Read story Their Unrequited Love - ~ 32 ~

~ 32 ~

Author's POV:

Surya and Sravya are sitting on the terrace of the Happy Home. Dharani and Janardhan are spending quality time with each other. The DNA reports came yesterday, and Surya was surprised, shocked, overwhelmed, and whatnot. They have been searching for the person who is in front of them all these years. The first thing he did after receiving the reports was meet his grandfather and tell him everything. Janardhan was taken aback when he learned the truth. He didn't understand what to say. He just hugged his grandson and burst into tears. Surya was taken aback by that. Janardhan wanted to tell his family about it, but Surya stopped him and asked to meet Janardhan. He told him that they should surprise her by bringing the whole family to meet her.

Surya looked at Sravya, who was busy gazing at stars and glowing under the moonlight. She looked happy, which brought a smile to his face too.

Sravya, who felt his constant gaze, looked at him and asked, "What are you looking at?"

"You," said Surya, looking at her intensely.

Surya bit her lip and asked, "And stop doing that."

Surya tucked her tresses, smirked at her, and asked, "And why is that? You know, it's a sin not to admire beauty."

Sravya shook her head and said, "You are too much."

Surya pointed at the moon and said, "See, even the Chandamama (Moon) is shining brightly today looking at you. You make everyone bright."

Sravya giggled, listening to him, and said, "Did you do a Ph.D. in flirting? Where did you learn all these cheesy lines?"

Surya placed a hand on his heart and dramatically said, "Ah! You hurt my poor heart."

Sravya shook her head and said, "Such a drama queen you are, Mr. Varma," and she stood up to leave, only to be held by him.

Sravya looked at her hand, which was held by Surya, and then looked at him, hoping that he would leave her, but he tightened his hold on her hand.

"Shall we dance?" asked Surya.

Sravya looked at him weirdly and asked, "What? You are crazy."

Surya shrugged his shoulders and said, "Okay! I know that I'm a bit crazy. But what's wrong? I'm happy, so I want to dance. So, I'm asking you to give me company."

"Music?" asked Sravya.

Surya took his mobile from his pant pocket and said, "Which genre?"

Sravya smiled and said, "Melody."

"Sure, just give me a minute. I'll create a playlist," said Surya.

Surya put on the music, extended his hand for her, and asked, "Shall we?"

"Yes!" said Sravya, and she held his hand.

He smiled, looking at her, and gently twirled her into his arms. They gently swayed their bodies gracefully to the rhythm. Surya looked into her black eyes, which were glistening, and a small smile was spread across her face. He felt an urge to caress her cheeks. He was a bit hesitating at first, but he couldn't stop himself from caressing them, making her look at him.

Sravya looked at him and mumbled, "I'm sorry."

Surya looked at her confusedly and asked, "For what?"

"I shouldn't have slapped you that day. I couldn't control myself when you spoke badly about her, so I slapped you. But then I thought for a while. Your family has gone through a lot because of your uncle and his wife. So, you are right in your place for suspecting her," said Sravya apologetically.

Surya tucked her tresses behind her ear and said, "Maybe somewhere I deserved that slap. I felt that I had overreacted a little. I don't know, but yeah, somewhere a part of me is scared. What if they were actually planning something against us?"

Sravya hummed, listening to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaned her head on his chest while he wrapped his hand around her back. They were just swaying their bodies softly to the music, with never-ending smiles spread across their faces, and mostly enjoying the moment.

Sravya tilted her head and asked, "Why don't we plan a baby shower for your sister? It's one of the most memorable moments in the life of a woman."

Surya smiled, listening to her, and said, "That's actually a good idea. Moreover, she is going to enter her eighth month in a few days. So, we need to plan before that."

"Why don't you and your family surprise her with that?" asked Sravya.

"I will talk with Thatha. By the way, what did you say to Aunty and Uncle?" said Surya.

Sravya sighed and said, "I haven't told them anything yet. They are also busy with their respective work, but I have to tell them. What about you?"

Surya sighed and said, "I have told them that I am working on a project."

Sravya looked at him in disbelief and said, "Seriously?"

Surya smiled sheepishly and said, "I was actually working on something for the past few months."

"Oh!" said Sravya, and she again leaned her head on his chest.

After a moment, he heard her saying, "It feels like a dream."

"Dream?" asked Surya confusedly.

"I and you alone under the moonlight, with me in your arms, listening to your heartbeat," mumbled Sravya.

"It's reality, Ms. Reddy. Not a dream," said Surya.

Sravya smiled sadly and said, "I know. But. Just leave it, Surya."

She wanted to run from there. Day by day, she is getting attached to him when she doesn't want to. She can't hurt her already bleeding heart, raising her hopes. Is there hope for them? Her heart cried! How much she tries, she can't stop herself from talking to him when all she wants to do is avoid him for her best. But what can she do when her heart always wins over her mind?

"It feels like I'm at home," said Surya.

Sravya snapped her head at him, listening to him.

"I don't know, Sravya. I feel a strong connection with you. I don't know why, but I always felt a pull towards you, which I hadn't noticed earlier. But the question is, Have I really moved on?" said Surya, looking at her.

Sravya looked at him for a moment and said, "It's you who should realise that, Surya." She took a deep breath and said, "Anyway, it's getting late. I should leave now."

Surya sighed and said, "Shall I drop you?"

"No need. I'll go by my car," said Sravya.

She broke the hug, grabbed her mobile, and ran downstairs, leaving Surya alone.

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After a week, Surya saw Sravya decorating the huge hall in Happy Home with flowers along with kids and was smiling while listening to their talks. They wanted her to take her to their home, but Dharani refused to come. Two days ago, Surya met with a small accident while he was coming to meet her. Though he doesn't get any injuries, except for a few scratches, Dharani was afraid of his and her family's safety. She told them that she didn't want her family to know about her. Janardhan and Surya tried to explain to her and told her how they had been waiting for her all these years. But she is adamant and told them their safety comes first, and then she took a promise from the three of them that they wouldn't tell the others about her.

They have planned a surprise baby shower for Dharani. She was reluctant at first when she learned about the baby shower, as she was a widow. But Sravya and the other elderly ladies convinced her. Soon, some ladies brought Dharani down and made her sit on the chair. She was wearing a sandal Kanjivaram saree.

Dharani tucked Sravya's half saree and whispered, "Why am I wearing a veil?"

Sravya thought for a moment and said, "Umm, Surya told me that's your family tradition. You see, to protect you from the evil eyes."

"But I haven't heard of such a tradition before?" asked Dharani, confused.

"If you still have some doubt about that, then ask your grandfather," said Sravya.

Dharani pouted and asked, "I was just asking."

"Aunty and Uncle have come, Sravya," said Surya, coming towards Sravya.

Sravya nodded her head and went to receive her parents. She told them how she met her senior at the temple and helped her stay at Happy Home, except for her identity and the rest of the story. Raghav and Jhansi are proud of their daughter. Surya asked her to invite her parents, so that's how they are here.

Raghav and Jhansi were surprised to see Surya, who was sitting beside Dharani and talking with her, and questioned Sravya about Surya's presence. She told them that her senior is Janardhan's old friend's granddaughter. They nodded their heads in understanding and went towards them.

Surya stood up and said, "Namaste, Aunty! Namaste, Uncle!"

"Namaste!" said Raghav and Jhansi.

They were standing there talking when the whole Varma family came there. Surya went to receive them happily.

"We are waiting for you guys only," said Surya.

"Is everything ready?" asked Janardhan.

"Yes, Thatha!" said Surya.

Raghav, Jhansi, and Sravya went and greeted them. Janardhan and Laxmi went towards Dharani and gifted her a new saree, a gold necklace, fruits, and sweets. Then they blessed her wholeheartedly.

Laxmi bent a little and said, "I don't know anything about you, Kanna, but my husband told me about you. I know we can't bring back your husband and your family, but don't forget that you have us. God bless you, Kanna. May this child bring you a lot of joy in your life."

Dharani smiled in between her tears as she listened to her grandmother's words. Now she understood why she was wearing a veil. Her grandfather and brother kept their promise. Though she felt happy that her family was here, she was sad that she couldn't tell them who she was. And she is missing her husband by her side. Her Akki. No matter how strong she stays, at the end of the day, his absence from her life pricks her heart.

Janardhan placed his hand on her head and silently blessed her. Niranjana and Srinivas came forward and blessed her.

"God bless you, Kanna," said Srinivas and Niranjana.

Next, Taara went towards her and congratulated Dharani.

"Thank you for coming here and making my day. It means a lot to me," said Dharani, getting emotional. "Can I hug you?"

"Of course!" said Taara, and she hugged Dharani.

The moment Taara hugged Dharani, she felt a strange connection. Dharani hugged Taara tight. Taara was taken aback a little, but she felt content. Dharani's heart swelled with joy as she hugged her younger sister.

"I'm sorry. I was missing my younger sister," said Dharani, breaking the hug.

"That's okay," said Taara.

Later, Raghav and Jhansi blessed her. Even they bought a saree, a pair of earrings, fruits, and sweets for her.

Then all the elders in Happy Home blessed her wholeheartedly. After a while, Dharani was talking with Janardhan and Sravya. Laxmi, Niranjana, Srinivas, Raghav, and Jhansi were talking.

Taara looked at her brother, who was busy admiring Sravya, who was looking ethereal in the half-saree.

(Sravya's attire)

Taara pulled Surya aside, bringing him back from his dreamland, and asked, "Why are Sravya and her family here?"

"She is her senior at college. Moreover, Happy Home belongs to her family. Did you forget that?" said Surya, clearing Taara's doubt.

"Okay! But why is she wearing a veil?" asked Taara, pointing at Dharani.

"That's their tradition," said Surya.

"Does she wear it every day?" asked Taara.

Surya was taken aback by her question.

He smiled awkwardly and said, "No! It's only for today."

"Oh!" said Taara.

Her grandfather told them two days ago that he found the granddaughter of one of his old friends' at Happy Home. He told them that her parents didn't accept her love and fixed her marriage with another man, that she ran away from home with her boyfriend, and that she lost her husband a few months ago in an accident, just when they learned about her pregnancy. They felt bad after listening to her story. He asked them how it would be if they organised a baby shower for her. They said that it would be great. So here they are.

"By the way, did you talk with Sravya?" asked Taara.

Surya sighed and said, "Not yet."

Taara patted his back and said, "That's okay!"

"I thought Bava would come too," said Surya.

"He had an important meeting; otherwise, he had planned to come," said Taara.

"Oh!" said Surya, and both the brother sister duo got lost in their talks.

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