Chapter 11: chapter 11

SRUTHI“You look like a goddess, Sru,” Gabe says looking me up and down. “Thank you,” I say as a blush colours my face. I glance in the mirror to see that she is telling the truth. I do look beautiful in my red silk saree. Gold jewels adorn my body. My hair is braided traditionally with flowers. The beautician has worked magic with their brushes and I look amazing. I can’t take my eyes off the mirror. Praveen is going to find it hard to keep his eyes away from me. At that thought, I blush again and look down at my toes. Happiness fills my body and I feel nervous and excited at the thought of my marriage. There is still an hour for the auspicious time for us to tie the knot. I am excited to see Praveen. He called me after midnight and apologized profusely for leaving the party without informing me. He told me the problem was sorted out. We talked for a few minutes. I wanted to tell him about the gunshots but I couldn’t bring myself to spoil his happy mood. I would tell him today.The fact that a killer is on my trail remains in the back of my mind but nothing can dampen the excitement and joy I feel today. I have faith in my brother to find whoever is trying to harm me and bring them to justice. “Come, let’s pose for a photo,” Gabe says taking her photo out. We take a  couple of pictures with all kinds of trending poses on social media. “I am going to post this in my account.”“Okay,” I reply adjusting the necklace. A knock sounds on the door. Gabe opens the door and Nisha enters the room. She is the personal secretary to my brother. She handles all his appointments and schedules. It is nearly five years since Vikram hired her and she is like a family to me too because most of the days she had to stay in our mansion to finish the work Vikram assigns her. “Congratulations on the wedding,” Nisha says pulling me into a hug. I smile at her, “Thank you. Where were you yesterday evening?”She sighs, “What can I say? I got all ready for the party but your brother assigned me work at the last minute. If not for the heavy pay, I would have resigned my job already.”I shake my head at her. My brother and Nisha have some sort of unresolved tension between them. He always makes her work tasks at the least expected of time. He is hard on her. I have tried to convince him to go easy on her but he would always cut me off by asking me to mind my own business.“Enough about your wicked brother. Tell me where are you going for your honeymoon?”“To the Boiren Mountains,” I answer. There is another knock on the door. Since Nisha is near the door she opens it. “Sruthi,” the frantic voice of my future mother-in-law warns me that something is wrong. My future MIL is in an expensive silk saree with a sleeveless blouse that makes her look ten years younger than her original age. She is wearing heavy jewellery and make-up but her forehead has beads of sweat and she is out of breath. She is clutching a purse made of glitter and sequins. “Ma, are you alright?” I ask with concern. For a moment she is speechless. She looks me up and down and then burst into tears.“I am so sorry,” she wails. Gabe and Nisha shoot me a ‘What the hell?’ look as we guide my future MIL to the chair in the room. A feeling of unease settles in my stomach.  Gabe offers the older woman a bottle of water and she accepts it. She gulps down the water. ‘Bring my brother,’ I mouth to Nisha. She gives me a stiff nod and quietly leaves the room.“What are you sorry for?” I ask gently rubbing smooth circles on the back of my future MIL.“You look so beautiful today. I have no idea how he could do this to you,” she says again and tears stream down her face.“You have to be clear. Who did what to me?” I ask feeling a dread in my stomach. “Praveen. He left the wedding,” she says.“I am sorry?” I say thinking I heard her wrong. But Gabe’s furious look says that I heard her correctly.“What do you mean by he left the wedding?” asks Gabe in a livid tone. “He is not in his room,” the older woman answers with a sniffle.“He must have just gone out for a walk,” I reason trying not to panic. There is no way Praveen would have left me like that. He is in love with me just as much as I love him. “I am so sorry.  He left you, Sruthi,” she says again.“That cannot be true,” I argue. It doesn’t make any sense. Just a few hours ago, I had a nice chat with him. “What is happening here?” the voice of my brother is a comfort to me. I leave the crying woman and rush to my brother. I can’t wrap my mind around what she is saying. She should be mistaken. There is no way Praveen would leave me like that. Words fail me as I look at my brother. What should I tell him? That the man I am going to marry has left me? Has left his bride on their wedding day?Gabe is the one who answers his question, “This lady here is saying that the groom has left the wedding.”My brother’s face hardens, “What is going on Mrs. Shyamala?” Praveen’s mother shivers in fear and her voice quivers as she answers him, “I am sorry, sir. But, my son has betrayed us. He left the wedding to be with his ex.”Her words are like a bucket of ice water to my body. I don't even know what to say to that. She is lying. That could be the only explaination. Her words make no sense to me.“How are you so sure about it?” I ask grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. I hear the sound of the door shutting. Of course, no one can see me losing control like this. But, the last thing I am feeling now is control. I want to snap at her.“He…,” the woman hesitates. “He what?” I snap losing my control. My nails dig into her flesh and she winces in pain.  A hand lands on my shoulder and I am pulled away from the lady.“Sruthi, calm down,” my brother warns. But calm is the last emotion I feel now. I still don’t understand what is happening here. How could Praveen leave me? We are so in love that he kept telling me that he can’t wait for this marriage to happen. No matter, how hard I think about it, I can’t believe the woman’s words.❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥