ENCHANTED- BY LOVE (completed)

28

*** Vaishnavi ***

"Should I wear Purple or red?" I asked more to myself as I looked through the wardobe to choose my outfit before I could go for a bath. I was a little taken aback at the lack of response from Sruthi or the other women but continued anyway, "No, I cannot choose purple, Adi will certainly pull out my braid if I do that....so what if I...."

I stopped talking when a hand from behind suddenly closed my eyes. It is not hard to guess who it is as it is a man's hand and there is only one man who could come this close to me....but I decided to be a little...rebellious....

"Sruthi, is that you?" I asked touching his hand.

He took a step closer so that he is standing directly behind me.

"Do I sound like Sruthi?" he whispered.

"Must be Naina," I guessed.

Adi gently held my hand with his free hand and intertwinned our fingers.

"If you guess it wrong again, I will be forced to prove my identity in other ways," he warned.

"Surely this is Pallu," I continued to play along and immediately felt a kiss on my cheek.

I quickly removed his hand from my eyes and looked around nervously. I did not expect him to kiss me infront of the other women, especially Pallu.

"There is no one around, Vaishu," Adi assured, "I am not that uncultured." "Have a look at this," he said with a smile giving me a jewellery box.

I opened it to find a beautiful necklace along with matching earrings.

"Whom did you get this for?" I asked curiously.

"Whom did I get this for?" Adi repeated my statement. "Pallavi," he answered.

"That is wonderful," I smiled, "This will look really good on her. Let me...."

Adi held my hand and blocked my way.

"Vaishu, why would I get jewellery for Pallavi?" he asked a little frustrated.

"Then...whom is it for?" I asked 'confused'.

"The walls," Adi replied angrily, "They are not decorated enough, so I got them some jewellery." 

I looked down trying to hold back my smiles.

"I better leave before I..." Adi was about to leave but I held his hand.

"Even I find it amusing to make my husband angry," I said playfully.

"Do you, Vaishu?" Adi's frown turned into a surprised smile. "Then you must also know that...." he paused when he heard the sound of drums indicating that the royal court is about to start.

"Never thought I would regret being a king," he joked making me smile. "Alright," he said turning me around, "Let us see how the necklace would look on you."

"Do not pull out my braid again," I warned.

"Yes, your highness, I will not," Adi said playfully and moved my braid to the front. I waited for him to put on the necklace but he remained still. I felt his fingers touch the back of my neck.

"Vaishu, why do you have a burnt mark here?" Adi asked surprised. 

Oh no! I did not expect to still have that mark....

I quickly turned around in panic. 

Please do not start that conversation Adi.....

"How did it happen?" Adi asked again.