Sunday

Varma's residence

Sharanya was instructing the maids to arrange the house for the special guest.

She had told the chefs to make the special dishes that included even continental dishes as they were catering to the owner of the prestigious hotel industry.

Pradeep was clueless as to why his wife was so excited for the guests. He ignored it as her usual self for the new members to be included in her friends circle.

After hearing so much praises about her friend, he was curious to meet them.

Sonia was sitting in the car with her family and advising them to be on their best behaviour.

Trishna was chatting with her Namith paying zero attention to her mother's instruction which was normal for their family, taking into consideration their family outing to the relatives 'n' number of times.

"Hello, welcome! Do come inside," Sharanya welcomed her guest inside her mansion.

After the initial introduction, Pradeep conversed with Vinay regarding business ups and downs.

Sonia chatted with Sharanya leaving Rajeev and Trishna in the living room, clueless.

Just then, Prisha came to the living area and saw the guest. All the members of the Nair family were mesmerised by her simplicity who had a smiling and confident aura to make everyone happy around her.

She immediately went to Sonia and wished her professionally to which Sonia told her to relax.

Vinay blessed the Varma children and congratulated Previn for his marriage who acknowledged it with a smile.

"Child, what are you planning after your MBA? Any job offers?" Vinay asked Prisha who smiled saying that she had an interest in singing. So, she was thinking of taking up the music course which was exclusively available in universities abroad.

Sonia liked that Prisha had interests apart from her academic excellence.

She shared her experience during her PhD journey and suggested even some universities abroad that she can apply.

Sharanya laughed jokingly saying

"Sonia, where are going with this?! please don't encourage her with this song and music! I mean she sings as a hobby but changing her academics and going professional with music! It doesn't happen! It is too tough and gruesome! I don't think Prisha should take up music professionally..."

Vinay interrupted her saying "I think that is where you have mistaken. As far as I have conversed with Prisha. She has a good knowledge about music and I think she can excel well in this field too. Child, you should do what your heart desires and just wait for the good opportunity to come that's all, hm? Do tell me if you have decided what to do with your passion. Like Sonia suggested, I can also help with my contacts, ok?"

Prisha was thrilled as someone encouraged her with her passion unlike her mother who always sidetracked her to do MBA and then pursue a career in an IT firm.

Sharanya disliked Vinay's attitude towards her daughter and got slightly angered. Pradeep and Previn were slightly surprised at how someone managed to tackle their lioness so effortlessly.

To ease the tension, Sonia suggested to move for their lunch.

At the dining table

Sonia was praising Sharanya for the tasty dishes prepared by her to which Sharanya said that it was her daughter.

Prisha smiled and served the chicken curry to Vinay who tasted it and smacked his fingers.

"Wow! Just like how they make it the traditional way! Child, you are becoming my favourite," Prisha slightly laughed at his remark. Sonia loved their interaction which reminded her of how he praised his Trishna for her excellent cooking.

Prisha then moved to serve her special dish to the siblings who were amazed at her talent.

"Seriously, Prisha! This is really good! I mean I had to taste it twice to realise it was jimikand (root vegetable) and not chicken. Wow!" Trishna licked her fingers and ate like there was no tomorrow.

Rajeev gave a thumbs up to his current favourite Chech Prisha.

After the lunch, Prisha served them hot wheat payasam cooked traditionally.

From the looks of it, the Nair family were the fans of traditional dishes. Sharanya pouted at her efforts to impress the global hotelier with her continental dishes who had opted for a traditional look which her daughter succeed in delivering.

She was so proud of her daughter who behaved like the perfect hostess. She conversed equally with the parents and the children making them her fan.

Pradeep invited Vinay for a private talk in the garden area.

"Vinay, I think you are aware of the threat that my Prisha has from those goons. I had arranged for my men but it seems that they have a strong gang base. We need to join hands to protect my angel," Pradeep stated his worry towards his traumatised daughter who had the ability to hide her pain with her flawless smile.

"Sonia told me about it. I caught hold of that Inspector guy and gave him the third-degree treatment. But it seems he has a good backup. Don't worry I will instruct my men to join yours. Trust me," Vinay assured him by clutching his hands which were slightly shivering which confused him as he saw the calm face of Pradeep.

Before leaving to the living room, Vinay asked him how he knew about his mafia business.

To which Pradeep scoffed saying

"He only gave you the second best. I was his first hand and trained under him during my youth. He was the actual mafia don. We have still so much to learn, V!"

Vinay was shocked at his grandfather-in-law Menon's secret and the hidden talent that he had treasured managing to conceal them from his radar. Both of them moved inside the house to join the rest of the family for their bit of the conversations.

Prisha was talking to Rajeev rather quietly which puzzled the family at their sudden bonding.

They reached the front door and looked back at their family with a weird smile.

Prisha nudge him to sober down his smile to which he sulked down. She rolled her eyes at his awkwardness.

Sonia and Sharanya laughed at their antics and bid each other byes. The Nair family left after their jolly conversation with the Varma's.

The Menon house

Sanal room

After Dino left, Sanal tried to sleep which was a failed attempt, even when he was heavily sleepy a few minutes back when conversing with his bestie.

So, Sanal was clicking his table lamp button on off, on off,.... continuously.

Coz, every time he did it, he used to see her face in the shadow or sitting on the bed beside him.

The moonlit hit her soft face which glistened like gold and her eyes sparkled with a diamond tint. She moved her slender hands on her wavy hairs and smiled tilting her head with a speck of glitter that shone from her nose ring on her sharp glowing nose, which Sanal loved. His smile widened at her serene face and wanted to touch her. 

He extended his arm to catch her but she vanished....

Sanal smiled and slept on his pillow seeing the dark sky hiding the moon in its embrace.

His eyelids closed with her smiling face inaudibly wishing him softly, 'Goodnight' *giggling*.

The next day

The Menon house

Sanal was having his breakfast silently as usual, ignoring his friend's lecture on how they could have got killed because of their almost drunk accident, the other day.

"Are you even listening to me, huh? Be thankful I haven't told about our 'accident' in this house. Otherwise, they would ground both of us for life in the same room. I can't imagine spending the rest of my days in the same room...with you!" Dino was scolding him in hushed voice to avoid suspicion.

"Right back at you!" Saying so, Sanal munched on his toasted bread smirking at him. Dino twisted his face at his smiling one.

"So, mom. When is the wedding?" Sanal asked his mom who almost spilled the milk on the table when she heard her son.

"Um...whose wedding?" Latha tried to act foolish at his direct question. Sanal didn't stray his poker face from her tensed ones who avoided him and his possible outburst.

"Ami's wedding, who else? Aunty, you seriously needs to stop working like this without rest. Believe me, it is not good for you," Dino moved from the chair, shaking his head. He hugged her shocked self and picked his bag to go to The Empire Hotel Corporation office.

Sanal gave a blank stare at his mom who gulped at his dangerous aura. He realised that he had tensed her a lot for the past so many years and wanted to end her tension by becoming the son that she wished him to be.

Sanal got up drinking the milk and wiped his face with her saree pallu. He hugged his shocked mom saying

"Don't worry, mom. I won't attend it," he then kissed her forehead and drove off to his favourite place.

Latha felt bad at his words and the drop of his tears on her cheeks. Why was she not able to find the perfect life partner for her son?

She should have not encouraged his little heart with the idea of soulmates. He misunderstood the meaning of soulmates as lovers which was his first heartbreak.

She tried hard to mend his heart by approaching him with number of proposals to which he used to either cry his heart out or get enraged at her repetitive words.

Only when Vinay saw his outburst in front of Latha and Sameer, he decided to take the matters in his hands.

He took the 24-year-old young adult on a mountain trekking trip in the remote jungles of the Western India. 

He made him indulge in the everyday lifestyle of the villagers and their hardship. 

After nine months of rigorous turmoil in the jungle – eating herbs, berries, wild hunting and sleeping in damp land, Sanal was born again becoming the calm and serene man who promised to respect his family – especially his mother.

Now, she was repenting for being an irresponsible mother who could not understand her son.

She called Sonia for discussing her mental mayhem. Sonia told her to meet in the mall café where they would join Rekha who had planned to shop for the wedding.

Latha thought that it was better to involve Rekha and Amritha too. As they would suggest a permanent solution to her son's heartbreak.

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