Chapter 23 23 Karthik’s Enlightenment to Rishi

D's PoV

After his shy smile I'm 100% sure to sweep him off his feet. When I got up, it was already 10 o'clock. I felt really bad for waking up so late. From the day I started living here (that is one week to be precise) I tried hard and woke up at 7am. But today, I feel so guilty. I should have listened to mom's advice and practiced waking up early in our home itself. Ravi and I were watching TV when his friend Murali came by. They both went in the room to do god knows what!?

I'm left all alone again. I went to the kitchen and saw Chinna anna cutting up meat. God, finally. In our home, we usually eat non-veg almost 3 days a week. I ran to him.

"Chinna anna! Can I cook today?"

"Sure ma! You tell me And I will do it!"

"No! You cut up the meat and go out! I will cook myself".

"Ok ma, at least let me stay and help you!"

"Uh huh! I can’t cook if someone is watching!" I told him.

He laughed and went out after cutting the meat. I ran upstairs and took my mobile. I have a playlist full of romantic songs. I'm an ARR fan and a fan of every romantic song with beautiful lyrics. I love singing. I played the songs and started cooking along with singing. It took me almost 1.30 hours to make Pepper chicken Curry, Pallipalayam chicken dry, Rasam and rice. Hmmmm yummy!😋

I can’t wait to eat. I can’t cook and eat by myself. But uncle and Rishi come only in the evenings! They always eat their lunch out. So, it’s just me, Ravi, and his friend for now. But then I really want Rishi to taste my food. I started thinking of a way to bring him home!

"Chinna anna! you can come in now. I finished cooking. Can you please clean up the mess I made anna? I can wash the dishes!"

"You don’t have to please me, dear! And you don’t have to wash the dishes. Radha will come in the evening, remember!?"

"I have no work anna! Ravi is busy with his friend. Nobody to talk with! It’s so boring!" I said frowning.

"Haha, you can go in the garden. If you know how to swim you can go to the pool!"

"Pool? There is a pool nearby? But I can’t go out alone, anna! And I don’t know swimming hehe"

"Hahaha you should have said that first! You can do whatever you like. But not these chores. We have people come in to do these. You can gather up your laundry and bring it down. Savithri will do laundry tomorrow."

"We have a washing machine in the back right anna? I can do my clothes myself. You know what? That’s a good idea to pass my time. Thanks anna! You are eating with us now! You gotta tell me how my cooking is".

I stopped to ask him something but decided to ask Ravi.

"Ravi! open the door!"

"It’s open anni! come in."

"Ravi, I did the cooking today. I want your bro to come for lunch. Do you have any idea?"

"You know cooking?"

"Only nonveg! Now tell me how to bring your bro home?!"

"But he is your husband, sister! You can just call him and ask to come." Murali said.

I wish it was that simple! With the looks Ravi is giving me, I think he is suggesting the same as Murali.

"What? you want me to call your bro for lunch?"

"What's wrong? Just give it a try anni!"

"Hmmm ok! I guess!" I called up and waited for an answer!

"Hello mama(uncle)! I did the cooking today. I really want you to eat that for lunch today. Please mama, can you come home?"

"..."

"Awwww you are so sweet. I will be waiting for you. Bye mama!"

I hung up the call and the look on Ravi's face was priceless!

"OMG Ravi! Stop looking at me like that. I called your dad. Not your bro. God, you really think I will call your bro MAMA!? God, my stomach hurts." I laughed until I teared up.

"GOD anni! I was shocked. But then I thought you were pretending to be talking. You are something!"

"Ok now you call your bro for lunch! hmmm quick!"

"What, me? No! He will shout at me. The only person who he will not scold is you as far as I know. So better you call him!"

"You are useless! Now call your brother or I'm not going to help you with my sister."

"Black-mail!???"

"Exactly!"

Ravi's PoV

I called my brother. I know he is going to shout.

"What's it Ravi? I'm busy."

"Huh bro can you come home for lunch?"

"You are so not playing that stupid joke again, idiot. I didn’t come home yesterday and I'm not coming home today."

He disconnected the call. God he might have thought that I’m making fun of him for what happened yesterday! Oh No, she is glaring at me.

"I told you, anni! See, he didn’t even listen to what I have to say!"

"cha! You are a wasteland!". She went out. I don’t know what she is about to do.

Rishi's PoV

OMG she was all drooling in her sleep! She is so cute and gross at the same time. She sleeps on her stomach with her legs spread across the bed. It was so nice to wake up beside her. What am I feeling towards her? I have never felt these before. Not even with Smirthi.

I placed the back of my hand on her forehead and cheeks to check her temperature. She has no fever now. She must be tired. I went to the restroom quietly making sure not to disturb her sleep. After freshening up, I went to the last room where I have my own gym set up. I finished all my morning routine and she was still sleeping. It was already 8.30 and we had to join the table for bf! She slept very late and her lips still look bad. I don’t want dad to find out that I hurt her. So, I left the room without disturbing her.

I called up Karthik and asked him to come over once I reached my office.

"Hey bud! What's up with you today? You are sure to get my company to loss! It’s already in a pathetic state." He whined and I told him what happened yesterday.

"I don’t get the connection. Why would she ask about my company?"

"It all came from Dhiwakar!"

"God, Are you still holding that past against him? He is not like that now. Anyways with this, I think you should be happy getting rid of Smirthi. As you planned, go ahead with Danya!"

"How can you say this so easily? She was after my money the whole time and I didn’t realize it? I'm feeling terrible about how she made a fool out of me! People will laugh at me if they get to know this. I mean I'm a successful business-man with poor quality to analyze people? That doesn’t set well in the same statement see! She can’t just go free like that. I will make her pay." I could not contain my anger.

"Even I can’t believe what I heard now, Buddy! But I don’t doubt on Dhiwakar like you. So, I understand that it has to be true. I would say just let it all go man. Holding a grudge will only spoil you. You have a girl by your side now. Go and enjoy your life. Just think that Smirthi is gone for good."

"But Karthik..."

"No more buts and ifs. She is gone. You moved on. You guys are not meant to be together! Now go find your love in your wife. That would be the wise thing to do now!"

"How about we hire a detective like you said yesterday and find what happened to Smirthi?"

"Rishi! Just let it go. You will just add worry to you which is not necessary!"

"I don’t completely trust Dhiwakar, Karthik. What if he lied about her? What if there is more to the story?"

"Tell me something, Rishi. You really want to know what happened to Smirthi or you just want to know if Dhiwakar lied or not?"

"I wish Dhiwakar had lied. It's been 3 goddamn years since I've known her. We have been together for 2 years! Am I such a fool to not see her real character? The worst part is Dad and Ravi disliked her in the very first meet. So, now it’s like they are right at judging people and I am a stupid. It hurts my ego, Karthik. She just can’t get past making me an idiot."

"You are an idiot. Now stop it. Judging people is not a quality to be a good human. You are a good man. Now You have a life waiting for you. Go start fresh! Leave all the past behind."

"Maybe you are right!"

I got a call from my brother? Why is he calling me at this hour?

"Ok da I have to go! you attend the call! bye". Karthik left.

I attended the call. Ravi is getting all crazy. He thinks that we did some dirty stuff. God he is impossible! Moron!

My phone blinked again. But it’s a message. This moron sure is going to get beaten. But it was a picture message from an unknown number. All pictures of delicious looking chicken. It blinked again!

"Lunch Ready!"

Who is it? Must be a wrong number. I neglected it. I just want to go see Danya now. She can calm my nerves down! (Hehe I didn’t mean kissing her! Her lips are not healed yet. I have to wait). Just seeing her does magic to me. I decided to finish my work soon and go home early today. So many unanswered questions, but my heart disregards everything and wants to go to her.