NOVEL WEB Chapter 11: it all started with an ( Q )?
CH4: It All Started With an ( Q )? - Part 2
VOL 2 - Was It Just Luck?
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Just as Shyam opened his mouth to comment on Woaliam's story, Raitha interrupted with her usual confident tone.
"Dad, why are you telling made-up stories again? You know none of that actually happened. If you want to tell a story, at least make it believable."
She turned to Shyam, her expression serious yet playful.
"Don't believe a word he says. He's lying. The actual story is that my dad proposed to my mom out of nowhere, in front of hundreds of students. Since she didn't want him to feel embarrassed in front of so many people, she said yes out of pity. No more, no less."
Raitha finished her explanation with a proud look on her face, as if she had just exposed a great truth.
Woaliam, however, was staring at her like she had told a fish how to climb a tree.
"You're just repeating the story your mother told you," Woaliam retorted, his tone amused. "And I'm telling him my version. But between you and me, we both know which story is true."
Raitha crossed her arms defiantly. "Indeed, we do. It's my mom's."
And with that, the two of them launched into a spirited debate, each trying to prove their version of events was the real one. Shyam, meanwhile, quietly sipped his tea, hoping to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Once his cup was empty, he slipped away to browse the shelves again, leaving father and daughter to their "long-lasting battle."
As he wandered through the store, Shyam's attention was drawn to a dusty old book tucked away in the farthest corner. Its cover was worn, and the title barely legible: "The Asaki Family's Photo Gallery."
The name immediately caught his attention—it was Raitha's family name. Curiosity got the better of him, and he pulled the book from the shelf. As he flipped it open, the first photo he saw made him pause.
The image showed Woaliam kneeling with a ring in his hand, offering it to a woman. Another woman stood in the background, her face twisted in anger. Shyam instantly recognized Woaliam but couldn't identify either of the women. He assumed one of them must be Raitha's mother.
Turning the page, Shyam saw Woaliam scratching his head in confusion while the angry woman stormed off, her frustration practically leaping off the photograph. Meanwhile, the other woman—still standing nearby—was laughing uncontrollably at the scene.
Shyam flipped to the next page. Woaliam now sat alone, holding the ring in one hand while wiping tears with the other. The laughing woman had stayed behind, her expression soft as she tried to comfort him.
But it was the next photo that truly stunned Shyam. The same woman, now wearing the ring, was kissing Woaliam. In the corner of the photo, there was a handwritten caption:
"The day I accidentally proposed to Sundora instead of Aswadih. It was a mistake I thought I'd regret forever. But fate had other plans. Sundora turned out to be the better match for me, and what began as a misunderstanding led to a life of happiness."
Shyam couldn't help but chuckle. He quickly tried to stifle it, but it was too late—Raitha and Woaliam noticed the smile on his face.
They approached him, curious about what had amused him so much.
"What are you reading, Shyam?" Raitha asked, her voice light but her eyes filled with curiosity.
Shyam, however, didn't want to risk disrupting their family harmony. Closing the book as quickly as possible, he slid it back onto the shelf.
"Oh, nothing," he said, forcing a casual tone. "I just remembered something funny while holding a book, that's all."
He turned to leave, hoping to avoid any further questions. "Anyway, it's time for me to head home. Thanks for the tea—it was wonderful."
Raitha tilted her head, clearly puzzled by his sudden shift in behavior, but Woaliam's gaze fell on the photo album. A knowing smile spread across his face as he pieced together what had just happened.
Shyam left the bookstore, his heart a little lighter and his mind a little fuller with the strange and amusing tale of the Asaki family.
Back inside, the debate between Raitha and Woaliam quietly fizzled out, replaced by a shared glance and a lingering smile.
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IT ALL STARTED WITH A MISUNDERSTANDING?