Falling in love after Marriage

Chapter 26

Janaki's POV

I saw Vidhu's peacefully sleeping form. My mind is totally visualizing their love story and adding dramatic effects which sending goosebumps throughout my body. I am 'awestruck' after hearing her story. They two are having a great affection towards each other. I am soooooo happy for them. They do love.

My cousin is in love!

OH MY GOD!

My all negative thoughts towards Ajay vanished after hearing his affection for her and also he had behaved so maturely in most of the situations. I just want her to be in good arms. I would have felt contented if Prabhu mama too got someone with the character like Ajay. He understands our family, supports her and mainly loves her unconditionally. God! He better be like this always, otherwise, he had to face me.

We went to Prabhu mama's apartment to keep our things. Mama drove us there. We finished our work in the afternoon. He just spoke with us formally. No teasing... No jokes... We are confused with his sudden moody behaviour but let it go as we have to get used to it. Vidhu and me had thought that we all would be having lunch together, but he dropped us at hostel telling he has plans with his fiancée though it's an hour past our hostel's lunchtime and he is very well aware of that. Vidhu gave me a sad look and we bid him bye.

As we are already so hungry with all the shifting stuff, we walked to the nearby hotel to get our lunch. After chilling for a few hours, Vidhu decided to meet Ajay before leaving. She asked me to accompany her but who wants to be a fifth wheel. I denied. She then convinced me to come down and say hi to him as we never had a good start and as her cousin, she wants me to be on the good side with her boyfriend.

We descended the stairs after me thousands of times reassuring Vidhu that she looks good. He has been waiting in his super cute Royal Enfield near the bus stop. Vidhu smiled bright and fastened our pace.

"Hi Vidhya! Hi Janaki!"

Ajay waved at us with a smile.

She just waved at him with a blush and muttered a 'hi'

"Hi Ajay anna!"

He looked at me with a shocked expression. Then he smiled and asked me.

"Anna?"

"Haan... If you are going to marry my cousin, then you would be my brother."

I stated as a matter of fact and looked at him.

Why he is exaggerating the simple word I spoke with the intention of respect. But now his eyes widened and looked at Vidhu confusingly.

"Marriage?"

Come on! Has he forgotten his brain in his home? Wait! Why he is so shocked at mentioning about marriage? Don't he have the intention to marry Vidhu? No!

"Why the hell you are shocked on hearing the word 'marriage'? Then what are your intentions?"

I don't know from where this all temper came from. But I am so angry at the moment.

"I didn't mean it. I am having lots of dreams about our marriage... (he pulled Vidhu closer and kept his arm around her arm connecting their shoulders) Things changing so quickly and I didn't expect you to speak about it now. That's why I couldn't reply properly. I'm sorry if I offended you. But I will not leave her under any circumstances. I will promise you that."

The relief spread over me after hearing his explanation. I shouldn't have spoken to him so rude. Not everyone is like Nandhini.

"Sorry! I am... (I sighed and rubbed my forehead). I don't know why I lashed out at you. You guys carry on. I am leaving. Sorry for spoiling your evening."

I smiled at them sadly. Vidhu looked concerned.

"If you want Vidhu to be with you, we will meet later. You don't seem good. You may need her. As you called me anna, I have to take care of my thangachi!"

(Thangachi – Sister)

I grinned big and nodded negatively. He is so caring and understanding us! God! Thank you for giving Vidhu such a wonderful man.

"That's okay Anna. I can take care of myself. Just my protective mode over Vidhu got over my senses. Take care of her anna. And return before 8.30 PM."

"Call me immediately if you want anything Janu."

I nodded at Vidhu and waved at them. The question that had been raising all these days raised at my head on looking at their shrinking view.

'Am I doing the right thing in Vidhu's love matter?'

As always, I am not sure about my answer yet. My legs carried me to my room. I felt very bored, I called my Appa over the phone and spoke with him a few minutes then dialled Akash's number. Yesterday, he went to Bangalore for some official purpose but being Sunday he might be free now. He answered my call after a few rings. I told him about Vidhu's love story, in short, my crazy detective ideas which he caught me on the act and also mentioned him about them being out tonight. He listened patiently and told

"He is a good and intelligent person from what I knew. But remember about your family before sending her out with him, Jaans. She would be in trouble if not we hadn't been there that day."

"You are right. But we are leaving tomorrow. We might be coming back after Prabhu mama's marriage. And I knew you are busy with your office work but try to come at least three days before the marriage. It would be a lot of fun if you are with us."

"Hmm... I can't promise you now, Jaans. But I will surely try to come earlier."

"GREAT! Okay. How is Bangalore and how is your work going?"

"It's same old boring stuff, Jaans. Nothing is interesting!"

"Maybe you should go out tonight for some pubs! Bangalore is so much famous for partying. You may find some interesting people there"

"That is actually an awesome idea, Jaans. Hmm... I'm going out tonight"

"Oh my God! That's too fast! Anyways, enjoy yourself, Akash. And don't forget to tell me about how it goes!"

"Sure, Jaans. Call me after reaching Kancheepuram. I will talk to you later. Bye. Take care, Jaans."

"Okay Akash, Bye. Take care."

I disconnected the call and frowned on looking at the time. I cursed the clock for being tooooo slow whenever I want the day to get past. I lay on my bed as there is no work to do anymore and eventually drifted off to sleep.

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We got down the train and found my Appa waiting for us. The feel of fullness filled me on the way back to my home.

"Sorgamae Endralum Athu Nam Ooru Pola Varuma"

(Will heaven be equal to our place?)

My mind will flash this famous Raja sir's song every time I was returning home. Most people like me, who was staying outside their home town would have experienced the same feel. Home is always home! You won't get that peace, feel of safety anywhere else. You don't have to be cautious about etiquette and manners. You can be yourself only at your home. Nowhere else you could be free to do whatever you want and be like whatever you want to be.

We finished our dinner and sat in the living room to have some chit-chat as always. But I found my Amma's face is not being clear as always. Something is disturbing her mind and that gets reflecting on her beautiful face. I went straight and laid on her lap snuggling into her stomach. She stroked my hair with a smile.

"What is bothering your beautiful head amma?"

She looked shocked at me for reading her like a book and looked at my appa who nodded like giving permission.

"When did you meet Nandhini last?"

My mind automatically dragged the incident happened on Cafe coffee day.

"I saw her in a coffee shop, last week amma. She came there with Prabhu mama. I went there with Vidhu and two seniors. They entered at the time when we decided to leave"

"Why didn't you tell me about it?"

Nandhini should have mentioned them about Ajay. That's why this small enquiry is taking place. I have to maintain the lie we made that day. I should not blow the cover which I have been trying hard to keep it away from our parents.

"I didn't think that as a significant incident to mention you, amma. But I told you about going to the coffee shop to meet Akash. There we coincidentally met with Ajay. Ajay is a friend of Akash and also he helped Vidhu in costing. So we asked him to join us."

I looked at her to see a clear face. But I got the opposite of what I expected. She sighed and started speaking furiously

"It doesn't matter. Why you and Vidhu didn't speak with Nandhini that day? You should have at least asked her how she was. She is going to be an important part of this family soon. You two should not have avoided her like that. How will you live with her after these two months? She will be living with us. You could not avoid her for your whole life. Have you ever thought about how Prabhu would be feeling when you two behaved like that? They both called us and told what happened and regretted very much. Particularly, Nandhini was at the verge of tears, asking what she did wrong. What do you thinking in your mind? I didn't raise you like this Janaki. Why you have changed so much? I couldn't answer her. Please don't do this to me."

She ended sadly and patted my shoulder to move from her lap. Without a second gaze, she went into the kitchen and I heard the noise of vessels more than usual stating her anger. I processed what she just said. At the panic of saving Vidhu's secret, I didn't even bother speaking with Nandhini. But who knows that she had planted a bomb at my very own home. But the sad reality is, she is so smart to do all these things. Maybe she would have become a famous person in her field if she had just used all her brain in a good and organised way instead of creating confusions between the happy family.

My appa sat near me and wiped my tears which I didn't even aware of shedding.

"Go to your room Janu ma. We will talk about this later."

I walked to my room and noticed a text message from Vidhu. I knew we are in the very same situation. So I kept the mobile aside and went to the terrace.

Nandhini had been raising more problems even we have been keeping our mouth shut for the sake of my mama. What does she want from us? Why can't she just stop doing this to us? We didn't do anything wrong. We tried to be, at the good side of most of the people we knew. We obeyed our parents and followed the path they showed us as right. I don't know what to do.

I denied the dinner and went to bed ignoring my parent's complaints. I just need to break from everything. From EVERYTHING!

I texted Vidhu before sleeping, telling that I am going to thatha's (Grandpa) village for the next few days. I wrote a note to my parents shortly stating my visit to thatha's village and my stay there for a few days. I took my backpack and got out of the home without making any noise. Its pitch dark on the road as it is too early in the morning. I started walking towards the direction of the main bus stop and found Vidhu sneaking out of her home. I smiled inwardly and switched on my mobile screen to signal her, my presence. I got back the signal indicating she noticed my presence.

Great! Now we can have some home time at thatha's home. The place and that man is the only solution to refill our energy and enthusiasm. Our travel is just a couple of hours long. But the bus service will be starting after an hour. We waited there with an elderly couple waiting for their bus to Tiruttani.

Unexpectedly, instead of the town bus, my appa came in his bike there with an amused expression and his killer smile. He asked us to come with him as our thatha was not in the village and he went to a relative's marriage being held in Madurai.

With the sour expression of 'our sand castle getting raided by ocean tides', we left with him. He called Athai and told that we are with him. He brought us back to our hotel. I ignored my amma who had been waiting near the entrance and went into the cooking area and spoke with the employees. We are like a family, so I easily got into the conversation asking about the well-being of their family.

I could hear my Amma's scolding voice even though she kept her voice low. After a few minutes, I came out and asked Vidhu to accompany me home. My appa stopped us and asked us to finish breakfast before going home. I hugged him for his care and did as he said before giving a glare at my mom who returned my action. I mentally laughed at her cute glare and returned home. It's my turn to get scolded by my Athai.

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It's been a week we came here. Everything is ALMOST back to normal. Now everyone is summoned here to discuss the marriage arrangements. The marriage hall has been finalised. Food will be prepared at our hotel. And there are a lot more things to get arranged. Wedding invitations and dresses have to purchase with the consent of Prabhu mama. Tomorrow a few of us might be going to Chennai for selecting the invitation model.

Vidhu argued to set some good wedding planner to do all these chores but our amma-s said NO in the chorus. They want everything directly under their supervision. So she gave up after knowing that they are not at all considering that option. We have a lot of things on our plate.

Being younger people, we got the annoying work. We have to call our relatives to ask about the contact details of the person had worked in their previous family functions. We should get reviews from our relatives then we have to call the top five contractors to get a price quotation. And we have to work out the best possible combination out of it.

We all love using mobile, but this calling and follow up is the worst kind of thing to do. But we did it for three whole days to work out the combination of satisfying contractors. But at the last time, most of the people had been replaced with the suggestion of Nandhini. That annoyed us most. But their price and work are relatively better. So finally we are happy. After all, we want to give the best to Prabhu mama at his wedding. All of our relatives should be amazed by the arrangement. It has to be traditional along with the hint of current trends.

The invitation selection is another headache moment. On entering the store, a cute but normal design attracted my attention. I pointed it to my amma but she denied telling it is too simple. Then our parents selected a few designs but Prabhu mama didn't like it. He selected a few trendy cards, they refused to get it. Finally, Prabhu mama chooses the invitation that I chose earlier and told them, this card is final. As our parents also satisfied with the design, they accepted. I looked at my amma like 'See how we have same taste!'. My amma sheepishly smiled and averted her gaze away from me.

God! If the card itself took almost a day, I am afraid how long it will take to select dresses for wedding

Wedding arrangements will be continued... :)