Ch-10

Ch-10

"The literal thing. I asked you to cancel the engagement, not the marriage," he said with a sigh making Rahul frown.

"What do you mean, Arjun?" he asked.

"She is not in the position to wake up and attend the ceremony. And in the olden days, there is nothing called engagement. Both sides of the family exchange Thamboolam and the presence of the bride and groom are just for show. I guess we have to go with that," Arjun said.

[Thamboolam: In south Indian culture, there is no concept of a wedding. They exchange a plate filled with betel leaves. The groom's side would exchange the plate with saree, betel leaves, betel nuts, flowers, coconut, any kind of fruits, flowers, bangles, red turmeric, and turmeric. While the bride side would give the same betel leaves, betel nuts, a kind of fruit, silk dhoti, and red turmeric. This segment means fulfilling the ceremony of engagement. The exchanging of rings was never a real segment. From what my parents said they give them as gifts in the marriage ordeal.]

"You know my mom," Rahul added.

"That's why I am asking you to handle it," Arjun said.

"Heh," Arjun smirked at him.

"If I can, I will convince my family first to take this step. I wouldn't have approached you. My Uncle would mess everything up. And honestly… My sister doesn't k…" Arjun bit his tongue for his almost tongue slip.

"My sister doesn't want any internal strife because of her," he continued.

"I will handle my family while you do yours," Rahul said.

"And what about Laya's situation?" Rahul asked.

"The maid who takes care of her went to get her medications. After she comes, she will come here. As for her health. Let's say it's normal dizziness due to a change of environment. And she has sinus, combined with the weather she did a journey for a whole day in the cold weather, this took a toll on her body. And being herself… last night she played in rain to satisfy her childish wishes there it made the real deal," Arjun said to Rahul.

Rahul knows a lot of things about Laya. And what Arjun said was true too. She indeed has sinusitis…. He also knew she loves playing in the rain. He sighed at her self-harming personality but he didn't feel angry towards her.

"I understood," Rahul said and left the room.

"I am doing this for you, my beautifool," Arjun muttered to Laya before bending down and kissing her forehead.

He left the room before giving a last look to her not noticing the trail of tears that cascaded down her eyes. She wanted to open her eyes and shout at everyone but she couldn't do it. She has no energy to open her eyes. Before she could think further, she drifted into her sleep.

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"Dad… Do you know what mom looked like?" Laya asked.

"She is just like you, beautiful, smart, and naughty," her father pinched her little button nose.

"Hehe… Daddy! You forgot to bring my chocolate again!" The little five-year-old Laya screamed when she suddenly remembered her little wish.

"Oh! My baby doll! Daddy… is growing old. He forgot to bring you," her father Devraj Pasupuleti apologized sincerely.

"Dadda doesn't love me. Me will go to Peddananna (Bade papa/ Father's brother). I will complain to him and ask him to whip you!" The little Laya left as she puffed her chest in anger taking big strides but still small compared to Devraj. The little fighter inside Laya was taking over her for every step she took.

"Peddananna!" she screamed, attracting everyone's attention in the house.

"What did you do to piss her off this time?" Sharada asked Devraj as she came out of the kitchen holding Laya's Horlicks cup.

"Vadina [Sister-in-law], I didn't get the chocolate she asked me for. Now she was making a fuss over it. She said she would get me whipped by my brother," Devraj said with a chuckle.

"But in truth, you brought the chocolate but you hid it, just to play with her, right?" Sharada said with a look that said I-know-everything-look.

Devraj smiled sheepishly at her, agreeing to her words. "Your actions are odd," Sharada said with a roll of her eyes.

"Laya, here is your Chota bheem drink! Come and drink!" Sharada shouted for Laya who was already at the other corner of the house.

"Coming Amma," the little voice which was filled with anger filled with slight excitement when she heard the words 'Chota-Bheem-Drink'.

"Amma… If I drink this. I will become as strong as Chota-bheem Right?" Laya asked with her wide eyes as she reached the place where Sharada was there.

"Yes, Beta," Sharada said with a smile.

Laya started drinking her milk and again went to find her peddananna to complain about the injustice she received from her father.

"What happened?" Raghuram asked with a gentle smile on his face.

"Peddananna… Hug," she asked with her watery eyes her face was filled with sadness, making Raghuram feel worried.

"Who bullied you, beta?" he asked.

"Dad~~," she said with a sad expression.

"What did he do this time?" Raghuram asked.

"He forgot my chocolate," she said as if the world was going to end.

"I will punish him. Shall I whip him?" Raghuram said.

"Do you want me to get beaten, Baby? Dad will bleed. He is afraid of pain and blood," Devraj said with a sad face, making the little Laya Feel bad.

"Forget it, Peddananna." She said with a worried face.

"Dad, next you have to get it," she said.

"Do you want to see magic?" Devraj asked.

Laya nodded her head with excitement.

"Abraka dhabra abraka dhabra Gili Gili choo! Boom! See the chocolate in my hand!" he said with a surprised expression.

"Dadda is the best!" she said as she jumped down and went to him.

"Laya… Dad has some work. He will come at night. Take care of yourself, okay?" he said and left ignoring her cries.

She waited for her dad the whole day but he never returned. But the next morning when she woke up she saw her father's dead body.

"Your dad is dead and will never wake up,"