A reason to live.

Chapter 11

Once our shopping was over, night was not faraway. We went home at around 3:30pm “Make a list of your friends who'll be coming tomorrow and a list of all the arrangements we have to do, quick, don't waste time" ma said as she walked hurriedly across the room gathering the various phone numbers.

Appa had a control of the decorations. He called some people and they examined our home and were given all details about the functions and decorations. The decorations would be ready tomorrow morning, then the caterers, athai was an expert in this, so she handled that, we had our signature biryani and a few other things.

“Hello Anna."pa's youngest sister said as she entered. It was nearly 6:00pm by the time all the preparation  was under control. We drank our tea, we heard the door bell ring. “I'll get it" I said as I opened the door and was shocked to see my would be athai and mama. I took them inside “We just wanted to make sure of the preparations” mama said 

“You're most welcome, by the way this is my sister, Dhalia." pa said “greetings" athai said with folded hands, that was the way we greeted our elders.

Where is Rohan, why didn't he come?I hope he's fine I thought as all were talking, Lily athai guessed my expression “Rohan stayed back as he had to do certain preparations." athai told me from one corner which made everyone turn to me and I knew my smile deepened because of embarrassment and my cheeks flushed, I immediately looked down to avoid eye contact. Thank God my phone beeped. 

“Hey please come tomorrow, there's a function at home and I really want you guys to be there."I told krys without even allowing her to tell ‘hi' “okayy, just send a message on whatsapp, we'll all come, anyway we are all free. What  time." Krys asked “uh....mm. At 11:30am come okay?" I said. I hadn't told anyone of my engagement and I wanted to surprise them, good thing Krys didn't ask ‘what function’. I then sent a message on whatsapp ‘all of you come tomorrow to my home at 11:30am there's an important function and I want you guys to be there' Immediately I received replies from my besties that they would come, I was excited to see their reaction.

It was around 8p. and the elders were discussing many things which I didn't know was needed for an engagement. I sat there and listened to it all, every small thing had a significance and it was good to know about it. Then we decided to have dinner, ma had made idlis and tomato chutney, we ate and decided to sleep early as we needed to get up early and do the decorations.

I was walking Lily athai to their car,that's when I noticed that Rohan was in the car. He was smiling and didn't look confused (the way he looked in the morning) he got out of the car and walked towards me, my heart beats raced but I gave a blank expression and though I felt my stomach void, I stayed still as he walked towards me. “Hey we are still friends right? just like the first time we met? cause this engagement thing and all is getting in the way of our friendship, let's be the way we used to be, okayy?” he said

“I was thinking of the same thing, like we've not spoken properly since this whole thing, so, friends??'' I said as I extended my hand and he shook my palm, the heat of his palm was felt good as my fingers were cold. 

“Okay now tell me what are you going to wear tomorrow?” I asked as I walked closer to him so that he could tell me in my ear. 

“Uh...mm, Sorry that is a surprise, you'll have to wait” he winked.

“Did you invite your friends?” he asked 

“I did invite them but I didn't tell them why.” I said as I smiled. 

“That's great, cause I invited a few of my friends so I wanted to know if they'll have company” as we spoke we walked to the car, we were standing at its door I don't know how, I guess it’s a habit, I always do that when I'm with my besties but now!!! I was holding Rohan's hand, our hands were interlocked at the elbow and he didn't remove his hand, I guess he found out that if he removed, I might fall as I walk,  oh, yea....I've fallen and hurt myself as I've walked. We reached the car and we exchanged 'byes'.

I went inside and ma told me to go sleep. I came to my room and locked the door. I looked around and I straightened up the things a bit. I changed the curtains, kept all the things that were scattered, in its place, on the shelf and put away anything breakable inside, I didn't want people breaking my stuff.

Once I was done, I slept, after praying and asking God for answers if I was on the right path and to bless my life. I soon went off to my dreamland, anyway I don't remember what I dreamt, I woke up at 4 in the morning changed the bedspread and pillow cover. I went out and ma and pa were awake. The decoration workers had come and work began in the hall, the stairs, the backyard was also being decorated and we needed to put long tables and chairs. I decided to do the least I could and started arranging the chairs and dusting them. We were aiming at 40 to 50 people, as we were doing our work my other athais came and they also got to work. It was 9am and we were done with majority of the work, the workers had to just put up a little more decor, we decided to have breakfast and ma told me to start getting ready as I shouldn't be late.