Chapter 46 You’re My Brother
Gavin Rodriguez was standing in front of Eden with Aaron Rodriguez. He looked at Lavanya, who was busy looking around the cheerful surroundings, and thought, ” Now, I know who is following her everywhere.”
He ignored them for Lavanya, but Aaron walked in his direction when he saw him. “Eden, what a pleasant surprise? I didn’t expect you to be here.”
Lavanya also looked at him and stood beside Eden. He wrapped an arm around her waist to show Gavin that she belongs with him and said, “I am here to give company to my gorgeous girlfriend on her big day.” He turned to Lavanya. “Lavanya, Meet Mr. Aaron Rodriguez.”
Lavanya shook her hand with him. “Nice to meet you.”
Aaron was about to say something when they heard the Dean of the college congratulating all the students. “I think it’s starting. Come on, Eden.” Lavanya held his hand and took him away from there.
“Does he think that I am interested in his girlfriend? He was trying to show his closeness with her in front of me.” Gavin said while watching them.
Aaron laughed. “His reaction was natural. Don’t take it to heart.”
Gavin shook his head. “I want to know about your relationship with him.”
“I have told you that I will tell you everything when the time comes.”
The ceremony started, and after a few students, Lavanya happily walked up on the stage to get her Diploma certificate. She excitedly walked down the stage and hugged Eden.
“Thank you so much.” She kissed his cheek. He pulled her cheeks, and they left the college.
***
Lavanya was enjoying watching the sunset happily while inhaling the sweet fragrance of the flowers in the garden when Eden appeared beside her. “What are you thinking about looking at the sunset?”
“My Brother.” She replied.
He held her from the shoulders to make her face him. “Are you missing him?”
She nodded. “Raksha Bandhan is coming next month.”
“Raksha…Raksha Bandhan, What’s this?” He asked.
“Raksha Bandhan is a festival during which sisters tie a Rakhi (A bracelet made of interwoven red and gold threads) around their brother’s wrist to celebrate their relationship, and then it becomes her brother’s duty to protect her.” She explained to him.
“I know about this festival. Mom also used to make these for her brother. I have a faint memory of this festival.” He said while trying to remember it.
“So you have an uncle, but why haven’t I met him yet?” She placed her hands on both sides of her waist.
“I don’t know where he lives and how he looks? After mom and dad’s death, everyone left me alone.” He became a little sad.
She held his hand and asked to lighten up his mood, “Can we go shopping? I want to buy some material to make Rakhis for my brothers.”
“Of course, I will take you tomorrow.” He sighed. “But your brother isn’t talking to you, and also, he is not here.”
She crossed her arms across her chest. “You didn’t hear me clearly. I said for my brothers.”
“You only have one brother.” He tried to remind her.
She rolled her eyes. “I know. I am talking about Ray. He is also my brother as he protects me everywhere.”
“Oh yeah, I…I didn’t think about it.” He said, looking at the flowers.
“Because you always think of him as your Bodyguard but for me, he is like a family.” She stated.
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “That’s what I love the most about you.”
He took her shopping the next day. She brought some colorful threads and beads to design the rakhis.
A day before Raksha Bandhan, she designed two beautiful Rakhis. She kept one Rakhi aside, which she designed for Daksh, and went downstairs with the Rakhi she designed for Ray.
She saw Ray sitting in the living room with Eden. She quickly understood that Eden had invited him. She happily went to the kitchen, and entered the living room with a plate of sweets and the Rakhi in her hand.
***
Daksh was missing Lavanya. He looked at his empty wrist. “My wrist is empty from the last year. I hoped you would come back this year and will tie a Rakhi on my wrist, but now I think that our love has become weak in front of the love of that man.”
A tear rolled down his cheek as he leaned his head against the bed rest.
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Ray stood up as soon as he saw her. “Hello, Miss Lavanya.”
“Hello.” She greeted him.
“Sir said you wanted to meet me.”
She showed him the Rakhi. “I wanted to tie this on your wrist.”
Ray furrowed his eyebrows, looking at the designer thread in her hand. “What’s this?”
“It’s a Rakhi, and today is the festival of Raksha Bandhan in India. On this day, sisters tie a designer thread on the wrist of the brothers, and he promises her to always protect her as it becomes his duty.” She explained to Ray.
Ray smiled. “It’s a nice festival, but why do you want to tie this on my wrist?”
She held his hand, and tied the Rakhi around his wrist. “Because you’re my Brother as you protect me most of the time.”
She held the piece of sweet in her hand, and fed it to him. “I wanted to celebrate it with you by all the rituals, but I didn’t find the things needed to complete the rituals.”
“It’s alright. I always wanted a sister, and today I have a sister. Thank you, Miss Lavanya.” He touched the Rakhi on his wrist.
“You will not call me Miss Lavanya from now on. You will call me sister, and I will call you Bhai, which means brother in the Hindi language.” She smiled.
“Sure, I will. I was just a bodyguard, but you made me a family member today. Thank you so much.” Ray got a little emotional.
Eden, who was silently watching everything, stood up and said, “You’re my would-be brother-in-law from now on. Make sure to protect your sister well, or else I will not spare you.”
Eden pretended to threaten him, but Ray got serious. He gulped the lump formed in his throat and thought, looking at the Rakhi on his wrist, “It doesn’t matter if you’ve made me your brother, Miss Lavanya. For Sir, I can never be a family member. I will always be a bodyguard.”