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Sweetly dedicated to one of my craziest friends who continuously bothered me to update soon SarikaSasi 😍❤

Excited about the surprise? Lets get to know that.

Happy Reading Folks!

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Showers thrashed to the ground emanating fresh fragrance from the soil below. They inhaled the scent with a never ending smile on their face. Aditi slowly extended her right hand standing in the courtyard. Raindrops danced on her hands jumping happily onto her face. Poonam gleefully splashed her legs in the little brook that got created just then flowing to the garden in front of the house. Nimmi tip toed to the little jasmine shrub in the left corner of the house, next to the sacred tulsi plant and shook it gently to witness the water droplets being scattered to her face.

Aditi: Its true. Rains of this place has multiplied beauty...

Zain(stood facing the rain with his one hand around Aditi's waist): Must be awesome to see in daylight.

A bike haulted with a screech with an 40+ aged man drenched in rain. He swiftly got down from the bike and removed the helmet. He was tall and stout with a half bald head but flashed a genuine smile towards them. Zain saw Nimmi standing with eyes wide open.

Nimmi: Enthappo kalikkya Acha? (Are you kidding me Dad?)

Aunty(rushed outside with a towel): What are you upto you idiot? You told me you are not coming today.

Uncle: It just got cancelled. Then I thought let it be a surprise.

Aunty: To hell with your surprise. Come inside. You will catch hold of fever.

Jahaan: Is he...?

Aunty: Oh yes! He is Vinay.

Uncle: Hello people! Sorry. Thats a drenched intro. I am Vinay. Nimmi's father. And yeah! Come inside everyone. You can drench in the morning rain. You can practically see nothing in this darkness. Its pretty to see in the morning when you go for a walk. I will take you all tomorrow.

Everyone laughed and went inside giggling and bantering about stupid things. Uncle was exactly friendly like his wife and soon gelled up with everyone. All got seated at the dinner table with some extra chairs pulled out.

Uncle: No pure veg here I guess?

Everyone: Absolutely not!

Nimmi and Aunty started serving everyone with hot ghee chapatis with spicy kerala chicken curry. Karthi came in with water jug and filled every one's glass with lukewarm water.

Zain: I can't wait to taste! I have heard so much praises for the food here.

Nimmi giggled serving all the plates with hot chapatis. She saw Karthi standing attending to everyone's needs. She went and took a chair from the living room and placed it near to Gautam at the dining table. She tapped Karthi's shoulder and gestured him to sit. He shook his head in denial and that he would have it later. She gave him a stern look and forcefully pulled him to the chair and served him too. Aditi let out a heartwarming smile at this and shoved the first morcel to her mouth. She could feel her taste buds getting evoked at just the one bite she took earning a complete 'hmmmmm' from her. She closed her eyes in joy savouring in the absolute joy the dish offered her. When she opened her eyes, she found everyone in exactly the same situation, eyes brimming with tears.

Aunty: Is it still too spicy?

Sanjay: Actually we are realising now that such tastes exist too. It is not about spicy..

Gautam: What taste is this? I mean what a deadly combo. I am enjoying the taste of ginger and pepper for the first time. This is so yum!

Zain: I can't believe this is the start. I am gonna die by eating here! I love you Aunty!

Everyone enjoyed the food side by side discussing the menu for the next day. AdiZa was concentrated on Nimmi spreading the curry on Karthi's chapati with a spoon. She even made a roti roll with the curry inside serving it to him. Karthi couldn't help but smile at her while she returned the smile with a blink of her eyes.

After the dinner, as they were retiring to random rooms, AdiZa pulled Karthi to their room which they had cutely named as 'Mango Room'. Karthi looked at them questioningly.

Zain(stood with crossed hands): What was that special treatment for you on the dining table?

Karthi smiled earning a smack on his shoulders by Aditi.

Karthi: Thats the way I like it. She knows it. Har baar karti hai. (She does that every time).

Nimmi(called him from the hall): Karthi!

Karthi: Yes!

Nimmi: yaar help me to spread this bed.

Karthi(went out of the room bidding a goodnight to AdiZa): Coming!

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Aditi: Was it too spicy Zain?

Zain: What? the food? Or you?

Aditi(rolled her eyes): FOOD

Zain: No. It was fine.

Aditi:You know. Nimmi knew you can't take that spicy and kept aside a less spicy portion for you.

Zain: Adi.. People here are so sweet. So homely. I mean you know. Aunty-Uncle treat us like their own children.

Aditi: Yes. With so much authority Uncle asked us to go inside from the rain. I instantly missed my dad.

They laid down on the bed snuggling to each other in the extra chills the monsoon had provided them with.

Zain: Adi.. We will raise our children like this only. Like we will become their best friends.

Aditi: For sure. I will give them freedom to share everything with us. We will make sure that they don't get scared of us to share their problems and wishes.

Zain: We get to learn a lot from here.

Aditi: Did you notice that joy on Aunty's face when she saw Uncle?

Zain(giggled): And she laced it with mock anger too.

Aditi: Thats something most of us notices on our parents too. But this relation is so friendly. You know, I heard from Sneha that Aunty - Uncle had a love marriage.

Zain(turned around): Is it? Wow. A love story before.. may be 25 years?

Aditi: May be. Thats an absolute adorable thing. Oh! I forgot. Aunty has told me that we are going to a nearby temple tomorrow morning itself.

Zain: By car?

Aditi: No. By walk.

Zain: Oye! Sight-seeing then! Come come lets sleep.

Aditi: Arey! Hahaha. Look at you! You don't let me sleep usually and now..

Zain(shot a teasing look to her): You don't want me to let you sleep? I can do that. But I am afraid since the climate is so romantic here, I may not able to stop soon. Will that do?

Aditi(hid her face in his warm embrace): Zain. Why on earth are you so shameless? Shut up and sleep. Good night.

Zain chuckled and pulled her white frame towards him for an indeed good night sleep.

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Poonam: Is it necessary Aunty?

Aunty: Well you obviously can't wear jeans to temples here! Since we are yet to go to some Kerala style shopping, this is the only outfit available.

Aditi: I have recieved gifts like these from fans. But I am not good at handling sarees.

Aunty(helping her wear a Kerala Saree with Red brocade blouse): Nothing will happen. Its a short distance to walk and every one us are wearing Sarees.

Aditi: Yes. But I am wearing Kerala Saree. Punnu is wearing Chiffon.

Poonam: Are bhai! Everything is saree only. Same problem!

Aunty made them wear single small neck pieces and turned them around to show them the mirror for the first time.

Aditi: This is ME?

Poonam: Mumma! Let me send my mom a photo.

Aunty: Thats it. All the makeup stuff, you girls continue. I am very poor at that.

Poonam(started brushing up her face): Okay!

Aditi(stopped Aunty with her hands): If you have done this much, then please do the rest too. Just like you do for Nimmi.

Aunty lovingly caressed her cheeks and applied a little talcum powder and lip color to her. She applied dark kajal and put a black bindi on her. She took two little bunch of hair from either side of her face and braided them to give her a complete Malayali look. Aditi gulped down at her own reflection on the mirror of which she herself couldn't take her eyes off. She turned aside to witness a awestruck Zain complementing her with a cherry red shirt with kasavu mundu. He had rolled his sleeves up and neatly combed his hair. All the boys were dressed up similarly accompanied by Nimmi in a printed skirt and top with long danglers and spreaded out hair.

Karthi: I can't take my eyes off her.

Zain: Neither can I.

Karthi: Excuse me?

Zain: Arey! Apni wali ki baat kar rahi hun yaar(I am talking about my girl). Don't thrash me.

Karthi: She has such pretty eyes. You know all of us were full flat on her deep kohled kajal eyes.

Zain: I don't know about 'all of us'. You are full flat. I can see that!

Nimmi: Come. Dad is waiting.

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The way to temple was filled with paddy fields and tall coconut trees. They walked through the middle of the field over a raised muddy platform holding each other's hands. Uncle instructed them not to slip and fall in the mud. Aditi and Zain sheltered themselves under a single umberella shielding from small drizzles. Drenching in rain is beautiful. But drenching in rain wearing a saree is the end! 😂

The small pathway that started from the other end of the field adorned with hibiscus and jasmines on either sides found its destination in front of a small temple decorated with stone lamps and burning diyas. The temple had a mixed scent of fresh butter, pure sandal and the rainy mist. Boys were asked to open up the buttons of their shirt to hang it loose on one shoulder before entering the innermost door of that serene place. (thats the case in Kerala. It is said that it is to absorb positivity soon). An old man with the sacred brahmin thread over his body- a priest came out from the smallest door with some pooja items. Uncle smiled at him and told everyone how to offer prayers there. After circling the temple (parikramas), they came back to the main door folding their hands at the absolutely divine Sreekrishna idol placed there adorned with flower garlands and silk cloth. He was also smeared with sandal. Zain walked side by side with Uncle while he explained every minute detail of the place and procedures there.

Just then, the priest presented him a decorated tray. He took a yellow thread with a gold leaf like pendant out of the tray seemingly immersed in turmeric after pooja. He took Zain's hand in his and placed it on his palm earning a confused look by him.

Uncle: We have gone through this phase. Right now, many questions will be running through your mind. Everyone of you are like our children.  I am doing this only for you and Aditi since you belong to absolutely contrasting religions and backgrounds. All these things which were made to unite people divides them now. I want you both to make a promise to each other in front of the supreme divinity that no matter how many hurdles come in your way, you shall pass them. For nothing and no one, you shall compromise this relationship. Your family won't agree. You have to convince them and then take baby steps forward. Atleast give your 100%. If you can do that, thats the best thing. We couldn't give that really big lovely family part to our children. Even though they have everyone, they still have us only. You should try to gift your children with the love of a joint family too. You should remove all the insecurities and misjudgements from your heart and start this journey afresh from here. The path ahead is not easy. If you are confident to travel further with each other,

Zain..

Make her wear this...

Zain and Aditi had tears brimmed up in their eyes. They rushed forward to crash on Uncle's warm chest.

Aditi(had fresh tears in her eyes): No one has thought this much for us.

Uncle: This is for your soul connection. Whenever you fall off, remember that we had made a promise like this. And make sure to inform your parents about your love. They have the right to know.

Zain silently took the thread (mangalsutra) and adorned it around Aditi's neck while silent prayers of friends and well wishers surrounded them. Aditi's eyes shined with diamond like tears. She bowed down her head in front of god overwhelmed with emotions...

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Surprise served right?

Love..
Zainaholicz❤