Samantha

Sangeet day....

I stretched my arms and events from the last day flashed my mind. I watched Amaira sleeping peacefully beside me. Papa sent her with me last night, giving me a reason that I was not well enough to be alone. So, I should take Amaira with me, it was better that way rather than staying in the mansion. I wanted to live these last days with the memories I had in my house. The happy memories filled with me and my Dad.

Even though our family wasn't the one to be named as such, that's what others said, we weren't complete. As if I ever cared when I had my father around me. He was my world. I was his. And I never said this to make myself believe that we were complete in every way, it was for real. My Dad was everything to me. So I was for him. He dedicated his whole life to me, giving me everything in fact more than I ever deserved.

And I often doubt the fact that a mother figure would have given me the same love and affection as what I received from my Dad. From giving me my favourite toys to giving me the right knowledge, from teaching me the importance of love in our lives to making my heart believe how it can actually change you as a person.

From baking pancakes for me to making me understand how it is important to live independently in this world. What a real education means. What real freedom means. My Dad taught me with the best sets of belief. And I will never be able to return to him what he has given to me in this lifetime.

I didn't realise myself sobbing until the drop of tears made my cheeks wet. I saw Amaira shifting to my side as if she was about to wake. I wiped off my tears instantly, covering her with the blanket when a soft smile appeared on her sleepy face. I don't know how but each and every member of the Malhotra family has started making their way to my heart. As if I know them from always.

The thought of receiving the love I never thought I would ever get left a soft smile to my face, making me remember that I'm one day close to actually calling them my own family.

I never wanted this marriage to be like a grand wedding but to let you know that Malhotra's are people of rituals. After all they are the richest people in our country. And how can you not expect their son's marriage to be so simple?

I better choose not to say anything into this as I didn't feel the right way to stop them from doing anything in their son's marriage just because it's a forced marriage. That's something not in my hands.

Ignoring everything behind, I helped myself take a long, soothing shower, I got myself ready in a pink suit. Don't forget to mention the colour of mehandi, yes, it's a dark brown. I blushed looking at it.

"Dekh mehandi ka rang jitna gehra hoga, Abhimaan ka pyar bhi utna gehra hoga tere liye", I remembered Abhimaan's bua ji saying to me the last day.

"Bhabhi....", I heard a soft voice.

Who is that? Wait, that's me.

Amaira.

I turned back to face her, "Good morning, Amaira. Did you sleep well?", I said sitting beside her, hiding my unusual blush. Well, hearing Bhabhi is still not on my daily routine.

"Bahut achi neend aayi. What about you? Why were you blushing?", she laughed when her eyes fell on my palm.

She held it making an amazed face, "Wow, Bhabhi. Aapki mehndi ka rang toh bahut gehra hua hai", I smiled at her, hiding my crimson red cheeks.

Even his thoughts can change my colour. Wait, Samantha. Bahut khadoos hai woh!

Dekha nahi kitne gusse mea rehta hai.

Lekin kal maafi bhi toh maangi thi naa.... Samantha, don't fall for men too easily.

Bhul gyi? Purush moh nark dwaar ka raasta hai....

"Kya sochne lagi, Bhabhi?", Amaira's voice interrupted the ongoing battle inside me.

"Nothing. You freshen up quickly. And I will make breakfast for us. What do you want to eat?", I asked, shifting aside the other thoughts inside my head.

"Ummm.....", she pouted. "Jo aapko sahi lage. Bas pancakes zaroor banana aap", I smiled at her. "Sure, your clothes are in those bags. Now, get up", I said, pointing her at the bags on the table which Chachi gave to me. It was probably filled with Amaira's belongings for the night stay with me.

______________________________

It's almost evening when the guest has started arriving for the Sangeet. The hall was decorated with lights rotating at every corner. The mansion's hall was enough for the people to accommodate as the pre wedding rituals only involved close friends and family. The sofa was at the right places enough for the guests to sit and enjoy. The front row was the seat we were given. It was the bride and groom's place.

Talking about the groom, he is still nowhere to be seen. After our last encounter in his room, I didn't hear anything from him in fact I haven't even seen him. It's already going to be half an hour of me arriving at the mansion. And right now I was sitting in Amaira's room as she was doing something with my hair and now she left to arrange a few things.

She curled my hair clipping the flower band on it and I liked it. I was wearing a silver dress with jewellery on it. I wanted to keep my makeup simple but Amaira turned it into a smokey eyes with nude lipstick. I liked it anyways.

I was waiting for Amaira to come when I heard a knock on the door, I turned my back, "Thank God. You are here, Amai....", words from my mouth didn't fall further when my eyes caught him. Finally.

"Mr. Malhotra, what are you doing here?", where have you been? I watched him taking slow but long strides towards me, he was wearing a black suit, his sculpted face with well groomed hair adding some extra remarks to his well designed features. His tall, masculine and overshadowing figure covering double my height was enough for me to intimidate. No, I'm not the person like this. I have never been like this but when it comes to him, I don't know what but he touches some wires inside me which passes me some genuine shocks.

The more his cold attitude annoys me, the more I accept it as a part of him.

"Done staring, Ms. Samantha?", he said coldly.

"Trust me, I have better options", told you, he hit some kind of nerves inside me.

I mean he is the most self obsessed person I have ever met in my life. Mr. Abhimaan Malhotra really needs to understand that not everything about me is about him. If that makes sense.

"Why are you here, Mr. Malhotra?", I asked, crossing my arms over my chest as I felt him, gazing at me instead.

"Because it's my mansion. I can be wherever I want, Samantha", he said with a playful smirk.

I rolled back my eyes again, "I need to see Amaira. The guest must be waiting, I think we should go now", I said passing over by him when I felt his hands on my wrist.

Despite his hands being cold and his grip being tight, it felt warm. And with a slight force, he spun me around to face him, "So eager to leave my side, Ms. Samantha?", he whispered but enough for me to hear.

His hands reached my neck as he shifted aside my hair, sending shivers ran down my spine. His luxurious perfume filled my nostrils and I closed my eyes when I could no longer take his touch on me. I didn't stop him but I refused to face him.

He buried his neck in the crook of my neck, running his fingers over my bare back. My breath got hitched and oxygen left my lungs. "Abhi....abhi..maan....", I clutched onto his blazer tightly.

"Hmmm....", the only response I received from him as I realised he was too busy in I don't know what he but that was holding me busy too.

He traced my neck with his cold hands, "Mr. Malhotra....what...are...what are you...doing?", I managed to speak.

"Helping you from the embarrassment....", I heard him saying and I opened my eyes. Realisation. He tied the knot of my blouse making my front body glued to him more. Wait, when did the knot of my blouse loosen? Why the hell does he have to be around when this happens?

And how am I supposed to think all of that? Embarrassment, how many times should I tell you to take me with you?

My cheeks turned into crimson red when I heard him chuckle, "Too much inside that dirty mind, Ms. Samantha", he put my hair back to its place while I didn't have the courage to face him.

How the hell can I think so dirty? And that too about Us?

He shifted the lock of my curls away from coming to my face, "Bhabhi....let's go....", I jerked back when I heard Amaira's voice.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Bhai....bhabhi", she said, hiding her smile when I failed to meet her eyes. What should I call this day? Samantha's embarrassment day,?

"We are coming", finally Abhimaan broke the silence as Amaira left nodding not before passing me a side smirk.

"Sab tumhari wajah se hua hai", I pointed fingers at him.

"Kya?", he narrowed his eyebrows at me.

"Ye baar baar kareeb kyu aa jate ho?", trust me, my nervousness can awaken the dumbest person inside me.

He looked at me in disbelief, "Samantha, are you mad or what?"

I looked here and there, "What will Amaira think of us now?", I whined back.

"Wahi jo ho raha tha", did he just say that?

"Aur main toh help kar raha tha tumhari. Tumne pata nahi kya....", I blinked again, keeping my hands over his mouth.

"Chup.... Chee...chee... Iske aage kuch bhi mat kehna", I said, almost jumping on him as he kept his hand over mine holding me by my waist. I didn't feel the proximity we were sharing until I heard my own heart matching with his beat.

My eyes buried to his as if he had snatched all my sight only to be fixed at him. In that moment which I felt was the last day of my life, I chose not to blink more as I might not get another chance to see him from this close.

Despite the hurricane happening inside me, I stayed glued at my position which was almost in his arms. There was something in that silence which I cannot deprive into words but that's what people name it, solace?

Breaking the peace (silence between us), I pulled away my hand from his mouth as he adjusted himself, pulling away his hands making me feel an instant need for his touch which was on my waist, a few seconds ago. "Let's go....", I barely spoke to which he nodded anyways.

I roamed my eyes around the room as I searched for my heels which I found near the table. I slid it in my feet when the heaviness of the lehanga made it a little uneasy for me. "Let me help you....", I watched him marching towards me and in no seconds he bent down on his one knee, taking the other pair of the heel in his hand and I watched him sliding it inside my feet. My hands reached his shoulders for support as I felt a little shy. "I will manage, Mr. Malhotra", my cheeks were turned into a tomato by now.

"Yes, yes, I know, Samantha. You are a strong girl and you can do things on your own. And you don't need anyone's help but you can save all this when you are not around me", he said, making my heart flatter with his words.

I never saw his gentleman side.

His words left me to smile back, "Done. Let's go now", he said getting straight on his feet. "Wait, Mr. Malhotra", I said taking his hands into mine as I wiped it off from my dupatta.

"Let's go now", I smiled back as he looked at me with a soft smile on his face which I didn't fail to notice.

The rarest smile of all, I tell you.

______________________________

"Ye kab khatm hoga?", I watched Abhimaan yawning in boredom as he sat beside me on the sofa. The Sangeet started almost two hours ago and everyone has their performance ready. From Amaira to Armaan and even Ruhaan, they performed very well. Don't forget to mention the real struggle of Armaan and Ruhaan when Amaira led them to match with her dance steps. It was cute anyways.

Right now, the performance of our elders is going on. It feels good to watch them until Abhimaan's bua ji hits the dance floor. About her dance steps, I chose not to comment but Abhimaan didn't stop yawning.

"They are dancing for our Sangeet. Have some manners, Mr. Malhotra", I gritted my teeth at his reaction, even though my reaction was the same but I was better at hiding it.

I tried maintaining my smiling face when he whispered again in my ears, "Haa toh? Sangeet hai humara naa ki aakhri din. She is literally dancing on Channa Mereya", I chuckled at his reaction. He was way too cute.

And I can't blame him either for his reaction.

"Agar itni chull hai toh khud kuch acha kar lo naa", he glared back at my words.

"Kya hua? Bas files palatni aati hai kya?", I provoked him knowingly. Deep down I knew it wasn't going to work but I still did it. I don't know why I felt like dancing with him. Am I already too demanding?

"You....", his words were interrupted.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, now let's have a face off between the Groom's family and the Bride's family ", Amaira announced as the hall echoed with everyone's claps.

Bride's family? I don't have one.

A sudden sense of heart, sorrow and pain, I don't know what to call, loneliness, erupted inside me. Tears welled up inside my eyes when I felt a soft touch on my hands. I looked beside as I saw Abhimaan gripping his hands over mine.

In no time, I heard another announcement, "Well, bade papa, badi maa, Armaan bhai is in the Team Abhimaan. Mumma, Papa, Ruhaan is in the Team Samantha.

Chachu and Chachi are in my team. I smiled back at them with teary eyes as I couldn't describe how I felt about their sweet gesture.

"Thank God, bua ji is not in anyone's team", I chuckled as Abhimaan joked around.

Wait, did he just joke? Did Abhimaan Malhotra just crack a joke?

"So, are you ready, Samantha Singh? I wish you luck", he smirked back.

"Save this luck for yourself, Mr. Malhotra. I doubt it's not a business trip to get on", I said with the same playful smirk on my face. Until no time, I found Mumma Papa and Chachu Chachi facing each other.

"Play the song", Amaira announced, as both the teams were facing each other.

Roop hai tera sona, soni teri paayal

Hoye, roop hai tera sona

sona, soni teri paayal

Chhan chhana chhan aise

chhanke, kar de sabko ghaayal

Keh raha aankhon ka kaajal,

ishq mein jeena marna, yay

Say shava shava maahiya,

say shava shava maahiya

Say shava shava maahiya,

say shava shava, yea

And we watched them grooving over the lyrics like an evergreen couple. Both the couples looked so cute together and I just couldn't take my eyes off them. Meanwhile I didn't miss the opportunity of catching his side glare on me.

"Woooohhhhhhh", everyone clapped as their performance ended which almost made us not realize who's the actual winner because they both were amazing.

"There our evergreen couple, you guys just killed it with your steps....", Amaira took over the mic.

Everyone hooted around, "Well, next is our unexpected duo, Armaan bhai and Ruhaan.....", she said clapping her hands as the others followed her. Armaan and Ruhaan came to the stage as the hall was already filled with cheering.

Mainu Bhi Nakhre Sone Lagade Tere, Mainu Bhi Nakhre Sone Lagade

(O Char Din Ki Jawaani Aah Aah

O Bitein Tanaha Na Raani Aah Aah)

Woh Pyaar Tera Main Rakhwaanga Aah Aah

Ho Sar Aankhon Pe Deewaani Aah Aah

Soni De Nakhre Sone Lagade O Meinu, Soni De Nakhre Sone Lagade

And they set the stage on fire with, not sorry to say, their terrible dancing. We laughed looking at their performance as they tried their level best. Soon, their performance came to an end as now it was our time to dance.

I was already nervous, "Well, cleaning up the mess this duo has caused, please welcome the shining couple of tonight, Abhimaan Bhai and Samantha Bhabhi.....", everyone cheered up this time.

We looked at each other as he took my hands into his and walked towards the stage. "Just be there with me", he said with some extra emotions which I didn't fail to notice as we stood there facing others. Did he just read my nervousness?

Everyone clapped as the song started, Abhimaan placed my hands to his shoulders, his to my waist as I started matching his steps.

Janam Janam Janam Sath Chalna Yunhi,

Kasam Tumhein Kasam Aake Milnaa Yahi,

Ek Jaan Hai Bhale, Do Badan Ho Juda,

Meri Hoke Hameshaa Hi Rehna,

Kabhi Na Kehna Alvidaa...

Meri Subah Ho Tumhi,

Aur Tumhi Sham Ho,

Tum Dard Ho, Tum Hi Aaram Ho,

Meri Duaon Se Aati Hai Bas Yeh Sadaa,

Meri Ho Ke Hameshaa Hi Rehna,

Kabhi Na Kehna Alvidaa...

I could never imagine him dancing like a professional, he managed to groove with lyrics so well as I followed him. For the whole moment, our eyes were buried to each other as if the rest of the world doesn't exist. He twirled me around and caught me in his arms as my back was pressing his chest. His breath on my neck made me feel a sudden lack of oxygen as I kept grooving slowly,"Mere kareeb rehne ki aadat daal lo, Samantha....", he said, twirling me around to face him. I rested my hands on his chest as his hold on my waist tightened which was enough to send shivers down my spine making me unaware of the fact that the song had already finished until the dim lights turned into white and soon the hall was filled with the cheering.

I couldn't look up to any other light in the room as I was too busy in finding my own light in his darkness.

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