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“Means nothing to me. I swear I didn’t call her. She came unannounced, and I kicked her out.” I urge, my eyes pleading to her.
Her eyes pierce my soul. “Promise me you telling the truth?”
I lift my hand and run it comfortingly over her hair. I never considered myself to be a person who could offer emotional comfort. And yet now, I am doing exactly that.
“I promise. Alisha, you have my words that I will never cheat on our marriage. I will give my hundred percent with all my heart.” I pledge the words which I never dreamed of expressing to anyone in all these years. “I may not be the perfect one for you, but I will always try to be the right one. Please trust me and don’t judge me by my past.”
“I trust you,” she murmurs.
“You do?” I ask, surprise and hope lingering in my eyes.
“I trust you,” she says with zero hesitation in her voice. “But I am so mixed up with my feelings. One moment we speak of it being a sham marriage, and the next moment you ask me to give our relationship a try. It’s all happening at such a lightning speed that I don’t know what to make out of it — out of this marriage.”
I lean forward and press my head against her. “I am not going to ever hurt you or break your trust.”
She pulls her head back and looks at me hesitantly as she bites her lower lip between her teeth. “Can we… we...”
My stomach is in knots as I scan her face. “What is it, Alisha? Talk to me.”
Her eyes flash with something I don’t understand but she then averts her gaze and she shakes her head. She then peers into my eyes with uncertainty written all over her face, as if weighing her words. “My past makes it hard for me to trust a relationship. And given a choice, I wouldn’t have opted to marry at all.” My throat is choked with emotions as her words threatens to drown me in sorrow. “However, I know our marriage is inevitable. Regardless of what my thoughts are on this marriage, trust me, I will respect this bond with all my heart.” She pauses and gulps a lump down her throat before continuing, “But until I acclimatise myself to this, can… can we please take it one step at a time? Can we be friends before we are husband and wife?” She swallows, looking into my eyes expectantly.
“Of course, there is no pressure here. All I want is you to be comfortable and happy. We have our whole lives to know each other,” I say with a sombre face as my hand strokes her arm slowly, gently. “We will have separate rooms if that’s what will make you feel relaxed.”
She nods her head.
“It’s given then,” I say. Her forlorn look pulls at my heartstrings and am not able to stop myself from kissing her forehead.
“Thank you,” she exhales softly.
The moment my lips touch the soft delicate skin of her forehead, I know I am in trouble.My heart is pumping blood furiously, making it beat at an alarming rate. I don’t know why I always feel like this when I am around her. For heaven’s sake, it was just a kiss, that too on her forehead, still, it felt like… it felt like... like... Damn!! I can’t even explain it to myself. I am at a loss for words. Though I don’t understand the myriad of emotions coursing through me right now, it definitely feels different. I have kissed many women before, but I never felt this way.Strangely, this brief kiss on her forehead brings a sense of calmness to me that I hadn’t ever experienced in my life. I remind myself Alisha doesn’t really know that. She only knows what she’s seen and heard. So, the onus is on me to prove it to her.
One thing is definite — I’m different when I am with her.
Chapter 14
Alisha
I stare at my reflection in the mirror, unable to recognise the girl staring back at me.Though I have been getting ready throughout the past week, attending one function after the other, I am looking completely different in my wedding regaliaowing to the red heavily embroidered saree, heavy jewellery, and subtle yet distinct bridal makeup. The day of my wedding is here. All my personal belongings have been packed and sent to Ranveer’s house last night. I feel a prickling sensation down my back, like pins and needles in my spine. Ican’t believe I’m getting married; still can’t accept it. And I doubt I will ever come to terms with it. Though after the talk Ranveer and I had at my boutique to give this marriage an honest try, it did soothe my worrisome thoughts. But then the pragmatic side of me can’t help wondering how far can I trust Ranveer. Did he say those words merely because he felt that is what he must do to keep this sham of a marriage, or does he really mean them?Pulling in a sharp intake of breath, I close my eyes and hold for a few seconds before I blow it out.Calm your mind. Don’t stress. You need to take it easy and relax.
The soft knock at my room door pulls me out of my dire state.
I hear Rewa’s voice.“Alisha?”
“You can come in, I am ready,” I revert.
The knob turns as Rewa steps into the room, and her eyes widen in awe as she glances at me from head to toe, taking in my bridal attire.
“You look gorgeous.”
I give her a weak smile as my eyes run over the new yellow long gown she is wearing which I had designed for her a couple of days back. “Thanks, you look pretty. This gown is doing wonders to your beauty.”
“It got to be. After all, I got the best designer to design it for me,” she winks at me and then adds, “Listen, don’t want to cause you any additional stress, but everyone is expecting you downstairs. We need to leave for the venue in a few minutes.”
Nodding my head, I take another deep breath. “Let’s go.”
I am about to take a step when I feel Rewa’s hand on my shoulder to stop me. I look at her questioningly.
Rewa looks back at me with concern. “You do know you can still call off the wedding. This can be undone. Hell, I can also help you run. Give it one last thought because once you step out of this door, you can’t come back from it.”
