The Unfinished Poetry √

Part Thirty Eight

Avanthika sat still on the bed wrapped in a blanket, when the door bell rang.
She slowly got down the bed, her head felt lighter after a ten hours long sleep.
She turned the knob to open the door.
Amarendra stood with a smile. And beside him, Devasena.
With a streak of vermilion along the partition of her hair. With a mangalsutra securely tied around her neck. With bunches of tingling kangans across her wrists.
Avanthika watched both of them very carefully, and then broadened her lips to shape a smile.
Supposedly something that surprised the guests.
Guest? Amarendra obviously.
" Good morning! Come in. "
Avanthika stepped back to welcome the newly weds. Amarendra walked in swiftly while Devasena hesitated, while it must have been the other way round.
Avanthika grabbed her hand and pulled her in.
" Congratulations sister! Wish you a happy married life. Adway had told me you were marrying. And I feel you make a perfect duo! "
Devasena was utterly startled, but then, Avanthika had always been highly unpredictable.

" Adway? How did he know? " , a more surprised Amarendra settled on the couch, leaving Devasena wonder about the same.

Avanthika ignored the statement.
" You won't mind coffee, right Amarendra?
Devasena loves coffee! "

Amarendra smiled and nodded a yes, while Devasena still stood highly uncomfortable. Amarendra gestured her to sit.
Avanthika went over to the kitchenette and talked loudly from there,
" So Deva is leaving for London? "

Devasena and Amarendra exchanged estranged glances..
Amarendra reciprocated, " Yeah but not permanently. She'll be back to finish her graduations. "

" And you? "
Avanthika talked back, still out of sight.
Devasena silently kept rubbing her palm against her skirt.

Amarendra took sometime answering this.
" I haven't decided as of yet. I may shift permanently to India. "

Avanthika came out from the kitchenette with three coffee mugs with fuming coffee.
" Such love! "
She said, with a very genuine looking smile as she placed the mugs on the table.

Devasena again looked at Amarendra, who rather looked at Avanthika and returned a wider smile.

" Devasena, you are behaving as if we have never met! "
Suddenly Avanthika confronted an unnecessarily uncomfortable Devasena.
" ...as if I'm Amarendra's friend, and you are along with him to visit me after his marriage. "

Avanthika herself giggled at her joke, making Devasena more uncomfortable.
Amarendra picked up a coffee mug and handed it to Devasena, who took it hesitatingly.
He then stretched another one out to Avanthika.
Finally taking one for him, he said, " Actually Avanthika, she believes you are raising some devastating misconceptions about her. Maybe that's making her uncomfortable. We believe that we should talk over things to clear them up. "

Avanthika took in a big sip.
Devasena stared at her.
" What's wrong with you guys? Like really?
I'm clearly not interested! I'm really sorry Deva for all those threats yesterday but even you know they're hollow! Yes I remember my past, I committed crimes I don't regret, but I don't want those to take up my current life as well. Listen, I'm making it very clear that whatever stories you have come up with, I won't believe any. But the bigger fact is that, I don't care!!! 
I'm extremely happy my sister got married, I'm extremely happy because you both will be happy with this decision. I am not a threat to you that you'll have to explain things to me. You may call me a murderer in this life even, but I promise, I won't! "