Azure Knot

:: 13 ::

As Lathika drove through the familiar streets on her way back home, her mind was anything but settled. Thoughts flitted from one topic to another, jumping like sparks in a fire. At first, she considered stopping by her favourite saree shop—perhaps there'd be a new design she would want to buy. Then, almost as quickly, she thought of grabbing a cold Jigarthanda from a stall on the corner, the cool sweetness of the drink tempting her on this warm afternoon.

But just as her thoughts settled on the idea of sipping Jigarthanda, they leapt again—this time to work. I still have those emails to answer, she reminded herself, mentally listing out the tasks that awaited her back at the office. The event may have been over, but there was always something more to do. She sighed, thinking about the long day ahead.

Her mind wandered once more, this time to the most mundane of questions, what should I have for lunch?

But amid all the swirling thoughts, something surprising surfaced, catching her off guard—Prashanth. His face, his voice, the way he had spoken to her so kindly earlier at the temple, a contrast to how he was during the planning a week ago. It lingered in her mind more than she expected.

She hadn't known what to think of him at first—distant, selfish, too wrapped up in his own life. But today had been different. He had listened, offered her words of encouragement when she needed them most. It wasn't a grand gesture, but it had changed something, however small, in how she saw him.

Maybe he's not so bad after all, she thought, a faint smile tugging at her lips. The warmth of his earlier kindness had surprised her, and she realized, just for a moment, that her impression of him had shifted.

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As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the house, Lathika was summoned to Jaimathi's room. The calm, fading light felt like a brief respite after a long day, but as she entered the room, the sense of ease quickly dissipated.

Jaimathi was seated in her favourite chair by the window, the soft shadows playing across her face. She gestured for Lathika to sit beside her, the usual warmth in her eyes, though Lathika could sense something more—something that made her heart skip a beat in anticipation.

"How are you, ma?" Jaimathi asked, her voice casual but with an edge of purpose behind it.

Lathika sat down, her hands resting nervously in her lap. "I'm fine, Achi," she replied, though her voice didn't feel entirely steady. "Is something on your mind?"

Jaimathi smiled faintly, glancing out the window as if gathering her thoughts. Then she looked back at Lathika and asked, almost too casually, "What do you think of Prashanth?"

Lathika blinked, caught off guard by the question. She frowned slightly, sensing something odd in the air, but tried to brush it off. "Prashanth?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Well... he seems less arrogant now than when we first met. He's still... different, but I guess he's not as bad as I thought."

Jaimathi nodded, her expression thoughtful as if weighing Lathika's words carefully. The room fell into a momentary silence, and Lathika's unease grew. She could feel her pulse quicken, her heart beating a little faster, the quiet before the storm.

Then, Jaimathi's tone shifted, becoming more serious as she leaned slightly closer. "I'm glad you've started to see that," she said softly, her eyes not leaving Lathika's. "There's something important we need to talk about."

Lathika's breath hitched. Deep down, she already knew what was coming, and yet, she wasn't prepared to hear it. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress, her pulse drumming in her ears.