It's four in the evening and Ayira and Malar are at Malar's house getting ready.
Malar and Ayira finish and walk down the stair into the hall.
"Na yepdi irruke?", Radhika asks adjusting her chocolate brown saree.
"Super ah irrukinga aunty", Ayira grins.
Malar shows her mom a thumbs up as she dials Anirudh.
"Oii vandhutiya?", Malar asks as soon as he picks up the call.
"Hmm 5 minutes reach ayidivom. Ama innaiku saree ah kattura?", Anirudh asks.
"Ama, yedho pooja irrukan avanga veetle, so traditional dress podren.", Malar smiles as she says.
"Picture?", Anirudh asks.
"Adhan 5 minutes le vandhudu vela, vandhu pathuko", Malar grins as Anirudh whines.
"Ayy please", Anirudh pouts.
"Nee yenna first time saree le pakre, ner la patha dhane better?", Malar asks.
"Correctu dhan-", Anirudh says only to be cut off.
"Naanga panradhu irrukatom, neenga rendu perum nalla panringa da. Ketta we are just friends aam. Chi call a cut Pannu, namba almost reach ayitom.", Malar hears Arjun's voice through the call and blushes.
"Dei nee summa iru", Anirudh scolds Arjun.
"Seri 2 min I'll be there", Anirudh says.
"Hmm bye", Malar smiles shyly and cuts the call.
She turns back and winces to see Ayira staring at with a smirk on her face.
"Do you see it now?", Ayira asks.
"See what", Malar asks giving her a sideways glance.
"That you love him.", Ayira says quietly.
Malar looks at Ayira stunned at the abrupt manner she said it in.
"Yennaku therila, maybe... I don't know", Malar says looking at Ayira helplessly and confused.
Ayira smiles, "Oru moment le unakku thonum.Appo you'll understand."
At that moment, Sakthi walks down the stairs looking smart in formals.
Malar grins, "Anna super. Yellam anni kaga dhane?"
Sakthi rolls his eyes, "Ayy vaiyadi. Ayira nee yepdi irukka? Also un boyfriend ah pathi neraiya kelvi patruken."
Ayira blushes,"Nan superah irruken. Arjun um nalla dhan irrukan."
"Theriyidhu", Sakthi teases making Ayira giggle.
"Ma kelambulama? Ani and Arjun yeppo varuvanga?", Sarath Kumar asks.
"Tho vandhitom uncle", Anirudh grins as he enters with Arjun.
Sakthi and Sarath Kumar walk forward to greet Arjun.
"Big fan of you work and ungala pathi kooda neraiya kelvi patruken.", Sakthi grins.
"Va pa", Sarath kumar says smiling.
Arjun smiles overwhelmed at their hospitality. "Thanks man", Arjun wishes Sakthi.
"Hello uncle", Arjun says formally greeting Sarath Kumar.
Radhika walks into the living room and sees Arjun.
"Oh thambi nee ya pa, un padam neraiya pathurken. Nalla nadipa pa. Sapdave matiya ivlo ollia irruka. Ana nee adhu paravale. Indha Ani paiyan dhan orungave sapdaruthu ille", Radhika says complaining.
Arjun burst out laughing, "Aunty avan nalla dhan sapduvan, ana weightu dhan podadhu."
Anirudh glares at Arjun before whining, "Aunty parunga"
Radhika laughs pinching Anirudh's cheeks.
"Time achu unga meet cute lam aprom pannikalam", Malar says rushing her parents, Sakthi, Ayira and Arjun out the door.
As she was about to walk out, she's pulled by someone back into the house.
"Ayy yenna vidu, time achu", Malar says blushing at the proximity between her and Anirudh.
Anirudh grins, "Paka azhaga irruke."
"Thank you, neeyum handsome ah dhan irruke", Malar smiles ruffling his hair.
"Polama?", Anirudh asks tilting his head towards the door. Malar nods and they lock the door before walking out.
Malar walks out to see her parents and Sakthi already gone, while Arjun and Ayira wait in the backseat.
"Nee dhan da oture", Arjun says throwing the keys to Anirudh.
Anirudh and Malar get in before they start driving.
"Don't act suspicious. This is my car", Anirudh glares at Arjun and Ayira in the back seat.
Ayira blushes while Arjun glares and says "Ungala Vida naanga yedhuvum pana mattom. Ama ulle yenna pannikittu irundhinga neenga rendu perum?"
"Door ah lock pannitu irundhom", Malar says glaring at Anirudh as he grins silently.
"Nambitom", Ayira says snickering.
"Apdi lam onnum ille, we are just fri-", Anirudh starts.
"Friends. Theriyum pa nooru vaati sollitinga", Arjun rolls his eyes.
Malar turns to look out the window feeling disheartened. Friends mattum dhan le, she thought to herself. Nan yen ivlo hurt aguran. Na koodha avana neraiya vaati just friend nu sollirken. Avanuku hurt ayirukuma?
Anirudh who purposely said just friends to get a reaction from Malar, smiled silently as he found her lost in thought.
After 10 min, they parked the car near Sadhana's house and walked inside the gate, while Anirudh went to attend a call from Lina.
They see Sakthi and Sadhana in deep conversation, just outside the door.
"Anni", Malar grins rushing to Sadhana.
Sadhana laughs and hugs her, "Hi di chellakutty."
Sakthi glares at Malar, "Innum yennai ye nickname vechi koopdala, adhukula neenga epdi close anninga."
"Dei anna avanga number ah nee mattum dhan vachiruken nu nenaipa?", Malar rolls her eyes.
Ayira and Arjun walk to where Sadhana and Malar are standing, while Anirudh still hasn't appeared.
"This is my best friend Ayira and her boyfriend", Malar introduces Ayira and Arjun Das.
Sadhana stands there stunned.
"Arjun Das is your boyfriend?", Sadhana asks surprised.
Ayira smiles and nods, "Yup, somehow it just happened to be."
Arjun glares at Ayira before politely extending his hand for a handshake.
"Hey Sadhana, I'm Arjun.", he greets.
Sadhana shakes his hands, "Hi Arjun. Hi Ayira. So nice to meet you. I was told there are three new people coming. Where is the other one?"
Anirudh walks in finishing his call with Lina, "Lina I'm not there today. Don't allow anyone else in the studio. Lock it and go home. Okay? Hmm. Bye."
Sadhana sputters, "Anirudh?"
Anirudh cuts the call and smiles at Malar before grinning to Sadhana, "Hi Sadhana."
"Hi. Wow, I'm a big fan of your music.", Sadhana smiles overwhelmed.
"Thank you", Anirudh smiles.
"Let me guess, you are Malar's boyfriend?", Sadhana asks smiling cheekily at Malar.
Anirudh and Malar stare at each other shocked.
"W-what n-no, we are just friends", Malar says and Anirudh nods.
Sadhana frowns, "Oh I'm sorry, I thought because neenga vandhone Malar ah pathu dhan smile panninga."
Sakthi, Arjun and Ayira all exchange amused glances, while Malar and Anirudh flushes in embaraasment.
Sakthi sighs before turning Sadhana and walking her in, "Baby you can't just say awkward things like that."
Sadhana slaps his arm, "Ivlo peru munnadi baby nu koopudre."
"Your my soon to be wife, nan unna yepdi venalum koopdiven", Sakthi says.
Their voices fade as the walk in.
Ayira gave Malar a 'I told you so' look before dragging Arjun inside.
Malar and Anirudh look at each other before immediately looking away and walking inside.
After the pooja, Sarath Kumar and Krishna were deep in conversation about the logistics of the function. Radhika and Radhi immediately escaped to the kitchen to talk about food ideas.
The others were left to deal with decorations.
"Ungaluku yendha madri style venum?", Ayira asks Sadhana and Sakthi.
"I like simplicity. So according to me it should be simple but elegant. And Sakthi will agree with whatever I tell", Sadhana grins as Sakthi rolls his eyes.
Arjun laughs, "Bro ippaiye all the best sollikuren.", making Ayira and Sadhana snicker.
Anirudh on the other hand walks to the couch, to see Malar busy on her laptop.
"Ingayum velaiya?", Anirudh asks settling next to her.
Malar sighs and pouts, "Few files irruku, munadiye mudichi vechuta, next two days free ah irukkulam le."
Anirudh narrows his eyes, "Last night full ah vela senjiya?"
Malar nods, making Anirudh sigh.
"Konjam adhu rest yedhu", Anirudh says worried.
Malar looks at him exhausted, making Anirudh snatch the laptop from her.
"Ayy yenna panre", Malar says too tired to even glare at him. Anirudh pats his shoulder, making Malar raise her eyebrows.
"Yenna?", she asks amused. Anirudh shakes his head and pats his shoulder again. Malar smiles before laying her head on his shoulder and sighing in happiness.
"Nee sollu, na type panren. Ok va?", Anirudh asks.
Malar's heart swells at his words, as she smiles uncontrollably. Thank god he can't see me, she thought to herself.
"Hmm ok type pannu", Malar says before starting to dictate.
Sadhana and Ayira who observe Malar and Anirudh exchange surprised glances.
"Avanga just friends nu dhan sonnanga, but yennaku nambika illai", Sadhana says grinning.
Ayira smiles shaking her head, "They were never just friends, mathi mathi care pannipanga, but chumma friends nu oru label."
"Avanga kandippa love pannuranga. Confess um pannuvanga nu hope panren .", Sadhana says.
Arjun looks up from scrolling through his phone, "Yepdi avlo sure ah solringa avanga love panranga nu."
"Adhuva, avanga behave panradhe apdi dhan irruku. Anirudh when he first introduced himself, the first person he looked at was Malar. And Malar obviously knew when he entered because they both shared an eye contact. Not to mention the awkwardness when I asked if they were in a relationship.", Sadhana grins.
"Appo venunte dhan kette?", Sakthi asks. Sadhana nods, making Ayira, Arjun and Sakthi burst into laughter.
Anirudh glares at them from the couch, gesturing that Malar had fallen asleep on his shoulder and that they should keep quiet.
The four of them exchange amused glances before laughing silently.
***
So, I won't keep you guys waiting for long.The next chapter will be an important one. So look forward to reading it!!
And once again, thank you for all the views and votes. It means a lot to me❤️