Bitter Reality

Engagement - II

Kabir's POV

Waiting for someone special is the worst thing in this whole world. It leaves you frustrated and in my case, I am sweating profusely. I am nervous to see her, to be in front of her, I don't know what I would even say to her! It is just so frustrating! Even the thought of how Naina must be Looking is having such an effect on me that I cannot even explain it in words.

From the moment we reached, it has been two hours, all the rituals that concerned were done already. The only thing now everyone is waiting for is Naina to come. Every two minutes someone or the other is looking towards the entrance whereas my eyes are glued to the entrance hall from the moment I arrived here. I mean I know girls take quality time while getting ready but this waiting is killing me!

Just when I was about to go to my mother to ask her about Naina there was a sudden commotion at the entry hall. A surreal music hit my ears and when I looked at that side, my heart stopped beating. How can I get so affected by here mere presence I am still figuring out this but she has something in herself which draws me towards her. I just stood there, I couldn't Move. It was like my legs froze in that very stop. The sight of seeing Naina all decked up in a maroon velvet saree. She looked like a goddess, with nude makeup and a messy bun with a bunch of roses attached to the side of her bun gave her an elegant look.

As my eyes settled on Naina and didn't even try to budge, I let my mind do all the thinking. At that moment, it was for the first time I realized I might be falling for her. Her beauty, simplicity and that innocence in her eyes were contagious.

"Dude close your mouth. Everybody is looking at both of you!" My brother said snapping me back to reality. I immediately closed my mouth and Naina also diverted her gaze from me. How much I wished if instead of all these people present in here we both were alone at this moment.

My younger sister Sanaya went to Naina and hugged her whispering something into her ears which made her blush. Followed by my Maa went to her and did the same. She tried to touch my mom's feet but my mom didn't let her do that. I so envy my family right now! There they are hugging her and here I am not even allowed to check her out. I groaned from inside and thought "How cruel this world is".

After fifteen minutes of chatting with my family, Naina was allowed to stand close to me but not beside me. This made me a little frustrated. I genuinely wanted to talk to her but this is not going to happen any time soon.

"Relax bro just give everybody some time! You know how people behave at this kind of functions and everyone is gushing over Naina's choice of outfit." Aarav Bhai said to me but I just rolled my eyes. Nobody is understanding our situation. This is for the first time that we are face to face but even after that we are way too far!

Finally, my dad said something in my mom's ears, she quickly nodded and announced that now it is time to exchange rings.

Naina came in front of me looking all nervous. I was trying to reassure that everything will be okay. She seems to understand what I was trying to say and nodded.

Sanaya handed over me the oval-shaped finely cut solitaire diamond which was custom made and had our initials engraved on the back of it. I took her hand in mine and the moment my fingers touched her hand she shivered under my touch. She was not able to see me in the eyes and her face turned into tomato red shade due to embarrassment!.

At that Moment I wanted to talk to her. I wanted her to be comfortable around me, after all, we will be Husband wife in the next 12 days. I wanted to reassure her that she won't regret this decision alas our destiny has some other plans for us. Smoothly I glided the ring in her ring finger. Until now I thought the ring was good but after seeing it in her finger, all my efforts were worth it.

Now it was her turn to put ring on my ring finger and to my surprise even her touch made me feel something which I cannot even describe. Finally, this ritual was over and everybody clapped. Now starts the most exciting part. Part of taking photographs of the bride and groom ALONE! For the album. I couldn't be happier! Everybody left us to give us some privacy and were busy doing something or the other. I and Naina were just waiting for the photographer and I took this Moment to tell her something which I wanted to tell her since the moment she stepped into this banquet!

"You look beautiful!" I whispered into her ear giving her goosebumps.

She quickly recovered and said," thank you and you yourself does Not look bad either".

When I was about to reply photographer came and started giving us instructions about how to pose and where to. I was not listening to anything as I was just busy staring at Naina who was listening to every single word he was saying attentively!

" Honestly, I hate these kinds of fake poses, I would rather want you to take some random shots of us which would define who we truly are. If that's okay with both you and Kabir."

"Yes, I think that's perfect let's be more natural instead of being fake." I joined in before the photographer could protest. He huffed a bit but surrendered to us in the end.

We sat on the sofa, I took Naina's hands in mine and she didn't flinch, neither did she say anything, she just looked at me expectantly.

"I know you are scared to death but I am too. I just want you to know I will be there for you." I said with utmost sincerity.

"Thank you. It means a lot. By the way, when you weren't here, I and Sanaya went shopping together, she told me everything about you." She said and c****d her eyebrows with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Don't take her seriously, she often exaggerates everything," I said feeling a little nervous. Sanaya when she starts talking, she never stops and most of the times she doesn't even know what she is even saying.

"Ooh really? She was told me about your Mumbai wali Girlfriend." She said and I became serious, my eyes widened. Naina laughed so hard and the voice of her laughter filled my ears, taking my heart with it. I am ready to do anything just to make her laugh like this.

For about one hour we were busy in our own little private bubble but guests had to ruin everything as now it was time for them to have photographs with us. What made me smile was Naina was standing way to close to and my one hand was on her waist. She didn't flinch this time that made me smirk.

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After posing and eating something our respective relatives performed on some songs and in the end there was an announcement which shocked both of us!

"Now one beautiful couple is going to perform on a beautiful song 'A thousand times' " my brother and also the anchor for the evening announced.

I quickly bowed in front of Naina asking her permission. At first, she hesitated a bit but everyone's eyes were at us, so without thinking anything further, she placed her hand in mine. We reached the Centre of the stage and I took her one hand and kept it on my shoulder. Her other hand was on my back and my both hands were on her waist. Music started playing in the background and we both were lost in ourselves not thinking that we do have an audience here who are watching our every step. After the song was over we came back to our seats and all the guests started coming towards us to say congratulations.