Chanakyan's love

Ten

Gowthami

As usual, I dress up in a churidar and lower the stairs to have my breakfast. I could hear screams of a man rosing from outdoors and I sulk at the sound. I raise my head and through the window of the living room, I witness the horrifying scene of Chanakya beating up a man...

My stomach churns at the scene. How did I fall for this guy? And how could this brutal man love me as sweetly as I want him to?

I gulp in fear and half-heartedly start to have the food that my mother sets on the table. Once done with the food, I depart to the car while trying my best to avoid gazing at Chanakya.

He's not normal now. He is in his beast state and I don't have the guts to face him. Hence I hurry to the car and settle inside quietly. The drive was smooth but my head was bustling with Chanakya's thoughts. Even when I reached college, I couldn't prevent myself from speculating about him and my feelings for him. I like him but he becomes so scary at times that I'm having a hard time imagining him as my husband.

Besides that, I'm not certain what to make out of his behavior on the last day. But I guess I reacted rashly without giving much analysis to his action of buying me Halwa and Jasmine...

I asked him to curb his lust and show me his love. Hence it's unlikely that he deliberately got me those things that indicate sex. He must have been mislead. There can be no other explanation behind it. I remember Hari telling me about Chanakya and him coming back with a surprise. His friends may have purposely made him a fool.

I must converse with Chanakya. He doesn't have to learn to love. It doesn't work that way. Each person's love language differs and he needs to figure out his form himself.

We have to spend more time with each other. I hope that will aid him in exhibiting his love for me...

Yes, that's the right thing to do.

Henceforth, I make up my mind and steer my attention to the lectures.

And when I arrived at my home in the evening, Chanakya was quick to approach me as soon as I hop out of the car. "Get ready, we are going to the temple," I blink at him in surprise but bob my head positively without any protest as I was already planning on expending some time with him.

"And Gowthami...I'm sorry about the jasmine and halwa. I didn't know it implies that. Some people gave me wrong ideas," I narrow my eyes at him. So it's what I'd speculated it to be...

"Okay, I trust you but don't pull any such stunts again," he nods at my words. "I will try not to," he speaks firmly and moves out of my way.

Momentarily, I shift to my room, run a hot shower, and deck on a pink-white half saree. Then I place a pink pottu (bindi) between my brows, draw kajal inside my eyes, place two hairpins on the hair strands beside my ear, and let my hair flow freely on my back.

After checking myself in the mirror one last time, I step downstairs and announce to my parents about my visit to the temple. Father asked me to go by car yet again but I stood adamant and claimed that I wanted to walk to the temple, so that he would send Chanakya with me...

Upon getting irritated by my persistence, he finally asks one of his men to accompany me. None moved except Chanakya.

Not giving him much attention, I casually saunter out of my home with Chanakya behind me. I am quite thrilled. "Why do you suddenly want to take me to the temple?" I ask as I decrease my pace to walk alongside him.

He shrugs.

"I have seen couples going to the temple together and I thought you would like it too," He says nonchalantly while I smile warmly at his answer.

As the sun entirely disappears from the world, we reach the temple that is lit with small lamps. It was a divine sight to discern the deities glowing under the luminescence of the lamps. There are only a few people in the temple at this time and that added to the silent beauty of the temple.

Chanakya was praying sincerely and I was amazed looking at him. I mean, it's not a normal sight to behold a rugged man being devotional. Also, I wonder what it is that he's praying so earnestly to God. I supposed I could ask him the same when we retreat the temple and let him pray peacefully now.

Minutes later, we stand before the shrine of the main deity of the temple, that is, Lord Shiva, and pray in quietude. When we both open our eyes to receive the sacred vermillion and sandalwood with a few little blossoms showered on a leaf from the iyer, we discern a married couple opposite to us. They were helping each other apply the sacred powders on their forehead.

Immediately so, I feel an overwhelming sensation in my being when Chanakya spots vermillion on my forehead. However, he appears proud and ducks his head to my level, pointing to his forehead and impliedly asking me to smear the sacred powder on him.

I feel slightly timid as I place the sacred vermillion and sandalwood on his forehead. He gives me a sharp look and straightens his body...

"Let's go," he says and I nod at him. We wander unhurriedly out of the temple and I commence to speak. "When did you start liking me Chanakya?" I am really eager to know that. "Since we were little," he mutters, indifferently. Since that long??

"Why didn't you confess to me earlier on?" I query, confused. "I thought you knew..." This man...

"You are so delusional. And I've always noted you staring at me and came to the conclusion that you are a pervert. The thought of you bearing feelings for me never crossed my mind in all these years," Chanakya doesn't respond. He doesn't even seem to pay his full interest to me...

Huh?

"Chanakya..." He snaps his head at me. "Are you even listening to what I'm saying?" He doesn't speak but rather looks around with a cautious look in his countenance.

"What happened?" I ask, suddenly feeling scared. Noticing my panic, Chanakya fixes his eyes on me. "Do not be frightened," as he mutters that, he swiftly twirls me to his side and kicks an armed man with a knife who came out of the blue...

My heartbeat escalates as I see another man with a rod walking towards us from the bushes to the side.

This is not good...

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