Chapter 2

Never let you go

Sameer

She was siting ram rod straight at the table. Her face an amalgamation of anxiety, concern and fear. She was anticipating the announcement that I promised her that I would be making today in front of everyone. Little did she know about my plans! i couldn't help but imagine her reaction when I announced. Her mouth would be left hanging open for a minute or two! I smirked at my own thoughts while I saw her regarding me with suspicious eyes. No baby you have no clue what I have planned for you rather us. Since from here on its US.

Jaiprakash : so Sameer!

My naanu's voice broke my reverie and I turned to him

Sameer: yes naanu tell me

Jaiprakash: beta ab bata bhi de kya baat karni hain, waise bhi jo baat karni chahiye who toh tune ki nahi

Sameer: kaunsi baat naanu?

Sunaina: he is talking about your marriage announcement Sameer

The snake in the house purred while all others around the table giggled. Sunaina the snake, already I had a lot to take in on my plate. Vivek Somani was no help neither was my stepbrother Rohan who often sneered at me with disgust. The extended family of mamaji were more like ass kissers. And they changed sides as per the situation and given Naina's expressions today, they could feel the shift and hence they sided with the villains of the day. My mother looked a bit tensed. Am pretty sure Mr. Somani and her darling son Rohan must have said something about me and Naina that must have hit the nerve and now she shifted in her seat uncomfortably every now and then. I knew I had to make a comeback and hence I did.

Sameer: why sunaina? You seem to be the most excited for the announcement! I know I know you must be planning in your head about all the stuff that you need to buy for the wedding, to add on to your cosmetic plastic beauty so that your insta friends get jealous at your extravagance!

Sunaina glared at me while she muttered

Sunaina: charming!

Sameer: you have doubts regarding that, am the most charming

Naanu could feel the shift in ambience and he immediately tried salvaging the situation calling out to the butler for more food and even desserts but then I had to capitalize this very moment for my big announcement and I did just that. Taking the glass of champagne in my hands, I looked at Naina from across the table. She assessed me, rather she was trying to read my expressions, gauge my next move and I was ready to give her the surprise of her life but before I could do that the snake hissed yet again.

Sunaina: where did you get engaged did you say? I mean we did see the rings and also that story about you getting down on one knee proposing to the lady was all but magical but what about pictures.

Sameer: what pictures?

Sunaina: oh c'mon Sameer I mean the engagement pictures, it is such a special moment, must have been for you and Naina too,am sure you must be having pictures of the same which you are guarding from the prying eyes of the family.

She literally sneered though her plastic smile stayed as it is in place

Sameer: how charming! well am glad that you acknowledge already that you have prying eyes and also that you have the bad habit of butting into others affairs, stepping over the line is an art that is your speciality.

Her face clouded over with my words and I could feel all the spoons stall at once, the clitter clatter of the cutlery stopped and everyone stilled, their eyes rivetted on us. So I had to do something to diffuse the situation and I had just the ammunition that would shut sunaina up not only for this evening but would answer all the queries that until now she had been posing on behalf of her darling husband and cunning father in law. I could see the stares that the father son were exchanging while she kept firing away the questions.

Sameer: so to answer your query, I had proposed her in the lift of our office while we were stuck inside during an unfortunate power snag and no we don't have any pictures of the moment since at the moment, there was no other soul present with us in the lift to click one.

Sunaina: wow a lift! Ya I have heard that, how you had planned a romantic dinner, the table had been set, the musicians had been called in and you were all set to make a grand entry together, you both had set out of office together and everything would have gone as per the plan if only for the lift! How unfortunate! I pity you Naina, such a moment and you don't even have a picture, I mean a single picture to flaunt for the same. Poor you.

I saw naina shift in her seat uncomfortably! She cringed at the question. Clearly the snake was making her uncomfortable and that made me seethe from within. How dare she?! Now its time.

Sameer: don't worry about the pictures Sunaina, she would have plenty of forthcoming eventful and precious moments to capture and I promise I wouldn't let history repeat itself.

Sunaina: what moments?! Oh! Sorry! I forgot you must be hinting at your impending wedding but then you are always shying away from the topic and even when I asked naina today at the foyer when you both made an entry today, she winced like I had touched a sore nerve! So Sameer I guess first you need to be sure whether she at all is ready to make all the memories with you, the ones you are talking about.

So she had made a comeback the snake and the comeback ideally should have shut me up and I could see the venomous smile spread across her face while her brows went up in challenge coaxing me to say something, giving me the classic check mate expression while I smirked. And I could see the cracks in the confidence all at once, since now her brows creased in curiosity and when my eyes met with that of MR Somani I could tell that he was intrigued while his son looked a bit puzzled. In all of this my mother sat in complete silence her eyes ping ponging between us and trying to gauge the next retort.

Jaiprakash: but I think I agree

This time it was my time to be surprised and the cracks in my confidence made way since it was my time to frown my confidante was actually about to speak against me?! And he was supporting Sunaina?

Jaiprakash: I agree that the moment was precious and should have been captured but then I also agree that more precious are to come and that we should raise a toast for the same! Ramdhari get us some more champagne

Visakha: papa pehle bahut ho chuki, ab aur nahi! Haan pata hain aapko Khushi hain ki Sameer finally shaadi k liye maan gaya but then iska matlab yeh nahi ki aap iska galat faayda uthaayenge. Chaliye bahut hua ab mujhe lagta hain hum sabko thoda aaram karna chahiye

Vivek Somani: arey arey ruko bhai, abhi Sameer ki announcement baaki hain! kyun haina Sameer beta, tum kuch keh rahein they

He challenged me

Sameer: yes off course dear step father and should thank you for granting me the opening that I had been looking for. So like I was saying, I have something very important to tell you all.

Sunaina: what that you are getting married, we know that Sameer, am sure in next century you and Naina would definitely get married.

The snake spoke again and this time her joke make everyone giggle. I was fuming and I could see Naina getting more and more uncomfortable.

Sameer: yes sunaina! Yes we are getting married and not in the next century like you have been implying for the better part of the evening now but rather, the memories that you had been talking about, we would be making them tomorrow itself. We are getting married tomorrow in this very farmhouse in the close attendance of our family and guys you are all invited. This was my announcement and hence I wanted everyone to be present. I have decided that its high time that I honour naanu's wish. So....

Before I could finish naanu had leaped out of the chair to come flying to me and he gave me the tightest of hugs while the room fell silent. The announcement had left them all stunned beyond words and they literally gaped at me in horror except for my mother who smiled in delight while I could see those tears of joy twinkle, she beckoned with her eyes while she send me a flying kiss. I looked across at my bride to be, she was still as a statue, while her eyes had grown big like tow big saucers. Her lips had parted and she seemed to be in shock. I winked at her. She was to be mine forever.

Naina

I had been pacing back and forth in my room for the past half an hour! What had the devil done, wasn't he supposed to announce that this entire arrangement had been a sham?! Then why this then! I know that Sunaina, she kept on egging me and knowing the devil he always stands up to the challenge until he has defeated the opposite side. But then this now has jeopardized the situation further! How were we to salvage the situation now?! Urghhh! I screamed and pulled at my hair, it was all so frustrating!

Sameer: stop pulling at your hair sweetheart, you would lose a few strands, the the appointed hairdresser too wouldn't be able to help you on our wedding day. You would look like Cruella D'evil!

Naina

There! The devil stood at the foot of the door, leaning against the frame, while his eyes lazily went up and down my form lingering over my assets a bit too long than I would have preferred. My arms immediately went around my form guarding from his piercing gaze.

Naina: what did you do?

Sameer: what?

Naina: you know what I am talking about?

Sameer: no I don't, tell me

Naina

God the man was exasperating! How did his mother and grandfather tolerate him! He went ahead and announced our wedding and that too he had the audacity to announce same for tomorrow without even consulting me and now he is acting as if nothing had happened!

Naina: do you even realise what you have done? You just announced our wedding and that too you announced it for tomorrow! Are you crazy?! You were supposed to tell everyone that it is all a sham that we are not a couple! And now you have gone ahead and announced our wedding. And what made you think that I would marry you huh? Why would i? never in this lifetime. Anyways its your mess and you would have to clean it. Don't expect anything further from me. First thing in the morning am getting myself a cab and leaving and then it is all upto you how you handle the situation. Am out of here and straight to..

He didn't let me finish, rather, he strolled inside the room, closing the door behind him with his foot backing me to the wall, for every step that he took my way I took a step back until my back had hit the wall. His eyes stayed glued to mine and his so did his smirk. Once I had been corned, he caged me further, leaning onto me while his hands came around to rest on two sides where my head touched the wall.

Sameer: straight to Mumbai?

Naina: huh?

It took me a minute to understand what he was saying and then he dawned on me, but then I never told him about my plans for Mumbai, how did he know about the same?

Sameer: you must be thinking as to how do I know, sweetheart, you are to be my bride, my wife, and hence I need to know everything about you.

Naina: I will not marry you

Sameer: says you!

He laughed and this time his laugh made me shiver, something was off but what?

Sameer: you actually think this engagement was a sham? And that the announcement for marriage is a hoax?! Well my darling wife to be, let me enlighten you here, you are sadly mistaken, you are marrying me tomorrow here sharp at 1pm and everything has been arranged for. Your tauji and taiji have been invited and when they found out that your groom to be was to be the Sameer Maheshwari they were more than enchanted. Quickly they had called that cartoon, what was his name, ya, Sharad and told his family off! I know I know, you were never going to marry him, since you had found yourself the dream job in Mumbai, so coming to the next step I spoke with your friend Munna and told him about how your plans were changed and that you were now not coming to Mumbai. He did sound a bit disheartened but then he congratulated us and even promised to pay a visit in near future and then the last stop. I called your boss, whats the name of the company? Yaa, sharma textiles, they were too happy to have received a call from the entrepreneur of the year amd when I told them about our quick plans of marriage, he quickly sent in your dismissal letter/ it must be waiting in your mailbox which I don't think you have checked or else you would have known. I don't blame you since after coming her you never got the time. So my darling fiancé you are to be my wife in real tomorrow. And nothings a sham! Just be ready since I am very punctual and don't like people getting late.

Naina: why?

It came out in a soft whisper, while I could feel the tears in my eyes.

Naina: you don't believe in the institution of marriage neither do you want kids, why? Why are you doing this to me? Why?

The damn of tears broke and I fell to the ground I couldn't help myself. It had all been a plan of his! Why?

He stooped down to the level where I was sitting, while I cringed away from his proximity

Sameer: sweetheart, don't go away, after all tomorrow you'll be in my bed, in my arms, while I would be making sweet love to you.

Naina: no!

It came out as a scream!

Sameer: yes! And for all the questions, the answers, well you would get them on our first night.

With that he winked at me and stormed out of the room leaving me in shambles.

The unanswered questions remained and so did my tears, I couldn't help but cry till the tears dried up and all the energy was sucked out of me and I slept.

Like I had mentioned I couldn't wait to upload the next part and here it is....do leave your valued feedback

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