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ARRIVAL OF PREETAM’S PARENTS

Preetam PoV:

Roopa noticed the arrival of my parents. She smiled and went to my parents to seek their blessings. I was in tension predicting the reaction of my mom and dad.

"Roopa, this is unnecessary," mom said recklessly.

Roopa looked at me, and her look said that she understood the situation.

"Mom and dad, I trust Roopa. She didn't do anything wrong. I..... " I tried to explain, but dad cut me off in the middle.

"Preetam, bring her to our home. Let's talk at home," dad said, and they left the office.

"Preetam, Do you think they will forgive me?" Roopa asked me.

I halted my thoughts and gave her a side hug. I could feel Roopa's pain when everyone in the family hates her.

"I am not sure, Roopa. To be frank, they hate this marriage from the beginning. When you left, they developed a kind of grudge against you, because everyone in their circle insulted them. Those comments about the elopement of their daughter in law had hurt them. Don't worry; I will try to convince them. Please, be patient," I said to her.

"Okay!" Roopa replied in a broken voice.

I placed a kiss on her forehead to relax her.

"Don't worry, baby, I am there for you, right? I never allow anyone to hurt you," I assured patting her back lovingly.

If necessary, I would leave all this property and everything for her. I decided to support her at any cost. I wouldn't give up on this relationship for my parents. We returned to the home, and I saw Vinaya there at my house. Why couldn't this girl go to her home rather than staying here every time? I didn't want Roopa to get insulted by my parents, especially before Vinaya. Why everything went wrong against my wish?

"Dad!" I said.

"Why did she return to you? How did you allow her to stay here?" Mom asked.

"Mom, Roopa is my wife. Where will she go, if I leave her? Roopa has the right to stay here. She is your daughter in law," I said.

"Preetam, you don't worry about Roopa. If you leave her, she can go to her so-called boyfriend with whom she eloped," Vinaya said in a sarcastic tone.

"Shut up, Vinaya! It is none of your business. You have no right to insult my wife. This is my personal issue. Now you are leaving for your house," I said sternly.

Vinaya's eyes filled with tears. I didn't mean to hurt her. Vinaya was a good friend to me. But I couldn't bear anyone insulting Roopa. I must protect her respect as her husband.

"It's enough, Preetam! Vinaya is our guest. You shouldn't talk like that with Vinaya for a girl like Roopa who eloped on her marriage day. However, Vinaya didn't say anything wrong. Apologise to her," mom shouted at me.

"I won't apologise to Vinaya. I didn't speak anything wrong. I can't allow an outsider to criticise my wife when I knew Roopa is never wrong," I said.

"Preetam!" Mom said, but I interrupted her.

"Mom, let's talk about Roopa when others are not at our home. Not now," I said and held Roopa's hand to take her to our room.

We were in our room recalling all the events that took place. I clenched my fist. Why couldn't they listen once to Roopa and her version? I would agree that Roopa did wrong by leaving home on the wedding day. But it didn't mean she had eloped with someone else.

"Preetam!" Roopa said slowly, holding my fist.

"What?" I almost shouted at her.

She went away from me leaving my hand. Her face showed that she was so scared of my shouting. Shut, I didn't mean to yell at her. I was angry with Vinaya not with my darling.

"Sorry, baby!" I said cupping her face.

"What did I do now that made you angry with me? Why are you shouting at me?" She asked pouting.

I smiled and pulled her into my lap.

"No baby, you didn't do anything wrong. I was not angry with you. I was mad at that girl Vinaya. I didn't understand why she interfered in our issue," I said, holding my head.

"Don't think much, Preetam. Vinaya is your best friend. Vinaya has the right to talk. Moreover, she was angry with me for hurting you. She hates me because she loves you so much. Try to make her understand that you don't love her," Roopa explained to me.

How could Roopa understand everyone so well? She didn't like to blame anyone. Such a sweetheart!

I kept staring at her as my love for her increased every minute with her attitude.

"Preetam, you shouldn't be that rude to Vinaya. How could you ask your best friend to leave the house? You should respect, your friend, right? You shouldn't hurt your friend," Roopa said sweetly.

How could Roopa be so soft-hearted and this patient? She thought about Vinaya's feelings inspite of Vinaya's efforts to hurt and insult her. I loved her attitude. I couldn't say I know everything about Roopa. But the things I knew about her are more than enough to make me fall for her completely.

"You are beautiful," I said, hugging her tight.

Roopa smiled at me.

"Preetam, Shall I ask you something?" said Roopa.

"Tell me, sweetheart!" I said.

"I need to visit my friend for a week. Shall I go?" Roopa asked me.

What was Roopa talking? How could she leave keeping all the problems around us? Mom and dad will create another mess now.

"I won't permit you to go without giving a proper reason, at least till everything settles in our family," I said in a severe tone.

I didn't have any problem sending her to Vizag, but I couldn't imagine the reaction of my parents. They might doubt her again if I allow her to go without knowing the proper reason. I didn't understand why Roopa focuses on everything except our family. Here, mom and dad were adamant to accept her, and she wanted to leave somewhere at this moment.

"I am going to Vizag for my friend's marriage," Roopa said.

Her gaze fixed on the ground, avoiding to meet my looks while speaking. I guessed that it's not true.

"Is it that important?" I asked her.

"Preetam, she is my best friend," Roopa said.

Why was she lying to me? I didn't want to let her go because I was unsure where she was going and whether she would return to me or not.

"What if I say no?" I said.

"I can't hurt my friend," Roopa said.

"Damn it! You can't hurt your friend, but you can hurt me for your friend," I yelled at her.

Roopa got out of my lap with my shouting. I lost my patience with her unnecessary secrets.

"Sometimes, a few things become more important than ourselves Preetam," Roopa said confusing me.

"Listen Roopa, if you prioritise my family and me, don't go anywhere till everything settles. Otherwise, it's up to you," I said ending the argument.

"In the morning, I am leaving to Vizag," Roopa said.

Why couldn't she understand my feelings? Why was she behaving like that?

I stopped the argument with her as she decided to go at any cost. In the evening, I took a shower and came into the room. I heard her speaking to someone in a perfect English accent.

"Yes, I will be there by 11 am. Mr NandaKishore is accompanying me. We will be staying in the hotel for a week," Roopa said and turned towards me while talking on the mobile.

Roopa found me behind her and shocked. She might have attended the call as I went for a shower.

"I will talk later. Book the room for us in your hotel. I had transferred the money to your account and mailed you the transaction details," Roopa said and disconnected the call.

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