✨ Marriage ✨

Samantha

I was taking slow steps but my heart was racing faster than ever. The people around gets aside as I walked in between. I looked up and saw him standing there. Yes, right there. Just few more steps and I would be standing beside him.

Just few more minutes and I would be someone's wife. Someone's daughter in law, someone's sister in law. The girl who has just seen the only relation in her life, a pure love of father and a daughter is now about to get a whole family. As in terms of members and probably every relation, this planet has ever witnessed, she is getting every relation which he never thought she would get.

I won't say that I have always dreamt of marrying, no, I was never that girl. I was my father's girl who never wanted to leave her father. Even if that means a 'No' to a marriage. But like always fate has turned it's back on me, and here I'm, marrying the country's richest business man and the most eligible bachelor, Abhimaan Malhotra.

He was wearing a creme colour sherwani with maroon golden border, his head was wrapped with a pagdi with a pearl jewel attached to it. He was wearing a royal piece of jewellery on his neck which made him look no less than a king.

His eyes talked more than himself . He looked at me and our eyes locked, his gaze on me became more intense than it was before. His stare felt darker but comfortable. As if it's the only way I want him to look at me. From tip to toe, he looked regal and princely charming.

My heart was pounding but now it is at its utmost calmness. When I saw him, every discomfort of emotions changed into tingling sensation, every double thoughts became assurance.

It was the moment I saw him waiting for me to make me his bride, I knew he was the one for me.

I marched towards him, holding my dupatta with both of my hands. I was dressed in a red bridal attire which he chose for me. I asked Mumma to manage the makeup on my own but she insisted me for a makeup artist. Firstly, I was scared if she would overdo anything but then, she asked me particular things like how I want it to be. I asked her to let it be simple yet glowing which I felt she did a great job. I felt comfortable, confident and more than that, I looked better than I thought.

I stood right there in front of the stage as he offered me his hand. Umm.... Is this the same arrogant Abhimaan?

I gulped the lump in my throat before taking it. It was a sweet gesture which I felt everybody noticed until they clapped for us. Soon the ritual started and we exchanged varmalas. We were showered with the rose petals, the strokes of colours filled in the sky, I looked at Abhimaan as he locked his eyes to me then we looked up in the sky and it was a dream to watch it. It was beyond beautiful and nothing else could be as much as mesmerizing it was.

Despite the claps of people echoed around, the right music was playing in the background. It was no less than a dream.

After a few minutes, we were directed towards our mandap which was decorated with flowers. To be honest, it looked beautiful and the there was something so pure about it. The ritual continued as the priest said, "Vadhu ke mata pita kanyadaan ke liye aage aaye", and my eyes welled up in tears.

I never felt this alone throughout my whole life except the times of these rituals. My palm was in the palm of Abhimaan. I felt my hands shivered when he clutched my hands tightly into his, "Chachu Chachi....", he gestured them as I looked at him with nothing but unsaid emotions.

Something which might trouble me later.

Chachi and Chachu came and performed the ritual. The priest continued as we listened the mantras patiently. "Ab var vadhu phere ke liye khade ho jaye", we did as we were directed and in the first four pheras, Abhimaan walked and me behind him. I startled because of my heavy lehanga in the second phera when he grabbed my hand and made me walk behind him.

His sudden action made my heart flatter for God knows what reason. In the last three pheras, I led him as I didn't fail to notice how he managed to took care of my lehanga as we walked around the agni. The seven vows were done and the priest directed, "Ab var vadhu ki maang mea sindoor bhariye", the priest asked Abhimaan as I looked at him when a drop of tears left my eyes.

I was just overwhelmed with the emotions.

He took the vermilion and lifted up my maangtika, filling the parting line of my hair. I closed my eyes as the sindoor fell on my nose and he wiped off the tears from the corner of my eyes with his thumb. I never knew this side of Abhimaan. I have always seen him as a cold and ruthless and so much of himself kind of a person. But today, I was able to read his eyes. It was soft, calm yet dark. But that wasn't intimidating, it brought comfort to me in every way.

Soon, he tied the mangalsutra around my neck, his fingers brushed on my skin sending me shivers down my spine. I looked at him from so close. The things started happening inside my stomach which made me flutter more.

"Vivaah sampann hui. Aaj se aap dono pati patni hue", the priest said and suddenly the word started ringing inside me.

Pati patni....

I'm married. Wait, I'm actually married now.

Dad, your Sam got married. See, you wanted me to do this, right? I got married, Dad. I'm married to Abhimaan Malhotra, someone you wanted me to.

Please give us your love and blessings. And be there with me. Always and forever.

The marriage ritual ended as we took the elders blessings. Vidaai is said to be the most precious time in a bride's life when you have a family of your own. I barely think this ritual has a meaning to play in my life yet leaving my own empty house gave me nothing but fear. A fear which every bride carries to her in laws.

A fear of unacceptance, unloved and you know the rest.

___________________________________________

The marriage finally ended and now I'm on my way to Abhimaan's home. I can see him through my side glare as his hands are on the steering wheel while he was driving the car. The rest of the family members are coming from different cars.

Soon we reached the mansion and my eyes bloomed looking at it. It was decorated with lights and flowers for nothing else but my welcome. No matter how rushed and forced this marriage is, Abhimaan's father didn't leave a single chance to show me love, care and respect as his daughter in law.

We stepped outside the car and I marched behind him, wearing a heavy lehanga and walking in heels is a task next to impossible for me. Especially when I'm beyond tired and barely any ounce of energy is left inside me.

My legs shaken as I continued to take steps where Abhimaan was already walking in leaps. "Ouchh", I felt my ankle turned as the heels broke.

Ho gaya kaand!

I managed to balance my steps by putting my hands on the car's door. "What happened now?", he asked without turning back.

"I broke my....", I hissed in pain.

"Ankle", no sorry for that slip of tongue because I was in pain.

"What?", he turned around to face me.

"I mean heels", I corrected.

"Arey kya hua beta?", Mumma asked as I watched everyone coming to me with concern in their eyes.

"Beta tumhari heel tut gayi hai. Aur shayad ankle bhi twist ho gayi hai. Ab kaise chalogi?", she added.

I tried to regain my posture, "I will manage, Mumma."

"Lekin...."

I assured her with a warming smile when I heard Abhimaan's father's voice, "Koi zaroorat nahi hai. Chot aur badh jayegi, Samantha."

"Main kar lungi manage..."

"Abhimaan", he voiced out as I shut back my mouth instantly.

"Carry her inside the house", he said as my eyes became wider.

No no no.... He will kill me and then murder himself but he will never do that.

I know that Abhimaan has a gentleman side but he is also the one whose coldness took over everything inside him. He will do things for you on his own but will barely do when it's been ordered.

"Abhimaan....", his Dad called again.

I watched him take a long breath to control his anger before he took steps into my direction.

Wait, what? Is he doing this for real?

I chose to stay silent as he picked me up in his arms and carried me to the mansion. I put my arms around him while he walked and then put me down at the entrance. I performed the ritual of grihapravesh by slowly kicking the rice making it fall on the gate. I marked my handprints on the side wall of the gate as I put my foot in the plate of aalta.

My feet caused me pain but I chose to bear it until I finish the ritual. With my shaken legs, I put my first feet inside the house as my body trembled because of the pain. Before I could get imbalanced, I felt a hand on my arms gripping me tight as the other hand held my hand.

Abhimaan grabbed me tightly as we walked inside the house hand in hand. Technically.

I took no time in going to the side of the hall where Abhimaan's mother's photo frame is kept. I bent my head to her as I watched Abhimaan doing the same. I light up the diya and we prayed. When I was done with it, I looked at Abhimaan who was still looking at her mother with his joined hands. There was something in his eyes which I couldn't comprehend but it was soft yet full of meaning. Emotions.

Soon we were done with everything and now I'm entering inside his room. After the prayer ended, Abhimaan disappeared as I felt he must be in his room but he is not. He must need some alone time.

Everyone left when I entered his room while I shut the door behind me. I sat on the edge of the bed after taking out my jewellery. Even though the jewellery I wore was not very heavy but I barely dress up a lot when it comes to jewellery, it felt heavy anyways.

I roamed my eyes around the big, luxurious room, it's my third time coming here. I remember our first clash in the washroom and the day when I fainted and he brought me here. Suddenly everything started comforting me, the air, his cologne, hir organized and arranged stuffs. Just the idea of his presence inside the room. There is not a single furniture which is not of a use or say so, the furniture which are of use is kept only. Nothing extra. Just because the vibe in his room is not unfamiliar to me, may be it's an easier way to settle in here.

My eyes fell on the headboard of the bed where a small frame of him hugged his mother. I hold the picture in my hand to have a better view of it. I caressed it gently, not just because it was filled with emotions but there was something which also caught my eyes. Abhimaan's smile. A rare one. I have known him for just one week and it is too soon to say this but in my opinion, Abhimaan barely smiles. And if he is smiling, I mean chuckle slightly, the reason behind it must have done a lot.

But in this picture, his smile is not filled with any definition, he is just flashing his teeth out of real happiness. And I realised how much love he carries for his mother. I know everyone loves their mother but this felt personal.

Just like how I love my father.

In the picture, he seems to be very small yet his sharp sculpted features are recognisable. His mother looked young and pretty. I looked at her eyes when I realised that Abhiman got the same eyes, the same ocean blue eyes. Deeper enough to let you drown into it.

With so much heaviness inside me, I kept looking at the picture. There is a lot more I want to know about him. Not just like a questionnaire session but the curiosity to know him. To know everything about him. To know what he likes. To know what he dislikes. To know what makes him happy. Sad. Angry. Just everything.

Maybe it's too soon but what if I choose to wait?

Wait for him.

Would it be worth it?

I was so engulfed in adoring a bond which not only highlighted the lost love of a father and a daughter, I have witnessed all my life and I barely realised when the sleep took over me. And with that, I gave a rest to my eyes.

***************************************

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