Chandravati | ✔️

3. Moonlight

A fortnight after the incident

Ved's father and his partner in crime have been arrested. It's been a week since Harit came back to work again. Everything went back to normal expect for those two. Little changes or let's say each other's presence seems to affect them.

As promised Ruchi hosted the party to celebrate and to lighten the moods of everyone. To her surprise, her sister Vennela came back. She invited Advay as her guest which kind of annoyed Ruchi a little.

A week back when Harit was discharged, he revealed the clue behind his so-called threat call to Advay. When he said that he will not see the moon tonight, he was stressing on the moon and the darkness engulfs him as it was a no moon day. He deliberately tried to hint the book 'Chandravati' as it will lead them to Ved who is having the evidence. He could've directly told them this but didn't want to risk his family along with himself.

Ruchi was getting ready for the party;she saw her uniform on the bed. She took it up and stared at those three stars as she folded it. Those were not just the stars of her power, but stars that guards the civilians of the country, stars that bring truth to light.

She got down the stairs, her eyes landed on someone she's been ignoring from past three days. Just as she was about to go towards her sister, her mobile pinged.

Ruchi, please meet me in the garden.

Sighing, she decided to meet him, perhaps give him a second chance.

The dark sky was lit by the moonlight and the dazzling stars. The moon is in his full glory tonight. Summer night is lingered with the fragrance of mangoes and jasmine. Noises made by children cries pleading their mothers to play for some more time could still be heard,overtone by the rustles of the leaves as she moved towards the mango tree and gazed the beloved mama of the world.

"Thank god, you came. I thought you were ghosting me again," said Advay,relieved.

"How come akka planned a surprise with you? And didn't even give me a clue" questioned Ruchi, anger was slightly seen on her face.

"May be because I can keep secrets and how can it be a surprise if she tells you about it?"

"That you are..." replied Ruchi

"I heard someone had lots to confess," she asked him with a smirk.

At once Advay became nervous, taking a deep breath imagining the positives and ignoring the negatives-

"Will you be Ruchi to my cooking," asked Advay surprising Ruchi.

He cringed at his corny self but couldn't help it. He tried his best to think positively about her response.

She stared at him noting the serious eyes, though it was dark and the only source of light was the moon she could still see his expressions and recognize the sincerity in his voice. A small smile crept on her face.

"Perhaps-" she replied still smiling.

Though he smiled, it did not reach his eyes. She didn't fail to notice the disappointment in his eyes.

"-yes for a lifetime"

This time, not only his eyes but heart,also rejoiced at her words.

"And I've something to tell you"

This time he enjoyed the atmosphere, the full moon witnessing their confession, the mango tree swaying with the breeze hearing them, the fragrance of the jasmine and sampangi flowers keeping his spirits high. His eyes beamed with hope and love, staring at her affectionately with his renowned smile.

"My dear Kanha, The full moon is out tonight "