Invisible String

Chapter 15 - Ring cermony

I glanced at him, trying to read his inscrutable expression. It wasn't love that drove him to propose; it was the allure of headlines and magazine covers. So why wasn't he seizing this opportunity? I felt a sharp sting of hurt and confusion. Was he hiding something from me? We weren’t even married yet and he was already keeping things from me?

The silence between us grew heavier, thick with unspoken questions and rising tension. I took a deep breath, determined to break the uncomfortable quiet.

"Hey, are there gonna be no paparazzi? I mean, this was supposed to be for publicity, right?" My voice sounded steadier than I felt.

He turned to look at me, his eyes narrowing as if I had breached some unspoken rule. For a moment, I saw a flicker of something—annoyance, maybe even guilt—but it quickly disappeared behind his usual mask of indifference. His lack of response only deepened the pit in my stomach.

Kabir's POV:

She finally asked the question I had been dreading. How was I going to answer it? Ever since Jeremy mentioned knowing Samaira and Naina, I couldn't shake off the concern for their safety. It wasn't something I was proud of, but the reality of my connections made me paranoid. If I suggested she have a bodyguard, it would definitely creep her out. But if I explained my underworld ties, it would make me look even worse.

I didn't want Samaira to ever leave me, and I feared my secret might drive her away. As she looked at me, expecting an answer, I scrambled to come up with a plausible explanation.

"Look, I’ll tell the paparazzi when it’s time. Right now, with all the political news, we wouldn’t get the spotlight we need," I lied smoothly, masking my true intentions with a business-minded facade. The early media exposure could indeed create chaos, and in that chaos, Samaira could be harmed. I needed to protect her, even if it meant keeping her in the dark.

"You’re right," she replied, her expression softening. She looked away, smiling back at the guests and continuing her conversation with Naina, who had come by to help with her jewelry.

Watching her interact so effortlessly with others, a pang of guilt twisted in my gut. She deserved honesty, but the risks were too great. I could only hope she would understand one day why I had to keep her in the dark, and that my actions were driven by my need to keep her safe.

My mom, along with Samaira’s parents, was deep in discussion about the wedding dates, while my dad and Aditya were engrossed at the bar counter. The audacity of those two. I mean I could understand Aditya’s situation as he had confided in me earlier about his fight with Naina and seeing her here but not being able to talk to her must be killing him, but my own father fixated on vodka while the biggest announcement of my life was about to be made. Seriously?

The hum of conversation in the room dimmed as my mom’s voice echoed through the microphone, catching everyone’s attention. She moved gracefully toward where Samaira and I were seated, her eyes shining with excitement. She leaned down, kissing Samaira’s forehead, then mine, her joy almost palpable.

“We have an announcement, everyone!” she beamed, her voice filled with pride. “The dates of the wedding ceremonies are finalized. We hope to see you all on the 2nd of December for Kabir and Samaira’s wedding!”

What? So soon? My mind raced. We had barely two weeks left! The impending chaos loomed large, threatening to overwhelm the thin veneer of control I had managed to maintain. The room erupted in applause, and I plastered a smile on my face as we celebrated with a glass of champagne.
The tension between Samaira and me was almost palpable as we sat beside each other, exchanging polite smiles for the benefit of the guests. My cheeks were beginning to ache from the effort. I stood up, needing a break from the relentless facade, and headed towards the restroom.

Just as I was about to grasp the door handle, a delicate hand with small wrists, adorned with bangles and an engagement ring, stopped me. I looked up to see Samaira. Before I could say anything, she pulled me aside.

“Your cheeks must be hurting from smiling that much, because I could tell you’re not used to this, are you?” She spoke with a hint of teasing in her voice.

“Obviously, I don’t even know half of these people and you think I’m extremely happy to see them? I’m not even happy to see the people I do know.” I retorted back to which she gave a small laugh which brought a small smile to my face.

“I’m pretty sure they’re here for the free food rather than us.” She took a quick look at the guests gathered around the Chinese food stall.

“You bet.” I simply scoffed.

"I think we should go on a date," she blurted out, catching me completely off guard.
"Well that was a quick change of topic." was all I could manage in reply.

"I was waiting for you to suggest it. It's surprising I have to 'ask you out' on a date, but I can't help it. We're getting married in less than a month, and we barely know each other. We hated each other’s existence not even a week ago," she continued, her words tumbling out in a rush. I frowned, wondering who she meant by "we."

"Maybe over coffee or some activity we can both enjoy. No offense intended, but I really don’t know what kind of person you are. How you would treat me matters a lot to me, so—"

I cut her off, "I'll see you Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. sharp in front of Starbucks. Don’t be late."

Her small face scrunched up, tiny lines of frown and disappointment creasing her forehead.

"My man, I’m not asking for a meeting but a date. Never mind, maybe I was wrong to ask," she said, turning to walk away.
"No, wait," I said quickly, gently turning her back around and holding her left hand in mine. "May this beautiful lady care to spare some time for this poor guy for a morning coffee date?" I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the beautiful solitaire ring on her finger.

I couldn't believe I was doing this. It was as if my body had taken over, leading me helplessly through this new, strange territory with Samaira, like a puppy eagerly following her lead. I glanced up at her face, seeing a flush of red hue on her cheeks. Her lips parted, leaving her speechless, and her eyes—oh my God, Samaira, what are you doing to me?

Our sweet little moment was abruptly interrupted by a call- It was Aditya. Samaira pulled away, leaving me desperate for her answer as I answered Aditya’s call.