Invisible String

Chapter 15 - Ring cermony

Word count:1892

Samaira POV:
Sitting in front of the mirror, I watched the makeup artist expertly applying the final touches. My heart was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, excitement, and a strange sense of gratitude. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Kabir would officially become my fiancé, and with that, my life would take on a new meaning.
Being a woman entrepreneur was a constant battle against stereotypes and prejudices. I had faced comments like, "How could she make it this far?" and "Is that a woman as CEO?" The skepticism was endless, and despite my achievements, the prefix "woman" often felt like a qualifier rather than a badge of honor.

But with this marriage, I hoped for a change.
Marrying Kabir, a prominent name, would shift perceptions. People would have to acknowledge me without any caveats. I would be a CEO, standing on my own merits and achievements, no longer needing to prove myself repeatedly. The prospect of gaining such respect was thrilling, and I couldn't wait for it.

The makeup artist stepped back, signaling that she was done. I looked at my reflection—a beautiful bride-to-be, dressed in an elegant ivory lehenga, ready to face whatever came next. Taking a deep breath, I stood up, feeling the weight of the moment and the lehenga. This was it. The beginning of a journey that would redefine my life and my identity.

Finally ready, or at least appearing so, I stepped out of the room. The hall was a sea of faces—relatives from both sides, and several notable business partners whose names I had only read about in magazines. The magnitude of the event was starting to hit me.

Naina helped me with my heavy ivory lehenga as we made our way towards Kabir. The scent of his cologne hit me first—a floral yet distinctly masculine fragrance that reminded me of a rose garden. He looked impeccable in an ivory tuxedo that matched my lehenga, his hands adorned with two rings, one on the right index finger and another on the left pinky, likely made of silver or platinum.

As I stood in front of him, our eyes locked. There was something in his gaze—an intensity, perhaps a hint of frustration or anger that he was trying to conceal. The moment stretched, our silent exchange interrupted only when Pandit Ji arrived.
Pandit Ji began the ceremony, chanting mantras and guiding us through the rituals. Kabir and I were handed the rings.

My hands trembled slightly as I took the ring, a symbol of the commitment we were about to make. I slid the ring onto Kabir’s finger, and he did the same for me. The weight of the moment was almost overwhelming. It all felt like a dream, unreal. But at the same time, all of this became real, this was actually happening. I’m getting married.

As the ceremony continued, I couldn’t help but glance at Kabir occasionally, trying to read his expressions. Was he as conflicted as I felt? Or was this just another business transaction for him, a strategic move in his grand plan? He did look the robot type with his resting bitch face, but his eyes betrayed him. There was a hint of vulnerability in them, slight nervousness and for some vague reason, that put me to ease, almost like an assurance that I wasn’t in this alone. While I was studying him, quite literally, I didn’t realise he had started staring back. I looked away hoping to avoid his gaze, but of course I was wrong, but moved his eyes when I cleared my throat.

With the final blessings from Pandit Ji, the ceremony concluded. We were officially engaged, and the room erupted in applause. My parents’ faces beamed with joy, and Kabir’s parents looked equally pleased. Despite the whirlwind of emotions, I managed a smile for the cameras, knowing that this was just the beginning of a journey that would redefine both our lives.

But Something felt off. Here I was, engaged to the most wanted bachelor of India, yet there were no paparazzi to capture the moment? The proposal had been all about publicity—so where was the media? The absence of flashing cameras and eager reporters gnawed at me, planting seeds of doubt.