“She's great really,” said Suresh. “We can leave all to her.”
“That's true,” said guruji, “but what about you?”
“I know,” said Suresh, “you know the best.”
“If you haven’t given your word to any,” said guruji heartily, “I’ve someone in my mind for you.”
“If it’s Vidya,” said Suresh as if he was pleading that she be made his wife, “it would be a windfall for me.”
“I was rather keen on her from the beginning.”
“But will she agree?” said Suresh, but his eagerness was not lost on the guruji.
“I will find out readily,” said guruji with an air of expectation. “I better send for her.”
“She’s expected here anyway,” said Suresh and instinctively looked out and said. “Here she is!”
“Wait in the library,” said Gautam having welcomed Vidya.
Sitting restlessly in that seat of learning, Suresh was nervous with expectation. Soon, unable to bear the suspense, he felt like eavesdropping on their conversation. But, as his sense of decency resisted his instinct from venturing, he was gripped with expectation. But when he sighted her stepping out of his father’s parnasala, as his fears resurfaced, his heart sank. Seeing her advance towards him, beset by doubts, he looked the other way. However, as she came up to him, he lowered his head as though it got heavier by his fears.
“Guruji wants us both,” she said, putting it all succinctly.
“Thank you,” he sighed in relief.
“Yours truly,” she said coyly, signing off his letter of anxiety.
“Why not a pinch for a proof?” he sought her hand.
“Mind we’re at Vanaprastham,” she said moving away.
“Tell me how my fate was decided at my back,” he said, as they walked towards guruji’s parnasala. “I love to hear that.”
“I wish you put your love for better use.”
“What a romantic chiding?” he said moving closer to her.
“Let me concede being flattered,” she said smilingly. “Guruji told me that he always felt we were made for each other. Seems he was bogged down by the uncertainty of the situation. Had your release been delayed, he feared my youth would be wasted. So, he thought of balancing our interests and hoped for your remission before I turned twenty-four. Thanks to Satyanarayana Swami, we met well before the deadline, and the rest is history in the making.”
“Why are you shy,” he said heartily finding her coy as she finished, “having turned the leaf?”
“Guruji feels,” she said lowering her head, “our nuptial night should be sanctified in Misty Nest.”
“Oh, I understand his pain,” he said with moist eyes, “and his pleasure that lies in the hope of your beautifying my life.”