"I spy you!" - 78

Vasupradha’s heart stopped for a moment and started beating fast. That means there are no more nightmares for Amruta. She can be very comfortable in her life. Her tormentor has been jailed! That’s good news!

Now she turned towards Durjaya and asked “What other news you have?”

Durjaya hesitated and went on swallowing many a times.

“Hey, did you make any mistake in life?” she asked anxiously.

He seemed to have a hold on himself once she had uttered this sentence. “Yes! I have made the biggest mistake in my life!” he said and sighed. But his eyes were bright.

“So, who is the lucky girl?” she immediately guessed and banged on his back.

He said “Ouch!” and got up and stood in front of her and said, “Yes, I have been engaged to be married”

Vasupradha smiled. Her happiness was genuine because she really liked Durjaya, like her own younger brother.

“My marriage has been fixed with Jyothi. I am cordially inviting you in advance to my marriage. So, don’t give any reasons. You have to come please!” said in an imploring voice.

“How do you expect me to escape attending my younger brother’s wedding? I am there for all the three days” she said.

“Ok, ok. You can come for three days. But the marriage is a simple affair of a day, that’s all” he said with some hesitation.

“That’s ok. We should save money. Throwing money for a lavish marriage is not a good idea anyway” she said and added “I am happy for you. Where is the wedding?”

“In the temple near our office. The girl Jyothi recently joined and we hit it off from the first day!” he said with a blush.

“Oh, love marriage! I love love marriages!” she exclaimed and suddenly became quiet. What was she saying? Was that on her mind all this time? Was she thinking of a love marriage with Pushpahaasa? Oh God, this man’s shadow leaves me only when I die.

She got up and went to her cupboard and found a box.

She came to Durjaya and gave him the box and said, “This is a small gift from my side” she said.

“Hey elder sister! Don’t try to escape coming just because you have given a gift” said Durjaya, though accepting the box.

“No, no I will come” she said and asked, “You said three news. I heard two. What is the third one?”

“Oh no, it is a mistake. No more news” he said. By the way he uttered those words, she knew he was hiding something.

“What is it?” she asked sharply. But immediately she regretted her tone. But Durjaya did not seem to mind.  “Nothing special elder sister. Someone enquired about you” he said and added, “Pushpahaasa”