The Wrong Bride

"I can't believe that college is finally going to end now", I said absently looking at my nails, lying on my narrow bed with my head towards the edge and legs in a slanting position with the wall. "I know Elly. And to the top of it, my parents have decided that it’s time for me to get married", said Maria my roommate and best friend. "Chill Marie, they are saying this from the last four years. That doesn't mean you are actually getting married. They need to find a guy first to get you married". "That's the problem, this time they have actually found a guy. It's almost final" said Maria in a dejected tone. " Really! That means you're getting married?" I asked. "Almost, they are having a final meeting tonight and then it will be final". Maria said. "How does he look? Is he handsome?", I inquired. "I haven't seen him yet, they'll show me his photo after tonight". I got up from the bed, fully alert now. "Don't tell me you won't get to meet him. You will meet him before marrying him, right?". "No Elly you know my family, they won't even ask me, they'll just tell me that I have to get married on this date", Maria said in frustration. I knew that. Maria belongs to a very conservative and ridiculously rich family. She is the first female in her family lineage to attend college, all credits to her modern mother. According to her family, a girl is supposed to be pretty and well mannered, enough to get her married in an equally rich family. The concept of a girl going out to earn a living appalled them. But Maria have different dreams. She wants to become an editor. She has already done an internship with a famous magazine and also received an offer. I can totally understand her frustration. Her dreams were getting crushed because of family pressure. And I don't want my best friend to be sad. "Maybe I don't have to worry that much, maybe he won't like me or maybe he won't find me pretty", Maria said. "That is quite unlikely, you are gorgeous and a perfect beauty, you always stand out in a crowd and almost every guy in our class has asked you out. Not like us mortals". I said huffing grumpily. "Now that's not true, I find you very beautiful. And what are you saying? You two look exactly the same", said someone from behind. Maria an I turned to find Eddy, our friend grinning. "How the hell do you manage to sneak inside our apartment all the time? And have some decency to knock, this is a girl's apartment, we might be undressed". Maria said clenching her hands on her waist in a playful manner. "All the more reason for me to come unannounced" he said grinning widely. "And as far as how I got inside, it is by stealing your spare key a year ago, I don't know why you keep on asking the same question again and again darling", he said and came inside, kissed me on the cheek and pulled Maria's hairs. "Don't call me darling you jackass", Maria said, "but he has got a point Elly you do look exactly like me. So many people have pointed out that we look like identical twins. Hell, half of the time you submitted my assignments and they have never found out that it was not me". Well it was true our looks do match. We are both 5'7. Have chestnut colored hairs. Same built, although hers is more curvaceous than mine. Same skin tone but hers is a little more sun kissed than mine. But our eyes, they are totally different while hers is chocolate brown, mine is green. From a distance we might look the same but we don't look like identical twins. "You don't look exactly the same, Elly's features are more on the softer side while yours are more on the harsher side. Hers is a little on the human side while you look like a descendant of apes". Eddy said laughing. "What did you say, oh I'll show you bastard", Maria said running after him and throwing whatever she can find on him. Eddy threw some cushions back. I ducked so that I don't get caught in the crossfire. #*#*#* Next morning in college all three of us gathered at the cafe to know the much-awaited result of Maria's family's meeting. "So", I asked, " is it final? Are you getting married?" "Yes, I am" she said excitingly. "Are you sure? Then why are you happy about it? You didn't want to get married right?" I said confused. "I didn't, until I saw his photo. He is Damianos Costas. The billionaire. We have met in family parties before. I was very young then and he was in final year in high school. I used to fantasize about him all the time but he left to go to college and we have never met since. But now he is so much more handsome and I'm going to marry him eeeeeee.....".Maria said jumping up and down and screaming in excitement. "Quiet down Maria we are in a public place", I said but I was genuinely happy for her. "Jeez monkey stop your squealing it's annoying" Eddy said which earned him a glare from Maria but he continued, "I only feel sorry for the guy who is going to marry her". "Leave her alone Eddy", I said turning to Maria, "Show us his photo Marie". "I don't have his photo but you can search him on Google. He is actually very famous", she said winking cheekily. She searched for Damianos Costas. Result came, Damianos Costas owner of D.C. enterprise and the heir of Costas empire. The hotshot businessman is a taciturn but ruthless man who is not easy on anyone. According to a source he has few friends to whom he is very loyal but destroys anyone who tries to cross him in a wrong way. He is a family man and puts his family above everything else. He is a very private man and only a few people know anything about his dating life. We loaded his picture. In the picture he was wearing a business suit and seems to be coming out of a meeting. He was looking tallest amongst the crowd. He had olive toned skin and a thick eyebrow and perfectly cut well shaped face. His lips were a sharp contrast to his perfectly cut face. It was fuller and dark pinkish. But his eyes, his eyes were stark black. As he was looking towards the camera it seemed as if he was looking towards me which made me feel a little intimidated. Damianos Costas was a beautiful man no doubt. But the only thought that was going on my mind was, was it possible to notice so much about a man by simply looking at just one photo of his? While all three of us were bend on looking at him. Maria asked, "So what do you think?" "I think he is very good looking", I said suddenly feeling a little remorseful although I didn't know why. "I think he is gay", Eddy said in a declaring tone, "otherwise why would someone like him will marry someone like you. Are you sure Marie that your rich dad isn't blackmailing him into marrying you?" "Shut up psycho". Maria said and punched Eddy's torso. "Piss off", Eddy said. And while this was going on, I was hoping that I don't end up making the mistake of falling for a certain pair of black eyes. *#*#*#