Trying different times to update to see which might work best. 

Let me know. Let's get into the story.

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Aadhi reached Coimbatore with Nithya but his heart was not with him. The whole time the only thing on his mind was Sakthi.

Aadhi: Reached Coimbatore. First time ever, I am not excited to go home. Missing you too much.😔

Sakthi: I am with you in your heart. Always. Two days dan. Tuesday night you will be back. Enjoy this time with your parents.😘

Aadhi: Ne enna miss panala?😩

Sakthi: Evlo nu solla mudiyaada alavuku miss panren... Love you Aadhi.❤️

Aadhi: Can't wait to have you in my arms again😘. Love you Sakthi.❤️

Aadhi and Nithya planned to surprise their parents and reached earlier than planned at their ancestral home. It held so much of their heritage and has been passed on for generations.

Both Ganesh and Chitra were beyond excited to finally see both of their kids together. They chatted for some time before hitting the bed. Aadhi called Sakthi but there was no response. He knew that she had an early appointment with Mithila and understood she might have slept.

He slept with dreams of bringing Sakthi home to meet his parents very soon.

***

It was Monday morning and Sakthi woke up excited to Mithila in person. She went to the studio early and Anu was there already. Anu was due in 5 months from now.

Sakthi was seeing her after more than a week as Anu could not make it to Sathya's birthday party. The last time they met was at Sakthi's home when Aadhi had stayed over. A smile spread across her face when she remembered his face completely flushed out.

Anu: You seem to be in a good mood...

Sakthi: That I am... meeting you after what feels like an eternity. She hugged Anu.

Sakthi discussed her sketches and designs with Anu. Mithila came right on time and they hit it off great. Sakthi loved her vibe and she was ready to experiment with anything Sakthi wanted. Mithila tried on the options Sakthi had for the photoshoot and finalized it.

Mithila: Sakthi you give me the costume and I will wear it. No questions asked. I trust you to do the job.

Sakthi: You are just too sweet. Just like on the show.

Mithila: I don't know... you are such a positive soul Sakthi. I love working with you. We are going to have a great time on set. See you on Wednesday.

Sakthi: You are too sweet. See you soon.

***

Aadhi woke up late enjoying his time at his home and quickly called Sakthi.

Aadhi: Sakthi.... He said in his morning rusty voice.

Even being in different cities and miles apart did not stop him from stirring up so many emotions in her. Her face was immediately covered in blush.

Sakthi: Andha tone la pesadha ... edho pannudhu...

Aadhi: Apo kandippa apdi dan pesuven... enna pannudhu nu sona inum nala irukum ...

He was flirting with her. He was not a guy who ever believed in cheesy lines but after Sakthi came into his life, cheesy became his first language.

Sakthi: Aadhi please.. I have to work. Amma appa lam epdi irukanga? How did they like your surprise?

Aadhi: Evlo romantic a pesitu iruken ... appa amma pathi kekra. Unna na nerla vandu pathukren baby. They loved the surprise. I am going to go refresh and have lunch. Will call you in the night. Love you ma.

Sakthi: Love you too ma.

***

Chitra ma asked Aadhi to get ready for lunch as they were having some family friends over. He did not think too much about it because that was very common given that his dad was a very successful businessman.

He wore the shirt and pants that Sakthi had given him when they met for lunch on Sunday. Her way of making sure he remembers her all day long. "Very smart" he chuckled to him, took a mirror selfie, and sent it over to Sakthi with a message,"Hope you are missing your hot and handsome 😉😘"

When he went downstairs, he saw that the home was in a festive mood. His mom and dad both were in traditional attire and Nithya was in a simple salwar.

Aadhi: Enna Nithya .... yaaru vanranga?

Nithya: Therila da... edo rombha important friend nu appa sonanga.

Aadhi: Ennamo .. am happy that it truly feels like a festival. It's been a while since we all were together for a festival.

He side-hugged Nithya wondering how soon she has grown up.

A BMW pulled into the driveway and one of his dad's very close friends, Mr.Thiru stepped out. Although Aadhi had known Thiru from a young age, he has never really met him or his family as they lived in Chennai. Following him, his wife Mrs.Lakshmi, and a girl whose name he was not aware of, came out of the car. The girl was smiling at him and he thought maybe she knew him from his movies.

Thiru: Hi da Ganesh... Hi Chitra.

Chitra Ma: Vanga na ... elarum ulla vanga.

Thiru: Aadhi um Nithya vum rombha valandhutaanga... rombha varshathuku apram pakren.

He patted Aadhi's shoulder to which Aadhi smiled in response. Aadhi was not a fan of meeting people as he was never interested in small talk. He tried to stay silent through lunch when both families were having their long catch-up session.

Once they finished lunch, everyone gathered in the living room.

Ganesh: Aadhi unaku oru surprise iruku... Chitra neeye sollu avanta..

Aadhi: Surprise ah... super ma. Ennadu? Enkooda Chennai vara poreengala?

Chitra: Adu madri dan... she smiled.

Aadhi: Purilaye ma..

Chitra: Avala dan unkooda anupalam nu irukom.... She said with a wide grin pointing to the girl sitting opposite to him with a teasing smile.

Aadhi was not in the mood for any indirect comments. He looked at Nithya and gestured to see if knew anything about it and she nodded no.

Aadhi: Purila ma.. enna solreenga...

His tone lost its excitement and was filled with stress and frustration. His mom went beside the girl.

Chitra: Unaku nanga pathurkara ponnu... peru Kavya. She owns an investment company and is a very successful entrepreneur.

Aadhi's eyes widened in utter shock. He never expected his parents to make such a big decision without consulting with him and make him look like a dumb doll. He has never done anything against their wishes until now but this was his life and he has decided that it will be with Sakthi. There was no going back and he was very firm. He was beyond angry and tried to handle the situation as best as he could.

Aadhi: Amma am sorry aana enaku ippo kalyanam panradula interest illa. I was not aware of this arrangement at all... am sorry if I hurt anyone. Sorry, Kavya. I am sure you are a great person but I am not ready for marriage now.

He did not wait for anyone to respond. He walked out and started driving aimlessly. He did not want to stress out Sakthi with these things. She already had too much going on and it was her first big step in her career.

Chitra was stunned by her son's behavior. Ganesh understood Aadhi's state of mind although he was upset with what happened.

Ganesh: Avanuku surprise ah irukanum nu nenachom... sorry Thiru. Avanta na pesren. Maybe movies la concentrate panradunaala, he does not want to get married now.

Thiru: Enaku puriyudu da.. Aadhi namma payan dhane. Onum prechana illa. Kalyanam na summa illa. Nee avanta pesitu sollu. Kavya ku Aadhi na avlo ishtam.

Thiru and his family left after a while. Nithya knew even if her brother had not really confided in her about Sakthi that they both were more than friends and Aadhi has feelings for Sakthi.

Nithya kept calling Aadhi but there was no response. She was getting more anxious by the minute. Her brother in all of these years has never said a word against their mother. This sudden outbreak from him, left everyone shattered.

Aadhi came back late at night and the whole family was still waiting for him. Nithya hugged him tight with tears flowing down her cheeks,"Rombha bayandhuten da... phone ah kooda eduka maatiya". They all knew the wrath of Aadhi's anger. When he was angry, there was no one in this world that can calm him down. Of course, now there is. He is home now because his lady love has managed to calm him down even when he was losing his mind.

"Aadhi enna prechanaya irundaalum pesina dan seri aagum.... It does not matter how angry you are right now, they are your parents. Go home and talk to them. Running away will not solve anything"

That's what Sakthi had said when he called her a while ago and ranted that there was a misunderstanding without any specific details.

Aadhi started walking towards his room not wanting to say anything to his parents. He was infuriated with their decision to pull off a stunt like that. 

Chitra Ma: Aadhi enkita pesa kooda maatiya pa... her voice was breaking.

Aadhi: Amma na ippo rombha kovama iruken. I don't want to say anything rude or out of line. Iniku neenga pannadhu rombha thappu. Am a grown man. I can make my own decisions.

Chitra Ma: Seri nanga pannadhu thappu dan. Unkita kekaama ipdi oru decision eduthurka koodadhu. Aana andha ponnu nijamave unaku rombha pudikum nu na nenachen.

Ganesh Pa: Just talk to her... pesama pudikala nu solaadha da.

Aadhi: Na appove sona madri, I am not ready for marriage. Ippodhiki na endha ponnutayum pesarda illa. Enaku edachu ponna kalyanam pannanum nu thonuchna, unga kita nane solren. Adhu varaikum indha pecha enkita edukadeenga.

Chitra Ma: Unaku 30 vayasu aagudu... Ippo pesama eppo pesa solra? Unaku oru thangachi iruka. Engalku vayasu aagudu. You wanted to go act in movies even after you did your MBA in IIM and did not want to take over our company. We supported you and have never stopped you from doing anything you like but this is not acceptable.

Aadhi: I have a girl in my life. Avala dan kalyanam panna poren. Yaar nu kekadheenga. Ippo solla mudiyadhu. But I am sure you will love her too.

He went up to his room and packed up. 

Aadhi: I will drive back tonight with our driver and send the car back. I can't stay. 

He hugged his mom who was filled with tears and his dad. 

Chitra Ma: Aadhi we want you to be happy... whoever the girl is does not matter. 

Ganesh Pa: Sorry da Aadhi... ivlo kovama pogadha...

Aadhi: Kovama illa... aana rombha varuthama iruku. Enkita kekama neenga ipdi pannadhu. Konjam calm down pannanum. 

Chitra Ma: Seekram avala kootitu va.. 

Aadhi felt relieved that he sorted out with his parents and started his drive back to see Sakthi.

***

Kavya: Appa... I will marry only Aadhi. Neenga enna pannuveengalo enaku theriyadu. 

Thiru: Kavala padaadha Kavya.. Adhu kandippa nadakum. Adukaaga na enna vena pannuven. 

Kavya: Hmm

Thiru: Konja nal pogatum.

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Author's Note:

And that's Chapter 18! 

Thank you so much for taking your time to read. Please vote if you like the chapter and comment with your thoughts. 

What will happen next? Will Aadhi introduce Sakthi to his parents? Will Sakthi reveal their relationship to Sathya and her parents?

Come back to know more.

Also want your thoughts on when would be the best time to post updates. Is there a preferred time (IST)? 

PS: Author lives in PST time zone.