Chapter 3 Something Is Wrong

Daksh, Aakash and Sakshi were surprised and shocked after knowing that Jai gave a solo trip of London to Lavanya. Daksh took the envelope from her and started reading it. He looked at Jai and then at Lavanya. He wanted to ask Jai about this but held him back because there were lots of guests present at the party. The party ended and Lavanya excitedly went to sleep after changing, imagining her trip to London.

Next day, they all were sitting at the dining table for breakfast.

"Lavanya, you should start preparing for your trip." Jai said to her and Daksh looked at him.

"Grandpa, Why did you give her a solo trip? She hasn't travelled alone before." Daksh said and Lavanya looked at him, with an annoyed expression.

"Come on bhaiya (Brother), I am not a little girl anymore. I am twenty one now. I am all grown up and I can handle myself." Lavanya said, but her words were not enough to convince Daksh.

"Daksh, we should let her go. She has to learn to manage herself alone and be independent." Aakash said and Lavanya quickly said, "Yes, you should let me learn to manage everything by myself."

"Okay dad."

"Really, you're allowing me to go." Lavanya asked with a shine in her eyes.

"Yes, You can go." Daksh said, even though he wasn't sure if this is good for Lavanya or not.

"Thank you. We will go shopping tomorrow. I need to buy lots of things." She said and Daksh chuckled.

"Yes but also remember, you have to come back before your exams."

Lavanya nodded at him and smiled.

"She will not come back here." Jai thought while looking at Lavanya and smirked, but no one noticed him.

In the evening, Jai was in his room. He was talking to Eden.

"I am sending her to London. From there, she will be your responsibility."

"Don't worry, I will take care of her. Does she know about this?" Eden asked and Jai panicked.

"No, sh...she doesn't. She only knows that I am sending her on a trip to London. She thinks she will come back here after her trip ends." Jai explained to him.

"Okay, I will explain everything to her." He said and was about to cut the call when he heard Jai, "Do whatever you want to do with her but make sure my grandson or her parents shouldn't know about this. Don't give her any chances to call them."

Eden cut the call and said, "What a grandfather? He only cares about his grandson and his granddaughter doesn't even mean anything to him."

***

Lavanya was going shopping with Daksh. They entered the shop inside the mall and Lavanya started selecting dresses for her. Daksh was looking at her as if he was still not ready to send her alone. She selected a few dresses and came to him.

"How are these dresses?" She looked at him and asked but he was lost in his own thoughts. She gently tapped on his shoulder and he turned his attention towards her.

"Do you need anything?"

"How are these dresses?" She asked, showing him the dresses she was holding.

"Nice, let's buy them." He said and Lavanya followed him. She gave the dresses to the shopkeeper. Daksh paid the bill and they walked out of the shop taking the shopping bags from the shopkeeper. They were going back home when Lavanya saw an ice cream shop.

"Stop the car."

"Do you want to buy anything else?" He asked her in confusion.

"Stop the car, Please."

He stopped the car and saw that she was pointing towards something with her finger. He followed the direction of her finger and saw the ice cream shop. He chuckled and said, "Let's go and enjoy some ice-cream."

They went to the shop and ordered their favourite flavours. As they were eating ice cream, Daksh looked at her and asked, "Do you really want to go to London all alone?"

"Yes, I want to go." She noticed the worry in his eyes and further added, "Don't worry, I promise I will take care of myself."

"You're all grown-up but for me you're that same little Lavanya and you will always be. I am going to miss you." He said and she laughed.

"I can't believe you are saying this that you're going to miss me."

"Why?"

"Remember, whenever I went with mom and dad to visit our relatives for a few days, you became so happy that no one will annoy you." She said and Daksh smiled remembering the days when Lavanya was a child.

"That was a lie. Reality is that I missed you a lot and even now, I am going to miss you." He said and a tear rolled down his cheek. Lavanya wiped it and said "I love you and I am also going to miss you."

Daksh placed his hand on her cheek and said, "I am not only your brother. I am also your best friend. Promise me, you will take care of yourself and will call me, if there is anything wrong. I will come there."

"I promise."

"I am here for you, always." He kissed the back of her hand. They went home after enjoying their ice cream party. Lavanya went to her room with Sakshi to show her the dresses she brought and Daksh went into his room. Aakash noticed Daksh's worried expression and followed him to his room. He knocked on his door.

Daksh looked at the door and said, "Dad, Please come inside."

"Are you alright, Daksh?" Aakash asked, with concern in his eyes.

"Yes, I am fine."

"You're fine but your words are not matching with the expression on your face." As he said this, Daksh looked at him in confusion.

"What are you worried about?"

"I am worried about Lavanya. She shouldn't not go alone. I am feeling that something is really wrong." Daksh expressed his worries to him.