You and I - a pranushka tale

chapter eleven

Thara was doing mehndi on Mithrah's hand when Prabhas and Rana came into the open area in the middle of the villa. Prabhas immediately smirked at the sight of the two of them. "Thara I think there's spider on you." He said with a worried expression.

Thara squealed and almost ruined the mehndi on Mithrah's hand as she jumped up trying to get rid of the spider that wasn't there. Mithrah glared at him as she realised he did it on purpose. He laughed and sat with Rana on the large wooden swing when Mithrah and Rana's mother, Radha came with a plate of sweets in hand.

Upon realising Prabhas tricked Thara, she sat back down after making a childish face at him and continued drawing the patterns on her best friend's hand.

Mithrah watched Radha feed Prabhas with care, only approaching Rana after. She looked at them confused as although her mother was always the kindest, she showed way more affection to Prabhas than anyone else who wasn't family since he came.

Thara followed Mithrah's stare to see it settled on Prabhas and her mother who was affectionately caressing his curls. Radha had tears in her eyes but she quickly brushed it away before either of the boys could see.

"She's crying." Mithrah said dumbfounded.

Only then did Thara look at her best friend in surprise. "You don't know?" She asked.

Mithrah looked back at her confused, "Know what?"

She gestured towards Prabhas and Radha. "About Prabhas' family?" She asked, her voice quietening as Mithrah slowly shook her head.

Thara's fingers nimbly continued sketching swirls and patterns capable of telling their own stories. With her eyes focused on Mithrah's hand, she began to recount what she heard. "Prabhas is an only child," Thara murmured, sketching rippling waves on her fingers. "His mother passed away when he was a child."

Mithrah's eyes tore away from her hand and to the man who was standing with her own mother. She couldn't possibly imagine how it must've felt to lose a parent as a child. Mithrah and Rana were showered with love as they were raised. Radha and Veeraiyandi played a huge role in their lives and the lack of their presence was something she couldn't even fathom. She slowly began to understand why Radha was pampering him the same way she cared for her and Rana.

Thara went on to paint little henna buds as she continued, "Rana told me how Prabhas' dad raised him on his own. His father is apparently the most important person in his life. He worked hard to provide everything he could. He wanted Prabhas to become a police officer-"

"-and so he became one." Mithrah finished, her eyes becoming fond as she watched him smile at Rana.

Thara hummed in response and began to sketch a pattern with moons at the edge of Mithrah's palms.

~

It was the morning of the first official poojai at the temple. The house was awake with the rush of footsteps and excitement of chatter as they all got ready. Mithrah picked up the saree that she had decided to wear. It was the first one Prabhas chose for her.

She adorned her body with the material in care as she draped it softly over her curves. The silk caressed her like the gentle waves of an ocean, making hushed promises of the touch to come. Her hair cascaded down her back in curls, pinned back with two small bunches of strands yet her alluring face was framed with little disarray curls. As she placed jasmine flowers in her hair, her gold bangles tumbled upon one another, their sounds becoming a hymn for her ethereal beauty.

When she walked downstairs ready, her eyes searched for the one person she wanted to impress with how she looked. But he was nowhere to be seen. With disappointment, she found her way to Thara and Nithya, both of whom were showering her with compliments but nothing reached her ears.