Chanakyan's love

Twenty seven

Chanakyan

The saffron-shaded flag will be hoisted in the temple at late dusk today, denoting the official commencement of the yearly festival. And one of the chief guests we've invited is the father-in-law of Gurumurthy.

As soon as I gained Gurumurthy's location from one of his goons, we researched his family background and found Mr. Durai. Despite being crammed with luxury and wealth, the old man remained humble, contributing most of his profits to societal welfare.

That's one of the reasons I decided to invite him as the chief guest. The other being my intention to finish off his son-in-law within our Village.

Murdering a person in the city is a dumb thing to do, thus, I formulated a plan in which we could bring that bastard into our place on his own and terminate him. Perhaps it's a coincidence or maybe god's grace, the temple festival arrived at the right time, aiding me construed a clear plot to kill the evil-minded person.

There's eight more days till I see the scoundrel face to face and behead him. The eighth day is the main festival and we've earnestly invited all his family members to attend it on that day.

Gurumurthy would be prepared on his side as well, grabbing this chance to seek his revenge on Ayya's family. Hence we ought to be extra vigilant.

I discussed everything with Ayya after I'd implemented the preliminary part of my plan, that is, inviting Mr. Durai. Ayya was hesitant initially and wasn't okay with the temple festival being disrupted but I assured him that I would end the bastard's life quietly without distracting the people's joyful mood.

It's been a couple of days since Gowthami's exams have begun, she has four examinations in total, and one has gotten over. She's way too into those books that she could hardly mind anyone around her, even her husband.

It was displeasing, but I admired her involvement in studies, as I'd always done, although I didn't have any interest in those white papers scribbled with English words. The language gives me nightmares. I've been on a break from mastering that language due to Gowthami's busy schedule. However, once she's free...she will again start to torture me with that language.

The mere thought of it is equally annoying and terrifying to me.

"Chanakya, dai, what are you daydreaming about!?" I shake my head at the confused Hari and tie the LED lights over the gigantic tree outside the temple.

We're both seated on the branches of the tree at present and we've been helping with decoration and other essentials since the dawn. It's noon now and almost all of the works aimed to enhance the festive mood have been completed.

The devotional song has started to stream off the speaker and I, along with my friends, retired to the food-providing place beside the temple arena to consume the lunch. For eight days from now on, food will be offered in the temple on account of the festival. Vegetarian meals are a treat to one's stomach!

Amidst the rush, we squeeze ourselves out after ingesting the food and depart to the temple to check If any necessities are unmet.

As we were roaming around the temple, Ayya, along with Amma and Gowthami entered the holy place. My ratchasi (demoness) is stressed yet wears a smile on her countenance.

She has a contrastive color saree draped around her. The greenish-yellow attire is eye-catching and her overall makeover, though simple, is alluring.

Standing beside a pillar, I sighed out a breath that was stuck in my throat upon gazing at my Gowthami. I silently watch them as the three members worship the deity. Once my in-laws move out of the scene and shift away to the other chambers of God, I pop beside Gowthami.

I clear my throat to acquire her attention and she unhurriedly unlocks her eyelids and perks up at me.

Her kajal-drawn eyes draw me in effortlessly and I mesmerizingly peek into her eyes.

"Have you had food Chanakya?" I nod at her sweet question. "I would have waited for you If you'd informed me about your arrival earlier on," I say as we both start to walk alongside each other.

"I wasn't known either, Chanakya. Appa, at the last minute of their departure, had a change of heart and pressed that I should accompany them. He said he would like to do a special pooja for me, for my well-being," We both halt at another chamber and I touch my palms together as I nod understandingly to her.

We both maintained quietude and circled the chamber before resuming our saunter again. "Three more exams Chanakya. I would be so glad If the time could pass faster. I can't wait to be stress-free," she mumbles softly and worriedly.

"Don't be so distressed, Gowthami. The exams will pass in the blink of an eye If you'd just stop being overly concerned about it and instead focus your interest on your husband," Gowthami puts a full stop to her moving legs and stares up into my eyes, with gentleness.

"Manichiru Chanakya. (Forgive me, Chanakya) We'll spend more time together when my examination ends..." I shake my head at her.

"More time? Your full-time should be dedicated to me, okay?" I lean a bit down to her face level and smirk slightly. Her reaction changes from a sorrowful one to a timid one and she quickly runs away from me.

Smiling at her fading form, I stalk her to the main aisle of the temple where her family stands beside her as the temple priest performs a pooja procedure on her by chanting mantras and showering the sacred ash onto her head.

He then asked her to take a dip at the pond situated within the temple before exiting the place. As Gowthami, along with her mother shuffles away to the pond, I meet with Ayya. He implored about the arrangements of the festival and our conversation flowed around the same.

A while later, Ayya comes across another elderly man and begins to converse with him. Carefully, I slip off the picture and wander towards the pond to see my Gowthami.

My heart stumbles in its regular beat, suddenly forgetting the rhythm that it's supposed to follow as my eyes seize in the scene of my Gowthami rising from the water body.

It isn't desire, it is devotion that I feel toward her at the moment.

And when she aligns her vision to me and blossoms a smile, I unknowingly smile at her, a genuine one that rose from my soul.

The girl in front of me right now isn't my princess...

Neither is my demoness...

She's a literal goddess. I could bow down to her and serve her for eternity.

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