The early morning sun filtered through the kitchen windows, casting a golden glow on the marble countertops. The familiar scent of freshly brewed tea filled the air, mingling with the soft aroma of the spices neatly arranged in small jars on the shelf. It was a peaceful morning in Jaimathi's house, a comforting contrast to the chaos Lathika had been dealing with.

Tejashree moved about the kitchen with ease, lovingly preparing a cup of her special spiced tea for her daughter. She knew Lathika needed more than just the tea today. Ever since the news about Tara's betrayal, Lathika had been carrying a heavy weight on her shoulders, and Tejashree was determined to lighten that burden, if only for a little while.

"Here, kanna," Tejashree said, gently placing the cup of tea in front of Lathika. "Drink this. It'll make everything feel better, even if just for a moment."

Lathika smiled weakly and wrapped her hands around the cup, feeling the warmth seep into her palms. "Thanks, Amma," she said softly, taking a sip. The familiar taste of the spices and the comfort of her mother's care helped soothe her, if only a little.

Jaimathi, seated at the table across from Lathika, watched her granddaughter with quiet concern. She had always known Lathika to be strong, resilient, but this betrayal—this deep cut from someone she had trusted—had shaken her. Jaimathi, with all her wisdom, understood that sometimes it wasn't enough to simply push through. You had to let the emotions out, talk about them, and only then could you move forward.

"So, Lathika," Jaimathi began, her voice soft but probing, "how are you really feeling about everything with Tara?"

Lathika sighed, her eyes fixed on the steam rising from her tea. "I don't know, Achi. I feel... betrayed. I trusted her. I taught her everything I knew, and now... it's like all of that meant nothing to her."

Tejashree placed a comforting hand on Lathika's arm. "Kanna, some people will take what you give them and still walk away. It doesn't mean you did anything wrong. You gave her a chance, and she chose her own path."

"I know," Lathika replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it still hurts."

Jaimathi nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "It's good to feel it, kanna. Don't bottle it up. Talk about it, let it out, and then let it go. Betrayal is like a poison—it only harms you if you hold on to it for too long."

Lathika took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her grandmother's words sink in. She didn't want to dwell on it, but she also didn't want to ignore it. Talking about it, even in this quiet moment over tea, helped. It didn't fix everything, but it lightened the load just enough.

"I'll try," Lathika said with a small smile. "But I think I just need to keep moving forward. Focus on the next project, on what's ahead."

"That's my girl," Jaimathi said, smiling warmly. "And speaking of the next project, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Lathika looked up, curiosity piqued.

"This morning, Raahini and her grandson, Prashanth, will be coming over to start the planning for the Deepavali party we're hosting together," Jaimathi explained. "It's going to be a big collaboration between JM Spices and Puthu Vannam Threads, and remember, you'll be representing our company."

Lathika nodded, feeling a sense of purpose return to her. "I'm ready to dive into it."

Tejashree squeezed her daughter's hand. "It's a good opportunity, kanna. A new challenge."

Lathika smiled. "Yes, Amma. I'll handle it."

✈✈✈✈

Later that morning, Lathika found herself standing outside Jaimathi's office, ready to start the day with a fresh mindset. Her heart felt lighter after the talk in the kitchen, and she was determined to give her all to the upcoming event.

She knocked lightly on the door and stepped inside. Jaimathi was seated behind her desk, and she greeted Lathika with a warm smile. "Come in, kanna. Raahini and her grandson will be here shortly."

Lathika took a seat, her mind already spinning with ideas for the Deepavali party. She was ready to channel her energy into something productive, something that would help her move past the hurt of Tara's betrayal.

A few moments later, the door opened, and Raahini walked in, her presence as commanding and elegant as always. Behind her was a man—tall, with an air of casual confidence. Lathika glanced up and immediately froze.

It was him.

The man from the airport. The one who had infuriated her just days ago. The memory of their tense exchange flashed in her mind—his arrogance, his impatience.

Prashanth.

Prashanth's eyes widened as he recognized her, too. His expression quickly shifted from surprise to something more guarded. This is Jaimathi's granddaughter?

Lathika's mind raced. Of all the people she could be working with, it had to be him.

"Lathika, this is my grandson, Prashanth," Raahini said, oblivious to the tension that had suddenly filled the room. "He'll be representing Puthu Vannam Threads for the Deepavali party."

Lathika forced a polite smile, though inside she was fuming. "Nice to meet you," she said through gritted teeth.

"Likewise," Prashanth replied, his voice clipped.

The grandmothers exchanged a glance, noticing the strange tension between their grandchildren but choosing not to comment on it—for now.

"Well, now that everyone's here," Jaimathi said, trying to smooth over the awkwardness, "let's talk about the party."

Raahini nodded, though her eyes flicked between Lathika and Prashanth with a hint of curiosity. "Yes, it's going to be quite the collaboration. We're relying on both of you to work closely together and make it a success."

Lathika and Prashanth exchanged a brief look, neither one particularly thrilled at the prospect of working together.

This is going to be a disaster, Lathika thought, already bracing herself for the inevitable clashes.

As soon as the meeting moved to the planning phase, Lathika opened her notebook, her mind already mapping out ideas for the Deepavali party. She tried to keep her thoughts organized, but the presence of Prashanth sitting across from her made it hard to concentrate. His laid-back demeanour irked her, and she wasn't even sure why.

"Well," Lathika began, her tone more professional than enthusiastic, "I think we should start with the basics. The venue should reflect the traditional elements of Deepavali—bright colours, diyas, rangoli patterns, and plenty of warm, welcoming lighting."

Prashanth leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, looking utterly unconvinced. "Traditional? Do we really need all that? It's supposed to be a modern event. The guests are investors and business partners, not temple visitors."

Lathika's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes, but it's also a festival. We can't strip away its essence. People expect certain traditions, especially when the event is associated with Deepavali."

Prashanth shrugged, a smug smile playing on his lips. "Or we could break those expectations. Do something different, something that stands out. Why stick to the usual when we can create a sleek, modern look? Focus on sophistication. We don't want this to look like just another festive gathering."

Lathika bristled at his dismissive tone. "It's not just another festive gathering. The theme is what sets the tone. The colors, the décor, the traditions—they're all part of what makes it memorable. You can't just gloss over that."

"Oh, sure I can," Prashanth shot back. "People aren't coming to admire the diyas. They want to be impressed by the scale, the innovation. We need something cutting-edge—think high-tech lighting, interactive installations, maybe even a projection display. That's what will get them talking."

Lathika's hand tightened around her pen, her irritation flaring. "This isn't some corporate expo, Prashanth. It's Deepavali. People want to feel the warmth, the festivity. We can incorporate modern elements, sure, but not at the expense of the festival's spirit."

Prashanth raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "I think you're underestimating the crowd. These are high-profile investors, not your typical festival-goers. They want sophistication, not sentimentality."

Before Lathika could respond, Jaimathi cleared her throat, her eyes flicking between the two. "Alright, enough of the back-and-forth. You both have valid points. There's a way to combine tradition and modernity without sacrificing one for the other."

Raahini nodded, though she exchanged a brief glance with Jaimathi, both clearly noticing the tension simmering between their grandchildren.

Lathika took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. She wasn't about to let Prashanth bulldoze over her ideas. "Fine. Let's move on to the guest experience. I was thinking we could have a traditional welcome with marigold garlands and an aarti thali. It's a nice way to greet guests while adding a cultural touch."

Prashanth's sigh was audible, and it made Lathika's irritation spike again. "Why don't we just keep it simple? A formal welcome, maybe champagne or cocktails as they arrive. No need for garlands and all that. It feels too... quaint."

Lathika stared at him, incredulous. "Quaint? It's Deepavali, not a cocktail party. The garlands are a symbol of respect and welcome. It's an important gesture, especially for a traditional event."

Prashanth smirked. "Yeah, but let's not make it look like we're hosting a family function. This is about business, remember?"

Lathika's patience snapped. "You can't just strip away everything meaningful and call it innovative, Prashanth. Not everything has to be cold and business-like."

"And not everything has to be overly sentimental, either," Prashanth countered, his tone equally sharp. "We're trying to impress people, not make them feel like they're at their grandmother's house."

The tension in the room thickened, and Jaimathi and Raahini exchanged another glance, both of them realizing just how deep the differences ran between their grandchildren.

"Well," Raahini interjected lightly, though her eyes were sharp, "it seems like we'll need to find some middle ground here."

Lathika glared at Prashanth her frustration barely contained. "Middle ground is fine. But tradition isn't something we compromise on."

Prashanth smirked again, clearly enjoying the pushback. "We'll see about that."

As the conversation continued, the clash of their ideas only grew more apparent. For every suggestion Lathika made about maintaining the essence of the festival, Prashanth had a counterpoint—something sleek, modern, and utterly devoid of warmth in her eyes. And for every suggestion he made about stripping down the event to focus on business appeal, Lathika had a rebuttal, emphasizing the importance of culture and tradition.

By the end of the meeting, the grandmothers sat quietly, watching as the two exchanged sharp comments, neither willing to bend or give in. It was clear to both of them that Lathika and Prashanth were not going to find common ground easily.

As they finally wrapped up, the tension between the two younger ones was palpable. Lathika gathered her things quickly, shooting Prashanth one last glare before heading for the door.

"This is going to be a long process," she muttered under her breath as she left the room.

Prashanth, equally annoyed, watched her go, shaking his head slightly. "She's impossible," he muttered to himself.

Once the door closed behind them, Jaimathi and Raahini exchanged looks, both of them letting out a quiet sigh.

"Well, that didn't exactly go as planned," Jaimathi said, though there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes.

Raahini chuckled softly. "No, it didn't. But maybe it's a start."

▾▴▾▴▾▴

How their first  meeting?

Did you enjoy their back and forth? I hope you did.

❗Okay, important notice. This week there will not be daily updates. I will be updating one tomorrow and next will be on Saturday.

Gotta make preparations for Deepavali. 

Anyway, how's your festive preparation going on?