Chapter 4

Vimal and Aadhi were in her room and he was lashing out on her since the moment he entered the room. When he was done and plopped on the couch Aadhi poured him some water and settled beside him, waiting patiently for him to finish the water.

Aadhi: Bro, don’t you want to know about my crush ?

Vimal: I would have and in fact I would have supported you to maary if that is what you wanted but now you had to spoil your life for me.

Aadhir: Help me marry my crush then.

Vimal: Aadhi, I m serious. You are just 21 and you just agreed to the wedding proposal. Now you wanted me to help you marry your crush ?

Aadhi: Rishi is my crush.

Vimal froze on her words and Aadhi leaned on his shoulder her face all serious about her words.

Aadhira: He is the one bro. I didn’t know it was him until you showed me the photo and even if it was not him still I would have agreed to this proposal. Nothing is more important to me than your happiness.

Vimal: Aadhi, he is just a crush.

Aadhira: A crush which lasted for more than 6 months even when I never got to see him or know about him, yet I could’t get over him. Bro, he is my love, my first love. I didn’t want you to be in guilt knowing that I gave up my love for your sake so I lied to you that he is my crush. I m just 21 but mature enough to know what I want in my life. He is my first love though I haven’t met him or spoke to him, I fell little more in love with him the moment I got to know he is the one who helped your love. I fell more in love with him when he never spoke about the way I teased him before he entered our home. I love him the most when he wanted to know my decision when our own parents did not care about.

Vimal: What if this marriage becomes a nightmare to you ? What if he hurt you ?

Aadhi: Life is full of surprises bro, what if he turn out to be a very loving husband to me just like you love Manjari ? Who knows he might love me more than you love Manjari.

Vimal: You speak like you are in 30s Aadhi.

Aadhi: Bro, I m not a baby and lets be pratical. For you to marry your love, I need to get out of this house because that is the custom of this family. You are forgetting the fact that our father will get me married to someone at the earliest possible despite my age. So why not marry the man I m in love with now ?

Vimal hugged her and tears escaped his eyes despite everything Aadhi spoke to convince him.

Vimal: I m sorry kiddo. I should have thought about you before falling in love.

Aadhi: It wouldn’t be true love if you had decided based upon our circumstances. Love just happens bro. Am I right ?

Vimal: Yes duckling.. love just happens.

Vimal Mv: I wish that pig head will fall in love with you, the way you feel for him.

Rishi drove to his office since he didn’t want to face anyone. He strongly believed his family let him down and ruined his life. He looked at the file with name Aadhira, the details he had informed Sudhir to collect about her. He didn’t want any more details than the one he had witnessed in real so he threw the file which landed on the couch in his room.

Rishi: How did my life become such a mess and how dare she wink at me ? Uncle ? how dare she call me uncle and wanted to marry me ?

He pushed the things from his table and he opened the cabinet where he had drinks to have occassionally. He gulped a whole bottle and laid on the couch.

Rishi returned home the next day and made his way direct to his room. One of the maid stood outside his room and informed him that he was called by his father to join for dinner. He gave a nod to everyone and got settled beside Manjari who looked happy.

Raghavan: Rishi, meet me in the garden after dinner.

Rishi just bobed his head and continued his dinner without a word. He tried to calm his nerves before he stepped into the lawn and watched his father smoking.

Raghavan: Rishi, I don’t know why you are sulking as if we pushed into a well or hell. Now come to terms that you are marrying Aadhira in a month and she will be here at our home to live with you. You are a businessman Rishi, think how we could profit from this. How about we merge our business ? We will be a strong competitor in the industry with more turn over. We would be owning more than just one business. Vimal has not yet taken over his father’s business but from your experience you could take over both business.

Rishi: Did you propose this wedding because you wanted me to get settled or for business purpose dad ? Why do I see a different person in front of me today ? I m happy and more than capable of reaching our business to more heights so please drop this idea. I have been a good son to you, good grandson to grandpa and if you want me to be a loving husband to your daughter in law then I can be that too. Please don’t change my perspective of seeing you. I really don’t want to. Good night dad.

Rishi shook his head and walked away leaving his father in thoughts.

A week passed by and both the families planned on wedding shopping. Rishi tried his best to avoid meeting anyone from Aadhira’s family but his grandfather made a strict order that everyone from the family will be present for the shopping and for a lunch post the shopping. Rishi got dressed in a formal royal blue shirt and black pant. With coolers he looked like a model straight from the magazine. Aadhira was drooling over him as he entered the boutique he had personally chosen and gave prior information to wind up the shopping as early as possible.

Manjari: Mom, Vimal and I planned to choose twinning clothes for the wedding reception so shall we leave for a while. We will return even before you all complete the rest of the shopping.

Vaani: We don’t let the girl stay alone with the boy before marriage Manju. We accepted to marry you to Vimal but that doesn’t mean you will do everything to your wish. Your father will not tolerate with whatever you are doing.

Hari: The collections are good here so we shall complete the shopping at this place. Rishi has a good taste in everything.

Rishi forced a smile and moved towards the sarees on display and chose a beautiful baby pink silk saree for Manjari. His grandfather who followed him called everyone to take a look at it.

Grandpa: Rishi has selected this personally for Aadhira. Do you like it Aadhi ?

Aadhi couldn’t resist her happiness and bobed her head quickly looking at the masterpiece in Rishi’s hand.

Grandpa: Aadhi, this saree is sure for you so now go select a shirt for Rishi, he will let you know his size.

Rishi mumbled his size and Aadhi selected a baby pink shirt to match her saree. On seeing her choice Rishi cursed her sense of styling and proceeded to choose a saree for Manjari and his mother so that he could leave the place.

Manjari lost the interest in shopping as soon as she was denied to shop with Vimal who took the responsibility and chose the costumes for them. Rishi sighed in relief as they walked out of the boutique and pleaded with his grandpa to let him go to office but once he failed in convincing the old man and they arrived a five star hotel where Hari had reserved tables for them. Both the families got settled and Aadhi and Rishi were seated opposite.

All the time Rishi was looking at his mobile and Aadhi was stealing glances at him. Raghavan and Hari were focused on discussing business and the moment Rishi realized where the discussion was heading interrupted them.

Rishi: The inivtations will be ready by tomorrow so what else is left to be taken care of ?

Raghavan looked at his son who had his gaze on his father in law while Rishi’s grandpa who was beside Rishi pat his shoulder.

Grandpa: Looks like my grandson couldn’t wait to take Aadhira to our home. Everything is taken care of Rishi. We will send invites to family and friends.

Raghavan: You will meet each other only on your wedding day. Is that ok Vimal ?

Vimal: Ofcourse uncle. I m aware of it. No problem at all.

Vani: A day before the wedding I will come to your home with haldi for Aadhira and later you can visit our home with haldi for Manjari. Its our tradition that Aadhira will use the same haldi we prepare for Rishi.

Aadhi turned red on hearing it and in the meanwhile she heard Rishi ordering just a sandwich and fresh juice for lunch. She was starving and wanted to eat a lot but on seeing him she stopped herself and ordered only cashew pulav. She coughed a little to gain his attention but he was lost in his mobile to see her.

Aadhi dropped her spoon and bent to pick it up just to watch his leg and smirked settling back in her seat. She leaned forward and kicked his leg and retracted her leg quickly continuing eating her food. Rishi very well knew it was Aadhira who kicked his leg. Unable to lash out on her infront of the family he clenched his fist and pulled back his leg. Aadhira once again kicked his leg but there was no reaction on his face. She kicked his leg yet again there was no reaction.

Aadhi Mv: Grumpy Rishu..

She saw Vimal and Manjari smiling and sharing food and felt happy for them.

Aadhi Mv: One day my Rishu will serve me food… why only serve ? he will feed me.

They bid bye to each other and Aadhira looked at Rishi with expectations but he walked away to his car. She saw Rishi’s grandpa limping as if he was in pain and helped him holding his hand.

Aadhi: What happened Grandpa ? Why are you limping ?

Grandpa: Nothing Aadhi, I m too old that it happens often. I will be alright in a while. Be happy and only 2 more weeks, you will be in our home.

Aadhi blushed and bobed her head. She opened the door for him and Rishi looked at his grandpa with a worried expression.

Rishi: What happened grandpa ? Weren’t you fine while entered the hotel ?

Grandpa: Nothing serious Rishi. Now talk to Aadhi before we leave.

Rishi stood with a frown but Aadhi was happy for the chance. She waved her hand and winked at him before she returned to her father’s car. Rishi ignored her and got in the driver seat feeling relieved that he would be free from all the tortures in the name of wedding preparation.

” Just 2 weeks and then she will be around you all the time ” his mind mocked him. He rubbed his face with his palm and started driving and just when he took a look at the side mirror he saw Aadhira waving her hand to him slight shaking her head with a smile. On seeing her father she quickly turned away. Rishi looked at the rear mirror and saw his grandpa smiling at him.

Rishi: Why are you so hell bent on marrying me to her grandpa ? You won’t believe but trust me she is not what you see. I have always respected you, loved you and followed all your words like an order still you chose to ruin me. If this makes you happy then let it be.

Grandpa: Do I look like a villain to you Rishi ?

Rishi: I never saw you as a villain grandpad atleast not until you betrayed me and fixed my wedding with that brat.

Grandpa: She is your soon to be wife Rishi so respect her. Now tell me when was the last time you hugged me ?

Rishi stopped the car and turned to to his grandfather who was cleaning his glasses with a wipe.

Grandpa: Mark my words Rishi, one day you will come to me and hug me saying I made the right decision of your life. Don’t forget to treat me with my favourite food then. Now drive and I m reminding you that Aadhira will be with you not as a companion but as your better half.

Rishi looked at his grandpa perplexed and started driving towards his home.