Under the scalding sun, we walked by the muddy road to reach my paternal grandparents' home. The weather in Coimbatore is a blessing as we don't experience Chennai's summer or Ooty's winter. But the sun is too hot today in Coimbatore.

I can feel the beads of sweat running down my spine. I wiped the sweat off my forehead with the sleeve of my T-shirt. The sweats stain my white shirt to half-white.

"Omg, my legs are cramping. Can anyone carry me?" My sister's voice came from the back.

My younger brother nudged me with his elbow and mouthed acting. I turned and saw that my sister Vihana had sat down on a rock.

"Don't act drama queen." Vihaan mocked Vihana as she closed her eyes and panted loudly. Her face is flushed red from the heat. Her tresses stuck to her neck and forehead.

"Vihaan! Don't be mean to your sister." Father chastised him.

"And Vihaan, carry your younger sister," Mom added.

"Amma! I'm not the younger one here. Don't you know that who is born second is the elder one in twins?" Vihana exclaimed with a virtual quotation.

(Amma- mom)

"So, you are indirectly asking me to call you Akka?" Vihaan asked with his brows raised.

(Akka- elder sister)

"Okay, stop it both of you." My mother ordered them.

"So, who is going to carry me?" She gave puppy eyes as her eyes met mine.

I sighed and walked towards them. I gave my backpack to Vihaan and squatted before Vihana.

"Anna, you are the best! You are the only one who loves me in this family." Vihana exclaimed loudly in my ear as I started walking with her on my back.

"Don't be so happy, he just wants to reach there fast," Vihaan said as he joined us in the front.

"And meet someone." Vihana whispered in my ear.

"You got your energy back, it seems?" I whispered back with raised brows.

She widened her eyes and shook her head left to right with pursed lips.

The smell of fresh air hit me as we entered the coconut grove that our grandparents own. The coolness that contrasts with the hot sun reduced my tiredness a little.

Even though we all live in Coimbatore, my grandparents preferred to stay in our native place. My family lives in RS Puram whereas, my grandparents live in Pollachi.

Pollachi is in the Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. That is located about 40 km to the south of Coimbatore. My grandparents didn't like the city environment, and they didn't have the heart to leave the place where they lived from their childhood.

My parental grandparents Ganesh and Lakshmi, had two children. My father, Sivakumar, and my aunt Sakthi. My maternal grandparents Sundaram and Meenakshi, had only one daughter. That's my mother Radha. We are three children to our parents, Me and the twins, Vihaan and Vihana.

It's been months since we came here. Everyone was busy with work, school, and college. It's good to be back in our native.

Vihana loosened her hold around my neck and got down from my back as we neared my grandparent's home.

"Welcome, welcome! Sir and madam are waiting for you." Ramesh uncle welcomed us warmly with a wide smile.

"Papa, Radha ma give me your bags. I will carry them." He requested both the ladies and carried my sister's and mother's backpacks as we walked towards the gate.

(Papa - it means girl child/baby, they also use it as an endearment to girls)

Ramesh uncle maintains the coconut grove and the lands owned by my grandparents. His family stays in a house behind my grandparent's home.

"Anna, did my sister, brother-in-law, & the kids have come?" my father asked Ramesh uncle.

(Anna- elder brother)

"They came by early morning itself, Tambi!" Ramesh uncle said and opened the gate for us to enter.

(Tambi- younger brother).

Vihana ran fast past us to my grandparents and my aunt's family as they stood outside the home to welcome us. My Mom and dad touched my grandparents' feet to take the blessing. After a round of hugs, greetings, and getting the blessings, we entered the home.

We sat down on the sofa. Krishna uncle sat down next to me and put his arms around my shoulder.

Krishna uncle is my Sakthi athai's husband. (athai- dad's sister, mom's brother's wife)

"Then Vikram how is the college-going?" Maama asked me. (mom's brother, dad's sister's husband)

"It's going good uncle. how is the business?"

"Good as always. A new order has come so, from next week I think I will become busy. Come to the office if you are free."

"After the semester is over, I'll come maama."

My maama is a businessman. He exports and imports wooden toys all over the world. He has a manufacturing company in Coimbatore and Chennai.

Sundari aunty brought glasses of water for all of us."

"How are you Tambi?" she asked me with a warm smile.

(Tambi means younger brother but it is also used to call someone younger to them as an endearment).

"I'm fine aunty. How are you?"

"I'm very fine," she replied with a smile.

Sundari aunty is Ramesh uncle's wife. She helps grandma with household chores.

Grandma asked everyone to freshen up and come to the dining room to have lunch. Vihana has already freshened up and went to help the ladies in the kitchen. Vihaan, myself, and Hari climbed up the stairs.

Hariharan, my cousin aka Partner in crime is going to complete his college this year. He is studying civil engineering at PSG Tech Coimbatore. He is older than me by two years.

We have five bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen, dining room in this home. We all youngsters stay on the first floor. Two bedrooms on the first floor and three bedrooms on the ground floor attached with a bathroom each.

My grandparents, my parents, and Hari's parents occupy the ground floor. Vihaan, Myself, and Hari share a room, and the girls share the other room. After freshening up, we went to the dining room.

Everyone took their seats, Mom and athai brought the dishes to the table. We used to sit on the floor to eat, but now my grandparents can't sit down on the floor due to their joint pain. We switched to the dining table.

I coughed lightly to get Vihana's attention, but she is busy eating the chicken chili.

I coughed loudly, but except for her, everyone turned in my direction.

"Kanna drink water." Sakthi athai patted my head and gave me a glass of water.

(Kanna -endearment).

"Thanks, athai." she smiled and brushed my hair off my forehead, and left to serve my uncle.

I lightly kicked Vihana's leg with mine to gain her attention.

That did the trick. She looked up from her plate alertly. I cleared my throat lightly. She looked at me with her eyebrows raised. I indicated the empty seat next to her with my eyes and raised my brows.

She opened her mouth to answer but stopped midway looking behind me. Suddenly a warm voice greeted everyone with a good afternoon.

A smile threatened to leave my lips as the sound of anklet neared me. I stared at her as she took the empty seat adjacent to Vihana.

As if she sensed my burning gaze, her bewitching black eyes met mine.

I blinked my eyes twice at her. She looked at me with narrowed eyes and turned her head to another side.

I laughed inwardly at her adorable expression.

Amma and Athai also joined us at the table. Our lunch was filled with lots of teasing and pleasant conversation. Only me and the girls are remaining. Everyone completed their lunch and left for the living room to relax.

She got up and made her way to the backyard to wash her hands.

"If anyone comes, whistle!" I told my sister.

"Ahaaan, enjoy." She smirked.

"Shut up and eat," I said and smacked the back of her head lightly.

I silently entered the backyard and looked around for the owner of those bewitching eyes.

There, she stood with her arms crossed across her chest, chin raised, lips pursed, and those alluring black eyes looking directly at my warm brown ones.

I approached her with slow steps and stopped directly in front of her.

She moved left and made way for me to wash my hands.

I washed my hand and turned around to find her already gone.

I covered my face with my hands and grinned thinking of her expression.

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