"Poornitha I need to do some payments, I will be back soon you wait in the car." said Rakshan throwing his car keys to me, which I eventually missed to catch.

Picking up the car keys, I got into the car, turned on the music and started listening to it.

Rakshan came back in about 20 minutes. "Sorry for the delay!!" he said and got in.

"It's ok!!"

"So then what else Hitler?"

"Tired really tired. Feel like getting on my bed immediately."

"Sleep anyways it will take time for us to drive home."

***Phone Rings***

"Hey it's my friend's call, can you turn off the music.?"

"Sure." he came up but by the time I had already got into the conversation with Aakriti.

She had called me to inform me about a call for interview with the NDTV Group. I was literally jumping within in a big pool of happiness on listening to that.

"What happened any good news?? You look so excited!"

"I got a call for interview from the NDTV Group!!! OMG!! This is amazing isn't it!??"

"Ohh yeah it is indeed. Congratulations!!"

"Thank-you so much!! I never expected this. Look, I did not apply for a job with them but, they themselves have called me!! I don't know how this happened."

"Maybe they felt that your work is worth!! Not like your old khadoos boss!!"

"Nothing of that sort would have happened!! Aakriti must have done it."

"Inform about it to Swadhintha. She will be very happy."

"Yeah, I will tell her but not on call, I need to see her reaction. So I will inform her when I reach home. Very excited!"

"Ok Madam as you wish."

As I was out of Mumbai, Aakriti received the letter, and called me to inform about it. After some time I got a call from the NDTV group for the conformation about the interview. They asked me to attend an interview with them on the 3rd of January. Which means #NONEWYEARPARTY. Well the job is more important. They had also informed me that Aakriti was the one who submitted my resume. So sweet of her!!

"So what plans?? Are you leaving to Mumbai in a few days??"

"No idea about that. First of all I must inform this to my family. Then will see what happens!"

"All the best!"

"Thank-you Rakshan!! And yeah by the way, why did you volunteer yourself to drop me home??"

"Just like that. Nothing specific. Morning you said, that you have some issues with Sushant, so I thought it would be better if I drop you."

"Thanks once again."

"Come on Poornitha how many thank-yous will you give me??"

"Aaahhh.. Well.."

"It's better if we become friends!"

"Ok! Friends." I agreed with him and we had a formal handshake.

"So when are you throwing a party for getting a new job??"

"They have just called me for an interview, mustn't be so excited. Let the job get confirmed after that maybe we look forward for the party."

"Ok as you say."

Soon we reached home, and it was time for us to part.

"Poornitha, I am leaving to Cochin tomorrow, for that Competition!"

"Ohh is it for that VOI(Voice Of India) Competition?? All the best!"

"Yeah the same. Thank-you!!"

"When will you get back??"

"May be in 3-4 days. I am not sure. Till then can we be in touch?? I mean through phone??"

"Yeah sure.. my no. is ********** . Happy Journey. All the best once again!"

"Thank-you so much! See You.. Take care.."

"Bye.."

"Bubyee!!"

As soon as I entered the hall I shouted and called for everyone. "Akka, Appa, Amma come soon, all come fast. I want you all in the hall right now.."

"What is it Poornitha..??" shouted Appa from the bedroom downstairs.

"You come fast, then I will let you know." I said.

All of them assembled in the hall, on my call. I stood in middle and broke the news.

"I got an interview call from the NDTV Group!" I said and screamed out of excitement. All others too joined me.

"Congratulations Poovu. God Bless you!" said Amma.

"Congratulations little one!" said Appa and hugged me.

I went near my Patti(Grandma) touched her feet and received her blessings.

Abhi, Rigesh, my Aunties and Uncles all wished me good luck for my interview.

"I am so happy for you Poovu!! Congo Baby!" said Akka.

"Thank-you Akka!"

I felt so satisfied on seeing my parents smile like this. My interview call had made their day.

"Go fresh up and come. Jaya Perima will be arriving at any time. Come on go soon." said Amma as she pushed me upstairs.

Well actually I needed it. I entered my room took my casuals to change and jumped into the bathroom. Oops I forgot to put on the music!! Music is my life. I can't live without listening to them. I came out and switched on the stereo system and jumped into the bathroom again. Very soon I took bath, changed to a ptiyalaa pant and a short kurti and came out.

I made a few twists to the song, gripped my phone from the dressing table and drowned into my bed. I just felt like sleeping, nothing else was going on in my mind.

*Notification Tone*

1 Like for your DP and Status..!!

This was the message what I got from a new number.

<<Could you be kind enough to revel your identity..!? >> I typed this message in the WhatsApp chat box and sent it to the same number.

Soon the double blue ticks appeared, and the words typing... came on top, below the phone number.

Rakshan Menon..! The one in your DP!! :P

Ohhh hie.. Sorry!!

Sorry for what..??

For having your pic as my DP without your permission!

lol!! Stop kidding!! That's alright you are also there in that pic!!

You really look cute Juliet..! :D :P

This was little weird for me. I was expecting him to burst on me for the DP thing but he didn't. On the other hand he spoke so calmly. May be that really did not matter much to him.

Thank-you Ms. Hitler!!! And did you tell your parents about the NDTV interview..??

Yeah I told them they were very happy!!

Hmm that's good.! so what else..??

You tell..!! Done with your packing..?

Nothing much to pack just a few clothes. We guys don't carry the whole house with us like you girls usually do..!!

Ohhhooo!! Mind what you speak..!! We carry only the essential things with us..!! You guys tend to forget many things and then wonder what to do..!!

You mean your essential things get packed in 2-3 suitcases..!!

Ohh stop it..!! As if you carry them..!!

Ok Ok.>!!! This would go on..!!! Let's put a break to it now itself..!!

Fine..! [Thumbs up Emoji]

Can I call you..??

Yeah sure..!!

He called me and before a ring could end I attended it.

Hieeee!!!

Hellooo!!!

What are you doing..?

Aaa just having a walk on the terrace, and enjoying the cool evening breeze. And you..??

Enjoying the same cool evening breeze from my balcony..!!

*Barking sounds from the other side.*

Hey you have pet dogs..??

Well yeah!! Hannah and Oscar!!

Ohh really.! Cute names. German Shepherd..??

Yeah exactly..!! How did you guess that??

The loud barking of-course!! Well personally, I like Golden Retriever!! They look more cute..!

Ohh! Alright..!! Do you have any pets..??

No man!! I am not lucky enough to own them!! My parents don't like dogs..!!

Some other pets..??

I am not interested in any other pets other than dogs..!!

It was getting colder outside, so I got in and closed the balcony door!! I took a pillow in hand, hugging it lay on my bed.

· • ● Rakshan ● • ·

Hmm OK..!! Then..!?? I asked.

What else to tell..?? she replied.

Watched any new movies..??

Aaa.. Not many..!! You..?

Same here..!!

Dead tired..!!

You don't mind talking na..??

No I don't..!!

Then it's fine!

What's the song you have planned to sing in the next level of the competition??

Umm Don part 1, not Bachchan ji's SRK's..

Yeah yeah I've watched it..

A Song from that movie. That Pan song.

Ohh ok. All the best again! -she softly hummed the song, but I pretended as if I did not hear it.

Thank-you!!

Hmm ok then.. What are your hobbies..??

Hello..!!!??

Poornitha are you there..??

Hello...!! Can you here me..???

Poornitha..!!???

I kept on calling her but she did not turn up. May be a usual network problem, Or may be she was busy, or may be she was in a trouble. Huh... in a trouble being home!?? That shouldn't happen. All of a sudden she is out of the conversation. Or maybe she slept off!! I just hope things are alright.

"Hello Rakshan?" someone said or maybe whispered from the other side when I was about to disconnect the call.

Yeah who is this?? Where is Poornitha?

"Swadhintha here!!"

Ohh Swadhu... hie.. I was talking to Poornitha.. I don't know what happened all of a sudden, she left the conversation. All well.??

"Nothing to worry.. She is snoring in her deep sleep." Swadhu whispered again.

Ohh ok.. she said she was tired!

"I will ask her to call you back when she is up!"

Well then..Thank-you! Bye Swadhu, Take care..!!

Bye Rakshan. Take care.

There wasn't anything serious, to worry about. Poornitha was just sleeping. I only went into all those stupid thoughts.

After about 2 hours Krish came home. Amma asked me to come down, instead I asked Krish to join me upstairs. I was busy with my guitar, practicing for the competition.

"Hey bud!! All set for the competition??" Krish asked me as he got in.

"Yeah I am almost done. Practicing again and again." I replied.

"All well na?? Why do you sound so low..??" Krish asked as he took the bean bag to sit.

"Nothing dude.! As usual, Mom wants me to get married! She is comparing you and me."

"What's a big deal in getting married?? Agree with her that's it." he said.

How to explain this idiot that I don't wish to get married now. There is lots I've to do. Make myself a place in the Music Industry. Do something great and make my Appa proud of it. Create a platform where he can be honored as well. All the dreams that my Appa had will now be fulfilled by me, and only after that I can think of myself.

"Forget about it! You tell me, are you aware that there is some misunderstanding between Poornitha and Sushant..?" I asked, and changed the topic.

"Yeah I know. But how did you get to know that?"

"Poornitha gave me an idea about it. She just said, they have an issue. What issue I don't know."

"Well actually that's a big one. It will take time." he said.

"Never mind tell na.."

"They had a fight, a serious one when they were kids. They don't talk to each-other after that." he tried to finish it short.

"What was the fight for??" I asked as I wanted to know the whole thing.

"Poornitha isn't Krishnan Uncle and Uma Aunty's own daughter. I mean I am not supposed to tell that but.. just to bring this to your knowledge.. umm.. she is their adopted child."

"What?? Are you kidding?? Stop fooling Krish!!"

"I am serious.>!!! She is my sister, I am not going to lie about her." he said with a stern look.

"But how come, Poornitha??"

"Yeah Uncle found her in a temple and brought her home. They adopted her legally after few months. Sushant was initially very close to Poornitha during their childhood, but after that he started feeling, all ignore him because of Poornitha. He started hating her and one day in anger, shouted at her reveling that she was an orphan. She never knew it before. Both of them stayed away from each-other for years. They didn't talk at all after that, no conversations among them."

"So this is the issue. And this has been going on since years.. isn't it??"

"Yeah! Two decades now."

"How can a brother be so stone hearted..??" I said.

"The actual problem is, recently Sushant tried to talk to her, he was sorry for all that he had done, and wanted to apologies to her. She disliked that. She had almost forgiven him in her heart but, what he is doing now is making her hate him even more!!"

"But he just wants to apologies right... What is bothering her in that case??" I asked confused.

"I don't know. May be still the past act of his is hurting her... Or that feeling of not being related to the family internally disturbs her. Definitely it would be difficult for her to forgive Sushant!!" said Krish.

"Yeah!! I understand. But in-spite of all this, she lives a cheerful life isn't it..?? She takes good care of all the family members. She has an excellent bonding with all of them. Must appreciate her in that case."

"Hmm.."

"But I still can't believe it.."

Krish let out a huge sigh and said, "I too can't. Don't discuss this thing with Poornitha, if she realizes that we know about it, she maybe hurt."

"How did you come to know about this??"

"Swadhintha told me. That day when we were discussing about the party on the day of our Engagement."

"Ohh ok. Yeah fine I will not talk about this to her, and will not let her know that I know this too."

· • ● Poornitha ● • ·

I woke up after a nice, relaxing sleep of 2 hours. I even had a cute dream in this sleep. Like with my husband.,.

"Ms.Poornitha, wake-up!! Perima is waiting downstairs to see you." said Akka, almost shaking me.

"Akka... You spoiled it again.. I forgot the dream that I had. You are too bad Akka." I said as I threw a pillow at her.

"Hey.. what.. As if you were dancing with your boy-friend in your dream." she teased.

"Yeah almost." I said and blushed, for which my cheeks automatically turned pink.

"Akka listen. . this morning when I left telling you that I would come to the hotel on my own, Abhi and Riki were they ok with it?? They must have questioned you about it right? What did you tell them..?" I asked.

"Yeah they did ask me and Sonu was the one who was very much worried!" said Akka.
(Sonu is Sushant's pet name. Hope you are not confused).

"Kick Sonu out of this and tell the rest."

"I said that you have some work on the way and would come after doing it. They agreed with it." said Akka.

"And you quietly asked Rakshan to pick me.. You are soo..."

"Sooo what..?? What uhh..??? There are so many rascals on the road, you think I would leave you alone!!" Akka said hitting me with a pillow.

"Alright!"

"Well I think you should talk to Sonu and clear up everything. I mean. . . . "

Akka was telling something but I cut her statement saying, "Why should I talk to him? So many years, did he care about me?? Did he think of apologizing?? What has happened to him all of a sudden? There is something fishy in this, I am telling you, trust me!"

"Poornitha try to understand! Fishy.. Tushy and all! The way you both behave brings in lots of doubts for the new-comers. Why ain't you understanding that?" she said.

"What do you mean?? Don't tell me Jiju!"

"Exactly..!!"

"Ohh Damn!! Ok fine. I will talk to Jiju and explain it to him. I don't mind telling it to his family also."

"On our Engagement evening, when you walked out of the conversation, without taking Sonu's words, Krish asked me what had happened..? I wasn't willing to tell him everything, but I had no other go!"

"That means Jiju knows everything??"

"Yeah! He knows that you are the most lovely princess of our family!!" she said and neared me for a hug.

"Akka!!" I said, and pulled myself close to her to hug her. We cried on each-other's shoulders. I never think myself not being a part of this family. I feel so attached to them all. They really love me and care a lot for me.

We pulled back and Akka wiped my tears. "Thank-you so much Akka, though we don't have a blood relation, you . . . "

Akka cut my words, "Stop it.!! Blood relation is not important, heart to heart relation only matters!! And we have that already! Sisters with one single heart!!" she said that and we got into a hug once again.

"Never ever say or think that you are not one in the family, ok. You were our Poovu!! And you will be our Poovu forever. Even when your prince charming takes you to a fairyland."

"Thank-you Akka.. I love you.."

Soon Akka took out her phone to take a selfie. We clicked a few and she said, "Doll, Rakshan wanted to talk to you. You slept off while talking to him."

Damn! I bit my nails worriedly.

"Are you professional friends that you need to maintain formal-ness?? Just friends na.. or something more than that..??" she asked looking at me from the corner of her eyes.

"Lovers in a day!" I said with a love sick feeling on my face. Just teasing Akka the way she does to me.

"Congratulations." she replied knowing what I said was not true. "Make sure you are in the Drawing room in 10 minutes! If not Perima will be here and listen to our senseless talks." she said and gave me a flying kiss.

"Ok!!!" I said and returned her the sweetest kiss I had stored.

I tried to call Rakshan, after Akka left but his line was busy. So I decided to go down and see Perima. I saw her and spent some time talking with her. She had got a few nail colors for me, from the Duty Free and a pretty looking blue color handbag!!! She is actually very good. Exceptionally at times when she expects us to have some essential traditional values.

***At Night***

The dinner was ready so all of us gathered in the dining hall. I went to the balcony that was adjacent to the dinning hall to attend Rakshan's call. We spoke for about 15 minutes, and after that I came back to the dinning table to have my dinner.

I finished my dinner soon, and went to Amma's bedroom where all the ladies were busy discussing about something that did not grab my interest.

It had been a long time, since I had had some mischievous fun. Real fun!! Without Akka that would not be possible.

"Akka. . . . .shall we go on a ride..?" I asked her in gestures.

"Now.. ..?? I guess its too risky." she gestured back.

"Come on Akka stop being serious.. .. Lets have some fun!! Come on..!!" I said as I pulled her out of Amma's room.

"Ok come anyways, it's been long time since we both had such night outs." she added.

We went into our rooms and changed to a jean and shirt. That would be more comfortable for a ride we thought. I wore a red jean and blue shirt. Akka on the other hand, wore a maroon jean, a black tee, and a black jerkin of-course. While on a ride she would always prefer to look like a rider.

"Poovu you quietly go get to bike keys, I will wait for you in the garage."

"Ok. Be careful, don't get caught." I said.

I went into the living room, and looked for the keys, they were placed on the right side of the T.V. I took them, and sneaked out quietly, without anyone's knowledge. It was Abhi's bike on which we decided to take a ride and he is always careless with his belongings, this bike key also. THANK-GOD!! No-one saw me!!! I ran to the garage as soon as possible. "Akka here . . . .catch the keys.." I said as I threw the keys at her.

"Superb little girl. You made it as-usual." she said and gave me a helmet to wear.

We drove out of the house on Abhi's bike with a heavy sound! I am sure Abhi is going to have a hell of time scolding us for taking his bike without his knowledge.

"Where to go Poovu?"

"Uhh.. Raju Bhai's Pani Poori Stall!! Lets go there first."

"Ok.." she said and changed the gear to the 4th and speeded up.

"Riding Duke is real fun isn't it?? Enjoying after so many months!"

"Yes honey.. you are right." I said and gripped her, so that I don't loose my balance.

It was about 25 minutes' ride to Raju Bhai's stall. All the way we had so much of fun, roaming about in the streets at 11:00 under the fluorescent lights of the night, no-body to stop us, we felt like flying in the sky like free birds!! I always love to go on rides, and when it is with Akka, it gives me a different pleasure. I would really miss all this when she gets married.

"Breathing this chill air with you after a long time!! It's refreshing! You are the best riding partner Poovu."

"I missed all this when in Mumbai you know!!"

"I also! Yeah!!! We have finally arrived doll!!"

"Raju bhai!!!" we shouted in unison and went near his stall.

"Aree bacho.. Seeing you after so long time. Kaha thee aap dono?? (Hey children, seeing you after a long time. Where were you both?)

"Bhaiya, we were in Mumbai!! Job and all!! Aapko boohot miss kiya.. apke pani poori ko khas! (We missed you a lot, especially your pani pooris!)

"Ok, now come I will make special pani pooris for you both!"

I went on fidgeting with my phone till Raju bhai made the pani pooris. We had random talks with him as well.

"Chalo, your pani pooris are ready. Enjoy them." he said as he gave us the plates.

We thought we were the only ones roaming about, at this hour of the night on roaring bikes. Someone else also seemed to be on roaring bikes at a distance. Very soon a classy black R15 came and halted right in-front of us. They were 2 men dressed in black. They were men for sure, I could say from their physic. They were completely covered from head to toe in black, so we did not know who they were. I am brave enough to kick them but, definitely deep inside me there was a small bit of fear.

One of those guy sat on his bike seat, and the other stood opposite to him. Both of them went on talking. They were quiet far from us so we couldn't hear what they spoke. We forgot them and continued with our pani pooris, and the usual talks with Raju Bhai! We spent lot of time with Raju Bhai as we were seeing him after a long time. We spoke about Mumbai Stuffs, Akka's engagement, and all. He also told us about his young naughty sons. It was fun getting back to him after so many days. Finally after about 45 minutes of talk we decided to leave.

One of those men who drove the bike got down and came close to Akka. She gripped my hand in fear, as he neared us.

He opened his jacket pulled out a rose and said, "Happy birthday Swadhintha!!!" The other boy who was with him, popped a popper and all the colorful ribbons came down on us!! I knew it was Jiju.

"Krish???? Thank. . . ." Akka came up to speak but I cut her.

"Jiju!! Noo!! Go away.. I told you isn't it that I would wish her first!" I said and pushed him.

"Happy birthday Cuuteee Pieee!!!" I said and hugged her.

"Thank-you Poovu!! And Thank-you Krish!!"

"Jiju...!!!!" I said and looked at him in anger by the time he had removed his helmet.

"Poornitha.. Sorry but, here after you will have to share your loving Akka with me!!!" said Jiju.

"Alright, but in few days!" I replied him.

"Happy birthday Swadhintha!!!" said the other boy and removed his helmet. Awwww this is Rakshan!!!

"Thank-you Rakshan!!" said Akka.

I knew that these to would come here but I wasn't aware that they would carry a scary look!! I mean the way they were dressed in black was really scary. We had planned lots for Akka's birthday. Rakshan went close to his bike and brought the cake. She cut the cake and both Akka and Jiju fed each-other. Rakshan and I stood wondering what to do amidst this romantic couple!!

"Happy Birthday to your Akka!!!" said Rakshan and brought his hand near my mouth to feed me the cake.

"Akka's birthday!! Why are you feeding me?"

"Now that they are busy with each-other we must find a way out ourselves!!!"he said. "Have it!!" he said again showing me the cake piece.

I ate it quietly and thanked him for it.

"Here take this.. now your turn!" I said and fed Rakshan with the cake.

"Thank-you!!" he said.

"Ok Akka.. there is lots for the night.. go with Jiju have fun!! Enjoy your birthday, and make this birthday the most memorable one." I said Akka and hugged her bye.

"You both.?? Aren't you both joining us..?" she asked.

"What are we kids supposed to do amidst adults??" said Rakshan, he is really notorious.

"Kids!! Who?? We?? lol!!! Good joke..!!" I said and punched him on his stomach.

"You both better leave, the program is too long and it will take time for you all to finish it!!" said Rakshan.

"Ok bubyee!! Take care both of you!!" said Jiju as he put his hand on Akka's shoulder and went to their bike.

"Thank-you so much both of you. Love you Poovu. Thanks Kutty.. Take care.. Be safe Ok.. Rakshan please see to it that both of you are safe." said Akka, sitting on Jiju's black monster and disappeared into the dark night.

Raju Bhai had already left home after packing all the things, pushing his cart. Now Rakshan and I were the only ones in that dark, desolated place under the moon-light and the dim florescent light which was far away, its presence anyhow did not make much difference. It was kind of a hilly area, where very less people would come during the day. This place had a tea shop and Raju Bhai's Chat shop that's it. There was a wall kind of thing at the side ends of the roads, as the area after that was quiet deep and if a person accidentally falls from there may end up his life. We both went and cautiously sat on those walls.

Rakshan gave me a shake after sometime.. and I almost lost control and ended up screaming! I gripped up Rakshan's hand after that.

"Stop playing with my breath!! Don't do that again.. Please!" I begged him like a cry baby.

"Ok Ok!! I won't.. sorry." he said and tugged my hand in his.

We sat hand-in-hand for some-time and after that I spoke up.."If this had happened to be a scene from a Bollywood movie, then the hero and heroine..-"

"Would have been like this!" he ended the statement by pulling me on his lap, so as to show a romantic scene.

"Why in such a position?? Why not sitting away from each other??"

"You meant the protagonists, right?? Then they need to be in love and in such a romantic place who would wish to loose an opportunity to be romantic with their love-partner??"

"I think you are mistaken.. I did not mean you and me! I meant Akka and Jiju as the protagonists. Well forget it!"

"I am getting bored, sitting idle. Lets talk something.. Do you read Nicholas Sparks's novels??"

"I am not a bookaholic!"

"Do you even know who he is??"

"I think I don't need to, when I don't wish to."

"Not like that Poornitha..-"

"Rakshan please talk something else!"

"Uhh.. Truth or Dare??"

"NO!"

"Why are you so rude??"

"Tell me about your family.. 5 of you!! If must be fun isn't it??"

"Ohh man.. why can't you bring in some interesting topic to discuss?? Family!!? Ok see there's no fun in having 5 members in a family. It's the same as others. So nothing to tell about my family."

"Was there a need for you to be rude!?"

"You've watched Tangled??"

"Yes I have. I loved that movie."

"Me too! One of my sister's daughter is 5 years old. She had a fancy dress competition in her school, and my sister dressed her like Tangled Rapunzel." he said and showed me the girl's pictures on his phone.

"Aww wow.. she is so pretty. Little doll!"

"Haha ya!"

"Babies are always cute.. and fancy dress.. that's the best way where we can dress-up kids!"

"Hmm yup! Everyday is a fancy dress while dressing them." he replied and with that we remained quiet for some time.

We just looked at the dark sky and tried to guess the stars and planes in them.

"Well, why are we sitting here?? We could have gone home isn't it??"

"Ohh yeah. Well this place is so good that nobody would feel like leaving."

"More scary and less Romantic! Come lets leave."

He laughed.

"What do you think Akka and Jiju must be doing now??" I asked.

"Well if things are going on according to our plan they should have reached that boating spot, and should have had their boating, and after spending some-time with each-other over there under the moon light they should move on for a ride!! As on the ride they should. . . . . .

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Authors Note:

A small note of wishes to my close buddy, Rashika_ as she celebrates her birthday TODAY!! (15-05-2016)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Rashika_MAY GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS WONDERFUL DAY!!

ENJOY LIKE THERE IS NO END.. AND FEAR NOT ALL YOUR PROBLEMS WILL

VANISH SOON!!! #NeverEndingLove #BestiesForever #SistersWithOneHeart!! I will be there

to support you always!! All the best..!! And just for today I am steeling your

signature words>> KEEP SMILING!!!

Love 💕 👭 💕

Krysan_m :) :)