✨ A coward? ✨

Abhimaan

It's done. Once and for all. The chapter of marriage is closed and if I say closed, I mean by getting married. The most highlighted topic of our dinner table is finally closed.

We entered our mansion by completing all the rituals, so I moved directly to my study room. I didn't know how to take all this so I needed my space. I'm trying to reciprocate my mind at every phase and it is very difficult for me to accept certain things.

I changed myself into comfortable clothes as I sat on my chair. The room was filled with silence or maybe the noise was too much outside.

Are you scared to go to your own room now? Will you sit like this for your whole life?

I rubbed my face in frustration and picked up my phone and dialled, "Hello Sir?", Mehta, my assistant said from the other side of the call. It was already midnight by now.

"Mehta Ji, book my tickets for Pune", I ordered.

"Sir, your tickets are already booked and that is of next week", he replied back.

"Let it be", I sighed.

"But Sir, the Boards Meeting is next week. Why would you go to Pune before that?", he said slowly.

"Do what you are asked for, Mehta Ji. You are not allowed to question me", I said sternly.

"Sorry, Sir. Which date's ticket should I book?"

"The one which is the earliest", I informed him of the other details as I ended the call.

I don't know what I am doing but I really need a break. I can't be here right now when my mind isn't functioning well. I can't make anything better but I don't want to make things worse. It's better to be on a break and give my mind a little rest. From everything. From her.

After a few minutes, Mehta Ji sent me all the details including my tickets for Pune. The flight is in the next three hours and it would barely take me half an hour to reach the airport.

"Fine, I'm going", I took a deep breath before I stood up and assembled myself in a casual outfit.

One of the branches of our Company is also in Pune and I own a penthouse there. I often visit the place when I have to hold business meetings.

In fact, my tickets for the next week were already booked a month ago for a Board of Directors meeting. But I'm no longer waiting for the whole week as I really need to distract myself.

I took no time taking my stuff, I didn't need much of them as I already have my belongings at my penthouse. After getting ready, I went out of the study room and there was silence filled in the house. I guess everyone is probably sleeping by now.

I turned to look at my room when her thoughts rushed my mind. Should I go and check her once?

Should I inform her?

But what would I say? That I'm running away from everything because I need a break? Break from what, this marriage which just happened hours ago?

Or because she has captivated my mind and being around her would make things difficult for me?

I stopped on my way before marching towards my room, I turned back and gave myself no room for any double thoughts, I walked out of the mansion, I sat in my car as the driver drove off.

I was finally at the airport as the pre checking formalities happened and my plane finally boarded to Pune. After a few hours, I reached Pune as a car was already waiting for me, I sat in it and reached the penthouse after a few minutes. I realised it was early morning by now.

"Maan baba.....", Kaka came to me, taking my bag from my hand. "Aap yaha?", he asked.

"Shaadi Mubarak ho Maan baba, madam ko bhi sath laye hai kya?", he asked.

Kaka is one of our oldest staff, he takes care of my penthouse here in Pune. He is an old aged man and has been working for us when I was in my childhood.

"Ji nahi, kaka. Main kuch zaroori kaam se aaya hu", I informed him while I took a seat on the couch.

He offered me a glass of water which I took from his hand, "Kaka, aap apne gaon ko bahut yaad kar rahe honge naa, kyu naa aap kuch din ke liye gaon chale jaye apne. Main yaha sambhal lunga", I said.

He nodded with a wrinkled smile, "Lekin baba, aap yaha....",

"Maine bola naa kaka. Main dekh lunga sab", I said to which he nodded back again.

"Ji, baba. Aaj hi chala jaunga. Agar aapko koi dikkat hui toh aap humein bula lena", he said to which I smiled as I went back to my room.

I opened my room and found it clean and fresh. I know Kaka cleans it daily even when I'm not around. I took out my dress from the wardrobe and had a shower. After freshening up and changing my clothes, I finally laid my back on the bed.

I closed my eyes when her smile flashed in the darkness of my closed gaze. Samantha looked adoring in the red bridal lehanga, she looked not less than a dream. The whole moment was so dreamy that I couldn't take my eyes off her. She has started doing something inside me which I don't allow anyone.

And no matter how hard it gets, I have to protect the walls which I have made years ago around my heart.

Sorry, Samantha. Your intoxicating smile might cause trouble to me. A trouble which I might never get rid off.

___________________________________________

Samantha

The light from the sun brimming bright flashed straight to my eyes. I opened my eyes roaming it around every corner of the room. The new yet familiar walls added an extra remark to the start of my new life.

I sat straight on the bed, sliding my fingers over the photo I was holding close to my heart since last night. I didn't realise when the sleep took over me. I put the photo back to its place and arched my back, rubbing the area of my neck which pained a little because of sleeping in an uncomfortable posture. I realised I was still wearing my lehanga.

The red colour flashed through my eyes when the sight from the last night crossed my mind.

I'm married now.

I'm married to Abhimaan Malhotra.

I turned my head to the other side of the bed and realised that I was alone in the room. Not that I expected him to sleep beside me but he is nowhere to be seen since the rituals were completed.

I got up from the bed and pulled my suitcase, placing it on the bed. I took out a comfortable anarkali suit then my other stuff and then I put my suitcase back to its place. I decided to arrange my clothes once I get free because right now I have to be present downstairs, with everyone.

And most importantly, I might find him there. I don't know why but I felt a disturbance inside my heart but I chose to ignore every negative thought. Maybe it's my first day here and I'm feeling a little bit nervous.

Ignoring every other thought, I changed my lehanga and wore a bathrobe first and then I went to take a shower. Even though the washroom is big, I might face issues in pulling out the heavy lehanga inside it.

I got ready in an anarkali suit, wore earrings and applied a vermilion in the parting line of my hair. My hands were already filled with the bangles and also applied a little bit of makeup. I looked at myself and I felt pretty.

I almost got ready when I heard a knock on the door. My heart raced faster, "It might be Abhimaan....", I whispered.

Checking myself for the last time in the mirror, I went to open the door only to find Mumma standing there with a tray in her hands. It wasn't like I didn't like her to appear but I expected someone else. "Good morning, Maa", I smiled.

"Good morning, Samantha. Did you sleep well?", she said as I gestured for her to come inside the room.

"Yes, Maa. I slept well", I replied back.

"Good. Now eat something.... You must be very hungry. Even yesterday you didn't eat much", she said making me sit with her on the bed.

"But maa.... Today is...my first rasoi", I said shifting the lock of my hair behind my ear when I found her smile disappearing from her face.

She kept quiet, avoiding eye contact with me. Again this feeling. "What happened, Maa?", I asked.

"Samantha, actually....."

God, this is making me nervous.

"What, Maa?", I asked impatiently.

"Abhimaan left", she said making me unable to understand the right meaning of her words still suffocating my heart.

"He left?"

I made her turn to face me only to find tears brimming in her eyes, "He left? Maa, please tell me where he is? Is Abhimaan fine?", I panicked. God knows for what reason.

"Samantha, Abhimaan left for Pune yesterday. His assistant called up today and informed us. He had a meeting in which his father asked him to shift to the next week because of the marriage. I don't know why he left despite no meetings there. It's just that he should not have left you on the day of your marriage, Samantha", she completed when a drop of tears fell from my eyes.

Did he just leave without saying a single word to me?

Did I really wait for him yesterday?

Did I really wait for him to even show up today when he just left?

I know he never wanted this marriage even though this was not what I actually wanted. But this is not how he should escape away. Like a coward?

"Samantha.... Samantha", Maa pulled me out of my cloud of thoughts.

"Mujhe maaf kar de, beti. Main usse rokne ki koshish karti lekin usse aise chhor ke nahi jaane deti tujhe", she said holding my hands.

I wiped off the tears from my eyes which were flooding like God knows what misfortune happened. "Maa, it's okay....", I replied with a heaviness in my heart.

"Samantha, tujhe pata hai naa tu kya keh rahi hai? Ye okay nahi hai beta. Abhimaan ke bina teri pehli rasoi nahi hogi", her words clenched my heart.

No, I never dreamt of having a fairy tale marriage with Abhimaan Malhotra. But I tried to be gentle and soft. I tried to be real with him. I tried making him comfortable when it was me who needed comfort.

I tried understanding his behaviour even when it wasn't right at certain points. So, I expected the least from him. But I never expected something like this.

In what world is something more important to him than this?

I tried fighting with my trust issues only to trust him. But he is a coward and he definitely owes an explanation to me.

"Maa, you go and have some rest. It's okay. Trust me, we will continue the ritual once he returns back", I said to her as she hugged me for the last time before she left the room.

I don't want any family members to get into this. Even though it was a forced marriage for us but they have done everything out of their pure heart. So, they really don't deserve to be stressed about our marriage.

I sat on the floor when the tears started flowing down my cheeks uncontrollably. I was disappointed, I was hurt and what not. This is not how you treat anyone. This is not the way I want to be treated.

"Why, Abhimaan? Why? Why did you do this?", I cried out.

Honestly, I don't know what the world thinks of you but I expected you to be above everything.

And even if it's not what you want. Even if you never felt the slightest urge of everything to be happening right, then why did you give me the hope? Why did you give me an idea of finding light in your darkness?

I put my hands on my mouth to suppress my sobs as the tears kept flowing down my cheeks. My eyes burnt whereas my heart was actually numb to not understand what I should really believe or not.

The part of Abhimaan, he is showing to the world?

Or the part of him which he hides even from himself?

Because I know it's hard to break the wall around his heart but he can't bleed on someone who didn't give him a cut.

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Guys, the next chapter is ready iss liye jitna pyar dikhaoge utni jaldi aayega.

I also wanted to ask you guys that I was planning to make a group chat on Instagram with you all. So that the readers and the other writers can have a strong community. Are you guys interested, if yes then please let me know.

Happy Reading!