Author's POV (cont'd):
Sahana was saved from falling down by Shiva, and the two exchange awkward glances.
"Aniku ivala thana naa theriyama idichen?" he remembered that day.
"Shiva, iva antha Shalini oda friend nenikuren. Mothalla ivala keezha vidu!" Rekha instructed him, but he made Sahana stand steadily.
"Hey, nee than aniku enga appa kitta wallet ah thiruda vanthavan la?" Sahana passed him a death glare.
"Thirutta?" Rekha rolled her eyes at Shiva, who did a head palm.
"Itha vida mukkiyama onnu sollanum, solla vidunga" as Sahana continued, she disclosed Preethi's intentions Vs Shalini's struggle.
"Hahaha! Ethachu padam paathutu variya nee?! Preethi kanavula kuda ippadi panna mata" Rekha laughed leaning on Preethi's shoulder, while Shiva was silent.
"Ippadi react pannuva nu expect pannen, ungala thiruthave mudiyathu! You guys will regret it." Sahana lost her patience and walked away from there.
"Vaa Shiva, ava kadakkara..." as Rekha held his arm, he stood still and looked at Sahana who was far away from them.
"Ithuku munnadi ponnungala paathathu illaya...vaa!" she pulled him and they also walked away.
"Shalini enna jeicha aprum Vikram ah pathi pesum bothu, avara eppadi face panrathu nu ippo varaikum nenikuren. Ivanga ellarum enna ippadi nambaranga, antha alavukku naa worth illayo nu feel panren." Preethi pondered and feared at the same time.
Shalini's POV:
Working as an audit is a pain in the ass; the project which my boss assigned prompted me to postpone the execution of my 5-month plan once again! Plus I didn't even get to talk to Vikram and Samar.
Speaking of the plan, I had invested 5 months for composing my own solo music with violin. Once I dropped the pencil and paper in the name of finalising its composition, I planned to execute it the very next day. But the reentry of Karthik and the unimaginable-but-realistic sorcery of Preethi were the reasons for postponing it the first time, morons like these are enough to destroy our dreams in a fraction of a second. Lucky for me, I regained my confidence in executing my plan.
Been ten years since I mastered my violin skills, and now I came till compostion without any lyrics and background music. Usually we hum a tune from a movie song when we are doing something casually, that was the first clue to form my original tune. Working on that tune took me five months, for a 3 minute solo. I practised this solo for almost infinite times on the violin during that 5 month period.
After coming back home from the office, I took a shower and relaxed my mind with a cup of filter coffee. I switched off the mobile data in my phone to avoid distraction and scooped out the composed notes for my song from the wardrobe safe.
However I am still distracted due to the stupid car honking sounds outside my house. Gosh, I wish I had rented a sound-proof house.
Waiting for another 10 minutes, I finally began executing the song in a silent environment and recorded it in my phone. I'm so excited on how it's gonna turn up!
Samar's POV:
I reached home in the evening after modelling for a brand new camcorder commercial. Announcing its features tempted me to buy one, but I managed to stay calm till the shooting wrapped up.
The set location for this commercial was the forest where I had a journey with Shalini for visiting Ohrawoods because of its picturesque view. Even though I couldn't remember the very spot where the portal of Ohrawoods existed in that forest, it made me want to visit that place again!
Generally speaking, some of the alluring products which I promoted so far such as chocolate, chips, cream biscuit, icecream, frozen foods, pizza were one of the main reasons I lived as Samar myself, not as an actor. Being in a house with Chithappa, a legendary foodie, made me regret that I can't devour my own promoted products everyday--the worst part of being in food commercials. However, the best part was that I totally earned a six digit amount just for these food products, due to their high demand.
Setting this aside, I worked out at my home gym and strolled beside the kitchen to observe a miracle--Chithappa cooking dinner! Maybe because he wanted to impress chithi on their anniversary, which is on tomorrow.
"Cooking kathukitinga polarku!" I shouted, but his heart skipped a beat along with his body skipping one step behind.
"Nalla thana da poitruku, ippadi kathi koopadu podrathula enna than unaku kushi oh!" he clutched his shirt.
"Unga ponnu ippadi than kathuva, antha pazhakkam enaku thothiruchu" I casually replied.
"Intha velaiya ava kita kaatalam la, appan kittaya kaatanum?" he whined and positioned the ladle near the stove.
"Point than. Btw chithi ku nalaiku deadline over, she has to decide about the grocery business" I reminded him.
"Aama da, nalaiku oru nalla mudivu edutha namma finance matter ah paathukalam" we had already planned about managing finances.
"Ashwin oda engagement ku poracha Shalini kita itha pathi car la pesinen chithappa, avalum konjam contribute panratha sollirka" I dropped another news to him.
"Athu avalukku kashtam da. Innum 40% loan ku repay panra nelamaila than iruka. Vendam nu sollidu" he didn't want her to make any extra expenses in this situation.
"Naanum Sahana vum try pannom chithappa, but ava romba rigid ah iruka. She said she will be happy to do this" I exhaled and helped him.
"Santhoshama iruntha seri than, but finance ah manage pannanum la?"
"Athu ava paathupa nu nambara, nanum nambaren..." I held his hand with confidence.
"Ellam okay than, nee eppo un manasula irukratha ava kita solla pora?" none in my house except Sahana knows that I started my relationship with Shalini. Plus Sahana didn't open her ottavaai to them, good good.
"Kudiya seekram solren chithappa" I patted his shoulder for reassurance.
"Ithana naal sollama ennatha kizhichiyo" he muttered and rolled his eyes, which made me smile at his innocence.
"Aprum nalaiku namma Mahabalipuram porom la? Unga kuladeiva kovil anga thana iruku..." my eyes beamed on our memories there.
"Of course, varsha varsham povome. Enna dhideernu ketuta?"
"Athukana snacks ethuvum vaangalaye nu than. Maranthupochu chithappa" I regretted. Wherever we go, snacks is mandatory la?
"Neeyum advertisement shooting nu busy aaita, nalaiku pora vazhila vaangikalam vidu"
"Seri chithappa. Neenga panra onion uthappam vasanai summa alluthu!" I sniffed the odour, seemed that he learned a lot from my previous training.
"Hmm, food testing ndra perula naa onnu full ah sapta aprum than ungaluku kuduka poren" his policies are always hard to digest.
"Unga habits pathi enaku theriyatha, ennamo pannunga" I passed a pout to him.
Wait a min, just now I realised that I never did anything for them this time *head palming*. Adei arivuketta maakaan Samar, kalyana naal ah nyabagam vecha mattum pathaathu, something special ah pannanum!
So it means I can't go with them to Mahabalipuram tomorrow. Even though I'll miss the trip, I can prepare something only when they aren't at home.
Then we finished our dinner. But still my mind was stuck with the thoughts on how to surprise chithi and chithappa this time.
My phone buzzed, bringing me out of the thought process and it was Shalini's call. Uff, we didn't talk for two days! I went inside my room, rolling onto the bed and picked up her call.
"Hey Samar, one good news. Naa ennoda plan ah execute panniten!"
"Happada, ippovachu athu enna plan nu sollu!" still now I didn't get any idea.
"Album's name is Rope of Hope, my first violin solo in that album is named as Divine" at last! I didn't expect such a thing from her *squeals in joy*
"Oh my god, congratulations! I can't wait to hear it!" my state of euphoria was on leaps and bounds and here I am, hugging my pillow.
"Iniku than atha vaasika time irunthuchu...album and song title ah already mudivu pannathunala process easy airuchu" she expressed.
"Your efforts will always speak Shalini, proud of you!"
"Awh! Nalaiku blog la oru teaser podalam nu pakaren, but recorded audio la background noises konjam iruku. It's not a crystal clear version" her voice became low.
"Onnu sollata? Nee antha solo va film music business ku share pannalam. They will take care of everything. Avanga un solo va produce panna unaku reach nariya kedaikum...you get to earn a lot" I suggested.
"Intha idea la than irunthu irupen, but enga appa than antha industry ku extra va pay panni enna ethuvum panna vidama pannitare...I already told you this. Maranthuta la?" she pouted.
"Oh...unaku oru vishayam therila la! I'll tell you" I began narrating her the incidents.
On July 2nd, the night we confessed our feelings to each other, I luckily spotted her father Mr.Krishnan's car in front of mine while driving back home. I recognized his car by looking at his children's name stickers pasted on it's back window---Shiva, Rekha, Lekha, Vikram and a half torn-out name sticker of Shalini.
The curiousity of following his car piqued inside me, because I wanted to confront his gestures towards Shalini.
I thought he was driving back to his house, but he deviated from that way and turned his car to a street which I'm familiar with. Following him every nook and corner could make him suspicious, so I stationed my car at the street's entry and he parked his inside the music industry HQ which was on the middle of that street.
Realising that I could neither go inside to eavesdrop their conversation nor collect any footage that easily, I had another idea. I asked Shalini to send me Lekha's phone number. After convincing her that I wanted to befriend Lekha, I received her contact and immediately messaged her.
{𝗔/𝗡: 𝗔𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝘇𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.}
I knew it was risky to make Lekha do all these, but there was no other option. From that night till the next day, I was fearing the hell out for her safety.
On July 3rd, when Shalini confessed to Vikram about Preethi and slept in my lap after crying inconsolably, I received Lekha's message and that was the most relieved moment for me.
My plan was nothing in front of Lekha's brave execution! She was the hero of that day. She had finally realised how Shalini suffered in the hands of their father's misdeed. When I meet her, I promised myself to gift her something.
I checked my email and downloaded the 2 minute video footage. Plugging in my earphones to not disturb Shalini's sleep, I viewed Mr.Krishnan discussing with the music industry head officer about prohibiting Shalini from the field using his money. I'm still disgusted by his cheap shortcut to not let his own daughter pursue her passion as profession.
After a splendid Hakka noodles time, I left Shalini's place and drove to the music industry as informed earlier. Then I showed the footage to the head officer, whose eyes went blind in shock. I threatened him that I would either report to the police or spread this video to his family, so that they realise how corrupt he is in profession.
The officer feared for his job position immediately after I threatened him, because he knew that I would definitely do either of the two options. However, I didn't want to shame Mr.Krishnan in this process as he is Shalini's father, and that I've already promised Lekha.
Reminding the officer that he played cheap games with people just for money, he wished to change his attitude as he neither wanted his wife to divorce him nor his children to despise him. I hated lecturing about justice and honesty, but he made my job easier by paying back the money to Mr.Krishnan's bank account, in front of my presence and promised that he won't accept bribe from now.
Having revealed all these to Shalini tonight, she didn't know how to react.
"Samar...solrathuku oru varthai illama pannitiye! Thanks isn't enough..." she cried out to me in delight.
"Thanks enkita illa, un thangachi ku than sollanum. Ava illama plan sothappala poirukkum" it was necessary to give most credits to Lekha.
"Ithuku than nee Lekha oda number ah ketiya..." she was sniffing in the process of wiping her tears.
"Aama, nanga rendu perum ithuku than converse pannom. Nerla meet panna innum nariya pesalam"
"Hmm, naa appa oda irukacha antha footage ah eppadiyachu edukalam nu try pannen. But laptop password monthly once change pannuvaru, so eduka mudiyama pochu. If I were a hacker, things would have been easier..."
"You are a hacker, illati en manasula edam pudichurupiya?" I chuckled.
"Intha cheesy dialogues enaku set aagathu thambi, try a new one" she turned me off. I accept it's cheesy, but what else she can expect from an actor?
"Ore second la enna brother nu sollitiye, over ah therila?"
"Pechuku than sonnen, odane feel pannatha. Aprum nalaiku neenga Mahabalipuram poringa la?"
"Neeyum variya nu ellarum ketanga enkita..."
"Illa Samar, avangalukku naa oru special dish cook panna poratha mudivu panniten. Enakaga avanga nariya pannirkanga, itha seiyanum nu enaku aasaiya iruku" she cheered me up as we are going to equally surprise them.
"Hey, nanum inime than oru dessert pannanum. Usually oru naal munnadi pannuven, but ippo delay airuchu"
"I have an idea, let's cook together!" she gushed.
"Wah Shalini ji, idea vaa kotringa ponga!" I'm looking forward for tomorrow.
"My pleasure Samar ji *chuckles*. I'm going to make mushroom biryani"
"Splendid! I'm making carrot cake...ingaye namma rendu perum pannuvom"
"Okay, morning avanga kelambina odane naa anga varen"
We further planned our alone time together in my house. Cooking a favourite recipe with my girl, suits the mood *winks*.
~POV ends~
TBC