Kumar residence

Mrunal was humming her tune listening to the song in her phone; for the duet practical exams that she had to pass. She wanted to impress one person who would always associate her as nothing but his obedient student.

Ring! Ring!

Charan called her the 5^th time wherein she was trying to ignore his calls to not get scolded by him. She had promised to meet him in the canteen 20 minutes back. As she hurried to move out of the house to take her bike zooming to the university on time, perhaps.

“…Buji!!! At least have your milk!!...oof!! this kid!!!” Deepika couldn’t keep up with the fast track of her kid who ran off bidding bye to her mother,

Arjun chuckled at her and consoled her that she would have something from the canteen.

But Deepika was tensed as her daughter would not blend with outside food as much. Deepika always worried for her perky daughter who refused to grow up.

But the mother noticed that Mrunal had shown maturity in some instances and otherwise she would resemble a 10-year-old kid. Deepika for once thought to have a serious conversation with her daughter to make her understand the dynamics of being the woman of grace and beauty.

It was all because of Deepika that Mrunal had opted for a graceful artform. But her puppy love was keeping Mrunal from not dedicating herself fully to her mother’s dream of making her a more profound dancer who would embrace the artform as a part of her personality.

But alas! The girl would never come out of her love maze unless and until given a reality check by her love himself.

At the university

The corridor

As Mrunal rushed through the crowd to reach the canteen among the pool of students trying to reach their destinations.

At the university

The corridor

As Mrunal rushed through the crowd to reach the canteen among the pool of students trying to reach their destinations.

Bam!!

“…oi!!!” she gritted her teeth to give the person a nice scolding for bashing onto her.

“…watch where you are going, Buji!...” he held her hand to help her up and saw the way she would always get mute whenever he would be near her.

It puzzled him to where did the 10-year-old perky girl was who would always fight with him at the slightest given chance.

Nevertheless, he gave his boyish smile and went away from the scene leaving a blushing red Mrunal watching his figure fading away.

He so wanted to make his ‘Buji’ realise that he would be more than her friend, mentor. But it was his principles that was restricting him to make the move towards his love. Of course, he was engaged to Ramya, but he was only doing his duty as the doting son of his beloved father and never once crossed his limits.

Ever since Vinod told his heartfelt desire to betroth Ramya with their ever-gratifying Rajeev; Vinay could never refute his eldest. Knowing that as a fact and considering the family lineage of Prateek Iyer, Vinod went ahead with the marriage agreement for a better future of their Rajeev.

Vinay did agree, only after taking the approval from Rajeev who only reminded him ‘…Appa, I truly believe that you and uncle would always select the best for me…and our family…so, how can I ever refuse your choice for me?....’ The statement did leave Vinay in a dilemma for his son’s whole heartedness but when Sonia suggested otherwise. He could only agree with Vinod’s proposal for his son – Rajeev.

“…Charan!!! Oi!!...” she suddenly remembered and ran to the canteen to meet the boy who would probably be scratching his hair off.

The classroom

“…so, at the next clap…go for the next verse before your 2 sec pause…got it…Minu…I am telling you…please don’t screw it up…*tsk*..” Charan kept his music pad in his satchel while explaining her the musical note the hundredth time. Mrunal was getting confused with the lyrics and the musical note altogether.

It would be her debut before she is permitted to continue her music class as per the new set of rules being set by the head master.

Rajeev entered the class with his poker face and set his violin pack down.

He called out the class lead and told him to set up the instruments for the assessment.

Charan was getting tensed by the minute as he was the guitarist and Mrunal the singer marking it a separate score board for each one of them. They were on the 15^th place making it impossible for them to perform today, but…

The 7^th place group did their act and Rajeev clapped for their performance which was actually good.

Rajeev was half seated on the desk with concentrated look on all the performances.

His number one fan was just ogling at him shamelessly with a constant smile on her face.

“…oye! Rehearse! At least learn the lyrics properly!!...god help me!...I don’t know why did Raj Sir put me up with this fangirl!.... whim…” Charan nudged her who tsked at his words and returned to her magnificent sightseeing.

‘…was his hair always so silky!...hm?…’

‘…oh!! the beige coat looks so good on him!! I wonder how he maintains his perfect muscles?...hmm…’

‘…oh! no glasses today?!…oh yes! He is got his optical examination today…probably he would go for lenses…he did complain about hurting his nose bridge with the heaviness of the glasses…hm…’

‘…nah!!! Lenses would not look good on him!!...and moreover, lenses will hide his perfect brown drooping eyes…*sighs*…please don’t wear lenses…honey!!!’

Mrunal was lost in his dreamland making 1000 of facial twitches in between her thoughts.

“…psst!!...psst!!...” Charan called out the fangirl who was humming with her closed eyes, thinking of her idol. She was totally lost in her dream with resting her head on her fisted hand atop the desk.

“…Mrunal?!...” the husky soft voice made her limbs tingle so closer to her. She hummed sweetly at his call and whispered “…yes…” while moving softly with her closed eyes.

“…Mrunal Arjun Kumar?!!....” the call made her think ‘…why are you calling my dad…he hates you’ and opened her eyes to see the drooping brown eyes.

“…Ahhh!!!...” screaming she jolted back with a jerk and hurt her upper back on the desk.

Charan caught her on time to not let her fall off the bench, making Rajeev purse his lips with anger.

“…I am sorry…” she tried to apologise for her behaviour, but…

“…out…” Rajeev instructed her with his poker face and folded hands on his buff chest.

“…sir, she was practicing…” Charan tried to support his friend to save her from the stern teacher who had the recognition of being fair and strict to all his students.

Rajeev raised his index fingers on his lips to quieten the friend and glanced at Mrunal to move out of the class.

A sad looking Mrunal gathered her things and went out of the class to her much disappointment. Rajeev tried to control his smile at her gesture of a depressed child being rid of her favourite ice cream.

She was his favourite student but he was her teacher first then friend and she was not attentive. Even when the other group were performing the remainder of the students were meant to applaud them, as was instructed by him.

In the canteen

Mrunal pouted at the event where he scolded her for the first time…. eeks…seventh time for not being attentive…again.

‘…its his fault!...why did he have to be so handsome…’ with a grunt she dunked her head on the table whining at not being able to perform in front of him.

“…I told you…why don’t you listen to me, huh?...” Charan sat beside her with his girlfriend Lalia, who chuckled at the girl who got up with the saddest pout ever.

“…*sighs*…” Mrunal slumped back on the chair not understanding why does she gets lost in only his class. She is the top student in the university, the favourite among the teachers. But when it comes to him, she is like the Alice lost in his wonderland.

“…don’t worry!!...you can always ask for a second chance…I mean he is your family friend…” Charan suggested but Mrunal just shaked her head denying it.

“…that’s far more a reason for him to not give me a second chance…*inhales deeply* guess I have to get the apology letter signed by dad…to enter the class…”

Lalia chuckled ridiculing for such a small mistake of not being attentive and that too from a top student.

Mrunal reminded her that was his usual drill for any kind of mischief in the class.

The evening

Rajeev parked his bike in the garage and saw that his uncle was speaking with the most boring person in the world – Prateek Iyer.

He tried to escape out of the old jolly friends scan but damn Bruno the dog. The dog got excited to see his master and jumped on his arm to lick him with his slobber.

“…down boy!!...” Rajeev backed the dog and heard the interrupted giggle of the person who neared him.

“…Raj!! My son…how are you?!!...” saying so Prateek took his future son-in-law in his embrace with a hearty laugh.

The living room

Reena smiled while serving the cookies to the guest who was talking nonstop since the time he entered the residence. He just praised about his achievements, his life from the time of leaving his hometown ending with his wonderful daughter – Ramya.

Rajeev wanted to move out of his clutches and kept on glancing at the wall clock. He had to meet Blaze for the corrections in his car as it was making a lot of noise since the last race.

8 pm

…

8:30 pm

…

“…it’s been a long time since we talked like this!!.... well see you all at the program…don’t forget…my Ramya is doing the MC…she will kill it…” saying so Prateek shaked Vinod’s hands and tried to move out of the house. He thanked Reena for the wonderful meal and reminded them the nth time about Ramya MCing the event.

As he reached the front door, he pulled Rajeev for a tight hug suffocating the kid.

“…don’t forget my boy…” as he reminded him, Rajeev politely interrupted him.

“…Ramya is doing the MC…I know…*chuckle*…” as he got freed from the old man’s clutches, he bid him bye along with his uncle and aunt.

The family then went to their respective chores, seeing Rajeev rush to his room.

“…I really pity this boy!...I don’t know how he is going to survive this man, Prateek…I mean Ramya is fine…but her father…*tsk*…” Reena murmured to Vinod who just pacified her saying that the family is good. And moreover, he trusted his friend who had been with him for a long time, as his support during his initial startup stress.

Prateek had helped Vinod when he had started his own CA firm. It was because of his immense support and guidance that Vinod was able to survive the entrepreneur journey with much ease.

Raj took out his Lambo Huracan to reach the race course hosting the most deadliest car racing at the end of the city hustle and bustle.

Being a dedicated music teacher in the day and a hardcore racer during the night, was the only default in this perfect man.

He likes to play soothing music when riding his Lambo Huracan at high speed. The ride give him an adrenaline rush to calm his anger streak being inherited by his mafia family.

Vinay badly wants him to take over his mafia business but Rajeev doesn’t want to involve in it as he hates bloodshed.

As his car vanished out of the premises, Vinay watched from his room balcony giving his dimpled smile at the man-boy who would always refuse to his proposal. But he is his adamant father who doesn’t know failure.

“…Vinay…I hope you remember to reschedule your office work this Friday…” Sonia came inside the room with her ironed saree for the next day class.

Vinay asked her the reason for the sudden change of the plans in his office work. Sonia pursed her lips shaking her head replying “…it’s the twins birthday…how could you forget it?!...considering its your favourite’s kids…. scoff…” Sonia was getting ready for her night routine before hitting the bed, as Vinay back hugged her resting his face on her shoulders.

“…Well, you know Nimya is my favourite among the grandkids…the silent, cute and organised…just like her mom…and the twins…well they take after their parents…hot headed and smarty pants…quite similar to you and me…*chuckle*…” Sonia laughed at his remark and told him to not pamper the kids with his extravagant gifts like the last time during Nimya’s birthday.

Vinay really went overboard by bringing the child her own pony when the innocent child murmured of a dream unicorn as a gift from her favourite grandpa.

Well, since the unicorns were a tough call, Vinay opted for a pony; coloring it with the unicorn shades of course.

For Vinay, family was everything. He would lay down the whole world for the smile on his family’s face.

The family were aware of his love and support for them seeing the amount of pampering he would shower on the kids and grownups alike.