Prashanth stepped out of the building with an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair. The meeting had been nothing short of irritating. He couldn't believe that Lathika—the woman he had barely tolerated at the airport—was now the one he'd have to work with. And she was every bit as stubborn as he'd imagined.

As they walked side by side, the silence between them felt heavy. Prashanth was already thinking of ways to put off this partnership, maybe postpone a few meetings, keep things loose and spontaneous like he preferred.

Just as he considered making his escape, Lathika's voice cut through the quiet.

"Prashanth."

He stopped and turned to face her, noticing the way her shoulders were squared and her gaze fixed firmly ahead. She was clearly trying to keep things professional, but there was a hint of irritation in her tone—like she, too, was struggling to keep her composure.

"We don't have much time to waste," she said, her words measured but with an undercurrent of urgency. "The event is in about a week, and we need to finalize the theme. Why don't we... talk this through?"

Prashanth arched an eyebrow. He wasn't in the mood to be pinned down to any detailed discussions. He preferred spontaneity, going with the flow and figuring things out as they came. But as his sharp eyes flicked upward, he noticed something that made him pause.

From one of the floors above, their grandmothers were watching—Raahini and Jaimathi, standing side by side, peering down at them. Their gazes were as sharp as hawks, their smiles far too knowing.

He let out a quiet, frustrated sigh. Great. With them watching, he couldn't exactly back out now without making a scene. As much as he wanted to push things off and just manage it later, he knew he'd have to play along for now.

"Alright," Prashanth said, his tone begrudging. "Let's talk."

Lathika blinked, clearly not expecting him to agree so quickly. "Okay," she replied, a bit of her tension easing. "We need somewhere neutral. There's a restaurant nearby—five-star, plenty of privacy. We can hash this out there."

Prashanth nodded, though inwardly he was already preparing himself for the inevitable headache that came with dealing with her. Still, he'd give it a shot. What's the worst that could happen?

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The restaurant was as upscale as Lathika had promised—chic and modern, with dim lighting and a menu filled with extravagant dishes. Prashanth slid into his seat, taking in the sleek surroundings. It wasn't his usual kind of place, but it would do.

Lathika sat across from him, her expression carefully composed. He could tell she was trying to keep her frustration in check, but her eyes gave away her resolve. She wasn't going to let him bulldoze over her ideas, not this time.

"So," she began, "before we get into any disagreements, I'm willing to hear you out. I know we have different visions, but let's try to find some common ground."

Prashanth smirked slightly, leaning back in his chair. Oh, this should be good.

"Alright. If we're talking about a Deepavali party, we need something big—lavish, grand, and completely unforgettable. None of this traditional, run-of-the-mill stuff. I'm thinking dramatic lighting installations, a high-end fashion show, fireworks at midnight, maybe even some celebrity appearances. Make it a statement."

Lathika blinked, visibly taken aback. "Celebrity appearances? Fireworks at midnight? That's... a lot."

"Exactly," Prashanth said, his tone smug. "It's supposed to be. This isn't a small family gathering. It's a corporate event. We need to show our investors and clients that we're thinking on a grand scale."

Lathika took a deep breath, clearly trying to remain patient. "I get that you want something grand, but we also need to be realistic. The event is in a week. You're talking about days to organize something that requires permits, special arrangements, and a huge team of people. We simply don't have that kind of time."

Prashanth shrugged. "We'll make it happen. We just need the right people."

"Right people or not, we don't have the time," Lathika countered, her voice tight. "We have a week, Prashanth. Not months. You can't just throw in fireworks and expect everything to magically fall into place."

"Ah, there it is," Prashanth interrupted, leaning forward with a smirk. "You're thinking too small. You're worried about logistics and constraints. That's why you're limiting the possibilities. We need to think big, Lathika. Break out of the box."

"I'm thinking practically," Lathika shot back, her voice rising slightly. "We can't just throw money at things and hope they work out. We need to focus on what's achievable, what will make the event meaningful—not some over-the-top spectacle that's impossible to pull off."

Prashanth's smile faltered, irritation flickering in his eyes. "Maybe that's your problem. You're so focused on what's practical that you've forgotten how to take risks. This event could be a game-changer, but not if we stick to your safe, predictable ideas."

Lathika's eyes flashed with anger. "And maybe your problem is that you think throwing money at things makes them impressive. Bigger doesn't always mean better, Prashanth."

The tension between them was thick, and their raised voices began to draw attention from the other patrons in the restaurant. Prashanth leaned back and his jaw clenched. He was used to getting his way, used to people agreeing with him. But Lathika wasn't budging.

He glanced around, noticing a few curious stares from the tables nearby. Lowering his voice, he spoke through gritted teeth. "Look, we both want the event to be successful. But we need to think beyond the usual."

"I'm open to creativity," Lathika said, her voice quieter but still firm. "But we need to balance it with reality. If we don't deliver on what's possible, we'll end up with a mess on our hands."

Prashanth sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Let's just... come up with a list of priorities and figure out where we can compromise. We'll need something that works for both of us."

Lathika nodded, though the tension between them still simmered. "Alright. But next time, let's keep the theatrics to a minimum."

Prashanth shot her a sharp look but didn't respond. This collaboration was going to be a long, difficult road.

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As Prashanth laid out his vision for the Deepavali party, Lathika felt a tight knot form in her stomach. He spoke with a kind of reckless enthusiasm—talking about lavish lighting installations, a high-end fashion show, even fireworks at midnight. His ideas were undeniably grand, but as she listened, the tension within her only grew.

This is impossible, she thought. With only a week to pull everything together? And Deepavali right around the corner?

Lathika's mind whirred as she calculated the logistics. They barely had five full days to work before the festival, and every vendor and planner she worked with would be booked solid or unavailable during the celebrations. Prashanth seemed completely oblivious to the time crunch, lost in his world of big, flashy concepts.

"And what about the décor?" he asked, his tone less sharp than before. "I don't want it to look like every other Deepavali event. We need something that feels exclusive."

Lathika nodded. "We can combine traditional elements with a modern twist. Maybe we keep the rangoli designs, but use contemporary colours. The lighting can be sleek, but we can bring in floral arrangements that tie back to the festival's spirit. It's about balance. We create something that feels both grand and grounded in the celebration."

The conversation began to feel less like a tug of war and more like a collaboration—though a strained one. They were far from agreeing on everything, but Lathika could feel the shift in the air.

Prashanth leaned forward his tone less dismissive than before. "Alright. We can tone down the fashion show, and maybe the fireworks are a bit much given the timeframe. But the lighting needs to be spectacular. Something that stands out."

Lathika's lips twitched in a small smile, feeling a faint sense of relief. "I can work with spectacular lighting. Let's focus on that."

For the first time since their meeting started, she felt the tensionbegin to ease. They still had a long way to go, but at least they were startingto find some common ground. It wasn't the perfect collaboration she had hopedfor, but it was a step in the right direction

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