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

14. New Decision!

Imaya’s PoV

The girls were knocking on the door continuously for me to open. I changed from my wet clothes and opened the door. Just as I let them in, they sat on the bed and started talking. I wonder how Ramya akka and KayalVizhi have become friends in just minutes. Kayal Vizhi is one year elder to me and is studying third year in computer science engineering. She lives in Coimbatore and is a very modern girl. On the other hand, Ramya akka is six years elder to me, lives in the next village, she is also a modern girl I would say. She wears salwars all the time and she has some pajamas to wear in the night and she also has some sleeveless clothes but she wears it only when she goes to bathe in the field. 

“Akka, you know what, my dad has sent me here on the request of Ajit athaan’s mom, my aunty.” Kayal said with a shy smile. Yeah, she calls Indar mama Ajit.

“Hmph, your shy smile tells me a different story! What is it?” Ramya akka asked her. 

“Yes, akka. So far, the elders were talking about Ajit athaan’s and Imaya’s wedding. I don't know what happened now, aunty has called my dad and talked about marrying me to athaan.” She said and looked at me. 

“Why are you looking at me?” I asked her with a blank face. My insides were burning listening to her. I know that I want a love life, I know that Indar mama is not ready to marry me, he himself said that to me, I know it is not wrong of Ambika athai to ask her brother to marry his daughter to her son, if she like Indar mama and if Indar mama likes her, I know it is nothing wrong in them marrying. But in spite of everything that I know, I could not accept this as a fact.

“I am looking at you to know what happened now?” She asked me.

“Nothing happened new, Kayal. You all know that we are not even comfortable talking with each other. How can we get married?”

“Something is not right, Imaya.” Ramya akka said to me. She had her best thinking face on.

“Everything is right, akka.” I told her.

“I never knew there was a talk like this between you both. Raj never talked about you but I know he has rejected so many girls’ proposals when we were in college. I am sure he must have had many girls behind him in his post graduation too. To my knowledge, he had so many girls as friends, he loved chatting with girls but he has never led them to the next level. Maybe he was readying himself to heed to the request of his family. You don't like to marry him?” She asked me.

“They have never spoken to each other as far as I can remember. They were once close, akka but I don't know what happened, they stopped talking. Thank god I met you, akka, so there is no past love stories for athaan?” Kayal asked her.

“Haha, nope! So you like Raj?” Ramya akka asked her with a very pleasant face. 

So she did not like Indar mama like I thought. They were just friends. I wanted to slap my stupid brain for my inaprropriate behavior though I still don’t know what made me react that way to her. 

“Yes, akka. I have always liked him. He is such a person that time would just fly away when we are with him. He would make me laugh, feel light. Never once has he talked or behaved differently to me even though there have been instances where we had to stay alone. He is a perfect gentleman. Besides, he is very smart, charming and attractive, tall and handsome. If I had to marry him, I would be very delighted. Everything would be nice, my after wedding life would be with my aunty’s family whom I have known since my birth. But I have to make sure athaan likes me that way. I am planning to ask him before I leave the day after tomorrow.” She spoke long. 

Though I wanted to concentrate on texting Ram, though I wanted to ignore her talking, though I wanted to control my thinking, nothing worked. Everything she said was true. He is a gentleman, he is smart, charming, attractive, tall and handsome. No need to fear for the new family, no need to adjust yourself for the new family, no need to change yourself after marriage. He is earning well, he is disciplined, he is a well respected man in our village, he has a very good reputation in his business, he tries to help anyone in need at any time possible. He is everything a parent of a girl would want in their son-in-law. The feeling of emptiness filled my heart and I started to understand why I have been behaving weird around HIM.

“That is very good and a bold decision, Kayal. I think Raj would never disrespect their parents.” Ramya akka said. 

That flip in my stomach everytime I hear him, that feeling of not being able to form any words to talk around him, that feeling of anger I got with Ramya akka, the feeling of being in the midst of fire every time he looks at me, I have some feelings for HIM. Was it love? Do I love him? No! Then why is my heart aches in agony? Why can't I agree to the wedding talks between HIM and Kayal? God!

“Where is Indar mama?” I asked Kayal.

“He went to tend to some work. He will be back for dinner. Why?” She asked me.

“Nothing! Just asked. Akka, I will cook dinner tonight. Kayal likes my Paniyaram and Kaara chutney. You both keep company with each other.” I told them and went to the kitchen.

Ammachi came in behind me to the kitchen and started helping me. I know she is trying to ask me something but is not comfortable.

“What is it, Ammachi?” I asked her straight.

“Ambika called me, Imai. She talked about Indar’s wedding.”

“With Kayal! I know. Kayal just told us.”

“We have been talking about your wedding with him for years, I strongly objected to that idea to her.”

“Ammachi, listen, Indar mama himself told me that he is not ready to marry me. It is not right to force him into it. Besides, Kayal likes Indar mama. If he likes her too, I have no problem in their wedding. Please, don't stop them from doing what is best for everyone, Ammachi. Tell this to Appuchi too.” I told her, I told more to myself. 

“Hmmm, Appuchi said nothing when he heard about it. He only said one thing, whatever happens will happen as per our liking and happiness. He is ready to accept anything. I am angry with him too. We were the ones that instilled that thought in your heart and it really hurts us to see it get ruined.” Ammachi cried.

“Please, Ammachi. I never had any thoughts like that. I had no interest in him, Ammachi. I have no problem with them getting married. So please, don't cry.” I consoled her.

“Athaan, sit down, I will bring water.” I heard Kayal coming out of our room. Ammachi made her face straight and went out to receive him. 

“I will leave for aunty's home now after dinner. You come with Ramya akka tomorrow there, Imaya. I am very nervous and excited to ask him about our wedding.” Kayal told me as she went out with a glass of water. It feels like everyone is replacing me, Ramya akka first and now Kayal.

“We will come tomorrow in the evening, Kayal. I promised Ramya akka that I would make jamun powder for her mom. I have to go there to collect jamun fruits.” I told her.

“Ok!” She went outside. 

Never once he looked at me for the entire time he was there. Everyone applauded my cooking and he said nothing. It is not new but it affects me in more ways now. I cannot let this stupid feeling grow. He is not meant for me. 

‘Imaya, I have made arrangements for your first in-house experience. You have to go to room 11 in the ortho wing tomorrow at 4pm. All the best.’ Ram texted me. He is one good man. In just two weeks, his place in my heart is rising at the pace of a cheetah. With his influence, he is doing it after knowing my interest. 

‘Thank you so much, Ram. Your help will never be forgotten!’ I replied to him with a happy smile.

‘Hmmm, so am I forgettable?’ He replied. His text made my insides twist.

‘No! You are not forgettable.’ I texted him back. For the past week, he is the only refuge I took whenever I was upset with Indar mama. He was there every time I needed him. He is going out of ways to help me. I can feel that he has an interest in me. I decided to let my life take me where it leads to. Indar mama is not mine to hold on to.