Lathika stood outside Raahini's office door, her hands resting briefly on the wooden frame as she gathered herself. The earlier turmoil from the event—the betrayal, the hurt, and the disbelief—was carefully packed away. She had spent long enough in the car solitude to regain her composure, and now it was time to step into a room that often felt more like family than business.

She knocked lightly on the door, and upon hearing a familiar voice, pushed it open. The warm scent of sandalwood and jasmine greeted her, as it always did when she visited Raahini's office. Raahini and Jaimathi sat comfortably by the window, deep in conversation, the late afternoon sunlight casting a soft glow over them.

"Ah, finally! You decided to visit us mere mortals," Raahini teased, her eyes twinkling with humour. "What kept you so long, Lathika?"

Lathika laughed softly, stepping inside. "I've been running around downstairs, making sure everything was wrapped up."

"You can't ignore us forever," Jaimathi added with a mock-serious tone. "We haven't seen you in over a year! It's like you've vanished from Madurai altogether."

Lathika smiled as she took a seat opposite them, the lightness of the moment allowing her to push aside the earlier storm in her heart. "I know, I've been terrible. Work just never stops. But I'm here now. I've missed you both."

Raahini leaned in, a knowing look crossing her face. "You've been far too busy. A whole year, Lathi. You know we've missed having you around."

"I've missed you too, Patti. I'll do better, I promise," Lathika said, her tone softening. It was true—this part of her life, her connection to these two incredible women, had been neglected in the rush of her career.

Raahini raised an eyebrow. "We'll hold you to that."

They laughed together, and for a moment, Lathika felt the weight on her chest lighten. But then Raahini's tone shifted, growing slightly more serious.

"Now that you're here, we have a little something we want to discuss with you," she said, her gaze flicking to Jaimathi, who nodded in agreement.

"Oh? What's that?" Lathika asked, intrigued.

"Deepavali is coming up, and we've been thinking—it's time to host a grand celebration," Jaimathi said, her voice taking on a business-like tone. "Not just any celebration, but a proper event. Both JM Spices and Puthu Vannam Threads need to showcase their best, and we want to bring together investors, clients, and partners. Something big. Something memorable."

Lathika's interest piqued immediately. "A joint event? That sounds exciting."

"We thought you might like it," Raahini said with a smile. "We know how brilliant you are with events. So, we want you to handle everything."

Lathika blinked, caught off guard by the enormity of the request. "You want me to organize the entire Deepavali party?"

"Not just organize," Jaimathi clarified. "We want you to represent JM Spices, while someone from Puthu Vannam Threads will represent Raahini's company."

Lathika nodded slowly, letting the idea sink in. Organizing a major joint event for two powerhouse companies wasn't just a regular project—it was the kind of event that could elevate both businesses and solidify partnerships. It would also give her a chance to throw herself back into work, which felt like the perfect distraction.

"I'd be honoured," Lathika finally said, her smile returning. "I'll start drafting a proposal and ideas for the event."

"Excellent," Raahini said, clearly pleased. "But there's one more thing."

Lathika tilted her head slightly. "What's that?"

"We'll need separate quotations for both companies," Raahini explained. "You'll prepare one for JM Spices and one for Puthu Vannam Threads. The event will be a showcase for both of us, so it's only fair we handle the costs accordingly."

Lathika nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. I'll start working on those right away."

"And as for Puthu Vannam Threads, you'll be working with our company's representative," Jaimathi added, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness.

"Oh? Who's that?" Lathika asked, curiosity sparking in her voice.

Raahini and Jaimathi exchanged glances, their smiles growing wider.

"My grandson, Prashanth," Raahini said, watching Lathika closely for a reaction.

Lathika's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Your grandson?" she repeated, her voice puzzled.

Raahini nodded. "Yes, he's not exactly the easiest to pin down, but he'll be representing Puthu Vannam Threads for this event."

Jaimathi chuckled softly. "He's been traveling quite a bit, so you two haven't had the chance to meet. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll get along well."

Lathika forced a polite smile, though inwardly, she was already bracing herself. Organizing an event of this magnitude was challenging enough, but now she'd be working with someone completely unfamiliar. Still, she had managed difficult people before. She could handle this.

"I'm looking forward to meeting him," Lathika said diplomatically.

"Oh, you'll meet soon enough," Raahini said with a sly grin. "Just be prepared—Prashanth's a bit... unique."

Lathika raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She'd figure it out soon enough. For now, she had a party to plan—and a betrayal to bury beneath layers of professional focus.

▾▴▾▴▾▴

The clatter of plates and the soft sound of cutlery against porcelain filled the dining room. Raahini sat at the head of the table, her presence as warm and commanding as ever. Across from her, Prashanth ate in silence, focused more on his meal than the conversation between his grandmother and a few family members.

Raahini cleared her throat, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she prepared to drop her little announcement. "I've decided that we're going to have a Deepavali party this year," she began, casually placing her fork down. "And not just any party. We'll be hosting it in collaboration with JM Spices."

Prashanth paused, fork halfway to his mouth. He looked up, confusion crossing his face. "A thread company and a spice company hosting a joint party? How does that make sense?" he asked, clearly sceptical. "They don't exactly go hand in hand, Patti."

Raahini smiled, not the least bit fazed by his question. "Jaimathi and I are best friends, Prashanth. We've been doing things like this together for years. Our companies may not overlap, but we do," she said, her tone teasing but firm. "Plus, it's time to bring in new business connections. You'll be representing Puthu Vannam Threads and working alongside Jaimathi's granddaughter, who's an excellent event planner."

Prashanth narrowed his eyes. "I don't want to be involved in this, Patti. You know I'm not the 'event-planning' type."

Raahini waved her hand dismissively, clearly expecting this reaction. "Do it for me, Prashanth."

Prashanth shook his head, his tone bordering on annoyance. "Why not ask Appa? He's more than capable of handling this sort of thing."

"Your father's busy handling other matters for the company," Raahini replied smoothly, her eyes not leaving his face.

"So am I," Raahini's eyes gleamed with amusement, but her voice remained steady.

"Then ask Prasad," Prashanth offered, his tone exasperated, setting his fork down and leaning back slightly. His tone carried the weight of someone who had managed to avoid responsibility for years and was unwilling to change that now.

Raahini raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "Now, who is elder? While you're here, make yourself useful, Prashanth."

He groaned inwardly, the frustration bubbling up inside him. He was always being roped into things he didn't want to do. "I'm not good with this stuff, Patti," he muttered, pushing a piece of food around his plate.

"You don't have to be good at it," Raahini said, her voice teasing but with an undeniable undercurrent of authority. "You just have to be present. Lathika will handle the details—you'll just be representing the company. Besides, this will be good for you."

Prashanth rolled his eyes and resumed eating, more out of frustration than hunger. His mind was already working through excuses to escape the role his grandmother was thrusting upon him. But he knew better than to argue with Raahini when her mind was made up. She was firm but kind—pushing him in directions he never wanted to go, but always with a reason he couldn't quite argue against.

Just as he took another bite, his phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and saw the name of his brother, Prasad. He let out a small sigh, thankful for the distraction.

"Who is it?" Raahini asked, noticing his reaction.

"Prasad," Prashanth replied, picking up the phone. "I'll take it."

He stood up, grateful for the brief escape, and pressed the phone to his ear. "Yeah, what's up?"

"Come pick me up from the bus station. Just got in," Prasad's voice came through, casual but expectant.

Prashanth nodded, half-listening as he walked toward the door. "Sure, I'll be there in a bit."

As he hung up, he glanced back at his grandmother. She watched him with a knowing smile, clearly enjoying her small victory in the earlier conversation.

"Don't think you're off the hook, Prashanth," she called after him. "We'll talk more about the party tomorrow."

Prashanth sighed, his mind already dreading the days to come.

✈✈✈✈

Thank you for reading :) Don't forget to vote and comment