Mumbai

SoVin Industries

Vinay was sitting on the couch having his Sonia nearby him, cutting him the apple. He had returned home after a month treatment in the hospital and was undertaking the physiotherapy for his spondylitis. Sonia was making sure to strengthen him with her diligent care and strict healthy diet.

Vinay kept the call from Pradeep who was getting tensed for his Prisha.

Vinay pacified him saying that their Kanna was in safe hands and would join them for Veena's baby shower after two weeks.

Prisha had her internal exams lined up this week. So, she had asked her Appa if she could skip her internals for the baby shower.

Well, her Appa kept the baby shower matching his Kanna's time schedule, even after her constant negation to not disturb the family tradition just for her.

Her Appa silenced her saying that she was more precious than some tradition.

Being the studious one, Vinay loved that she was adamant to prove her worth to her family, especially her in-laws. Yes, Vinay didn't register the lovebirds divorce papers in the court as he needed them to realise their undying love for each other.

Among them, Latha was the first one to praise and protect her Prisha. As she loved and missed her badly.

The family would always call her asking her about her college and her new life in the city.

Two weeks back

One evening, Prisha was walking in a busy street while eating her butterscotch ice cream.

She had called her Benny who missed her call for the past few days.

"Don't worry, Ishu, I will purchase the babygifts from us for the baby shower. Dude, you should call up Gaurav. He has been calling you for the past two days and your call was going on voicemail. What happened?!" Benisha was sipping her coffee and ordering the croissant for her afternoon snack in the café.

"I know, Benny. I was just busy with assignments and recitals. Gosh! ça me fatigue*!" Prisha then licked her ice cream, making some drip on her chin.

She seemed to be walking on the avenue of likely a shopping street, not in Sydney. As the people were in their beach wear and tanned with the beach sun! Super suspicious.

(*ça me fatigue - 'it is tiring me out' in French)

Benny almost spilled her coffee, hearing her fluent French. She shaked her head to correct her hearing and asked her again.

Prisha lightly excused saying that her friend was teaching her French as she was an artist.

Suddenly Prisha's chin was rubbed by a Fastrack watch clad manly wrist who chuckled behind the phone, for her clumsiness. Prisha shyly smiled at the act looking at the person lovingly, confusing Benny who felt her jaw touching the ground.

"What the fish?!! Who is he, Prisha?!! Show him, now?!!" Benny got up from her seat and signalled her to show the hidden character. Benisha was gesturing rather furiously getting her blood boiled by the minute.

"It's my friend, ok! Gosh! You are such a drama queen, Benny?!!" Prisha then gave her poker face, getting a chuckle from her hidden friend.

Benny then stared at her, questionably who rolled her eyes at the unwanted suspicion.

"What's his name, huh? Tell me, quick!!" Benny was getting her anger building up at the person who managed to take Sanal's place at such a short notice.

"It's a she, ok? And her name is ...um...Maria! Ok, fine!!" Prisha then sat on the bench looking at the person who was trying hard to not give away his identity. Prisha tried to stay poker faced for her friend who was scrunching her eyebrows with an anger pout.

"Did she forget to wax, huh?!! You liar! No girl will have so much hair on her hands! Do you think I am an idiot, huh?" Benny low screamed at her. She was forcing Prisha to show up the mystery person hiding behind her phone.

Prisha gave up at her detective games. She grunted pushing her head back irritated and spoke

"Ugh!!!You know what, Benisha! I am keeping the phone! Call me when you are past your *quoting in the air* CBI mode!" saying so, Prisha cut the call, frustrated.

"Honey, we should tell them," the person put his hands on her tired shoulders, caressing it lovingly. Prisha tsked saying that they would never understand her love for him.

So, she would convey her happiness when the time is right.

The person then kissed her cheeks lovingly, rubbing his nose on her cold ones. Prisha giggled at the tickle and pushed him lightly, saying that they need to move to their motel as it might rain.

How hard she tried to hide the person from her family's scan but was finding it difficult day by day.

As she returned with her sweetheart back to their Sydney home after a week, she breathed a sigh of relief. The next morning, she reminded him that they need to shop for the groceries for their 'home' on the way to her university.

At the university

She kissed the person lovingly, moving her hands on his wavy hairs. She backed a little, rubbing off her gloss from his plump ones and bid him bye to meet her friends in university. He looked at his love giggling with her friends. RM waved a hi to the person and reminded him of their dinner in the evening in their 'home' for a weekend party.

He drove off to their 'home' to arrange for their special dinner. As Prisha was called by her Appa to arrange her bags to be picked after two days for the baby shower.

Present Day

Mumbai

Menon residence

Latha was telling Reena to make the guest list as short as possible, to invite only their closest friends and family members.

Sonia was conversing with Sharanya and her mom who was telling her about the traditional rituals to be followed for the baby shower.

Veena was having the usual pre-natal problems like swollen feet, tired self, rather heavy belly at her final trimester. So, they decided to make her wear comfortable clothing and not saree as it would only irritate her more.

Xavier was helping Soumya to arrange the return gifts for the guest and writing personalised thank you message for each and every one of them.

Ring!

"Sunny. You are coming for the baby shower kept after two days, right?! Veena was angry with you for not answering her call the other day. What were you doing, huh? Working out as usual?! Do talk to her, ok?" Sonia was speaking on the video call with him while nodding to the relatives who had landed from the village.

As she sat on the couch to rest her tired self, she heard a giggling sound over the phone.

"Sunny, do you have someone there with you? A friend perhaps? Be careful, child! Don't invite unwanted people in your house, ok?!" Sonia warned him about the unsolved danger surrounding their family. Just then Trishna came with the tray of cookies and sat beside her mom, smiling at her cousin on the phone. As they were gaily conversing, Sonia again changed the track to the mysterious person in Sanal's house which made him restless.

Sanal then thought to divert his aunt's attention by showing his pet kitten in the house. He knew her love and craze for animals especially cats, which by the way were not allowed in their house. As Vinay was allergic to them, to the much likeness for them by Sonia.

Trishna almost choked on her cookie, looking at the video of the similar kitten.

Sonia looked at her with a start and helped her by patting her back. But, Trishna excused herself for a drink of water and ran away from there to find Dino. Sonia then asked Sanal to be alert and inform Vinay about any news relatable or not of his stay in Australia.

Vinay had told his men to keep a watch on the woman who had gone missing from the time of the demise of her son, Rupal.

Sanal tsked smiling at his aunt's worry and assured her that he was safe in his 'home', eyeing lovingly at the person from behind his phone.

Sonia looked doubtfully at his happy face and asked him the reason.

Sanal just brushed his hair back and told her that he was just watching movies in the living room.

Sonia scanned the other visible part of the room getting more and more suspicious at her thoughts that perhaps...

"Sunny? Since when did you had an interest in plants, especially show-plants, huh?" Sonia gestured at the set of beautiful pots organised in the house, being noticeable behind his back.

Sanal shaked his eyes for a possible fib and finally spoke

"...um...aunty. My *gulps* friend is the one who ... um...designed the house. So, yeah. She did it for me," He slyly answered watching the person behind his phone who covered her face trying to control her laughter.

Sonia's eyes widened and inquired again, low screaming at him "She?!! Who She?!! Huh?!! Sunny, are you cheating on Kanna, huh? I swear Vinay should have given you the third degree, boy! A smack was not enough for you!!"

Sanal felt bad at his favourite aunt's words which were again blaming him, just like his other family members.

"Aunty, please! What has that got to do with this, huh? And moreover, I am happy. Regardless of what happened in my life. It doesn't matter, now. Coz, now I am at a happy place and I want to be like that. You can judge me all you want, but I just want to have some peace *looking at the person* and perhaps *huff*.... Aunty, take care of yourself and I ...will call you, later. Bye, now!" saying so, Sanal cut the call and tossed the phone on the couch. He massaged his forehead at the almost reveal of his love but groaned hearing her laughter growing. He twisted his face and glared at her, to which she laughed more falling on the couch at his frightened self.

After Vinay, it was Sonia who managed to spread the discipline among the kids in their family.

So, the kids were always afraid of these two when it came to anything related to the family honor and respect.

Sanal got up from his seat and picked up the laughing girl on his shoulder taking her by surprise.

"Ahhh.... put me down!! You bully!!! I will complain to your aunty that you are harassing me!! ahh!!!" she was wiggling badly in his strong arms, he just giggled at her childish behaviour. He always loved the way she used to switch her duality in a fraction of second.

Sanal smacked her backside to shut her up and took her to their 'bedroom' to punish her for making fun of him.

Latha came towards Sonia who was zoning out thinking of her conversation with her suspicious nephew.

"Nia? What is it? What did Sanal say? He is coming, right?" Latha sipped on her juice and asked Sonia who came out of her thoughts, nodding her head.

"Chech! There is something odd with Sanal. I mean, he is happy...too happy. Especially after..." Sonia put forward her doubts on the child who had suddenly opted to stay back outside the country for so long.

Three months was a long time to visit to a friend in Australia. Sonia also observed that he would get irritated if asked about the person in existence in his house at the moment. Coz, as far as she remembered, Sanal was staying alone for the past three months. Then who was the person he was hiding? And why?

Vinay had assured her that Sanal needed a time out from the things that happened in his life.

But what puzzled her that why did Vinay send his best man away from the family, instead of making him protect them here in India.

Then she remembered something. But tsked of that possibility to ever happen.

She then started talking to Latha about the preparations and told her that she should also invite Prisha as she was a major part of their family.

Latha assured her that Sameer had called her the other day and even arranged for a jet to pick her up safely to India.

The day of departure to India

Prisha was glossy eyed holding his hands who rubbed away her tears, saying

"Don't worry, I am coming in the next flight. As you know we can't be seen together, hm?" Saying so he kissed her forehead a little longer.

Prisha then boarded the jet and told him to message her once he reaches India.

She will make some excuse to meet him, as even a second away from him was torture for her.

He smiled at her childish behaviour and nodded that he will surely meet her soon, air kissing her.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Hello My dear Readers❤️

Do comment your thoughts on the story.❤️

The story ahead is really interesting and adventurous for the main protagonists . ❤️

Do vote if you like what you read by clicking the little star ⭐ button❤️