Hello dear readers, I am back with an update! Happy Reading honey buns!
P.S : Please ignore any typos I haven't cross checked this update. Also this chapter contains about anxiety and panic attack, if you aren't comfortable reading something like that you may skip it.

Ekantha ran into the store, she was late obviously but as she entered with a smile, she saw Emma struggling to take the orders and also coordinate with the making of the bouquets. Guilt crept into Ekantha's heart, there she was having fun and here she left Emma to struggle. Immediately she rushed to the counter and signaled Emma to go to the back and continue doing the bouquets while she takes care of the customers near the counter. After around half an hour,she was settling in and was able to handle the rush.

Initially, she almost thought she would experience a panic attack at the amount of customers she was facing but she controlled her emotions took deep breathe and tried to tell them to not group near the counter and come one after the other. Well. she tried and she succeeded in overcoming her anxiety and panic this time.

The rest of the time passed by as she handled just the counter and customers today, although she didn't get much of a chance to do the bouquets she said to herself she would go to the flower market the next day and that was going to be fun at least that's what she hoped.

"You were late today, what happened Ekantha?",Emma asked as it was the time to close the store by then.

"Actually, we had to visit my fiancee's home today and in talks we didn't realize what time it was, since I started late from there I reached late. I'm so sorry Emma! I'll try not to repeat it again",Ekantha said sincerely.

"Is it the same guy who dropped you to work today?",Emma asked to which Ekantha nodded.

"Good choice",Emma said with a smile on her face to which Ekantha's face lit up like a thousand watt bulb, she smiled wide.

"Thank you, Emma",Ekantha said. She wanted to ask Emma regarding her trip to flower market but she was also unsure how she would take it since she is still working here and trying new things and experimenting which might make her feel like she is just here for experience.

"Do you want to ask something, Ekantha?",Emma asked looking at Ekantha who was lost in deep thoughts with a frown on her face.

"No, I mean nothing, Emma",she said faking a smile on her face and Emma let it go thinking if there was something she would let her know.

"Do you want to make something?",Emma asked.

Ekantha nodded and picked few flowers and started making a simple bouquet.

"If you pick these, then make sure you use these instead of lilies, they'll give you more space to add up any other thing or even if you just combine these two also you'll be giving out a great combo",Emma explained and Ekantha was carefully listening to whatever Emma was saying. Emma also gave her some tips and tricks while picking flowers to make a bouquet and also while arranging them.

"Thank you, Emma! Really this will help a lot and you are indeed a great teacher for beginners like me. Emma actually..",she stammered battling from inside if she had to ask or not.

"Ask it already, Ekantha",Emma said.

"Actually, I am planning to go to flower market tomorrow to try some new combinations. I am not sure how does the flower market work, if you have any tips can you please tell me? That'll be of great help!",she said in one go.

"Surely! Why not? In fact if you want I can accompany you as well. It must be your first time there, don't worry dear! All of us were once a beginners and now is actually the right time to visit the market and also learn things. That must be your first step actually. We'll go at 6am tomorrow, early in the morning is the best time to visit. Can you come here by that time or straight to the flower market, that'll be easier I guess",Emma said.

"Emma, thank you so much! I don't know how to thank you, I thought you would be angry at me for learning here and then investing those skills somewhere else. But, you are being so helping. I will definetely always be indebted to you",Ekantha said.

"Ekantha, C'mon! I might be a bit selfish here. I don't want this shop and these skills to end here after me, I am old already and anything that I can do is teach youngsters who are actually interested in this art. That's what I am doing, when I searched for a helper I was expecting some rude and arrogant person to fill in the position since it's not a very well paying job. But you are here, you are just like someone I never expected to fill in this position. You might ask me, what I've seen in just these few days that I am talking about all this but even my grandchildren didn't like what I was doing.

They just left me to do it because I was very much stubborn and wouldn't give up on doing this any sooner, you were keen to learn about this and you were interested in it, I would be more than happy to give this legacy of mine to you after I'm gone. It's high time I tell you, I have very less time to be here and I don't want to live on anyone's sympathy, that is the reason I started this shop and now that you are here, I'll spend rest of the time teaching you about it all. Never be scared or afraid to ask me anything, feel free to reach out and you'll develop your style day by day, it's not a one day thing or a one week thing if you invest your time in this and make proper use of it, I can assure you that you'll make wonders in future",Emma said.

Ekantha who was listening to all of it, felt like she was the most luckiest person on this planet. This woman standing in front of her was teaching her things because she thought she was capable to continue her legacy. She didn't know what brought her till here, but she was thankful for everything that helped her to be here that day at that instant. The interest and curiosity did become some help.

"Emma, you're a great person from heart and God will always love and protect people like you, trust me! I don't know how else to say this to you but every word that you spoke now touched my heart and ignited fire within me to become better as I grow each day. I will continue your legacy, Emma. I don't know if I'll be able to be this good in this art ever but definitely I will give my best. Thank you so much for trusting me",she said holding back those tears which were threatening to fall down.

These weren't the tears which she wasn't holding up since a few minutes ago but those which she has been holding since two decades seeking validation and trust from people around but failed to get it. When it's right time and right people come in, everything will go right. Just some patience is what is required.

"You'll shine like a diamond which you are, Ekantha. You will",Emma said as she embraced her into a warm hug. Ekantha held back her tears and just smiled.

They broke the hug after a minute and looked at each other with a smile on their faces.

"We'll see each other at the flower market tomorrow at 6am then?",Emma asked to which Ekantha nodded.

Both of them closed the shutter and bid bye to each other, as Emma offered to drop Ekantha on her scooty, Ekantha refused saying it is totally on a different side and she could manage. After too much insisting from Emma's side, Emma dropped Ekantha at the bus stop. She sat in her seat after taking the ticket, she plugged in her ear phones and was listening to this song 'Jilibili Palukula'

Although the song was playing in her headphones, some different thoughts were roaming in her brain. It was all messy, she wanted to cry out loud, she wanted to yell her heart and lungs out. It wasn't her fault, or maybe it was. Her father never trusted in her ever, no matter what achivement it was, he would never appreciate her. He would just overlook at anything she does and one fine day it resulted in her not trying anymore itself.

She got down in her stop and walked back to home, she took the stairs trying to stop thinking about the past incidents. She knocked on the door and tried to maintain a good expression on her face. Vennela opened the door and Ekantha gave her a small smile. She entered inside and directly went to freshen up, she stood in the shower and let her tears flow down her eyes, the cold water was washing off those warm tears from her eyes which didn't really make any difference of the pain in her heart but she couldn't hold it back anymore. She sat there with wet clothes as the shower was on and she pressed her legs to her chest wrapping her arms around them and hiding her face into it.

Its been twenty minutes and Vennela was worried about Ekantha, she knocked the washroom door checking on her.

"Ekantha, all okay?",Vennela asked.

"Uh.. yes",Ekantha said and quickly wiped her hair hurrily and changed into her night wear clothes. She washed her face again and again, to make sure it didn't look puffy after which she came out. Though Vennela was suspicious, Ekantha acted all normal.

"Don't skip your dinner, Ekantha",Vennela said and pulled her along to the dining table. There was complete silence and none of them spoke anything. They served themselves and had their dinner in silence. As much as Ekantha wanted to be normal, her facial expressions didn't cooperate with her. They were done with their dinner and both of them went back to their room.

Vennela was super tired, and as soon as her body hit the bed she fell asleep. Ekantha on the other hand, opened her phone to find location of the flower market. She saw a few messages from Asmita and she replied to them. After saving the location, she laid down on the bed trying to push away all her thoughts but taking deep breaths in order to control herself from having an attack right now. Sensing it's almost impossible to avoid this attack now, she tried to get up from her place, but her arms and legs froze and her breathing was becoming abnormal.

Vennela who was just beside woke up in an instant hearing the uneven breathing sound and immediately tried to hug Ekantha and pat her back.

"Deep breaths, Ekantha! Deep breaths, you got this! Calm down",she started to say some assuring words and one last time with all her energy she took a deep breathe trying to calm her anxiety down. Minutes passed and after what felt like a long time which was actually a half an hour later, Ekantha was able to come back to normal.

"How are you feeling now?",Vennela asked to which Ekantha just nodded.

"Do you want to talk about it?",Vennela asked again.

"No",Ekantha answered.

"No problem. Just remember I am here, okay? Close your eyes and go to sleep",Vennela said as Ekantha laid down and Vennela covered her with comforter. After she was assured that Ekantha fell asleep, she slept beside her.

Before the dawn broke, Ekantha got up. She didn't really want to think about last night yet, today was a new day and it was an important day as well. First thing she was going to flower market and also they had Tara's welcome party in the night. She looked forward for the new day, quickly freshening up she got dressed in a black and brown combination dress. She braided her hair and woke up Vennela.

"Vennu, Vennu",she gently patted her in an attempt to wake her up.

"What happened? Are you okay? Did something happen?",Vennela woke up in a jerk.

"I'm fine and I'm sorry I troubled you last night!",she said in an apologetic tone.

"Shut up, Ekantha! Is that even a trouble? Anyways what's the time? Why are you dressed up already?",Vennela asked.

"Its 5:30, I have to go to the flower market today with Emma so I have to be there by 6. I wanted to take your scooty so I woke you up",Ekantha said.

"I told you hundred times, not to ask me if you need to use scooty! Just go on and take care of yourself",Vennela said and gave her a side hug.

Ekantha left for the flower market and...

To be continued..

Hola, hola dear readers! Are you all surprised that I updated today also?
I really wanted to write and here I am with an update.

How are you all doing? How was the update? Did you all like it?
You guys must have missed Ekanya in today's update but rest assured they'll be here in next update fingers crossed.

I'm excited for Ekantha's day out in flower market, are you as well?

What is going to happen in Tara's welcome party? Any mishap? We never know!

Thank you so much for reading! Don't forget to vote and comment your views! They motivate me to write more and more <3

Will see you all again, in the next update! Oh I said I would answer my dream partner's qualities right? I want a person who is down to earth, sensible, has just right humor and thats all I can think of as of now oh brownie points if the person loves music like me hehe

Till next time, hasta la vista

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Sakshi Devi