The restaurant rooftop area

Ramya then told him about her dance performance that she had planned for the program. She was informed by Sharanya about the program in the community hall.

Rajeev invited her home after the dinner, but she refused saying that she was still jetlagged wanting for some shut eye.

The apartment

“…so, wanna come inside for some coffee?...” Ramya moved her body side by side trying to be shy, making Rajeev purse his lips at her attempt.

“…no…I ….um…need to be somewhere…good night..” as he backed Ramya held his shirt collar closing in.

Rajeev was fast enough to back out with holding her shoulders replying “…you know…I don’t like all this…before marriage…so please Ramya…”

Ramya twisted her face at his refusal…again and complained “…we are engaged Raj!!...I mean in the states, people sleep together at the first meet…and we are…*tsk*…we have not even kissed yet!!”

He held her hands assuring her on his loyalty towards her “…Ramya…you know I am not like your college mates or states people…. I am… just a simple man…and I want it to be special for us…a kiss is more intimate than sleeping together…it is a sign of pure love…so, dear…I wanna save the best after marriage, hm?”

Rajeev didn’t know why he couldn’t accept the fact that Ramya was his fiancé and they had the liberty to take their relationship to the next level as suggested by her. But he just couldn’t, confusing him on the ever-diplomatic topic ‘love’ which was disheartening to him.

Ramya couldn’t stay angry at her handsome fiancé and thought to let go of the insult that he dared to put on her.

But she didn’t have any intention of letting go of such a fine man and would get him eventually.

After the dine out, Rajeev took out his car to the racing arena to silence his insatiable condition with some full-fledged racing.

The road were dark and lonely like his heart which wandered from one facial feature to other.

Her eyes.

Her childish look.

The one time she planned to play peek-a-boo with her friends in the university, almost earning a detention from the head master.

His smile grew and heart beat slowed at remembering his sweet pupil and babygirl ‘Buji’ who had the power to make any of his dull days perky with just her dollish smile.

It did puzzle him as to why would he always remember Mrunal during his most vulnerable state and not Ramya. What did the childish Mrunal have that the smart, mature and politically right Ramya didn’t?

All his senses only had Mrunal’s essence, with her being away from his embrace. He would always scratch away any kind of romantic feelings for Mrunal, reminding his head of the betrothal with Ramya – every time.

For once, he even thought to at least kiss Ramya to drive off his head with the unvarying feelings for Mrunal, but that would be immoral on his part to give unnecessary hope to a girl. But wasn’t he already giving hope to Ramya that he would wholly be hers even after marriage? He hated it. He hated himself. He hated his guts to not express his feeling for her.

It was a curious case of Mr. Rajeev’s heart not in sync with his tangled head.

At the end of the race track, Blaze chuckled at the way the calm guy jump out of the car smiling ear to ear.

“…. Man!! join the team, dude!!...we need ya…I mean you burn the freaking road ablaze!!!....” Blaze shaked his hands in a friendly bump of the shoulders getting a chortle from him.

“…I don’t want to…” saying so the man sat back on his car to woosh out of the arena before his mom has fit at his little secret.

Blaze scrunched his brows at not understanding as to why the best car rider was refusing such a wonderful chance of a lifetime.

“…I don’t wanna discourage your boys…” as he donned his glasses with a side smile, making the confused buff man wonder at his words.

Kumar residence

Deepika was worried at the news that Arjun shared with her.

Dhiraj would be coming only after summer break, as he had opted for the extended training.

Dhiraj couldn’t convince his mother so he called Arjun to make him the interpreter of his dismay of not coming in time for the program.

“…he is not coming?!!...but I wanted him to come!!!...why did he do that?!!!...idiot!!!” Mrunal threw her sling bag on the couch and slumped on it with her folded hands.

“…Buji!! Mind your language!...he is trying…but you know how this military rules work…you want to earn it…you have to work for it…” Arjun sat beside her caressing her hair. Mrunal pouted at his words and hugged his fragile self, muttering sweet cuss at her brother.

“…Deepika, I am sorry to hear that!...can’t he take a few days off, if not a week?!!...” Sonia sounded worried when Deepika had her talk for the program which was supposed to happen after two days.

“..hm…what can I say?!!...that boy is so adamant for the promotion…I just don’t want him to tire himself…that’s all….” Deepika sat down on the dining chair and kept her green tea cup on the table.

“…don’t worry…just tell him to extend his holidays the time when he comes…hm?...” Sonia tried to cheer her up with her line of suggestions getting a hum in return.

Sonia then reminded them of the twins birthday this Friday, to which Deepika smiled at the mention of the naughty duo.

The next day,

Deepika was glancing over the shops to buy the apt presents for the twins. As the party was in the evening, Arjun suggested to conduct his meeting of the investors for his counselling centre.

He wanted to work at opening the centre by the month end but finding one after the other hurdles coming his way.

“…hm…this looks nice…what do you say, Buji?” Deepika asked her who was sipping on her mango flurry and looking around for her latest barbie collection.

Mrunal nodded to her selection and the mother-daughter duo moved out of the mall.

The evening

The hotel terrace

Reena was chatting with the guests along with helping with the refreshments.

Veena was in control of the kids in their play corner, giggling along with them. Xavier helped her to arrange the toys and play with the babies.

Soumya was giggling with her cousins who had met her after a long time.

As everyone was busy with each other and the guest, the Kumar family entered the party hall.

Mrunal ran to have a sweet hug from her Sonia aunt who loved the perky girl reminding her of herself in her early 20s.

Arjun had a friendly hand shake with Vinay who gave a forced smile to his old nemesis.

“…Madhu…long time…how are you?...” Arjun went for her a side hug making the spouses twist their faces.

“…long time?!...we met two days back…in the university…remember…for the seminar?.... Arjun you are getting old…Mr. absent minded professor!!...” Sonia giggled at her own words which made fun of her old friend.

“…well, it is true…he is an absent-minded professor!...did he tell you about the opportunity that Mrunal got?...” Deepika interrupted their conversation alongwith Vinay who rejoiced up at the mention of the perky little munchkin.

Mrunal was the one child who managed to bring smile on his face whenever the Kumar family would land up in their family. It would take away his attention from the late 50s hunk of Arjun who would always make his innocent wife giggle with his jokes.

Deepika explained to them about the kathak professional course for Mrunal in the Sangeet Natak Akademi which would make her more sharper in her moves and artistry.

When it came to education or career, Deepika was strict and adamant to give the best for her kids. Dhiraj was the best example of this. The sleepless nights that she spent to train the boy to get into the training academy was paying off with the determination that Dhiraj had to prove his worth for his country.

Mrunal perked up in their conversation with her wide smile and continued to share her dismay on not going to such a far-off place. But Vinay made her realise that being invited to the Akademi was a perk in itself, because only few had gotten such a wonderful opportunity and she should not let of it.

“…Buji! You can always come during the holidays…and what, it will be for a year or so?...*snaps his fingers* the year will go off like that…cheer up kiddo!...you got a bright future ahead…don’t you wanna be known as the best dancer in your family, hm?...no offense Deepika…but…she is really good…” Vinay glanced at Deepika while side hugging the pouty faced Mrunal who thought about his words, zoning out.

She hummed a sigh and looked over at her parents nodding slowly, twisting her face. It amazed the family and friends on how this 21-year-old girl refused to grow up and wanted to be pampered a lot.

As the party got over with the usual slow dance on the floor by the youngster, one person was missing the party. Prisha was saddened at his absence, but knew his craze for the sport and smiled at the way Sanal hugged her tired self.

“…let’s have a long quiet bath and relax in the bathtub…you know I am missing our time together…*sigh*…what do you say?!” Sanal whispered to her who smiled weakly at his words but nodded as it was true.

Since the twins, they hardly had any time for each other. But Sanal did manage to cheer her up with his little massage session in between their midnight talks.

The Nair residence

Prisha and Sanal planned to stay in the Nair residence as they had their trip next day to Delhi for the academic seminar being held in the capital school of business.

Being the heads of their business school, it was pivotal for them to attend it to garner some latest info on the academic issues.

Latha and Sameer had a family function in their village which they could not avoid.

As the family members went one by one to their respective rooms to relax, Prisha heard the silent roar of the car making her shake her head at the boy.

Groans

Rajeev was rubbing off the bloodstains off his fingers onto his jeans pants to not let his mom go through another melting point with his night race madness.

“…you should apply some antiseptics…don’t you have them in your glove compartment, hm?...” Prisha caught the boy before he could descend to his room stealthy.

A thieving looking Rajeev bit his lower lip being caught red-handed by his Chech. He turned around smiling mischievously at her stance of keeping her hands on her hips, reminding him of his aunt, Latha.

As Prisha applied the antiseptic on his wounded hands, Rajeev replied “…sorry Chech I forgot the twins birthday…I was…*sigh*…. Really sorry Chech…please forgive me….”

Prisha kept the used cotton swap aside and looked at him poking her tongue.

“…I am not angry that you missed the twins birthday… I am angry at you not telling me…about your big race…we promised that we won’t hide anything from each other, hm?...well, I guess I should also listen to your Amma…that you are not our Raj anymore…you have become Rajeev…hm?”

Raj tsked at her taunt which his mom used to always tease him with.

“…Chech please…I said I am sorry…you know what…tomorrow, me, you and the twins…we all are going for a small treat in the Pastry House…what do you say?!” he then held her hand with his bandaged one and tried to convince his Chech, who twisted her face to not give up.

But he was her favourite cousin and moreover, she was grateful to him to pamper her twins and look after them when she would be busy with her chores.

The cousins laughed and bid goodnight to each other. Rajeev was happy that he was able to bring smile in his family’s face after the Delhi issue that jolted everyone to their core.

The most devasted and traumatised was his parents by the news and the revelations done by Vinay.

But thanks to the Panthera’s nick of the time warning, Duster and Nibbler were able to trace and capture the culprits. The Chopper left no crumbs for the police who had issued the warrant against the Tigris but nevertheless, El Rey knows how to handle the authorities as taught to him by his Guru and Mentor – Appupa Menon.

Ping!

‘I have kept your piece of cake in the fridge…’ he smiled at her message and went to have his cake secretly preserved by her, always.

As he ate his cake smilingly at the way she would always remember him and would take care to save the eateries at all the small to big functions.