॥The Wrong One॥

 It was a wonderful day when the Nalad and the Drewett family met. 

Seated outside at the Drewett’s residence, the sun bathed them all in a golden hue, the wind ruffled the leaves of the flora around the families, while the green beach umbrella provided shade. Tea and snacks were served in the spacious backyard as all the members conversed. 

Though the atmosphere was warm, the ladies all wore their scarves about their heads, opting for pastel colours on this bright day. Caterina and Kenta wore long dresses, sheltering their sensitive skin from the sun, but with enough room to move around should they wish to stroll, where Corin and Kayana wore skirts that were calf length insinuating their ever present respect for the men. 
The males all wore dress pants and a shirt with the sleeves rolled. Though this was a friendly gathering, both families were respectably dressed as though they were leaving for a black tie event.

Ionido Nalad sat quietly, thinking to himself about how to approach this situation. If he let slip about what had happened the day before, Ryda may never forgive him, destroying his sons chance for happiness as well as their decade long friendship. 
Exhaling loudly, he stretched his legs. This should be interesting. 

“Ionido, what are you thinking about so intently?”

Startled, he looked over at Ryda, who was smiling back at him expectantly. 
His eyes roamed and he saw his wife, Caterina sitting with Kenta whilst Corin and Kayana checked to see if everyone had enough refills. Glancing to his left, he saw Raian speaking to the gardener.

Clearing his throat he looked back to Ryda, settling a smile upon his face. 
“Yes, well, there is something I’ve been wanting to speak to you about,” looking towards his son again, he spoke, “Beta Raian? Would you mind taking the girls for a walk around the garden?”
“Ofcourse pita ji” His son replied, never questioning while making his way towards where the girls were standing attentively. 

A quick glance at Kayana showed Ionido her nervousness and he smiled and nodded reassuringly at her. 
Extending his hand, Raian allowed Corin then Kayana to walk past him. Ducking his head, he followed after them as he realized what his father was about to do. 

Settling back into his chair, Ryda crossed one leg over the other and laced his fingers atop his knee. 
“Yes Ionido?”

Leaning forward, Ionido sighed and scratched his chin. 

“I have been thinking about this a lot my brother, and I believe now is the time to voice my thoughts”
Glancing up at Ryda, Ionido saw no change in his posture. Good sign. 

Clearing his throat again, he began, “I’ve always treated Kayana as my daughter and I would give my life for her. She has been a great friend and sister to Corin,” Breathing in, he said a quick mental prayer, “I would like to change that bond into a relation.”
Finally looking up, Ionido saw Ryda’s amused expression. What? 
“I would like for Kayana to be my daughter-in-law, a sister-in-law to Corin and a wife to Raian.”

“No.”

Startled, Ionido glanced towards his wife and Kenta, who both sat in their seats with their mouths open, their backs ramrod straight in disbelief and shock. 
“What? Why?” He exclaimed, sitting straight up. 
How could he deny this? He knew he was lower in social ranking, but with him, Kayana was ensured a future filled with love. 

“Don’t think Ionido, that I don’t know what has been happening,” Picking up his cup of tea, he brought it up to his lips, “I know exactly why you want this marriage so bad, but I have a better proposition for you.” Taking a sip he settled his cup back down. “Call Raian.” He called out to no one particular, but someone would hear. 

A few moments of tense silence later, Raian emerged around the corner, the girls behind him, as they whispered to one another.

“Kenta, would you mind taking the ladies inside?” He called out towards his wife, his eyes not straying from Ionido’s figure.

When everyone was settled, Ryda looked both father and son in the eyes as he contemplated his next move.

“Beta Raian, are you ready for this marriage?”

“Yes Drewett ji, Kayana would be well-”

“Only answer the question beta” A bitter smile twisted his lips. “What would you say if I had a better arrangement?”

Ionido and Raian glanced at each other, apprehension clear in both their eyes.
What was he thinking? Ionido thought.

“You see beta, I know how you love your basketball, and I have spoken to some people,” Ryda let that soak in as he saw Raians face contort in confusion. “My friends in Baluwala have given you the chance to try out for their national team.” He could see the sparks within Raian light up with this news. He was barely out of high school and here was an opportunity for him to play internationally. 

Glancing at a tight lipped Ionido, Ryda could sense the disappointment seeping out of him, poisoning the air.

“Think about it Raian, this is your dream.”

Raian shook his head, his voice confident and strong. “Kayana is my dream.”

“You can have both.”

The Nalad’s jolted as they heard his words. Both?

“You mean, basketball and Kayana?”

“That’s exactly what I mean. You will be gone for a year, training with the Baluwala Sands, and when you come back,” He smiled, that same cruel, bitter smile. “Kayana will be waiting right here.”

Raian glanced towards his father helplessly. What was he supposed to do? Dropping his head into his hands, images of his time with Kayana began to merge with his memories of playing basketball.
If he agreed with this, he could have both. A career with what he loved doing with the person whom he loved by his side. He could give her a life of luxury. But he would have to wait a year. A year where anyone could find out about what had happened.
Kneading his hands through his hair, and he looked at his father, who simply nodded. 

“What will you tell Kayana?”

Ryda smiled, “I’ll tell her the truth, that you have gotten a scholarship and you wanted to do what was best for both of you.” 

Raian smiled, he knew he was doing the right thing. He was going to become someone for her. 

“If you’ll excuse me Drewett ji, may I tell Kayana the good news?” 

Standing up, Ryda nodded and shook Raian’s hand. 

Once Raian left, Ionido glared at Ryda. 

“What are you doing? Why can’t they get married, then he can leave?”

“Because Ionido, Kayana will not marry Raian. This I promise you.”

Ionido looked as if he had been struck. 

“And this, this Baluwala team? Is that a hoax too?” 

Swallowing his tea, Ryda shook his head. “Oh no, take that as a payment of sorts, I wouldn’t leave Raian all alone with nothing to fall back on.”

Ionido fumed quietly. How could Ryda drop that low? How could he put his own interests above his daughter’s? How was he going to explain this to Raian, who would wait till the moment he got back so that he could be Kayana again, who by that time, could be a mother?

“You see, brother,” Ryda continued, “Kayana is engaged to be married to a good friend of mine’s son. Vodia. A man whom I know will be able to take care of her, lending financial stability to both her and her family.” 

He finally understood, the double meaning was clear. This was all for money. He would sell his daughter’s happiness for coloured paper. 
“You have lost all respect from me Ryda.” Ionido got up, glancing one last time at Ryda, and turned. Walking away from the man who was supposed to be his best friend. 

“Caterina, Corin, Raian, get in the car.”

॥The Wrong One॥ 

Raian walked into the Drewett home, his eyes searching anxiously for Kayana. 

Breathlessly, he enquired with the elder women sitting on the setee, “Mata ji, Kenta ji, have you seen Kayana?” 

Both looked at each after seeing Raian’s frazzled face. “Beta? No? What is wrong? What has happened?” Caterina questioned her boy, obviously knowing that whatever that had happened outside was the cause for this recent anxiousness. Standing up and nearing her son, she extended a hand to lay on his cheek. Raian glanced at his mother, his beaming smile exhibiting his inner happiness. 

“Nothing Mata ji,” He gazed into his mother’s eyes, his hand settling on top of hers on his face, “But I must find Kayana.” And with that he turned and walked away again, continuing on his search. 

Caterina looked at Kenta, who simply looked back.
“I don’t know.” 

॥The Wrong One॥ 

“Kayana?” Raian whispered down the hallway which he knew consisted of many bedrooms, one of which, would be Kayana’s. 
“Come on Kayana, I need to speak to you.” 

Suddenly, Raian was pulled backwards into a room, a small grunt exiting his lips and his back made contact with the side of the door. 
“Ouch.” He whispered, his back twitching. 

“Sorry bhaiya [brother], Kayana’s in here.” He recognized his sister’s voice speaking to him as he opened his eyes, trying to adjust to the light in the dim room.

“Why are the curtains shut?” 

“To keep prying eyes out. Now goodbye bhaiya, I will see you later.” His little sister winked as she quietly made her way out of the room, slipping through the, now wider, doorway. 

“Raian? Why were you calling for me?”  

Instantly Raian’s mood perked up again, he was going to tell her how he could be everything for her, if she could just give him one year. 

“Kayana, come here.” 

Once she was standing in front of him, thought still a respectable distance away, he closed the gap quickly, his hand falling to the small of her back, but he didn’t pull her towards him. Just held her. 

“Your father said yes…” 

A small yelp of delight crossed Kayana’s lips, but as fast as it came, it was gone. 

“Isn’t that a good thing? Why does it sound like there’s more Raian ji?” 

“We must wait a year.” 

Kayana untangled herself from his arms. A year? But why? Hadn’t her father said yes? Raian had just said he’d said yes. Right? 

“Why?” She managed to speak past the lump forming quickly in her throat. A year gave time. Too much time for secrets to be revealed. 

Pulling her to the bed, he knelt in front of her. “Kayana darling, your father has spoken to some friends about a scholarship for my basketball. I have been given a chance to play for the Baluwala Sands! Isn’t that wonderful? I get to make something of myself for you. I will be something for you and our family to come.” Raian spoke, trying to convince his beloved that this was a good idea. After all, he was doing all this for her.

“A year?” 

Grasping her hand in both of his he replied, “Yes, a year, then I will come back a worthy man. I will deserve you.” 

Pulling her hand away, she stood up, heading towards the door. 

“Are you sure?” 

He walked to her again, and turned her around, he saw tears pooling in her eyes, but her stubbornness and social etiquette would not let them fall. 

“Shh sweetheart. It will be fine. I will be back soon. And you can always visit me, we are officially engaged.” 

She looked into his eyes then, as he knelt down in front of her, and pulled a ring off his left hand ring finger. 

“Kayana, my love, I already know you are my soul mate, my true love and the light of my life. I promise to love you forever and protect you from all the evil in the world. You will always be the only one for me, because there will never be another.” By this time, the carefully controlled tears were rolling down her face, streaking vertical lines. “Will you love me forever? And be my guardian angel when I need guidance? Will you let me provide for you and our children to come? Will you let me be for you, what you are for me? Will you marry me and become my wife, my lover, my best friend and the mother of my children?” Taking a deep breath, he finished off, “Will you be mine?”

“I am already yours.” She whispered as she extended her left hand. The cool silver glided on to her finger, then slid off, falling on to the floor. 
Raian looked at it quizzically, his mind not registering that it was too big. 

Kneeling on the floor in front of him, Kayana placed the ring in his fingers again and extended her thumb. 

Raian chuckled lightly, and placed the ring on again, then bent his head and kissed it. 

Looking up at her face, he whispered, “I love you Kayana.” 

“I will always be yours Raian.” 

Gazing deeply into her eyes, Raian began leaning forward, causing Kayana’s eyes to flutter closed as she anticipated what would happen next. She felt his breath on her lips and her heart rate shot up, she could swear that he heard it, when he rested her hand on his chest, above his heart. 

“This beats for you.” 

“I-“

“Caterina, Corin, Raian, get in the car.”

Shocked into reality, they both moved away, awkwardly standing up, atrociously close. 

A red tinge covered Kayana’s face as Raian smirked. He grabbed her hand and bent over it, kissing it. 

“Until the day you visit my love, as it will be sooner than the next year.” 

With that, Raian walked out of Kayana’s room, leaving her startled behind him.
But though Kayana was happy, she could not shake the feeling of something going wrong. Something she knew would cause her maybe the greatest pain of her life.

॥The Wrong One॥