The next day morning

The dining hall

The family was having their breakfast relaxing themselves from the hustle and bustle of the yesterday's wedding fiesta.

Sonia was sitting with Rekha and Reena conversing on the dance routine that they had to perform for the evening program specially designed for the newlyweds.

Suddenly Veena was getting restless and started crying on Reena's lap. So, to calm her down, she took her to the garden area with her food. Since Sonia was busy discussing with Rekha, she didn't realise that someone had sat in Reena's place to have breakfast.

"Mom, do we have fruits? I wanted something light today." The voice called out from his seat.

Sonia was bewildered at the voice and looked at the person who was himself shocked.

They gazed at each other again. Until...

"Vinay, here you go. You can have this fruit salad. I knew about it so I prepared them specially for you." Mrs. Nandini Nair spoke passing him the fruit bowl.

Vinay looked at his mom and nodded. He realised that it was too late to get up from the seat beside Sonia. So, he continued to have his breakfast without paying any attention to Sonia.

Sonia also ignored him for better.

But she thought about the incident that happened on the terrace between her and Ronny. And how Vinay was able to save her on time.

She wanted to gratify him for the same, so she decided to thank him after having their breakfast.

At the garden area

Vinay was talking on the phone with his assistant regarding the meeting that they had to attend after they would go back.

He realised someone standing behind him. As he was aware of her jasmine scent lingering in the atmosphere when she had entered the garden area.

He slightly smiled but didn't turn to face her as if waiting for her to take the first step.

Sonia cleared her throat to grab his attention but to her disappointment he didn't respond.

She tried again but in vain.

She walked little near to him and again cleared her throat.

He was enjoying her little struggle.

Finally, she spoke.

"Mr. Vinay, I wanted to speak to you about something."

He finally turned his attention to her, cutting his call and looked at her in waiting.

Sonia became wide eyed at his aura and looked at him as he was towering her.

She didn't realise that they were actually standing too close for comfort.

"Umm.... I-I wa-wanted to-to tha-thank yo-u." She somehow finished her sentence amazing herself, giving her weird smile to him.

He scrunched his eyebrow at her smile and bend down to her eye level and asked in a soft tone.

"About what?"

She bended back and widened her eyes. She gathered her hand towards her chest and clutched them together.

"Hm?" he asked again.

"Uh..." she was going blank at his gaze and getting scared at his closeness.

She looked sideways to remember what she wanted to thank him for.

He was enjoying her tensed expression, but went silent at her sudden act. She bit her lower lip which now tensed him.

He noticed her lips and found them soft and naturally pink with a tint of clear lip gloss.

He smiled and tilted his head to get a closer look.

Sonia was still thinking when she realised his warm breath near her lips. She looked at him to find his face quite near to her.

It was the first time; a man had come so near to her face. She didn't know this new feeling. She was somehow feeling relaxed at his calm stable breathing. His soft mint cologne filled her nostril even more enticing her.

He slowly looked at her eyes as she had put her lips back in place. He too realised that they were too close but he didn't want to retreat. He moved even closer seeing that she was not backing away too.

She couldn't take his stare and closed her eyes. Vinay looked at her thick eyelashes which formed the shape of a swan's closed wings resting on her soft cheeks. He moved his veiny hands to touch her round cheeks.

Their lips were only an inch apart. When...

Vinay's phone started ringing disturbing them.

She jerked and immediately moved back to distance themselves.

Vinay got annoyed at her action, but picked up his call still maintaining her eye contact.

"Yeah, go ahead." Taking that he was busy, she moved away from there.

In the evening

In the main hall

"Don't worry, Aunty. You will perform well. Everybody will like it. So best of luck!" Rekha an encouraging smile to the tensed Nandini Nair.

Flashback

On the evening of the wedding

"Now what we are going to do? Are you sure, Rekha? I mean we can subtle down the dance moves, if you want?" Sonia asked her bestie who was clutching a hot pack near her back as it was paining badly for her.

"No dude. I can't perform. My back is killing me. I can't even move a muscle. I think we have to cancel the dance. We will just opt for singing instead. What say?" Rekha suggested.

Sonia tsked at it. Just then Mrs. Nair and Mrs. Menon entered the room bringing refreshments for the girls as they wanted them to take a break from their dance practice.

"What happened? Why are you so sulky? Are you not getting the dance move correctly? Hm...?" Meera Menon enquired.

"It's not that, mom. Rekha is having severe backpain. She won't be able to perform. So, we were thinking of the alternative." Sonia said sadly.

"What alternative?" Nandini Nair asked.

"To cancel the dance routine." Rekha said.

Both the ladies gasped at their answer. But their health was also important. So, they wavered it off saying that it was not a big deal. As the family would understand their problem.

"Hm... I still remember. The same incident happened in my college, when we were supposed to perform for the college annual program and one of the dancers got sick with viral infection. We had to change the entire dance routine." Nandini Nair shared one of her college days experiences.

Both the girls got interested in the new conversation.

"Then, what did you do aunty?" Rekha asked curiously.

"Oh. what we usually do? We changed the dance step little here and there and finally put forward a bright performance earning an applause from the audience." Nandini Nair said proudly.

Both the girls looked at each other with a hopeful stare and grinned widely.

"Aunty, do you think we can also come up with somewhat similar solution with your help?" Rekha asked cunningly.

"Sure, tell me. How can I help you?" Nandini Nair answered blindly with the hope of helping the two cunning little girls who were grinning from ear to ear thinking of a clever plan.

End of flashback

"Shall we go Aunty?" Sonia came near her and gave an assuring smile at her. They both moved towards the center of the hall to begin their performance.

"I don't know, child. It's been years since I last performed. What if I forget the dance steps? What if I trip and fall? No, no, no... I think I should not do this! I will make a laughing stock of myself!!" saying so Nandini Nair immediately started removing her dance attire.

"Oh no, Aunty! Don't worry! We are there for you. And nobody will dare to laugh at you. You see, Rekha! She will seal the lips with cellotape of those who try to mock you. So, don't worry! Trust us, Aunty" Sonia consoled her. Rekha nodded her head approving the same.

Meera Menon spoke "Nandini, don't worry, these girls told you that they will take care of things. And moreover, you will be performing in front of the family members not any outsiders. So, relax. I will be there with you. I will be sitting in the front seat to cheer my bestie. So, smile and forgot your tension. Ok!"

Finally, Nandini Nair nodded at her bestie's advice and moved towards the main hall to give their performance.

At the Main Hall

Everyone was seated facing of the center stage which was assigned for the performance. The bridegroom was seated in their special seating.

Vinay, Vinod and Reena with Veena were sitting together playing constantly with the kid to keep her engaged. As the kid was not able to adopt to the new environment and was feeling irritated.

Mr. Nair and Mr. Menon were busy discussing business, when Mrs. Menon went near them and sat beside Mr. Menon with a huge smile on her face.

Mr. Menon noticed the smile on his wife's face and asked her the reason to which she answered.

"Oh... nothing, I am excited for the dance performance. I want to cheer my bestie from up front!" Mrs. Menon chimed sweetly confusing Mr. Menon. He shrugged it off thinking that she was talking about Sonia and Rekha.

(Kindly imagine Sonia and Nandini Nair performing the below dance routine)

https://youtu.be/2cLrZ8xMsMM

After the performance, everyone was gaping at the scene, wherein both Vinay and Vinod were surprised to see their mom in a new avatar. As they had had never seen her dance before, so this was something new to them. Reena couldn't control her excitement and clapped the loudest cheering her mom-in-law with tears in her eyes.

She got up from her seat and went to hug her mom-in-law who was huffing for a breather.

"Mom, you killed it! It was such a surprise! I didn't know you could dance so well! Wow!! Thank you so much, Mom for giving us such a delightful performance!" Reena said crying and hugging her even tighter.

Nandini just laughed at her daughter-in-law's comment and caressed her hair to calm her down.

"Don't thank me. It was Sonia who convinced me to do this. As Rekha was not feeling well, I was selected for in her place. She changed the entire choreography to fit my comfort." Nandini explained to her, to which Reena muttered a small tearful thank you to Sonia whilst hugging her mom-in-law.

Sonia just nodded her head in approval smiling at the mom and daughter duo.

Vinod came jogging to his mom and hugged her tearing up.

"Mom, you were fantastic! Thank you, Sonia for gifting us such a wonderful sight! You did good." Vinod thanked her.

"It was nothing, Ettan. It was all aunty. I just gave her dance steps. It was all her on the stage. Not me." Sonia answered.

Vinod nodded and patted her head lovingly.

Vinay was watching from his seat but didn't dare to go on the stage. As he was feeling somewhat awkward, not because of the fact that his mom performed but of the fact that he could never do the impossible that Sonia pulled it off effortlessly. Giving a genuine smile on his mom's face.

Sonia looked at him and gestured him to go to his mom. He was surprised at her gesture but eventually got up and went to his mom.

He went near his mom and hugged her into a back hug placing his head on her shoulder. Mrs. Nandini Nair patted his head lovingly. He looked up towards Sonia and thanked her with his smile. She acknowledged it by nodding getting teary eyed.

She went from the place towards her room to wash off her tears.

Why was she so happy to see that man happy?

Was she trying to impress him?

💕💕💕💕💕💕

Hello Readers,

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