5. The Wedding Day

When I told Carol about the grand wedding's invitation, she whined like a kid that I should take her with myself. But, I refused because I was not going there. I could bet Katherine had just said it out of courtesy, she didn't mean it. Even if she was serious, still I was not going to go there. It's really not my business.

It took me quite some time to knock some sense in to Carol's head and convinced her that we couldn't go and gratefully she understood later on. She went to her parents' house for few days and said she would be back before finals so I was now living in the dorm's room all alone. To keep my words to Katherine, I went to the mansion on their special day, in other words; wedding day.

Today was a special day for Hobsons. Today, the famous bride and the groom would come into the sacred relation; marriage at around 7'o clock in the evening at the Catholic Church. I reached to the mansion four hours prior to the wedding to earn some more money by offering a helping hand to Katherine.

The foyer of the mansion looked like a total mess and disorganized. There were dozens of servants in the white uniform, busy in their respective tasks. They were going here and there, shifting wrapped items, food and other stuff in the cars. I was astounded to see that this family has umpteen numbers of domestic workers. I didn't see them in normal days.

Soon my gaze caught Katherine who was talking with someone on the phone. A man maybe in his early thirties was standing beside her, waiting for her to end the call and get her attention. I didn't see him before, but I was certain he was not from the domestic staff because of his expensive attire.

"All the deliveries should be on time, Mom. Why you hired Hamptons for catering? They are lazy asses." The man exploded as soon as he saw that Katherine had put her phone down.

She huffed, "Relax, Austin. Show some trust on your mother."

Austin Hobsons. Right. He was the elder son of the Hobsons' family, big brother of the groom of the day. He had curly golden brown hair, deep hazel eyes and perfect virile physique. All of the family members were not only wealthy, but it seemed like all of them had possessed good looks as well.

Katherine looked in my direction. She smiled and walked towards me, "Sanaya, I was waiting for you..."

Austin followed her, "I'm telling you this Hamptons will spoil our occasion. They never deliver on time."

She shot him a glare, "Their services are the best in the city. I know you love your brother a lot. But, nothing will go wrong. I promise you."

She turned her face to me again, "Say hello to our new cook Sanaya."

Reluctantly, Austin moved his head, studying my appearance, "You look young. Nice to meet you, by the way."

"Same here, sir." I smiled.

"Anyways, time to work. Go to the kitchen and pack the desserts the chefs have prepared." Katherine ordered.

💙

Just before an hour left when the family had to leave for the Church, Katherine called me in the living room. She was sitting on the couch in her full-length, blood red gown that made her look few years younger. Her makeup was loud and dark with maroon lips and smoky eyes.

She was checking the shopping bags that were placed in front of her on the floor. She looked up when she saw me, "Come here, Sanaya." Pressing my lips together, I ambled to her.

"Why aren't you dressed up till yet?"

"I'm not going to the wedding. I was just here to help you." I stated nervously.

This time, she didn't insist me, but said, "I would have liked it if you would've come to the occasion, but anyways, please take all those shopping bags to Samara's room. It's the bride's accessories. She would be waiting for them."

Giving her a light nod, I moved further and picked up all the bags in my hands. They were too many.

"Use the lift. Second floor, left side, second room." She instructed.

I wondered why Samara was here. Bride was supposed to get ready and come to the Church from her parents' home. There could be only one reason that she was maybe quite close to this family that she even choose to go to the Church from here.

Nervousness began to surround me as I followed her instructions and reached to Samara's room because it was my first time going upstairs and seeing the other portion of the mansion.

Stepping outside the lift, I witnessed a long corridor that had about ten rooms. On the right side, one could view the downward part of the mansion in one glimpse. The steel handrail was ornamented with the colorful star lights. The glass pendant lights of the whole floor were on, illuminating the entire place. This portion looked captivating with all those fancy lights.

While admiring the decorations, I walked towards the Samara's room. If I wouldn't have known the real reason of their wedding, I would've also came under the spell of this dreamy wedding. But, I knew bride and groom were not in love so its image totally ruined in my mind. Everything looks good from the outside, but from the inside they have their own agenda.

I stopped in front of the room. According to the way Katherine instructed me, this was the room where bride of the day was. I shifted the shopping bags from my one hand to the other and knocked the door with my free hand.

Few minutes passed, but no sound came from inside the room. I knocked for the third time, but there was no response. Hesitantly, I grabbed the doorknob and pushed opened the door slowly, looking inside.

"Miss Samara?"

I stepped into the room and looked around, "I'm here to deliver some bags to you. Katherine has sent them."

The room was bigger than the kitchen where I worked. It was a combination of grey and maroon colors. The curtains and furniture of the bedroom were maroon. But the floor and the walls were of different shades of grey. The color combination was unique. But the room was slightly disorganized. The clothes were scattered on the bed and some were on the floor. The wedding dress was also placed on bed, fully wrapped in plastic bag.

I felt bemused. She was supposed to be in her wedding gown by now. There was not much time left. I put the shopping bags on the floor when I started feeling pain in my arms. They were heavy.

Samara finally stepped out of the bathroom. My astonishment increased some more when I saw her in jeans and plain shirt. Her hair were falling in all direction as if she was pulling them a while ago. I could see dried tears around her eyes. Her overall appearance looked disoriented and panicky.

She gazed at me, moving her eyes from up and down as if she was checking me out. I felt uncomfortable under her intense scrutiny so I just broke the awkward silence, "Are you okay? I was here to deliver those bags to you."

She came closer to me, now studying my face. Her eyes were wandering all over my facial features. I contorted my face in confusion at her weird stares, "Umm, hey-"

"Listen, can you wear my wedding dress and be a bride on my place?" She questioned.

What?

I thought she was just joking and would burst into laughter any moment, but she didn't and stood still. Her serious face gave me cold shivers. "Are you drunk or something? What are you talking about?"

"I'm not drunk. You've to be a bride at my place." She repeated with no hesitation.

My mind suggested me to ignore that woman who was certainly out of her mind. After all, no sensible bride would say such a thing on her own wedding day. "I don't think you're in your senses right now. Whatever it is, not my concern. I'm leaving."

I turned around with an intention to storm out of this room, but she came forward and blocked my way, "First hear me out. I'm not asking you to get married at my place." Her voice was panicky, "I'm only asking you to wear my dress and pretend to be me just for an hour. I've to go somewhere right now. It's urgent."

My nostrils flared as I gave her an angry look, crossing my arms under my chest, "Are you dumb? Or you're just acting like one? I'm not your twin. People can easily recognize me that I'm not you. You can just call your fiancée or someone and delay the wedding and finish whatever work you need to."

I can't believe I was even arguing with her on such a scary thing. Something was definitely wrong with her.

She took out a loud, deep breath as if she was controlling herself from the outburst. She looked restless, "I'm calling Ashar, but he's not picking up his phone. Two thousand people from all over the country and even outside of it are coming for the wedding. If the bride wouldn't be on time, it will spoil the image of the two families. You don't understand how much good reputation is important for Hobsons. I'm going to put a thick veil on your face, so that no one would recognize you. Your height, weight and body shape matches with mine. No one will find out, believe me."

She was right about our weight, but not height. She was few inches taller. If anyone would find out the trick I was playing, I would go straight behind bars. Hobsons were powerful people. I could not take a risk.

"We don't have time. Just listen to me. I need to leave right now in order to return quickly. I, I have to stop someone." She begged.

I couldn't understand what could be so urgent that she was ready to take such a dangerous risk. She would be in deep trouble too if someone found out the different face.

Her phone began ringing. She hissed aloud and reached for it. "Stop calling me. I'm trying to come." She shouted on the phone. Afterwards, she threw the phone back on the bed and walked back to me.

"Please help me. I've to go now. You've to just sit here in my room and act as me. And just in case if they ask you to go to the Church then listen to them. I'll come there directly, will do something with the lights there so that we could return to our rightful places. My plan is strong. No one will find out."

Strong fear was flashing in her moistened eyes. Her ballad fists were indicating her anxiety. I couldn't ignore her distressful appearance, "What's the emergency?"

She bit her bottom lip for a moment then answered, "I have no time to explain it to you. I'll tell you later. Just get ready for now. Wear my wedding dress. I'll go after making you look like a bride."

"No. This is wrong. I can't do this." I shook my head.

"Woman, I told you, I don't have time. If I won't go there, this wedding won't happen. I'm just asking you to stop this wedding from ruining. There are so many people out there."

I could be recognized easily. Why was she dragging me in her problem? I wanted to run away from here. Her dominating aura and firm voice was weakening me.

"I'm scared." I blurted out.

"Don't be." She said, grabbing my shoulders, "Just stay quite. If anyone asks you any question, try not to answer. Just an hour. Handle everything here only for an hour."

Her plan sounded safe and simple, but when it comes to following it in real, it wouldn't be easy and simple. God, what should I do?

Strong fear was taking control of my body, wobbling my legs. This whole situation was frightening me to death.

"What's your name?" She asked.

"Sanaya. You don't even know my name and you are asking me to be a replaced bride for you."

Samara hissed, "I remember you by your face. I know you are a new cook of Hobsons, that's why I'm asking you to do this for me because no one can even think in their dream that you could be a bride behind the veil, I told you, trust my plan. Nothing will go wrong."

I stared at her in utter disbelief, trying to register this situation in my head because I was still not believing that the bride herself asking me to wear her wedding dress. My stomach churned at the thought. I began feeling sweaty.

Samara again pleaded to me, "If bride would not reach to the Church, this event will be a mess. You know I can go without informing anyone, but Hobsons are like a family to me. I don't want to destroy their image in front of the media. Reporters are also coming to cover the wedding. Just think, if bride wouldn't be there how journalists are going to make fun of them. Tomorrow's newspaper will be full of nasty news stories about them."

Her every argument sounded so strong, so right even I know that this crazy idea of her was not ethical. It would be a fraud. But since Hobsons family have helped me so much during that little time I started working for them. It's because of them, I was doing well financially. They were not bad people. Shouldn't I be helping them by returning the favor they gave me?

"Are you really going to come back on time?" I whispered in a very low voice that it was barely audible.

The corners of her lips lifted up into a smile, "Yes. I promise. I'll be back as soon as possible."

I didn't respond to her. My own voice stuck in my throat. Samara grabbed my hand and pulled me in front of the mirror of her dresser.

"I don't want to-"

I tried to refuse once again, but she interrupted me. She started moving a brush in my hair, "First I'll do your hair. I've to arrange the hair in a way so that your different hair color won't be noticeable. Once you'll get ready you'll get more confidence on my plan."

I guess today I was digging my own grave.