A Marriage Built on Secrets

Lalitha, upon seeing Vijayan, understood clearly that he would never question Anvitha about anything again.

"Forget Vijayan now... answer me this instead," she said. "Imagine you're Athira and you're marrying Chaithanya. What will you do if he finds out you're actually Anvitha after the wedding?"

Anvitha had no answer. "I don't know, Lalitha... Right now, I only care about Chaithanya getting better. That's all," she said.

Lalitha snapped at her. "Don't lie, Anvitha. You know very well that if Chaithanya finds out you're actually Anvitha, he would never marry you. That's why you want to marry him as Athira. You also know if he learns the truth afterward, he'll throw you out thinking you cheated him just for his money. But you believe it's enough if he just ties the knot, right?"

Anvitha froze at that question, unable to meet Lalitha's eyes, overwhelmed by guilt.

Seeing that, Lalitha felt sorry for her. "Listen to me. Love should be mutual. Chaithanya only loves your sister Athira, not you. If you marry him as Athira and he finds out later, he'll think you deceived him for wealth. That hatred will only grow. He'll end up loving Athira more than ever, and you won't be able to take her place. He'll never forgive you in his lifetime. Please listen to me."

Anvitha replied softly, "Chaithanya's grandfather has promised to take care of everything..."

"What can he even take care of? Watch you suffer?" Lalitha countered. Anvitha remained silent.

"You'll only realize things after going through pain. I know Chaithanya well. Geetha told us a lot about him when we used to talk. When you told us that Athira loved Chaithanya, I traced Geetha, the one who introduced us to him. She's working in a hospital in Bangalore now. She's still not married, though her brother is settled."

"Just because Geetha lied that Chaithanya married Athira for his good, he has distanced himself from her whole family. Even when Geetha's mom, Manjula, passed away, he didn't ask anything."

"That's because he was in a coma then," Anvitha tried to defend.

"Yes, but even now, he refuses to acknowledge them. Geetha cried a lot when she told me how he claimed not to even recognize her. If he can cut ties with a family he knew for 30 years, what would you mean to him?"

Anvitha remained silent again, and Lalitha suddenly stood up.

Turning to Vijayan, she said, "What are you still sitting here for? She won't listen no matter what. Only suffering will teach her. Maybe she'll understand if Athira tells her, but this girl is too stubborn. Let's go." She turned to Anvitha again.

"I've told you everything as a friend. If you still want to marry Chaithanya, go ahead. Be happy. But face whatever happens with courage. Don't be a coward like your sister."

Lalitha then left with Vijayan. As she walked away, she turned and said, "Whatever happens in the future, never forget that this Lalitha was alive for you," and walked away.

Anvitha watched them leave with sadness. What Lalitha said was completely true. Still, Anvitha couldn't bring herself to leave Chaithanya in this condition. Her love for him brought her to tears.

After crying for a while, she took the baby from Ambika, fed him, put him to sleep, and started thinking about her future.

No matter how much she thought, it became clear to her that she could not leave Chaithanya. She decided to surrender to fate and marry him as Athira.

In the days that followed, their wedding was held simply in a temple. Since both Anvitha and Chaithanya requested a low-key ceremony, the elder arranged it in a nearby small temple and even ensured it was registered. Only close and essential guests were invited.

Though the elder insisted on inviting Geetha and her mother, Chaithanya flatly refused, which deeply saddened him. Seeing his stubbornness, Anvitha grew fearful. She knew this same behavior could one day be directed at her too. She prayed to God for the strength to face it, then accepted the marriage wholeheartedly, letting Chaithanya tie the knot.

The guests gave their blessings and gifts before leaving. Among them were Vijayan and Lalitha — something Anvitha had not expected at all.

Shocked, she looked at them. Lalitha leaned in and whispered, "Don't worry. We'll never tell Chaithanya who you really are."

This brought some relief to Anvitha. She introduced Lalitha to Chaithanya.

"Oh! Lalitha! I know you. You're Athira's close friend, right? I've seen you often at college," Chaithanya said, smiling warmly.

When he looked at the nearby Vijayan curiously, Anvitha simply said, "He's a family friend."

Chaithanya shook hands with Vijayan and took a photo with both of them. Since he was in a wheelchair, he didn't want to take too many photos — just a few with important people.

After the wedding, Chaithanya insisted on leaving for home immediately. The elder took him, Anvitha, and the baby to his home.

Anvitha was stunned to see the house. It looked like a palace. "Such a big house for just two people?" she asked aloud.

The elder turned to her and explained with sadness, "This is an ancestral home. My grandparents and their families all lived here. No one is alive now."

He continued, "Chaithanya remodeled it with modern technology. Do you like it?"

"I love it, grandpa," she replied. He took Adhvai from her arms and said:

"Okay dear. Let the baby stay with me tonight. You take Chaithanya to his room. It's on the third floor."

She looked at the wheelchair-bound Chaithanya and then back at the elder, who smiled and said, "This house is like a hospital with five floors. Knowing our old age, Chaithanya installed an elevator for every floor."

Taking the elevator with Chaithanya, Anvitha entered his grand room and stood there amazed.

Seeing her stunned, Chaithanya teased, "Why are you so shocked, Athira?"

He pulled her onto him and said, "Our property is huge. We haven't just invested in hospitals. We also have a school in grandpa's name, and a lot of assets in the share market. I'll tell you everything in time, okay?" he said, softly caressing her lips.

Blushing deep red, she looked down shyly. The jasmine flowers in her hair intoxicated him as he leaned in close, resting his face against her neck.

"You know how beautiful you look when you blush like this, Athira?" he whispered, sending shivers through her body.