✨ A dream ✨

Abhimaan

I have started enjoying the effect I leave on her. I have always been so close in my world, still I'm. But I know this for my life that people don't enjoy my surroundings. It's just they bear me because they don't have any options. Either be my clients, my business partners or my employees, they know the power I hold and they enjoy that.

Life has never been the same for me and I never felt anything else to be as powerful. Years of working and ruling the corporate world has made me realise that people barely enjoy your companionship rather they are obligated towards the chair you are sitting in.

I don't blame them either, I know I'm a jerk to them but that's how you are supposed to maintain your distance. Right? By creating boundaries and that's how I create boundaries. By closing the door permanently.

And now the urge or the courage to open the door has started pinging me day and night. I still dislike the idea of marriage but her presence doesn't bother me. It never did despite me pretending it to be. Years of filtering out people, I have started getting the clear picture of Samantha Singh inside my head. With the smile she talks with everyone around her, with the kindness she is roaming so free in this world and not forget to mention the talent of arguing back to me describes the side of Samantha she shows.

But there is a part of the darkness inside me which assures about the darkness inside her. The emptiness she hides from this world. Her mask of always smiling slips off sometimes when it comes to her family. How lonely the child inside her is that the love of a family she barely knows about can help her fill those gaps in her life?

I didn't fail to notice a single glance of the smile on her face. She definitely has a beautiful smiling face but this smile was way too raw. The reason for her to smile was new and that was the presence of a family around her.

You know sometimes you are so broken inside that even the slightest empty pieces of others mend your side? That their loss feels personal.

And Samantha's loss felt personal to me.

I still don't know why Samantha has agreed to marry me despite choosing the whole life in front of her but honestly, I have stopped trying to find those answers. I have started figuring out things on the basis of what I feel, observe and believe. And this is the reason I have asked my Private Investigator to stop doing further research on Samantha.

I would rather choose to trust on my own.

The Sangeet was finally over and everyone seemed tired. I watched Samantha tripping over her heels a few times but she barely chose to get rid of it. Women in their fashion era.

After our dance was over which was probably the last performance of the night, everyone gathered around grooving over the songs. I barely choose to watch them (her) enjoying every moment, me being not a very big fan of dancing in the crowd and with my cold expression, people barely ask me so that works for me anyways.

Soon, everyone started leaving their booked rooms and the night finally came to an end. We have booked rooms in the nearby hotels for our guests to maintain the private space in our mansion. So, that everyone can be comfortable, have a proper rest. That's what I know as I was barely a part of any preparation. Dad has done it and he always looks for people's comfort. May be, I'm the exception.

I was heading back to my room when I heard footsteps coming into my direction. I saw Samantha marching in my direction with her purse in her hand. She must be going back to her house. She stopped in her way after coming down as she stood in front of me. "Goodnight, Mr. Malhotra", she smiled softly while I maintained my poker face.

"Let me drop you home", I said.

"Oh, no need, Mr. Malhotra. Chachu is already waiting for me", she said to which I didn't argue back. "Goodnight, then", I nodded.

"Samantha, let's go beta....", Chachu came as she walked towards him not before passing me a soft smile.

I saw her leave the mansion and returned back to my room. I roamed my eyes everywhere in the corner of the room, "You are getting married, Abhimaan. You won't be single anymore", I thought to myself. After taking a long shower, I changed into my night clothes and poured myself a drink. I needed it very badly. After filling my head with some more shots, I didn't know when sleep took over me.

___________________________________________

Haldi....

Today is our haldi in the morning and the Marriage would be at night. I barely understand the context of getting a pre-glow up session. But sometimes you have to do things beyond your understanding. Especially when it's your father's orders even if that involves marrying a stranger.

I woke up and did my morning stuff, had a light breakfast and changed into a yellow kurta which I was going to wear for the haldi ceremony.

I went downstairs and the hall was already filled with people. Am I too late or are they just too early? The outer garden was decorated for the haldi purpose and in the middle of it, there were two big pots decorated with flowers kept for us to sit in. Well, the marriage ceremony will be taking place at Samantha's house as she requested my Dad for it. She definitely has so much connectivity from her home and if her father would be alive, even if she would be getting married with someone else (not a good thought), he would have done things from her side.

And as per the rituals, I will be going to her place with the baraat. "Chaliye shuru kariye haldi ki rasm. Aao Abhimaan, Samantha....", Bua ji called us.

Talking about Samantha ,where is she?

I roamed my eyes around when I saw her coming. The yellow curtains covered her face for a second before she marched with her footsteps slowly, removing the strands of her hair from her face. She was wearing a yellow dress and flower jewellery which made her blossom like a real flower. I realised not only the real jewellery, even those made up of flowers  suited her so well. She looked mesmerizing.

Before she came near me, her fragrance already filled my nostrils. I gazed at her as if she is the biggest treasure our country has found till now. "Abhimaan, kab tak dekhta rahega usse. Idhar aa jaa....", I heard bua ji mocking at me, when I realised my so-called gazing was way too visible for others.

I ignored everyone's smirk as I sat inside the pot while Amaira helped Samantha to sit beside me on the other one. Soon, the ritual started and everyone came to us applying the haldi on our faces, hands and feet. After sitting for hours and watching everyone laughing on absolutely nothing, I took a chance to focus on her. Even more.

I was in a dilemma if the haldi actually started working so quickly on her skin or she glows like real.

Her smile was something I was often looking at nowadays, not my fault. She always smiles.

"Stop staring, Mr. Malhotra", I heard her murmuring to me.

"Am I?", I wiggled my eyebrows.

"A lot....", she rolled her eyes. "And I don't like being stared."

There is something in this look of her which pushes me to go off limits and hints me to annoy her even more. And I did what I was enjoying doing, annoying her.

I gazed at her more intensely, "Look somewhere else", she gritted her teeth, a smirk appeared on my lips.

"Arey Samantha, kya khus phus chal rahi hai.... Thoda toh sabr kar lo beti", Samantha almost flinched at Bua Ji's words and her face turned into crimson red with the embarrassment. Which I enjoyed looking at. "Woh bua ji....", she stammered.

"Samjh gayi samjh gayi.... Ab bahane mat bana", I heard Bua ji chuckling as Samantha bit back her lips in embarrassment.

She does that when she feels nervous. That's what my observant side has told me about her.

I tried to suppress smirking at her and straighten my back innocently while she passed me a cold dagger.

"I will consider this later, Mr. Malhotra", she spoke slowly.

"That's better for you, Ms. Samantha", I chuckled slowly.

The ceremony took more time than expected and we were finally asked to get up and clean it up. Not to forget to mention the number of pictures which were clicked, I had to cooperate in order to get over the crowd soon.

When all the rituals were done, we were allowed to get up from our seats. I took no time in rushing back to my room as I really needed to take a long shower.

I changed into a normal dress while everyone returned back including Samantha as she went back to her house for the preparation of marriage. Haldi and Marriage could have been done on the two respective dates but I don't know why Dad arranged it on a single day. It was quite hectic.

I watched the time and it was ticking faster than usual. Making my heart beat like a crazy, cloud of thoughts started rushing inside my mind.

It's getting more than tough for me to accept how fast things have started changing in my life. Why does it have to be the way it is?

I know I'm trying my best not to pretend  to be fake and trust my instincts. But there is a part of me, a part which I never opened to anyone in order to protect it from this world. Which remained caged inside me and even I never tried fixing it. I left it the way it was.

I barely know if that part has healed or has worsened.

Just one week and my life has changed. Dad fixed my marriage to the woman I barely know. And despite everything, I have tried my best to be at my utmost calmness and patience because no matter how badly Dad hurts me. How many times I don't even remember the exact count. I can't upset my Maa. I promised her to never leave my father who seems to barely give a damn to me.

Love makes you do things out of nowhere meaning. It doesn't need any definition but that doesn't mean life works, right? Sometimes you need to make sense. You need to fill the questions which are left unanswered.

You can't keep doing things for others with barely any expectations.

Just like my Mumma. She made me promise to never leave my Dad and my Dad on the other hand, married someone else so easily. And in between keeping my promise, never letting down my mother and my Dad's betrayal to me, love escaped from my life a long time ago.

Only the obligations are left now.

And now, only because of him, I'm stepping into a marriage which is also an obligation to me. An obligation to a woman who has already started accepting my world as if hers never existed.

What if I fail to be the right human? Because I'm still figuring out the "husband part."

"Ye zindagi hai. Yaha kuch rishte janm se ban ke aate hai aur kuch hum khud jodte hai. Log bane banaye rishte nibha nahi paate aur jo hm khud jodte hai, usse tod nahi paate.

Iska matlab ye nahi ki hum naye rishte jodna band kar de. Ab dil ke khilaaf jaa kar tu kab tak jeeyoge? Ye ek din tujhe apni baatein manwa kar hi rahegi...."

My eyes were filled with the darkness it holds when I closed it. Maa's voice echoed inside me as if she was speaking out her diary to me. Whenever I miss her, I close my eyes remembering her.

Maa, you are the only woman I have ever loved. But you left me but I never stopped loving you. I love you and will always do, Maa. But how am I supposed to look at the next chapter of my life?

How am I supposed to look up to a woman who has already started looking up to me?

I sat there on the floor for some longer as I took deeper breaths to get some courage and not to think about this anymore, ironic how I said this after giving it an hour of overthinking.

"Bro....", I heard Ruhaan knocking on the door.

"Bhai, are you there?", Armaan was there too.

"Yes....", I said once I opened the door.

"Are you okay, bro?", Ruhaan asked in concern. I guess I wasn't able to hide my pale face.

I maintained my poker face because that's what makes people back off from asking any questions to me, "I'm fine. Say what you both need."

I think I succeeded as they continued, "There are a few rituals for you to perform before the baarat headed to Samantha's place. Get ready on time", he added, handing me the bags of my dress and shoes.

"Call me if you need any help", Ruhaan added to which I simply nodded and shut the door after they left.

I was no longer in any mood to process words in front of anyone. I needed peace because my mind was already troubling me a lot.

After half an hour, I changed myself into a creme sherwani which was making me look royal enough. I groomed my hair when I heard the knock on my door again. I better keep the door open.

"Abhimaan..... Arey waah", I saw my Dad's wife standing there with a box in her hand.

"Bahut smart lag rahe ho, beta. Kisi ki nazar naa lage", she said, touching her eyes and going into my direction. Probably to mark me with her kajal when I stepped back, "Kuch kaam tha aapko?", I turned my back on her.

She coughed before she said, "Haa... Woh...ye pehnana tha.... Aa jao baitho, beta", she said making me sit at the bed as I didn't feel the urge to argue with her. I watched her tying pagdi around my head, "Bhagwaan tumhe humesha khush rakhe", she said once she was done with wrapping the pagdi and then, adding jewellery to it and also on my neck. I felt like a king. Royal and aesthetic.

"Bilkul", I watched Dad entering with a light smile on his face.

"Samantha heera hai heera. Aur jaise Abhimaan ke liye hi bani ho. Bhagwan inn dono ko khush rakhe bas", he said clapping softly on my shoulders.

I didn't say a word as they were present for some more time barely talking to me but definitely about me, to each other.

Praising Samantha. Blessings to me. etc.etc.

Soon, they left before asking me to come downstairs to which I said I will be present soon. I turned around taking my Maa's photo as I hugged it for a while. I closed my eyes when her smiling face appeared in the darkness it was holding. As if she was cheering me to go ahead, I felt a sense of calmness which I usually feel after being with my Maa.

After a few minutes, I left downstairs not before taking my phone with me as I kept it inside my pocket and checking myself in front of the mirror for the last time.

A couple of rituals took place as I took Maa's blessings, joining my hands in front of her photo. We headed outside the mansion as the cars were already parked not before me taking every elder's blessings. All the family members and friends sat in their respective cars and I chose to sit in my own car.

Soon, we reached Samantha's place and the whole house was decorated like it should be. Flowers, lights and what not.

I have only visited Samantha's cafe once and the other day to drop her outside her home. I never paid any attention to her house when I realised that her cafe was at the outer side of her house.

The whole place is bigger than it seems from outside. The place is quite big and the decoration has made it look amazing. Especially the front garden area, the lights in the night were placed at a few distance and the big stage was set up in the middle of the place. The light was rotating through the whole ground and the food was placed to its respective corners.

Our entry was grand too, my family members didn't leave a single chance to ruin the hook steps of famous songs. I don't know what's the reason to dance, anyways. Meanwhile we entered the place, I felt an eye on me despite being in a crowd. I looked up and saw no one on the window. I ignored it as I was amazed to see Chachu and Chachi playing the part of Samantha's family as they greeted us back, offering us a warm welcome.

Once, we were done with it, I took a seat where the bride and the groom had to sit, on the stage. My eyes roamed while the songs were playing in the background. It was searching for something. Like someone?

Of course, her.

Shut up!

Suddenly the loud music changed into a soft one as I heard people's hooting. There was a front door connected inside Samantha's house. I watched the door open as my heart started skipping its right pace of beats.

Thump. Thump.

I knew she was here when the lyrics started in the background as the people started shuffling to the side and she was there. With her every slow step towards me, her sight was becoming more visible to me.

Salma Sitaaron Wali

Shagna Di Shab Aayi Re

Banno Se Banne Ki

Milne Ki Jo Root Layi Re

Shehnai Yoon Goonji

Sabki Aankhein Bhar Aayi Re

Shehnai Yoon Goonji

Sabki Aankhein Bhar Aayi Re

I looked at her in amazement as if the whole world didn't exist. She was dressed up in a red bridal lehanga, she held her dupatta from both of her hands as she lifted her eyes to face mine. She blinked twice, even though a soft smile was there on her face adding some extra remarks to her features, I could read the slightest of the nervousness she was holding back inside.

Ho Solah Baras Ke Do Kadam

Chaukhat Ke Baahar Kya Gaye

Teri Kudmayi Ke Din Aa Gaye

Haaye Banno Pardeshiya Ke Desh Ke

Chaubare Tujhko Bha Gaye

Teri Kudmayi Ke Din Aa Gaye

Even though, I failed to take away my eyes from her, I felt the people around looking at her with the same emotions I was holding back. She looked mesmerizing as if nothing else felt this beautiful.

Her soft makeup with light jewellery but a heavy lehanga, her big lashes flattering above her eyes, the bindi applied right above her eyebrows, the same eyebrows which she raises at me, her hands filled with the red bangles, her nails painted red, the mehandi on her palm which has now turned into a dark brown colour, everything felt beyond perfection. It was like a dream to watch her, the dream I never saw but not felt right when it's getting true.

Le Raha Sau Balayein Teri

Maai Baabul Ka Ghar Baar Hai

Ho Genda Gulabon Se Saji

Doli Teri Taiyar Hai

Jhoolon Ke Mausam Woh Tere

Humse Roke Bhi Roke Na Gaye

Teri Kudmayi Ke Din Aa Gaye

Ni Teri Kudmayi Ke Din Aa Gaye

And with every step, she was coming closer to me, my breath felt hitched inside me. I was no longer in a state of any further thinking, my brain stopped working. Every inch of my body was fascinated by the beauty walking into my direction. Samantha looked no lesser than a Goddess, she was wrapped in a whole red and her pounding heart was making my pace of beats run for a marathon.

Am I drunk? Or am I dreaming?

How can someone be so perfect yet so real?

Like everyone, I believed that nobody was perfect on this planet until I saw her.

She was beyond perfect and when she walked into my direction, wearing a red lehanga, I knew she was the one for me.

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Shaadi ho rahi hai guys! Are you excited? 🥹

Because I'm already loving them.

Vote and comment karo. Khub saara pyar dikhao! 🥰

By the way, I have posted two reels on my Instagram profile of this moment. You guys can check it out. (pain._.down) 😍