Falling In Love With You

chapter -1

The wedding hall was buzzing with friends and relatives from both the bride and groom's side. As it was a few hours close to the auspicious time for tying the knot, Rakesh, the bride's brother was hot on his heels to check upon the last minute arrangements and the preparations. On the other hand Vasudha was getting ready for her most important day in her life, in her room with her friends Priya and Sathya helping her. Vasudha , being a plus sized girl  , always was guarded against any  kind of relationship. Even now as she was draping her wedding saree , her brain was contemplating whether her life would go smoothly as she had desired or it would again be a dreadfull one . As if on cue Priya interrupted her musings that prevented her thoughts to spiral down to a depressing plane.
   "What are you mulling on about in you're head Vasu? Everything is gonna be alright ! Don't worry about anything dear! Okay?" Priya tried to assure Vasudha.
    But just as Vasudha opened her mouth to say something she noticed frantic movements outside her dressing room and  there were loud noises and she could feel the  commotion outside. Vasudha became nervous nad agitated at the time.
    "It has happened ...the one thing that I've anticipated all along has happened..." Were the thoughts in her mind even before Rakesh enters and tells her that  the groom is nowhere to be seen.
    His face was flushed with anger and fear of the future of his sister."What happened? Did you...did you check his room ? What about his parents ? "  Vasudha asked her brother .
    " No I have searched everywhere , every nook and corner of this building ...both him and his family are nowhere to be seen."    Was all Rakesh could say. He was frantic , agitated and began to pace the room in front of Vasudha like a caged lion.
    Vasudha felt her blood drain from her face ..her legs gave away and she crashed down to the floor . Priya and Sathya rushed to her aide to make her sit up and  handed her  water to stabilize her.  Just as the weight of the situation sinks in Pallavan ,her brother's best friend along with her father came into the room.
  "  I found this in that guy's room Rakesh. This letter is addressed to your sister." Pallavan says holding the letter to Vasudha.                                            
       " I'm really sorry Vasudha for doing this to you...I really do...but you should understand, as much as the money and dowry tempts me to go along with this marriage , I don't think I can spend the rest of my life with you ...I thought I would come to atleast like you in the course of our  two month courtship but no... I couldn't. I'm relieving us both of the hatred and misery to experience for the rest of our lives. Good bye Vasudha.
       - Sathish"   
   Vasudha stands up,as fast as her curvy body would let her, not to be  vulnerable in front of the overpowering men in her room. Her friends start to stand by her but she stops them.
   " He's gone Rakesh ! Sathish is gone." her voice sounded calm yet  grave even to her own ears . She held on to her ground and looked at the men in her room. " He is not interested in marrying me Anna ,that's what his letter says. I somehow knew he wasn't interested in me but I was not sure so I kept my mouth shut. But I'm glad he said this before the marrige ."
   The room was eerily silent . So Vasudha kept talking further feeling everybody's attention was on her ." There is nothing else that could be done . Appa! Just pack everything in here and call for the transport people . We will call off the wedding and we will get going . It's better this way ." This made everyone's face in the room snap in her direction .
    " Are you sure about this Vasu ." Was all Rakesh could ask his little sister . " Will you be able to handle the scorn and taunt and not to  mention the pity from our relatives when you leave this building?" He says motioning to the gathered crowd outside her room watching the drama unfold in front of their eyes .
    All Vasudha could do was look at her brother in the eye nod her decision , because she knew he would want her  hundred percent assurance, that she was  okay .  Just as Vasudha , Rakesh and their father were about to leave the  room , Vasudha heard Pallavan say something that would change the course of both their lives forever...