Check if you've read the previous update.
________________________

Sana was excited to revamp the bookstore. She met all the required contractors and got the quotation for the renovation.

She sat and discussed with Sidharth about the choices and prices. He was amazed to look at the blueprint and the thought of the bookstore getting transformed fully.

Sidharth withdrew the fixed deposit he had with bank and handed it to Sana for the renovation of the cafe. She was overwhelmed to see Sidharth trust a stranger like her so much.

"Sana, come let's have dinner.", He called her.

"Yes, 5 minutes. I am just designing an advertisement for the newspaper for next week. The renovation will be completing soon. Tomorrow, I am going to met a chef who would work in the cafe.", She said. 

She was sitting on the small table working. He looked at her and shook his head in annoyance after placing the plates on the table. He then marched near her table and pulled out the pencil from her hand. She looked up with a puppy face. He held her hand and pulled her to the dinning table.

"It can wait. The food will get cold. Since last few days you've been working so much on the renovation of the bookstore that you've spoilt your whole schedule. Let's eat in peace.", He said making her sit on the chair.

He then passed her a plate of food. She looked at it and her eyes shined.

"Is that avial?", She asked. He nodded his head with a smile.

"I wanted to make some Kerala food for you. So I tried it. I hope it tastes good.", He said.

She said a quick prayer and took the first bite of food infront. He looked at her anxiously.

"Ummm.. Aaahaahaa.. atinre ruchikaramaaya..", she said

"Huh?", He said with a puzzled face.

"I mean it's delicious. It reminded of my amma", she said with a welled up eye.

He put his head down for making her emotional. She looked at him and wiped her eyes. She kneeled infront of him, held his hands and kissed his knuckles. He looked at her in surprise.

"Thank you so much", she said with a smile. He smiled back.

"Let's eat then!", He said. They both chatted while they finished their dinner.

Sidharth went to clean his soiled plate and while turning on the tap he saw her lipstick mark on his knuckles. He looked back at her still sitting at the dinning table from the kitchen. She pushed the last bite of food into her mouth and happily grooved by moving her head while she was lost devouring the taste of food and then licked her fingers. He smiled alone silently.

His phone light starts flashing. She looks at it as it was kept on the dinning table and looks back at him who was already looking at her with a smile. Her face showed an indifferent expression. He raised his eyebrows.

"You are getting a call.", She said.

"Oh!! I placed it on silent while praying.", He said wiping his hand on his way back to the dinning table.

His face fell flat when he saw the name 'Shreyas' on it. She observed his expression.

It's the same name which once brightened up his face before but today it shows a depressed expression. How time changes. I don't know what's in store now.

It stops ringing as he couldn't find enough courage to answer it. She kept the soiled plate in the basin and returned after washing her hand. He was still standing there lost in his thoughts.

The phone light was flashing again however he just kept staring at it. Her heart wrenched looking at helpless Sidharth. She went and held his hand and shook it to gain his attention.

"He is your son but you don't need to compromise on your self-respect and self-esteem for anyone. Sidharth, you are strong enough to answer it. I don't know why he is calling but you can answer him without falling weak.", She said. He nodded his head.

She picked up the phone, slid the answer button and handed it to him. She was about to leave him alone when he held her wrist and made her stay.

"Hello.. hellooo.. hellooo Baba.. can you hear me?.. hellooo", Shreyas screamed on the phone.

Sidharth looked at Sana while holding her hand in his right hand and pressing the phone against his left ear with the other. She blinks her eye lash asking him to speak.

"Yes, Shreyas.", Sidharth said confidently.

"Baba, why did the bank send me the letter asking me to repay the loan?", He asked.

"Who else should it be sent to Shreyas?", Sidharth asked

"Huh? You were the one who was repaying it right?", Shreyas asked.

"Yes, I was. So?", Sidharth questioned.

"So, it should be sent to you right?", Shreyas asked.

"Why?", Sidharth probed.

"Huh?", Shreyas was perplexed.

Shreyas tone had been going lower and lower with every question probed by Sidharth while Sidharth gained the courage and confidence with every clueless answer from Shreyas.

"Isn't that your loan education Shreyas?", Sidharth asked.

"Hmmm.. Yes, but.. but you were repaying it. What happened?", Shreyas fumbled.

"I was but I can't afford to repay someone else's debt now.", Sidharth replied.

"Someone else? What are you talking Baba? Did you forget that I am your son?", Shreyas asked.

"Oh really? I think I wasn't part of your family.", Sidharth said.

"Huh? Baba, Why are you talking like this? How did you suddenly turned so cold towards me? How can a mute girl be so important for you that you forgot your own flesh and blood?", Shreyas asked shamelessly.

"What do you want from me Shreyas?", Sidharth asked sternly.

"I want you to throw that mute girl out of the house. You forgot me since she entered the house", Shreyas said.

"Okay, I will ask her to leave.", Sidharth said. Shreyas chuckled while Sana's face fell but Sidharth's grip on her wrist was firmer than before. She looked up at him with painful expression.

"But before that you have to come back to me here. Once you step in the house, I will tell her to go. Do you agree?", Sidharth asks.

"Baba, what's this? I told you I can't come there. I have my family here.", Shreyas speaks annoyed.

"So if you feel that I am not a part of your family which you remind me everytime I ask you to return then why do you want to dictate your terms upon me Shreyas? Just because of the loan, you are reminding me that I am your father but when it comes to staying with me you realise that I am not a part of your family?", Sidharth asked.

"I am staying back for my wife here, but why are you arguing with me for that mute girl? Who the hell is she and how can she become more important to you? Are you sleeping with her?", Shreyas screamed loudly which was heard by Sana as well.

"Shut up Shreyas! You have no rights to question me! If you ever talk to me again like that with such disrespectful language then I will sue you. Be grateful that I have paid half of your loan. Don't make me go rogue and ask you to count on and recover every penny I spent on you since your birth. You won't be able to repay my debt even after selling yourself. It's my final warning to you!", Sidharth yelled back at him.

Shreyas was shocked to hear Sidharth roaring.

"I'll repay my loan to bank. Thank you.", Shreyas said in lowered tone and disconnected the phone.

Sidharth kept the phone on the dinning table and left her wrist. He lowered his eyes for the way Shreyas insulted him and Sana. Sana looked at him for a while. His eyes were now filled with tears of shame which brought tears in her eyes as well. She hugged him tightly.

"I fear no one when I know I am right. They can't make me feel ashamed until I am ashamed of myself. So I don't give a shit for those scum bags. Even if that scum bag is your own son, Shreyas", she repeated the whole dialogue she said after the last call but this time included Shreyas' name as well.

Sidharth hugged her back and they both sulked together in each other's embrace for a long time. She then held his hand and pulled him to his room. She made him lie down on the bed and tucked his blanket properly. She kissed his forehead before turning of the light and walked away to her room calling it a night.
.
.
.

"Sidhaaarth.. Sidhaaarth..", Sana said on top of her voice.

"I am in the bathroom, Sana. What happened? Are you alright?", He said loudly with his eyes closed and face smeared in foam from the locked common bathroom outside his room.

She ran close to the bathroom and stood near the door.

"Open the door quickly. I want to show you something.", She said in excitement

"What? I.. I am having bath.", He spoke out of shock.

"Oopss! Sorry but I have a big surprise for you. Can't wait, come out soon.", She screamed.

"2 minutes..", he said standing under the running shower and washing of all the foam from his face and body.

Sana tapped her feet impatiently as she stood leaning to the door. He wiped his body with towel.

"Are you done?", She screamed.

"Yes, hold on a second!", He said as he got dressed in clothes.

"Quickly!!", she said like a whiny little kid.

He opened the door and she stumbles as she was leaning against it. However before she could fall he grabs her by her hand and pulls her up.

"Are you alright?", He asks.

"Yes! Leave all that and look at this.", She shows him her mobile.

"What is it?", He asks narrowing his eyes looking at the screen.

"Ohh!! Wait a minute!", She says giving him the phone and ran to his room. She grabbed his spectacles from the table and raced back.

He was now standing infront of the little temple folding his hands. She looks around and finds her phone on the dinning table. She picks it up and waits for him to finish his prayer eagerly. He does an arti of the idol and turns around with the holy flame.

He then looks at her. She was holding phone and his spectacles in her hand. He shook his head in disbelief while she displayed a sheepish grin. He applies a little vermilion on her forehead with his ring finger and runs his hand over the little lamp and waves it over her head. He takes the blessings himself and places the plate back in the altar.

As soon as he turns she puts his glasses over his nose and pushes it. She then displays the phone infront of him to read. He reads it silently and at the end of it he looked at her baffled.

"What on earth is this? I never sent them any application. How did they send me this mail?", He asked and looked at her totally bemused.

"I sent the application to them on your behalf. You were right, it isn't easy to land an RJ job in a commercial radio station, so I thought we could try your luck in local community radio station. It's a small group but your dream would be fulfilled regardless. If you get an experience in this then you can apply in the commercial radio station as well.", She explained.

"But I don't know what would I have to do there?", He said nervously.

"It's for a show where you would give advice or just listen to people from our community. It's just like talking to someone over the phone. Like how you approached me while I was depressed and helped me, just like that you will talk to them and try to help them. Trust me you are the right choice for this. Please give it a try. Please. Please.", She pleaded with a puppy face and folded hands.

He smiled. More then him she was excited for he was getting a chance to fulfil his dreams.

"I will Sana.", He said nodding his head with a smile.

"Yippee.. thank you.. thank you.. thank you..", she held both his hands and encircled around him in excitement. He couldn't stop himself from admiring her the way she showed the enthusiasm and celebrated for him. He laughed with her wholeheartedly.

________________________

To be continued.. ❤️❤️