Chapter 6: Temple Trips and Tanglish Tangles
The Chennai morning was a typical mix of sticky heat and the distant hum of temple bells. Divya stood in front of her mirror, adjusting a simple pink salwar kameez, her amma's choice for their "family-approved" outing with Arjun's family. After the dosa date drama and the living room showdown, both families had agreed to let Divya and Arjun "get to know each other" under strict supervision. Today's plan? A visit to the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, followed by lunch at a "respectable" restaurant. *Aiyo, it's like we're in a Tamil serial with a PG rating,* Divya thought, rolling her eyes.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Arjun:
"Ready for temple vibes? Bet I can pray faster than you. 😎 PS: Sneaked some murukku for later."
She grinned, typing back:
"Challenge accepted, mapillai. But if you drop murukku in the temple, I'm not saving you from the priest."
At the temple, the scene was straight out of a Chennai postcard—devotees in colorful sarees and veshtis, the scent of jasmine and camphor in the air, and the towering gopuram glowing under the morning sun. Divya's family arrived first, her amma fussing over her dupatta ("Pin it properly, Divya!") and her appa muttering about parking woes. Arjun's family rolled up soon after, his amma in a maroon saree, his appa looking like he'd rather be watching cricket, and his sister Priya snapping selfies with the temple as a backdrop.
Arjun caught Divya's eye, looking unfairly good in a cream kurta, his hair slightly messy from the breeze. "Runaway heroine, you clean up nice," he whispered, dodging a glare from his amma. "Ready to impress the gods and our parents?""Only if the gods like K-drama fans," she shot back, stifling a laugh.
The families walked into the temple together, the parents leading the way with pooja trays of coconuts and flowers. Divya and Arjun lagged behind, pretending to admire the architecture but really just stealing glances. "This feels like a school field trip," Arjun muttered. "Next, they'll make us hold hands in a line."
"Don't give my chithi ideas," Divya said, nodding toward her aunt, who was already whispering to Arjun's amma, probably about wedding caterers. Inside, the temple was a whirlwind of chants, bells, and devotees circling the sanctum. Divya and Arjun offered their prayers, but Divya couldn't help sneaking a side-eye at him as he closed his eyes, looking oddly serious. *What's he praying for?* she wondered, then caught herself. *Aiyo, Divya, focus on Ganesha, not this guy's dimples.*
After the pooja, the families planned to head to a nearby restaurant, but the priest, a cheerful man with a thick vibhuti streak, insisted on a "special blessing" for the "young couple." Divya's cheeks burned as he handed them each a rose and a coconut, chanting mantras while their parents beamed. Arjun leaned over, whispering, "If I didn't know better, I'd say we're married already.""Shut up," she hissed, but her smile betrayed her.
As they stepped out, Priya, Arjun's sister, pulled them aside. "Okay, you two, I'm bored of this temple drama. Let's ditch the parents for a bit. There's a street food stall near Luz Corner—vada pav and pani puri. You in?"
Divya hesitated, glancing at her amma, who was deep in conversation with Arjun's amma about silk sarees. "Priya, if we get caught again, it's game over."
Arjun grinned. "Come on, runaway heroine. Live a little. I'll take the blame if we get busted."
"Fine," Divya said, her adventurous side kicking in. "But you're paying for the pani puri."
They slipped away, telling their parents they were "checking out the temple shops." Luz Corner was a short walk, alive with the chaos of Chennai street life—vendors shouting "Pani puri, vadai!" and college kids crowding around stalls. The trio grabbed plates of crispy vada pav and spicy pani puri, the tangy tamarind water making Divya's eyes water. Arjun laughed, handing her a tissue. "You're crying more than I did during *Crash Landing on You*."
"Excuse me, this is spicy tears, not emotional ones," she retorted, tossing a puri at him. Priya cackled, snapping a photo. "You two are too cute. I'm sending this to my friends—'Runaway couple goals.'""Priya, don't you dare!" Divya said, lunging for the phone, but Arjun caught her hand, laughing.
"Let her. We look good together."
Divya froze, his hand warm against hers. For a moment, the street noise faded, and it was just them—his eyes locked on hers, her heart racing like a Rajinikanth fight scene. Priya coughed dramatically. "Okay, lovebirds, save it for the wedding."
They finished their food, but the fun was cut short when Arjun's phone rang. It was his appa, sounding like he'd just discovered a plot twist. "Arjun! Where are you? Divya's chithi saw you at some stall! Come back to the restaurant NOW!"Divya groaned. "Chithi's like a human CCTV. We're dead."
Back at the restaurant—a traditional South Indian spot with banana leaves and waiters in veshtis—the families were waiting, their expressions a mix of annoyance and amusement. Divya's chithi launched into a lecture. "Divya, this is not a movie! Sneaking off for pani puri? What if someone saw you?"
Arjun stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Uncle, aunty, we're sorry. We just wanted a moment to talk, you know, as friends. We're serious about this, but we need to be ourselves too."Divya's amma sighed, but her eyes softened. "You kids. Okay, talk, be friends, but no more running off, ? We trust you... a little."
Arjun's appa nodded, though he still looked like he'd rather be watching cricket. "Arjun, you're lucky this girl's family is understanding. Next time, tell us."
As lunch unfolded, the mood lightened. The families chatted over plates of pongal, dosa, and sambar, while Divya and Arjun exchanged glances, their earlier moment still lingering. Under the table, Arjun slipped her a murukku from his pocket, whispering, "For surviving another family scene."She stifled a laugh, crunching quietly. "You're trouble, mapillai."
"Takes one to know one," he whispered back, winking.
Later, as they left the restaurant, Arjun's sister Priya pulled Divya aside. "My brother's crazy about you, you know. I've never seen him this... happy. Don't break his heart, okay?"
Divya smiled, her chest warm. "I won't."
That night, back in her room, Divya's phone lit up with a text from Arjun:
"Temple, pani puri, family drama—best date yet. You're stuck with me now, runaway heroine. 😊"
She replied,
"Only if you keep sneaking me murukku. Deal, mapillai?"
As she drifted to sleep, Divya felt like she was in her own K-drama—heart-pounding, messy, and perfect. The temple visit hadn't been just about prayers; it had been a step toward something real, something *theirs*.
Love grows in stolen moments and spicy pani puri, but it shines brightest when you face the chaos together.
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I also need a love like this : ))
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