Chapter 32 The Engagement

Arjun's PoV

I don't know what to do. Things are getting out of hand and I cannot stop it. I truly don't know if she knows that we are about to get engaged with each other. Everything is happening so fast and my mom is very happy about it. Sivaprakasam uncle is euphoric and he came straight to my office to thank and congratulate me. It is because of him and the word I gave him, I could not stop this. I clearly know that she is in love with someone but I cannot state it to stop this wedding because it would be immoral of me to spoil the reputation of a girl. I thought she would deny me but we are now travelling to Coimbatore to see her. It is more like a confirmation, an engagement.

I still remember that message she sent me to check on the job for her and I replied to her with Ashwin's office address. I completely forgot about her job as I was busy with my work. I spoke to Ashwin after I replied to her and asked him to arrange an interview for her for which he said ok. With that message, I knew that no one had told her about the possible marriage between us. The next day, she called me at 11 o'clock when I was in a meeting. I declined her call and called her back after the meeting.

"Hello, Sorry I was in a meeting. Why did you call me?" I asked her as soon as she picked up the call.

"um... I did well in the interview and Ashwin sir said I can join tomorrow. My starting salary is 18k per month excluding tax. Thank you so much for making this happen. You don't know how important this is for us." She spoke with gratitude evident in her voice.

"Don't mention it. I am glad I could be of help to you. All the best." I said.

"Thank you, Arjun." she said and I really liked how she called me.

"Is there anything else?" I asked her. I don't know what else to say to her and at the same time I don't want to hang up on her. I just wish to hear her voice for some more time.

"um... No. I mean, yes. I am sorry I behaved rudely to you. That was not me." she said. I wanted to laugh, she is very brilliant and an opportunist. She doesn't want to be my enemy anymore. Though I hate her color changing character, I could not hate her and I don't want to find reasons for it.

"You said that already. Besides, I am willing to grant your wish." I told her.

"My wish? What is that?" she asked me, completely clueless.

"Do you remember what you asked of me when I came to your house? All I want from you is not to see you anymore in my life ever." I told her what she told me.

"I just apologized for it. Please, Arjun." her voice sounded like she was pleading and that broke something inside of me. I know I am going to see her soon but I just told her to know what she feels like about it. With her apology, I can sense that she didn't mean that before when she told me. She wants to see me just like I wish to see her in spite of everything she said and done.

"I accept your apology, Anika. And in addition, I am going to grant you that wish of not seeing me anymore. All the best for your life." I told her. I admire her. I love seeing her beauty. I love her talks and voice. But that doesn't mean I should marry her when I clearly know that she is in love with someone.

"So you are not ready to forgive me? I know I made a mistake and I really feel bad for it. I just hope that you understand it. Thank you again for everything. I will see you, Arjun. Bye." She spoke the last words strongly and hung up on me. She is rude again. It has always been me who hung up a call, she is an exception in my life!

Within two days after that call, things started to heat up. Anika's parents said ok to the wedding and asked us to come to their home for a formal meet up. My mom, on the same day, went shopping to buy a saree and jewel for her as a confirmation. My mom and dad were happy that she is not a divorcee or a widow. They never gave importance to the financial status of people, so they least bothered about her family's current situation. Besides, they know her family, they are relatives after all. Priya was the one that opposed the idea of this proposal stating Anika's financial status. In fact she was against my first wedding too stating the same reason. She was not a fan of Anamika when she came into our family first but she went under Anamika's spell as soon as Anamika took very good care of Tarun.

I am stuck in this arrangement as I gave my word to Sivaprakasam uncle that I will proceed to the wedding with the proposal he gives me if nothing is wrong. I could still point out that Anika is in love but I chose not to because I don't want to tarnish her name.

"Ajju, don't think too much. I truly think she is the one for you." Praveen said when I told Praveen and Preethi about this.

"Dei Ajju, you like her and you made it happen with your uncle's help, right? Now don't act like you don't want this marriage to happen." He added. He is an idiot but still my best friend. He is trying to make the situation light with his stupid talk.

"Pch, shut up Praveen. Ajju, look at me. You know this girl. As far as I know you, Anika is the only girl you have ever talked about. I know she has made her imprints in your heart. It may not be the best one but who knows, maybe she is the one that you are looking for, just like Praveen said. Don't fight it, Ajju. Just accept what comes your way." Preethi told me.

Deep in my heart, I know what I want. I want this marriage to happen. I want to spend my life with her. I like the way she behaves with me, a total opposite of how people behave with me. My life would be exciting everyday if I marry her. But I can't do that. I cannot marry again thinking that love will bloom after marriage. I am not ready for another heartache.

I drove straight to her home. Mom, dad, Preethi, Praveen and Sharanya in my car. Another car with Rajesh and Priya, Tarun, Anvi and Avni with trays of flowers and fruits and sweets and saree and jewels. When I stopped the car in front of her home, I was shocked to see so many people in and out of her house. I thought that it was a simple function. I thought of talking to her in private and ask her to say No. But with the crowd they have gathered, it is impossible to say No anymore.

"Come, Come. Come in!" her mom came running to the car as soon as I stopped it.

We all went in and sat and everyone started talking about all irrelevant things. I stayed quiet almost all the time except for the times to answer questions directed to me. I could see many known relatives. Everyone looks genuinely happy except me. My eyes were constantly in search of HER. Where the hell is she? How can she do this? Or her parents are forcing her to marry me? Why this crowd for just a formal meet up? We are not here to engage, we are here to just see her in person.

"It's auspicious time now. Bring the girl." someone from the crowd said.

Everyone went silent and I was terrified with my own heartbeat. I saw her come to the hall from that room and her mom gave her a tray of coffee, maybe. She is beautiful is an understatement. She is exquisite! A purple silk saree with a single braid full of jasmine. A small necklace and a single bangle on both her hands. Eyeliner streaked big eyes! A small maroon bindi with a white stone on it on her small forehead! Bare skin! No one can say no to marry this treasure. But I have to. I cannot risk my life for the second time.

She gave coffee to everyone and came to me. She looked up at me with a beautiful smile, the same smile that once gave me calmness in my heart. I am flattered. I felt like I was melting for that addicting smile. I took the coffee and she went and stood by her mom near the kitchen. I could not peel my eyes off of her. I could see her stealing glances at me. I decided to ask her straight if she is in love with anyone.

"If you want to talk in person with the girl, you can go to the garden behind." a relative close to her told me with a teasing smile. I looked at her and she looked at me too. Her eyes talk and if I read it right, she seems genuinely happy. Should I stop questioning the unsure thing and accept this with happiness just like she is?

"Go on, Ajju. Talk to her. She looks beautiful and happy. I for sure think that she is the one." Praveen whispered in my ears.

"Go, Arjun. Talk to her." my mom said and I stood up. She started walking to the backyard through the kitchen and I followed her.

"um... How are you?" she asked me as soon as we reached the backyard.

"Good!" I said.

"I like my work. I am in training for this month and I will be allotted a new project from next month." she said. Is she for real?

"Good!" I said.

"um... Are you not going to say anything?" she asked me after an awkward silence.

"I don't know, Anika. Why are you agreeing to this wedding?" I asked her straight.

"I don't see anything to disagree with. Wait, you don't like to marry me?" she asked me, the shock evident in her eyes.

"Not that. From the meetings we shared, I inferred that you don't like me."

"No, that is not true. I said I am sorry for what had happened. Can't we just forget that and start fresh?" She asked me, looking straight in my eyes.

"Huh, ok, but be honest with me. Do you really like this arrangement? Do your parents force you to agree to this? " I asked her.

"What? No! No, no one is forcing me to get married to you. I really am happy to marry you. I just want to say that I am sorry for everything I did before. I was scared of you and myself that I wanted to keep you away. I am really sorry. " she said looking down.

"What does that mean?" I asked her. She is scared of me? I feel like the past is repeating itself and I don't like it one bit. I knew she wanted to keep me away from her behavior but I want to know why.

"I . uh... You... um... I thought that you were the reason for Anamika akka's disappearance until Prakasam periyappa told me differently. I am so sorry." she said, looking away. That hurt me but it is not her fault. Everyone thinks that and nobody ever said that on my face and she did. She is always an exception. I like her blind boldness.

"So you now believe that I am not the reason behind Anamika's disappearance?"

"Yes" she said looking down, I have noticed this in her, whenever she is not confident she looks away or down. She still has doubts or she is lying.

"Do you have anything to tell me before this proceeds to the next step?" I just wanted to give her time to realize what she is getting into and to confess to me what I should know.

"um.... You know my family's state. I want to help them financially. I want to go to work even after our marriage to support them. Is that ok with you?" she asked me. I expected her to tell me about her love but I never expected this. With the way she talks to me, I think I don't have to worry about the mail.

"It is completely your wish. I have no problem with you going to work. But your family is mine too if we are married. So they will be my responsibility." I told her. She doesn't have to worry.

"Thank you, Arjun. That is your generosity. But I wish I could help them." she said with a beautiful smile that spread calmness in me in an instant.

"You don't have anything to ask me? What do you know about me?" I asked her.

"I just want to ask you only one thing. Do you like me?" she asked me looking straight in my eyes. I could not bear her eyes on me so I looked away.

"I do!" I told her and turned to leave. I cannot stop that stupid smile that came out of me. I cannot stay with her alone anymore.

Our families were ecstatic and they confirmed our wedding. I didn't want a big wedding again and when I said that, everyone agreed for a simple wedding in our kuladeivam temple. I also was against inviting many people and we settled for the first circle of relatives on my side and important relatives on her side. Since there was nothing much to do for the wedding, our wedding was fixed on the next auspicious day that is 15days away.