Heylo darlings,
Hope you all are doing fine .. Here is the next early update for you guys..
Tbh, I wanted to update daily but this is taking a stroll on me while writing and I doubt whether that is affecting the quality of chapter...
Hope you guys understand :)

********

The Iyers' home was filled with mixed emotions. It certainly had an ambigous atmosphere just like the persons residing there. On one side, there was Venkitesh who was happy reuniting with his family, Seetha confused with forthcoming events and on the other side Anand unusually silent for the reason unknown to his parents. The chirpy talkative Anand being silent, is very weird for his nature. But Venky despite being a super cool dad, was oblivious to this as the happiness of returning to his family overpowered everything else.

Srinivas had called them that evening itself, sharing the Muhurtham for the Nischayam. It was fixed to be held in two weeks time.

The next two days went ahead with Anand trying to convince his Appa. For reconsidering his decision and least delaying the function. He needed to act something really fast for this. But confessing whats in his mind wasn't an easy task either.
He tried many ways but all went in Vain !

Venky was too excited to fulfill his Amma's wish and strengthening the bond with his family. It was like a dream coming true after years of seperation. Amidst this, he didn't see his  son's untold agony. Finally realising that neither can he change his Appa nor he can confess the truth, a devastated Anand went back to Chennai with a heavy heart for completing his work and inviting his closed pals.

Seetha, being a doting mother knew that something was eating him up. She tried to find the reason of his grief but he never responded to any of her calls.

***

Days passed by and it was just 1 week prior to the Nishchayam. Upon Venky's insistence, Kartik came to their home and was all in help for Venky with the preparations. He was all happy for his best friend getting engaged which in turn confused Seetha. because Anand doesn't hide anything from Kartik. She enquired him about his cold attitude towards this wedding and She could know that her son haven't informed anyone regarding his engagement. Also, he never tried  to meet Vasundhara before the function strengthened her doubts. She was his cousin on first place. This convinced her, of him being unhappy with this sudden turn of events.

Anand on the other side even refused to turn up until the day of Nischayam and after lot of pleadings from his parents, he reached home 5 days before the function.

Seetha and Venkitesh were happy to see him finally back home. But what surprised them was the presence of a third person along with him. Though Anand didn't invite his friends making some lame excuses, he have now brought a girl whom they have not met ever in their life. They know she has to be some one special that he brought her home.

The girl was someone who captured their heart within the first sight. She looked so naive and was a true beauty in every sense. She was simple and pretty without an ounce of makeup. Her beauty was her innocence and the spark in her eyes when she genuinely smiled. They were about to ask her but Karthi shouted in happiness before that.

"Vaishuuuu.... Waoooo you came???" He sounded really excited.

And the girl who was shocked at the sudden outburst, smiled after seeing Kartik and she nodded in yes.

"Ohh .. So you are Vaishnavi !" Seetha walked to her. She have heard the name from her son before.

******

"That was the day I saw her for the first time. My Daughter in law.

She was an epitome of beauty. Not just by looks but by her nature also. She instantly got connected with me.

Venky and I always wanted a girl child. We dreamt of many things together. Dressing her up, pampering, spoiling her with our love. Not that my Kanna was a bad child, he was a darling son anyone could ask for. Still I had this wish hidden deep inside me. I always wanted some one to share my belongings, secrets and everything a mother daughter would do.

This girl had some magic. The moment I saw her, I felt that warmth inside me. A deep connection which I haven't had with anyone. When I saw her with him, I secretly wished if she was his love. That girl had extreme innocence that would even change evil to good.

It wasn't just with her looks. She was indeed naive. With her soft spoken voice, caring and matured nature she took hold of both our hearts in such a short span of time.Unknowingly, We had fallen in love with her purest heart.  She became our daughter whom we never had. In two day's time She had become an important person in our lives. An inevitable part.

Although she claimed to be Kanna's closest friend, I never saw them sharing words with each other. Kartik was always the mediator. And I strongly felt a voidness in Kanna's eyes whenever I saw him looking at her and she was aloof to his gaze.

What made her more close to me was in fact another thing. She had none in this world to call her as her own. The very same thing shook me from inside. My heart ached and cringed at the same time. The motherly feelings inside me evoked and I wanted to give her all the love a mother could give. It wasn't sympathy. But a genuine feeling of wanting to protect her from every bad thing.  Within such a short span, She became my daughter, my friend and my partner in crime. all she wanted was genuine love and that girl would be yours. i had literally seen the change in her eyes. That suppressed pain within her had been replaced with love and happiness whenever she was around both of us. We made her call us "Appa and Amma" instead of the formal "Uncle and Aunty".

We all went to Vasundhara's home to meet the family. Venky wanted to introduce her to them and She became everyone's favourite with her goodness instantly. Especially Venky's Amma became fond of her.

The function was to be held at their ancestral home and the we were supposed to stay at Vasu's place for next three days. She was hesitant to do that but we insisted and this paved way to two unexpected things.

Kanna was behaving strange around her and never tried to talk to Vasu even once and Aravind was smitten with her. And we were totally unaware of this.

Things took an ugly turn with the Nischayam. Right after the ring exchange, She went missing. Even without saying a word to us, she returned back to Chennai which was  totally unexpected. Though She had kept a note for us explaining that she had some urgent work back in Chennai that needed her attention, I suspected something else to be the exact reason for her sudden departure.  Even Kartik was surprised at this where as Kanna behaved weird.

He was unlikely quiet all through out the function. Even when he came to know that she had left without informing anyone. I doubted whether he was truly happy with this wedding. And we never knew another twist was awaiting us.

The next day, Aravind came to meet us seeking help for something  unexpected. He wanted to know more about her and he confessed that he loves her and want to marry her. Aravind was a genuine guy unlike his Appa. Venky and I was happy with this as we loved her like our own daughter and a pure soul like her deserves only happiness and love. We were more than happy to know that a guy like  Aravind wants to marry her. Kartik too seemed to be happy with the news.

But what shocked us was Kanna's reaction to the news. He lost his cool and became depressed suddenly. Kartik too couldn't handle him as he wasn't ready to share anything. Finally after a lot of pleadings and persuasions from my side, he agreed to open up.

******

"Ammaa..." I saw him in tears after so many years for something that was choking him up since some time. He finally let his tears flow. Seetha could only be at his side as a support.

"Yes My Kanna... Tell me. Amma is here." She hugged her son.

"I have failed Amma.. I have failed in life. I wronged everyone." He was in tears like never before.

Seetha was surprised at his choice of words. What wrong he was talking about.

An unknown fear engulfed her.

"Kanna... Ennachu da. Amma kite Sollu. Naan irukken le.." She caressed his cheeks and prompted him.

"I hurt her Amma...!!" He managed to say.

"All she yearned was love. And nothing else. She had none in this world but only me. I had promised her a world full of all the happiness. I vowed to be her shadow always sticking to her no matter what happens and Be with her till my last breath. Yet I proved myself to be unworthy  of my words. I am a traitor. Your son is a traitor Amma. I am the reason for her greatest pain. I gave her the deepest wound that scarred her heart. I was wrong. I cheated everyone. I don't deserve to live."  He sobbed like a child.

Seetha's doubts intensified and her worst fear was coming true. She prayed it all to turn out tto be wrong. Else The truth would cost so many lives.

She asked in a shivering voice mustering up all her courage.
"Who??... Who is she?"

He just gawked her and looked down in shame as it was too much scary for him to meet his Amma's eyes. He shivered for a second thinking about the consequence of his confession. She was not just any other girl for his parents. But someone who took the place as their own daughter. They might not forgive him for this. But the truth has to be spoken at least now.

He took a deep breath and uttered.
"Vaishu"

A loud sound echoed the room.

Anand was freezed as he received a hard slap on his face. If only he was dead he wished. The pain would have been less. He dared to look up at his -mother's enraged face. It wasn't just anger which was evident but also disappointment, hurt and immense pain reflected. He was too numb to react to this.

"Why?? Why did you do this?? Of all the girls in this world, why did you choose her? Isn't it enough that she had suffered all this while?" Seetha just lashed out.

He dint have an answer.

"Answer me Anand. Look at me." That moment He knew that her anger had overpowered her love when she called out his name instead of Kanna.

"Why did you do this to her. To us. Is this how  I raised you?" She choked up.

He expected an outburst from her but this was much worse. She was broken at his revelation. He knew his mother loved her beyond his imagination. Now her voice and reaction proved it. He fell on her feet and cried.

"Forgive me Amma.... I know I am wrong. Trust me, I never thought of cheating her. I loved her sincerely and I wanted to bring her to you. And I still love her more than anyone else. But Appa... his happiness ... seeing his dream finally getting fulfilled, I dint know to whom I should have given more importance. To her or him. I was stuck Amma. I didn't want to hurt both of them."
He stopped for a while seeking some sort of comfort from her.

"I tried my best to stop Appa from this wedding. But this was his dream. I dint have the courage to confess the truth. I was blinded by his happiness and sacrificed my life trying to forget my feelings for her. While trying to maintain peace in my family, I hurt her. With my false promises and my actions. I turned out to be a traitor. I made her witness the most horrible thing she could ever see. Putting ring on another girl and claiming her as a complete stranger in my life. She would been broken. I can feel that. I have literally killed her soul. Yet she loved me and left me for my good future. She did the best thing she could do. Left me all of a sudden. Because she wants me to be happy leading a peaceful life with my family. But I am not that cruel Amma. How can I be at peace when she is all I need in my life. My happiness lies with her. She completes me in every possible way. And now Aravind's  love for her. It broke me completely. You all want her to marry him?! No !! Not at any cost. That is when I realised that  this life I chose is going to cost so many lives. Neither Can I be a better half of someone  nor I can give her to anyone else. She is mine. I realised that I cant live without her. I dont know why. Suddenly this life holds no value if she isn't there in it. "  He observed that his Amma has been softened a bit by now.

"I need her in every phase of my life. She needs me too and I had promised her that. Amma.. I never loved Vasu. Hell we never ha a proper conversation also. I need my Vaishu. It might not make sense at this point. But I dont have any other option too. Help me Amma...I dont know what to do." He broke down in helplessness.

It took some time for Seetha to realise his predicament. He was right in one way as he tried to sacrifice his love but his silence worsened the situation. The Nischayam was done already. If only he confessed this to her at least prior to the function.

From her first meet with Vaishu itself, she knew something was a miss between these two. But never expected that it would be something so strong like this. Vaishu is a girl anyone would easily fall for and her son is not an exception.

She placed her hands on him. Anand wanted to hug his Mom. Nothing but for comfort that only his mother could give. But hesitated a bit fearing whats going through her. And to his surprise, she hugged him giving the support she could provide.

"I understand. I am not blaming you. Not supporting you either. She is a Gem. Anyone would fall for what she is. In this little time, she made us fall for her. Me and your Appa consider her as our own daughter only. I will talk to Appa. I know it will not be an easy thing. Still, let us try from our side. But you could have said to this to us in the start itself. We would have found some way"  Seetha was miffed at his silence.

*****

Things were not favourable for both of them when they informed this to Venky. He wasn't ready to take back his promise to Srinivas. One cant blame him either as the words were already given and the rings were exchanged.

It was a matter of a girl's life. People would point out her in a broken relationship. Vasundhara's life will not be at stake if Anand is ready to forget her. And as a matter of fact, Aravind also loves her. If these two sacrifice their feelings for each other, it would definitely save a family's downfall. That was Venky's stand. It sounded selfish to Seetha and Anand. He was too blinded towards his family's happiness rather than his own son's. Not because He didn't love him or the girl. Instead he was trapped up in so many other emotions.

Anand despite of finding any favourable way to solve this issue had finally called up Aravind and informed him about his relationship with Vaishnavi. As expected, his reaction was bad. Any brother would react in the same way. He could have confessed this beforeuj the function. Yet, Aravind being a gentleman, understood his cousin's circumstance and persuaded Vasundhara to back out from this wedding after a lot of struggle.

Vasundhara on the other side was was broken at this. She had dreamt about a happy life with her childhood hero. She was emotionally attached to him since then. Aravind convinced her of his dilemma and she gathered courage, informed her family that she is backing out from this wedding. Janaki and Indira were hurt yet they wished happiness for him. It all dint go well with Srinivas. He was angry on them. For breaking his dreams and laying with his daughter's life.The vengeance was back. But he remained silent.

It was a shocking news for Venkitesh. But when Vasundhara herself came out with strong denial, he had no other choice than to agree with her. Things were almost good at both ends and Anand went back to Chennai. But the happiness dint last long.

It took a drastic turn in everyone's life as Janaki Ambal lost her life in cardiac arrest quiet unexpectedly and they came to know that she was depressed with Vasundhara's broken alliance that took her life. It was her greatest wish to see her grand children living a happy life. And as add on, Indira suffered a major stroke with the news of her Amma's demise.

A happy family was ruined in seconds least to anyone's expectation.

It was unbearable for Venkitesh.

All of a sudden his family was shattered. Srinivas blamed Anand for all these. Apparently Janaki Ambal asked him to get them married before she breathed her last. She greatly wished to see this. But before that she expired. To an extend, Venky too believed his son to be the reason for this mishap.

Once the funeral was over, Venky asked him to rethink his decision. He was adamant to get his Amma's wish fulfilled even after her death. Seetha couldn't even utter a word against him.

Anand was again put in dilemma. On one side, his father who have given him all the happiness in life forcing him to marry someone whom he can never accept as his wife. And on other side, the girl who sacrificed even her love for his family's happiness. He tried hard to get her back in his life and gain her trust by fighting against all odds. She forgave him finally as her love won over the sorrow and allowed him to be in her life. He wouldn't dare to loose her again. He would die before hurting her. Hence he took the decision.

With the help of his friends, he married her against his Appa. They became lawfully wedded couple in the absence of his parents. She dint know the reason behind his urgency. She loved him too much to doubt him for anything.

But that single thing costed him his family. His parents and his existence.

Venky was furious and he took the drastic decision of alienating him from them. He was deprived of his parents love forever. Seetha tried much of her ability to solve the rift. But failed in every attempts as an enraged Venky dint budge to any of her pleads. with every step she took, He changed drastically into a different person. He  became a stern-harsh-rude person from a super cool family man.

*****

"I lost my Son and Husband all at once. His one drastic step costed my family. I dint know whom to blame. Not her  ! She was like my own daughter. Too good to be hated. I wondered why didn't we meet her at first. We would have gladly accepted her as his wife. In fact they made a wonderful pair. She was a wonderful soul. Amidst all this chaos, She even tried to fix things between me and him thinking we had rift.She had arranged meetings through Kartik and Shreya. But never dared herself to come in front of me thinking I am angry on her. But I never had any grudge against her. Instead I was extremely happy that my son got blessed with such a good soul.

Three years passed in a jiffy. Yet nothing changed between the Father - Son. Venky was in good terms with only Indira and her children. But not with Srinivas as he never wanted to confront Venky. They shared a very cold bond. Vasu and Aravind were trying hard to bring their mother back to normal.

I used to know things about Kanna and her from Karthi. I was happy that they were leading a happy life. And two years ago, we came to know that Vishwanath Anna met with an accident and Kanna had gone to US to take care of him. Another shocking thing was revealed to us that we that she have left him for some unknown reason. Karthi and Shreya were also oblivious of the reason for their seperation. None of them knew any whereabouts of her even after trying so many ways.

I still dont know what went wrong with them. I just know she wouldn't leave him just like that. A girl, who even sacrificed her love for his happiness wouldn't leave him for any silly reason. There must be something serious. Till date, I knew nothing about her existence.

Savi, I dont know where my life is heading to. I am tired of this. At times, I wished he never met her. It might sound selfish. But things would have been different if she never entered our life. But, I cant hate her ever. She is such a darling. Fate was never good with her. I wanted to protect her from all evil loved her immensely. I just pray that she is safe and sound wherever she is. That girl doesn't deserve to be sad by any means. Ans she needs to return. Else my Kanna would be in ruins. He loves her like anything. He can bear anything but not her absence. I have seen the pain in his eyes. He is in an extremely devastated condition suffering each an every second without her." Seetha almost broke down and she hugged her best friend.

Savitri trembled in tears. She never knew Seetha was going through so much pain just like her. They were suffering for different reasons.

She felt an unknown fear gripping her. Something Somewhere was not right. She felt that. Unknown to the real reason, Savi asked her hiding the dreadfulness .
"Whats her name?"

Seetha looked at her face and sighed.
"Vaishnavi."

Savitri's face lost colours. She stared  at her friend's face in horror. She quickly turned away and closed her eyes.  After a few moments, she regained her composure and pretended to be cool.

"Everything will be fine See. We are here right. We will find her." She hugged her.

***********

It was not only Savitri who was shocked with the revelation. Some one else too.

Mira was dumbstruck with the mention of this name.

She quickly ran upstairs to her room hiding herself from the ladies. Bewildered, she shut the door and slumped down. For a while she couldn't breath. The lump that formed in her throat choked her. Her Seetha Aunt's story shook her to the core. She was a girl trapped in a Chakravyuha. Neither she could ask anyone directly nor she could run away from truth.

Mira had so many thoughts running through her. The new revelation strengthened her doubts. She tried to recall the names.

"Vaishnavi"!!
"Mrs Vaishnavi Anand Venkitesh Iyer..." !!
"Mr and Mrs Venkitesh Iyer"!!

A current wave passed through her. Was she connecting the right dots?? Or she is hallucinating things? Her mind and Heart fought with each other and Slowly realisation dawned upon that poor soul. It was all connected.

Mira could only do one thing at this moment. All the fear, frustration, doubts made her weak and she did the best possible thing to ease her pain. She cried her heart out.

It was not a different situation for Savitri too. She consoled Seetha and went to Prabhakar with a heavy heart and thousand questions popping up in her mind.

Yet there was one question that haunted both mother and daughter like anything.

If Vaishnavi her daughter in law is the one as they doubts, why is Seetha and Venky behaving  normal in front of Mira?!" Both Mira and Savitri dint have any proper answer to it at this point of time.

*********

Phewww... finally I updated !
And this is the longest chap I have written.
Hope you guys liked it.
Waiting for your take on this chapter....
Plz do vote and comment !
- Love Apz ;)