Oh, Be My Dawn, Sweet Heart! (Only Sample)

6. Time To Decide!

Indar’s PoV

I kicked my bike and started to drive to my grandparents’ place. It is just two streets away and I often go there to visit them. And besides, our village temple is there at the corner of the street near their house where I have organized a common library. So I happen to linger around their house a lot. I stopped the bike and walked towards the home. 

It was 8 in the morning and Imayal was drawing rangoli. She didn't even notice my bike sound or my footsteps. She was very much into it that after finishing it, she started walking backwards admiring her work. 

“Oops!” She turned around as she landed her back on my chest. I could have moved aside but I decided not to do so and I don't have any reason for it. 

“Sorry, mama!” She said digging her head in the ground. She hurriedly pulled her skirt down that she raised up until her knees. She is an exquisite beauty, it is a warm sight to my heart to see her in half saree, freshly bathed. I could not stop myself from seeing her waist that was peeking out in her half saree. 

“Nobody will do this at this hour!” I spoke sarcastically to deviate myself from looking at her inappropriately. I saw her face change from shock to anger but she managed to hide it in a jiffy. I truly like her, she is a very nice girl. But I also know that she is masking her true nature behind her soft spoken disguise. I know that it is because of the trauma she endured in her preteen age, a very sensitive age when a girl child most needs her mom. I tried to be with her to fill the void. She often would sleep with me holding my hands and I would carry her to appatha’s room after she fell asleep. She got emotionally attached to me and I loved taking care of her until our family decided to interfere in our relationship. 

She was an average student from the start. I still remember how Radha athai would complain on her for failing in math and science in school. After them, we brought her here and admitted her to my school to continue her 7th standard. I was studying 12th standard at the time. I taught her and also looked after her in my breaks. But after I withdrew myself from her, her studies went downhill. My college kept me away from our village and I used it to distance myself from her. When I came back last year after finishing my college, she was in her 12th standard. Thatha and my dad forced me to tutor her and make her ready for her exams. I didn't want her to fail the exam so I coached her. It was so weird teaching her as the 5years of distance really made us poles apart. We were like strangers and I just taught her the important questions. 

Just as I anticipated, she just passed all the subjects. Even after everyone brainwashed her to continue her studies, she said a strict no. Nobody wants to see her cry and that made everyone go soft on her. She won in escaping studies. Now I am actually happy when dad got the phone call from thatha saying that she has decided to study further. But I hate it that our family tries to put us together in every chance they get.

I was taken aback when she said that she wants me to come to her room. That was completely out of the equation. But I understood that she wants to talk to me alone. So I took her out and when she described why she chose to go to evening college, I saw her as a grown girl for the first time. I truly loved her sense of responsibility. All the time she explained her decision, she never looked up at me but I could never stop looking at her fan like eye lashes and naturally pink lushy lips. 

When she stopped me for breakfast, all my inner-self wanted to deny and run away from the place but her ‘Please, mama!’ was not to be denied. I never looked up at her again until I finished my breakfast.

“Appa(father), thatha and appatha are getting too old. They are not letting us know about their health issues. It is time we bring them back to our home.” I told dad in the evening after reaching home.

“You think I don't know that? I have been forcing them to come back here for more than a year now. But they are not listening. What do you want me to do?”

“I spoke to Imaya in the morning. She has decided to go to evening college. When I asked why, she told me about their health issues. We must bring them back here, appa. I am going to talk to them tomorrow.”

“They will not agree to it until you marry Imaya, Indar. You know it!”

“Pch, appa! You know very well that I have no such interest in her. This is life, appa. You cannot force it down on us.”

“Tell me one good reason for avoiding Imai!”

“Love, appa. I want to love the girl that I am going to marry.”

“You have not given her a chance, Indar. How did you know that you cannot love her? Do you remember how much you loved her before?”

“Pa, that is different. That is care! I cared for her. I like her but that is no love and it doesn't happen like you say. It should blossom without your notice. Please, appa, leave me out of it.”

“Then say this to thatha. Why are you making them wait?”

“God, please leave him alone. He had told you very clearly that he is not interested in marrying Imai. Why are you all forcing him to do something that will spoil both their lives?” Mom came in with coffee for us.

Author’s PoV

Ambika has never spoken against her son’s will. When she knew that her son was not interested in the elders' decision, she was the one that has always had her sons back and stopped her husband from influencing Indar. 

“Thanks, ma. I am going to talk to them tomorrow for sure. I will bring them home.” 

“But Indar, we cannot have Imai here in our home. I don't agree with them in marrying her to you but I agree with them in not keeping you both in the same home. It is not right to keep a young girl ready to be married in the same house with a young boy. People in our village will talk all kinds of nonsense and it may affect Imai’s life in future.”

“God, then what is the solution for this problem?”

“There is one solution. We shall look for a good bridegroom for Imai. We shall marry her off to a nice man and then there will be no reason for Athai and mama to stay alone in that home.” Ambika told her point which is actually the only available solution.

“Ma, what are you talking about? Imai is just 19years old. She is willing to study just now and you want to marry her off? Let her finish her studies first. It is a two years course and by the time it ends she will be 21years old. That will be the right time for her to marry.” Indar objected to the idea.

“Then the only thing I can see is bringing a servant maid for them to stay with them just like Kannamma.” Ambika said the practically possible idea and Indar felt it right too.

“That will work. I will anyway go and talk to thatha about coming back here tomorrow. If they don't agree with me then I will have to look for a maid.” Indar left to his room thinking about an Ashram in Tirupur where they send young people as companions to the elderly people. It is a service and it will also help them earn a living.