Hearts Rekindled: A Love Story Of Second Chances

• 05

High-way; Midnight 2 am;

'I shouldn't have done like that before..' 
 
A guilt sigh left Gautham's mouth. It's been more than 14 years since he accepted the truth; he accepted Vedanth, but why can't he accept his so-called parents? 
 
With another big sigh, he focused on driving. He glanced at the rear-view mirror and shook his head slightly, seeing his two partners sleeping soundly. Not thinking much, he switched on the FM radio, allowing the car to fill with Bhagavantha movie songs.

[Neenado Maatella Jeninante
Naguvaaga Mogavondu Hoovinanthe
Neenondu Sakkareya Bombeyanthe
Maguve Nee Nanna Praanadanthe Nanna Praanadanthe

Baana Daariyalli Soorya Jaari Hoda
Chandra Mele Banda
Minugu Thaare Anda
Nodu Yentha Chanda
Rathri Aythu Malagu Nanna Putta Kanda
Nanna Putta Kanda]

(Your words are like sweet honey
Your face is like a flower when you are smiling
You are like a sweet doll
My child, you are my life

Sun slipped away in the path of sky
Moon came up
Twinkling stars are beautiful,
see how beautiful
It has become night, sleep my little child,
my little child)

Hearing his favourite song playing on FM radio, a big smile was dancing on his lips. Why not? His mother used to sing him daily before sleeping, and when he was in Musical Club, it was her favourite song too.

"Baana Daariyalli Soorya Jaari.."

As if his heart had lightened hearing this song, he happily tapped his forefinger on the steering wheel and hummed through the journey. 

***
6:00 am, Bride residency, Ramanagara:

"Where are they, Shruthi?" Samanvi looked tensed, yet she wasn't showing outside.
 
Shruthi, who was continuously trying to call someone, looked at Samanvi and said, "They aren't picking up my call."
 
"Pooje ge bekagiro yala vasthugalu thandiddira, amma?"
(Have you brought all the Pooja items?)
 
Samanvi and Shruthi looked towards the entrance of the bride's house; all the relatives, along with Poojari, were ready to do the Chapara Shastra.
 
"Photographers ready yagi idara?" This time a young lady around her late teen's asked Samanvi as she walked towards them.
(Photographers are ready, right?)
 
Samanvi glanced at Shruthi, who was still trying to connect to their call, and saw back at the bride's sister, who was staring at them.
 
"That's our photograp--"
 
"I think they are here," the bride's sister said with a big smile.
 
Samanvi looked at that girl, who was staring in the other direction. She looked on that side and saw three men around in their twenties getting down the car one by one with camera equipment.
 
Samanvi was ready to lecture those guys when she stopped looking at a familiar figure among them. She thought he looked like someone she knew.
 
"Isn't he.."
 
Samanvi looked at Shruthi, who was also staring at that person without blinking, slowing opening and closing her mouth as she was lost for words.
 
"Sir, come with me; the bride is still inside; you can take a few photos of her." The bride's sister walked towards the group of photographers and guided them inside the house.
 
Nodding, Gautham, along with his two fellow mates, went inside the house to start his work.
 
"Bro, we came on time... or else." The guy with the French bread whispered to Gautham, looking at guests still getting ready. Well, some are still arranging plates near the Pooja area.

"Or else what?" Gautham asked in a neutral tone, removing his shoes outside the main door.
 
"The one who hired us..." The second whispered but stopped looking at a middle-aged lady walking towards them with a tray of tea and coffee in paper cups.
 
Taking the small cups and thanking them, the second one continued, "I heard that the one who hired us is a demon. She literally kills everyone with her words."
 
"Astu metre idya?" Gautham smirked at his fellow mate's words. After drinking the tea, he was ready to take photos. While his first fellow mate was assigned a few small video shots and a few photo clicks, another fellow mate was assigned to do videos.
(She is that big?.)
 
"Ma'am, please smile." Gautham clicked the pictures of the bride along with her sister and a few cousins.
 
"Deepa, come outside, dear."
 
As the elder one called the bride outside to do pooje and a few shastras, the photographer followed them. Gautham was happy as he was clicking the good ones, and his fellow mates were capturing every small and big moment there.
 
"Ma'am, look here, and all the young ladies look this side."
 
Gautham saw Deepa standing at a perfect angle, surrounded by her elders. He thought to click that moment, and with his way of speaking, all the ladies from younger to elder laughed from the heart, and he captured it well.
 
After the ritual, he was randomly taking pictures of a few guests and relatives and checking a few of their pixels when his eyes caught something. He zoomed more into his camera as his eyes widened. It's her, dressed in a cotton anarkali top and pant, with a matching scarf around her neck and a messy bun. He can say it's her; even if it's been more than 15 years, he can identify her.
 
With a big smile, he looked up in that direction, and there he saw her. After 15 years, he is seeing her now. Not thinking much, he just walked in her direction.
 
"I think flowers are imported; please start the work." Samanvi was talking with a few workers through her Bluetooth. She didn't recognise that someone was standing behind her with a big grin on his face.
 
Gautham was so excited to meet her. As her back was facing him, he thought to let her know his presence by tapping her shoulder, but stopped in the middle, hearing the cold voice of hers.
 
"Puneeth, if you can't reach me within 10 minutes, remember you have to keep your resignation letter on my table tomorrow." Samanvi ordered through her Bluetooth and turned to see other events, but was frightened to see a man standing a few distances away from her.