Together For-Ever

Chapter Ten

Adrika

We both performed the pooja with our parents behind us. After the pooja, my MIL asked us to distribute the prasadam. 

We both distributed it for all elders and when it came to the cousins I left him and joined my brother.

"Did you have anything?" My brother asked. Now after eating prasadam everyone went to have breakfast. As it is only 9.30 AM now.

I shook my head.

"Aren't you hungry?" He asked. Again I shook my head.

"Ok, I'm leaving you for now. But have something afterward. You have a reception to attend tonight." He mocked. 

"I know, you don't have to tell me." I snapped.

"Aishwarya is bugging me to take her as my date!" He said rubbing his temple.

"Don't listen to her. Do whatever you want to, Annaya. I know everything and I'm not against it." I said.

"I know that you know, baby! And you don't have to behave like an elder. I always want you as my kid, not the other way around." He said pulling my hair.

"Ouch! I'm not your kid anymore! I'm only Nishi's kid from now on! Not even Rudra's!" I said pouting.

"Oh! Why only Nishi's and not anyone else's?" He asked.

"Um, because you both hurt me today," I said while thinking about my phone which is still with him.

"At what time reception will be completed?" I asked him.

"By Ten PM?" He sounded doubtful.

"I don't want to go!" I said, making a crying face.

"You don't have to go, baby! But you are the most important person in today's reception more than any other person. I don't know if Arjun's security head is as efficient as ours. But I'll make sure your identity is safe." He said assuring me.

"I know you will. You are the only person I trust and after you it is Rudra." I said.

"You will learn to trust, Adrika. And you will trust your husband more than anyone as you should." He said.

I nodded don't know how to reply to his statement.

I didn't say it out loud, because if say I trust Arjun, then it will become real, and for now, I don't believe it myself.

I started searching for Arjun among the crowd, I found him talking to his cousins and friends happily. Like this is his favorite hobby to do. And here I am sitting in a corner with my brother talking bout my trust issues. 

I kept staring at him continuously. I don't know if I can see him in our room like this. I want him to smile at me like he is smiling at his cousins. I want him to talk to me like that. I looked at the person beside him, he is looking at me. It is Bharat, one of our friends. Not mine, Anand's. His parents are best friends with mine and Rudramaneni's. Bharat's elder brother is the best friend of Arjun, his name is Rakesh. 

Bharat is scrutinizing me like anticipating my next move just with his stare. He has always been good at reading people. But now he can't read, I can see growing anticipation as his eyebrows came together. I just gave him a blank look and turned towards my brother.

"Annaya, should I have to meet all the people who will attend the reception?" I asked.

I really don't want to attend this bloody thing but I had to. And I had to pretend to be happy in front of everybody.

"Just go with the flow. Let Arjun be the talker. It will be enough." He said. That's what I was planning to do.

"Can you please tell Ishika and Nishitha to come early?" I asked him.