CHAPTER: 27 Driven by love
Driven by an impulse, Abhi swiftly packed a bag with his clothes, freshened up, and dashed to the parking lot. "Bike or car? Bike she won't get on, right?" he muttered, grabbing his car keys. He tossed the bag in the back seat, started the engine, and typed in Shashirekha's address. He drove for eighteen hours straight, one hand on the steering wheel, the other alternating between a liquor bottle and a cigarette – his only companions on this intense quest. Meanwhile, Tulasi, utterly exhausted from their day of pujas, finally crashed. Tulasi, having fasted, ate some juice and fruits with the aunties, feeling light-headed. She popped a tablet and drifted into sleep. The next day, after more pujas and lunch, everyone was smitten with Tulasi.
"Look, dear, my son does this business, look at his photo!" the relatives exclaimed, encouraged by Shashirekha, shoving photos of their eligible bachelors in front of her. Tulasi felt incredibly awkward.
Trying to divert the awkward "matchmaking" conversation, Tulasi asked, "So, what's the plan for tomorrow?".
Shashirekha, excited, declared, "Tomorrow, we're heading to that village! The sunrise there is, like, super lit, and we're going trekking through the forest! It's gonna be amazing, Tulasi, pure nature vibes!".
"Oh, really? So today's the last day, right? Shall we go for one more temple visit?" Tulasi suggested.
"Sure, let's do it," Shashirekha's mom agreed. With the auntie busy at home, Tulasi, her friends, Shashirekha's dad, and some other elders set off for the temple, all the girls looking ethereal in their traditional half sarees. Mysore festivals were no joke – the crowds were insane!. They reached the temple, completed their darshan, took some Prasad, and walked out.
As they walked towards home, she spotted a car that looked just like Abhi's. Tulasi looked at the number plate – "OMG, it is Abhi's car!" she gasped.
Tulasi, ignoring Shashirekha's calls, practically flew home. There he was, Abhi, sitting coolly on a chair near the house entrance, legs crossed. He rose to his feet. A tiny, almost imperceptible smirk played on his lips as he saw her. In that instant, all of Tulasi's anger, all of Shashirekha's warnings, vanished into thin air, replaced by an overwhelming wave of pure adoration. "My Krishna... my Abhijit Krishna," she thought, walking towards him, standing right in front of him.
Abhi said nothing, just stood there, his gaze fixed on her. They both forgot where they were, engrossed in their own personal bubble. Just then, Shashirekha's mom came out with coffee and offered it to Abhi. Tulasi, with a proud gleam in her innocent eyes, introduced him, "Auntie, this is Abhijit Krishna, our senior doctor! A very prominent person he got soo many prestigious awards too , you know!".
He just nodded at the auntie, accepting the coffee.
Tulasi whispered in his ear, "Abhi, say Namaskaram!".
He gave her a Seriously, what are you even talking about? look.
Shashirekha's mom, seeing their undeniable chemistry, instantly understood the vibe.
Abhi drank his coffee, placed the cup on the table, and turned to Tulasi, "So, how were your pujas and all?" he asked, a hint of playful impatience in his voice.
Tulasi, nervously fiddling with her scarf, looked straight into his eyes, "Oh, they're all done, Abhi," she whispered, her heart doing a little flutter.
"Right, let's go!" Abhi declared, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Tulasi was completely shell-shocked, and Shashirekha's mouth dropped open like a frog, "OMG,did he just say that?".
Tulasi tried to protest, "But Abhi—" but he cut her off, "You said the pujas were done, right? So, come on, let's roll!".
Tulasi, trying to be polite, said, "No, no, I just need to go inside and tell the aunties".
Abhi gently held her hand, stopping her. "They're right here, just tell them!" he said.
"But the elders inside, I need to tell them too!" Tulasi insisted. "Come on, I'll introduce you!" And she, literally, dragged Abhi inside. "Grandma, this is Dr. Abhijit Krishna, our senior doctor! He's a really big deal, you know, done so many surgeries, saved thousands of lives!" Tulasi gushed, introducing him.
As soon as she did, the grandmother's face fell, like, instantly. Abhijit, maintaining his serious gaze, Tulasi gave a charming smile which finally reached her eyes after all these days. "Grandma, we're leaving now".
The grandmother said, "But dear, you said tomorrow, didn't you?".
"No, grandma, we're leaving today," Tulasi announced to everyone present. They all looked at Tulasi and Abhi, and the unspoken truth hung in the air – everyone got the vibe. The grandmother was especially peeved, "I was hoping to find a nice match for this sweet girl, and now this boy has completely stolen her heart!".