|ℍ𝕒𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕂𝕒𝕕𝕙𝕒𝕝|

| Bonus Chapter : 05 |

A ban on football
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Aaahhhhh

Ashwin shrieked in pain as his mother pressed the warm cloth to his swollen leg, where a large bandage was wrapped around the sole of his right foot. He had somehow sprained it, and every touch seemed to worsen the ache. His mother, trying to be as gentle as possible, frowned in concern while he winced.

Unaku mattum yepdhi da yedhachum onnu airudhu

Radha chided her son, but Ashwin could only sit in silence, unable to muster a response. His eyes shifted to Shreya, who was flipping through the TV channels with a level of aggression that made her anger clear. Her fingers furiously tapped the remote buttons, and yet she didn't spare him a single glance, the tension between them hanging heavy in the air.

It was her ninth month of pregnancy, and Ashwin's sudden leg sprain couldn't have come at a worse time. Not that he intentionally got hurt, of course-it had only been a simple football game with his friends after a long break. Who could have predicted that a sprain was waiting for him on the field? Still, the timing felt almost comically bad, adding to the strain already building in the household.

Ashwin pouted dramatically at his mother, who responded with a sharp glare. But when he scrunched his face up in an exaggeratedly adorable way, she couldn't help but silently facepalm herself in defeat. Letting out a sigh, she turned and walked away from the living room, heading toward her room, muttering about needing to unpack. After all, when she heard about Ashwin's little "accident," she'd rushed over to stay with Shreya, determined to help take care of her injured son.

As soon as Ashwin heard the click of his mother's door closing, he wasted no time scooting closer to his wife, slipping an arm around her shoulder. Shreya, however, was having none of it. She swatted his hand away, shooting him a glare before turning back to the TV, furiously torturing the poor remote, her frustration loud and clear.

Sorry ma, na therinja senjen?

Shreya remained unmoved by Ashwin's pleadings, her face set in a stubborn glare. Ashwin whined like a child, then dramatically laid his head on her lap. She looked down at him, knowing full well she couldn't push him off, and he took advantage, grinning victoriously. Slowly, Ashwin brought his face closer to her swollen abdomen and mumbled,

Hi

Ashwin felt a soft flutter against his cheek as it brushed against her abdomen, a tiny kick from their baby. His smile widened, eyes lighting up as he glanced up at Shreya. Despite her frustration, she couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.

Neeye sollu, na yenna venumna kaal'la kattu potutu iruken? Sollu? Theriyama nadhandhuruchu, Sorry solren, ana madhikeva maatra unga amma. Na pavomlae?

Shreya winced as another harder kick landed, while Ashwin couldn't contain his laughter, clearly pleased that their baby seemed to be siding with him. She shot him a fierce glare, hand protectively resting on her abdomen, but his laughter only subsided when he laid his head back on her lap. As she attempted to look away again, Ashwin gently cupped her chin, tilting her face back toward him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the tension softened, leaving behind only the warmth of their connection.

Na pavomlae?

Shreya narrowed her eyes, trying to maintain her stern expression, but Ashwin wasn't fazed. He pulled out *the face*-the one that always melted her resolve, no matter how upset she was. His eyes grew wide, his lips curved into that familiar, exaggerated pout, and she could feel her irritation slipping away despite herself. Shreya sighed, rolling her eyes,