Chapter 23
It was 6:45, and I was dressed in my Sabyasachi Anarkali, with my jewelry; since it was a traditional affair, I had parted my hair and rolled it into a sleek bun with a white jasmine flower string abound it, a little red dot around a crystal stone on my forehead called a bindi( worn at the center the forehead between the starting point of both the eyebrows) and Kept my makeup minimum with smokey eyes popping my eyes and nude lipstick. I wore my embellished Amina Muaddi stilettoes, and I was done; the red and gold were a contrast to my porcelain skin.
The red was vibrant, and the gold made it more royal and exclusive. I left and looked perfect.
I walked in and sat at the table where Eva and her parents sat. I hugged them like I always did, but Eva and her mom stiffened to my touch and gave me polite smiles, but again the smile didn't reach their eyes.
I was about to ask when the lights dimmed, and Vik walked on the stage with red eyes; he looked drunk, it was odd, but I let it go just like everyone's weird behavior, blaming wedding jitters.
Vik looked handsome in his Custom Armani tux; he had a golden and red tie with a pocket square matching me.
"Welcome everyone, esteemed guests, royal personalities, and Amara,"...he started...
Something wasn't right. I felt it in my gut but let it. Was I so desperate to be accepted, to be engaged? Was it because the 5-year mark was almost up?
" Today is a special day, my brother Armaan, who will join us shortly as he had to go to port for some "urgent" official business," Vik Air quoted and said. " and Eva will say their vows and get tied in holy matrimony...
But that's not what makes today special," he said, taking another swing of the whiskey tumbler he had in his hand.
In lieu of the pending nuptials of my cousin, I have also found my soulmate, who is soon to be Mrs. Vik or Mrs. Vikram Singh," he said " Baby, can you please stand." He looked at me and extended his hand; I gave an apologetic smile to Eva and stood up...I looked back at Vik, but he wasn't looking at me; he was looking in my direction but not at me.
I followed his gaze and saw Natasha standing in a red and gold Saree, with a barely there bikini blouse, smiling ear to ear in her veneers..."
Someone once said I was a manner-less prick, and well, I guess I had to prove them right."
My blood went cold, and my ears started ringing...did he do all this for revenge?
Before I could think, Natasha walked by me, bumping my shoulder, making me lose balance and almost stumble to the ground.
She stood on the stage with her parents, Vik, and his sister and parents... they announced that they were excited to welcome a new member into their fold; the wedding will be held in the fall in New York. Vik and Natasha kissed, and I felt sick to my stomach.
"Baby," boomed Vik's voice on the Speaker; I instinctively looked at him.
Can you please say something for me...Natasha nodded like an eager chihuahua...."Can you say I'm sorry? I give up !" ....Natasha's nail-on-chalkboard voice came next, and she recited the exact words back to Vik...." fucking perfect good little girl."
I was looking at Eva for comfort, but she looked at me with blank stone cold eyes;
I had almost reached for her when her mom began shouting that someone had been charging my credit card fraudulently at a jewelry store, and now the jewelry was missing and the police had been called.
Everyone around the table stared at me, I looked back at the stage, and everyone was staring at me; before long, all the guests present followed their gaze and started looking at me...
The police arrived on cue as if waiting for the announcement and charged straight to me....." Miss, we need to do a strip search of you and then search your room."
No one else was even asked or considered...I was hurt and felt betrayed, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of breaking me...
They took me to the side and made a makeshift dressing room that covered all the way up to my neck.... slowly they removed my clothes and had their hands on me...
I looked at Eva and Vik, both looking back at me with venom in their eyes....
The two people I trusted the most, I only broke eye contact when I was asked to bend and touch my ankles and cough...I did....satisfied that I was humiliated enough, I was given my clothes and asked to lead them to my room...I saw phone cameras flashing, whispers, and giggles from Natasha and Vik's mom and sister.