Chapter 10: Ch.9/ An Unwanted Wedding
Chapter 10: Ch.9/ An Unwanted Wedding
Alessandro's POV:-
"Yes, Melody you can do whatever with the room. I don't know what she likes or not so don't bother me to ask about anything. If you have any doubt kindly call Bianca, I am sure she can help you with everything." I say on the phone. Melody being Melody is talking nonstop about how she wants everything to be perfect when I bring my bride at the mansion.
When she first heard about my wedding she started to scold Samuel because she didn't want me to marry anyone without knowing the person well. However, when Samuel showed her Anhuphama's photo, her perspective toward the marriage changed drastically. She kind of ordered me to marry the girl as soon as possible.
Only a handful of people know about the real connection between us, she is not just a cook for me but a mother figure in my life. The orphanage in Italy where I brought up was Melody's father's. She used to visit us a lot during her free time and took care of us. But I had never talked to her willingly although she always tried to make me feel better. Soon after she got married to a doctor and went to another city. She didn't use to come often to the orphanage anymore and that's when I realized how much she meant to me. After I turned 18, I moved to Australia for higher studies, and soon at the age of 23, I started my own company with the help of my friends. Then I moved back to Los Angeles and had decided to settle in there forever. However, I didn't expect to meet Melody after so many years in Los Angeles but she was not the same cheerful woman anymore. I got to know how her husband and daughter died in an accident leaving her all alone. She had to sell flowers to survive because she didn't have anywhere to go, her father was already dead when I got out of the orphanage and the orphanage is now a government property. So I decided to take her home with me but she didn't listen to me. After a lot of struggle, she agreed to come with me but with a demand that she would cook for me in return.
"Sandro, are you hearing or not boy?" Melody's loud voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry Melody I was thinking about something but can you please not call me Sandro? I hate the nickname." I greet my teeth in anger. She knows well how much I hate this name still that's never stopped her from calling me that awful name.
"Okay, fine Mr. Bianchi. I hope you are happy now." She replies curtly. Uggghhh this woman.
"Look I will call you later. I have a party to attend-" she cuts me off with her damn yelling.
"HOW CAN YOU DITCH YOUR OWN WEDDING? HOW CAN YOU LEAVE THAT SWEET GIRL WAITING? YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ANY PARTY." I am sure my ears are bleeding by the time she stops yelling. I huff before tossing the phone to Samuel who is smiling evilly at me since Melody has called. I walk into the washroom to get ready for the party/wedding. Mr. Sengupta has asked me if I can perform some rituals for the marriage but I have told him that I don't believe in God or any ritual so I only want to sign the marriage certificate and go away from here.
After getting dress in a tuxedo I walk out of the washroom. I get near the nightstand before opening the drawer to take out the things I have told Bianca to order. She has done tremendous work in finding the perfect things for my liking. I take the things and get out of my room to see that Samuel and Bianca are chatting between them. Both of them have dressed very nicely if I say so myself.
"Do we have everything that can be needed during the marriage?" I ask them.
"Yes, I have all the important documents of yours," Bianca informs me.
"I have told the pilot to get the jet ready by tomorrow because we will be leaving at 1 pm," Samuel says.
"Good job," I tell them before going inside the elevator. They both stand behind me for some reason when we have so much place in the elevator. They start to talk in hush voices as if they don't want me to hear what they are talking about. When the elevator gets on the ground floor we go towards the car
that is waiting for us. Soon enough we reach Sengupta mansion before getting out of the car. There is low music coming out of the mansion so I guess that the guests must have started to come already. But before we can get inside I saw that Mr. Sengupta's sister-in-law along with some other ladies has started to come towards us. I look at them curiously because they have something in their hands.
"Welcome, Mr. Bianchi." Mr. Sengupta's sister-in-law greets me with a small smile. I smile in return not knowing what to say. Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
"I know you don't want to perform any ritual but I just want to do a little ritual of welcoming you in our traditional way as you will be a son-in-law of us. I hope you don't mind me doing it." She says calmly. I want to oppose her but seeing the hope in her eyes I can only nod in answer. She puts something on my forehead before doing something with the thing in her hand. Then, in the end, she starts to move the thing in a round motion in front of me before feeding me some sweets which I really don't like. But I just stand there letting her do whatever she wants because I have observed that she means a lot to my would-be wife.
"Now you can come inside." She instructs me before going ahead of us. We start to move behind her and soon enough we get inside the house which is decorated very beautifully. Mr. Sengupta along with his brother come towards us and greet us politely. They introduced me to some of their guests and business associates. I get to know that Mr. Sengupta's brother is not a part of the family business because he is a painter and he doesn't have any interest in business. I have to say the man is really an interesting person to talk with. I haven't seen
However, the voices around the party suddenly stop as if they have seen something fascinating. Samuel tap me on the shoulder before motioning me to look at my right side. No word can describe the feeling I am having seeing the woman in front of me. Beautiful or gorgeous will be nothing compared to the elegance that is descending the stairs in a red saree. I have never thought before that by not revealing much skin, a person can look so wonderful. However, her eyes hold an empty look as if
someone has taken something valuable from her. I feel bad for marrying her without her will but I know I will make her happy by giving her any luxury she wants.
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Anupama's POV:-
Finally, the wedding has come and that's today. This is supposed to be one of the best days in a girl's life but not for me. I am only marrying Mr. Bianchi because I want to save my father's company which he has built with his hard work. There is a lot going in the house from yesterday because of today's event. Everyone is trying to get everything ready perfectly for the party.
Earlier in the morning Mamoni along with Pishimaa, has performed some rituals regarding the marriage. As for Riya or Dadabhai, none of them have talked to me. Riya is out of anger and Dadabhai is hurt knowing I have accepted the marriage proposal. I have tried numerous times to talk to him but he is not listening to me.
Currently, the makeup artists are getting me ready as a bride but they are not going to give me a traditional Bengali bridal look because there is no need for it. One of them is getting my hairs done when Jasmine Di enters the room. I look at her with hope but she shakes her head breaking my hope of seeing my Advira at least for the last time. Tears fill my eyes but I don't let them fall. She comes near me before taking the bobby pin in her hands for doing my hairstyle. She quickly does a beautiful bun in my hair and put flowers all around it. She also puts the Gold jewelry on me that is a traditional jewelry in a Bengali marriage.
"You are looking very pretty Anu." She compliments me happily but her voice is betraying her emotions.
"Outer beauty is nothing but a facade to hide the real emotion we feel inside us," I reply with a half- smile.
"Can you guys please give us some time to ourselves?" She asks politely to the makeup artists which they reply in okay. When they get out of the room she takes my hands in her hands before looking at me with determination.
"Anu I am giving you a chance to live with your Advira. Let's get out of here and I will send you both to a far place from here. You can live there with your daughter and I am promising you that no one will be able to find you." She tells me with an encouraging smile. But how can I do this? Baba will lose everything because of me.
"No, Di I can't do such a thing. I love Advira but Baba is also important to me. I have never given him any happiness but now I have a chance to make him happy. If I don't marry Mr. Bianchi then my father will lose his business without any fault." I reply with tears streaming down my face. She also has tears in her eyes but still, she wipes my tears with her palms.
"I really want to hate you because you are choosing someone else instead of Advira but I can't knowing why you are doing all of this. I am proud to call you my sister Anu." She hugs me while I try not to cry anymore. Silence fell between us before it is broken by the knocking on the door. Mamoni enters the room with a smile on her face but it's vanished seeing our tear-stained faces.
"What happen Shona? Why are you both crying?" She asks coming near us.
"Nothing Mami. Our Anu is a little nervous about the marriage that's all." Jasmine di replies while wiping her tears.
"Then why are you crying, Jasmine?" Mamoni asks worriedly.
"We were talking about how our Anu is going to leave us all after the marriage and we started crying Mami." Jasmine di answers before fixing my makeup that has been ruined by the crying. When I get completely ready Mamoni looks at me with a pleasant look.
"I will not say that I am very happy with the marriage but I have a hope that this marriage can bring happiness in your life. Just believe in yourself Anu and you will see life is not so cruel any more." She says while kissing me on the forehead. I close my eyes feeling a new set of tears is starting to form in my eyes but I take a deep breath to calm myself.
Jasmine di takes my hand and starts to take me downstairs while Mamoni is walking beside me. The marriage ceremony will be done in the living room of the mansion so we are directly going there. But upon arriving there I get scared seeing so many people all over the place. They are either our relatives or Baba's business associates. I notice that Baba and Kakai is talking with Mr. Bianchi and it seems like they are discussing something. By looking at so many people all around, my hands start to sweat. I have never felt good in a big crowd of people so today is not any exception. However, thanks to Mamoni and Jasmine di I am able to move forward steadily without falling out of fear.
I can feel the same intense gaze of Mr. Bianchi but I don't look at him directly like I did the last time when he had come to our house for dinner. However, I don't feel uncomfortable because he is not eye raping me like a pervert person but giving me a gentle look. Mamoni and Jasmine di take me near the couch at the same time Mr. Bianchi comes there with Bianca and Samuel. They both give me an assuring smile to ease my tension. The lawyer instructs me and Mr. Bianchi to sit down before starting the procedure for the marriage. When the time comes to sign on the document Mr. Bianchi is the one who signs the papers first but when it's my turn to sign the papers, my hands start to tremble because one signature will change everything for me. Understanding my fears Mamoni puts her hand on my shoulder in a comforting manner as if saying that everything will be okay and that is enough for me to sign the paper. The lawyer takes the papers before giving another set of papers towards Baba, Kakai, Bianca and Samuel as they are going to be signing as the witness of the marriage. After completing all the processes, the lawyer declares the marriage is officially done.
"I have a little request, Borda," Mamoni says before looking at Baba.
"What's request Mausumi?" Baba asks. Mamoni then takes out a round box of sindoor (vermilion) and extends it's to Mr. Bianchi who is looking confused not understanding what Mamoni wants.
"It's a tradition to put sindoor on the bride's forehead to complete a marriage as it is the biggest symbol of marriage in our country. I know the marriage is completed by law but I just want you to do this ritual to fulfill the tradition." Mamoni explains calmly. Mr. Bianchi is looking perplexed but nods his head after a few seconds.
"But I don't know what to do." He says while looking at the sindoor box.
"You just need to take a pinch of this sindoor in between your right hand's thumb and forefinger and put it in between Anupama's hair partition." Mamoni describes as easily as she can. Mr. Bianchi takes a pinch of sindoor just like Mamoni has instructed him before putting it in between the hair partition. A little sindoor falls on my nose in the process. Everyone starts to clap their hands but then Bianca comes forward with a little box in her hand.
"We also like to perform a small ritual from our side. It's nothing big, just we want that the groom and the bride wear their wedding band as it is our tradition as a Christian." She exclaims before giving the box to Mr. Bianchi. When he opens the box, there are three rings situated inside the box. All of them are looking very expensive which does not seat well with me as I am not a fan of luxury.
First, he takes the biggest ring out of the box before putting it in my left hand's ring finger. Then he puts another ring that is a simple band with little diamonds all around it. Bianca explains that the bigger one is the engagement ring and the smaller one is the wedding ring. She then tells me to put the last ring that is left in the box in Mr. Bianchi's finger. I do as she has told me to do by putting the ring on Mr. Bianchi's finger.
Everyone is looking happy around us but I am feeling like someone is suffocating me. I don't want to be here but I can't just leave from here. I try to find Jasmine di but she is nowhere to be found. I think she
has gone to look for Dadabhai who has refused to attend the wedding. I am sitting beside Mr. Bianchi who is busy looking at his phone. He doesn't try to talk to me which is very good because I am not in a state to have any talk.