The next day, Malar finishes getting ready and walks down, calling Anirudh.
"Guess what?", she tells excitedly.
"What?", Anirudh asks sleepily.
"Time 10:30 agudhu, innum yenna thookam.", Malar asks.
"Ayy yenna venum di, yennaku thookam varudhu", Anirudh whines
"Sakthi ku ponnu paka porom", Malar exclaims happily.
"Yedhu? Ippova?", Anirudh asks suddenly alert.
"Hmm 11 ku kelambalam nu plan", Malar says.
"Naanu?",Anirudh says. Malar could practically hear him pout on the other side.
"Nee poi thoongu raja, na unna distrub panale", Malar smirks.
"Ayyy not fair", Anirudh whines.
Malar was about to reply to him, when her phone is snatched from her hand.
She glares at her mother, who is chatting with Anirudh.
"Ahn seri pa, na aprom call panren", Radhika says before Malar's phone back to her.
"Your mother invited me you know", Anirudh grins.
Malar smiles, "Appo va"
"Innaiku konjam busy, aana afternoon meet panlama?", Anirudh asks.
"Hmm seri, thoongi vazhiyama poi studio ku kelambu. Ama innaiku yaaru kooda recording?", Malar asks.
"Vertri Maran sir", Anirudh says.
"What?", Malar gasps. "Yennaku oru autograph vaangu."
Anirudh chuckles and says ok before cutting the call.
"Kelambulama?", Sarath Kumar asks from the hall.
"Nan ready pa, ana mapillai ya kanom", Malar says.
Sakthi who walks behind Malar smacks her head.
"Innum kalyaname fix agala, athukula na mapillai ya", Sakthi says causing Malar to snicker.
Malar observes Sakthi and notices that even though he tries smiling his eyes are dim.
"Dei yennada achu?", Malar asks starting to frown.
"Onnum illaiye", Sakthi says.
"Dei you know I can read your expressions. What happened? Yaaravudu love panriya?", Malar asks narrowing her eyes.
"W-what n-no, why would I? I'm way too busy.", Sakthi says thinking, na Sadhana ve kandhupidichalum it's not like she will agree to marry me.
"You are happy le?", Malar asks.
Sakthi smiles and squeezes her arm, "I'm fine di, don't worry too much. Aprom Ani bro varara?"
Malar shakes her head, 'Studio le vela."
Malar and Sakthi hear their father call for them and walk to him.
"Vaanga kelambulam", Sarath Kumar says walking out the door first.
Malar and Radhika follow him, chatting happily. Sakthi takes a deep breath before locking the door and walking to the car.
"Morning, I bought breakfast", Arjun greets Ayira holding up a paper bag.
Ayira grins and opens the door wide, Arjun walks in and kisses Ayira on the cheek before giving the paper bag to her.
"Sapdalam?", Arjun asks.
"Innum sapdaliya?", Ayira asks, making Arjun shake his head.
"I wanted to eat together", Arjun says, making Ayira smile and drag him to the dining table.
"Innaiku Sakthi ku ponnu paka poirukanga, theriyuma?", Ayira asks eating.
"Wow, avanuku yedhum love lam illaiya?", Arjun asks.
"Illa, he was actually very focused on his career and past le bad experience um irruku. So he concentrated only on work, and now he's a director.", Ayira says praising him.
"Wow, good for him. Irundhalum love panni kalyanam panradhu is different le", Arjun says.
"Avanuku yendha kuraiyum ille, idhuvum oru periya problem ille. Arranged marriages are still very common.", Ayira says shrugging.
"Yendha kuraiyum illena he could have gotten a girlfriend", Arjun says.
"Maybe he didn't have any need to, and he's very handsome you know. You haven't seen him.", Ayira says.
Arjun narrows his eyes at her, "Handsome huh? Did you like have a crush on him or something?"
Ayira nods making Arjun sputter, "W-what? When?"
"In third... no fourth grade", Ayira says. The expression on Arjun's face, caused Ayira to burst out laughing.
Arjun looks at her as if she betrayed him, "Wow, my girlfriend has a crush on her best friend's brother when she's dating who? Arjun Das."
Ayira laughs harder at his outrageous expression, "Dei it was in fourth grade and it was because I fell down and started crying. He helped me, so it was a silly little crush."
"He helped you?! And you liked him for that?", Arjun asks glaring at Ayira.
Ayira shakes her head snickering, "Back to topic, avanuka dhan ponnu paka porukanga."
Arjun sighs in relief, "Nalladhu let him get married first."
Ayira finishes eating gets up and kisses Arjun on the cheek before walking to the kitchen.
She laughs when she hears Arjun huff and mutter, "Ipdiya edhavidu kuduthu yenna off pannidu."
"Innaiku yendha shooting um ille?", Ayira asks from the kitchen.
Arjun gets up with his empty plate and walks to the kitchen, "Illaiye"
"Are you getting offers from movies or kalyanuthuku aprom nan dhan unne support pananuma?", Ayira teases.
Arjun hugs Ayira from behind making her gasp.
"Vaaiyadi, apdiye nadanthalum I can get another job anywhere. I have an MBA degree after all", Arjun says resting his head on her shoulder.
"Yedhavidhu nyabagam irrukunumla, apdiye va vela kudupanga?", Ayira asks flicking water at him from the tap.
"Kudupanga, I have connections", Arjun grins before cupping water in his palm and throwing it back at Ayira. Ayira gasps in shock at the chillness of the water on her face.
Ayira immediately flicks more water at Arjun, wetting his hair completely.
Arjun shouts, "Irru di, unna vachikuren", as Ayira runs from the kitchen laughing.
Sakthi, Malar and Radhika sit on the sofa, while Sarath Kumar sits with his childhood friend Krishna.
"Romba naal achu pathu, yeppadi da irruke?", Krishna asks.
"Yennaku yenna dhan, nan nalla irruken. Nee?", Sarath Kumar asks smiling.
"Hmm na super a irruken. Idhu yen wife Radha", Krishna introduces.
Radhika, Malar and Sakthi greet her. Radhika and Radha chat about things generally, while Sakthi and Malar sit there awkwardly.
"Aprom nee yenna pa panre?", Krishna asks Sakthi.
"Nan oru software company le director ah irruken uncle", Sakthi responds politely.
"Yennda Kumar un paiya un company ah nadathule nu kavale lam padatha, adhan director ah irrukan le", Krishna says making Sarath Kumar smile.
"Avan ambition adhan padikattu nu vituten", Sarath Kumar says proudly.
"Uncle avlo lam peruma padhadinga, yepa pathalum vela vela. Office laiya dhan irrupan", Malar says snickering causing Krishna to laugh loudly.
Sakthi glares at Malar as she blinks innocently at him.
"Rendu pasanga irundha time porathe theriyathu le", Radha asks smiling fondly.
"Ayoo neenga vera, idhunga renduthiyum meikarudhu romba kashtam", Radhika says shaking her head tiredly causing Radha to chuckle.
"Radha poi ponnna kutitu vaa", Krishna gestures to her.
Radha looks at her husband unsurely before whispering in his ear, "Ava innum hospital le irundhu varale."
Krishna nods before saying, "5 min, hospital le ava shift innum mudinjirikathu."
Sarath Kumar nods in understanding before the two are busily chatting about their school days.
Radha and Radhika start pleasantly chatting, making Malar and Sakthi exchange looks.
"Yenna da, ponne innum varale, ivanga samandhi madri pesikitu irukkanga?", Malar whispers to Sakthi.
Sakthi shrugs unbothered, "Ponnu varadhu nu nenaikuren, illene yerkanave vandhurupala."
"Aana nee sogama irrukura madri theriliye? Dei unmai ah sollu, yaarai avudu meet paniya?", Malar looks at him suspiciously.
Sakthi sighs before nodding and telling Malar about Sadhana.
"Seri nee onnum kavale padhade, anthe ponne pathitu venam nu sollikalam", Malar advises Sakthi who nods.
"Ana, unakku ava peru thavare vera yedhume theriyadhu. Nee yeppa da avala pathu, correct panni, love panni, kalyanam panipa?", Malar wonders aloud making Sakthi glare at her.
Both of them look up to hear a sweet voice, arguing with Radha.
"Amma na yethanavati solradhu, yennaku pudicha paiyan vandha naane kalyanam panipenu. Yenna force pannade.", the voice says.
"Yei medhuva pesu di, keka podu", Radha chastised her daughter.
Sakthi's head snapped up upon hearing the voice. Yengayo keta maari irukke, he thought to himself.
Sakthi hears the voice getting closer and closer to the living room. Sarath Kumar looks at Krishna, who gestures him to wait.
A short but curvy girl walks in wearing a light pink chudhidar. She carried a doctor's coat in one hand and her handbag in the other.
Malar raises her eyebrows and whispers to her brother, "Paka azhaga irrukanga da"
Sakthi looks up and is shocked to see...
***
Am I a cruel person to finish my story like that? Maybe😜
Well, continue reading to know more!