5. I do....n't

 The next day, Emma and Sam go shopping. When they are walking from one shop to another, Sam holds Emma's hand. She knows as his fiancee he had the right to hold her, but his touch feels alien to her. She wants to take her hand away from his but stops, not wanting to seem rude.

They walk holding hands in a crowded place. As the couple is occupying the space, Gammon walks in between Emma and Sam. Due to the sudden act, Sam lost the hold on Emma's hand.

Taking this opportunity, Emma thanks God and stops walking side by side. She started walking behind Sam. So, Sam can't touch her.

Rose huffs as she chases after him, " Gammon! Why are you walking so fast? Wait for me."

If he turned back, he would have seen Emma.

Rose runs and catches Gammon's hand. Gammon says, "Hey! Leave my hand. What if my soulmate is in this crowd? If she sees me with you she will run away."

"Oh! Really! Don't worry. If your soulmate didn't reach you then I will take care of you," says Rose cheerfully.

"If you talk like this I will go away. I came here as you asked me to find a few books for you."

Rose becomes quiet. They drop the subject and shop for a few books. After that, he drops her off at the hostel.

Emma and Sam's shopping finishes. He drops her off at her hotel. He tries to kiss her but Emma says she doesn't like public displays of affection.

***********

After spending a week with Sam, Emma could not feel anything towards him. Whenever she is with him, everything happens mechanically. There is no love between them.

Despite this, the wedding day arrives after many days of dread and pondering by Emma.

***********

Emma never wore the Chut-thai dress, a traditional thai dress. Sophia is helping Emma to wear it. Chut-thai dress consists of a 2 meter cloth which drapes below the waist. Sophia drapes that soft silk cloth as a long mermaid skirt. After dressing Emma, Sophia looks at Emma and says, "you're looking so gorgeous. I have never seen such a beautiful bride in my whole life. God bless you my child."

While Sophia is praising her, Emma is thinking that marriage is a lifelong commitment. 'Is it wise to do a loveless marriage for the sake to find my father?' She is still in her thoughts.

"Emma! Let's go to the venue" said Sophia.

"Aunt! I don't want to go through with this marriage. I didn't get any feelings though I spent a week with him. Though I am saying the same thing from the past 7 days, you're still forcing this on me."

"Emma, we already discussed this, how many times I should say I can't leave you here alone. For your wellbeing, we agreed to this marriage."

"Aunt, I really don't want to marry Sam. I know he is a wonderful guy but whenever I see him, I only get negative feelings."

"Please Emma, don't say anything now. The groom is from a well-known family. If you do anything stupid, it might get us killed."

"Oh my God! Are you saying they are thugs? You want me to marry into a family of brutes?"

"Shush! Shush! Don't speak out loud like that. They could hear us. They are really from the good family," Sophia cut in while shutting her mouth.

A voice booms out, "Would the bride please enter the venue."

Sophia takes Emma's hand into her and says Let's go to the venue, my child. Emma says with a trembling voice, " Aunt! give me 3 minutes. You go first. I will come after you."

Sophia says, "okay" and waits outside the room. Emma with a determined mind wears running shoes and covers them with her mermaid skirt. No one was able to see that she wore running shoes because the long skirt is touching the floor. She held the bouquet in her hands tightly and walked out of the room.

Emma is looking elegant in a Chut-Thai dress. The fine silk mermaid shaped long skirt with a self design of peacocks is enhancing her hip curve. The skirt is having a frill like a chinese fan at her slender waist. Her ivory-like smooth slender waist is complemented with a golden belt ornament.

Her high plump breast is covered in a strapless blouse busted in the back showing her bare baby soft shoulders. One side of her bare shoulder is draped by a pattern of flowery design of a sea-green laced colored soft saree. Her lips are damped with red lipstick. Her ears are accomplished with diamond earring rings. The diamonds in her earring are reflecting their shine on Emma's cheeks.

Her hair is left loosen as it is waving in the air creating a small movement. Her back is covered with her loose hair and sometimes her smooth back is revealing when the hair waves.She is looking like a synonym for a natural beauty.

She is walking gracefully and people in the venue are mesmerized by seeing the bride. People weren't able to say that the smooth fine silk sea-green colored saree is smooth or her pearly like baby soft skin is more smooth? She is looking like a divine graced in the human realm.People are gawking at her opening their mouth. Few are gulping their own spit thinking how lucky the bride groom is? And where he found this angle.

Jack takes her hand and the bride walks hand in hand with her uncle, Jack down the aisle. Jack handed over Emma's hand to Sam.

The venue is proper and grand, befitting a noble family's status. The wedding theme is mixed traditional and modern. The people who are attending the marriage are in Thai traditional wear.

The venue is filled with round tables decorated with plain white and maroon clothes. Champagne and glasses are placed in the middle of each table.

Emma took Sam's hand and walked until they met the monk. She leaves Sam's hand and sits on her knees in front of the monk. Sam sat down beside her.

The monk asks Sam, "Are you ready to take Khun Emma Perwat as your beloved wife?"

Sam answers, "I do."

The monk then asks Emma, "Are you ready to take Khun Sam Rojnapat as your beloved husband?"

Emma kept her silence. Questions flit around the room. Discomfort wells up in the crowd.

The monk asks Emma again, "Are you ready to take Khun Sam Rojnapat as your beloved husband?"

Emma answers, "I ... do ... not."

"What?" Everyone is appalled by her response.