" I...I rea... lik....like y...ou" I stuttered while confessing my love to him in front of his friends
He laughed at me " Aww little Anna got a crush on me . But did you look at yourself in a mirror, how can you expect me to date a girl like you. Y...
My palms are sweating, my shoulders are stiff, my eyes are begging to close and thinking that it's just a dream. How do you feel when everyone's eyes are on you, looking at your moves, it feels like even if you breathe wrong they will know, if this happens to you, you probably freaked out. That's what I'm feeling right now. You know I always loved concerts but when I used to think about the artists who were going to perform on the stage, I always wondered how would they feel, when tons of people were watching them, checking their every movement, one mistake or one wrong lyrics or actions and they are gone. They become memes which is quite horrible to even think about. I feel like I'm now at the place of the artist, everyone is watching my moves, not as many people at concerts but still, these many that make me feel intimidated nervous and anxious.
Currently, I'm standing on the stage with Ahaan in his big digital space in front of all his office employees. (Imagine something like this )
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My heart is beating fast, looking at this much audience, everyone is looking at me curiously probably thinking what am I doing besides their boss who is forcefully holding my hand in his tight grip but not painfully tight. I can't even shrug him off as so many eyes are on us. We're pretending like nothing is wrong and I don't hate him and this engagement has been forced by my father.
I pulled Ahaan a little, I whispered in his ears "What are you doing ?" I seethed not liking this public attention. I always hated attention, especially standing in front of so many people. Sweat is trickling down my back. He smirked at me, putting his hands on my waist as if making people more curious, everyone were watching unblinkingly, their eyes suddenly became more open as , if they blinked, we were going to disappear.
I stood stiffly as Ahaan took the mic and started speaking, I didn't know what he was going to say but somewhere in my heart, I felt that whatever he was going to say would not be good or would create more problems for me to break this engagement. "I am glad that everyone is present here in a very short period" he is saying like he didn't almost threaten the man on the call to make everyone present in this room. I internally rolled my eyes at him Everyone didn't dare to say anything as they just nodded, curious to know what he was going to say "I'm so happy to include you, the people who helped me in making this company more successful than it was, in the most important part of my life where I wanted to introduce you all to someone who going to now the part of this company & my life," he said making people applaud for him. These people forget that a few moments ago only this man was shouting at them and calling everyone idiots and now look at him and how his demeanour changed so quickly. How these people are so happy feeling appreciated by him as if all they want is appreciation from him, even if he is rude, arrogant or cold towards others. I guess this qualities make him the CEO of the company. But this is not my concern right now, I'm more stressed about the words that he is going to spill "Everyone meets Sanjana Mehta, my fiance, soon going to be Mrs. Jain . " he dropped the bombshell making everyone shocked. Even I felt more shocked than anyone. I thought he was going to only introduce me as his friend as their employees found us in "that" situation but he was going to introduce me as his fiancee was a total shock to me because I thought this was just a joke or something but this is true and now him introducing me as his fiancée in front of the whole world making clear that I belong to him is going to create more problems for me than it already is. I looked at the employees of the office and gave a subtle smile to not look rude but inside I wanted to go home and sleep and think that this was all just a dream.
Some people were looking at me in awe, some women were glaring at me and some men were looking at me with lust which made me a little uncomfortable but then I felt the hands stroking my waist almost comforting me, I looked up at Ahaan, who's eyes are already on trying to comfort me from my nervousness. I felt relaxed after his comforting gaze, he smiled at me, making people gasp as if they had never seen him smile which is probably true. He continued "Now she is part of my life, I want you to give her the same respect you gave to me. I will not bear any disrespectful comment or criticism towards her, give her more respect than me ." He said being utterly serious. I looked at him so shocked and overwhelmed and the tears were almost on the verge by the way he was saying things so casually. The people present there looked at him in awe even if I felt like this was the real Ahaan or the one who used to hate me. Thinking about the past, I felt sadness started creeping in.
Everyone started clapping after his speech, so many employees came & congratulated us on our new beginnings. My social battery was running low, all I wanted was some space alone. Ahaan held my hands pulled me into him and whispered "Let's get out of here " he said at which I nodded at him. He ordered someone to treat the employees in the celebration of our engagement as we took a leave.
"Why did you do this, Ahaan ?" I asked currently were in his car, he was driving me home "What ?" He asked his focus on the road "You know what I'm talking about, you didn't need to announce our engagement in your office," I said in exasperation "Can you give me one reason Why don't I need to announce our engagement?" He asked smugly "Because Ahaan, this engagement didn't mean anything & I think this is all fake. You & dad must be signing some contract or something in which I'm playing this stupid role " I said without thinking as I saw this type of thing happening in movies and books, I know it's insane to think like this but I have no option so I settle on this to satisfy my thoughts. The car stopped making tyres screeched "Get out Sanjana !" He calmly said but I could see anger in his eyes. I'm afraid he is going to leave me here alone in the middle of nowhere "What...t" I stuttered He gets out of the car and comes towards my side opening my door pulling me out by my arms "Ahaan, leave me you're hurting me " I almost cried from his tight grip on my arms He loudly shut the door, my back touching his car, while he loosened his grip from my arms but still held me in place. He looked at me, not saying anything as if holding his anger but then he calmly said "Do you think everything is fake? Do you really think that our engagement is some game or something? " he said in an exasperated way I don't know what to say, so I keep quiet "My bambina this is not a movie or books you read, this is real life and we're getting married," he said I shook my head "No no no, I don't wanna get married especially with you " I said in anger He is now calm, with no anger nothing was shown on his face, his face was all emotionless like he used to make when he was in office, I feared this Ahaan more, when he is more than calm, it means storm. He held my throat, his grip was firm and put his lips near mine making me close my eyes, "You like it or not, you're getting married to me, that's final & there's is no deal or anything. You're going to be my wife, accept it as soon as you can " he said with his lips almost touching mine, one moment I got so lost looking at his lips but then I got back to my senses and was taken back by his words. "You can't do this, you can't force me into this marriage " I seethed He gently squeezed my throat making my breath hitch " oh my sweet bambina, I can do this & I will " he smirked "I will run away before the wedding, let see then how will you get married to me " I smirked knowing that I was playing with fire He pulled me close, this close that I was breathing his air, his face undeniably close. I looked into his eyes, his eyes full of anger, obsession and I don't know why as if I saw fear in his eyes maybe I was hallucinating
"Don't you even think about it & if you pulled such a stunt then don't think it will be easy for you. I will find you even from hell ." He pushed me away from him as if being near me disgusted him, so why he is doing this? I don't even realise that I'm crying. He looked at me and blankly said "Let's go, your family must be worrying about you " I didn't say anything & went to sit in the car We sat in silence while he drove me to my house, after dropping me home, he didn't even say bye or stay while I entered my house. He used to stay I don't get in the house but today he didn't stay. That means he still doesn't like me then the same questions popped into my head why did he agree to marry me he said there was no deal then what's the reason? I bet he has so many girls in line to marry him, why would he choose me? There must be some reason behind this sudden engagement. I will find out, I don't want to marry a person who doesn't love me. I'm not even ready for this marriage. I'm only 21 right now, I still have so many things to do. I wanna be so much & if I get married then all my dreams will come to an end and I don't want that.
