"Chris. These seniors are so cruel." Vikram complained.

"Ragging is common in colleges. It will end in few weeks." Chris didn't pay attention.

"You don't understand. This is harassment. There's this group that forces us to smoke. We can't fight them. They are our direct seniors."

"If they are your direct seniors I am their direct senior." Chris gathered his group and hid behind the wall. He asked Vikram and Naveen to walk ahead.

As expected, the bunch of idiots called them. "Entertain us. Finish this packet in an hour. The one who coughs will get one more."

"I have a better idea of entertainment." Chris emerged from shadows. "How about we all kick you while you stay silent? The one who yells will get ten more."

"Anna! We didn't do anything. These boys are smoking. Look at that packet of--"

"Kid! Just don't." Chris flexed his muscles and smirked. His friends did the same. "Now form a line."

Vikram smiled at the memory of his initial days at college. Chris had always been there for him. Whenever there were things he couldn't share with his parents, he would approach Chris. They loved each other like brothers. They were just too cool to admit that.

Like a dutiful elder brother, Chris helped him with everything and always kept his secrets. Vikram was in dilemma. Telling the truth would create complications in his Chris's life. Hiding it would increase problems in his Shubha's life.

He was forced to choose one among them. He called Dhwani. "We should have done this long ago. We can't live our entire lives in fear. You helped me get married. Now it's my turn to make sure that my marriage doesn't end. You go, seek what your heart wants." She advised him.

He felt slightly better. He decided to take one step at a time. He would tell his mother first. The next step would be taken based on her reaction.

He told his plan to Shubha. "I'll talk to her in the evening, when she returns from office."

"All the best."

He started his workout session in his gym. Shubha was sitting idle. She missed the twins. Earlier that month, they left with their mother for their new home.

She started reading a book. She received a call from Chris. "Good morning Shubha. What are you doing?"

"Just sitting idle. You?"

"I have an interview scheduled tomorrow. I am going to announce that you are my favourite actress."

"Are you serious?" Shubha was surprised.

"Yes. Why shouldn't I? You are everyone's current favourite now. Haven't you seen the fan clubs formed for you? And your pair. What can I say about it? Vibha is everyone's OTP now."

Shubha understood. "Chris garu. What do you want?"

"Nothing." Chris lied.

"Tell the truth."

"An ugly looking picture of Vicky boy." He said excitedly.

"What?" Shubha chuckled.

"Yes. It's been so many days since we had pranks week on the set. I am planning an offical pranking session on the day we return to shoot for the next part." Chris explained.

"Why do you need his picture for that?"

"Just imagine Vicky walking into the sets and we greet him with his huge ugly picture. His expression will be priceless."

"Sorry to disappoint you. Vikram never looks ugly. He always looks incredibly handsome and insanely adorable" said Shubha.

"Oh God! You girls always make fun of your boyfriends in their presence and defend them in their absence." Chris sighed. "Come on. It'll be fun."

"Okay." Shubha agreed.

She took her phone and went towards the gym. She stopped at the entrance. She had to type a four digit passcode.

She had three attempts before alarm goes off. 'Why does he have a burglar alarm here? Is it locker room or what?'

She tried to deduce it from what she knew about him. 'A person like him would have set something he can remember easily. It has to be birthdays.' She knew he wasn't foolish enough to set his own birthday as password. She typed the date followed by month of his mother's birthday. It was incorrect.

She tried the same with his father's birthday. It was incorrect. She only had one attempt left. She considered hacking the security system to gain access. But she remembered Vikram's challenge. She shook her head. 'No. I can do this.'

She typed his date of birth followed by hers. She almost pressed the enter button. 'No. He always puts others above himself.'

She changed the order. Her date of birth followed by his. She pressed enter button. To her delight, it opened. She couldn't believe it.

She kept her phone ready to capture his candid pictures and tip-toed.

Before she could congratulate herself, she heard his voice. "So you finally found out what the password is?"

She turned around to see him working out. "Vikram, you work out like this? What if someone sees?" She averted her eyes to stop herself from acting crazy.

"Anything wrong, sweetheart?" He asked innocently. "Are you going to faint? Go ahead. Girls usually swoon when they look at this perfectly chiseled--"

"Girls? How many girls have been inside this gym?" She frowned.

He chuckled. "I am talking about the videos released by my trainer. You are the only girl who is allowed here. Don't tell the password to anyone." He buttoned his shirt.

She smiled at the mention of password. She always laughed at people who used their loved ones' birthdays as passwords. Surprisingly, when her Vikram did that, she didn't find it funny. She was deeply moved. "Vikram?"

"Yes?"

"I Love You"

He gasped. "Did you..."

"Yes." She nodded. "I Love You. I'm glad I said it first."

He couldn't believe his ears. He held her hand and squeezed it. "You don't know what it means to me."

"I do." She smiled. "You don't have to reply right now. Take your time. I'll wait."

"You don't have to, sweetheart." He took a box out of his locker. "I save all my secrets in my gym. Hence the secrecy." He gifted it to her. 

"Help me wear it."She turned around. He carefully pushed her hair aside and adorned her neck with a gold chain. She held the moon-shaped pendent and instantly felt connected to it. He loved the moon. It was like gifting her the thing he liked the most.

He took a deep breath. "I am really fortunate that I fell in love with you. Even more fortunate that you love me. I want to promise you one thing. I Love You... Forever."

She rested her head on his shoulder. Several minutes passed in comfortable silence. "Subbu. May I ask you something? Please don't say no."

"What is it?"

"Will you marry me please?" His eyes carried several emotions. Intense love, fear of rejection, anxiety and happiness.

"Are you really... are you... sure?"

"Never been so sure about anything."

She was overjoyed. She took a few mintues to control her emotions. "I would love to marry you." She accepted the proposal. "I didn't expect you to propose to me. I just wanted to confess my feelings."

"I've been wanting to propose to you since long. I didn't want to rush it and make things uncomfortable for you. Today I felt you're ready for this." He held her palms and kissed them. "Thank you Subbu for bringing happiness back into my life."

---***---

"Do you think I should be there when you tell her?" asked Chris.

"No. I have to do this alone. I promise you whatever happens, I won't let this worsen your situation." Vikram assured him.

"I sort of wish it does." 

"No stupid jokes when I am worried, please."

"I am serious. I tried telling Dhwani so many times that we should announce this in public. I don't care if her father releases the video after that. I agree I may have to face an official police enquiry. But it's not like I will spend my entire life in jail." Chris ranted.

"It's not the question of you getting arrested. It's about your reputation in the society." Vikram couldn't tolerate the idea of Chris being defamed.

"I don't care. Let them believe what they want to believe. Let them vow not to watch my movies again. I don't care. The only thing I care about, is my wife. At least we will get to stay together. We will manage."

"Hey! Calm down. I want you to co-operate. Our next step will be based on mom's reaction. Agreed?" 

"Okay." Chris agreed.

Vikram took a deep breath and went to talk to his mother. He saw her sitting in her room. She looked tired. "What? You lost your wallet again?" She asked without looking up.

"No. I have to say something." He felt nervous. "It's about Chris's marriage."

"I've been thinking the same. All these days I was worried about your marriage. He is two years older than you. It's time I talked to his girlfriend and her family. We need to get him married soon" said Latha.

"Mom. Actually, it's like this. I am not sure if you will agree. I know it will sound wrong. But you have to..." He couldn't speak. 'I should have rehearsed.' 

"What?"

"I'll talk to you later."

"No. Tell me now." She ordered him.

He was startled. "We are planning a Vegas trip. Chris said he wants me to accompany him because we won't get a chance after he gets married."

"Oh! Vegas?" She thought for a while. "I don't have a problem if you kids promise to behave. No talking to strangers. Especially girls."

"Okay mom. I'll leave." He walked away. It was only after he left that she understood. 'Something's bothering him.' 

---***---

"I couldn't tell her. I was so scared. I will talk to her tomorrow without fail." Vikram told Shubha.

She didn't speak. She just nodded. She understood he would never be able to do that. The previous night's promise was just his anger speaking. It's not because he understood how she felt. It was just a momentary reaction. She lowered her eyes.

"Subbu. Please. I was nervous. Mom looked tired today. I'll talk to her again."

"You can't. Forget it. I should have realized you can never do this." She refused to look at him.He held her chin and tried to make her look at him.

"What's going on?" They were startled to hear Latha's voice.

"Mom. We were just discussing--"

"Don't lie. I can see you are keeping secrets from me. Tell the truth."

"It's nothing mom."

"Tell. The. Truth." Latha repeated.

"I'll tell you" said Shubha. 

"No. Please." Vikram shook his head. He desperately tried to stop her.

"This can't be hidden anymore Vikram. I'm sorry." She told Latha everything expect the part where Vikram helped them get married. 

Latha couldn't believe it. "Are you sure? Chris and Dhwani?"

"Yes"

Latha didn't speak for a while. "When did they get married? And where?"

Before Vikram could stop her, Shubha revealed the date. "But that was when Vicky and Dhwani had to shoot in Sikkim." Latha remembered clearly. Her eyes widened with shock. "Vicky? You? You did this?"

Vikram lowered his eyes. "Yes mom. I had to."

"You lied to me all these days." There was disappointment in her voice. Something he always hated to hear.

"I can explain."

"No. I understand." Latha had tears in her eyes. Her face was pale. She was sweating profusely. "My son... lied to me... betrayed me."

"I didn't have a choice. I'm sorry mom."

"No. I'm sorry." Her voice shook. He tried to help her sit down. She jerked his hand away. "All these days I was labouring under the delusion that my son respects me and values my presence in his life. I was wrong. I am such a bad parent that he stopped trusting me long ago. Now we are strangers..." She couldn't complete the sentence. She fell down, unconscious.

---***---

Three of my favourite quotes from the best book series ever.