Armaan felt someone squeezing him inside out, and sweat broke out on his forehead, as he
hung up the phone call.
He had made a mistake, a serious mistake, by leaving Janani. He should have listened to
his heart and simply cancelled the trip and stayed home.
Now he had to pray that he had sufficient time and the opportunity to put it right. And if he
didn't?
Good lord, that option could not even be considered!
***
Janani walked down the steps of the mandir after spending an hour there with her family
doing some pre wedding poojas.
She had gone over to find some peace and had terribly failed as her mind kept going back to
what she had come to know from Sheya Iyyer yesterday.
She stopped on the stairs as she saw Armaan get down from the car.
"Heyy. Isn't that Armaan?? " Richa asked
"He was supposed to return next week. He is a stickler for schedules" Janani said confused
"Seems like you bridegroom missed you more than you know as he is here now" her mother
said teasingly
Sheathed in a dark business suit teamed with a white shirt and silvery tie, he looked
both formal and formidable.
His lean, handsome face was taut, the line of his beautiful mouth forbidding.
A jolt of dismay ran through Janani and quite instinctively she found herself wondering if she
had done something wrong.
Ava flew down the stairs without heeding to any warnings and launched herself into her
dada's arms.
As they reached down the stairs his dark chocolate eyes immediately sought hers as though
he was looking for something and then he quickly turned his attention on to the other family
members.
To a backdrop of Advi's squeals of excitement and loud vocal appeals to be noticed, Armaan
responded smoothly and pleasantly to her family's greetings before taking a swaying Advi
from Aditya.
"Hush" he said softly to his son while ruffling his hair. "You can't always be the centre of
attention little man"
"Well, when he isn't he likes to let us know he doesn't like it!" her father quipped cheerfully.
"He's a terrific little scene stealer."
"Let me take him" Janani's mother urged, holding out her arms. "You and Janani should
have some time together in peace. We have a little more shopping to do too"
Advi complained loudly at the transfer, demanded Janani with pleading arms and then
sobbed.
"It's okay ma. Give him to me" Janani said, raising her arms to pick up a crying Advi but
Armaan caught hold of her arms before she could reach Advi.
"No!! Let him go with your parents. We need to talk" Armaan said
All her nervous antennae were telling her that something was badly wrong.
His long, lean, powerful body was incredibly tense, his movements less fluid than usual and
his lean, strong face taut with tension.
Oh, my goodness, she thought in sudden fear. Maybe he had returned early because he had
changed his mind about marrying her!
It was a nightmare scenari