You and I - a pranushka tale

chapter ten

As soon as they arrived back home, Mithrah was quick to notice the other vehicle wasn't right behind them. With a slight sulk in her expression, she walked towards her room, her shopping bags in her hand. Reluctantly, she accepted she didn't like the drive back home as much as she liked the drive towards the store.

And it was all because of him.

Still distracted by her thoughts she placed her bags on her bed, before pulling out the sarees he chose out. They were all beautiful and she only hoped to do them justice. As she caressed the material, a small smile found her lips. It was obvious to her now that she didn't hate him like she hoped.

There was something else there in replacement.

Suddenly, her eyes widened like a light bulb just switched on in her head. She realised what exactly it was that she felt. A sense of panic flourished through her. "I like him." She whispered, her voice sounding shocked. "Oh shit. I like him." She paced around the room, not knowing how to react as she muttered incoherent sentences. "I like him. I like Rana's best friend," she muttered in disgust at the awful cliche before jumping onto the bed in aggravation, her thoughts running wild.

A few minutes later she walked back downstairs with a dazed look in her eyes. She was still not over her realisation. That's when she saw the second jeep finally pull in front of the Villa. Mithrah noticed how Prabhas was the last to get out. But that wasn't the only thing she noticed. She walked closer, her eyes narrowed as she saw his clothes looked slightly dishevelled, his curls were messier and he walked towards the house shaking his hand out lightly before hiding it behind his back when Padmini went to greet him.

Confused, she stared at him longer before someone began to call her, causing her to reluctantly pull her eyes away from him and walk away. It was Radha that wanted to tell Mithrah tomorrow would be the first official poojai at the temple. It was to mark the beginning of the festival and she wanted her daughter to be prepared for it. When Mithrah walked back out she saw Soori hurry towards her with an excited grin.

"Why do you look so happy?" She asked laughing as his smile was far too contagious and one that spread to everyone around.

"You will never guess what I heard." He said leaning closer to Mithrah as if he was about to say the juiciest gossip she would hear all year.

Like him, she too leaned closer and cocked her eyebrows at him. "Go on." She whispered.

"Someone had apparently beat up some of Guna's men near that store you guys shopped at today," Soori said, joy clear in his tone. "You know that big one that always followed Guna around, the one with the blond hair? Whoever it was, broke his hand. This is the only talk in town right now." Soori said not noticing the expression on Mithrah's face.

The dots all connected in her head and she looked annoyed. Leaving Soori, she walked around the house trying to find Prabhas to place her wrath upon but much to his luck she couldn't find him. She slowly walked back to the kitchen finally giving up when she heard his laugh. Her ears perked upwards as she walked towards the dining table and saw all her aunties swarm around him. He had his hands in his pockets as he almost charmed the sarees off everyone there. They were all feeding him spoonfuls of the dishes they had just prepared which he appeared to be enjoying.

With narrowed eyes, Mithrah stepped closer. That's when Prabhas looked at her. He watched her walk closer with an expressionless gaze, his previous smile dropping. Once her aunts noticed his attention was elsewhere they turned to look at her. Soon she was being fed spoonfuls but she wasn't able to enjoy the flavours as much as she wanted. She saw Prabhas try and reach for a napkin when everyone was looking at her but he winced at the movement and put his hand behind his back.