MAHIRA
When I woke up, my stomach was begging me to fill it so I brushed my teeth and decided I
would bathe after making something to eat. I found food in the fridge that was probably
prepared by Kaashvi. There was a note on the fridge left by Kaashvi that caught my attention.
'I'm sorry honey. I had to leave early for a flight to Korea. My break is over so I can't spend time
with you. My black card is near your makeup desk. If you end up going to London please go with the
house keys.
Love Kaashvi '
I ate the pasta Kaashvi had prepared then I freshened up before looking at the card again. I
don't want to become dependent on Kaashvi and become a burden. I have to find a job and take
myself to London. After looking at the card for a while I put it in my bag then wore a blue saree
and adorned myself with a simple kundan jewelry set that wasn't too heavy.
If I can get a job quickly then I'll be able to save up for my London ticket and apply for a visa
then I can fix my documentation as soon as possible.
I submitted my CV to twenty companies, some being small businesses and others being big
shot businesses. All that matters is that I get a job, it doesn't matter in what field now I just have
to wait for their responses.
My legs felt swollen from all the walking so I went to the cafe Kaashvi showed me once and
ordered a milkshake.
As I waited for my milkshake a woman took the chair opposite mine and sat down. I didn't pay
attention to her cause I'd leave after I got my order so it wasn't a problem. The woman slid a
wedding invitation card towards me and that's when I realised it was Thane's girlfriend, whose
name according to the card is Ariana.
'You know I was really looking forward to your death. I would have gladly attended your funeral.
I wouldn't even mind paying for the funeral cover. I just wonder why you didn't die because the
earth is sick and tired of carrying all your weight.'
I took the invitation card and stood up. 'Thanks for inviting me to your wedding but sorry I can't come.'
Ariana didn't back down. Instead she stood up abruptly blocking my path.
'Why? Why don't you want to come to my wedding? Are you scared? Too weak to see the man
you love marry someone else. I'm pretty sure he'd appreciate your presence.'
I glared at her wondering what she was planning but decided to push aside whatever negative
thoughts were stemming and took the invitation card
'Fine then. If you want me at your wedding so bad, I will come. In fact I'll even sing a special
song just for you. Happy!'
I grabbed my bag, took my milkshake from the till and left the cafe.
It had been a week since I met Ariana. I had to focus on Thane's wedding. Even though I didn't
want to use Kaashvi's card, I wanted to outshine the bride and teach her a lesson. Well I was at
the losing end so it's not like it would matter. What matters is that I have to survive this wedding
and come back in peace, not in pieces.
During my shopping spree, using Kaashvi's card I bought a heavy bridal lehenga set that cost
$10 000, a full jewelry set worth $5000 and my makeup also cost $5000. Having a rich friend
really does have its perks but I have to come up with a reasonable excuse for using $20 000.As
I fixed my dress and draped the dupatta, I was satisfied with my look. The red bridal lehenga
looked elegant and gorgeous on me along with the jewelry I had adorned myself with.
Dramatic much yeah I know.
With the way I was dressed I looked more like the real bride. Anyone who saw me dressed up
like this would mistake me for the bride.
I was a little late for the wedding, a little late was an understatement but I was late, thankfully
the bride had not shown up yet so I just had to walk through this aisle quickly and take my seat
in the front row. I smiled awkwardly trying not to show any sign of embarrassment nor hurt. Well
hurt because here I was dressed up as a bride as if that would make me feel better attending
his wedding as if I was just another ordinary guest who had no feelings for the groom.
Sure, I tried to come to peace with the fact that Thane was getting married but it wasn't easy
letting go of unrequited love, especially since it's been 7 years or something and now he was
getting married. This marriage was the final nail to the coffin, the final indication that I would never get him, never
get my chance and I would never have him. Whatever hopes I had to also be a part of Elena's
life flew out the window too.
I smiled until I got to my seat, hating the attention I had drawn to myself from the guests. Maybe
if I was lucky today, I'd get to see Elena, that's only if I was lucky enough. Maybe we'd have a
little chat and I would pretend I didn't know her nor her brother so she wouldn't know who I was.
Ariana walked down the aisle with her mother who I recognized as 'Rebecca Montez'. You may
wonder how I knew Rebecca but didn't know her daughter, well quite frankly I didn't even know
she had a daughter. Back to how i know her, she starred in a bollywood movie where she was
the villain and i wont lie she nailed the role. I had liked her since then.
Funny now that fate decided to make her the mother of the girl lucky enough to marry the love
of my life. Life really is ironic.
Wedding vows were exchanged and they finally became husband and wife. It was now time to
cut the cake. Food was the only good thing about this wedding, the only thing worthy of my
happiness.
The guests, including me, were led to a hall that had a set of tables, just great enough to remind
me how alone I was. Everyone attended this wedding with family or a plus one, just to indicate I
wasn't supposed to be here. I took a table that was next to the corner, a few guys came to sit
with me but they were so focused on whatever they were talking about. Food was served to us
table by table.
Ariana had now changed her wedding dress, she was now wearing a black high thigh slit,
v-neck backless evening dress. She came towards the table I was sitting on with a smile on her
face. A smile I wanted to wipe off her face but couldn't.
'You owe me a performance, don't you think?'
Performance?
'Can i sit down boys?'
One guy stood up and she sat on his seat. She handed me a glass of wine and took one for
herself. I looked at the wine wondering if she had put anything inside the wine.
'Common. You don't trust me.'
She swapped the glasses and took mine then drank it.
'There you go, there's nothing in it, it's my wedding. I don't have time to plot against a nobody
who's after my husband.'
Ouch. that stung. I took the glass and gulped it down before setting it down again. She smiled at
me.
'When I invited you to my wedding, you said you'd perform for me, go ahead mahira. The stage
is all yours. You owe me one.'
She still remembers. Shit I had completely forgotten about it and I had hoped she would forget
too. I didn't think she would pay this much attention to that statement.
I nodded my head and stood up. My head felt light as if any consciousness I had lifted off like a
burden taken from my shoulders.
I got on stage and introduced myself and my purpose for being on stage. The guests clapped
their hands and that lifted my spirits, the wine gave me a lot more confidence than I could
handle, making everything I said or thought raw and unfiltered. I decided to sing the song I had written for Thane in high school after he had rejected one of my
advances after telling his friends he would give me a chance.
Loving you was one mistake
Staying by your side was the other
It's a risk I took anyway
And now im left without a heart
I tried, I tried and I tried to love you
Without any, expectations
But loving you loving you loving you
It all came with conditions
My first mistake was to love you
Unconditionally
But you took me for granted
You didn't value my love
Till the end of time, I was dying
Dying while you were with someone else
You kept loving her and you still did
In the end it felt like.....
I looked at Thane throughout the song. His attention was divided between me and his bride.
You didn't give a damn
Just one chance is
What I needed
But that chance came with conditions…
Before I could finish my song, Thane came on stage and took the microphone away from me. I
wasn't thinking clearly anymore, it's like I had no control over my body and mind. The world was
spinning and my eyes struggled to stay open, my feet felt like jelly and the dress was getting
heavier each passing second. I grabbed Thane by his collar and stared at him trying to keep my
vision clear because I was seeing three heads instead of one.
'Why Thane? You decided to get married to someone else and didn't think twice about me. I
gave you everything so why didn't you choose me. Even when I lost everything I still loved you
with every fiber of my being.'
I let go of his collar and snatched the microphone from his hand staggering back to the center of
the stage. 'Hi everyone. My name is Mahira Riley and I have something to tell you that is mind…blowing.' I
said as I brought my hand to my head then pulled it away like a spaceship pushing through
space to indicate that what I was saying was indeed mindblowing. Do you see the man who is
the supposed groom,he is the love of my life.
The hall went silent, peoples heads started looking like they were multiplied into three. What did
Ariana put in my drink?'
'Thane Carson, the only man I love. For several years I loved him wholeheartedly but he
rejected me over and over again. Like a plague he …'
A little girl, probably maybe a 6 year old or something, well her height said she was a kid, took
the microphone away from me.
'I'm sorry everyone. Well I think someone drugged her so I'll just take her with me. Thank you.'
The child passed the microphone to the presenter then held my hand. She wanted to take me
with her but Thane held her hand as well, stopping her from taking me away.
'Elena, leave her alone, let her go by herself. I'm pretty sure she knows her way out.'
Elena?
I know someone with the name Elena as well. Could it be the same Elena I know?
'Thane, is she the one? You know what? It's pointless asking you, I think I already know. You
are the one who has enmity against her but I don't!'
After saying that she pulled me along and we went up the staircase and stopped in front of a
huge door. She put her fingerprint on some scanner and the room opened.