to meet you both,” she murmured.
The older couple didn’t seem to mind that she wasn’t chatty.
“I am qualified to register the wedding,” Mrs. Lalit said with a smile. “We will need two more witnesses. I have asked…”
Sitara barely registered the details of the witnesses. Her mind was still trying hard to process that she was getting married to Aarav.
“I know this is going to be a registered marriage,” Mrs. Lalit said with a smile. “But do you want to exchange rings or jewellery?”
They weren’t prepared, so they didn’t have rings. She shook her head about to say no when Aarav shocked her.
“I have a ring,” he said.
Her heart nearly stopped when she saw him remove a small box from his pocket and opening it before taking out a ring.
She recognized the ring immediately. It was the same ring he had used to propose to her seven years ago. She recognized the simple golden band with their initials engraved on it.
Her eyes stung with emotion. She stared at her hand as he slipped it on and it fit her perfectly.
Flashes from a camera went off, but she kept her eyes on Aarav. He was the only real thing she could hold on to in the surreal dream.
“Do you want to give Commander Rathod anything, my dear?” the woman asked.
Aarav’s eyes held Sitara’s. “She has already given me this,” he said, pointing to the small, golden brooch she had gifted him earlier that evening.
“Excellent! Please sign here,” the woman directed.
Aarav signed first and when it was her turn, her hands shook slightly as she signed next to Aarav’s bold signature.
The witnesses signed next, but Sitara barely paid any attention because it finally sunk in that she and Aarav were truly married.
***
What followed was nearly a panic attack as they headed back to their cabin suite.
“I can’t believe we are married, Aarav!” she said while they got into the lift.
“We’ll receive a laminated copy of the marriage certificate tomorrow morning,” he drawled.
“We shouldn’t have gotten married so soon!”
He raised an eyebrow. “It’s been ten years since my first proposal. I’d say that’s a damn long time to wait.”
The jerk looked entirely calm while she was nearly hyperventilating. The lift stopped and he led her towards their cabin suite.
As soon as they stepped inside and the door shut close, she snapped.
“How can you be so calm! What we did is entirely crazy—” She broke off with a gasp when he pulled her and kissed her.
