In a crowd of hundreds dressed in sequin, my eyes searched for her essence. A hint of her satin touch, the subdued vanilla scent or those all powerful Hogwarts glasses, a glance at her silky sandalwood hair would be enough today. The nearness of an other woman was overbearing. Her skin clinging on to mine made me slip deeper into self-loathing. Why did I leave the love of my life for a stranger? Why was I cozying up to a nobody when she could only watch from afar someone else take over her rightful place?
"Who is she?"
I heard my fiance hiss a jealous whisper to her self-proclaimed best friend.
"I told you, no one dressed better than me is allowed inside my engagement party".
My would-be bride was known for her short temper. She had posted a clear set of instructions on the wedding invitation card stating no one wear red or gold as those were exclusive colours for the bride. Even a subset of designers were booked off for her friends. I found her demands ridiculous but, that was the least of my problems. My real love was slipping away from my hands like sand dust.
"Congratulations RK", her unsuspecting father greeted me. She had not whispered a word to her family about our long going affair only because I had requested we keep this our secret. I knew she was overcome with regret when I invited her to a sudden engagement. It was not even the news that was insulting, it was the way I told her about Deepali. I called a damn press conference. She did not have the chance to breathe, grief or let out her sorrows in private. She was pushed in to prepare for the wedding. I left her with no choice. As my public relations manager, her professional responsibilities took over her personal cries.
I suspected she would be checking up on the lighting so, I created a mini accident with the stage limelight to have her come and save the day. And, she came dressed in a brown lehnga. The subtle details of her full skirt pulled all eyes up to the narrow ringlet of a waist. The mustard duppatta left much to my imagination and I dreamed it all in the two minutes it took her to change the fixture.
"All done", she told the bride.
Her eye shimmered like sparkling wine, there were tears pleading to come out. But, she won't let them. Not in front of me, not after what I did.
My eyeballs gestured toward the back door, she straightened her wrinkled blouse and followed me outside.
"I know you want the movie. You are my employer before my lover. If this is a career changing decision for you then, I do not blame you. I will continue with my duties as your manager".
I could hear the whys ringing in my head. I could taste my betrayal in the air.
"Let us elope", I spoke from my heart, not knowing where I was taking her.
Only that I could not go through with a sham of a wedding.
"No", she shrugged my hand off her shoulder and ran back in to the celebrations of a looming disaster.
"Why?" my eyes reasoned with hers.
"I don't want to be your hush hush woman. I don't want to be the other girl".
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