Fated Forever

Chapter 26

Sakshi

The courage of this man. He is not at all ready to leave my hand. God how embarrassing tonight can be. Even when someone came to congratulate us, then too he didn't leave my hand. And where the hell are my friends when I need them the most? Soon the time for exchanging rings came. Our family gathered on the stage. And all our friends were gathered near the stage to capture this moment in their memories.

''Let's exchange the rings now'', said my mom, and brought forward the ring which we selected for Armaan. I took the ring from the ring box and with trembling hands slid it into his big and calloused ring finger. O God, now I can't do anything. Now it is the done deal. I am disappointed as well as slightly happy that I am going to get married to someone known not to a total stranger. At least there are some benefits in marrying him. But I can't let my guard down with him. Now, it's his turn to make me wear the ring.

A look of triumph is visible on his face as he slides the beautiful diamond ring onto my finger. He leans in and whispers in my ear 'mine'. That word has me tremble with fear and anxiety, but I don't let it show on my face. I can't. I had to hold my head high in front of him. I can't give him the satisfaction of having me within his palm after all that fight I put up.

It is not the ring that I chose with Meena Mom. But it is more beautiful than the one we chose. I choose it half-heartedly anyway. I was busy admiring my ring when my friends jumped on the stage to congratulate me.

''Congratulations babe.'' Nikita came and gave me a tight hug and a handshake for Armaan, the same for Ridhimma and Rupali. Saksham congratulated both of us without any physical contact. He is a little shy and doesn't like unnecessary touching. Lastly came Aryan. I don't know what happened to Armaan. When he saw Aryan, he snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me to his chest. I looked at him wide-eyed. But he only gave me one of his charming smiles. And whispered.

''Babe, your friend is waiting for his chance. Wouldn't you spare him a glance? You can appreciate my handsomeness later.'' his smug comment makes me jerk my head in Aryan's direction, who is looking at us with pain and is that rage. What happened to him before I could say or do anything? He quickly mumbled congratulations and left the stage in a blur. What was that?

I try to pull myself away from him but he isn't letting go.

''Let go'' I hissed at him.

''Never'' he said in a cold tone which I had never heard from him before. The look on his face and the glint of madness in his eyes are scaring me right now. Maybe he has seen the fear on my face. His features immediately softened. And he loosened his grip on my waist but didn't let go of me completely. My sister came to take us to the dinner table.

Third Person

Everyone was seated at the magnificent and graceful dining table where the staff was busy placing delicacies after delicacies boosting the reputation of the hotel with their well learnt mannerism however much to Sakshi's dismay and keen intuition, dinner time didn't go as peacely as she wanted, after all the excited family members ought to have their share too and Neil pioneered the much awaited fun of family members by taking the lead as he spoke wearing his usual mischievous smile and playful eyes.

"Now, now, Bhai(brother) stop being so impatient, bhabi(sister-in-law) isn't going anywhere, you can feed her all you want."

"Why you little-- Armaan was soon cut off by Sakshi's younger sister Deeply as she too chimed in to have fun alongside Neil making a team.

"Yes di, I can feel glee radiating off of you, aren't you anticipating jiju(brother-in-law) to feed you as soon as he can"

''Deepali" Sakshi spoke in her sweetest voice ever but her eyes were glaring fiercely at Deepali which made her sister gulp a little.

'Listening her sweet voice beside him, Armaan felt a shiver down his spine even though it was not his name that rolled off the tip of her tongue but her voice was enough to make him go crazy and incite himself, now all he wanted to hear his name in that same honey dripping voice of hers but that's for latter because right now, he was actually excited and what his lil brother said was true after all, he couldn't wait to feed her with his hands and if it wasn't for all the people present here, he would have pulled her onto his lap and then feed her lovingly'.

Armaan was soon brought to the reality as he heard his father's voice

"Now, Neil you shouldn't tease the couple like this and stop with your banter."

''Oh come on Rajeev, are you going to be stern on our baby's engagement also, what Neil said is true after all, I must tell you how impatient and nervous our son has been priya, he was so-- Armaan cut off his mother in between by looking at her with a forced smile as he spoke

"Mom, can we just start eating?"

Everyone at the table burst into laughter to which Priya responded in a soft voice

"Armaan beta, all of this will keep going on till your wedding and even after that, you are going to be newlyweds after all and now you should start eating by feeding each other quickly, right Sakshi"

Sakshi nodded meekly at her mother's words and soon everyone got busy with the dinner with Armaan feeding Sakshi to his heart's content and her refusing every bite like a stubborn child but still eating meekly in the end.

Sakshi

Now it is time to leave the hall. Thank god I was dying from exhaustion. I just want my sweet and soft bed now. But before that, I needed to go to the washroom as we are quite far from our house and it would take time, so informing my family, I left for the washroom with Deeps.

I was waiting for my sister to arrive. Suddenly, the washroom door opened and Armaan entered hurriedly. I was petrified seeing him here. What is he doing here? What if someone came? Oh God, what if Deepali saw him she would never let me live in peace. I rushed to him.

''What are you doing here,'' I whispered-yelled at him. Frantically looking at the cubical which was occupied by Deepali.

''I am here to say bye to my wife,'' he said with a cocky smirk.

''Leave. What if someone came?'' I tried to keyword, is tried to push him out, but he didn't judge from his place.

''No I won't,'' he replied with an amused smile. He was enjoying my misery.

''Please leave. Deepali will come out in any second now.'' I pleaded, still somehow trying to push him. Suddenly I was caged in between him and the door which he locked from inside. Oh god he will surely create a scene here.

''Not before you give me a kiss,'' he said with his evil smirk in place.

''What'' I yelled at him to immediately shut my mouth with my hands.

''I want a goodbye kiss.'' I shook my head at him.

''As you wish, I won't leave here until you kiss me. Let Deepali come. I will tell her you used the washroom as an excuse to meet me.'' A sly smile on his face. This sly bastard. I was contemplating what to do. I heard the sound of flushing. And my heart started beating fast. My eyes darted from his face to the door of the Deepali's cubicle. I have to do something fast.

''Close your eyes.'' I whispered to him. And his eyes widened. What did tell him to widen his eyes, this duffer [i***t]. I guess he wasn't expecting it. Was he only teasing me?

And a clicking sound resounded in the silent washroom. I hurriedly kissed his right cheek and pushed him inside an open cubical with a warning'' Don't you dare come outside till we leave.'' and closed the door just as Deepali opened hers. Due to the shock of the kiss, it was easy to push him as he wasn't focused.

Deepali looked at me and I hurriedly passed her a smile. So that she won't find anything suspicious. But who am I fooling here? my heart is beating so loudly I am afraid if she will come any closer she will hear it. But she remained a safe distance away.

''What happened to your face di. Your face looked flushed,'' she asked, a frown plastered over her face.

''Nothing, it is from the exhaustion and heat,'' I said while fanning myself.

She opened her mouth to say something but I cut her off, not wanting to embarrass myself in front of Armaan ''Let's go before mom comes searching for us.'' she nodded her head and we left.

God, what a hectic day it was. Right now I am lying in my bed all freshened up. I can't believe I am engaged. Oh God, I never thought that this day would come this early. And what I did in the washroom? I can still feel the touch of his smooth skin. Still, his cologne lingers in my senses. His musky woody scent makes my knees weak. Am I falling for him that fast? No, this is not love. I am just attracted to him, nothing else. I looked at my ring finger which has his ring on it. It looks pretty. And it feels good to belong to someone.

That thought made me jerk up from my lying position. Even if I am falling for him. He can't know that. Otherwise, that will give him leverage over me. He will surely use it for his benefit. Yes, he can't know.