Part Four -
She stepped out of the car to see the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The house that stood before her just took her by awe. She could tell it was specially designed, each and every feature of the house added to its grandeur.
She at first did hesitate, but it faded away as she was welcomed in the house with open arms."Raji inimel idhu un veedu... You can be free as you want, you make yourself comfortable the way you would be... Nee enga marumagal illa... Enga magal... You are the daughter of this house..." Raji was too overwhelmed to react. Never in her dreams had she thought she would get such a life. "Thanks Aunty... En--" "No Raji... When I say you are our daughter, I mean it... You call us just like Karthik does... Amma and Appa..." Raji's eyes moistened hearing that, and Karthik's mom took her for a motherly hug.
Karthik and his dad walked in right in time, "Karthik naan namba legal team ah vara solli irukken... It is better to sort everything out right now to be safe..." Raji looked nervous, thinking about Manoj, made her restless. Karthik understood what she was thinking and went up to her, "Raji idhu verum formality dhaan... Don't worry..." Raji slightly smiled and nodded at him.
"Karthik, nee Raji ah mela koopitu po... I will call you two for dinner" his mom told them. Karthik took her upstairs and pointed to the room on the left, "Idhu unnoda room, and this one is mine..."he pointed to the one across from hers. She felt relieved about not being expected to share the room with him. As much as it was true that they were married, sharing a room was something that neither of them were comfortable in. "Thanks Karthik, I will go freshen up and come..." "Sari okay... See you outside..." both went to their respective rooms.
Raji walked into the room to only be more surprised, it was a huge room, beautifully decorated. Karthik's mom had the room setup for her by one of their housemaids, and truly made Raji happy. She quickly freshened up to head downstairs. Just as she came out, Karthik did too, and he flashed a huge grin at her. "Do you like the room?" "I love it Karthik... Super ah irukku... Thank You so much!!"
Both headed downstairs, where Karthik's dad called them two. "Raji... Meet Mr. Nithin, he is our family lawyer... We have got most of the procedures done... Just one more thing left... Now that you are married, you don't have to wait until you are 21... Your legal assets will be transferred to your name..." Raji looked down, "Uh..." Karthik's dad noticed the hesitation on Raji's face, "Beta, remember you are speaking to your dad... Edhuvaa irundhaalum sollu ma..." Raji looked up, "Illa pa... I don't want any of that transferred to me... Please... Andha money naala dhaan en vaazhkai ippadi aachu... Ennaku vendaam... Athai and Manoj kittaye kuduthurunga... I don't want it..." She was on the verge of crying, she wanted nothing that reminded her of the hell that she lived through all these years.
Karthik looked at her face and felt extremely emotional. How much would this girl have gone through in her life? What could she have possibly known at such an young age? How is she still composed and subtle? He could only imagine what she would have faced for her to refuse the only thing she had in the memory of her parents.
He spoke up, "Raji nee solradhu puriyudhu anaa un parents idha serthu vaikuradhu kku evalo kashta pattu irupaanga yosichu paaru... It represents all their efforts of their life Raji... They left it for you to continue their dreams... Ippadi unna kashta paduthinavangalukku illa...""Karthik is right Raji... As much as your feelings are fair right here, idhu un parents oda ulaipu... Nee dhaan adhukku responsible, not anyone else..." Raji silently nodded giving her consent to sign the will. The rest of the time was fairly quiet until the procedures were finished and the lawyer left.
"Raji one more thing beta... What do you have in mind about your career?" Raji looked blank, she had never thought about that as it was always her Aunt and Manoj who decided everything regarding to that. "Theriyala... Eppodhum Athai dhaan choose pannuvaanga... I believe tomorrow is the start of university, and what I am studying or my field is something that I don't know... Avanga choose pannuvaanga, and I usually only get to know the morning before..."
Karthik's dad was beyond annoyed with Manoj and his mother, but kept calm in front of them."Okay Raji, here are your options... You can come to our Office to take up a position on the several projects we have lined up... If you wish to actually study before that, then that will be alright as well... Karthik is doing a five-year degree in Business Management, and has two more years left to graduate... For you, we can enroll you in a fast-track system, where you will only have to do half the time of the full degree upon your field of interest..." "I think it would be more responsible to finish a degree before working paa... So maybe Corporate Administration? I mean if that is okay with you all..." "That sounds like a great plan beta... Since it is a four-year degree, you can graduate the same time as Karthik... I will get your admission process ready, and Karthik nee naalaikku morning Raji kku uni la ellam set pannidu..." Karthik nodded, smiling.
Raji stood out in the balcony of her room, looking up at the sky. She sighed thinking about the day and how her life totally changed in one morning. Even now, she wasn't sure if she did the right thing by marrying Karthik. But somehow, confidence took over her every time thinking about how Karthik protected her since last night.
"Can I join you?" She turned around to see who it was, breaking her chain of thoughts. "What question is this Karthik? Of course you can..." she smiled to which he gave a wide grin. "So wifey do you like our house?" She laughed at the way he addressed her, "I love it... Mr. Husband..." She stressed the last words making both of them share to a good laugh. "Karthik neenga--" "Just for your information wifey, we both are on a contract of being friends, so 'neenga vaanga' laam contract rules padi illegal..." he tried to speak with a straight face, but he failed miserably and started laughing. "Adhellam illa... There is no way I can address you like that... Ennala mudiyaadhu Karthik... Ungala ivalo naal ah ippadi dhaane koopiduren..." Karthik sarcastically sighed, "Nope... I am not buying that excuse... If you want to speak to me, then speak like a friend... Or don't talk to me at all... Your call..." he smiled cheekily raising his eyebrows. "Sari... I will try, I promise..." she gave in smiling back at him. "You know Karthik... Since the time that I saw you first till even now, I thought you were a serious and a formal person... But Mr. Husband appadi illa nnu theriyudhe..." she looked at him teasingly from the corner of her eye. "Yaaru naan serious ah? Chance eh illa... I am actually a very happy-go person... But then again, it depends on who it is too..." he smiled. "Raji, it is getting late, you must be tired already... Nee thoonga po, naalaikku college kku ready ah irukkanum la... You have to meet two of the special people in my life... Okay ah? Now Good Night..." She smiled at the way he spoke with so much of energy, "Good Night Karthik..."
He zoomed the bike inside the campus and came to a stop at the parking lot. Both of them were equally excited to be there on the first day. For Karthik, there were several reasons. From introducing Raji to a whole new year, he was excited. Raji, on the other hand, felt content being able to choose her career in a field that she was interested in. She always loved studying, and while this being her selection, she wanted to make the best out of her career path.
"Wifey, are you ready to tackle the mission in front of us?" he winked at her grinning widely. "I think I am, Mr. Husband" she replied the same tone as his. Karthik held out his hand for her to hold, which she gladly took, as her nervousness increased with every second. They both walked to the building, several eyes, surprised and shocked seeing Karthik with a girl. He was the 'Handsome Hunk' of the college, a huge girl following, but Karthik never paid attention to any of that. Now seeing him with another girl, came across as as something unexpected.
But more than anything, there were two pairs of eyes, wide open looking their best friend in shock."Hi Machaan... And Lakshmi... Eppadi irukka??" Karthik casually greeted his best friends, Vishnu and Lakshmi. They composed themselves from their reactions and looked towards Raji. Karthik smirked looking at their faces, "My dear best friends, this is Raji... My wife..." Those two stared at Karthik in disbelief, it took a while for it to register in, but when it did, Lakshmi shrieked in excitement. Vishnu looked at Karthik, "Dei you have some serious explaining to do... Anaa unna ippo summa vida maaten da..." He started chasing Karthik around the ground, while Lakshmi and Raji stood laughing at the boys' expense.
Lakshmi turned around and greeted Raji. "Hiii Raji... I am Lakshmi..." She went up and hugged Raji. "Ennala serious ah nambave mudiyala... Eppadi idhellam?" she asked still looking shocked. Raji smiled at her reaction, "Adhu oru long story Lakshmi..."
To be continued...
Author's Note -
Hey Again Guys 😃
I just have to mention a few things more...
First of all I hope you all liked the update... This is the first part of this story that did not move so much... It probably was a bit boring, but it was needed for the story to progress... 😛
I was really elated in reading all your comments... Thank You so much !!! 😃
Now I have an important question to ask... I am around the point where I have to decide the length of the story... So I want to know if you Guys want me to extend the story than the parts that I had planned for or end it as I planned at around 6 - 8 parts?
Please be honest and tell me whatever you feel is the best Guys, I promise, I won't take any offence out of it... Let's be open as it will be the best for you and me... Thank You... 😃
Again... I am too lazy to color the update, so if you Guys wish for it then let me know and I will...
Finally... I will try to make the next part a lot more interesting than this 'filler' part, so do look forward for it... 😛
That's it... And... Leave me a comment, at least a like won't hurt to do... Thanks 😃
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Arjun
