Samantha

Today is my engagement and I'm getting married to someone I barely know. I wonder if Dad would still be alive, would it be the same way it is right now?

Maybe yes.

Because that's what he wanted me to do anyways. Marrying his best friend's son. Maybe Dad's presence would make me feel less unwanted. Maybe him being with me right now would make this marriage less forced.

May be. Just a may be!

Coming to me, I'm Samantha Singh, 26 years old. I live in Mumbai and we run a cafe here. I lost my only family, my Dad last year and now I'm left alone on this planet. My Mom left us right after giving birth to me for some richer man. Dad was a single father for my whole life as he didn't marry again despite being at a young age. He was the only one who chose me above everything.

Even his own family disowned him as they wanted him to dump me which he didn't. So, he left his family for me. He started the cafe here in Mumbai when I was too young, the cafe was going well and it was giving us enough money for two people to live a good life. But now, our cafe is on the verge of collapsing because of the debt it is in. When last year, Dad left me, I got to know about the financial crisis we were facing, which Dad definitely didn't let me know in his presence. I was doing my MBA in Mumbai so, I couldn't focus much on the cafe. It was Dad who managed it single handedly.

And now, I barely manage to earn the same amount we used to. I had to sell all the stuff to pay off the bank. I did a few Internships when I completed my MBA this year only. I paid a fraction of amount by doing few Internships and Freelancing projects while I was in my last year of the college. After passing out and despite owning a prominent degree, I faced issues while searching for a good job.

The placements I got wasn't sufficient to pay off the debt as living in Mumbai is pretty costly. So, I'm still working hard to pay off every single penny which my Dad owed to the bank so that I can save his last memory.

Flashback (a few days back)...

I was sitting in my cafe while I was working on my laptop. Not having a sufficient amount to bear the maintenance charge, I personally take orders of pancakes and bakery items which I make on my own. My cafe only has online services as despite having the place for people, I don't have the stuff to arrange it for better customer services.

I heard a knock on the main door, "Who's there right now?", I watched the time as it was already late in the evening.

I opened the gate only to see Devaansh Uncle standing in front of me, "Hello, Uncle. So good to see you. Please come in....", I touched his feet as I welcomed him in.

I have known Devaansh Uncle since my childhood as he was the only friend of my Dad. He used to come to our cafe to spend some quality time with my Dad, they were best friends, you know. As far as Dad told me, he is one of the renowned businessmen of India. I remember Dad telling me about his wife's death. He said that she died in a car accident saving her 7 year old son. He married again to save his son's childhood so that he doesn't feel any lack of motherly love. But his son hated him in return. I know that's heartbreaking to read.

"How are you, Samantha?", he said as he sat on the chair which I pulled it for him. I took a seat beside him as he gestured me to seat, "I'm fine, Uncle.... Please give me two minutes", I rush to the kitchen as I got a pancake for him.

"Uncle, have it and tell me how it tastes?", I smiled as he took a spoon of pancakes in his mouth.

"Yummy! I loved it, beta....", he smiled as I felt extremely happy receiving his compliment. It's been days since I have heard that from anyone. I remember Dad doing the same.

Tears welled up inside my eyes as I wiped it off immediately, "You miss your Dad, isn't it?", he asked me to which I nodded back gently.

"A lot...."

"Well, I miss him too....", he spoke sadly.

"Samantha...."

"Ji, Uncle...."

"I won't lie but I'm here for a purpose", he admitted making me frown at his words.

"What purpose, Uncle?"

"I'm here to help you, Samantha. I'm here to help you in saving your Dad's last memory, this cafe", he said while giving a glance to the cafe.

I raised my eyebrows as more confusion took me over, "I didn't understand, Uncle...."

"Samantha, I have seen you struggling for the last one year to save this cafe. I'm not doubting your potential, beta. But you very well know that this is the last month to pay off the whole debt", he said the already known facts to me.

I nodded as he continued, "I have seen your father at his lowest and he has taken care of me at mine. I know how precious you were to him and your whole world revolved around your Dad. This cafe is the witness of the purest bond of this father- daughter duo. And I don't want it to fade away....", he admitted, tears pooling down his cheeks and mine too.

Even I don't want to lose this place. It's my Dad's last memory.

"Devaansh Uncle, I know you are always there to help me but I can't take money from you", I stated.

I can't do this. How will I pay back to him?
If Dad wanted, he would have taken it. But if he didn't, then how can I? I won't let him down.

"I know that, after all you are Samrat's daughter. You won't take favors from anyone", he chuckled which made me smile too.

"But I'm not talking about that either", he said when I looked at him trying to figure out what else he was trying to convey.

"Samantha beta, your Dad and I have done a lot of promises to each other but I guess he left few in the middle to fulfill. But there is this one promise we did to each other years ago....", he sighed before speaking further.

"Samantha, you can join our family business. You can work in Malhotra Group of Industries...."

I watched at him in disbelief. Is he really offering me a job? A fling of happiness flew inside me as he added, "Lekin meri bahu ban ke....."

He confessed making me widened my eyes in disbelief as I flinched inwardly hearing at his words. "Uncle..... Ye kya keh rahe hai aap?"

I left my seat as he stood up to face me, "This is the promise your father and I did to each other. To protect each other's child after the other. I know I'm asking you for too much but if your father would be alive, you will get to know that he wants the same for you", I took a step backwards.

"Nahi.... Kabhi nahi.... Main ye nahi kar sakti, Uncle", I whispered slowly, tears flowing down my cheeks.

Why would Dad want me to do this?

"Because he doesn't trust anybody else when it comes to you. You are just like a daughter to me, Samantha. What if I'm no more? What will I answer to your Dad? That I failed to protect his daughter.... "

I put my hands on my mouth in order to suppress the breakdown I was about to have, "Samantha, I'm being selfish in this. My Abhimaan needs you more than you need anyone. You both are the right fit, Samantha. You both will bring back happiness to each other's life. Even your Dad knew this.... Please beta, maan jao....", he requested with folded hands in front of me.

"Uncle, I don't even know him. I can't stake my whole life to this.....", I cried with the lack of words I was having.

"How can I marry someone who doesn't love me?"

"Pyar toh shaadi ke baad bhi ho jata hai, Samantha. Pyar kisi date ke sath nahi aata. Tumhare Dad ne bhi pyar kiya tha tumhari Maa se lekin woh unhe chhor kar chali gayi. Maine bhi kiya tha Abhimaan ki maa se aur aaj woh mere paas nahi hai. Phir maine Abhimaan ke liye Khyati se shaadi ki. Aur aaj main uski parwah karta hu, Samantha. Woh Abhimaan ki maa ki jagah nahi le sakti meri zindagi mea lekin usne apni ek nayi jagah banayi hai. Aur yahi zindagi ki sachayi hai, beta", he said coming to me as he helped me to sit on the chair.

I wiped off the tears from the back of my hand as I nodded a 'No' to him. He patted my head lovingly when he took out a note from his pocket, "This is what your Dad has asked me to give it to you. It was the moment he was dying and he gave me this note. I didn't have the courage to give it to you in this one year as I thought I might protect you from everything. But now, I feel like a failure and I can't afford to risk you and your Dad's last memory.

My child, you have fought enough. Now, it's the time for you to be happy. It's the time for you to move on with your life", he said as I took the note from his hand.

He took the last spoon of the pancakes as he stood up from his seat, "I'm giving you all the space you need, Samantha. Just give it a thought. Think what your Dad would have wanted for you. Will he ever be in peace if he watches you sacrificing your whole life for this cafe?

Working day and night like hell, fighting with the bank officers alone, sleeping with the fear of been thrown out of your own place. Just think about it, Samantha....", he said as he took his leave when I closed the door behind him.

I went inside my room which is in the backyard side of the cafe, there is my small apartment where we and Dad used to live in. Happily. But now it's just the walls and nothing else which haunts me with the memories and pain I'm left with.

Closing the door behind me, I slide down my back on the door, sitting on the floor. I opened the note and the handwriting on it instantly caught my attention. It's Dad's handwriting. I know it. I took a long breath as I started reading it with my numb eyes and shaky hands.

______________________________

Samantha,

Meri Sam, main nahi chahta tha ki tujhe kabhi ye padhna pade. Lekin shayad iss baap beti ki kismat mea yahi tha. Mujhe maaf kar de, beta. Maine tujhe iss jagah akela chhor diya. Kaash main tujhe hasta hua aur dekh pata lekin tu chinta mat kar, main humesha tere sath hu. Mera pyar, mera aashirwad, meri dua tere sath hamesha hai.

Mujhe pata hai aaj Devaansh ne tujhe jo bhi bataya woh tujhe bilkul acha nahi laga. Lekin haa ye sach hai ki main bhi yahi chahta tha. Tujhe kabhi kisi aur par bharose kar ke kaise chhor deta, Samantha? Devaansh ke alawa mujhe kisi pe yakeen nahi hai kyu ki main janta hu woh humesha teri hifazat karega.

Haa Abhimaan yaani ki Devaansh ke bete ko tu nahi jaanti lekin main jaanta hu. Woh apni maa ki parchaayi hai lekin apne pita se naraz hai. Lekin uss bachhe ka dil bahut saaf hai beta. Woh ek acha insaan hai. Tujhe khush rakhega.

Haa main mila nahi hu usse zyada lekin Devaansh par yakeen hai mujhe. Abhimaan ki zindagi ka khoya hua tukda tu usse de de aur woh tujhe teri khoyi hui muskan wapis de dega, Sam.

Ye sab mushkil hoga beta, lekin meri beti har kisi ke dil ko jeet sakti hai. Mujhe yakeen hai.

Aage badh, Samantha. Khud par yakeen kar. Apni zindagi ko ek mauka de beta. Teri maa ke baad tu thi mere paas lekin mere baad tere paas ab koi nahi hai. Iss liye main chahta hu meri beti apni zindagi ko puri tarah jeeye.

Devaansh ki baat maan le beta. Teri khushi mea aaj bhi meri khushi hai.

Khush raho. Main humesha tumhare sath hu.

With love,
Sam ke proud Dad _________________________________

Present....

"Samantha, are you ready?", Meera Aunty entered my room as I wiped back my tears immediately. I sobbed silently shifting my gaze everywhere in the room, not wanting to face her, "Ji, bas ho gayi main taiyaar....", I said softly watching myself for the last time in the mirror.

"You are looking like a doll, God save your from evil eyes", she cupped my cheeks as I smiled back at her, "Thank you, Aunty."

"Not aunty. Call me Chachi from now", she smiled as I nodded in return.

Well, I'm in my apartment as I asked Devaansh Uncle and Khyati Aunty to not send any makeup artist as they insisted me. I didn't want them to spend unnecessarily on the things which even I can manage so I chose to get ready on my own. I was wearing a beautiful golden lehenga which I have received from my In Laws. I did my makeup keeping it natural and simple as I accessorised it with heavy jewelleries.

After reading Dad's letter, I didn't have the courage to say 'No' to him. I can't let him down at any cost. If he would be happy with this, so am I. Three days after Devaansh's Uncle visited my cafe, he came again as he wanted my answer. I told him my side as I was ready for the marriage but I had one term. I would work in the Malhotra Group of Industries and I would be offered the job on the basis of my capabilities. I will work as an employee and not as a CEO's wife.

I will be getting the salary just like any other at my position not before deducting the amount Uncle has given to clear my cafe's debt. Yes, he cleared all the debt and I'm going to work and settle down the amount I owe it to him. If that's what all I can do.

I met the elders of the family except the one I'm getting married to as I heard he isn't interested in any meetings with me. I was scared with the vibe I got when I heard it but only if I had any option to oppose.

Apart from Devaansh Uncle, I met Khyati Aunty, Rudransh Uncle and Meera Aunty and they literally made me feel like home. Maybe, because I witnessed the right family picture for the first time in my life.
And yes, please correct them into Papa, Mumma, Chachu and Chachi. That's what they have asked me to call them.

Chachu and Chachi have come to pick me up as the Engagement Ceremony is taking place at the Malhotra Mansion, in the presence of close friends and family. Not mine, of course theirs. I didn't have one.

Leaving my apartment, I got inside the car which was already parked outside. Chachi took a seat beside me as Chachu sat on the passenger seat beside the driver as we drove off to Malhotra Mansion.

After a few minutes, we finally reached the mansion as Chachi helped me to get out of the car. Looking at the big mansion in front of me, my breath got hitched somewhere inside me as I was glued at my position.

"Come, Samantha. This is going to be your home now", Chachu said as I walked ahead with them.

I entered the mansion as Khyati Aunty, no..no..., Mumma welcomed me inside.

I took baby steps as I saw Devaansh Uncle, no...no... Papa approached me. "Come beta, welcome to your home", he smiled back at me trying to give me all the comfort which I needed at that moment. If that was working to calm down the chaos inside me.

I felt my heartbeat pace faster when I heard someone saying, "And there is my brother, the handsome hunk, Mr. Abhimaan Malhotra....", I clutched on my dress more tightly as I felt his heavy footsteps coming closer to me not as Papa approached him to come to our side. His cologne reached my nostrils before him and I could barely resist my eyes to scan him from tip to toe, he was a Greek God coming himself to me.

My brown eyes met his ocean blue eyes when he looked at me intensely. He was dressed in a black suit, when I didn't fail to notice his golden tie matching my outfit, giving him a complete look which was mesmerizing to my puppy eyes. A wave of tingling emotions flew inside me as I trembled at my feet, he was too intimidating for me to take all in. He had no emotions in his eyes but the aura around him was louder enough to speak what he is capable of.

The atmosphere felt powerful, his eyes were determined and focused yet lacked emotions, his face was well sculpted but his lips barely smiled as the air he was surrounded in, was already erupting a storm which might uproar my world.

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Toh kaisi lagi aapko Samantha?

Kya lagta hai kaisi hogi Abhimaan aur Samantha ki pehli meeting? 🥰

Vote and comment karo aur pyar dikhao! 💕

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