The Path to Love

Chapter 10

All the rituals were over. Mounika was on the stage, right next to the bride. Her parents were there too, but they left when another family came at the time for the photos.

The most important people were taking their pictures, while Uday was standing upon the force of Nishita and Roja.

"Nishita, how many things are you going to make me do today?"

She smirked. "Hehe, you'll see."

He said, sarcastically, "I'm probably the most luckiest man on Earth right? For having a sister like you?" Nishita took a bow.

It was his turn.

Mounika saw him as he was getting up the three stairs onto the stage. She swallowed hard. She didn't know if she was scared, embarrassed, or nervous, because him, but she remained quiet.

Ashwin said to Sandhya, "This is the cousin who I was talking about who was studying in MIT. This is Uday."

Sandhya gave a sudden surprised look towards Uday, who was confused on what that emotion was supposed to mean. Sandhya turned towards Mounika and gave a look which asked, "Is he the one?"

Mounika looked at Uday for two seconds, turned to Sandhya again, and nods. Sandhya chuckled.

Mounika whispered, "What's so funny, huh?"

Uday understood by the chuckle. Meanwhile, the photographer called, "Ma'am, please look here for a picture!"

They all looked at the camera, while Uday looked away towards Mounika in a second, with a small smile on his face.

"Sir, you too," the photographer called. Mounika looked towards the men and saw who wasn't looking at the camera when Ashwin asked Uday, "Where are you looking at, idiot?"

They all took a picture, after a few seconds of Uday and Mounika staring at each other. After the picture, after Mounika left to go to Kumar, Uday went to the photographer.

"Smile-"

"Yo, photographer, need something from you."

The short photographer had to look up, like he was looking at the clouds. "Before that, I want to ask you something."

"Um, okay, what?"

"Why you so tall?"

Uday gave him a confused look. "Um, it's my dad's fault. Anyways, I need a favor from you."

"And that is?"

Mounika looked towards the photographer and Uday and gave a serious look. Uday, who was turned towards Mounika, turned to the opposite side.

"What do you need, sir," asked the photographer.

"Remember the picture you took with me and the bride and the groom and the bride's sister?"

"Uhuh."

"I need a personal copy of it, soft copy or hard copy."

The photographer remained silent for a moment. "It's gonna cost you."

"I'm ready to pay all I have."

Uday looked through his wallet and found three $20 bills, and he gave two of the three to the photographer. "I need the $20, or else my mom is going to kill me."

"I'll send you a soft copy, write your email on a piece of paper while I take some pictures." He stayed silent for a moment again. "May I ask you something, sir?"

"Yeah?"

"Is it a love story?"

Uday handed the piece of paper to the photographer, smiled, and "jogged" towards Nishita, who was next to Naresh. "Why are you running and smiling like a girl?" Nishita gave Uday a look. Luckily, someone called Naresh at the same time.

"What was he doing here?"

"He was looking at your entire 'love story' and asked me if you had any."

Shoot.

"Oh, um, okay then, looks like I need better acting skills."

Uday got up to get some mango lassi for himself as he was thirsty. Meanwhile, Mounika was getting a full bottle of lassi at the same place.

Oh god, why's Uday here now?

Uday was nervously tapping his foot. "Um, hi again."

"Hey, what were you talking about with the photographer, if you don't mind?"

"Not at all, just, umm, about, getting some solo pictures of myself."

"Oh really?"

Nah, not really. "Yes, yes of course!"

Before Mounika left, she told Uday, "Don't tell anyone about the bottle of Lassi, especially not Asha." Uday nodded his head, and Mounika left.

That night, Uday and his family all stayed at a hotel. Uday was thinking about the time he spent with Mounika at the wedding. He never spoke to her for so long.

Nishita, on the other queen bed, said, "Bhaiyya, go to sleep and stop thinking about the wedding."

Uday actes as if he was sleeping, but he didn't. He was in lalaland, thinking about his special one.