Glossary:
Anna - Brother;
Appa - Father
Doddappa - Father's elder brother
Dodamma - Dodappa's wife / Mother's elder sister
Atya - Father's Sister
Athige - Brother's wife
Rudra's POV continued:
I went to Vaishnavi's home. Sowmya Aunty, Vaishnavi's mother, was crying and Ramesh Uncle was trying to console her. Her house was filled with her so-called relatives. Her Aunt, Shanti and Chaitra were knocking on Vaishnavi's door. I told them: "Don't worry, I will try to get into her room from her window and open the door." I knew it was a very gross invasion of her privacy, but I felt her safety was more important than her privacy. So I moved outside the home and checked if her window was open, yes it was as I had calculated. She had this habit of leaving her window open, her defence was my home would be barrier for anyone to enter her window. Well, I climbed her compound wall and then jumped onto the lintel and entered her window. Thanks to my rock-climbing sessions that I have every weekend, it was a very easy climb for me.
I entered Vaishnavi's room. It smelled like her citrusy and fresh. She was sleeping on her bed and had headphones on. She had cried herself to sleep. I removed her headphones. She called me out like those earlier days. "Rudra". After a bit of hesitation, I touched her forehead and tapped her to sleep. She drifted to deep slumber. I opened her room and asked Shanti Aunty to not disturb her. Chaitra came near me and said: "Don't worry Dev Anna, I will be here with her all night. Go home and take rest."
I: "Chaitra, don't worry about Sarga, I will make sure that she is well fed and make her sleep on time."
Chaitra: "That would be great. If there is any change, I will call you, okay. Don't worry about Vaishu, okay."
I nodded my head and went to my place. Sarga and I had our dinner and was about to retire to my room for some time as Sarga's bedtime was at least an hour later. She too was chatting and coming with me to my room, Appa called me: "Dev, I need to talk to you with regards to something."
I: "Yes Appa" and then I turned to Sarga and said: "Sarga, play with this doll in my room. I will just come up okay."
Sarga: "Okay, Doddappa." And she ran to my room with her doll. I turned towards my father.
Appa: "Dev, I have discussed it with Ramesh, and I would like you to marry Vaishu."
I: (shocked): "She is too young for me Appa; I think it is not correct. I am a divorcee. I hope you remember she is almost 12 years my junior." I wanted to tell him that I have seen her grow up as a child, I am not sure if I can have such feelings for her, but Appa cut me off and said : "Dev, Please understand, there were some circumstances and moreover it will be difficult for her to get married, now that she is a girl ditched on the altar. I know it is that guy, Shravan's fault. He ditched her that way. Everyone will blame her and not him. I know Vaishu is a very strong girl, she will fight it out, but I am worried about Ramesh and Sowmya. They will not be able to take this blow. Just think about it."
I: "It will impact Vaishnavi's career as well. There is a non-fraternization policy at our Law firm Appa. Please try to understand."
Appa: "Yeah, non-fraternization policy, how did it go with Ranil and Nishith? Ranil is married to Sri Vani, and she is still on Nishith's team right and Nishith's wife Hetal is still in your team, right. Both Ranil and Nishith have been married for more than 4 years and are proud fathers. Don't give me that non-fraternization policy nonsense Dev"!
I just nodded my head in desperation and told him that Vaishnavi should agree to it and then I would think about it.
As I turned to go back to my room, I saw my mom had come out from kitchen and was listening to our conversation. My mom was on cloud nine as she always wanted Vaishnavi to be her daughter in law.
I sighed and went to my room and was banking on Vaishnavi saying no to our alliance. I had avoided re-marriage after my divorce for almost 6 years now. I had lost everything, and I did not want to lose my parents, my brother and did not want to lose Vaishnavi as well. Her presence brought a soothing effect to me. I was not in love with her no. I was not. Physical attraction, no I don't want to go there. I am a wretched man. I have a dark kinky side to me of which none of them knew. I can't wreck Vaishnavi's life. I will speak to my parents tomorrow. I started working on some case that was due on Monday. I saw Sarga was busy with her doll. She left her doll there and came to me, sat on my lap, and started asking me to play with her. I saw Raghav standing at my door. He said: "Dev anna, I have called ambulance. Sowmya Aunty has suffered a BP fluctuation. She is being shifted to my hospital. Please take care of Sarga. I have asked Chaitra not to disturb Vaishu."
I put Sarga to sleep with a sweet lullaby playing on my laptop. She must have been tired, and it was also past her bedtime. She just drifted into sleep.
I called up my father to ask for the updates. He informed me that aunty was in ICU, and it was high BP thing, and she being a heart patient, such fluctuations could be fatal for her. The doctors had informed that she should not be stressed anymore. I could not sleep a wink.
It was early in the morning when my parents came back home. Amma was talking to Appa: "Thankfully, Sowmya is out of danger. I hope these kids agree to marry for her sake." I did not know what to do, so I called up Chaitra. She gave me an update that Vaishnavi was up and was getting ready to go to hospital. I told her that I would take Vaishnavi to her mother.
What is store in their future? Will they be able to convince their parents to shelve the plan of marriage??
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