You and I - a pranushka tale

chapter thirty

The marriage continued peacefully with nothing but pure bliss.

After Bhavani and his men left, there were no other disruptions as the union of Rana and Thara went by seamlessly. It was almost as if everyone had forgotten the unwanted visit. Everyone but Mithrah who found herself restless. She stepped out to a nearby balcony to feel the evening air soothe her heated skin. As she held onto the bannister with her eyes shut, she kept replaying the moment Bhavani passed by her mother.

There was a frown on her face as she repeated his expression in her mind, the way his stone-like face cracked for something else that she couldn't decipher no matter how hard she tried. Was it a glare? She scowled and shook her head. She'd seen him glare enough times to know that wasn't it. 

But it wasn't just Bhavani's unnatural behaviour that had intrigued her. It was how her mother reacted. She looked away as if his stare had affected her. Her racing thoughts came to a halt as she heard a soft voice behind her.

"Mithrah, what are you doing out here? Everyone else is inside." Radha asked, walking towards her daughter who appeared visibly troubled. She frowned at her expression and took ahold of her hand. "What are you thinking about? You look stressed."

Mithrah wondered whether to just lie and brush it off but she knew her curiosity would get the best of her. She tilted her head and gave her mother a look of intrigue. "Earlier on today, when Bhavani was walking towards Rana and Thara," she began slowly, already noticing the way Radha's expression dropped. "He stopped in front of you. I first didn't think much of it but...but he was different for those few seconds he was looking at you." She commented, her voice filled with the surprise she had felt at that time. "I don't know what exactly it was but he looked like he wanted to say something to you."

With a sigh, Radha looked out into the distance. Nature, as devastatingly beautiful as it is, peered back at her. There was no judgement, no cruelty or hatred. Rather it filled her with peace. She wondered if finally telling her daughter the real reason for Veeraiyandi's and Bhavani's enmity might give her a sense of solace that was similar.

"I knew Bhavani before I met your father." She finally confessed.

Mithrah stiffened as she stared back at her mother with a look of shock. "What? How did you know him?" She asked.

Radha glanced back with a humourless smile. "Do you suppose we have time for me to tell you a short story?"

~

Growing up marriage was not something I ever thought about. When I was your age I didn't think much of anything. I had no great desire or dream that I wanted to achieve yet that was all until I met your father. But before Veera was there, Bhavani had entered my life.

Radha had just arrived back into her house from college when her cousin, Soundharya, hurried towards her with a wary expression. Radha immediately looked concerned as she cocked her head. "What is it? Is everything okay?" She asked.

Soundharya lowered her voice. "Someone has apparently asked for your hand in marriage. Everyone is preparing for him to come and see you." She whispered looking at Radha with worry.

Radha frowned. "What?"

But before she could continue her mother came rushing over to her. She started ushering Radha towards her room. "I've already placed a saree on the bed for you. Go and get ready." She ordered. When she saw Radha begin to oppose, she shook her head with a sigh. "This is not a proposal that is in our control Radha." With that cryptic statement, she turned to leave, choosing to ignore all the questions that her daughter threw at her.