Chapter 15

Midhuna ignored his words and boarded the bus.

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On the same day, evening….

Amrutha was sitting in the garden and trying hard to recollect what happened last night but nothing was striking in her mind.

She sat silently on the chair and was looking blankly at the pale sky. 

" Madam, take this milk." One maid gave her the glass.

" I am not interested. Take away…" she rejected.

But the maid requested her and made Amrutha drink the milk. She was getting bored and wanted to talk with her friend, Midhuna. From the morning, she didn't find the mobile with her. She thought that she lost somewhere in the club. She walked into the house and noticed Midhuna waiting for her in the hall.

" Hi, Mithu...What a surprise? I was thinking about you and you are here.." She said excitedly.

" Karthik told me everything. So I came here to see you. " Midhuna said.

They both went to Amrutha's room and closed the door so that her father could not hear their conversation.

 Amrutha was feeling very strange after finding herself close to Dhruv in the morning and she also wanted to confirm that she is not pregnant after sleeping beside Dhruv. She explained to Mithuna everything that happened in Dhruv's room in the morning. 

It was hard to believe Ammu's words. She thought about how a man could behave properly when the girl was not in her senses. Still, it was a wonder to her. At last, Mithuna agreed whatever Dhruv said was true then all her tensions in her mind vanished in one go. She felt relaxed when her friend confirmed she is not pregnant.

" Dhruv is really great. He saved you and took care of you the whole night. Mostly, I am impressed that he didn't try to take advantage of your situation." Mithuna expressed her view to Ammu.

" Yeah...you are true. He is a very caring and honest person. " Amurtha agreed with her friend's words.

When they were talking, Arvind knocked on the door and entered the room. He informed that Dhruv came home to return her mobile which she forgot at his home. Instantly, Ammu stood up from the bed and went to meet Dhruv who was waiting in the hall.

" How is your headache now?" Dhruv asked her.

" Hmmm...now, I am fine" she replied.

Arvind signaled Dhruv to come to his room secretly.

He gave her mobile and followed Arvind to his room. There was an unknown disappointment in her face when Dhruv left along with his brother. She silently walked to her room then she realized Mithuna was waiting in her room. She apologized to Mithuna for making her wait.

" Ammu... it's okay."  She said.

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Same time…. In Arvind's room 

" Yeah…..tell me, why did you ask me to come with you to the room? Is anything you want to discuss?" Dhruv asked Arvind.

Suddenly, Arvind hugged Dhruv and thanked him to save his sister.

" It's my responsibility to save my best friend's sister," Dhruv said casually.

" You don't know from whom you saved my sister. Those people are so cruel. They killed my grandparents to marry my sister. " Arvind said.

" But your grandparents died in the accident, right? " Dhruv asked shockingly.

" It was a preplanned murder. That was the reason we joined Karthik's college for her security. But I never thought they would stoop so low to drug my sister and try to kidnap her" Arvind said.

" But why? " Dhruv asked curiously.

"  Because my maternal grandparent's whole property is in my sister's name. So they want to claim them legally. " Arvind answered.

" Who are they?" Dhruv asked furiously.

" They belong to Kashmi's family who is a distant relation to our family.  The head of that family was Mr. Himesh Kashmir and the person who wanted to marry my sister is Lokesh Kashmi. Lokesh Kashmi is a womanizer and a drug addict.  " Arvind explained.

" Now, he wants to marry my sister. We are in a helpless situation to complain against them because they have a high influence on society. " Arvind added.

" Can't we fight legally?" Dhruv doubted.

Arvind smiled bitterly and said,'' We failed in every way. We can't prove their crime in our grandparent's death" 

Dhruv fisted his palm tightly listening to his words.

" My father and I planned to get my sister married as early as possible. We are searching for a bridegroom who can protect her. "  Arvind said.

After knowing the truth, Dhruv felt worried about Amrutha and also felt sad that she will be married to some other person. 

                *******

Ammu and Mithuna talked about their classes for some time. Suddenly, Mithuna realized she was getting late to home. 

" I will leave for my home. Bye " saying she stepped out of Ammu's room.

While they were descending the stairs, Dhruv called Mithuna. 

" It's already dark outside. I will drop you at your home. " Dhruv stopped Mithuna.

Midhuna hesitated to go with Dhruv but Arvind assured her that he would drop her safely at her home. So, she bid bye to Amrutha and left along with Dhruv to her home. She felt sad when Dhruv didn't inform her while leaving her home. Immediately, she went to her room and sat on the bed with a dull face.

After one hour, she got a call from Karthik about her health. She heard Dhruv's voice beside him while talking with Karthik. She didn't understand why he was ignoring her.

She doubted that she might hurt him with her behavior last night. 

She didn't take her dinner in the night and slept thinking about her behavior. The next day, Karthik came, as usual, to pick her at their college. To his surprise, she was quiet all the ride.

" Is sunrise in the west?" Karthik asked Amurtha in a teasing manner.

She didn't answer his question and went to her classroom after they reached their college. As soon as she entered the classroom, Mithuna greeted her but she didn't reply to her. Mithuna noticed the change in Amurtha's behavior but she didn't understand why she was not talking to her.

At the lunch break, they both went to the canteen to have their meals. 

" Why are you so quiet? Is there any problem?" Mithuna asked her.

" I don't know what my problem is. So don't talk to me for some time" Amrutha replied seriously.

Mithuna looked at her confusingly and stayed quiet. She wanted to give her some time to express her feelings to her.

Meanwhile, Aditya came towards them and sat next to Amrutha.

" Hi Ammu, how are you? " Aditya greeted her.

" Fine. Thanks for saving me. I am thankful to you. " she replied.

" Will you be thankful to me?" He asked.

" Yes," she promised him.

" Then help me to convince Mithuna to accept my love. I love your friend so much. Please….Ammu" he said looking at Mithuna.

" Ammu...let's go from this place. I don't want to see his face.  " Mithuna dragged Ammu's hand.

" Am I not handsome? "  Adithya asked.

" You are so Handsome," Amurtha replied with a bright smile.

" Thanks for your compliments…" Adithya said.

" Ammu...let's go. " Mithuna said àngrily.

" I can't come when he is talking with me as he saved me" Ammu replied.

" Okay. I am going. Bye," she left the canteen fuming in anger.