“Thank you, sir.”
“I saw you brought a bottle of scotch.”
Rian’s lips twitched at the surreptitious glance Mr. Krishnan sent his wife before saying this.
“Yes, sir. Fifteen-year-old, single malt. Aditi mentioned you like it.”
“Good choice. Aditi’s amma will not get angry if I have some with you. To get to know you better.” His palm landed with an approving thump on Rian’s shoulder. “Tomorrow evening then? Come for dinner. Bring your friends.”
“Thank you, I will.”
“We will have to talk about the details of the marriage soon. I assume that will be with you?”
“Aditi and I, together, sir.”
“Yes, yes, I know,” Mr. Krishnan grumbled, rolling his eyes. “Boys these days, totally whipped. In my time, we used to be real men.”
“What did you say?” Mrs. Krishnan asked sharply.
“Nothing, my dear. Come, let me get you some dessert before the guests take it all. I heard the payasam is delicious.”
For the rest of the evening, they were surrounded by family. As much as he wanted to have Aditi all to himself, Rian finally understood the attraction of the love she received from them. And by extension, what he too would get.
For a boy who’d been lonely much of his life, he was overwhelmed with the ease with which the Krishnan clan enveloped him in their fold. As if they’d been waiting all along for him to come to them.
For him to come home.
41
& Then They Wed
Rian & Aditi
One Year Later.
Doc, My Sunshine,
I could not imagine ourwebingwedding day without youvwearing the flowers I picked. I hope Vihaan didn’t crush them. I hate that he gets to see you before I do.
Though I cannot betheirthere to help you put themnoon, this will be the only time I’ll let it happen. I have tried to fight it but Nanamma is scary & willnutnot let me out of her sight before thewebwedding is complete. I’ll be glad to bedundone with these rituals and finally have you inareour home again.
Every day hereafter, I will be present to pin flowers on you.Every day, I will bether tehirthere to feed you thefeebsfoods you love, but more importantly thebefoods you need. Every day, I will love you. I wouldn’t knowwhohow toalive otherwise.
When you come down that aisle today, I'll be there. Waiting. Planning for theterttestrest of my life with you.
Yours, and only yours,
Bugs
PS: Can we please revisit this nickname? Bugs is weird.
No, Chota Bheem is not a valid option. Neither isDabaBada Bheem! Don’t even suggest it.
Chef is fine, but we bothnoknow what happens when you say it.
PPS: I also have a new nickname for you. Tell youlater.
Aditi chuckled warmly, reading through the letter as the stylist put the final touches on her hair. Her thumb swiped over the edge of a sentence where it looked like Rian had irritatedly smudged it in an attempt to correct the spelling. The little errors, crossed out words and mildly illegible writing did not lessen the impact of his message. She picked up the thickly strung garlands of closed jasmine that Rian had sent with a handwritten note that left her sniffling back happy tears.