16."Officially In Relationship"
As the first light of dawn began to filter through the curtains, I stirred from my sleep. The house was still and quiet, the air cool with the freshness of early morning. I glanced at the clock on my bedside table; it was 5:30 AM. I moved to get up, careful not to disturb Anu, who was still nestled against me, her breathing soft and steady. As I gently shifted, she tightened her hold on me, her eyes fluttering open.
"Anu, what's wrong?" I asked softly, noticing the slight tension in her embrace.
She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. "Where are you going, Krishna?"
I smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "I'm going for a morning walk."
For a moment, she seemed to consider my words, then she spoke again, her voice small but earnest. "Krishna, I want to ask you something."
"Of course, Anu," I replied, giving her my full attention.
"Do you really love me?" she asked, her eyes wide and vulnerable.
I was taken aback by the intensity of her question. "Anu, as I've said before, we've been friends since childhood. Of course, I love you."
She shook her head, her expression serious. "I'm serious, Krishna."
I sighed, realizing that she needed more from me than the usual reassurances. "Anu, I—" Before I could finish, she leaned in and kissed me deeply. For a moment, I was too stunned to react, but then I kissed her back, gently but with feeling. When we finally pulled apart, she was panting slightly, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Anu, what's wrong? Why are you crying? I'm sorry if I—" I began, but she hugged me tightly, her tears dampening my shirt.
"I was scared," she confessed, her voice trembling. "Yesterday, when Uncle talked about you marrying more than one girl, I didn't know what to do. I thought you were going to forget about me. Every time I ask if you love me, you just say we're childhood friends. I thought you didn't feel the same way I do, and that scared me."
I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of her fears and my own inadequacy in addressing them. Gently, I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her again, this time more tenderly, trying to convey everything I felt but couldn't put into words. When we pulled apart, I wiped away her tears and hugged her tightly.
"Anu, listen to me," I said softly. "Even if I marry more than one girl in the future, you will always be the first in my heart. You don't have to worry about that."
She nodded, her grip on me slowly relaxing as she took comfort in my words. I continued to gently pat her head until she finally drifted back to sleep, her breathing evening out. Carefully, I extricated myself from her embrace, tucking her in securely before heading out for my morning walk.
As I walked through the still streets, the events of the morning played over and over in my mind. The weight of Anu's confession and my own response lingered with me. I had always known that our relationship was complicated, but now it felt even more so. There was no turning back from what had just happened. I could only hope that I would be able to navigate the future without hurting her or anyone else involved.
The sky was turning a soft pink as the sun began to rise fully, casting a gentle glow over everything. The world was waking up, and with it, my resolve strengthened. Whatever the future held, I would face it head-on, for Anu's sake and my own.
As I stepped into the house after my morning walk, the familiar scent of incense and the soft murmur of my mother's prayers greeted me. She was already up, engrossed in her daily rituals, her face illuminated by the warm glow of the morning light filtering through the window.
"Good morning, Ma," I greeted her with a smile, breaking her concentration momentarily.
She turned to me, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she returned my smile. "Good morning, Krishna. Go get fresh and wake Anu also, and then come down for breakfast," she instructed, her voice gentle yet firm.
Nodding in acknowledgment, I made my way to my room. As I entered, I found Anu already there, having just finished her shower. Her hair, damp from the water, cascaded down her shoulders in dark waves. I couldn't help but admire her, a sense of warmth flooding my chest at the sight of her.
Anu noticed me and greeted me with a bright smile, her eyes lighting up as I approached her. Returning her smile, I wrapped my arms around her from behind, pulling her close. We stood there for a moment, the silence between us speaking volumes of the understanding and connection we shared.
"So, should I tell Ma and Papa?" Anu's voice broke the silence, her tone tinged with anticipation.
I nodded, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "Yes, as you wish. But remind them that we're still young, and marriage is not something we need to think about just yet."
Anu nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "Of course, Krishna. I understand."
As we continued our conversation, Anu's keen senses picked up on something peculiar. "Krishna, you just returned from your morning walk, right?"
"Yes, why?" I replied, puzzled by her question.
Anu wrinkled her nose playfully. "Then why do you smell like Chandan? Not just today, but you always have that scent."
I chuckled, shrugging my shoulders. "I don't know, maybe it's just natural for me."
Anu chuckled in response, accepting my explanation with a playful grin. "Alright then, mystery solved."
I nodded, amused by our light-hearted banter. "By the way, Anu, Ma is calling you downstairs."
"Okay, I'll head down now," Anu replied, moving to leave the room. "But make sure you join us quickly for breakfast."
I nodded in affirmation as Anu left the room, her presence leaving a lingering sense of warmth in the air. As I prepared to freshen up, my mind drifted to the upcoming conversation with my parents. Despite the uncertainties of the future, I felt reassured knowing that Anu and I were in this together.
After my refreshing shower, I opted for my usual attire, comfortable and familiar. Today, despite having a meeting with Mr. Vikramaditya, I stuck to my regular clothes; there was a certain comfort in them that I couldn't quite replicate with formal attire.
As I descended the stairs, the aroma of breakfast greeted me, mingling with the soft chatter of my family gathered around the dining table in the living room. The TV was on, likely left on by Papa. I moved closer to turn it off, but my attention was caught by a news report that piqued my interest.
"Recently, an unidentified body was found in Venkatachalam," the anchor announced, his tone somber. "And this is not an isolated incident. Over the past year, numerous bodies have been discovered, each one remaining unidentified. Despite the efforts of the police, they have been unable to find any leads or clues to the identities of these individuals."
As the news played in the background, my mind wandered to Athreya's story. "So, Athreya's story begins, huh? This is going to be interesting. I should lend him a hand later on. But this isn't some movie plot. This is the real world, and there's no such thing as a protagonist with a halo around them. The moment I was born, I became the protagonist here I think," I mused to myself, a wry smile playing on my lips.
Chuckling at my own thoughts, I shook my head. "What the hell am I even thinking? There's no such thing as a protagonist or anything like that," I muttered, amused by the absurdity of my own musings.
Just then, my mother's voice broke through my thoughts, calling me to breakfast. "Krishna, come here and have breakfast," she called from the dining area.
"Coming, Ma," I replied, snapping out of my reverie. With a smile, I shut off the TV and made my way to the dining table, ready to start the day.
As I approached the dining table, the warm morning light filtering through the curtains cast a soft glow over the room. With a gentle smile, I greeted my father and Bheeshma, the patriarch of our family, with a heartfelt "good morning." They returned the greeting warmly, their eyes twinkling with affection.
Anu stood there with a hint of shyness as she served breakfast, her movements delicate and hesitant. "What's happening here? Why is everyone staring at me?" I mused silently, reaching for the first bite of food. But before I could indulge, my mother's gentle voice broke the tranquility of the morning.
"Krishna, what happened this morning?" Her words hung in the air, freezing the moment. I slowly lowered the morsel back onto my plate, my gaze shifting to meet my mother's knowing smile. Turning slightly, I caught sight of Bheeshma and my father, their eyes twinkling mischievously. It was then that I realized the weight of their collective gaze.
They knew.
Swiveling my attention to Anu, her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of crimson, confirming my suspicions. "What are you talking about, Ma?" I feigned innocence, though the playful smirk on Bheeshma's lips betrayed the charade.
"Don't play innocent, Krishna. Anu, tell Ma everything," Bheeshma teased, his voice laced with amusement. Reluctantly, I exhaled a sigh, resigning myself to the inevitable revelation. "What did Anu tell you?" I inquired, my tone tinged with mild apprehension.
My mother approached Anu, her presence a comforting reassurance amidst the gathering tension. Placing a reassuring hand on Anu's shoulder, she spoke with a warmth that melted away any lingering unease. "Anu,Tell us that she is officially going to be our daughter-in-law."
As Anu and I exchanged glances, a shared understanding passed between us. "Yes, it's true. Something did happen this morning, and now we're officially in a relationship," I confirmed, my voice tinged with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The room erupted into a chorus of joyous exclamations, with Bheeshma enveloping me in a bear hug, his hearty congratulations echoing in my ears.
"Congratulations, Krishna!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious. I offered a grateful nod in response, a smile playing at the corners of my lips. My father, always one for a bit of mischief, couldn't resist adding his own two cents. "This is excellent news! Now I can't wait to see the look on Viswanath's face when he hears about it," he quipped, eliciting a good-natured eye roll from me.
Amidst the jubilation, my mother's gentle inquiry brought the conversation back to a more serious note. "Krishna, Anu, what do you both think about marriage?" she asked, her expression soft and understanding.
"Aunt, Krishna and I have discussed it, and we feel that we're too young for marriage. I still have my studies to complete," Anu replied earnestly, her gaze steady as she met my mother's eyes. My mother's smile widened at Anu's respectful response.
"Of course, Anu. You two should take your time and decide when the right moment is for you. And remember, don't call me Aunt anymore. From now on, you can call me Ma, okay?" she said warmly, her maternal instincts shining through. My father chimed in, his voice filled with paternal pride. "And you can call me Papa too," he added, his eyes twinkling with affection.
Anu's cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as she shyly nodded. "Okay, Ma. Okay, Papa," she murmured softly, the weight of the moment settling in.
Laughter filled the room as they responded to my jest, but my attention quickly turned to Bheeshma, my closest confidant. "And what about you? Any progress with Chaitra, huh? I'm starting to worry about JP uncle," I remarked, a hint of concern lacing my tone.
Curious, my father interjected, "Why are you worried about JP uncle?" My explanation came swiftly, tinged with a touch of amusement. "Because JP uncle sent Bheeshma to ACP Deva, and now Bheeshma has fallen for her daughter, Chaitra," I revealed, watching as the joy that had lit up my father's face moments ago faded into a mask of concern.
Sensing his unease, I reassured him, "What, you didn't know about this? I thought you were in the loop." Turning to Bheeshma, I pressed for an update. "So, any progress?"
Bheeshma nodded, his expression a mix of determination and nerves. "Yes, it's progressing. Today is Mr. Bheeshma's interview, and I'm going to meet Chaitra There," he confirmed, his voice tinged with anticipation. I offered him a supportive nod. "That's good," I replied, genuine happiness for my friend mingling with a twinge of apprehension.
But then, like a bolt from the blue, a troubling thought seized me. "What are Ammu and Raji going to do when they find out I'm in a relationship with Anu?" The mere notion sent a shiver down my spine, a chill that seemed to permeate my entire being.
Suddenly, the air felt colder, heavier, as the weight of impending confrontation settled over me like a suffocating blanket. The fear of their reaction, of their disapproval, gnawed at me, casting a shadow over the newfound happiness that had enveloped our home just moments before.
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