Healing His Grieving Heart

The wedding

Two days later...

Kasturi was discharged from the hospital. While at the hospital Sanjay and Kasturi has spoken to Deepti's parents about the wedding. They've decided to have it in 3 weeks, which is the next mugurtham (auspicious time in a day).

So the next couple of days Deepti was hauled to multiple stores, to buy her wedding saree, then to the tailor to get it tailored before wedding.

Her amma, Madhu has barely spoken to her, as she had been opposing to this since the beginning. Madhu has limited herself from speaking to Deepti. She only talks when necessary.

Deepti had no one to share her agreement with her would be. Deepti has always been a shy and introverted girl. She usually becomes the third or fifth wheel of the friend group and got forgotten or ignored by her so called friends when she finished school. Then in college she had no time to make friends as she worked part time to pay for her education. Now as a teacher, she was the only young and unmarried teacher at the school hence the other long timers would boycott her. She had to rely on herself for so long that she felt hopeless and helpless in this situation. Not a single human being to cry at.

Her appetite to eat also has been gone. When her parents would call her for meals, she would say she's not hungry but they would force her, so to please them, she would put just a little bit of food on her plate and force herself to eat that.

A week later...

Her aunt (Madhu's sister), Prema had come to their house. "Why did you agree to this Deepti?" was Prema's question towards Deepti. Deepti couldn't look her aunt in the eye and answer. "Do you think he'll be able to take care of you as good as mama (Deepti's appa, Bhaskar).?" Prema looked intently waiting for Deepti to say something.

Madhu is watching while everything unfolds.

"Don't question her a lot Prema" said Deepti's appa out of no where. "She had agreed. No one is forcing her. I believe in Sanjay. He is a good boy." Bhaskar reassures.

In an attempt to convince Bhaskar, Prema argues "But mama, you want your daughter to be a second wife to a guy? And to widowed guy. Don't you love her? Why would you do that to her?. Its not too late, we can still call off this wedding and find a better suitor for her, who will cherish her for who she is. I will personally find a guy myself but please don't push her into this sinkhole." Prema begs for the wellbeing of her niece.

In a harsh tone Bhaskar says "Stop talking nonsense Prema. He will take good care of her. Don't underestimate him just because his my sister's son."

"Mama, she is still young. Don't get her married to any guy, just because she had a couple of suitors reject her due to her weight. Even though he may be your sister's son, have you ever seen him show interest in Deepti before? Your sister is just trying her luck. She.." Prema was cut off by Bhaskar.

"Enough Prema!" He yells with his hands raised to pause her. "Don't talk ill about my sister. She knows best. She won't ask for Deepti to marry Sanjay simply because... Ugh, it's useless explaining to you. You will see how good he will treat her." Bhaskar says and storms away.

Prema and Madhu both defeated in calling this wedding off.

Deepti's POV

The tears on the brim of Deepti's eyes escapes as she runs away to her room.

She plops on her bed hugging her childhood toy.

Am I doing the right thing? Should I call off the wedding? What if I get Prema aunty to inform Kasturi atteh? Will it work? What if she gets another attack? Aiyoo kaduvule!(oh God!) Deepti rolls in bed crying and thinking.