6. At Gramps

Renjith Kumar was in high spirits when he got to the main facility.

"It's good that you're here. I also have something important to tell you." Dr. Jaya said.

Renjith went ahead and told him all about what had happened and how he ended up sleeping and feeding on his childhood friend.

"I think that nothing bad happened to her. I'm sure that she's only avoiding me because she feels embarrassed about what happened." He concluded.

"So, what do you think is the reason? Is she my soulmate? Do you think that she can be the cure for my condition?" He asked.

Dr. Jaya was both surprised and speechless after hearing everything. "Um... I don't know if she is the cure, but what surprises me is that you've known her all your life. How come it is only now that this happened? Also, I don't think that you should get your hopes up yet. Let me check if there's any anomaly first."

"I... I don't know, but I feel very fine and a lot stronger than I have been in a while. Better than when I feed on those bagged bloods." Renjith said excitedly.

"OK. But let me take a sample of your blood to test it out. We can't risk anything at this stage."

"Sure."

"There's something else that I wanted to discuss with you. It's about those that attend to your needs at the dungeon. They all quit again, and so I want us to try the services of a robot first."

"No. I don't want it. I can take care of myself while in there. Haven't I been fine all on my own whenever they left? I have you and the team to cater to me from the outside; I don't see any need for that."

Dr. Jaya tried to get him on board, but still no change in decision. After several convincing words but still not able to change his mind, the doctor just gave up on the matter.

"What time is your trip? Can you give this package to my son on my behalf? Tell him that it's a belated birthday gift. I hope he will like it." Dr. Jaya handed a wrapped package to Renjith.

"Sure. Ramesh would be very happy to receive your gift. I'm very sure of it." Renjith assured the worried man.

"Alright. Greet your old man for me and tell Guna that I said 'hi'."

"Definitely."

Renjith soon left the facility and went to the main house since they're both on the same compound.

"Lalita, you will have to get him to agree to this on your own. He refused when I told him." Dr. Jaya sent the text to Renjith's mom once he left.

***

Renjith got on the plane for his trip in the dead of the night, and by morning, he was already in Ireland with his maternal relatives to celebrate his grandfather's birthday.

"Heyy. Here comes my favourite grandson." Old Seamus excitedly stood up on his feet with wide-open arms as soon as he saw Renjith enter the party hall with the current heir, Ryan McDermott.

Renjith smiled and speedwalked to hug his grandpa.

"Happy eighty-fifth birthday, gramps. How have you been?"

"I'm very well, my dear. What about you? How is your family doing back at home? How far along are you with things concerning your health?"

Ryan soon dragged Renjith to greet other people before later, the two of them leaving the party together. He is Renjith's closest maternal cousin and friend.

He took Renjith to see Ramesh and Guna to give them his doctor's gift and messages.

Renjith handed Dr. Jaya's package to Ramesh and chatted with them for a while on his current condition and other things before leaving there with Ryan again.

*

"So, I've decided that I'm going to propose marriage to her once I return to India." Renjith informs Ryan with a grinning face. They were now in Ryan's study.

"Dude, you're joking, right? I mean, you don't actually mean that, do you? You're not going to marry Aiesha just for the sole reason that you guys slept together, right?"

"Nope. I'm damn serious. And as for the reason I want to marry her, it's yes. It is because of that, but who knows, maybe I'll grow to finally fall in love once we're married. You can never tell.

As you already know, my condition does not allow me to be with anyone. I had even accepted that I might die alone and childless.

But now that the universe has given me someone that is just right for me, I have no intention of wasting the opportunity."

Ryan nodded in understanding and said. "Well, if you put it that way, then you're right. I sometimes do forget about your medical condition.

We all know how much Aiesha has had her eyes on, so I do not doubt that she loves you. It's you that I'm concerned about.

What if you're wrong with this marriage too and you later realise that she wasn't your soulmate and that it was someone else all along?

What if you're never able to love Aiesha back and later find yourself in love with someone else?

Have you thought of how torturous that would be for you and everyone involved?

I keep praying that you find a solution to your problem, but I don't believe that this is it.

But even still, if this is your decision after thinking everything through, then you have my full support, cousin. You can count on me any time that you need me."

Ryan gave his cousin a pat on the shoulder.

"Thanks, man. I'll invite you for our engagement if she accepts. Hope you'll come, men. I want you to be my best man during the wedding. What do you say?"

Ryan smiled. "Cool. I'll be more than happy to."

"And make sure to bring Sienna with you. I'm sure that she would love to visit. Haha." Renjith teased his cousin.

"Yeah right!" Ryan hits his shoulder in a jovial way.

Renjith soon left for his home country. All the while, he was thinking over the questions that Ryan had asked earlier.