Chapter 5: K-Drama Nights and Family Fights
The Chennai weekend was buzzing with its usual chaos—honking autos, roadside chai stalls, and aunties haggling over tomatoes at Koyambedu market. Divya was in her room, sprawled on her bed with her laptop open, planning her next move with Arjun. Their dosa date at Murugan Idli Shop had left her grinning for days, and their late-night texts—memes, Mouna Ragam song lyrics, and debates about whether filter coffee beat cold brew—had become her favorite part of the day.
Tonight, they'd planned a K-drama marathon at her friend Priya's flat, a "safe zone" away from family prying. *No coffee tumblers, no horoscope talks, just us and some Hyun Bin action,* she thought, smiling. She texted Arjun:
"Ready for Crash Landing on You? Priya's got popcorn and a big TV. Be on time, mapillai."
His reply was instant:
"Will be there!😎 But if I cry during the sad scenes, you didn't see it. Also, bringing filter coffee. Frothy, just for you."
Divya laughed, her heart doing that now-familiar flip. Enna di, love-vey pannita pola irukke, she teased herself, but the thought didn't scare her anymore. Arjun wasn't just the "US-return mapillai" her parents had picked; he was the guy who got her, from her K-drama obsession to her fear of being boxed into a "perfect ponnu" role.
Priya's flat in Adyar was a cozy mess—bookshelves overflowing, fairy lights strung across the walls, and a couch that screamed "Netflix marathon." Priya, ever the drama queen, greeted Divya with a hug and a squeal. "Aiyo, the runaway heroine is here! And with her secret mapillai! Tell me, is this love or just dosa-date vibes?"
"Shut up, Priya," Divya said, laughing as she tossed a cushion at her. "It's... something. We're figuring it out."
Arjun arrived ten minutes later, carrying a thermos of filter coffee and a bag of murukku. "For the K-drama vibes," he said, winking at Divya. Priya raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Theriyum, theriyum. You two are already in episode 10 of your own romance serial."
They settled on the couch, Priya sprawled on a beanbag, and started Crash Landing on You.
The room filled with the crunch of murukku, the aroma of coffee, and their laughter as they argued over whether Yoon Se-ri or Captain Ri was the real hero. Halfway through episode two, Priya fake-yawned and announced, "I'm going to 'check on the popcorn' in my room. You two behave!" She winked and vanished, leaving them alone.
Divya felt a nervous buzz, suddenly aware of how close Arjun was on the couch. "So," she said, trying to sound casual, "you're not crying yet. Disappointed." "Give it time," he teased, nudging her shoulder.
"But honestly, this is nice. No family drama, no pressure. Just... us."
"Us," she echoed, her voice soft. She looked at him, his face lit by the TV's glow, and felt a pull she couldn't ignore.
"Arjun, can I ask you something?"
"Anything," he said, turning to face her.
Divya : "Why are you so okay with this? I mean, you're this cool, US-return guy. You could've picked anyone. Why go through this arranged marriage thing... and why me?"
He paused, his eyes searching hers. "I didn't want to do the arranged thing at first. After my last relationship crashed, I was done with love. But my parents kept pushing, and I figured I'd at least meet you. Then you turned out to be... you. Running away on a train, cracking Simran jokes, loving filter coffee like it's your religion. You're not just a 'resume match,' Divya. You're real, and I can't stop thinking about you."
Her breath caught, her cheeks warming. "You're making it really hard to play it cool, you know that?"
"Good," he said, grinning. "Because I'm not playing it cool either."
They were inches apart now, the K-drama forgotten. Divya's heart raced as he leaned closer, but before anything could happen, her phone buzzed loudly, shattering the moment. It was her amma. *Aiyo, what now?*
She answered, bracing herself. "Amma, I'm at Priya's, I told you—""DIVYA!" her mother's voice was a mix of panic and fury. "Arjun's amma called! They know you two met without telling us! His appa's upset, saying it's 'not proper'! They're coming to our house NOW! You better come back!"
Divya's stomach dropped. She glanced at Arjun, who'd heard enough to look worried. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Our families found out about the dosa date," she said, grimacing. "Your appa's mad, and they're all meeting at my place. Like, right now."Arjun groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Great. My appa's old-school. He probably thinks we eloped or something."
Priya poked her head out, clearly eavesdropping. "Aiyo, family drama! You two are straight-up *Baashha* now! Go, face the music!"They grabbed their stuff and hailed an auto back to Anna Nagar, the ride tense with nervous energy. Divya's mind raced. *What if his parents think I'm some reckless girl? What if my amma grounds me for life?*
Arjun reached for her hand, giving it a quick squeeze. "We got this," he said. "Together, right?" "Right," she said, squeezing back, her nerves easing slightly.
At Divya's house, it was like a Tamil movie climax. Her parents, Arjun's parents, and her chithi were in the living room, surrounded by coffee tumblers and a tray of half-eaten ladoos. The air was thick with tension, like someone had paused a dramatic scene right before the punchline.Arjun's appa, a stern man in a veshti, spoke first.
"Arjun, what is this? Sneaking around with the girl without family permission? This isn't how we do things!"
Divya's amma jumped in, her bangles clanging.
"Divya, you said you're with Priya! Now you're running around with him? What will people say?"
Divya took a deep breath, glancing at Arjun. He nodded, a silent 'we got this'. She stepped forward, her voice steady.
"Amma, Appa, uncle, aunty, we're sorry for not telling you. But we're not sneaking around to cause trouble. We just wanted to know each other—really know each other—before all the horoscope and muhurtham talks. Isn't that what matters?"
Arjun : "Appa, I respect our traditions. But I also respect Divya. She's not just a 'ponnu' to check off a list. We're trying to build something real. Can you give us that chance?"
The room went quiet, the kind of silence that feels like a movie scene holding its breath. Divya's appa cleared his throat. "You should've told us, Divya. But... I see you're serious. Both of you."
Arjun's amma, who'd been silent, smiled slightly. "Arjun's always been stubborn. But he's never spoken up like this before. Divya, you must be special."
Divya's cheeks burned, but she smiled. Her chithi, ever the drama queen, clapped her hands. "Aiyo, romba romantic! Like Vijay and Simran! Okay, let them talk, but under our supervision, okay?"
Everyone laughed, the tension breaking like a popped balloon. The families agreed to give them time to "talk properly," with a promise of no more secret dates. As Arjun's family left, he whispered to Divya, "We survived. K-drama marathon, round two, soon?"
She grinned. "Only if you don't cry this time."
That night, Divya lay in bed, her phone glowing with a new text from Arjun:
"You were badass today, runaway heroine. We're writing our own story now. 😊"
She replied,
"And it's better than any K-drama. See you soon, mapillai."
Love doesn't need a script, but it takes courage to stand up for it—especially when the whole family's ready to rewrite the ending.
---
Do vote and comment. Hope you liked the chapter. Feel free to share your opinions.
