Hope Believe Magic

Epilogue

An official engagement party was organized. It was just a small gathering of close friends and families. The venue was the accord hotel ball room. Chef Venkatesh Bhatt who was a family friend, had taken it upon himself to organize everything. Shivathmika was like a daughter to him and he would not take no for an answer.

The decorations were taken care of by Pugazh's wife Bensi and their daughter. AK and Shivu were very relaxed. They just needed to get ready and be there on time. Shivu looked gorgeous in a yellow kanjeevaram silk saree with purple border. AK wore a yellow kurta which had white embroidery with purple pipings on the sleeve. They looked like the perfect hosts. Meenakshi also looked elegant in a blue kanjeevaram silk saree with a beautiful green border. The venue looked perfect as the three parents drove in together. Kavya and Ani were already there standing by the door to receive the guests. Everything was just perfect. Ananya had asked her MUA and hairdresser to meet her at the venue. She had booked a room on another floor to get ready so that she doesn't get tensed about not being on time. Shantanu did the same. His designer friend had styled his outfit for the day. It was a white silk kurtha pajama with an elegant purple jacket with intricate work on it. Ananya wore a gorgeous purple lehanga with beautiful sequencing work. Just when Ananya was almost done, she heard a knock on her door. It was Meenakshi. She walked in smiling, "Wow! Evvalo azhaga irukke theriyuma? Bommai kutty madiri. Dhrishti suthi podanum" she said. Then she held Anu's hand and placed something. It was a pair of gold bangles studded with diamonds. "Enna aunty idhu?" Meenakshi smiled, "Ennoda marumagalukaaga naan vaangi vachadhu. Please don't say no. Idhu naan ennoda sondha panathula sethu vachu aasaiya vaanginadhu. Potuppiya?" Anu hugged her lovingly and said, "Kandippa and naan kazhattave maaten." She quickly wore it. Meenakshi said, " En paiyan innime unnoda poruppu. Avana romba happy ya unnala mattum thaan vachukka mudiyum and nee adhu pannuve num enakku theriyum. Thank you for coming into his life. Naan ippo avana poi paakaren. Nee ready aagu." Then she went to see her son, "Shaan, Dei Ananya oru pokkisham da. Avala madiri oru ponnu thedinaalum kedakkadhu. Innonnu sollaren unakku ava mattum family kedayadhu. Ava Appa Ammavayum nee enna treat pannara madiri pannanum ok? Avala eppovum happy ya vachukka vendiyadhu unnoda poruppu." She kissed his forehead before leaving his room.

The banquet hall was buzzing with all their friends and family. Every gave out a big "Wow" when Shaan and Ananya walked hand in hand. They looked adorable together. They were just perfect as they walked up to the stage. The small ceremony included exchanging garlands, rings and cutting a cake. The DJ played the music and everyone were dancing away except Ananya who looked worried. Shaan pulled her close to him and asked, "Ennachu? Yen oru madiri irukke?" She smiled and answered, "I cannot really hear music. I can only feel it and dance." He smiled and quickly picked her up which made her giggle, "I will hold you to the music, how about that?" She hugged him laughing loudly.

People walked up to AK and Shivu congratulating them. They thanked everyone and that when Shivu elbowed AK and pointed something. He looked up to a table on the far end where there were a young couple lost in conversation. She was feeding him very lovingly. It was Rakesh and Rachna. AK and Shivu smiled at each other. Then they walked up to Monisha saying, "Adutha kalyana saapadukku ready ya?" They all laughed.

When the party had ended, guests had left and the music had stopped, there were two couples in two separate places, hand in hand. AK and Shivu were at their balcony, looking at the full moon. She rested her head on his shoulder saying, "Namma love story ippo thaan arambicha madiri irukku adhukkula ponnuku engagement ayiduchu. Parava illai, naan unakku evalo tholla kuduthum en kooda thaan irukke. Not bad." AK kissed her forhead saying, "adhu thaan sonene Unnkitta eppidi maa no solla mudiyum. I will never leave your side." At the exact same time Ananya and Shaan made a promise to each other. Ananya said, "Shaan, nee eppovum enna ippidiye love pannanum ok?" Shaan kissed her forehead and said, "Unna vittu 5 varsham irundhutten maa. Innime oru second kooda vittu po maaten. This is a promise."

Ananya leaned forward and their lips locked, sealing the moment.

Brinda Subramanian

Thank you all once again for having supported yet another story. See you all soon 💜