Chapter 28
Samaira
Kartik told me how his cousin was getting married to his ex girlfriend, Tanya tonight!
. And his dad had texted that we needed to attend this wedding.
Oh I couldn’t wait to see the bitch who cheated on him.
I thought they were already married. Turns out, they had gotten married in Vegas, and his nani didn’t approve of it.
It was a good thing me and Kartik met her before Samarth and Tanya decided to have this wedding, because that would mean the inheritance goes to Samarth then and all this ruse would have been pointless.
“What the fuck are you doing?’ she shouted looking around my room.
“Questioning my existence,” I answered.
I fell back and was now lying on the ground on my back, questioning my life choices.
Aria walked towards me and looked at me dead in the eye for a good minute before she laid down next to me.
I turned my head to my right so I could look at her.
She turned her head left and gave me a goofy smile.
I started laughing. She started laughing too.
“What’s the game plan?” She asked, I sighed. “I have no idea.”
“What’s the theme of the wedding?” she asked after a moment of silence.
I reached out for my phone, and opened the texts from Kartik, the invite says black tie optional.
So I guess they weren’t opting for a typical Indian wedding.
I had no gowns but I had a saree I was dying to wear, it was black.
We didn’t usually wear black to weddings, it was considered a bad omen if you did.
But since it was black tie optional I guess it would be okay.
Aria tried to help me drape the saree but between us I know more draping than she does.
If it was up to her I would be wearing a mini skirt and tight top.
“So, tell me one thing?” Aria asks hesitantly.
“Hmm?” I mumble, still trying to get my saree to behave.
“What do you think about Kartik?” Her tone is casual, too casual like it’s been carefully edited for maximum subtlety.
I pause for a second, then sigh. “Well, for starters, he has the most annoyingly beautiful brown eyes. Like, criminal-level pretty. And that stupid smile of his? The one that makes that dimple on the left side of his face pop like it’s trying to ruin my day?
” I shake my head. “Also, explain why he smells like coffee and vanilla? That should be illegal. And his voice…God, Aria, if he didn’t spend half his time talking absolute nonsense, I might actually enjoy listening to him. ”
I glance up and catch her expression right as she says, “So basically… you have a crush on him.”
She says it too casually, arms crossed like she’s been waiting for this exact moment.
“What? That’s absurd! I do not have a crush on him,” I say, heart stuttering, tone way too defensive. People pointing out who I like has historically been a direct route to emotional disaster.
Aria just rolls her eyes. “Says the girl who knows his eye color, dimple side, scent, and vocal patterns. You could write his dating profile.”
I plop onto the edge of the bed, clutching the saree like a lifeline.
“I need to sit down. I might actually be spiraling.”
She softens then, dropping the teasing.
“Samaira, honey… It's not a bad thing. But you need to be careful, okay? I can’t watch you get hurt again. Even though, between us? This sample-sized man might actually surprise you.”
I look at her, all the sass draining out of me. Her words land gently, but deeply. My throat tightens, eyes starting to sting.
I open my mouth to say something, anything, but she beats me to it, her voice quiet now. “He’s not Hriday.”
Aria’s teasing melts into something gentler, eyes softening as she sits beside me.
“You know why I think this feels different?” she says, voice low.
I glance at her warily. “Because he has a dimple and a scent portfolio?”
She gives me a look. “No. Because you’ve never looked so…
unsure. You usually crush hard and fast, act like it’s a rom-com in your head, and then fall apart when reality doesn’t keep up.
Hell Samaira you get panic attacks when you are falling in love.
This time I don’t see you getting one because you are realising you may like him.
If at all you get one this time it may be because you don’t know what to do with these feelings. I hope you don’t get one though. ”
I stay quiet. It’s not wrong.
“But with Kartik,” she continues, “it’s like you’re waiting. Thinking. Guarded, yes, but also kind of… hopeful. And terrified at the same time.”
I bite my lip. “You think that’s a good thing?”
She nods. “I think it means this one actually matters.”
I exhale slowly. “That’s terrifying.”
“I know,” she whispers. “But he’s not Hriday. He’s not going to disappear the second things get heavy. He stays .”
I blink hard, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.
And just like that, she’s beside me, pulling me into a sideways hug. No overthinking, no overexplaining, just Aria, and her timing that’s always annoyingly perfect.
“I know he’s not Hriday. Kartik… he’s definitely not like anyone I’ve liked before, but at the same time, there’s just…”
I stopped as soon as I caught the look on her face, one eyebrow arched like she was already three steps ahead of me.
“No! Wait. That’s not what I meant. I’m not saying he’s my type, or that I like him, or that I have a thing for him or anything ridiculous like that,” I rambled, heat rushing to my cheeks.
I waved my hands in the air, trying to change the subject. “Just…ugh…can you please help me get ready before this turns into a full-blown intervention?”
We get back to draping the saree and just like that topic for the time being is dropped. By the time I was ready, it was 5:00 p.m. and my doorbell rang at the very minute. Aria rushed out to open the door while I wore my jewellery.
Kartik
I rang the doorbell, nervous as I could be. I was going to take my current pretend fiancée to my cousin brother’s wedding with my ex-girlfriend who I thought I would marry. My life was fucking fantastic.
To top it off I was late. Not like ten minutes late cute. I was thirty minutes late oh my god she’s going to kill me late.
The door was opened by Aria. She stood there leaving me no space to enter as she eyed me up and down making me more nervous.
"Hello," I greeted with an attempt at a warm smile.
"What are your intentions with my girl?" Aria questioned, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized me.
"Good intentions," I replied, not entirely sure what else to say at that moment.
"Who's at the door, Aria?" a voice called from inside the house, prompting Aria to turn and open the door a bit wider.
I seized the opportunity and stepped inside.
My heart raced as I heard footsteps approaching from the bedroom to the living room.
I felt like I had entered heaven and returned.
There she was, looking absolutely mesmerizing in her black saree.
Her hair flowed freely, just the way I liked it, and she wore earrings that perfectly matched the gift I had brought for her.
When my brain finally processed her presence, all it could muster was a simple, "Wow."
She blushed, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear, and flashed a shy smile at me.
“I know I know I am late. I got held up. It’s a whole thing. I’ll grovel. Verbally or dramatically. Dealer’s choice.” I said.
She raised one eyebrow. “You’d better start now.”
God, she looked good. Like… unfairly good. Like the kind of good that made my brain stop working mid-apology.
“You, uh…” I coughed. “You look...”
“If you say ‘nice,’ I swear I will not accompany you,” she deadpanned.
“I was going to say distracting,” I offered, grinning despite myself.
That got her. Just the tiniest twitch at the corner of her mouth. But it didn’t last.
“Do you always keep girls waiting, or am I just lucky?” she asked, adjusting her earring with clinical precision.
“Only the terrifyingly pretty ones who may or may not murder me later,” I said.
Silence.
Then she sighed, eyes rolling slightly toward the sky.
“You’re lucky you’re charming,” she muttered.
“Oh, now she admits it,” I teased.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I still might kill you later.”
Aria cleared her throat, breaking the moment. "Bring her back by 12, no staying over," she stated firmly, her gaze still fixed on me with a hint of skepticism. I nodded in acknowledgment before returning my attention to the stunning woman before me.
"You are absolutely gorgeous," I couldn't help but compliment her. Samaira blushed even deeper, if that was possible, at my words. Aria continued to watch me with caution.
"Thank you," Samaira replied softly, her gratitude evident in her eyes. I couldn't help but smile. There was no way I was going to let this incredible woman slip through my fingers.
"I'll make sure to bring my girl back on time.
I'm responsible, and I'd never let anything happen to her," I assured Aria, my gaze still locked on Samaira.
"Especially her heart," I added in a soft murmur.
Aria's frown transformed into a knowing smirk as if I had passed some sort of test. Samaira looked at me, her eyes shimmering with emotion and a smile gracing her face.
I cleared my throat and reached for the gift I had brought for her.
Samaira
He looked so handsome. He was wearing black trousers, a black blazer and a white shirt, and a black tie.
The top three buttons of his shirt were open making him look so sophisticated and classy.
His hair was not gelled but kept in the regular way he keeps it but a bit styled.
He was also wearing a Quartz watch and not the smartwatch he usually wears.
It added to his overall look in the best possible way.
I liked it when men wore such watches, it made them look very…
dashing. But I really liked that he was wearing it and it made him look like he stepped out of a photoshoot.
I was speechless. I was also very conscious of the way he kept looking at me as if I was the most beautiful woman on this planet.
Could it be that he found me attractive?
It was really hard to believe. But the way he looked at me proved me wrong that he didn’t feel an ounce of attraction towards me.
He made me feel beautiful. He made me feel seen.
He made me feel safe. He pulled out something from his jacket, it was a box. I looked at him confused.
“For you, open it,” he said as he handed it to me. Aria was right there looking at Kartik judging him. I couldn't tell her no because if it were me in her shoes, I would do the same. Not that this was real, she didn’t have to do it. It wasn’t like this was gonna turn real. Was it?
I opened the box to see my necklace. I gasped, I was spellbound. How in the world?! If my conversation with Aria wasn't enough, this made me tear up.
"How did you...I thought I lost it." My voice barely audible
"Looks like I found it. May I?” He asked gently, I nodded and turned around.
I felt a shiver run through me as he brushed my hair to one side.
He took the necklace from the box in my hand.
He put it around my neck. My heart was beating fast as he clasped it around my neck.
His hands stayed there on the back of my neck a minute more than they should have but I didn’t mind.
It felt natural as if we did that every day, as if he helped me with my jewellery every day.
I could get used to it. I wanted to get used to it.
I turned around and saw Kartik looking at me intensely with adoration. It made me feel things. Things that I hadn’t felt. Things that only my novels had made me feel up till now. Things I never imagined I’d ever get a chance to feel in real life. It scared me.
“You look beautiful,” he said softly.
“You don’t look bad yourself,” I said as I reached out to straighten his tie.
I just needed an excuse to touch him. I had always envisioned myself to do such a thing.
I had been told it was a very wifey thing to do.
I didn't mind doing it for Kartik. I could see us getting ready for work and me doing such a small thing as straightening his tie and then him kissing me before we headed out.
I had zoned out. I zoned back in to notice him looking at me in amusement.
“You okay? He asked, amusement dancing in his eyes.
I nodded my head vigorously.
He chuckled before he stepped back.
As Aria prepared to retire for the night, she approached me and whispered something in my ear.
"You better not let him go," she said, her words carrying a sense of urgency. I glanced at her.
"I can see the way he looks at you," she continued, "it's the way you've been yearning for someone to look at you. Don't lose him."
She patted my shoulder gently, leaving me with a sense of profound realization and warmth in my heart. She winked at me and gave Kartik a stern look before leaving the room.
“Shall we?” Kartik asked gesturing me to go first
I nodded, and as I walked ahead I couldn't help but say, “You know that I know that ladies first is a scam right?”
I heard him sigh and knew he was probably shaking his head. “How is it a scam?” he asked curiously.
“Correct me if I am wrong but 90% of the time when guys say “ladies first” when they want to check our ass out, isn’t it?”
Kartik looked baffled like he wasn’t expecting me to ask, I almost laughed.
“Well you see..” he started.
I gave up and started laughing. He looked at me in disbelief and joined me too. We both quieted down after a moment. The way he looked at me in that moment made me believe a lot more than what was possible.
“We should go,” he said in a strained voice as he started walking.
I nodded and followed him. I’d follow him anywhere.