Abhimaan

"Umm... Bhaiya thoda aur teekha banao", I heard Samantha saying as her mouth was filled with the golgappa. I chuckled at her reaction and she glared back at me.

"What? No....no.... It's already very spicy", I said as I was blowing my mouth, it was burning because of the spicy golgappe.

I didn't want to have it but she forced me by saying, "Itna teekha bolte ho ab teekha toh teekha khane mea kya problem hai?"

Did she really say that?
Ughh....

"I'm done", I said giving up and I heard her laughing. "I have just started", she said as I watched her mouth filled with the back to back golgappe.

I noticed her soft expression which turns into a satisfactory grin. "I'm done", she said as she took the glass from the cart and washed her hands with the water in it. I offered her my handkerchief when she looked at me but took it anyway.

"Thanks", she said and I paid the amount to the man selling the golgappe and we went to our car parked behind.

I went to her side as I opened the car's door for her, "Mr. Malhotra, I doubt you", she said once we both were inside the car. I looked, narrowing my eyebrows at her in confusion, "What?", I asked back.

"I mean you were barely interested in our shopping in the morning and now you are all this gentleman. I doubt your actions", she squinted her eyes at me.

I bent in her direction as her breath lingered on my face, "Wives have the right to doubt too, Ms. Samantha", I said intensely focusing on her as she licked her lips in nervousness.

She shifted back a little when I locked her seatbelt making her look at me in realisation, "Relax, Samantha. It's not what you think", I said as I got back to my position. I side glared on her as I watched her shifting the lock of her hair behind her ear.

The whole car ride was filled with silence and after driving for a few minutes, we reached her house. "Thank you for today", she said smiling back at me as I focused more on her smile than her words.

"Will see you soon, Samantha", I said as she got out of the car looking at me for the last time.

After dropping her home, I went straight to my office. Taking the elevator, I went to my cabin. Taking my seat, I took out my phone from my blazer's pocket and I dialled a number, "Mehta Ji, kaam ho gaya?", I asked once my assistant picked up the call.

"Ji Sir, abhi file lekar aata hu", he replied back and I ended the call. Minutes after, I heard the knock on my door and he was here by then.

"Come in", I ordered when my assistant, Mr. Mehta entered inside. "Sir, you asked for this", he said handing me the file.

"You can go now", I ordered back as he left the cabin.

I read the name written on the file, "Samantha Singh", and I flipped the pages of it. I checked out every detail of her, from her childhood to now, everything was mentioned. There were also a few pictures of her from her college days. So, her father was the single parent to her. She has completed her MBA and now, she is running her father's cafe. She was also a topper of her batch. She barely had any friends.etc.etc.

"That information is barely of my use", I bite back my lips.

But why she is getting married to me?

"There is more and I doubt your innocence, Samantha."

"You messed up with the wrong person. You can manipulate everyone with your innocence but not me", I muttered.

And you will have to pay for what my Dad put me into this.

Grinning back at my own thoughts, I whispered, "Abhimaan Malhotra is only to be feared of and nothing else. Shaadi karne ki jaldi hai naa tumhe? Utni jaldi divorce bhi dogi tum mujhe."

A satisfactory smile appeared on my face when I heard the door of my cabin open, there is only one person, who can do this, Ruhaan.

"Learn manners to knock", I said keeping the file back to the table.

"Manners failed to teach me better in your case", he smiled on his own comment.

"Hasna tha?", I asked irritatingly.

"Tujhe aata hai?", he chuckled again receiving a cold glare from me.

"By the way, how was your shopping date with Bhabhi?", he asked gaining my attention at his mention of special words.

"Her name is Samantha", I said unaffectedly.
"And the shopping was fine", I added.

"I see that's why it took you the whole day", he said winking back at me.

"Toh kuch baat aage badhi?", he asked impatiently earning a cold glare from me.

"Kaam karne de mujhe", I said coldly but he kept blabbering.

"Don't tell me that you didn't like her. I mean Uncle has definitely chosen the right one for you."

"You can leave now. I have work to do", I said, fisting my hands in anger.

He made a clicking sound from his mouth as he took the file from the table, "Kitna kaam karega? Laa main help kar du teri", he said but instantly shut his mouth once he glared back at the name printed on it.

I tried taking it back from him from the other side of the table when he pulled it back to his side, "You did this, didn't you, Abhimaan?", he said, I knew he was mad at me because he just called me by my name and not bro.

"File wapis kar mujhe", I replied back sternly.

"You literally have extracted details about her from your Private Investigating team? How could you do that? If you have questions, ask her directly. Is she any project, Abhimaan?", he said angrily.

"Wait, are you trying to play with her emotions? You fucking took her for shopping, spent the whole day with her. And now you are doing this? How can you be so low man?", he added throwing the file back on the table.

His words broke my level of patience,"Oh really? And now you are taking her side. Tell me, how much do you know about her? Huh? Why the hell is she marrying me? Of course, for my money", I blurted out.

"Abhimaan, she seems different. How can you judge her like that? I know the circumstances in which you both are getting married is not normal. But if you are forced, maybe she has her own reasons to get married", he said defensively.

"And now you are also trapped in her drama of being innocent", I rolled back my eyes at him.

"Jaise unhone meri maa ki jagah kisi aur aurat ko de diya aur unke wajah se aaj main yaha hu, waisi hi aurat ko main apni biwi bana lu? Tu ye chahta hai mujhse?", I shouted.

"Listen, Abhimaan. I know that you have your own reasons. You and Uncle don't share the same bond anymore. And he has forced you to get married to Samantha. But that is not right to ruin her life like this. You are simply making her believe in you. This is ego, Abhimaan. You can't play with someone's life like that. Don't give her false hopes", he said when I banged my fist on the table.

"Stop saying the same thing. That's what she will have to pay for putting me in this situation. She could have simply said "No" to this marriage."

"And then, Uncle would find someone else for you and he will keep doing that until you aren't married and settled. But you would do the same thing with any other person too", he shouted back.

"Listen, Abhimaan. I'm your best friend and I care about you brother. I just want you to give her a fair chance. Try to understand her, Abhimaan", he said trying to be calm.

"She is not what you guys think. And I will prove this to you people", I gritted my teeth in anger.

"You know what? It's not about you, it's about her, Abhimaan. I saw you yesterday the way you looked at her in the first place. You were attracted to her and you feel this fear that she might break the wall around your heart so you are trying to ruin everything on your own. Because you are scared, Abhimaan", he said pointing fingers at me and walked out of the cabin.

I rubbed my face in frustration as I threw everything from my table, "Ahhhhh..... I hate her..... ", I spat out angrily.

"I fucking hate her."

As my mood was already spoiled, I didn't feel the urge to work anymore so I took my car driving off back to the home.

I entered inside and the house help greeted me, I watched Dad with the other members of the family looking over the arrangements for the functions.

"Abhimaan", Dad called me as I stopped on my way.

"I'm glad that you took Samantha out for shopping. I talked to her and she seemed very happy", he said walking into my direction.

"How caring of you that you can see everyone else's happiness, Dad?", I replied back.

"I can see yours too, Abhimaan. It's just that you won't see your happiness right now at the moment. In fact, I believe in God. And I know that Samantha will change your life, Abhimaan. I trust her", and again I heard someone being defensive about her.

How can we judge a person just with a two days of meet?

That's what Ruhaan was trying to say it to you, didn't he?

Oh, please!

"Tomorrow is the 'Mehandi' function and the guests will start coming. It's better if you take a leave from the office", he said and I looked everywhere but failed to look straight into his eyes.

I'm done with people defending her.

"Abhimaan, I'm talking to you", he asked breaking my cloud of thoughts.

"I will take a leave. Anything else, Dad?", I asked back.

"Samantha aur tumhe khush dekhna chahta hu. Bas itna chahta hu ki tu usse ek mauka de", he said patting my shoulders and left.

"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", her words started ringing inside my head.

Did she really stalk me?

But why did I explain her my side. Where did that urge to make my intentions clear to her came from?

Abhimaan Malhotra never owed any explanation to anyone but why her?

Listen, Abhimaan. Focus on what you are behind. She is not what she sees.

I went inside my room as I kept my blazer on the desk. The whole day was mentally exhausting for me. I have never been in a relationship or any love affair with any girl. And Tina Chauhan has always been flaunting over me but I barely gave her a chance to be closer to me. If it wasn't the contract she has signed with our Company, I would have kicked her out by now. But I have to bare her for one more month to let this contract end on a professional note.

But I barely give anyone the rights to ask me questions and why should I explain myself to her?

Keeping aside every thoughts, I went straight to the washroom to take a long shower. I really needed it. I opened the tap and let the tiny droplets wash over my burden of being into an unwanted marriage. My shirts soaked in the water as I ran my fingers through my wet hair.

I turned around sitting on the floor, I hugged my knees and hide my face in between. I miss my Maa. I would have never been facing this if she was beside me. She understood me like no one else. She truly cared for me. I sat there for a longer time meanwhile I was drenched in water from tip to toe. Sitting there for a while cooled me down. Then I decided to clean and changed myself into a night wear.

Right after three days, the Marriage thing is going to happen.

"Under what circumstances, she marrying me?", the only thought which is banging inside my head like an alarm.

No matter what the circumstances is, I will make sure she pays off what she has taken from me. Peace.

Taking inside every thought I was feeling, I barely had any appetite so it's better to skip the dinner. I laid my back on the bed not realising when the sleep took over me.

______________________________

Next day....
(MEHANDI)

I woke up realising that today is the Mehandi. Despite having no role in that, I will still have to be present at home as per Dad's order.

Waking up, I did my morning stuff and changed into a white tshirt and a grey sweatpant. I heard a knock on my door when I knew that the househelp would have bring my coffee. Opening the door, I turned my back as I saw my Dad's wife standing there holding a tray in her hand. "Goodmorning, Abhimaan. Actually the house helps were busy with the decorations and I realised you must be awake by now. So I brought breakfast for you", she said, keeping the tray on the table.

"Abhimaan.....", she called me from my behind as I remained unaffected but stopped on my way without turning back.

"I know it's tough for you but I believe in you. I believe in your heart, Abhimaan. I know you are a better man and just kind and golden heart like your father. Please trust on him, beta. Trust on everything happening", she said making me clenched my fist in anger.

"And now you will tell me about my father too?", I said sternly.

"Nahi beta, mera woh matlab nahi tha. Main bas chahti hu ki tum khush raho humesha. Aur Samantha ko bhi rakho", she replied back hesitantly.

The moment she mentioned her name, my focus diverted. Her face started flashing inside my head as the unanswered questions makes me grit my teeth in anger. I just feel annoyed.

"Aur haa, main tumhare kapde bhejwa deti hu. Beta, jaldi se ready ho jao", she left, shutting the door behind her.

I rubbed my face in frustration and took out my phone from my pocket, "Kaam hua?", I said after dialling the number on my contact list.

"Sir, I'm trying. Please give me some more time", he said in a lower voice.

"Fine. You have three days, do it fast", I ordered back before ending the call. I took the coffee from the tray as I have it. I watched there was a plate of sandwiches kept beside, so I ate that too.

I was eating when I heard a knock on my door again, "Come in", I said when I watched the househelp entering with the boxes in their hands. It was the dresses for all the functions. They kept it on my bed and left the room. I finished the sandwich cleaning my hands with the tissue.

I looked at the boxes and took out the kurta we opted for today, I watched it when her words rang inside my head again. "Ye colour kaafi sahi lagega tumpe", she said handling me the kurta.

Changing myself into it, I brushed my hair as I walked and got ready. Taking my phone, I went outside the room as I already saw the guests and the family members gathering around. It was a small event so only close friends and family were present.

"Abhimaan, aao bete", I heard my Dad saying as I descended from the stairs.

I went to his side and touched his feet including the elders too. "Teri dulhan kidhar reh gayi, Abhimaan?", I heard someone saying as they chuckled.

I chirped at my lips when I watched my cousins and Ruhaan looking somewhere behind me but their mouth was hung open, "Woh rahi Bhabhi", Amaira said when I turned back to where she was pointing at.

I watched her walking inside, her hair was curled and she was wearing a light pink suit with a green dupatta matching with my outfit. I looked at the flowers she tied in her hair. She curled up her eyes as she touched every elder's feet. "Kitni khubsurat hai", I heard a guest muttering from behind.

"Bilkul", someone else said.

My cousin ran to her as she hugged them in return, "You still want to do what you are doing?", I heard someone saying when I looked behind, Ruhaan was standing there.

"Do you still feel playing with her is right?", he asked back.

I kept my mouth shut as my eyes were focused on her but ears were all Ruhaan's, "Dhyaan se dekh iss ladki ko. Tera kya bura chahegi ye?", he said making me focus more on her even more. Though if that can change anything inside me.

No. Nothing.

She hugged Dad as he caressed her head softly, "She has no family, Abhimaan. Her Dad was her only family and she lost him too. The girl who have faced so much of pain will ever think to play with you or your family?", he added leaving me in complete world of thoughts.



She was welcomed inside our mansion as my Dad's wife made her sit on the sofa behind which the decorations of mehandi was done.

The whole time her eyes were focused on me as I gazed at her. I felt someone pulling my arms as Amaira came to me and held it, "Come bhai", she took me with her, making me sit beside Samantha.

I didn't fail to notice the blush on her face as she shifted the lock of her hair behind her ear, "Bhabhi, now you look complete", Amaira said making her cheeks turned into crimson red. For the whole time, I didn't utter a single word as my eyes were focused on her when suddenly Maa's words echoed inside me.

"You know my Dad, your Nanu, made me marry your father and I barely knew him. But he asked me to believe your father and I did. And your Dad has proven his love in every way."

I clenched my fist to surpress the eruption of emotions I was having. I feel like there is a bar of 'Arrange Marriages' around us.
And we are naturally scared of this name.

But why is that so?

If it has to be, it will. And if it's not meant to be, it will stop you eventually.

Why can't I trust her in the first place?

What if she is the one?

What if it's meant to be?

Well, I don't want to get manipulated just like my Dad.

I ditched away all the thoughts of consideration as I was the one who wasn't interested in this marriage and let's not forget it, I was forced to tie the knot with the girl sitting beside me who seems like she has started settling down with my family more than I have ever had.

She seemed happy.

I noticed her big lashes curling up again and down as the jewellery she was wearing suited her so well. She bloomed within it. I noticed her lips twitching into a soft smile when someone compliments her. She looked at my Dad and his wife with something in her eyes. Respect?

Or manipulation?

I huffed as I just wanted to kick out my mind and get up from that place of noise, even though the marriage thing was happening within the close friends and family, it still felt too much to handle for someone like me.

"Mehandi ki rasm shuru karte hai", I heard Chachi saying as she came with a decorated plate which was filled with cones of mehandi. Soon it continued when the mehandi designer started filling her hands with the designs.

Having no urge to take this any longer, I took a chance to get up from my seat when Amaira came to me, "Bhai, where are you going?", she asked impatiently.

"In my room as I have no work here", I replied back sternly, receiving non- stop complains from her.

"Then, why are you in search of work everywhere?", she said making the other laugh in return.

I glared back at her, "Shut up", I said.

"And what about you? Aren't you going to write Bhabhi's name on your palm?", she asked, making her intentions clear to me.

"Don't you dare think about it. I have allergy with that smell", I completed.

"Fine, then feed her with your hands or you have allergy with that too?", she said, handing me the plate of food and leaving from there without hearing a "No" from me.

I turned around only to see Samantha looking at me when she instantly shifted back her eyes to somewhere else. She coughed when I took a bottle from the table beside me, "Have this", I said making her drink it as she gazed at me in confusion.

"Thanks", she muttered slowly, wiping off her mouth from the back of her hand.

I sat beside her, "You want to eat this?", I asked making her look at the plate.

"No...."

"Fine", I said sternly keeping the plate on the table and left from there.

Why the hell was I even asking her?

I'm done pretending this for today.

The function continued for some more hours when the guests started leaving. Soon my house was getting easier to live in as I continued scrolling down my phone.

The hall was vacant as everyone was busy roaming around the garden. After the last words I said to her, she was barely to be seen once her mehandi was done. I roamed my eyes everywhere in the corner of the room when I felt a weight hitting on my shoulder.

"Bhabhi, wait....", I heard Amaira shouting when Samantha was already in my arms, I held her hand when she collided with my body.

She gazed at me with her soft eyes and I kept looking at her. The aroma of her mehandi filled up my nostrils as she became nervous with my touch.

I watched her, gulping the lump in her throat, "I'm sorry, Mr. Malhotra", she said, making herself straight on her feet. Till the time, Amaira disappeared.

"Ye bachcho ki tarah bhaag kyu rahe ho tum log?", I asked in irritation.

"Woh Amaira....", she said pointing her fingers when she realised that Amaira already escaped.

"Where is she?", I asked coldly.

"Mujhe toh nahi dikh rahi."

"She was right there behind me", she said looking at the floor, biting her lips.

"Eyes on me when you talk to me."

"Huh?", she raised her eyes to me.

"Do I need to repeat, Samantha?", I said taking a step into her direction.

She kept looking at me in nervousness, "Words, Samantha", I replied back.

"No, Mr. Malhotra", she whispered slowly.

She twitched her eyebrows, "Ab kya hua?", I asked as she kept taking backward steps until her back hit the wall.

She sighed heavily in return, "Your kurta...."

I placed my hands on the wall blocking her from one side, "And what about that?", I whispered back.

I felt something clutching down inside me when she looked at me briefly, it was the feeling of enjoyment which I felt after looking at the effect I have on her the moment I get closer to her.

"Woh...."

"Huh..."

"Tumhare...."

"Mere?"

"Tumhare.kurte.mea.mehandi.lag.gayi."

"Haa?"

Wait, what did you just say?

I looked at where she pointed at and I saw that my kurta had a few stains of her mehandi when I noticed that my palm was also marked with that. I realised that our hands rubbed against each other when I held it, causing my palm filled with it.

"Oh, no.....", I said in panic as I took my steps back. I heard her soft laughs when it filled the walls of the hall. I watched her laughing heavily as her lips with twitched upwards giving her the best shot of her smile.

I stood there gazing at her in amazement when I realised the hell I was doing, "Stop laughing", I said sternly when she shut her mouth instantly, nodding a "yes" to me.

She has started being comfortable with me. What if I can extract more details?

She turned to leave but I caught her wrist pulling her back to me, when I realised her smile just vanished into something making her go back to her previous expression. Nervousness.

I held her by my one arm, encircling from the top her hands, her back was hitting my chest. "What are you doing, Mr. Malhotra?", she said slowly.

I kept my chin on her shoulder making her shiver in return, "Samantha...."

"Why are you breathing so fast?", I slowly whispered in her ears.

"Ye kya rahe ho?"

"Puch raha hu...."

"Leave my hand, Mr. Malhotra", she said, trying to be calm.

"Then, why are you marrying me if you want me to leave your hand, Samantha?", I asked softly.

"That doesn't mean you will do something without my permission", she connected the words.

I slightly chuckled at the choices of the words she has made at that point where the sweating on her was pretty visible, "But you didn't say a no either", I replied back as she collected herself back.

"Why are you marrying me, Samantha?", I asked locking my arms tightly around her as she trembled on her feet, getting closer to me.

"Kyu ki aur koi option nahi hai mere paas", I heard her barely audible voice.

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

I feel bad for Samantha.🥺
Why the hell Abhimaan can't trust her? 😕

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