Chaitra

I enjoyed myself a lot during the reception and we were going back to Seema's home when my phone went off. It was Dad, I picked it up immediately with a smile but what I heard from that side made my heart stumble.

It can't happen! No, it shouldn't be happening!

After that, I just sat there numb. I can feel Abhishek and Seema trying to talk to me. They are looking at me but I couldn't process anything. I just sat there rooted to my place with tears rolling down my cheeks.

I am feeling helpless.

After some time someone held my hand and started walking away with my hand in his. I am unable to process anything but I was feeling a little better with my hand in his. It felt like he was walking me out of the darkness and loneliness I was feeling for the last few minutes.

After some time when I came back to my senses, I saw Daksh in the driving seat. He is taking me somewhere but my heart said I am safe with him around so I didn't ask any questions. He felt like the cool breeze of air in the summer.

He stopped the car finally at a park and took me inside. He hugged me tight as soon as we walked in. It was all I needed. I broke down in his arms. He caressed me drawing circles on my back. I kept sobbing continuously hiding myself in his warm embrace. 

After some time when my sobs died down I pulled away from him. He intervened our fingers and we sat on a bench staring into the distance.

I hugged myself due to coldness.

He pulled me closer to him and wrapped his arms around me.

"What happened?" He asked breaking the silence between us. His eyes seemed to assure me saying he is with me in this. 

"My grandma... she got a heart attack!" I said again bursting into tears.

"Shh... She will be fine! We will go meet her if that makes you feel at ease!" He said wiping away my tears.

"Will you take me there?" I asked hoping he would agree. He nodded a yes and made a call.

"Let's go Chaitra! Our jet is ready!" He said getting up and forwarding his hand towards me.

I took his hand and we both walked towards his car. We left for the airport and took off to Hyderabad from there.

I called vadina and informed her about our arrival before taking off and she said she would send the driver to the airport to pick us up.

The driver took us to the hospital where they admitted Nanamma( dad's mother). Atha( aunt/bua) and my parents are sitting out of the operating theatre along with annayya and Vadina standing beside Dad.

"How's nanamma?" I asked as soon as I walked toward Annayya.

"She's in OT." He replied in a low tone.

I stood there along with them. After some time doctor came out. Out of everything he said I only understood that she is fine for now but she doesn't have much time left for her.

After that the doctor left and Annayya and Vadina convinced the elders to go home and take some rest.  I insisted on staying with them and they know very well about my bonding with Nanamma so they just let me stay.

After some time Annayya and Vadina dozed off on the chairs outside. I walked to Daksh and took a seat beside him.

"Thank you!" I said letting out a breath of relief.

He just shook his head and smiled at me.

"I am sorry for disturbing your sleep," I said feeling truly guilty for making him travel with me at midnight.

"I can sacrifice all my sleep for you Chaitra! " He replied with pure love and care dipping from his tone making butterflies erupt in my stomach.

"Why did you take all this trouble for me?" I asked looking into his black eyes which had great depths.

"Because I love you! And I can do anything to make you feel at ease and happy!" He replied cupping my face and kissing my forehead. I hugged his torso and rested my head on his chest. I don't know whether I love him or not but I feel safe in his arms. His presence brings happiness and peace to my mind.

The next morning when I woke up he was not beside me. I looked around to find the corridor completely empty. Where did Annayya, Vadina, and Daksh go?

I got up from my place and walked towards ICU where Nanamma is kept. An oxygen mask is attached to her and some other wires are attached to monitor her heart rate. She is looking pale. My energetic and playful grandma is lying there half-alive. A lone tear escaped my eyes which I wiped away quickly.

I sat in the chair outside the ICU. Soon, Annayya, Vadina, and Daksh walked toward me with some cover in Annayya's hand.

"Where did you people go?" I asked no one in particular.

"I went home to freshen up and brought some food for the three of you," Vadina replied.

"I went talk to the doctor!"annayya replied.

"I was on a call!" Daksh replied.

I just nodded my head.

"Chaithu, you go home and freshen up. Come back after having some breakfast. Take Daksh with you." Annayya said. I forgot to introduce them to each other due to the situation yesterday.

"You both know each other?" I asked Annayya as he just now mentioned Daksh's name.

"Yeah! Met a few times at business parties!" He replied smiling. Normally, my over-possessive brother would be pounding punches at the person if I came with a man but he seems okay with me coming with Daksh but why? I shrugged my thoughts and started walking away along with Daksh.

"Why isn't my brother angry at you?" I asked as soon as we settled in the car. Because my brother never allowed any boy near me. Which brother allows anyway!

"Because he knows I love you!" He replied so casually. My brother freaking knows this man sitting beside me loves me but sent me with him. Is he okay with him loving me?

"He's okay with it!" He replied as if reading my thoughts or did I say it out loud?

"You didn't say it loud, I can read your expressions." He replied again to my unasked question.

"How does he know?" I asked getting curious.

"Because my parents talked to your parents the day before yesterday." was his reply like it's the most normal thing to do. 

"What? Why?" I freaked out. He should have asked me before sending the proposal right? 

'But he did confess to you!' My subconscious reminded me. I just rolled my eyes at her.

"Because your parents were trying to find matches for you. Do you expect me to sit still and watch my love getting married to someone else?" He asked raising a brow.

"What did my parents say?"  I asked ignoring the love part. I couldn't control my curiosity. I really want to know what was their reply. 

"They think I am a good match for you. It would be a yes from them if you agree. They were going to talk about this with you after your exams." He replied calmly.

"Shit!" I muttered lowly but he heard it. He raised a brow in a questioning manner asking me to explain.

"I thought it would take them at least 6 months to search for a groom and I can complete my studies till then. But now they found you in less than a week! Will I get married before finishing my studies? Oh my god! I am not ready yet!" I panicked.

He took my hands in his.

"Breathe princess! And we will be getting married only if you agree! Even if you agree we can have our wedding when you are ready for it." He said calming me down.

"Thank god! I thought we would be getting married as soon as I said yes!" I let out a sigh of relief.

"You are going to say yes?" He squealed in happiness grinning like a kid. 

Am I? I don't know if I love him or not but I enjoy spending time with him. I want to be with him.

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