The next day the Pillai family reached the Menon Mansion at noon.

The family members were supposed to visit the ancestral temple in the evening.

It was tradition in their village for all the new couple to get the blessings before their holy matrimony. The Menon family was following this tradition for a long time.

One by one all the members reached for the temple. The Menon and Pillai family reached the temple first followed by the Nair family. Sonia, Rekha and the new couple were supposed to arrive in the same car.

Sameer and Latha got out of the car with Rekha. Sonia was adjusting her saree as she was not used to wearing a saree.

Finally, she got out of the car carrying the puja basket.

The evening sun rays were gleaming on her skin making it glow like honey. Her hair was shining with a natural lustre giving a gold like glimmer. She clutched onto the temple gate and tilted at the sunlit sky closing her eyelids with a slight smile.

Vinay glanced at her from the temple entrance, reminiscing a memory.

He followed the others inside the temple.

The new couple were seeking the blessings from the head priest who was mumbling holy chants shaking the sacred leaf over their heads.

Sonia was standing adjacent to Rekha and Nandini Nair.

She was feeling happy at the sight, when she accidently glanced at her left side. She was shocked to see Vinay turning his face at the right time to stare at her. He was standing pretty close to her.

She immediately looked away making him angry.

She gripped Rekha's hand and looked down. Rekha noticed her uneasiness and pulled her hand asking for the reason.

Sonia just smiled weakly and shaked her head.

After the rituals got over, the family started off to the mansion.

Since the elders of the family had to visit the priest for discussing the wedding preparations. They stayed back, informing the younger members of the family to head towards the mansion.

Sameer, Reena and Vinod with Veena went in the same car. Leaving Vinay, Sonia and Rekha to travel in the same car.

Rekha had tired herself with continuous dance practice, so she had backpain. So, she settled herself at the backseat, leaving Sonia and Vinay to occupy the front seat.

Sonia was getting tensed on the thought of sitting near Vinay. Somehow, she gathered her courage and sat beside him, who was giving her cold shoulders.

"So, Mr. Yashuu, how is your Kerala trip so far? Did you plan anything after the wedding? Hm..." Rekha asked Vinay who was comfortably driving.

"Um...My name is Vinay, not Yashuu." Vinay corrected her with the same cold aura.

"Ok, you didn't answer my question somehow. So, any plans?" Rekha looked at him through the convex mirror.

He scrunched his eyebrows and shaked his head as a no.

"Oh, why so?!! We were thinking of going on a trek through the forest behind the mansion. I had visited there with Sonia when we were children. Thought we could reminisce our childhood. Wanna join us?" Rekha moved towards the front grabbing hold of Sonia's seat from behind.

Sonia who was looking outside the window, looked at Rekha signalling her to drop the idea. Rekha ignored her and looked hopefully at Vinay.

"There is a forest behind the mansion? How come nobody mention it? And you went there when you were children!? Weren't there any wild animals!?" Vinay gave a worried look at Rekha.

Rekha gave a sweet smile and spoke.

"No, Mr. Yashuu. We didn't go too far. As Sonia had an accident when we wanted to venture into the deep woods."

Vinay suddenly looked at Sonia, who gave a frightening look at him.

"You had an accident! What happened!?" Vinay gave a worried look.

Sonia was speechless. As she never thought that Rekha would tell her childhood incident to Vinay.

"Oh, that one was horrible! She was terrified after that!" Rekha said in an astonishing manner.

Vinay looked at Rekha seeking for answers.

"Well, actually..." Rekha started off to tell Vinay about the accident, when his phone rang.

He connected the phone to the car and answered.

"Yes dad"

"Vinay, have you guys reached home? There seems to be a guest who has arrived in the mansion. Can you guys attend to him? It will take us another 15-20 minutes to reach the mansion." Mr. Nair spoke.

"Ok, dad, I will see to that. Don't worry. You take your time. Bye." Vinay confirmed.

They reached the mansion in no time.

Rekha and Sonia got off the car.

Vinay started moving inside the mansion, when he was suddenly halted by Rekha with a wide grin.

"So, Mr. Yashuu. You didn't tell us. Will you come with us or not?"

"First of it is Vinay and second, I am busy. You can find someone else." Vinay gave her a stern answer.

"Ok. But there is no one who can come with us. Sameer anna is busy with the wedding. Vinod anna is busy with his office work. Please Mr. Yashuu!" Rekha begged him.

They were moving towards the mansion, with Rekha facing Vinay walking backwards convincing him, when suddenly.

"Who is going where? Can I come?"

Rekha closed her eyes in frustration. She gritted her teeth and murmured curses at the person.

"Ronny, when did you come?" Sonia jogged towards him.

"Just few minutes back. I called your bro, but he told me you all had gone to the temple. So, I waited for you all. By the way, who is going where? I want to come too." Ronny surprised everyone.

Vinay gave a subtle nod to Rekha and said,

"See. Problem solved! Take him. He will be much better than me. Trust me."

"I rather die than go with this raccoon!" Rekha mumbled to Vinay to which he raised his eyebrow and pursed his lips with a slight smile.

Rekha was wide eyed at his cute smile, but to her disappointed Vinay gathered his old self immediately seeing her reaction.

He cleared his throat and went inside, not before giving a firm look at Ronny.

Ronny creased his eyebrow at his behaviour.

Sonia caught hold Ronny's arm and guided him to his room.

Rekha followed them eyeing her most hateful person.

After reaching his room, Vinay was thinking how Ronny landed up here.

Did Sonia reveal their relationship to her family?

Did her family accept them?

He was getting confused on the current situation.

Ignoring, he went to refresh himself.

The next day

At the Pillai's mansion

The living room

Mrs. Pillai was sitting beside her daughter who was getting henna on her hands and legs. All the ladies were gathered around the bride-to-be singing songs. Little children were dancing at the centre with constant giggling. The elders were greeting the guests who were arriving at the marriage house to give their wishes.

The ladies of the house were preparing snacks and tea for the guests in the kitchen being assisted by the maids.

At the Menon mansion

In the kitchen

All the ladies were busy making sweet treats for the guests with the help of the cooks, when Rekha came to the kitchen to grab a glass of water huffing.

"Oh my! What happened, child? You look exhausted!" Nandini Nair came towards Rekha in concern.

"I am tired of this dance routine! Aunty, please tell your daughter to not tire me out like this! I am just a simple human! Not a machine!" Rekha complained to Mrs. Menon in between her huffing.

"It's a simple dance step! If you can't do that, how are you going to do the reception special?" Sonia jogged towards them sitting on one of the kitchen counters.

She grabbed an apple and started munching on it giving a cunning smile at Rekha. Rekha was silently muttering curses at her. She rushed to her bestie pointing her index finger at her.

"You! I am not going to do the reception dance with you! You will kill me! Find someone else! No, nada, not me! Sorry not interested!" Rekha immediately shaked her head in denial.

Sonia just laughed at her bestie's state. They were practicing for the past two hours non-stop. Sonia being the perfectionist didn't want to stop without getting all the steps right.

Rekha somehow gathered herself and went outside the kitchen followed by the ladies who carried the snacks to the dining hall, leaving Sonia behind.

Just then, Vinay came inside the kitchen to have a drink of cold water. He was working out on the terrace for the past one hour. He didn't notice Sonia sitting on the counter. He went to the refrigerator to get the cold water, when...

Thud!

He followed the sound of the noise, to find a half-bitten apple rolled to his foot.

He picked it up and looked for the owner. He saw Sonia sitting at the kitchen counter gaping at him wide-eyed.

Vinay was wearing a sleeveless shirt which was sticking to his body like a second skin because of the sweat. He noticed that Sonia was checking him out mindlessly.

He smirked and walked slowly towards her.

She didn't realised Vinay closing onto her.

"You must not tense yourself much, you know?!" Vinay spoke softly to her with a smirky smile, bending down to her face level. He was standing adjacent to her. So, he placed his right hand on the kitchen counter to balance his body, maintaining his gaze on her face.

He was not touching her but yet giving a seductive aura to her without realising it!

"Huh?!" Sonia shifted her gaze from his perfectly toned biceps to his dark brown eyes which would always mesmerize her.

They gazed at each other for time unknown.

"Sonia, don't you want coffee? They are serving it in the dining hall. Come fast, aunty made your favourite appams (sweet rice buns)" Ronny barged in without thinking to find Sonia and Vinay staring at each other with intensity.

Sonia was the first one to break the stance. She looked back at Ronny smilingly.

She signalled Vinay to give her some space, as he was standing too close to her.

He backed off to give her space. She jumped from the counter and followed Ronny not before looking back at Vinay with a worried face.

Vinay couldn't understand why he would act so differently in front of her.

'What was I thinking!? I should not communicate with her anymore! I am not good for her! I am not supposed to feel this way! Not after....' Vinay thought looking down disappointed at his behaviour.

He gulped the cold water and went to his room for a bath. 

💕💕💕💕💕💕

Hello Readers,

Do tell your thoughts in the comments.

I promise you the story ahead is really good

Lots of love ❤️

Take Care❤️

If you like the chapter,kindly consider giving it a vote ⭐ by pressing the little star below👇