Falling in love after Marriage

Chapter 11

Prabhu's POV

(Saturday - Morning)

Akash is now settled with our place. He is having a good time with my family. Vidhu went to Janu's house as soon as she got up. She is very much attached to Banu athai. After having breakfast, Akash and I settled on the terrace as he showered me with some tips for my meeting with Nandhini.

After a few minutes, we spotted Vidhu and Janu walking in the street. They were seriously discussing something. I thought they were coming here but they walked past our house. We decided to pull a prank on them. They examined the front of my house but not the terrace. So we climbed down cautiously and managed to reach behind them without a sound. We both shouted as loud as we can near their ears making them jump in the middle of the street.

My sweet-brave women had a priceless expression. Vidhu screamed loudly and to avoid any public comments, I quickly walked them a few steps away. My sister started shouting at me for terrorizing them. Janu is trying her best not to let any tears fall from her eyes. We both laughed till our stomach hurts. My mind couldn't form any word to pacify them. They left us behind and continued their walk as we didn't acknowledge their scolding.

After about thirty minutes they returned in a very good mood. 'Women and their moods! Even God will fail to predict it.' They went directly to the kitchen without paying any attention to us. After a few minutes Vidhu came with 2 bowls in her hand.

"Here."

Vidhu gave each of us a bowl of chocolate ice-cream. Yum!

I took the bowl with a 'thanks' to which she smiled. I sighed with relief. But my buddy has a different plan.

"Machan, I feel envy of you da. See how your sister very affectionately giving ice-cream to us even after we scared them in the middle of the street."

Akash said to me sarcastically with a smirk. I gave him (Yean da Machan) 'why Machan' look for his wrong timings to tease her. She smirked before replying Akash.

"Oi brother, you really don't know how much I am struggling to stop the urge of swiping that smirk off your face and replace it with bruises from my punches. And the only reason I am not doing that, because my brother has the main role today, also this is his very first time. I don't want him or you to meet her with bruises and embarrass me as I know that woman since my childhood."

Vidhu said to Akash in a flat tone and smiled sweetly before descending inside. He threw a sofa cushion at me to shut me up as I couldn't control my laughter at his open-mouthed reaction. He is getting close to my family. Vidhu won't behave like this to strangers and it's now obvious that she thinks him as her own brother. And I am happy about that.

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At evening we all got ready to go to Murugar temple. I am wearing a white casual buttoned-up shirt with blue jeans pant. My amma has been repeating her instructions on how to behave there in the temple for Nth time. Vidhu is losing her cool still didn't dare to question amma as she very well knows the consequences. Janu is enjoying Vidhu's struggle and trying to ease her. Akash giving assuring look to me which helps a lot to keep my calm.

I have lots of things running in my head right now.

Am I ready for marriage?

Can I capable of balancing more commitments?

Am I taking quick steps? Is this too early?

What if, I regret after getting married?

I am oblivious about Nandhini!

What should I do?

Do I need time? YES! Obviously!

Take a deep breath Prabhu. Ufff! You can do it! Oh God! I have these many confusions before even getting started, what am I supposed to do when I reach the temple! Calm down, Prabhu! Calm down! This is going to be easy. Please, God bless me to keep my calm! I got into my car. We younger people occupied my car and our parents are going in a cab to our front.

As soon as we entered the temple, I felt relaxed due to the divine aura of the temple. We prayed Lord Pillayar then Lord Murugar. I poured out my heart to them while praying and asked them to stay with me in every step of my life. We walked around the womb chamber thrice (as it is a devotional practice) and waited in the hallway. Nandhini's family members haven't arrived yet. I was talking to Akash and random stuff.

After a few minutes, I saw their family coming towards us. She looks classy in her fancy saree. What less shall I expect from a fashion designer! I masked smile on my face. She smiled at me which made it easy to vanish my tension. She looks friendly. I can do this. I widened my smile at that thought. Janu and Vidhu got the blessing from Nandhini's grandpa. Then they talked with Nandhini for few minutes. They seem to be fine with her company. Then our parents let us talk alone.

I collect all my confidence in me and shared my thoughts about taking some time before accepting this proposal, to which she agreed without any complaint. My parents agreed to give us time to know about each other and they respected our decision. Her grandpa hesitated at first then gave up as I insisted him. He told me that he will arrange a few dates between us and I thanked him.

Our parents talked for a few more minutes and we bid goodbye to Nandhini's family and left home. I noticed both Vidhu and Janu were frowning but they smiled at me as soon as they realized I am looking at them. Aren't they happy about this proposal? I mentally noted to have a talk with them later.

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I heard my phone buzz sound after having our dinner. It's a message from a w******p group sent by Janu. The group has been created for doing secret plans for tomorrow and the group obviously has me, Akash, Vidhu and Janu. In the message, Janu asked us to go to sleep at the usual time and not to do any unusual things in front of my parents.

We all sent okay and descended to our rooms respectively. Vidhu and Janu are staying in one room and Akash is sharing my room. Akash being his smart self complained Janu that "why we have to pretend to be sleeping. We could have watched TV and then started our work after they went to sleep. Now we couldn't see the situation outside our rooms. How are we going to make arrangements?' I suppressed my laughter as I have very well known about the reply. As I expected Janu replied within few seconds

"Oi super senior, Neenga aal valandha alavuku arivu valarala. Oru velai athai ila mama nama kudave serndhu TV paatha ena panvinga? Ipavida inum late ah aagum. Apdiye avanga mudhala thoonga ponalum, kandipa athai nadula elundhu namala thoonga poga solrathuku varuvanga. Apdi elam risk eduka mudiyathu. Inum 15 mins la athai vandhu, rendu room layum nama thoongitom ah nu paapanga. Nama thoongitom nu therinja aprm thaan avanga nimathi ah poi thoonguvanga. Nan elam yosichu tha panren. Nan solratha seinga please."

(Oi super senior, your brain didn't develop fully unlike your physique. What if they join us to watch TV. It will get later than now. Even if they go to sleep earlier, aunt will surely come in between to tell us to go to sleep. We can't take the risk at this moment. My aunt will come and check our room in fifteen minutes to assure herself that we are sleeping. She will go to sleep after that only. I am doing everything considering all these factors. So please follow what I say)

I chuckled as Akash smiling at his own foolishness. I couldn't control but to say

" Idhu tha Machan Velila poran oonan ah vetila eduthu vitukrathu!!"

(Machan this is what defined as 'one seeking his own ruins')

He glared at me before we both burst into laughter. Everything worked as per Janu's plan. My parents are sleeping in their room. We are now silently decorating the living room. Akash is helping me to stick colour paper around the house. Janu is folding those colour papers by doing something and giving us the instructions on where/how to paste them on walls. Vidhu is drawing 25 dot kolam outside as it is their 25th anniversary. I know it's very silly but believe me, simple and silly things brings more happiness to us. (Kolam is a form of traditional drawing that is drawn using rice flour & coloured powders in front of the house on street.)

We completed our decoration by 1 AM. Janu made us hot chocolate and we are now doing some finishing touches. Murugan mama informed that he collected the cake which we ordered earlier. Mama and athai will come early tomorrow. Gifts are in Vidhu's room. So we don't have any eleventh-hour rush. Satisfied with our work, we decided to call it a night. We have to wake up and get ready before our parents. Actually, I am very excited and not having a feel to sleep.