Samantha

I rushed out of his room in nothing but extreme anger and fear, both at the same time. Sitting at the same place for so long in a heavy lehanga was a real task for me and I started feeling tired as I needed a washroom.

So, I called Mumma and she took me with her, "Samantha, take the left turn from the stairs, you will find a room. It's probably vacant. You can comfortably use that room's washroom okay?", she said to me and I nodded as she got back to attend the guests.

I made my way upstairs and I took the left turn. The whole floor was just huge and luxurious, from the walls to the staircase, everything was engraved with expensive marbles and antique pieces of paintings. I stopped on my way when I saw two rooms on the left. "Mumma said to go on the left side. But here are two rooms. Which one should I go to?", I whispered confusingly.

"What if it's someone else's room?", I frowned. "I think I should call someone to help me with this", I thought as I marched back when I felt my knot of the blouse loosened making me freeze at my position.

I immediately put my hands on it, "Oh no..... Ab ye bhi abhi hona tha", I said as I decided to use the restroom as soon as possible.

So, I walked to the first door and twisted the knob of it, luckily it got open and I entered inside. The room was big, magnificent and luxurious, although it has very limited furniture but it was super clean and well organized. The aroma in the room felt fresh and intoxicating.

I rushed inside the washroom as I started tying the knot of my blouse when suddenly I started hearing heavy footsteps coming towards me. For a moment, I stiffed at my place not knowing who it can be when the door got opened exposing none other than him in front of me. I was caught off guard as I turned back to face him, my hands were still on my blouse holding it on it's place.

"What are you doing here?", he asked in confusion as I flinched back at his sudden appearance but tried to stay calm.

"Don't you have a manner to knock?", I retorted back.

"And why would I knock on my own room?", I frowned at his words when the realisation hit me, of course it was his room.

Well, I still need to fix my blouse first.

"Because I'm using it", I blurted out.

"Get out", he said angrily.

"What?"

"I said get out", his unknown anger made me nervous but I still managed to shutter back.

"I'm in the middle of something."

His deep ocean blue eyes fell on me when I gulped the lump in my throat, "Whatever.....", I heard him murmuring.

"I need help. Can you please send Mumma or any female", I asked politely as I didn't have any other option when he clenched his jaw after hearing me.

God knows for what reason.

He gritted his teeth in anger and jerked me to him when our bodies touched each other as he turned me around where my bare back was facing him. I was taken aback by his gesture but couldn't reciprocate a single word as i felt his fingers sliding over my rough back when I realised that he tied the knot of my blouse but keeping his eyes on me from the mirror the whole time. He never glanced for a second on my bare back.

"Get out!", he roared after being done as I looked at him with hidden and unspoken sets of emotions but still managed to rush out of the room holding my left out breath.

I went downstairs as I breathed heavily, "Samantha, are you alright? It took you so long, beta", Mumma asked me worriedly.

"No no.... It's fine, Mumma. Actually I was having some fresh air", I lied as she smiled back at me.

As I entered the hall, it was almost empty as the guests already left and it was just the family members now. "Samantha, come. Eat something", Mumma came to me making me sit at the chair.

"I don't have any appetite, Mumma", I lied again.

"How's that possible? I know you are hungry. Open your mouth and eat now", she said as she started feeding me with her own hands. Watching her doing things for me selflessly, I felt emotional.

It's true that my Dad has never made me feel a need of a mother, he was everything to me but feeling the love and care of a mother is something so special. And I have never felt this before. I have never felt how it actually feels to be loved by a mother.

"Samantha, are you okay, beta?", Mumma asked as I wiped off the tears immediately from my cheeks which I didn't know when it started flowing down.

"Ji... Ji... Mumma. Woh bas emotional ho gayi thi...."

"I understand beta. Tujhe apne Dad ki bhi yaad aa rahi hogi naa? Main samjhti hu", she said cupping my cheeks lovingly.

"Samantha, let's go home, beta", I watched Papa coming towards us. "It will be too late, let's drop you home now", he said and I nodded taking the last bite of the food and cleaning my mouth with the tissue.

"Sure, I will book a cab", I said as I took out my phone from the bag.

"No, Samantha. Why would you take a cab? We will drop you", Papa protested.

"No..no.. Papa. You have already done enough. Let me do this, please. I will go safely", I assured to which he denied back immediately.

"Wait, I will ask Abhimaan to drop you home", he said as his eyes started roaming everywhere in the hall to find him but I knew he wasn't there. He was in his room already fuming with anger.

What if he becomes more angry? I'm really not in the mood to face him like this. He is way too rude.

"Mumma.... Please.... Ask Papa not to call him", I said slowly to her.

"Why, Samantha? Is there any problem? Did he say something to you?", she whispered back worriedly.

"No...no.... Please. Stop Papa first", I requested back to which she nodded and went to Papa saying something to him and he smiled back in return.

"Samantha, how sweet of you to understand that Abhimaan is having an important call right now. Don't worry, I will send Ruhaan to drop you home. Come....", he said to which I couldn't refuse as we went outside.

"Ruhaan, I want you to drop Samantha home. Drive slowly....", he said as I touched every elder's feet as they blessed me, I also thanked Mumma as she assured me with her smile. I sat in the car when my eyes fell on him. It was stuck to his ocean blue eyes like always as he stared me back with mixed emotions. Definitely not the same anger he had a few minutes ago but something strange, of course.

I locked my seat belt as Ruhaan asked me to do so, when I felt him glaring back at me intensely. I gulped the lump in my throat as we drove off not before watching him shutting his window abruptly.

Why does he hates me so much? He doesn't even know me.

After Ruhaan dropped me home, I went inside my room. I took my Dad's photo as I hugged it when tears started flowing down my cheeks. "I'm engaged now, Dad", I sobbed heavily.

"I'm doing it finally. I'm getting married, Dad. I know you are there watching me but I wish you to be here blessing me with your own hands. Helping me select the colour of my lehanga, walking down with me. I miss you, Dad. I miss you so much. I wish you are happy there."

After having a long moment with my Dad, I put his photo back to the dashboard. I wiped off the dried tears from my cheeks as I removed my jewellery, makeup and hair accessories, then I changed myself into comfortable clothes and laid my back on the bed.

I opened my phone and started scrolling Instagram when suddenly I remembered something. I searched, "Abhimaan Malhotra' when I found his public account. He had huge number of followers but he followed none of them. I started scrolling down to his pictures and in most of them, he was in a business attire attending meetings, events and awards shows.

Then my eyes fell on a picture in which he was posing with a model.

HEADLINE: Famous Billionaire of the country 'Abhimaan Malhotra' gives sparks to the rumours of him dating the model 'Isha Chauhan.'

And I widened my eyes in shock, the picture was barely old enough like two months back. "Is he dating someone?", I muttered under my breath.

And what about him helping me out on the stage. He literally said that Ruhaan is not present everywhere.

What does he meant by that?

Does he really think of me as a girl of low morale?

"May be, he wanted to marry this model but he is getting married to me. That's the reason he hates me, right?", my inner voice echoed.

But if he is already in love with someone else, why the hell he is getting married to me? What if he is still in love with her? What if he carry on his affair even after the marriage?

And with these thoughts, I didn't realise when sleep took over me but I do feel double thoughts making its way inside my stomach.

Next morning....

I woke up with a headache as I have never been in a hectic schedule like this. So, I got up from the bed and freshened up changing myself into a kurti and jeans. I blow dried my hair as I made my way to make a coffee for myself and then, I released few orders from my morning schedule. I took my breakfast while working on my laptop, I rechecked a few of my orders when I receive a call from Mumma.

"Hello, Mumma. Goodmorning.....", I said as I picked up the call.

"Goodmorning, Samantha. How are you?", she asked back.

"All good...."

"Did you sleep well or do you need more rest. I really don't want you to overwork", she said in concern.

"No...no... I'm fine, Mumma."

"Then, be ready by 11:00 am. Abhimaan will pick you up for shopping", she said mentioning him which made me flinch at my own feet.

No, I'm not scared of him or anything like that. I'm just confused about what he really think of me.

I really don't want to marry someone who barely respects me. I'm not that person who tolerate disrespect at any cost.

"Samantha, are you there?", I heard Mumma's voice from the other side of the call knocking me out from my own thoughts.

"Sure, Mumma. I will be on time", I said as the call ended. I watched the time and it was 10:00 am, I still have one hour so, I packed all the orders.

I wrapped up all my work when I heard a knock on my door, "Must be the delivery guy", I murmured as I opened the door.

I lift up my eyes only to see him standing there and then I watched the time realising that it was already 11:00 am. I shifted the locks of my hair behind my ear as I found his eyes fixed on his phone but finally met mine as he watched me getting nervous all over again. "Oh, hi....", I barely managed to speak.

He looked at me from tip to toe as I accepted that I did the same to him. He was dressed up in his usual business attire carrying the same cold face which he is born with. That's what I have assumed by now. Despite it giving him an attractive figure all at once, he is still rude.

"Dad asked me to pick you up for shopping. Are you done checking up on me?", he asked coldly.

"Yaa, of course", wait what?

"I mean please come in, Mr. Malhotra", I said as he made his way inside making me hell embarrassed at my own words. He took a glance of my cafe before taking a seat which I offered to him, "How much time are you going to take? I have a meeting to attend", he said getting annoyed already.

I licked my lips in nervousness, "Just give me five minutes. Did you have your breakfast?", I asked out of nowhere which I literally cursed myself for.

What the hell, Samantha? Why did you ask him that?

I'm sorry but I have the habit of blabbering when I'm nervous.

"What?", he frowned back.

"I mean.... Mr. Malhotra, I have baked some pancakes. Would you like to taste?", I said as I found nothing to cover up my words.

"I'm done with the breakfast", he said rolling his eyes over me when I heard his stomach growling which made me laugh slightly.

"I see....", he glared back at my action when I instantly shut my mouth, "Oops, sorry", I said as I passed him the plate which he took in nothing but embarrassment.

I rushed inside as I changed my clothes because baking literally ruined my dress. So, I changed into a pink anarkali suit and wore simple earrings on it. Keeping my makeup natural and light, I applied the kajal and completed my look with a bindi. I took my phone and kept it inside my purse and wore my footwear and rushed out of my room only to watch him engrossed his head on his phone. He didn't even touched the pancakes which made me furrow my eyebrows at him.

"You said you were late. Then, why didn't you eat it?", I said folding my arms across my chest as he averted his gaze on me making me intimidated again.

"Finish it fast", I said as he shifted his gaze from me to God knows where. I heard a knock on the door when I realised it was the delivery guy to take the orders. So, I passed the delivery boxes to him one by one.

"Thank you, Mam....", he said as he left taking the boxes.

I shifted my attention back to the cold, ruthless but handsome figure as I watched him finish.the whole plate which made me smile foolishly.

I found him cute.

Sam, don't forget he was so rude to you last night.

"Chalein ab?", he said to me after cleaning his mouth with the tissue but not forget to mention, without telling how the pancakes actually tasted.

Whatever, I know my pancakes are tasty. I don't need his validation or anything like any compliments.

So, I simply nodded at him and locked the door behind me and marched after him. I didn't fail to notice him opening the car's door for me when I sat on the passenger seat silently. He is way too confusing.

The whole car ride was filled with silence as we reached the mall. We went inside one of the shops when the lady welcomed us, "Mr. & Mrs. Malhotra, come, this way please", she said politely making me not fail to notice her remark me as Mrs. Malhotra.

"Mam, you can tell us what kind of a dress are you looking for?", she asked as she started showing her collection.

"Mam, have a look at this. This is our limited edition bridal wear. It has a rare stone work with gold plated border", she said as she showed us a heavy outfit. I flipped the tag when my eyes widened in shock, "6 lakhs", I muttered leaving the outfit immediately.

I side glared Abhimaan who was busy in his phone and barely showed any interest, "Can you please show me something light and comfortable?", I asked.

"Mam, you can try this. This is our newly launched collection. It has handwork and it's one of our biggest designer's collection", she said when I flipped back the price tag and put it aside as soon as I saw it.

"5.5 lakhs, it's too much for a lehanga", I muttered under my breath as they kept showing me God knows what. I was getting exhausted with the mental pressure I was feeling and that too with no helping hand to suggest to me because the one beside me barely showed any interest.

"Mam, why don't you try this?"

"Please keep this all aside. I don't want this", I said bluntly as I was getting annoyed when I watched Abhimaan coming closer to me.

"We can go to some other designer if you aren't liking it", he said coldly.

What? You didn't even ask what I want.

"I don't want to", I replied back sternly as I started walking out of the shop.

"Samantha, what do you want then?", he said annoyingly.

"Something light, something simple but special. Something which I'm comfortable in", I said in one go as he kept looking at me intensely.

I watched him rubbing his face in frustration when he held my hand pulling me out of the shop, "Mr. Malhotra, Mr. Malhotra, what are you doing?", I said as he pushed me harshly, making my back touch the wall.

"Stop this nonsense, Samantha. Stop this drama", he said abruptly, his eyes were filled with deep but undefined emotions.

The same from the last night.

"Excuse me....?", I said in confusion as I breathed heavily because of him standing so close to my face doing nothing but sending shivers down my spine.

"If you have this much problem with the price tag, then why the hell are you getting married to me?", he asked shaking my shoulders angrily.

Was he just eyeing me not selecting the outfit?

"It's not what you think. Leave me, Mr. Malhotra. Let me go....", I protested back which he barely listened to me as his grip on me tightened even more.

"Oh really? Then, you tell me how is it?", he asked back.

"Why the hell are you marrying me, Samantha?"

"Because I want to", I said annoyingly not knowing what and how to answer him.

"No. Because you want my money, Samantha Singh", he said coldly as I looked at him in disbelief.

Did he really judge me this way?

I know I'm not rich like him but I'm not marrying him for his money. I'm bound to be in this marriage.

"You have no right to judge me like this, Mr. Malhotra", I said jolting his hands away from me.

"I'm warning you this last time, Mr. Malhotra. Don't you dare pass your filthy judgements on me", I said pointing fingers at him when a wave of rage erupted inside me.

I suddenly remembered his picture with his rumoured girlfriend when an urge to throw it back right on his face caught me from inside.

"At least, I'm not making love angles with someone and marrying someone else", and I did it. I threw it right on his face.

I said firmly when I felt his hands on my wrist as he pulled me back before I could make a move to get away from him. Our bodies collided with each other as his breaths were giving me unwanted chills. I felt uncontrollably controlled under him. He buried his eyes to mine as he gritted his teeth in anger, "What did you just say, Samantha?", he raised his eyebrows at me.

"How are you suppose to call me fake, Mr. Malhotra when you are yourself a whole walking figure of lies and fakeness?", it was the moment when I knew that my rage has taken me all over.

"Elaborate.....", he stated firmly.

"You feel like I'm marrying you for your money and power? Be it. If that what satisfies your ego, then be it, Mr. Malhotra", I said pushing him away from me.

"At least, I'm not having a love affair with a model and then, marrying a girl who barely has any big name like yours just to maintain your gentleman figure in the society", I didn't know what I said but I just said it without any regrets.

"Are you talking about her?", he asked back rubbing his face in frustration.

"I have zero interest in your life. Be it her or him, I don't have any interest in your life, Mr. Malhotra. You better not judge me again from the next time", I warned him.

"And did you just stalk me, Samantha?", he said making me absolutely stunned at my own realisation as he started taking steps into my direction.

"I want to go home", I said as I turned my way when he held me again pulling me closer to him by my waist. My hands immediately rested on his chest as the need to maintain the distance between us just got heightened.

"She is no body to me. I don't do love affairs, Samantha. Isha Chauhan is just a model of our Company. I had zero love interest in my whole life. I love nobody. And never believe on any headlines. Did you get it, Samantha?", he asked intensely to which I nodded back in return.

I don't know why I just felt relieved after listening to him as if I knew he was telling the truth. It was like my heart wanted to believe him.

"Words, Samantha...."

"Yes....", I uttered back as he took my hands in his, taking me to an another shop. He locked his hands with mine as his touch sent butterflies to my stomach.

I liked his hold on me.

We entered inside a new shop as the lady staff stood up after seeing us, "Mr. Malhotra, welcome. Tell me how we can help you?", she asked politely.

"Show me the bridal outfits. I want it to be simple but elegant. Something which don't make me let go my eyes off her", he said out of nowhere as I slided the lock of my hair behind my ear while blushing hard on his remark.

Did he just say that?

"This will look amazing on you. You can try this, Samantha", he said politely making me confuse at his sudden change of behaviour.

I watched him select a few outfits for me and I tried each one of them. He sat outside the trial room when I kept coming out in different outfits and all he did was approving each one of them not before gazing at me for minutes.

I bought few suits, sarees and the main bridal outfits which was red in colour. After I was done with my shopping, he also selected his outfits which
I majorly approved.

I don't know why but I felt utmost happy doing that for him. It started connecting me to him even more. It was our second meet but the first time s, exploring each other's likes and dislikes.

He cleared all the bills as I watched him instructing the staff, "Send the jewellery designs and the matching footwears and accessories straight to our Mansion. She will select from there", he ordered.

"Anything else, Sir?", the staff asked back.

"No.... I don't want any mistakes. Make sure of that", he commanded as he pulled me out with him again.

"Mr. Malhotra, you were going to have a meeting?", I asked out of nowhere.

"I will reschedule it", he said simply.

"I think we are done for the day. You can go now, I will take a cab. Thank you for your time, Mr. Malhotra", I said softly.

"Don't you feel hungry?", he asked ignoring my words and making a pout face in which he looked undeniably cute.

I looked at him in disbelief as he looked so soothing to my eyes, "Yaa....", I replied back.
I was actually very hungry.

"What do you want to eat? Chinese, Indian, Italian?", he asked back.

"Golgappe.....", I said passing a big smile to him.

"What?"

"We can leave if you don't want....", I said sadly.

"No...no... It's fine. Let's eat Golgappe....", he replied softly.

"Chaliye Samantha Ji, aaj ye bhi kar lete hai....", he said as I smiled back at his reaction walking out with him.

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

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