*Long chapter ahead*

*16+ - PS Only a kiss. Dont expect too much*

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Real Love is never perfect but growing in love is and they were growing to be the best versions of themselves. They agreed to disagree while accepting their mistakes and embracing their differences. With unconditional and selfless love there was also implicit trust and respect.

After their cute little tiff that ended up bringing them closer, hand in hand they walked down the stairs in color coordinated outfits with euphoria that filled the home with warmth.

Sathya could not stop himself from taunting his best friend who was now doing every romantic gesture he had mocked since time immemorial.

Sathya: Colour match panna dan kaadhala nu lam dialogue pesunavana da nee?

Sakthi: Colour match pananum nu lam yosikala na. Apdi amanjudchu

She jumped in to rescue Aadhi. If there was one thing she was incapable of, it was not defending him. It was almost involuntary. Though she knew her brother was only pulling Aadhi's leg, she couldn't resist it.

Aadhi: Thaana amayala ma.. Na dan amachen. Unkooda match pananum nu.

And all of her defense was in vain. This guy and his brazen behavior were getting inseparable she thought to herself and let out a chuckle.

He wanted to create these memories with her. All the cheesy things under the sky. Just like every couple he craved for those hyped-up small moments of happiness.

Blushing at her man who has turned into an unabridged romantic in the past week, she knew this lifetime is going to be too short a time with him and wished every birth of hers to be his.

Post their short banter session, they all set out to start to drive to their family temple.

***

A bad feeling creeped in and kept bothering Vijay in spite of all the reassurance about Athreya from Sathya.

If Athreya wasn't involved in this mess, how did Kavya get hold of the video that was completely erased off by him?

He couldn't ignore the voice in his head nor could he act upon it. 

The sudden disappearing of Vishnu exactly at the time of Kavya's accident was too far a stretch to be just a coincidence. A bad one by all means.

Waiting in the lobby outside Kavya's room at the hospital, he was close to losing his sanity in this tangled mess that seemed neither have an end nor a start.

Kavya wasn't any girl. Her dad was a powerful businessman and she herself was a successful entrepreneur. They weren't just normal people to fool around with and if someone had the guts to almost kill her, there had to be a reason that ran deep. They weren't seeing it yet.

He shook away his thoughts when he heard Kavya's dad walk out of her room.

"She is awake now. Please don't take long", he said before settling down on the chair next to him.

He saw a dad whose only girl had just dodged a bullet for no mistake of hers. His eyes were red and puffy with distress and pain evidently staring out. It pained to witness his plight. He truly wished he could do something at all to make him feel better. But unfortunately there wasn't. 

He walked inside to shut his mind off from spiraling yet again and saw Kavya who was still recovering.

Vijay: How are you feeling?

Kavya: Better. I will be ok.

Vijay: You are a strong woman.

There was a faint smile on her face that definitely comforted his troubled mind.

Kavya: Are you ok? You look disturbed.

Vijay: Vishnu seems to be missing. We don't know what happened. Did you happen to talk to him at all? How did you come to know him?

Kavya's face lost the smile and was now filled with concern and angst.

Vijay: Kavya please relax. You are safe. We will find whoever is doing all this.

Kavya: I met Vishnu once.

Vijay: Ok how did you reach out to him?

Kavya: Nope I didn't.

Vijay was visibly startled by this revelation. 

What did that mean? Why would Vishnu reach out to Kavya? How did Vishnu even know about Kavya?

Vishnu: Did you not ask him why? Why did you even agree to meet with him?

Kavya: It wasn't a planned meet. I was at a restaurant to meet Nithya, the day I met Sathya for the very first time. I went off on them as I was done hearing their excuses. I was on my worst behavior that day.

Vijay remembered the incident Aadhi shared with him prior to talking about Kavya when he had come to attend Sathya's engagement.

Kavya: As I walking out, he stopped me to have a chat and asked if I knew Nithya.

Vijay: But why was he there?

Kavya: He was there to meet with Sathya because he wanted to work with Sathya in his music school. But, because of whatever happened years ago with Sakthi, Sathya was supposedly ignoring Vishnu.

Vijay: Did you know about Sakthi prior to that?

Kavya nodded a no.

Vijay: Did he say anything else?

Kavya: Not really. He asked for my help to talk to Sathya through Nithya as he clearly did not know my relationship with Nithya. He probably saw me talking to Nithya and assumed that we shared a good bond.

Vijay: Isn't that too far to ask for help from a random stranger?

Kavya: Actually, he wasn't a stranger. That's the only time I met him but he is the CEO of one of my biggest clients Dreamworks Corp.

It was clearly a lot of information for Vijay to wrap his head around. 

Vijay: Vishnu isn't just a singer?

Kavya: He is a singer too but not just that.

Vijay: When did you last talk to him?

Kavya: I did not talk to him until after that day until you guys caught me at Sathya's engagement. That's when I even got to know about the background of the video and how all of their band mates were threatened by someone to not help Sakthi. He was very certain that it was all a planned execution by Athreya who helped Sakthi back then but he did not have proof.

The day after that is when Vijay had talked to Vishnu and got almost the same information right before he got to know about Kavya's accident.

Kavya: The next thing I know is I got that audio note and I was hit by a van.

Vijay: I am sorry Kavya. This should not have happened.

Kavya: I kind of deserved it. I should have never intended to use that video. I should not have stooped that low.

A tone tear rolled down her cheek. She tried to put on a brave face but failed miserably.

Vijay: Kavya... Yes it was wrong. Sakthi has gone through a lot and that video would have broken her. But you have realized your mistake. So now you have to try to move on. 

Kavya: I know. I just don't know why I even did that. I was just not happy with Aadhi rejecting me and I was ready to ruin a girl who just started to smile again. I hate myself for it. 

Vijay: You already are on a hospital bed. Do you want to punish yourself more?

Kavya broke into a laughter at that. It was true indeed and Vijay right now was being such a sweet soul. 

Kavya: Can I help you with finding this mask man? I think that will make me feel better about myself.

Vijay: You sure can. That's why I am here. You are the only person who can help.

Her face brightened. She wasn't feeling like herself since this whole hide and seek with Aadhi started. Though she should have backed out long ago, her ego messed up her sanity. Now she had a way to redeem herself and she was going to do everything possible to help. 

With Vijay she was naturally comfortable and him being a gentleman even after all that happened, stunned her.

Kavya: I am glad that I can help. And I am glad that you are here.

Vijay was too preoccupied to understand what she meant but it definitely put a smile on his face. 

Kavya: Tell me anything I have missed.

Vijay: I met Athreya today.

Kavya was in utter shock and couldn't believe what she just heard him say.

Vijay: At Sakthi and Aadhi's wedding ceremony. It was a sudden decision and he had come. I saw how much Sakthi and Sathya meant to him. So, I now don't even know where to start digging.

Kavya: Nisha I think is Vishnu's PA. Talk to her.

Vijay: Nisha as in his band mate?

Kavya: I am not sure. But I know that's her name.

Vijay: Sure. Take good rest. 

Kavya: Thanks for saving me. 

Vijay: Don't thank me. I will see you soon.

***

Back from the temple visit, it was time for them to have a family dinner before calling it a day.

As per their family tradition, Sakthi had to cook for Aadhi's family but obviously Aadhi was steadfast that he should be cooking for her family too.

They decided to make Mushroom Biryani and Chakka(Jackfruit) payasam, and got into their comfort clothes before starting the prep.

Sakthi started to cut vegetables while Aadhi started to make the masala.

"Wow... masala smell eh amazing ah iruku", she couldn't contain her excitement. 

She loved the food he made not just because it tasted amazing but also because he put in so much of himself in it. The way his eyes entrancing eyes gleamed and shined with delight when she tastes his food was so gratifying.

He took the masala and placed it on his palm to cool the heat off before letting her taste it. But she, instead of using her fingers to taste it, directly put her soft lips on his palms.

The hot masala with her soft full lips on his hands was a pleasure he couldn't express. Her natural fragrance and their closeness were making him dizzy but also awakening his every sense at the same time. Her hair was pulled up in a bun that showed off her neck with the thali and the fresh marks he had left on her that evening.

If only this were his apartment, he wouldn't mind making all of the images in his dirty mind right now a reality. His fantasies were running wild.

Oblivious to all of what this torment she was putting him through, she was too busy enjoying the taste of the masala.

"Vera level Aadhi. Achoo this is the best you have ever cooked", she praised moving her head up and in a split second he pulled her close to glue their bodies together. Caught off guard, she held on to his collar and his hand wrapped her waist to hold her tight. Her fingers brushed against his bare skin while his hands moved underneath her top to graze her back.

Her addictive eyes fluttered in enchanted surprise and in a minute all of her nervousness was replaced with need and desire. She buried her other hand into his messy hair and pulled his face closer, and he finally placed his lips on hers. Soft yet immersive, gentle yet rough all at the same time.

She responded with the same burning passion and fought for control, but eventually gave in and let his tongue explore every part of her mouth until there was nothing more to find.

He would have been happy to continue if not for Sakthi panting and gasping for breath. He bit her lower lip to earn a moan before pulling away to let her breathe.

"Taste semma", he whispered into her ears leaving her completely flushed.

"KD da nee", she whispered back with a beautiful shy smile and playfully hit his shoulders before getting back to cooking.

***

After an hour, both dishes were ready to be served and the whole family got together at the terrace to have a Moonlit dinner old-school style.

Chitra Ma noticed that Aadhi was visibly much more excited than before and that his sparkling eyes stayed transfixed on Sakthi.

"Night rombha satham varaama paathuko da. Nangalam indha veetla dan irukom", she murmured into her Aadhi's ears that left him startled.

He jerked back into reality when Sakthi pat his shoulder.

"Enna Aadhi aachu? En ipdi muzhikra?", Sakthi questioned knowing his disturbed and distracted look.

"Solra madri irunda solirpene", he muttered to himself earning an eyebrow raise from her.

"Onum illa ma. Vijay enga nu yosichtu irunden.", he managed to successfully pivot the conversation.

"He went to meet Kavya. Inum varla. Namma kovil poitu varadhukulla vandhurvan nu nenachen. Nee kavala padaadha. He will be here soon", she comforted him. 

As if Vijay read her mind, he walked in right on time to join the family for dinner.

There was so many smiles floating around them making the night more magical. Though there was lots to worry about, this moment each one of them chose to count their blessings and live in the moment. 

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Author's Note:

And that's chapter 53!

Thoughts?

Sorry for the delay. My mind needed a break. 

What will happen next? Keep guessing 😉

May I? will be updated tomorrow or the day after. Depends on my work day. Manichu in advance 🙈