The String of Hearts ( Completed )

10) First Night-s

Vennela's Point Of View

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I had severe headache and I took tablets which I was carrying and took rest for a while. Divya Akka was taking care of Vibha in the other room. Divya is Dr. Jay's elder sister who is married and settled in Delhi. She was kind enough and took care us like her own.

I was given the guest room. Unknowingly I fell asleep in the bed. Few hours later , I woke up hearing the knock outside. I walked upto the door and opened it. It was Dr. Jay's mother. She gave me a new saree and asked me to come to the hall for dinner. I nodded. After freshening up I walked to the hall and found everyone seated. Vibha was missing. When I enquired about her to Divya Akka she told me that she'd taken her dinner early and is taking rest now. I felt relieved. I sat besides Dr. Jay who sat quietly. Anand smiled at me and I smiled back. I also saw Divya Akkas husband , Rajeev who was sitting besides her. There was a strange silence which made me nervous. His parents were silently eating without raising their heads

I know that no one is happy with these two marriages.

I felt churning in stomach and I could digest properly. I was scared thinking about the rest of my life here. I barely ate the food and quickly finished off my dinner.

Divya Akka took me back to my room.

"Vennela I know what you're feeling right now. But my family is not bad. They are just broken and too shocked to cope with these happenings. But they will surely accept you and Vibha. Just give them some time. Everything will be alright"she said and I nodded with a smile hopefully.

Later I call Amma and we talk for a while. My uncle family is staying back with her today. She asked me to take care of Vibha. I could hear her broken voice. I held back my tears and quickly cut the call before it broke me down.

I was taken to his room by Divya Akka. I didn't knew what to feel right now. I was scared as hell because I know that he's very much unhappy with this marriage

What if he slaps me?

What if he tortures me physically?

I didn't had any other option. I slowly opened the door and walked inside. He was nowhere to be seen. I sighed and looked around the room. He had a cupboard full of trofees. Probably he was a sportsman back in college or school? There were framed certificates too. I could see that he was a brilliant student too!

His frames hung in the wall. Most of them with Anand. Their childhood pictures looked so cute to me. There was a picture in which they both were sticking their tongues out to the camera. Dr. Jay was indeed handsome from the childhood

Handsome and him?

I haven't even looked at him so closely.

My thoughts got snapped when the washroom door flung open. Dr. Jay stepped outside , rubbing his wet hairs by his towel. I got startled. His eyes fell on me. I stood like a statue , looked everywhere but not at him. He walked to the table and plugged his phone to the charger. He then turned towards me.

"Why are you standing like this?"he asked. I wondered how should I stand instead.

"Dr. Vennela?"

"Yes?"I said as I looked upto to meet his eyes

"We both know how this happened. There's no point in talking over it again so I'm not doing it. But the truth is , I can never accept you as my wife"he said. Tears brimmed in my eyes but I forced myself to hold it back.

"We can never be a husband and wife , we can never be friends and we can never love each other. We are sharing this room that means we are just rommates. You work under me. So you're my colleague too. There's nothing more than that. You don't need to interfere in my personal life and I won't do that to you as well. Did you get me?"he asked