Kumkum: Ties of Love and Lies

Chapter 7

The night was calm, the city's usual chaos giving way to a soothing silence as the clock neared 9 p.m. Sandhya paced back and forth in her small apartment, her phone in her hand, her nerves fraying. She had spent the entire day replaying her conversation with Pugazh, feeling the weight of his cold demeanor.

She couldn't leave things like this.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her messaging app and typed a simple text:

"Can we meet? I want to talk."

Her thumb hovered over the send button for a moment before she pressed it. Almost instantly, her stomach twisted in knots. What if he ignores me? What if I've made things worse?

Her phone buzzed a few minutes later.

"If it's work-related, talk during work hours."

Sandhya exhaled in frustration. Of course, he'd assume it was about work. She quickly typed back. 

"It's not about work. It's personal."

The reply came almost immediately.

"Personal? When do you want to meet?"

Her fingers trembled slightly as she typed:

"Now."

There was a pause—long enough to make her second-guess everything. Then his response appeared:

"Fine. Where?"

Sandhya thought for a moment. "The park near the hospital. It's quiet there."

"I'll be there in 15 minutes."

The park was dimly lit, the soft glow of streetlamps casting long shadows over the pathways. Sandhya sat on a bench, fidgeting with the edge of her scarf. The sound of footsteps on gravel made her look up, and there he was.

Pugazh approached her with his usual composed demeanor, his hands tucked into the pockets of his dark jacket. His face was unreadable, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

"You wanted to talk?" he said, stopping a few feet away from her.

Sandhya nodded, standing up. "Yes. Thank you for coming."

He raised an eyebrow. "I don't usually do late-night meetings, Sandhya. This had better be important."

"It is," she said, her voice steady despite her nerves.

She took a deep breath before continuing. "I want to clear up something about Gautham."

At the mention of the name, Pugazh's expression hardened slightly, but he didn't interrupt.

"He's my best friend since childhood," Sandhya said. "I've known him for years, but I've never seen him as anything more than a friend. I think he might have feelings for me, but... I don't feel the same way."

Pugazh's gaze softened slightly, though he didn't say anything.

"I wasn't trying to lead him on or make you jealous," Sandhya added, her voice faltering a little. "I didn't even realize you were upset until today."

"I wasn't upset," Pugazh said, though the hint of defensiveness in his tone betrayed him.

Sandhya folded her arms, giving him a knowing look. "Oh, really? So, the cold shoulder all day was just coincidence?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Maybe I was a little... annoyed."

"A little?" she teased, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Pugazh gave her a sideways glance, his own lips twitching with the beginnings of a smile. "Alright, more than a little. Happy?"

Sandhya laughed softly, the tension between them easing. "Yes. And for the record, I don't like seeing you upset."

His smile grew, and for a moment, the guardedness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something warm and genuine.

"You really came all the way here just to tell me that?" he asked, his tone lighter now.

"Yes," she said. "Because I care about what you think."

He stepped closer, his voice softening. "Sandhya, you're... unlike anyone I've ever met. You challenge me, frustrate me, but you also make me want to be better. And that's not something I say lightly."

Her heart fluttered at his words, and she felt her resolve crumbling. "Pugazh..."

"I meant what I said the other day," he continued, his eyes locking with hers. "I want to marry you. Not because it's convenient, not because it's expected, but because I want you in my life. You don't have to decide now, but I need you to know that."

Sandhya hesitated, the weight of his confession sinking in. But as she looked at him—his honesty, his vulnerability—something inside her shifted.

"I've already decided," she said softly.

His eyebrows rose slightly. "You have?"

"Yes," she said, taking a step closer. "And the answer is yes."

For a moment, Pugazh just stared at her, as if he couldn't believe what he'd heard. Then his expression broke into a grin—one of pure, unguarded happiness.

"Really?" he asked, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and excitement.

"Yes, really," Sandhya said, laughing at his reaction.

"You know, you could've just said yes earlier and saved me a lot of heartache," he teased, his tone playful.

"Well, where's the fun in that?" she shot back, her eyes sparkling.

They both laughed, the sound light and genuine. For the first time in weeks, Sandhya felt a sense of clarity—not just about Pugazh, but about herself.

As they walked together through the quiet park, their conversation drifted to lighter topics, filled with teasing and laughter. The weight that had hung over them earlier seemed to dissolve, replaced by a new sense of understanding and connection.

But in the back of Sandhya's mind, one thought lingered: This is just the beginning.

She had accepted Pugazh's proposal, but her mission to uncover the truth about Shravani's death remained. And now, she was one step closer to the answers she sought—even if it meant walking a fine line between love and deception.