Chapter 4

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Kalyani stepped into the room, a warm smile on her face as she looked at Sita. She was more than an aunt-she was another mother to her.

"Sita, your mamaya is asking for you. You know how impatient he gets when he doesn't talk to you, right?" she said fondly.

Siddharth, her mamaya, was more like a father to Sita. His love and care for her had never wavered.

Kalyani's tone softened. "If your talk is done, come down and tell us your decision, ma. We won't force you both-just say what's in your heart."

With that, she left, giving them space.

Trinodh turned to Sita, his gaze lingering.

He repeated Kalyani's words, his voice gentle, but there was something in his eyes-something searching.

Sita swallowed, her heart thudding.

" Only if you knew how desperate I am to marry you".

She took a breath and nodded. "Okay."

They both walked downstairs together.

By the time they reached, lunch preparations were in full swing. Meenakshi and Kalyani were bustling in the kitchen, and Sita naturally joined them.

As they worked, the inevitable question arose. "Sita, what do you think about marriage?" Meenakshi asked casually, though her eyes twinkled with curiosity.

Sita, caught off guard, hesitated before shyly nodding her head. "Okay," she murmured, her cheeks warming.

Kalyani and Meenakshi exchanged knowing glances, but they didn't tease her. Instead, they welcomed her answer with warm smiles.

Meanwhile, in the hall, Trinodh was growing restless. He glanced towards the kitchen repeatedly, but his mother, enjoying his impatience, deliberately dodged the topic.

When they finally sat down to eat, Trinodh subtly signaled his mother, silently demanding Sita's answer.

Meenakshi, enjoying herself, simply shrugged. "What?" she said innocently.

Trinodh exhaled sharply, but his mother only smiled.

After lunch, Sita excused herself, heading to the kitchen. Moments later, she returned with a bowl of payasam-Trinodh's favorite.

As she served it, kalyani smirked. "Someone made someone's favorite sweet, ha!"

Sita froze, flustered. "Athaya..." she mumbled, embarrassed.

Before the teasing could continue, her father, Karthik, chuckled and said "Avnu, Naku payasam istam ani Sita ki thelusu anduke chesindhi."

(Yes, Sita knows I love payasam, that's why she made it.)

Then, his voice turned softer as he looked at her. "Sita, what is your decision?"

Sita took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around the spoon.

"Nana, you know my answer when I prepared sweet, don't you? Still, you are asking?" she said shyly.

Her father's smile was full of warmth. "Naku thelusu, kannama. But I wanted to make sure."

(I know, dear, but I wanted to make sure.)

Across the table, Trinodh's entire expression shifted. His impatience melted into something deeper-something almost overwhelming. His heart pounded, a strange exhilaration filling him.

She had chosen him.

His family turned to him now, waiting for his answer.

Trinodh leaned back slightly, his voice steady but filled with emotion.

"I was okay with this marriage even before she said yes," he admitted, looking directly at Sita. Then, turning to his mother and aunt, he added, "You both knew that already, didn't you?"

Meenakshi and Kalyani grinned. "Ya, ya we know," they said teasingly.

His ears turned red.

After lunch, as they washed their hands, the men casually dried them with their wives' pallu.

Trinodh, never one to miss an opportunity, smirked and deliberately reached for Sita's saree pallu, wiping his hands with it.

Sita's breath hitched. Heat rushed to her cheeks, her face turning crimson.

Trinodh, satisfied, gave her a knowing look before stepping back.

The family moved to the living room to continue their discussion, but before it could begin, Trinodh received a call. He excused himself and stepped outside.

Sita watched him leave, then followed.

When she reached him, he was still on the phone, but the moment he sensed her presence, he turned, his eyes softening. Without hesitation, he reached for her, pulling her into his embrace while still talking.

Sita stiffened for a second, then melted into him.

She barely registered when he ended the call, his voice breaking the silence.

"Thank you, Sita. Marriage accept chesinanduku... you made me happy, ra."

(Thank you for accepting the marriage... you made me happy.)

But she didn't respond.

She wasn't even listening.

She was simply there, lost in his warmth, in the way his arms made her feel safe-like she belonged.

Trinodh chuckled softly, sensing it. He ran a hand along her back, murmuring, "I have to go. Tell them, okay?"

She nodded against his chest, still unwilling to let go and tighten the hug and nuzzled in to his neck breathing his fragrance which made her relax .

"Okay, maama... I will say."

He pulled away, reluctant but firm. With one last glance at her, he walked to his car.

Back inside, their parents looked at Sita expectantly.

"Where did he go?" Kalyani asked.

Sita composed herself and answered, "He had some work and asked me to inform you all."

And as she sat down, her heart still racing, she realized one thing-she couldn't wait to be his.

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Evening time

The Big Reveal about their marriage to their friends

Sita's Side - The Confession at Home

Sita sat on the couch, nervously twisting the edge of her dupatta as Nitya and Aadhya stared at her, waiting for her to speak. She had called them over, saying she had something important to tell them.

Aadhya, always the impatient one, huffed.

"Sita, if you called us just to stare at us, I swear, I'm going to eat all the sweets in your kitchen and leave nothing for you."

Nitya smirked.

"She looks nervous. This must be serious." Then she narrowed her eyes. "You're not in trouble, are you?"

Sita took a deep breath.

"I've decided to get married."

Silence.

Then-

"WHAT?!" Aadhya almost fell off the couch.

"Are you joking? Who? When? How? Why didn't you tell us before?"

Nitya raised an eyebrow.

"Wait... is this a love marriage or an arranged one?"

Sita hesitated. "It's... both?"

Aadhya gasped dramatically.

"YOU FELL IN LOVE? AND YOU DIDN'T TELL US?"

Sita rolled her eyes.

"It's complicated, Aadhya."

Nitya leaned forward.

"Complicated how?"

Sita bit her lip. "You know him, Nitya."

Nitya's forehead creased.

"I do?" Then realization dawned. "Wait. No. No way." She leaned back, covering her mouth. "Trinod?"

Aadhya's jaw dropped. "Who is Trinod?"

Nitya turned to her. "He's a lawyer."

Aadhya blinked. "Okay? And?"

Nitya turned back to Sita. "Trinod !! is it really Trinod?"

Sita shyly nodded.

Aadhya still looked confused. "Can someone explain in normal words?"

Nitya sighed. "He's a lawyer I work with. But, Sita, you never mentioned knowing him before!"

Sita played with her fingers.

"I didn't... know him know him before. We only met properly before marriage was discussed."

Aadhya groaned. "And you fell in love that fast?"

Sita gave her a knowing smile. "Sometimes, love isn't about time, Aadhya. It's about destiny."

Aadhya crossed her arms.

"Destiny or not, I need to meet this guy. If he's marrying my best friend, he needs to pass my test."

Nitya chuckled. "Poor Trinod."

Sita smiled, her heart warm. "You'll like him. I know it."

Trinod's Side - The Grand Reveal

Meanwhile, at Trinod's place, his best friends Rajiv and Vamsi sat comfortably on his couch, enjoying snacks, unaware of the bomb he was about to drop.

Rajiv stretched.

"So, what's the emergency? You finally decided to take a vacation?"

Vamsi smirked.

"Or did you finally accept that you have no social life?"

Trinod rolled his eyes. "I'm getting married."

Silence.

Rajiv dropped his spoon. Vamsi choked on his drink.

Rajiv was the first to recover. "Come again?"

Trinod casually leaned back. "I said, I'm getting married."

Vamsi wiped his mouth.

"I must've misheard. You? Mr. 'I'll die before I fall in love'? Mr. 'Work is my only commitment'? Mr.-"

"Enough," Trinod cut in, trying not to laugh.

Rajiv narrowed his eyes. "Wait... who's the girl?"

Trinod smirked. "Sita."

Vamsi frowned. "Sita? Wait... that name sounds familiar."

Rajiv snapped his fingers. "Your mystery girl! The one you never confessed to!"

Vamsi gasped. "WAIT. YOU'RE MARRYING HER?!"

Trinod nodded, amused.

Rajiv threw a pillow at him. "YOU IDIOT! YOU WERE IN LOVE WITH HER FOR YEARS AND NEVER TOLD US, AND NOW YOU JUST CASUALLY SAY YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED?"

Vamsi shook his head dramatically. "I feel betrayed. You had a whole secret love story, and we weren't invited."

Trinod laughed. "It wasn't a secret love story. It was just... timing."

Rajiv still looked shocked. "Bro, you've loved her for so long. And now you're marrying her? Just like that?"

Trinod's expression softened. "Yeah. Just like that."

Vamsi groaned. "Well, we have to meet her. We need to make sure she's worthy of our Trinod."

Trinod smirked. "I think you'll find that I am the lucky one."

Rajiv and Vamsi exchanged glances before sighing dramatically. "Fine. But we're roasting you at the wedding."

Trinod chuckled. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

The Beginning of a New Journey

As both Sita and Trinod revealed their decisions to their friends, laughter, teasing, and warmth filled the air. Their friends might not know each other yet, but soon, their worlds would collide.

And when they did, it was sure to be nothing short of chaotic fun.

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