As soon as Karthik spotted his father, Vijay, coming through the door, he threw his toy to the floor with a delighted shout, "Dad!" He ran over, and Vijay scooped him up, spinning him playfully in the air. Karthik's giggles echoed through the room as his eyes caught sight of Shourya walking in behind.
"Pa!" Karthik stretched his small arms toward Shourya, beaming with excitement.
Shourya's face lit up with a bright smile as he bent down to lift Karthik into his arms. The little boy snuggled close, planting a sweet kiss on Shourya's cheek.
Shobha walked in carrying a glass of water for Shourya. She gently corrected, "Karthik, you should call him 'Badipa,' not 'Pa.'"
But Karthik was having none of it. With a determined expression, he clung tighter to Shourya, shaking his head. "No! Pa!" he said with another giggle, clearly proud of his stubbornness.
Shourya chuckled and kissed the top of Karthik's head. "It's alright, Shobha. You know him, he does what he wants," he said, his tone affectionate. He took the glass from Shobha and downed the water in a single gulp.
"Thanks," he added with a smile, then turned toward the stairs. "I'll go freshen up."
As Shourya walked away, Karthik was still nestled in his arms, happily babbling away as they made their way to his room. Shobha watched them, shaking her head with a soft smile.
Vijay leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her cheek, catching her off guard. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she playfully slapped his hand. "I miss you," she said with a teasing smile.
"Idiot! Is this how you say 'I miss you'?" he chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction.
She rolled her eyes in mock disapproval. "Is this really the place for such gestures?"
"Oh! Did I kiss in the wrong spot? Should I kiss you on the lips instead?" he teased, inching closer with a playful grin.
She pushed him away, her cheeks slightly flushed. "We're in the living room, not the bedroom!"
Vijay rolled his eyes, chuckling. "I know, Mom and Chachi went to drop off Naveen and Harini. As usual, Dad and Chachu have their meeting, so it's just us here. No one's home!"
"Hold your horses until night," she said, trying to regain her composure. "I need to talk to Shourya about Jagathi."
"Me too! I'm surprised by his decision, to be honest," he replied.
•••••
By the time Shobha returned with the coffee, Vijay and Shourya were deeply engaged in a playful wrestling match with little Karthik, their laughter filling the playroom. Karthik’s squeals of delight echoed as his father and uncle took turns tickling him, sending him into fits of giggles. The little one, overwhelmed by the playful attacks, managed to wriggle free and darted toward Shobha, wrapping his tiny arms around her in a hug.
Shobha smiled and sat down on a bean bag, cradling Karthik in her lap as the two men settled back, reaching for their coffee. Vijay and Shourya leaned into their bean bags, sipping their coffee with satisfaction,
Shourya,” Shobha said after a moment, her tone serious but soft.
“Yeah, tell me,” Shourya responded, raising an eyebrow at her shift in tone.
“You have to be completely honest with me, okay? And remember, I’m not just your only your younger brother's wife , I’m your friend too,” she said, her eyes locking onto his.
Shourya chuckled, taking another sip of his coffee. “Come on, Shobha, I don’t have memory loss. I know you’re my friend. What’s up? Spill it,” he said.
Shobha smiled at his response but couldn't resist teasing him. She leaned in a bit closer, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she said, “You’ve never even met jagathi, Shourya. But how? I want to know your proper feeling"
Yes! Tell me, Bhai. I want to listen. I’m curious,” Vijay said, leaning forward, clearly eager for more details.
Shourya chuckled, his face lighting up as he spoke. “Actually, you know, I already told you the reason why I’m interested, but there’s something else... her voice. The way she talked to her father, so mischievous yet filled with love. It reminded me of home, like how you, Shobha, or even Harini. That playful yet caring spirit… I just liked it instantly.”
He paused, his smile growing a little wider, eyes distant as if imagining something. “There was something so pleasant about her voice. It felt... warm, familiar. Like I already knew her. It’s hard to explain, but she’s already something to me, even without meeting her properly. Maybe it’s just intuition, or maybe it’s something deeper, but I feel like this journey to her village is going to be... something special. An adventure, for sure, and one that’s going to be a wonderful experience with her around.”
Shobha and Vijay exchanged a knowing glance, both smiling. Vijay playfully nudged him. “You sound like you’re already half in love with her, Bhai.”
Shourya laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, who knows...
As Shourya’s phone rang, he glanced at the screen and saw Srinivas's name flashing. "Excuse me for a moment," he said, stepping aside to answer the call.
After a brief conversation, Shourya returned to the room, his face calm but focused. “Srinivas Uncle is heading to Krishnapuram,” he explained. “I’ll drop him off at the bus station.”
Shobha nodded in understanding, standing up to hand him his jacket. “Okay, shourya. Safe drive.”
Shourya bent down to where Karthik was playing and gently pecked his forehead. “Bye, little champ,” he said with a soft smile.
Karthik waved his tiny hand excitedly, his laughter following Shourya as he turned to leave. “Bye-bye, pa!”
•••••
As they pulled into the bus station, the air buzzed with the sounds of travelers and the chatter of vendors. Shourya parked the car and turned to Srinivas, who was reaching for the door handle. Before he could step out, Shourya handed him a beautifully wrapped box.
“Uncle,” he said, his tone earnest, “if you don’t mind, could you please give this small gift to Jagathi? Present it as if you’re giving it to her yourself.”
With that, Shourya grabbed his luggage from the trunk and walked Srinivas over to the bus. He helped him settle into his seat, ensuring he was comfortable before giving him a firm handshake.
“Take care, Uncle. Safe travels, and I hope to see you soon,” Shourya said, his voice laced with sincerity.
“Thank you, Shourya. I appreciate everything,” Srinivas replied, a smile of gratitude spreading across his face.
Keep smiling
God bless you
Chandanakshi
YOU ARE READING
Misty Rain
Romantik"Oye, Miss Universe," he teased, a playful grin dancing on his lips. She shot him a fierce glare, determination etched across her features, and turned away to walk forward. "Lucky!" he called after her, quickening his pace. She continued to ignore h...
