"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. It all started a week ago.
A week Ago…..
Laya Pasupuleti, twenty-one year old graduate, who was looking for a job. She just graduated three months ago, she was looking for a job but her parents called her to return Hyderabad from Chennai as there was something urgent. Laya set off to Chennai the moment she got the call. When she attempted the call from her mother she looked tense and scared. Laya doesn't know what to do, so she stopped her job hunt and started her journey. Laya studied interior designing in Madras Institute of Fashion and Technology, in Chennai. Laya's parents were too orthodox to the point she can't even have friends in her life. She felt suffocated when she lived with her parents. That's why she decided to live far from them. When she applied to the best interior designing college in Chennai after her intermediate, her parents opposed her. Only her big brother and her little brother supported. And just like any other indian family, Laya's parents listen to their son only. Her elder brother assured them he would take care of Laya, as he was also staying in Chennai due to his job. Only then Laya was spared by them. But when she was leaving her home, she got an earful of instructions or maybe it would be better to say orders from them. She only returned home once a year, but in her final year she didn't even go to her house. This was her first time returning home after nearly a year.
Laya sighed at the thought of her parents as she continued her journey. She was glad that her older brother came to drop her off at the railway station. She saw how the train looked like a big snake and the compartments looked like a tail to her. She saw them taking u-turns for every now and then. She doesn't know that not only the train but also her life took a u-turn after she returned to her home.
After nearly a day of journey, Laya felt sore all over her body. If not for her mother's call, she would have attended an interview. Even though she knew she might not get selected, she badly wanted to try as she felt like trying and exploring her lives. She saw her elder sister-in-law marrying her brother at a young age itself. They both have eight years of age gap between them, her elder brother is thirty one, while her sister-in-law is only twenty-three and a mother of a child. Her parents got her brother married three years ago. They only cared whether her sister-in-law had enough dowry and had good connections and wealth. They didn't give a damn to her age or her feelings. Her sister-in-law, Durga, came from a village. She only did her intermediate. She wanted to do a degree but her parents didn't allow her. After giving birth to a daughter, she asked her brother whether she could study or not, as she did one of the most important duties of a wife and a daughter-in-law. Even though her brother agreed, Laya's parents didn't agree. Because they wanted a grandson, but she gave a granddaughter to them. Durga was now trying to get pregnant and give birth to a son. Even though her brother was cold looking and aloof, he made her study distance education, without his parents knowledge. After all they were living in chennai and her parents were in Hyderabad, Telangana. How would they know about this?
At the thought of her Sister-in-law, Laya sighed for the nth time. She shouldn't be like her, she should be able to get a job and live a respectful and equal wife. She should be able to stand equally with her husband. Laya wanted to get married only after she got a job and was confident enough she could live without anyone's support. Laya shook her head, wriggling her high pony. She hailed a cab to her home in the secunderabad station. Laya smiled at the familiar surroundings of her house in Vanasthalipuram. The cab reached her destination. She paid the fare and took her luggage out. Their driver greeted them seeing her coming inside and pulled Laya's luggage."Babai (uncle), what's wrong? Is everything okay here right? Mom suddenly called me and asked me to hurry over here?" Laya asked her driver."Everything is fine, beta(daughter)?" he said with a smile making his wrinkles obvious. Laya heaved a sigh when she heard her words. Only she knew how tense she was. She was wondering when
"My dear Hubby, please don't tell others that you are my husband outside if you continue to act like this?" she said with a scrunched face."I am your husband!!" he said exasperatedly."That's why I am advising you!" she said, making everyone laugh. Laya noticed her youngest uncle, Srinivas, was looking at her with a displeased gaze the whole while. But she didn't care. She got used to it and ignored him as usual. Their dinner finished amid laughter and smiles. But little did Laya don't know that this would be her last time to laugh heartfully."I will divorce you and marry a young woman!" he said exasperatedly. He thought he successfully annoyed her.Sharada's mom thought hard for a while… and said… "Hmm… Do it. I want to go on a world tour. If you divorce me have to give me half of your property as your anomaly along with divorce. I can find a good man and marry him. I am only fifty… Can't I find who is fifty-five or so?" she said so seriously to the point her Raghu Dad believed her
Laya went inside the room and checked around. She saw that her Peddananna was waiting for her. His table was oddly full. She noticed there were few land documents, jewelry, and few boxes there. She wondered why they were still lying there instead of being in the locker. She took them into her hands and unlocked his peddananna's locker and kept them inside before sitting in front of him."Laya Beta…" he called out."Peddananna?" she responded."You are a filial child. By the way… why did you lock them there?" he asked her, even though he knew what her thoughts were, he just wanted to listen."Peda nanna! You still ask me?! How many times did I say you to lock the documents properly and store your things properly? Hmm? I warned you not to leave the things like this?" Laya fumed at him making him smile at her.[She is lovely just like before.] he thought to himself.[But you are not. You are ruining her life.] his subconscious mind replied.[But… this is for her good. I don't want her to
Raghuram Pasupuleti was surely a good father. He always strives for his family and his children's fortune. Even though Laya is his second brother's daughter…. He loved her like his own. She studied well, made him proud, and always has an idea of standing on her own feet. If it were his daughter's or his son's they would have asked the details of the property he has to give. But she kept silent for the past fifteen years not asking for a single penny.She only takes the monthly allowance, if needed more she would call him and ask for the money she needed. But again she never omits why she needs the money. She always asks only if she needs for project work or needs to go out shopping with her friends or to pay fees. He wondered why she wasn't his biological daughter many times, but that doesn't make him feel she was someone else's daughter.From the past few days, he could sense the change of behavior in his youngest brother. He knew him very well, he neither can hurt him nor laya. So…
Ch-6Raghuram was shocked. Shocked was an understatement. He was stunned. He never expected Laya would say something like this. He looked at her in shock.Slowly, understanding entered his eyes. "I never spent a single penny on you. Everything… I gave you and you enjoyed it all from your father's shares only. And I took some money from his account when I needed it. I guess everything got tallied to it. No need to give these to me. You don't owe me anything. Go now and rest," he said to her.Laya wanted to say something but she felt her eyes welled with tears, she knew she couldn't hold them anymore. She clutched her documents tightly and walked out.Sharada was waiting for Laya outside the study. But Laya was in a hurry to leave the room and didn't see Sharada waiting for her. She went directly to her room and closed the door with a bang.She turned off the lights and laid on the bed, burying her face in the pillow. Tears streamed out of her eyes like a waterfall, under the pale moonl
Raghuram knew he cannot live without saying a single thing to his wife."Hubby… you can still stop this, you know this right?" Sharada said to Raghuram."Wifey… you know I won't stop this, right?" he said to her."I just hope you won't regret this," Sharada said her last piece of thing and closed her eyes.Raghuram wanted to hug Sharada in his sleep but she didn't let him touch her. Sharada knew very well that Raghuram cannot sleep without hugging her. In the past, they used to make love almost every day. Even though he was rude many times, she kept her self-respect aside and gave importance to him. Slowly… he fell for her. There was a woman in his life… but he never said anything about her to Sharada. She never asked him, as it turned into his once upon a time story.They grew closer and their relationship turned pure. But no matter what and how much she tried even after these many years… she felt she didn't know him. And that pure little girl's life became a deal to him. She just ho
"What happened?" Rahul asked, clenching his fists.His handsome face filled with worry, concern, and anger. And of course, it would. If not…, how could he take it? His soon-to-be wife was lying lifeless on the bed, keeping the engagement ceremony in an hour. An IV drip was attached to her left wrist, her face paled with exhaustion. He remembered her smiling and chirpy behavior. He couldn't bear to look at her like this.His opal eyes filled with concern; his lips tugged downwards in happiness… when the realization hit him. Her family wasn't taking good care of her, anger aroused in his veins as he felt anger at their lack of caring towards her, making him clench his hands into a tight ball. His eyes were turning sharper and dangerous as seconds passed, his tall nose flaring red with anger as he gazed at her limp body. And one could see everything that he felt was all due to the love and concern he has towards her."This little girl… is going on interviews after interviews without cari
Ch-9"Never in my life," Rahul's straightaway reply came out of his mouth.Who does he think he was to order him to cancel his marriage with his future wife. He would make sure that she would belong to him and he would show her proudly to the world as his. He wanted to claim her in front of the world and make this world jealous of him.And Also he wanted to pamper her, shower her with his love and make her drown in his world. He wants to make her the queen of his world and give his heart to her to control him and his heart. Never in this life nor in the afterlife he wants to leave her. He just doesn't want to live with her but become her life, her soul, and her breath. He felt like he would die if he waited for her more. This would do, right?Maybe or maybe not be. Even if it doesn't he will make sure she would fall for him after their marriage. He knew she didn't have a boyfriend. But he will be her boyfriend, husband, friend, and everything she wants in this life except her brother.