Chapter 67: chapter 67

THE SILENT LOVE ...Chapter 66 :Archana reached her and while patting her shoulder,she explained,“Oh my god! You look so sensitive. I was just kidding with you. No one were offended with your actions. In Fact everyone enjoyed your playfulness. Mostly my brother enjoyed your teasing”. Swetha blushed with her comment and smiled awkwardly. Later she helped Archana in draping the saree and combed her hair braiding it perfectly. She arranged the flowers in her braid very perfectly, giving a  beautiful look to her braid. Later she accompanied Archana to the living room, making everyone gasp in bewilderment by seeing the two beautiful women in front of them.“Oh my goodness! Being a bride, Archana is glowing with her new step of her life. Why is Swetha glowing like a star? Balaramaiah, looks like your daughter is going to get married soon. That’s the reason behind her glow”, teased one of the elderly women from their relatives.“Grandmother ...!”, whined Swetha.Ambika, mother of Archana, who just entered the hall with her husband Sudhakar, son Kamal, heard their conversation and reached Swetha. She gently caressed Swetha’s cheeks and praised her beauty.“Anyone  would be fortunate to get this beautiful, kind hearted and traditional lady as their daughter in law”, appreciated Ambika.Swetha’s cheeks turned pink with her comment and whined,“Aunty! I am still in my  PG. It’s not the time for marriage”, and with a shy smile, she escaped from there with everyone’s laughter behind her.She met Kamal on the way and by seeing him looking at her with admiration, she felt awkward and while keeping her strands behind her ear,she wished,“Good morning …!”, and slowly whispered the remaining words,“Amul baby”, and ran away from there.Kamal, who felt dumbfounded to be teased with her again initially, later smiled inwardly  for her playfulness. His eyes traveled along with her admiring her beauty who was draped in a beautiful saree, till she was out of sight.Swetha went to Gautham to call him as per the priest’s request and halted in her step by hearing him speaking on the phone while addressing Sreekar’s name. Her heart  started thumping rapidly by reminiscing about the previous day’s intimacy with Sreekar and gulped the lump formed in her throat while listening to their conversation.“Sree! I want you to come for the Vratham and have lunch with me. I am acquainted with your busy schedule but I hope you can make some time for the sake of our friendship. I couldn’t give you my attention at the marriage being the  groom for which I feel very guilty. Let me  have the opportunity to properly invite and honor you”, requested Gautham.Swetha couldn't hear the words from the other side but by seeing the  wide smile on Gautham’s face, she understood that Sreekar agreed to visit their house. Her heart skipped for a while  by thinking about his arrival.Swetha ushered Gautham inside to start the Vratham and made him and Archana to sit in front of the God’s Mandap. The priest started the rituals and Swetha helped him giving all the things he required. Later she  carried the tray containing the Kumkum, turmeric and Chandan for offering it to  all the  ladies with the help of Rasi.Once they completed the pooja, Swetha helped Archana in distributing the packets containing the  tambulam and prasad and helped Archana and Gautham in getting the blessings of the elders.Balaramiah, Sangeetha and Ajith were flooded with the questions from their relatives enquiring about Swetha’s marriage. They all were mesmerized with Swetha’s gentle attitude and her beauty and were ready to take her as their daughter in law to their homes if  her parents accepted their offer.Ajith gently rejects their offer, excusing her studies and once she completes her education they will think of her marriage. He slowly moved from them and headed towards the food section to check the process. He halted at his steps by seeing the person who was standing in a business suit at the entrance looking in their direction with his hands shoved in his pockets. Ajith stared at that person for a while and later with a gentle smile reached the person and welcomed him.“Mr. Sreekar! What  a surprise? I didn’t expect you here. It’s nice to meet you. I couldn’t wish you last night at the marriage. I am very sorry for that. Please come in”,wished him while  stretching  his hand.Sreekar stared at him with  a confused face and shook his hand while asking,“Are we acquainted with each other?”.“Hahaha! No, we don’t know personally but I heard about you from Gautham. I am Ajith, brother of Gautham. Please come in. Gautham is inside”, ushered Sreekar towards Gautham. Once Ajith ushered Sreekar to Gautham, he left the place leaving the friends alone.Gautham welcomed Sreekar wholeheartedly and  introduced Achana to him. In the middle of their conversation, Swetha came  running towards them  and held Gautham’s hand without observing the person to whom he was speaking.“Brother! Aunty is asking you to come along with sister in law  for lunch. You both should have the food together. Come”, pulled Gautham’s hnad along with her.“Swetha Wait maa”, Gautham turned towards Sreekar and asked him to come along with him.“Sree! Come, let us have lunch together”.Swetha spun her head towards Sreekar’s direction immediately after hearing his name and stared at him with widened eyes  who was glancing at her from the corner of his eyes. Her heart started thumping very rapidly as if it would explode at any time.