CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

SCARLETT'S POV

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Today was the day, the day everyone awaited.

The wedding day.

Everyone was bustling around the vast tiled floor of the hotel.

All wearing beautiful traditional attires.

The length of lehengas waving around as the girls moved from one place to another giggling with each other.

Boys looking amazing in sherwanis.

It all looked so amazing.

Now you all must be wondering who's wedding am I talking about?

It is Maya's wedding. You remember?

Raj Uncle's daughter?

Her special day is today.

She is like a sister to me. We are not that close but yeah, we do share some secrets with each other whenever we meet.

We prank each other and always make sure the other one is happy.

And that's why she got the liberty to choose the dress for me on this day. It was her day afterall, so I also agreed.

But if knew, she intended to exploit that liberty, I would have never agreed.

She got me a lehenga, a beautiful one but still it's like a nightmare to me. It's too revealing. I told her I don't want to wear it despite knowing you shouldn't say no to the bride on the day of her wedding, still I took the risk and here I am, one hour later, wearing the lehenga she chose.

Wow!! I can't believe I'm actually wearing it.

All the people are looking at me. They must be wondering how stupid I am or how stupid I look.

Ughhhh!!

I'll get back at you Maya.

My parents were busy talking with the elders. And I was here sitting alone near the stage.

It's already been so late at night.

Every ritual before the wedding ceremony was done.

Now only the baraat was to come. The groom's procession.

I was going to go check up on Maya to see if she needed any help when I heard someone calling my name.

"Scar, wait."

On turning around, it was Sean.

Oh, yeah, I forgot about him. He was here too.

Actually Maya invited him without even telling me about it. She knows he's my friend and also that he have feelings for me.

I thought she might not invite him but naah, she being the friendly self she is, sent him the wedding invitation.

I cannot ignore him here, now can I ?

Taking a deep breath, I gave him a tight lipped smile,

"Oh, Sean. You needed something?"

"No, actually I didn't get to talk to you since morning. You were so busy...."

He started but I cut him off in between,

"Oh, actually I'm busy now too. So sorry but I need to go check up on Maya."

I made a sorry face and turned around to go upstairs.

He quickly followed behind.

"Oh, I'll come too."

Now, what should I say to him?

Wait, what am I supposed to say to a person who thinks by some magical power I'll reciprocate his feelings?

What are you supposed to say to a person who doesn't understand that the other person has no interest in them whatsoever?

Sean is smart but why is he acting dumb?

I feel bad for him, really as whatever he has done for me till now, I'm sure any other girl would have even fallen in love with him. He's so persistent but I'm also more stubborn.

Rolling my eyes, I went to knock on the door.

"Maya, it's me, Scar. Also, Sean's with me too."

"Oh, you two are here. Come in fast." She sounded panicked.

I looked at Sean and he was already looking at me.

We both went inside.

What we saw left me and Sean both dumbfounded.

She , Maya was there sitting on the bed eating pizza and food items like burger, coke, noodles were there along with her on the bed.

This girl!!

"What is this, Maya? Downstairs, we all are waiting for baraat and here you are sitting all chilled up which is a good thing but just imagine if your ruined you dress by this worse your makeup?" I asked her , my eyebrows furrowed.

She looked at with her mouthful of pizza bite.

"I wanted to eat this." Her words were muffled but still I understood.

I sighed. "Finish it fast."

She nodded. It was after twenty minutes that her bed was agains clean and there was not a single trace of any food in the room.

I was rearranging the items on the dressing table when I felt Maya speaking up.

"I don't want to marry."

"WHAT?" I was baffled.

She just so casually said that she doesn't want to marry but her face showed a lot of emotions, it showed she was scared, scared of what was going to happen, scared of her future, scared of her life but most of all scared of taking this big step, scared of marrying.

I went towards her. Putting my arm around her, I asked, "what happened?"

Sean was focusing on her too.

"I... I don't know. I don't know. I...I don't want to marry."

"Okay, okay, but tell me why? Why you don't want to marry?" I softly asked.

"Yes, tell us the reason atleast Maya. We'll help you." Sean added.

"I'm...I...am scared. I don't know if ..... I don't know if I'll be happy? if Sahil and me will be the same as we are now? will his love vanish by time? will our forever be there after our marriage? will he leave me..."

I shushed her by keeping my index finger on her lips.

I know how she must be feeling. I am also going to get married and I've fears, even more than her.

And now I'm more scared, she loves Sahil and Sahil loves her but still she has those fears.

I don't even have any feelings for Xander and nor does he but still we're going to be married.

I need to console her first. As they say, this might be wedding jitters and also, I know Sahil, known him for six years. And I know, he loves her so deeply, she'll never feel anything but happiness with him. For him, she's his life.

Looking straight into her eyes, I said,

" Maya, nothing like this is going to happen. Sahil loves you so much, so so much you can't even imagine. He loves you more than his own life." I tried to explain to her.

But she still wasn't convinced, "No, you don't know Scar. You don't know. Anything can happen."

"Nothing will happen." A voice sounded from my behind.

I forgot Sean was still there. All this while, he was just standard there and watching us.

"Nothing will happen, Maya." He repeated.

"When someone loves with all their heart, they won't let anything hurt you. Or anybody hurt you. Trust me, I have seen the way Sahil looks at you. You need to put your trust in him. You love him ,Maya but for a relationship to work, trust is also as much important as love."

She was intently listening to him.

"And if you go to him and say that you don't want to marry right now, I'm sure he'll agree. He just wants your happiness. And if you are happy with this , he will be too." He completed.

"How do you know this? Do you also love someone the same way?" She asked him.

I was looking at them both. On her question, Sean turned to look at me for a moment.

"Yes. Yes, I do. Even more than you can imagine, I love her." He said after turning to look at her.

Our this little moment was broken by the sounds of music and songs from downstairs. Looks like the baraat arrived.

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I was looking at the two lovers, taking vows in front of Agni ( holy fire) .

I wondered if I ever will be able to take those vows knowing I won't be honouring them at all.

Will I ever be able to lie in front of God?

My thoughts were interrupted by a deep clearing of throat. I turned to look at the person beside me.

It was Xander. He looked amazing in black suit. Even now, he wore suit and that also black. But there was no denying that he was the most handsome man in the whole room.

"Hey." I greeted.

He nodded in return. How rude?

"Hi" kehne me to koi tax nhi lgta.

(There is no tax on saying atleast "hi")

I turned away.

And I guess he got the drift as he immediately said in his velvety voice, "Hi."

And this time, I nodded.

It made a smile but I tried my best to hide it from him.

So bad, he already saw it.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

What he might be doing here? I don't think so Maya or anyone from her family knows him.

But my question was soon answered by my mother.

"I invited him beta." She said coming towards us with a big smile on her face. Dad was with her too.

"We are family now. So I invited him and your Raj Uncle also has no problem with it." My dad said.

Well, okay then.

I was going to get myself a drink when I remembered something.

"Hey, how are you? How's your back now? Is it okay? Does it still hurt?" I fired up all these questions without even realising my mom and dad were still there. It has been a week since I last saw him.

"Why? What happened, beta? What happened to your back? Are you hurt?" Just what I thought.

My mom started asking him questions.

"No, no, I'm okay. My back is okay now too. Don't worry.....Mrs. Williams." He assured her.

" But what did happen? Tell me." She insisted.

I was afraid he might tell her the truth about that day. I didn't want my parents to worry unnecessarily.

So I immediately said, "Nothing happened mumma, it was just some scratches."

Oops, what did I say?

"Scratches? Scratches, Scarlett? And you are saying it's nothing?" My mom was turning a bit angry now.

I tried to slowly slip but naah, luck's never on my side. Because as soon as I took a step back, I heard Xander speaking,

"Actually I had an important meeting on Sunday so I had to leave early, because of that we weren't able to complete ring shopping." He looked at me and said, "And then I thought she might be angry a at me for this."

"She actually went to an old bookstore. And one of the shelves there was going to fall on her but I took the fall and thus, the scratches." He explained.

My mom asked next, " but what were you doing in the bookstore if you had a meeting?"

Oh, man, she is an observer.

"Well, I did but then again, I couldn't leave her alone like that. It wasn't safe..."

My mom nodded along.

I knew what was coming next. I mentally facepalmed myself.

" For the town." He completed.

I knew it, I freaking knew it. That stupid, idiot.

But surprisingly my mom also played along, "You are right, Xander"

She laughed patting on his back.

"Yeah, yeah, make all fun of me you want. " I huffed.

"Aww, my baby." My mom hugged and just like that I started smiling. I love her so much.

They went away after talking for a few minutes.

I was looking around to....wait....I was just looking around for no reason. I have nothing to do hahaha!

When I heard the DJ announcing a romantic song to be played for the newly wedded couple to dance to.

"All of me" by John Legend was being played.

Some other couples also joined them on the dance floor.

They all looked so beautiful, so much in love, so happy.

I was so busy admiring them that I didn't hear Sean approaching.

"Would you honor me with a dance Scarlett?" He asked extending his palm towards me.

Oh, Sean. Why do you always put me in such situations?

I had no choice. I accepted his proposal and we both went towards the dance floor.

Sean knowing I don't like anyone touching me, he just held my hands in both of his hands respectively.

We swayed along the music. He kept looking at me which was making me a little uncomfortable.

I averted my eyes around the hall. Everyone was enjoying, some were dancing, some just stood around to admire the couples.

It was all so beautiful. I was interrupted by a familiar velvety voice, the voice I unknowingly wanted to hear, my heart sped up.

"You won't mind if I cut in, right?" He asked Sean. Dominance and power radiated off of him.