Maha finally fell asleep that night.
One morning, the family was sitting together in the living room. The sun was shining through the windows, and everything seemed peaceful. Then, Raghu looked up from his newspaper.
"Maha," he said, "when will your exam results come out?"
Maha's POV
Oh no! Why did he have to bring up the results? Why, Nanna, why? I cried silently inside my head, making a fake crying face. I hated talking about results. It was the one topic that made my stomach do flips
.
Sanjana noticed Maha's distant look. "Maha, what are you thinking about, maa? Answer your Nanna. When is the result coming?"
Maha sighed, shoulders dropping. "Next week, Maa."
It wasn't that Maha was a bad student. She actually studied very hard and usually did well. But the word "Result" acted like a trigger for her. Even she didn't know why, but she always panicked. She knew she had written her exams well, but the nervousness followed her like a shadow.
"Okay," Raghu said, looking at her over his glasses. "Will you get good marks then?"
"I think I will get them, Nanna," Maha said, her voice small.
"I want good marks, Maha. Not just 'think' marks," Raghu said firmly.
Maha pouted. "Nanna, why are you scaring me? You know how much I hate this!"
Raghu couldn't keep a serious face anymore. He burst out laughing. "Nothing, maa! I am just kidding. I know your fear about results, so I like to pull your leg a little bit."
Maha muttered under her breath, "Everyone is the same... everyone just wants to make fun of me."
She thought she was speaking to herself, but Sanjana and Raghu heard her clearly. Raghu smiled. "Did anyone else make fun of you?"
"No," Maha said quickly, thinking of Rudra pulling her nose. "I am just saying."
Raghu tilted his head. "I think you forgot to do one thing this morning. Do you know what it is?"
Maha pointed a finger at herself, raising an eyebrow. "Me? What did I forget?"
"Yes, you! You forgot to give me my coffee."
Maha gasped. "Oh! But this is totally your fault, Nanna!"
"My fault?" Raghu asked, looking surprised.
"Yes! I prepared the coffee and kept it ready. But then you started talking about results, and I got so nervous that I totally forgot where I put it. So, it is 100% your fault."
Raghu laughed again. "I am sorry. But you know that without your coffee, I don't feel like it is a real morning."
Maha smiled, feeling better. "What about before I was born? How did you survive then?"
"Hmm," Raghu thought for a second. "Before you were born, your mother made coffee for me. But now, I prefer yours."
Maha looked at her mother. "It means you will leave Mom's coffee now?"
"No, no," Raghu said, trying to save himself. "I love her coffee, but I love your coffee just a little bit more."
Maha giggled and looked at Sanjana. "Amma, aren't you angry that Nanna likes my coffee more than yours?"
Sanjana smiled beautifully. "No, because it's true. Your coffee really is tastier than mine."
"But I like your tea more than anything!" Maha said, hugging her mother.
At the same time, in Rudra's house, things were also busy. Rudra was grabbing his bag and heading for the door.
"Maa, I am going!" Rudra called out.
"Rudra, wait!" Seetha shouted from the kitchen. She walked out with a stern look on her face. "Don't you dare step out of this house without eating. That is a warning."
"Maa, I am getting late. Try to understand, I have a meeting," Rudra said, checking his watch.
"I won't understand anything. Come and sit down right now," Seetha said.
"Maa, I have important work!"
"I don't care about your work," Seetha said firmly. "I care about my son's health. If you don't eat, you won't have the energy to work."
Ram, Rudra's father, looked up from his breakfast. "Rudra, listen to your mother. I know you are busy, but look at me I am the boss of the house, and even I listen to her."
Seetha glared at Ram, and he quickly looked back down at his plate. "Now, come and sit," she told Rudra.
Rudra finally gave up and sat at the table. Seetha didn't just give him a plate; she sat next to him and started to feed him with her own hands.
"Maa, I am not a kid," Rudra muttered, though he didn't pull away. "I can eat by myself."
"I know you are a grown man," Seetha said softly. "But I am a mother. I love to feed my children with my own hands. It doesn't matter how old you get."
Just then, Shiva and Lucky ran to the table. Seeing their mother feeding Rudra, they both made "puppy faces."
"Maa, what about us?" they asked together.
Seetha laughed at their silly faces and started feeding them too. Ram watched the scene with tears of happiness in his eyes. He felt lucky to have such a loving family. After finishing, Rudra kissed his mother's hand and left for work.
Later that day, Seetha walked over to Sanjana's house. The two friends sat together to talk.
"Sanjana, when should we go to the temple?" Seetha asked.
"I think we should go next week," Sanjana replied. "My husband has a lot of work this week, so next week is better."
"NO!"
Three voices shouted at the same time. It was Maha, Lucky, and Shiva. The two mothers jumped in surprise.
"What? What happened?" Seetha asked.
"Maa, you people just went to the temple recently!" Shiva complained. "Why do you want to go again?"
"What is wrong with going to the temple, Shiva?" Sanjana asked.
Lucky stepped forward. "Athaya, there is nothing wrong with the temple. But you both make us walk around the temple so many times! Our legs hurt! We don't want to come."
Maha and Shiva nodded their heads fast. "Yes, no walking!"
Seetha laughed. "Okay, okay! Don't make those faces. Sanjana and I will go together. You three don't have to come. Stay here and relax."
The three friends looked at each other, smiled, and gave each other a high-five.
By evening, Maha was craving something spicy.
"Shiva, I want to go out! Come with me," Maha said.
"I can't, Maha. I'm busy," Shiva replied.
Seetha walked in. "What is the argument about now?"
"See, Seetha? I want to eat Pani-Puri. My mom said I can only go if Shiva or Rudra comes with me. But Shiva is being lazy and saying no!"
"Maa, I really have work to finish," Shiva argued.
Just then, the front door opened. Rudra walked in. He looked tired but strong. "What is happening here?" he asked in a stern voice.
Shiva grinned. "What perfect timing, Annayya! Maha wants Pani-Puri. You can take her."
Maha's eyes went wide. "Huh? Oh... no. It's okay. I don't need to go. I'll stay here."
"Why?" Seetha asked. "You were just begging to go. Rudra, take Maha to the Pani-Puri stall."
Rudra looked at Maha's nervous face. "Okay, Maa," he said simply.
The car ride was very quiet. Maha sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window. She felt shy being alone with him after the hallway incident.
"Bava, stop here!" Maha said suddenly.
Rudra pulled the car over. "Why here?"
"The Pani-Puri at this stall is the best in the city. Come on!"
They walked to the small stall. The smell of spicy water and fried dough was everywhere. "Anna, two plates of Pani-Puri," Maha said excitedly.
"I don't want any," Rudra said. "You eat."
Maha looked at him like he had said something crazy. "What? Are you saying no to Pani-Puri?"
"Yes. I don't usually eat street food," Rudra said.
"But it tastes so good! Just try it, Bava. Please?"
Rudra shook his head. "I don't want to."
"Fine, your loss," Maha said. "Anna, add extra spices to mine!"
Rudra stood back and watched her. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was wearing a simple pink dress and a very small bindi on her forehead. She looked beautiful. He watched the way she ate she looked like a happy little baby, enjoying every bite.
Maha finished one and then picked up another one. She turned and moved her hand toward Rudra's mouth. She wanted him to taste it. Rudra looked at the Pani-Puri, then at her hopeful eyes. He leaned in and ate it.
As he did, Maha's fingers accidentally brushed against his lips. The touch was light, but it felt like fire. Maha quickly looked down, her face turning a deep shade of pink. She was blushing hard. Rudra saw her blush and felt a small, secret smile grow on his face.
They finished and got back into the car. The ride home was silent, but it wasn't an awkward silence. It was a sweet one.
That night, Rudra lay in bed, remembering the way Maha looked while eating and the way she blushed when she touched his lips.
Rudra's POV
She is so innocent, he thought.
She is like a child.
I think someone is imagining their love... his subconscious mind teased.
No, it's not love, Rudra argued. She is just a family friend. She is childish. I know it's not love.
Yes, sure. Keep telling yourself that, the voice in his head mocked. I'm feeling sad for you. When will you understand your feelings? When will I finally be able to call her 'my Maha'?
She is not 'my Maha'! Stop disturbing me! Rudra thought angrily.
Slowly, Rudra dozed off into a deep sleep. He was happy and peaceful. But he had no idea that a dark shadow was moving toward them. A big storm was coming a secret or an event so big that it would shatter both families and leave everyone scattered.
The peace was about to end.