Ch-16
Raghuram felt a headache was coming on his way after hearing his son's words. He asked him to accept the deal and to deal with it sooner as the groom's people were coming… They have to prepare a welcome for them the soonest. Looking for a new hotel to stay over was an impossible thing to do.
Arjun was thankful for his father's decision right now. He has to convince his relatives to stay in those less luxurious rooms. Arjun spoke for nearly an hour with the manager regarding the things, payment, the groom welcome preparations, and things. It was already 9.30 A.m. By the time they were done speaking. Laya felt relief after the things got settled down.
Arjun and Abhinav came out to see Laya standing in the garden trying to catch a yellow butterfly that was flying away from her. Maybe this was the first time they saw her smiling genuinely in the past eight days. A smile crept on their faces as they looked at her. "She looks beautiful when she smiles," Abhinav said.
"Of course, Just like me. After all, she is my sister," Arjun said as he tried to boast. Abhinav just rolled his eyes and went near Laya to help her in catching the butterfly.
Indeed, Laya is beautiful when she smiles. 'I fixed this marriage to put that smile on you forever, Lil one,' he thought.
She wore a yellow saree that complimented her red skin. She looked beautiful in that saree. But he noticed that the way she draped her saree looked like a noob's work. His wife would drape the saree in a way that it was made for herself. But he knew her sister doesn't know how to drape a saree. He smiled at the thought of her fiddling with her saree with a confused expression. He wondered how she would manage with her saree draping after she gets married.
He laughed out loud when he saw Laya pouting at Abhinav for catching the butterfly.
"Brother! Didn't I say I will catch it by myself!? Why did you catch it and ruin my moment?!" Laya burst out her volcano. Arjun could only pity his little brother for messing with his angry bird sister.
Laya held the butterfly and walked towards Arjun with a pout. "Anna, see what Tammudu (Youngest brother) did?! He ruined my fun!" Laya started her list of complaints. Arjun felt like they were taken back to the time where Laya would find him when she was angered by Abhinav. A genuine smile formed on his face as he looked at her.
"Dadda…" a little kid's voice could be heard from afar. His voice not only attracted his attention but also the people who were busy throwing glances at each other and were competing to throw as many complaints on each other to Arjun.
"Mama(uncle) came!" the little guy shouted.
This little guy is none-other than Arjun's son Yashwant Pasupuleti.
"Who is your mama?" Laya asked before Arjun could answer his son.
"You are soon to be husband, Atha(aunt)," the little guy responded, yanking her harshly back to reality.
Laya loosened her grip on the butterfly, making it fly away from them, her eyes widened in shock, the smile on her face wiped, she stood rooted in her place.
"I will go back to my room. We can go to the temple in the evening," she said in a small voice and was about to leave.
"Laya…" Arjun called out.
She turned around slowly with her pale face. "Sorry… Can you check the groom's room once? We thought he would come tonight but he is early. I already informed the staff but I just want to make sure it's good. I and Abhinav have to go to the entrance to receive as a father isn't here. Please?" he almost begged.
She nodded mechanically forgetting to ask the room number.
"What the f*ck is this?! I just don't want to get married. But I was looking for accommodation from the groom's side. Am I crazy?" Laya grumbled under her breath. Nevertheless, she walked around in search of the room. Dammit! She forgot to ask for the room number.
"I am such a dumb person!" she knocked herself on her head.
She wandered the first floor where her room was allotted but she didn't find anything. Thinking that the groom might have been arranged on the second floor and not the same as the bride's floor, she made her way there.
"I wasted half an hour searching his room only," she knocked herself again not noticing that she stood Infront of the groom's room by pure coincidence.
"I shall ask someone from room service," she mumbled to herself. When she saw someone from room service pushing a cart in her way… she moved aside but in her clumsiness, she hit the door of the room she was leaning on and kept a foot inside the room. She almost stumbled and was about to fall on her butt. She closed her eyes as she welcomed herself to fall on the ground. At the same time, a strong hand held her tightly, saving her from the fall. She heaved a sigh when she realized she didn't fall. But frowned when she realized someone was holding her.
Slowly opening her eyes, fluttering her lashes, she looked at the handsome face that came into her view. Her mouth opened in shock as she saw his handsome face. Why do south Indian people don't have this kind of handsome man? Dammit! She sighed sadly not noticing that the man who was holding her was looking at her in amusement at the change of her facial expressions.
When he realized she was looking at him, he coughed lightly reminding her about their position. He almost laughed out at her awkward expression but he held it.
The poor Laya doesn't know that the man she was ogling was her soon-to-be husband and indeed he is a pakka South Indian man.