Tina

Rudhran ji dragged me along with him until we were away from the sights of Vik, Ilakkiya Anni and Eshwaran Anna.

"Sorry," He let go of my hand as he strode towards our bedroom. I followed him until we entered the room and locked behind us.

"What was that for?" I called behind him as he placed his bag on the couch and sat to remove his shoes.

"For holding your hand and dragging you along with me." He placed his shoe in the footwear almira.

"I'm not asking about the apology, I'm asking about the act of possessiveness you showed in front of Vik." I followed him until the entrance of the closet.

"Vik?" He removes his blazer and folds it before dropping in the laundry basket.

"Vikranth, everyone in university used to call him Vik." I fold my arms over my chest.

"So were you one of the girls who had a crush on him?" Rudhran walks up to the closet entrance and leans his left forearm on the door frame.

"It's none of your business," I place both my hands on my hips.

"Yeah it isn't, but even if you had, don't make it evident on your face. Because as per our story, I'm your first love and the timeline will get mixed up. Also I have to act possessive because that's what a long distance boyfriend turned into a newly wedded husband will do. That show was not just for Vikranth but also for my Akka and Mama."

"Ohh," I fiddle with my fingers, "I'm sorry." He nods his head, "for everything." I trusted him and kept the marriage proposition. He agreed and kept his end of the bargain but last night and today morning I behaved silly for his unintentional mistakes.

"Listen, Tina, What I planned and what happened was entirely different," He moves closer but stands out of my personal space. "You know everything and since we roped in Thooriga with our lies, Raj would never agree to reveal the truth. Against our plans, we have to stay in the same room for three years. Just trust me and cooperate. After my parents return there will be more challenges and without your cooperation, I can't do anything. I promise, I will never go overboard."

"Okay."

"Also, you too try to act possessive. Today the new secretary of mine was trying to flirt with me and you were simply standing watching us without any reaction. Even though this marriage is fake, I'm your husband for the next three years, try to act accordingly in front of everyone."

I gaped at him in shock and facepalmed, "I didn't think it would turn complicated. You are talking as if you would even kiss me in front of everyone to make a point."

I folded my hand against my chest in irritation after listening to his acting class lectures. "Do you want me to kiss you?" I dropped my hands and gaped at him. "Then what?" He moved closer, evading my personal space and I leaned back, "This is India and not Netherlands for people to don't feel disgusted about PDA." He turns and enters the closet, "Just give me five minutes and you can have this entire room for yourself." He closes the door and I walk to the bed to sit on it.

What is wrong with me? Why am I misunderstanding every word and action of his in the wrong way?

Rudhran

Why the hell am I concerned whether Tina had a crush on Vikranth or not? Why I fucking behaved possessive towards her?

When Vikranth came to Mansion for the first time, Tina and Tanya said he was the University crush. I noticed the ways the girls reacted when they shared that information. That day her reaction didn't affect me but today I really don't understand what came over me. I blocked his way and dragged her along with me. I look at myself in the mirror.

Dei Tina un real wife illa just three years ku fake wife, athuvum only on papers.

I take a quick shower and change into a pair of tracks and tshirt. I open the closet room door, retrieve my phone from the coffee table and walk past Tina to walk out of the bedroom.

"Sorry," Tina called behind me.

"We should start co-existing else the three years will pass by asking sorry to each other three times a day." I open the bedroom door and walk out without looking back at her.

I check my messages and mails before getting down the staircase and join for Tea with Akka, Mama and Vikranth. "Daddy, Vikranth uncle, enakku weekends la vanthu football kathutharugeren nu soli irukaru," Taran comes and sits on my lap. (Daddy, Vikranth uncle said that he'll coach me in football.)

"En da daddy kathu kodukurathu poothatha?" I wrap my hands around him but lean back to look at him. (Why isn't getting coaching from me isn't enough?)

"Daddy avaru university level player am," He astonishingly looks at Vikranth. (Daddy, he is a university level player!)

"Aana un Daddy, State level player, Taran," Raj announces as he follows Thooriga into the living room. (But your daddy is a State level player, Taran.)

"Unmaiya va? Neenga sollave illa?" Taran looks at me amazed. (Really? You never told me this?)

"Athu ellam romba naal aachu. Naan mattum illa un Raj mama vum thaan State player," I smiled at him as he shook his head unbelievably thinking of the old days. (It was a long time ago. Not just me, even your Raj Mama is a State player.)

"Oru bodyguard ah unga son kita mama nu soli pazhakurenga, really you are great," Vikranth comments and I stare at him. (You really are great, you are teaching your son to call a bodyguard as Uncle.)

"Itha veetula thaan ellaraiyum oti uravada viduvangale," Eshwaran Mama backs him and Akka holds her head as Thooriga and I roll our eyes. (This family is designed that way, they create a bond with everyone.)

"Raj is family, when I was a kid I even used to call him Mama. Still, sometimes the word slips out of my lips," Thooriga responds to both of them and Raj clears his throat. I look between both of them.

Raj has been behaving differently ever since Thooriga returned. As a new teen she had a crush on him but he stayed away from her being a gentleman only for the family women. He is a playboy but definitely not a creep. But there is something different in the looks they both share since her birthday.

"Actually, Raj is Chandriga Anni's distant cousin," I inform Vikranth but Thooriga looks shocked at him.

"Even Chandriga Anni is our second cousin and Raj is like a younger brother to her, so the kids call him Mama," Akka explains more.

"Kalyanam agi ithana varusham la enakke intha vishayam inaiku thaan theriyuthu," Eshwaran Mama places his cup on the coffee table glaring at Akka. (In all these years of our marriage, I'm learning this today, it's news to me.)

Tina joins us and sits next to me, a little closer to me, more than I expected. I look at her and she smiles at me. Taran leaps from my lap to hers, "Mummy ungalukku theriyuma? Daddy state level player am," he cheerfully shares the information with her. (Mummy did you know that daddy is a state level player?)

"Theriyum ye. Since he is a player, he was coaching you, Isn't he?" Tina holds him, balancing him and answers confidently. I throw my left arm over the back of the couch and Tina looks at my gesture but just smiles. I released the breath I was holding. I was thinking she would glare at me but she gets into the pretending of a happily married new wife.

"Enkitta mattum yaarum sollala," Taran pouts and folds his arms over his chest. (No one told me.)

"Appo enkita kathuka matiya?" Vikranth asked him and Taran looked confused between him and me.

"When his daddy is a State level player what's the need for him to get coached by a university player?" Raj comments and Vikrath stares at me. They both get into stare down competition before Vikranth replies, "But the state level player is a daddy and a bit old now."

"Excuse me," Tina and Thooriga say in unison and they look at each other before Thooriga reminds him of the CSK team, proudly, "The daddies army has lifted the IPL trophy twice in their comeback."

"Even the World Top two soccer players Christina Ronaloda and Lionel Messi are thirty plus and daddies," Tina backs her up.

"If you still think he has become old, you can have a one on one with him," Raj challenges him.

"I would love to play with both of you," Vikranth challenges back.

Ivanunga sandaila namma thera izhuthu theruvula vidurangale

"Two against one wouldn't be fair."

"Are you afraid of losing to a University player?" Vikranth stands up and walks closer to Raj but Thooriga stands up and stops both of their advances.

"Stop it both of you, why don't we have a mini football match?" Thooriga looks at all of us present in the living area and we all look back at her shocked. "You bring your team, Chitha and Raj will get theirs and if their team wins, let Chitha or Raj coach Taran else You coach him."

"It's a good idea actually," Vikranth looks between Raj and me. Taran jumps excited and I smile before standing up, "Fine, Mini Football with seven members per team. Are we free this Sunday, Raj?"

"We are," He inserts his hands in his pocket.

"Sorry to say but I have plans this sunday and also I need to find players, if next sunday you all are free we can have the match."

"Fine," Raj and I say in unison.

"Yeyyy!!" Taran hugs me.

"Also Vikranth, I wanted to discuss the shooting academy in your Estate with you." Vikranth turns to look at me.

"Yes, anything wrong with it?"

"I guess, It needs to be sound proofed," I look at Raj and he nods lightly at me. He messaged me about what happened with Thooriga's plantation visit and asked to talk about it with Vikranth.

"It is soundproofed."

"People have heard the firing sound outside the academy, today."

"I'll check on it," Vikranth takes a leave before having a word with Thooriga, "I actually came to check on you as there was a situation in the party but it looks like you are all good. Will see you on the day of the match."

"Enna situation?" Akka asked Thooriga once Vikranth leaves. I looked at Tina and gratefully she understood me and took Taran along with her to our room.

Thooriga and Raj stay quiet sharing a stealthy look but Sabarish speaks up, "Actually ma'am, Heiress had a booze challenge with her friends and became tipsy so Raj boss brought her to the mansion early. That was the situation he mentioned."

"Hmm, gratefully, you brought her home instead of going behind girls in the party," Mama says and leaves for his room. Akka shakes her head in disbelief, "Seri night ku enna sapudreenga?" She changes the topic. (What do you all want for dinner?)

"Athai I'll order something from outside, I don't have the mood to have it home cooked," she gives her a pleading look.

"Atha nee un Bodyguard Mama kita thaan kekanum," Akka replies and gives me a questioning look.

"Anything is fine for me, ka." I informed her and left for my room as she left to order the cooks for dinner. I watch Thooriga climbing the parallel stairs followed by her guards but she keeps stealing glances with Raj.

I know Raj would never think of hurting her or will take advantage of her and they both are condescending adults but our family must understand it if that is what Thooriga's wish.

Thooriga

All these years I never knew that Raj mama is actually my Mama. Mom asked me to address him as Mama and I did. It's news to me as much as it was for Eshwaran mama. I'm lying on bed, looking at the ceiling fan and talking to myself.

Enna ippadi polamba vachitu engada pona Mama nee?

After Vikranth left, Raj asked me to stay in my room and left stating he had some work and returned around eight in the evening. "Your Subway surprise, Heiress," He handed me the Paneer Tikka subs when I was watching netflix and again went missing. He said he has plans for me tonight but it's ten past ten still he hasn't returned.

I feel tired and my eyes almost close to falling asleep when a strong hand covers my mouth. I open my eyes wide to see Raj gesturing to me to maintain silence. He leans on me and whispers in my ears, "Don't make any noise and follow me."

He takes my mobile and puts it in a backpack before wearing it. He walks into the closet like a cat without making any noise and I follow him. Once we were in the closet, he closed the door shut, locking it from inside. He opens the footwear almira and searches for a pair of sports shoes and signals me to wear it.

I follow his instructions and he walks into the bathroom, enters the shower stall. I looked at him confused as he rotated the faucet system in an anticlockwise direction. I heard a very light screeching sound before a two square feet sized tile at the left corner of the shower stall dips and for half feet and slides to it's right.

I gape at the happening as Raj sits on the edge and holds the top of an iron ladder attached to the wall below the opening. He snaps a finger at me and gestures to me to follow him. Once he climbed down a couple of feets, I followed him and we climb down until I'm completely below the half feet thick title base.

"Press your palm print in the sensor to your right," I look around before finding the sensor with the light from the bathroom and press my palm in it. The sensor scans my palm and the tile starts sliding back to its place. I find the faucet system automatically rotates back to its old position before the tile closes and the lights on the wall behind us turns on.

Raj starts climbing down and I silently climb down for it seems like three storeys until we reach the ground. I look around the eight way tunnel, "A fucking tunnel under the Harshavardhan Mansion!!"

"It's a tunnel and no we are not going to fuck here," Raj finally speaks up and receives a hit on his biceps.

He pushes me against the wall and kisses me, "I missed us for the past two days."

"Me too," I kissed him back letting our tongues do a tango before we break for breath.

"Come with me," He holds my hand and we walk beside each other. "Listen, carefully to me, the tunnels are like a maze. To get where I'm going to take you, once you climb down the ladder, you need to turn 180 degrees and take the west tunnel. There are several left and right turns but you need to take the third right and fourth left tunnels and repeat it three times until you find a zig zag staircase."

We take a right and I memorise the direction when a thought occurs to me, "Ohh ithuku thaan nee Paneer Tikka Subs ku Subway surprise nu sonniye?" He claps his hand for me. (Okay so this is what you meant as a Subway surprise for a simple Paneer Tikka Subs?)

"Exactly, You are very clever," He pinches my cheek, "but this is not the only surprise awaiting for you."

"Well, nee enakku unmai ya ve Mama enbathe enakku surprise dhaan," He stops in his tracks. (Well, the information that you are my relative was a surprise for me.)

"Appo ivlo years ethukaaga Mama nu kopdura nu theriyamale koptukitu irukiya?" He takes a left. (So, all these years without knowing the reason you were calling me Mama?)

"Aama," I lower my head. (Yes)

Raj shakes his head in disbelief, "Kastam kastam romba kastam," he teases me.

"Appo naan unakku mora ponna?" I turn around, lock my hands behind me as I walk in reverse looking at him. He blushes and turns right.

Un Mela oru Kannu

Naan Dhaan un Mora Ponna

"Konjam vaiya mooditu chumma variya?" I can hear his struggle of controlling his laughter and I followed him in silence. (Can you please follow me in silence?)

He stops, suddenly turns around and I get hit against him. He holds me around my waist before I fall, "Chumma va na Chumma ve varuviya?"

"Appo Irukki anachu oru Umma kodukkata?" He laughs as he helps me get on my footing. "Seri serious ah pesitu polama?" (Okay, shall I ask you something serious?)

He thinks for a second before agreeing, "Okay."

He continues walking, "How did Chitha know about what happened during the plantation visit?"

"I informed him and asked him to talk with Vikranth," he replies as he takes another left.

"But you don't trust my family members," I looked at him quizzically.

"I trust only him."

"Why?"

He takes a deep breath as he continues walking. The breath is not the one we let out in the tiredness of walking but it's like the one we do before preparing to reveal something, "Do you remember that I told you two of my friends helped me in hiding your whereabouts?"

I stop in my tracks, "One is the police officer, Saylessh and don't tell me the other one is Chitha."

Raj stops in his tracks, turns and smiles at me, "You really are very clever, Thooriga." He shows his hand toward the last right tunnel we need to take.

What more surprises are waiting for me tonight?