'To the 'not so innocent' readers,

I did something naughty in this chapter. Point it out and get a follow from me! If you know, you know~

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I'm not asking you to give me money or stuff, just press the small star icon. Even a single vote makes my day. So, my wish for this new year is to reach 6k votes. Would you help me achieve this? To my darling Voters, if you forgot to vote on any chapters, please do!

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Writer's pov:

The lush green trees swayed softly under the horizon of the afternoon sky, then the wind howled, creating a harsh hissing sound in the calm atmosphere, giving the impression of calm before the storm.

Sitting on the college terrace compound, Harshitha sighed, leaning against the wall as she waited for Vihaan and Dhanya to finish talking. The two of them have been 'speaking' for almost an hour in the corner.

Seriously she didn't expect them to take so much time over just 'talking' about their next date. If she knew she would be hearing her best friend giggle and Vihaan's flirtatious remarks, she would have stayed in the class instead of third-wheeling.

The irony, isn't it? Last week, Dhanya was in her place as she accompanied them to a cafe. Now she understood how Dhanya felt when she and Vikram went out with Dhanya.

It's been a month since Dhanya and Vihaan began dating, and oh boy! They have been attached to hips since then. If only Vikram was here, they would have gone on a double date, but Vikram and his friend were in Bangalore for their internship. So, she is stuck with them for a while until Vikram returns.

Harshitha cleared her throat to remind them of her presence when she heard Dhanya's squeal, followed by Vihaan's chuckle. They have been like this for an hour, cheesy pickup lines, cringe-worthy replies, and some diabetic sweet stuff.

She didn't know her younger cousin had these in him, but he wouldn't be Vikram's brother if he didn't have these traits, right? Moreover, Radha is the definition of a hopeless romantic! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

On the other side of town, sitting on the couch, Radha sneezed loudly. 'Who is thinking about me? Maybe Sivakumar? Aww, hubby! I should call him!'

Harshitha hummed, closing her eyes to enjoy the breeze as she waited for them to finish their talk.

After a few minutes, hearing Dhanya's heels tapping on the concrete, the black-eyed beauty turned to see her best friend approaching with Vihaan hot on her heels. Vihaan waved at them and hurried to his last class.

"So, how is he treating you? All, okay?" Harshitha raised her brow at her lovestruck best friend as they watched him run down the stairs, almost dashing against the person walking opposite him.

"He-

"Don't answer that! Wrong question." Harshitha exclaimed; her lips raised in a smirk as the brunette looked at her doubtfully. "How are you treating him? My cousin is an innocent baby! You're the devil one here!"

"That's a fax!" Dhanya laughed loudly. Her red lipstick-tinted mouth opened wildly, flashing all 32 teeth as she smacked Harshitha on the shoulder playfully. Remembering Vihaan's stunned face when she hugged him today, her laugh intensified double fold, her loud laugh swallowed by the howling wind while an amused Harshitha stared at her.

Knowing her friend, she wouldn't stop laughing for now. Harshitha descended the stairs as a grinning Dhanya followed her to the canteen. The best friends looked around the canteen to find a table.

"There! They are getting up now." Harshitha quickly pointed at the table where a group of boys was picking up their bags off the table. Dhanya nodded and took the bags off her best friend's shoulder while Harshitha walked to the food counter to order snacks for them.

After placing the order, Harshitha stood near the counter while waiting for the lady to prepare their food. She smiled when Vikram's school classmate walked past her with her friends.

One of the girls raised her brow playfully and asked, "Lunch with boyfriend?" The girl was one of their mutual friends when studying at school. Anjali was the first girl in Vikram's class who came to know about their relationship, and the next moment she was standing before her class, looking for Harshitha.

At first, Harshitha panicked and thought she was here to tease or bully but was proved wrong when Anjali hugged her the moment she stood before her as Anjali asked her about the detail while amused Vikram stood in the distance watching them.

"Nah, he went to Bangalore. Came with a friend," Harshitha smiled, pointing at their table where Dhanya was cleaning the table with a tissue, her face scrunched up in disgust. Guess the boy earlier dirtied the table while eating and left without cleaning. 'Eww, no manners.' Harshitha sighed, shaking her head.

"Adaney pathen. He wouldn't even allow you to stand at the counter, afraid your leg would hurt." Anjali teased, her smile expanding when Harshitha closed her eyes shyly and smiled.

"Don't you have class now?" Harshitha changed the topic, a chuckle escaping when Anjali hugged her goodbye tightly and rushed out. Anjali is a hugger, and she gives the warmest hug.

"No-69, your order!"

"Here!" Harshitha thanked the lady and carried the food to see Dhanya silently cursing as she stared at a boy who picked their bag and dumped it on their now clean table before dragging away the empty chair opposite her without permission.

The most common thing that happens in the canteen is a chair fight. If a chair is unoccupied, someone will be quick to take it before anyone would. What if it was reserved for a friend?! At least one should have the courtesy to ask before taking it away.

"Leave it," Harshitha coaxed her upset friend by sliding the plate of french fries towards her. She grinned when Dhanya blew her a kiss and dug into the fries eagerly.

"So, when is Vikram anna returning?" The brunette asked, her eyes flicking from her fries to her friend, who sat in deep thoughts.

"Not sure yet; when we last spoke, he said they were planning to stay for another week. His friends had planned bungee jumping, rafting, and some other adventure stuff for this week. In short, they are trying to utilize the trip to the fullest before their final exam." Harshitha explained, resting her elbow on the table, but Dhanya quickly knocked her hands off the table.

"Yuck, don't place your hands there, the idiots before spilled food and drink on it," Dhanya warned softly, passing a tissue. "Bungee jumping, seriously? I'm jealous!"

"So am I." Harshitha breathed, shrugging nonchalantly, as she scrolled through photos to show her. Even though Vikram was busy with his internship, he made sure to call her once a day, but the call would be cut short for time reasons, or someone would interrupt them. It's been a week since they spoke for more than 2 minutes without interruption. Now, with their exams coming next month, she has assignments and records piling up to complete before that, so it's going to be a busy semester.

"I forgot to ask about this! What happened to that Arjun?" Dhanya enquired, leaning forward as she observed her friend's expression. Harshitha froze for a moment when she heard his name. Dhanya quickly caught her friend's hand that reached up on her neck to fiddle with her chain whenever she got uneasy.

"He— Dhanya squeezed her hand in reassurance when Harshitha hesitated, her lips quivering in a small smile. "He was admitted to rehab for intake of drugs again."

"Again?" Dhanya whispered and moved close to Harshitha's chair when she sensed her shivering.

"Yeah. After we gave a complaint, the police followed along and took Arjun for inquiry, but his parents submitted his history of rehabilitation and doctor report for his mental instability. Two years back, he was arrested for involvement in selling drugs to school students, and then they found he was mentally unstable, so they sent him to rehabilitation. But his parents pulled some strings and got him out in three months. Fearing he might relapse, they shifted back to Pollachi-" Harshitha scoffed, her skin still crawled, remembering his disgusting hands. " -but looks like it doesn't work out. And here we are."

"Shit!" Dhanya exhaled, wrapping her arms around Harshitha in comfort. Her heartbeat quickened as her brain processed the information.

"Indeed."

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On the other side of town, PSG.

Under the scalding sun, a team of cricket players stood in a circle as they listened to their captain speak. As their captain, Hari stood in the middle while instructing his team members for their upcoming final game. His eyes narrowed in concentration as he detailed their opponent team's strengths and weaknesses.

This game is important. One because it's the first-time Vihana is going to watch him play in college, not that she would love him any less if they lost, but he wants to do something for her. Maybe dedicate his last runs to her. And two, it's his last game before he separates ways from his team. The team that stood with him in the worst and best moments of his college life.

"That's all for today. Please don't drink for a week. I don't want any of my players looking like a zombie for the game! Understood?" Hari exclaimed, his eyes glancing at his teammates as everyone nodded.

"Yup!"

"Okay, dismissed!" Hari waited for a moment, staring at his teammates as they sprinted to the changing room to get in the shower first.

Taking a quick shower, Hari walked out of the shower room. A smile slowly bloomed on his face when he caught sight of a figure sitting under the tree. The person waved, beckoning him to come as she smiled at him gently.

His heart skipped a beat every time she smiled at him, reminding him to work harder and keep going in life so he would achieve his goals and ask her hand in marriage in the next ten years.

"You worked hard, captain. Here let me give you something to drink." Vihana praised, passing the water bottle to him when he plopped down next to her. Swallowing a few mouthfuls, he washed his face with the remaining freshwater. Hari's lashes flickered as he searched for his towel inside his bag, the water dripping off his chin, drenching the fresh shirt he put on just after his shower.

"Here" A hand holding a dupatta came to his vision. He looked up to see Vihana signaling him to wipe it off with her dupatta. After a moment of hesitation, Hari asked, "Are you sure? I don't wanna wet your clothes."

"Ugh! Just wipe it off, and it's just a dupatta!" Giving her a smile in appreciation, he softly dabbed his face with it, the fabric lightly carrying her perfume causing him to pause a moment and inhale.

"So, what were you doing till now?" Hari asked, leaning back against the tree as he looked at his girlfriend, who excitedly opened her mobile to show him.

"Look at this! Wouldn't this shade match my skin tone better?" Vihana exclaimed, raising her phone to compare the photo. An image of the t-shirt with all the colors was opened, and a particular maroon shirt was zoomed in. The shirt has intricate patterns on the neck and sleeves in a white thread that contrasts the maroon shade of the shirt. It looked beautiful and delicate.

Hari looked at the phone and to her face and shook his head negatively.

"Nope, maybe a tint of this hue would match you," He suggested.

Vihana blinked in surprise as she thought about his suggestion. Actually, he is correct, a bit slighter tint would suit her better. "Very good!"

"What?" He laughed, amused when she stared at him without taking her eyes off.

"I think maroon suits you best. I'll order one for you!" Vihana excitedly placed the order after clicking his shirt size.

"That's a gir-

"What? Are you gendering a cloth?" Vihana raised a brow, her head tilted slightly, as she stared at him intimidatingly.

"Nope." Hari raised his hand in surrender, his heart skipping a beat when she beamed at him. Without a thought, he leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Huh?" Vihana looked at him in question.

"Thank you."

"I didn't do anything? Did I?" Vihana giggled when he kept staring at her.

'Yes, you did.' Hari thought, shaking his head at her question. 'You make me genuinely happy just by your smile.'

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The same day, 6.09 PM.

The hymn of Kandha Sasti Kavasam that played on the TV resonated through the house as Sakthi lit the ghee diya and then camphor. A minute later, the sound of the bell echoed as she murmured the mantras.

(A Hindu religious song dedicated to Lord Murugan)

"Harshitha! Come here." Harshitha sighed, slowly getting up from the couch and walking to the puja room, stalling her time to reach.

An annoyed sigh escaped from her mother's lips when she turned and faced her.

"Oru pottapulla aaru mani aana, fresh aagi velaku vekka vennama? Aprm unna veru nethioda iruka kudadunu evlo time solirken!" Sakthi bellowed disappointedly, her brows furrowed as she took in her daughter's appearance. Harshitha stood in her salwar that she wore to college today, her face bare from makeup, not even a bindi.

'Shouldn't a girl freshen up in the evening and light a diya!? And what did I say about leaving your forehead empty/bare?'

"Why only girls? Why shouldn't a boy do that? Why are you being partial now?" Harshitha questioned back, refusing to show her face when her mother tried to keep a bindi on her forehead.

"I'm only telling you commonly! It's not girls or boys, it is just a saying. Don't take everything seriously, Harshitha." Her mother groaned, rolling her eyes as she caught her hand that was covering her forehead and placed a bindi in between her brow.

"Then, don't add 'girl' in that sentence hereafter, and then I'll light diya regularly," Harshitha stated, finally allowing her mother to place the bindi and Kumkum on her forehead.

"I'm sorry, Harshu! I said that only because your forehead is bare. It was just a spur of the moment when you appeared before me with a bare forehead. If your brother is here now, I would have scolded him and asked him to do the puja. You know well that everyone is equal in this house." Sakthi embraced her pouting daughter, but Harshitha refused to hug her back. Her eyes lit up when she heard their car entering the compound. Suddenly she smirked, leaning back to see her mother's sorry expression. "Then prove it, Amma."

"What?"

"Hari anna came." Harshitha grinned and raised her brow in challenge. It took her mom a minute to get her words.

"You!" Sakthi chuckled, playfully pinching her daughter's cheek. Her expression quickly changed to serious when her son entered the house.

"Hari!" Hari stopped on his track when he heard his mother shout. "Ma?"

"Freshen up and come within five minutes," Sakthi ordered, signaling toward the bathroom, causing him to look at his sister in confusion, to which she shrugged nonchalantly.

Five minutes later, Hari stood before his mother as she went into her room to get something. Harshitha snickered behind her hands when she caught sight of the bindi box in her mother's hand.

"Mom-" Hari opened his mouth, astonished when he realized what was happening. As usual, the ladies would have got into a fight for bare forehead, and he is their scapegoat today.

"What? Are you telling me men shouldn't use bindi?" Sakthi looked at her son, her eyes glaring at him like spitting fire, daring him to refuse.

"Nope, you may proceed." He leaned down, closing his eyes when he felt the bindi's adhesive coming in contact with his skin.

"At least, use the maroon bindi. It suits my skin color better." Hari added as he watched his sister and mother walk away with a skip in their steps.

At this moment, he realized, when he and Vihana get married in the future, it's going to be more than just a bindi. They would even ask him to wear flowers. So, like the gentleman he is, he would comply with all their wishes.

'It's just a trailer.'

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to be continued...

Hello beautiful people! Wishing you a very happy belated Christmas and an advance happy new year! Hope you get what you wished for!

I finally gave Vikram a break from the problem. I'll let that hottie enjoy a few days before we come to the climax! So, till that other pairs are enjoying it!

Have you ever faced this situation in your home? The bare face situation and girls should light the diya at evening. I have, and I always answer the same Harshitha answered, and my mom replies the same Sakthi replied except that last bindi on Hari's forehead part!

It's always my mom who comprises, in the end, gets out of words to reply to my questions. And now she has changed! She stopped using 'Girl should do this and that' sentences and instead just separate work between my brother and me.

Even if we can't change other, start with your parents. It might be tough at first, but one day, they will understand!

Hope you all liked the chapter! See you soon.

Take care, bye (