Hearts Rekindled: A Love Story Of Second Chances

• 04

After a long, exhausting day at school, we will be happy to hear the last period bell, wanting to visit home and eat mum's hand food, right? 14 years ago, Gautham too was excited to visit home as it was his last day of school and summer holidays from the next day. But when he reached home, his tiredness left him seeing his mother's lifeless body lying across the kitchen floor. For a second, he thought he had been dragged to the ground.

Sailajarama Vishwanatha, a bright light in Vishwanatha's home who always smiled even in tough times, was a favourite of Gautham. She was the perfect wife, daughter-in-law, and mother for her family. She always wanted Gautham and Vishwanatha to have a great bond, which they actually had. But unfortunately, her death made both son and father further and further apart, as Gautham thinks it's his father's fault while Vishwanatha remains silent, making the misunderstanding between them grow to this date.

Gautham reached his home terrace and, furiously punching hardly on the wall to let go of his anger, which he had shut down for days now. His eyes became blurry due to anger and pain.

"Anna"

Vedanth tried to stop Gautham, who wasn't in the right mind, and started punching madly, leaving red spots on the white wall.

"Anna! Please!" This time, Vedanth shouted and was in the middle, between Gautham and the wall.

"Move away, Vedanth." Gautham's eyes were bloodshot; he just wanted to let go of his anger.

"No! And I won't move away." Vedanth glared at Gautham. He looked at his brother's hand, which was bleeding.

"Come.." Vedanth took Gautham's hand in his but stopped seeing his brother not moving.

"Just come.." This time, he pulled strongly and took him to their grandmother's room.

Seeing Gautham and then his bleeding hand, she rushed to scan the hand to see if there were any further deep wounds. Upon looking, it has a few scratches, which can be helped by a first aid kit.

"I will bring a first aid box." Vedanth left the room to bring one from his room.

Kanakamma looked furiously at Gautham and gave him a light slap on the cheeks. "You aren't a small kid, Gautham."

"What happened to you, Gautham?" Kanakamma kept her hand on his cheeks and caressed them smoothly while his eyelashes hung low.

'Swamy, I am begging you... Please let my kid live in peace..' Kanakamma prayed silently.

She made him sit on the sofa present in her room, and at the right time, Vedanth entered the room with first aid.

Kanakamma silently aided his hand with the help of Vedanth. All three were silent when Gautham spoke in a low voice, "A new company hired us, and the marriage is in Ramanagara."

"When?" Kanakamma asked, still not lifting her head and concentrating on the wound.

"Tonight," Gautham replied.

"How many days?" This time, Vedanth asked.

"Maybe two days."

"I will drop you." Vedanth said, glancing at Gautham, who was looking at his freshly bandaged hand.

Gautham nodded, sat for a few more minutes there, and left for his flat to pack his luggage and other necessities for the venue.

***
"Good morning, mam," a girl in her mid-twenties greeted Samanvi with her best smile.

Samanvi just gave her a small nod and passed her towards her cabin.

"Won't she at least give a smile?" Geetha sat on her chair, glancing at Samanvi's cabin, and asked her colleague.