The flight had been manageable, all things considered. Both Lathika and Prashanth traveled in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Lathika kept her gaze fixed out the window, the endless clouds mirroring her swirling emotions. Prashanth tried unsuccessfully to catch a bit of sleep, the tension between them a constant, unspoken presence.

As soon as the plane landed, Lathika turned on her phone, a cascade of notifications lighting up her screen. Missed messages, work reminders—each ping a stark reminder of the life awaiting her in Chennai. She sighed, running a hand through her hair as she navigated through the busy terminal.

Prashanth followed behind, his eyes scanning the airport for an escape from the crowded space. Lathika seemed lost in her own world, her mind replaying the events of the past few days. In her distraction, she suddenly turned, colliding right into him.

He instinctively reached out, his hands catching her by the arms, steadying her. "Careful," he muttered, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Startled, Lathika looked up, her face flushing slightly. "Sorry," she mumbled. She paused, considering something, then looked up at him seriously. "Do you have a minute?"

Prashanth raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Sure."

They moved to a nearby café, each grabbing a cup of coffee to go. Finding a small table in the quieter corner, they sat down, a heavy, awkward silence settling between them.

Lathika stared at her coffee, tracing the rim of the cup with her fingers. She took a deep breath. "I wanted to ask you something," she began, her voice hesitant. "Did your grandmother... did she also try to..."

Prashanth nodded, finishing her thought for her. "Did Patti try to blackmail me into marrying you?" He let out a short laugh. "Yes, she did."

Lathika looked up, her eyes searching his face. "What did you tell her?"

"An absolute no," Prashanth said without hesitation. He leaned back, his gaze meeting hers. "I don't think we're compatible, Lathika. Or maybe we just don't know each other well enough. But marriage isn't what I want—not now."

Lathika exhaled slowly, relief washing over her. "Good to hear. Honestly, I feel the same way."

Prashanth sipped his coffee, eyes studying her. "So, what are you going to do about it?"

Lathika shrugged, her expression serious as she opened the biscuit packet she'd bought. "Ignore it. The best I can do is ignore all of them. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I love Achi, but this... it's too much. Even if it means Achi might disown me, I can't just do something I don't believe in." She offered him a biscuit, but he shook his head.

Prashanth's eyebrows shot up. "Disown you?" he asked, disbelief in his voice. "That's how she blackmailed you?"

Lathika nodded, lips pressing into a thin line. "Yep. Either marry you or forget I have a family." She swallowed, then asked, "What did Patti threaten you with?"

Prashanth let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "That's harsh." He paused. "She said if I don't marry you, I won't get my inheritance."

Curiosity piqued, Lathika tilted her head. "How much are we talking about here?"

Prashanth leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Half of her property."

Lathika's eyes widened. She let out a low whistle of her own. "That's... quite a lot." She smirked, amused at the absurdity. "So, what's your plan?"

Prashanth shrugged, resigned. "Honestly? Right now, I just want to stay out of it."

Lathika smiled, tired but relieved. "I get that. I feel the same. It's a relief we're on the same page."

Prashanth nodded, a hint of mischief crossing his features. "But the catch. It's too tempting to let go."

Intrigued, Lathika raised an eyebrow. "What's on your mind?"

He hesitated, then went for it. "If we agree to this arranged marriage—just on paper—I get the inheritance. And I'd be willing to give you a share. Let's say... a quarter of it."

Lathika squinted at him, a playful glint in her eyes. "Just a quarter? You're offering me a fourth of whatever you get?" Despite herself, she found the idea tempting.

Prashanth held up his hands defensively. "Hey, I still have to share it with Prasad. Plus, I think a quarter's a fair deal."

Lathika shook her head, laughing softly. "Well, it's an interesting proposition. But right now, I think it's best to leave things as they are. If I change my mind... I'll let you know."

Prashanth nodded, a wry smile on his lips. "Fair enough."

Lathika stood, gathering her things. "I guess this is where we part ways."

Prashanth got up, grabbing his coffee. "Yeah, I guess so." He extended a hand, and she took it, their handshake lingering. There was a shared determination to take control of their lives, regardless of expectations.

"Take care, Lathika," Prashanth said softly.

"You too, Prashanth," she replied, their eyes meeting briefly before looking away.

With a final nod, they turned and headed in opposite directions, each with a smile that said they were content with whatever decisions they had taken. The inner chaos now settled, the problem has now been packed and sent back to Madurai. Both Prashanth and Lathika looked forward to continue their life without the intervention of their elders.

✈✈✈✈

After the brief yet impactful conversation with Prashanth about not going through with the promises made to their grandmothers, Lathika finally felt like she was back in her element. All the heaviness of betrayal, the weight of her business's downturn, and the pressure of family expectations seemed to evaporate as she stepped into her small apartment.

Inhaling deeply, she absorbed the familiar scents of home mixed with the chaos that enveloped her. The kitchen was a mess, her dirty clothes spilling out of the laundry basket, and materials from the last event decorations scattered haphazardly across the living room. "Well, this needs a clean-up."

Lathika sighed, a smile creeping onto her face. She dropped her handbag on the coffee table and dropped herself onto the two-seater couch. In her house, in Chennai, Lathika was more of her real self. Less reserve, less tight, less bothered on what her family would think—less of everything she was in Madurai. Not that they would ever question her if she behaves otherwise but she had simply grown that way. With place, people change, Lathika was one of them.

"Back to my turf," she murmured, her voice echoing in the stillness of the apartment. It was a reminder to herself that she had the power to steer her own life, despite the expectations of others.

Reaching over, she turned on her Alexa and requested a song that would lift her spirits. "Hey Alexa! Play an A.R. Rahman song from the 90's." In seconds the small space filled with an evergreen song from the movie En Swasa Kaatre, the soothing melody instantly transporting her back to simpler times.

As the music played, Lathika felt her mood brighten. "Ah, this song is a classic!" she exclaimed, the nostalgic tune bringing back memories of long drives and lazy afternoons spent with friends.

Settling deeper into the couch, she closed her eyes and let the music wash over her. The sweet notes of the song wrapped around her like a warm blanket, reminding her of the carefree days spent laughing and dreaming. She could almost picture herself sitting with her friends, their voices mingling as they sang along to the songs they loved.

"Why can't life always feel this light? Without expectation and promises," she mused, letting the gentle rhythm of the song soothe her thoughts. With each note, she found herself drifting further into a peaceful state, the worries of the day fading away.

Returning to her own shell, she felt a wave of contentment wash over her. Perhaps it was the song, the memories, or simply the relief of standing up for herself, but it felt good. With the music playing softly in the background, she allowed herself to drift into a short nap, her body finally relaxing into the comfort of her home.

As she slept, a smile played on her lips, perhaps a victory smile.

✈✈✈✈

As soon as Prashanth stepped into his house, he called up the airline to inform them that he had cut short his holiday. He notified them that he would take any available flights for the next day—staying grounded wasn't in his nature. He thrived on the thrill of the skies, and being back in the cockpit was exactly what he needed.

Moving about his house, tidying up the mess he had left behind, the conversation with Lathika at the airport replayed in his mind. He felt a sense of relief wash over him at the realization that he didn't have to get tied down to anyone just yet. There was something about Lathika at the airport that felt different from the times he had seen her in Madurai—a good difference. She seemed stronger, more assured, and he found himself drawn to that change.

As he dried off his laundry, he clapped his hands together in satisfaction, feeling the weight of the past few days begin to lift. It was time to let go of everything that had happened in Madurai.

"It's time to get back to my routine," he said to himself, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. He looked forward to the thrill of flying to new places, savouring the diverse cuisines, and rediscovering what made him happy. Also making plans on doing more enthralling things beyond flying. 'It's about time, I add some adventure."

✈✈✈✈

Well, Prashanth and Lathika are back to their base and are happily settling in. Yay! Happy!

So, what's next???