Rudra's POV:

'One more Dosa Pattu...see it's been near to a month that you are staying with us but you are still hesitant to eat...one dosa more come on...good girl' saying my mother was feeding her on the dining table.

'Gauri...give her this chutney...she doesn't like that plain coconut chutney...she likes these ginger and chilli one...Come on Charda quick...if you are not eating this then I will make sure your interview will be cancelled' dad was threatening her while serving her chutney.

I rolled my eyes thinking how come my family turned into a Suraj Bharajatya movie all of a sudden...

'So much love on dining table... that too for the girl who joined our family 3 weeks ago...how I wish they valued their own kids too' I muttered while my grandmother looked at me and softly told me...

'Relationships are two way Rudra... give and take .. Prarthana gave us so much love in these three weeks...we are just reciprocating the love we got from that child...and about what you said about valuing their own kids ...Damodar is not a bad man Rudra... whatever happened in the past it wa'

I stood up in one go... such that my parents and Prarthana both shot me a look...I could see guilt in my grandmother's eyes for initiating that topic..

'I ... I have an important meeting...I need to go...Bye Amma...Bye Bapama' I said ignoring the man who was looking at me... probably I hurt him again...

But then few things aren't in my hands!!!
He was the reason for this family to be broken and now if he was trying to make new relationships over old dead ones then...

Good for him!!!
But I couldn't forget the past!!!

Anger spurted up within me...

While at the door I heard my Bapama's voice ..

'Rudra...' and I stopped on my tracks...

'Son...I know...you are still hurt about whatever happened in the past...trust me...we all are ...you think it was easy for me...for Gauri or for Damod'

I turned around in one go interrupting her...
'Bapama please...you and I ...we both know the cause why all this happening in our lives.  It's one man Damodar Nayak!!!
His ambitions and his desire!!!

I'm sorry Bapama...my broken dreams...my fake smiles are still bearable!!!
I'm used to it!!!
But he is repeating the age old mistake what he did years ago with Shivansh again!!!
And I'm sorry Bapama...

Shivansh will not become yet another broken man!!!
Dad wants him to stay there in Hungary itself. Why??? Because he fell for Sanskriti??? He is breaking yet another string in this family like he broke one years ago ..' saying I eyed my father who was although smiling at Prarthana but I was knowing his eyes pondered over the conversation I was having with my Bapama!!!
Sanskriti was also dad's choice but she ran away right???

Kids should be given their independence once they are grown up Bapama...too much of control freak nature screws up happiness!!!

I hope your son realises this truth someday!!! But honestly even if he doesn't...I don't care Bapama...

I can't forget nor forgive him for what he did' saying I left the house fuming!!!

✨

I was boiling like a lava within!!!
It felt like the old Rudra Nayak was coming alive again within me...Since the last one month I had calmed myself down...I had a lady along with me...
Prarthana had tried to calm me down to a certain extent...

But today again when my grandmother pulled out that topic I felt like a movie reel ran infront of my eyes...

'You have to take up the CEO position...

You can't do that Rudra...

I will make sure she is destroyed...

Nayak's have a family name to carry...

She is a bitch...

I cannot do this ...

She cannot be a part of Nayak's!!!!'

I was driving aimlessly today. My anger was boiling within...I needed to take this anger out somewhere...I can't go to office like this...

So I began driving towards our Tannirbavi beach house...as I couldn't go back home and I needed to let go this frustration...

I reached the beach house while the security guard was shocked to see me at this time of the day at the beach house...

But I cared any lesser...I needed to vent it out before it spurts out on anyone else!!!
The lava within has to calm down!!!

I warned the security guard...
'Make sure no one comes to the backyard outhouse...'

And he nodded nervously. I could see fear dancing on his face. He understood I am here to vent it out...

I went to the backyard outhouse!!!
No one dared to come to the outhouse...
It was restricted for everyone!!!
Only I had the keys to outhouse!!!
Not even in my absence did anyone stepped near the outhouse...

My eyes roamed at the old building which was still standing intact...
The old rustic home had so much within it and my only place to let myself calm down ...

I took slow steps towards it... I could hear the giggles...I could see little us playing here...

'Ringa Ringa Roses....' kept playing in my ears...

I took slow steps towards the little corner which had a collection of stones kept aside...

'Lagoooooriiiiii' I could still hear the laughter echoing in my ears. My eyes filled with tears.

I barged into the house. And immediately went upstairs...
It had been months that I came here...

I quickly carried the bag on my shoulders and brought it downstairs...

Dusting the dirt on the bag with my bare hands I carried the 'Chende' out from the bag.

(Chende are the traditional Mangalorean drums that are been played as a part of a folk performance in Mangalore while praying to god's, demigods or during Yakshagana (folk dance) )

I touched smooth surface of Chende and I could still listen to the giggles...
I needed all that to stop!!!
Stop at once!!!

I removed my blazer...my shirt and stood bare chested.

Picking the sticks I began playing the Chende ruthlessly!!!
Every beat so loud enough deafening my pain!!! Venting out my anger!!!
I went on playing it till I sweated out badly... till I was tired ..till I collapsed!!!
A drop of tear escaped my left eye as I collapsed on the black granite floor...

'I hate you Dad!!!'

✨

Prarthana's POV:

I had cleared my both the technical rounds and now I was waiting for the managerial round. It was only me and 5 other candidates who had made themselves to the final round.

We were told there are 3 positions. 2 for the Level 1 engineer and one for Level 1 Junior Engineer role.

We were 3 girls and 2 boys. Four of them were humble where as one of them was a bit arrogant. She looked way too confident and boasted about her experience and skillsets. I cared a damn!!!
I was feeling nervous so I picked a chocolate and began munching...

One by one everyone was called inside. The other girl was rejected, post which this girl went inside and came out smirking...I could see HR shaking hands with her.

Oh so she probably got through!!!

I was looking at the boys next to me we were pretty nervous.

The boys Sameer and Karthik both were as experienced as I was..but they had experience in this field of jewellery analysis where as I was into soap making. I didn't know if my experience was even relevant for the job. But I still decided to give it an honest attempt.

Dad, I mean Rudra's dad told me I need not give this interview but I didn't want anyone to think of me as a dummy employee and anyways...this Nayak surname wasn't a permanent...Rudra and I would seperate in a few months...so I didn't want any favours...

Sameer and Karthik both came out one after other and HR shaked hands with them too. Sameer who had now become a friend came saying...
'Hey Prarthana we are selected...it's a decent package yaar...I never thought I would get such a good package in Mangalore...oh ..looks like I have to go to fill in more forms...they may call you soon...ok see you around' saying he left while the other guy Karthik just gave me a smile and a thumbs up.

Huhh!!! Three positions are already full...where is my chance standing here...I was waiting to be blown away but I heard my name called out by the HR
..
'Miss Prarthana Pai???'

I stood up and she politely told me...
'This room'

And I opened the door and softly said...
'Ummm excuse me...I am Prarthana Pai'

And I could see a lady and 2 men sitting on the chairs across a oval shaped huge table which had approximately 10 chairs.

They began asking me questions and I answered them all. I could see exactly opposite to me there was someone sitting facing the other side. Back of his chair was facing me. I ignored and continued.

While they all looked satisfied I heard a final question from a manly strong voice on the opposite side of the table whose back was facing me...

'Why do you want this job?'

I blinked multiple times thinking I have heard this voice somewhere...

Just then the chair turned around and my voice was stuck in my throat!!!