C7 The Wedding Dress

"Remember everything I told you. Follow my instructions. When lights go off at the Church, hide somewhere or runaway, okay?" Samara reminds me, while arranging heavy veil on my head.

I barely nod. I'm almost ready in her wedding dress, ready to be at her place.

She covers my face once she is done fixing the veil, "We both are trusting each other. I chose you to handle everything here so don't let anything bad happen. I'm trusting you, Sanaya. I hope you won't get caught."

I'm still unable to form words from my mouth. My body, my muscles are jammed and my mind is no more working. It's blank like black screen.

Samara is forcing me to be a part of her fraud. I'm still not willing, still not sure that I would come out of this situation safe and sound.

She moves away from me, takes her purse from the bed and wishes me luck one last time and afterwards leaves the room, leaves me all alone. Hesitantly, I turn towards the mirror to see my reflection.

The bright white wedding dress is simple, yet elegant with a sweetheart neckline and lace sleeves. It hugs my body perfectly, defining my curves before flaring out into a subtle skirt-style.

I recall the argument of Ashar and Samara that I overheard few weeks ago. This dress is Katherine Hobsons's design. I don't understand why Samara was disapproving it. It's beautiful.

The thick, white, double veil she fixed on my face is long from behind and shorter from front. It is thin enough for me to see everything, but thick enough for people to not to notice the different face. They can only see through my skin color and obscure look of me.

This veil will work as my rescuer until Samara will be back, but I don't know what I would do if someone ask me to move it up. My heart aches as once again strong wave of fear hit me. Taking deep breaths, I try to divert my mind. I put up the light fabric from my face and amble close to the mirror.

My eyes widen to its full length when I see my reflection. I'm unable to recognize the face I'm looking at. Samara's makeup and hair style techniques are near to professional. My already big eyes are looking bigger due to light smoky eye makeup. Lips are perfectly shaped and coated with bright pink coral shade. My overall face skin is radiating with a lightest pink hue akin to natural blush. I look good. I look...beautiful. She has rolled all of my hair above my head and fix the long veil on them.

Someone else's wedding dress is fitting perfectly on my body as if it was made for me. I have never imagined myself in a white dress, let alone in a designer white dress. For a moment I feel as real bride. But goosebumps on my arms pull me out of the trance. This dress belongs to someone else.

I pull down the veil again on my face and turn the other way to avoid looking at myself.

Sudden soft knocks on the door startle me to the last level possible. My face turns white, draining all of my blood from there.

My heart thumps in my chest in response to every knock. This fear in me would be the death of me. Involuntarily, I sit on the bed, rubbing my sweaty palms together.

Door continues knocking. After a minute I decide to answer. I walk towards it and ask in a very weak voice, "Yes?"

"Ms. Samara, sorry to disturb you, but your father has sent you some papers. You need to sign them right now." Strange female voice speaks from the other the side.

"What...papers?" I stammer, opening a door a little.

"These are the legal documents of your marriage. Take this and sign them. I'm waiting outside for you." She extends her arm inside through the little space between the door and the door frame. I see a black file folder.

I take it immediately and lock the door. Looking at it closely, I grumble, "What I'm supposed to do with this?"

I toss the folder on the bed and grab my phone. I call Samara. She saved her number in my phone so that we can contact each other in case something goes wrong.

"What?" She snaps after picking up my call.

"When are you coming back?"

"Did you call me to ask that? I'm driving. I told you I'll be back soon. Now, hang up." Her rude tone brings a frown on my face.

"No, wait... There's a woman outside the room, gave me some papers to sign. It's your father who sent them." I sound anxious.

"Oh God, what papers?"

"She said its legal papers related to your marriage."

I don't know what does it mean.

"I'm so fucked up. Leave them there. I'm calling Dad."

She hangs up on me. Frustration fills in me. I shouldn't have come here today. I shouldn't have thought to help Katherine.

Few minutes later, That same woman speaks, "Ms. Samara, I just talked with your father on call. He said you can take your time. I'm leaving, okay?"

Thank Goodness. I heave a sigh of relief.

Samara took care of that problem. Now I have to only wait for her to come back and set me free from this fearful situation. I would then completely forget about this day, this dress, this wedding and pretend to be oblivious about all of these for the rest of my life.

Yes. Yes.

I think of only positive things to regain my audacity. But then, my bad luck – I hear another knock on the door. I look myself in the mirror, fix my veil properly and walk towards the door.

"Who?" I ask.

"It's me. Katherine." I hear faint voice from the other side of the door.

No way...

Fear clutches my heart. My face turns into ghastly white. I'm done. I'm done this time for sure. They will kill me Katherine would recognise me. She has seen me very closely.

Oh Samara, please come back. I keep praying in my head.

She knocks the door once again. I open it this time. She smiles at me and steps inside.

I'll rely on my veil for now.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you." She says, "I wanted to check if you need anything. But, you're all ready."

I gulp. Why God? Why me?

I swear I have never been this frightened in my whole life. I'll pass out any minute.

"You're looking beautiful in this dress, Samara. I especially designed it for you." She examines me from head to toe.

I clench my fists and stiffen. I don't want to lie to her when she's being so good to me. She has no idea I'm not her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, but her new cook. She was the one who sent me to Samara's room and look where I'm trapped now.

"You know that right? Ashar is my darling son. I always wanted best for him. And you are one of the best things he have." She steps towards me. I turn to my side involuntarily.

She grabs my arm, hinting me to face her. She comes in front of me, "I wanted to tell you that do not think this marriage is only for the business expansion. Believe me, my son likes you a lot. I like you a lot and I hope you both will live well and soon put Hobsons's heir on my lap."

I continue being silent, not sure how Samara would have reacted to that.

"Why aren't you removing your veil, not showing me your beautiful face?" She asks.

I wince, turning my back to her, "I've read somewhere few days ago that good fortune comes to the couple when bride removes her veil after taking wedding vows. The groom should do that actually." I try to sound normal.

Samara suggested me to tell that if anyone ask about the veil. I don't know if it is true or not, but she could only think of something like that during the little time we had. She told me while doing my makeup that she is little superstitious and believes doing or avoiding certain things bring good luck. People would believe my reason undoubtedly as they know Samara's nature.

Katherine's laugh relaxes me. It means she didn't detect the different voice. I'm safe for now.

"You and your irrational superstitions. Ashar hates that don't you know?"

"But it's for our own good."

"Are you really not going to show your face until you both exchange rings?"

"Yes." I almost whisper.

"You didn't tell me about that before..." She trails off.

"Anyways, it's time now. Your father is here. I'm leaving for Church. You come with him." She instructs me and then, walks out the room.

What? No. I can't go to Church.

I quickly grab my phone and once again call Samara. She should be back by now. I can't take risk of going to Church and staying in the midst of two thousand guests.

I cut the call on first ring when I see an old man, standing at the door way. Wrinkled face, small grey eyes, covered with spectacles and wavy hair. He is little chubby.

"Did you sign them?" He comes forward and asks.

My brows knit together in confusion.