Inline comments are love;)

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Harshitha's Pov;

"Madam, did your anger go?" Vikram asked as his hands caressed my cheeks softly. I hummed and leaned against his palm, his warm hand bringing warmth to my face.

"Okay, can we go?"

I nodded and took the jasmine flower from the dashboard, He switched off the lights and locked the car.

We walked towards the temple holding hands.

I left his hands as I saw Vihaan coming outside the temple with Vihana yelling at him to stop.

"Anna why so late?" Vihaan asked Vikram as we neared him.

"Traffic." Vikram answered with one word and went to wash his hands and legs.

"Where we do have traffic in our native place?" Vihaan questioned scratching his head, but Vikram ignored him and signaled me to follow with his eye.

I gave the cover to athai and stood beside Patti. (Attai-aunt, Patti- grandma)

"Harshi take it." Athai gave me a part after cutting the yards of jasmine into 5 parts equally.

"Athai I don't need, I already have." I said touching my hair nervously.

"You don't have any flower in your hair when we came" Amma asked with her eyebrows raised.

"No mom, a grandma outside compelled me to buy so, I bought." I lied, hoping she'll believe me.

Amma said okay and joined Attai in arranging the pooja things.

"Is the grandma giving the flower for free? I'm asking this because your wallet is with me.'' Vihana asked me raising her eyebrows up and down playfully.

"Shut up Viha!" I quickly closed her mouth and looked around if anyone has heard us.

"Harshi Viha! why are you standing there? come here." Patti's exclaimed asking us to join them.

Patti Thatha stood at the right-side front followed by our parents, the twins, I, Vikram, and at last Hari anna.

"For whose name should I do the archanai?" The priest asked.

"For God's name," Thatha replied. (thatha-grandpa)

"With pleasure!" He said and went inside the Karuvarai.

(Karuvarai- the sanctuary, a holy room only the priest is allowed to enter where the god is kept)

The Priest chanted the mantras as he decorated the lord Vinayagar with flowers that we gave.

Some say black is an unlucky color, some say it a depressing color, but peace filled my heart as the black lord Vinayagar glowed as the priest showed the camper plate in a clockwise direction simultaneously chanted the mantras and shook the bell in his left hand.

'My god! I wish everyone should be fine, no one should face any difficulties, I know you have a lot of work but please keep me and Vikram's love a secret, at least till we finish our studies. We don't know how will our family react so, please you only should help us.' I closed my eyes and prayed with my hands together in front of my chest, my head bowed.

I opened my eyes and put three thopukaranam, I accepted the thinir and the flowers the priest offered me after taking the Arathi.

After everyone prayed, we moved to the next God.

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The smell of tamarind, curd, and lemon rice spread as Patti opened the vessel that filled with the prasaadham we prepared.

''Harshi, Viha! both of you give the prasaadam to everyone." Patti said as she forwarded the prasaadam vessel to us.

(Prasaadam-food, which is a religious offering in both Hinduism and Sikhism. It is normally consumed by worshippers after worship.)

"Mom wait, Vihaan Vikram Hari come here." Athai stopped Patti and called out the boys, who stood at the corner chatting.

"You three distribute the food to everyone," Athai ordered them as she sat down on the floor.

"Mom! ask Vihana to distribute. she was simply sleeping all day. Today we have done a lot of work but she didn't." Vihaan complained with a frown on his face.

"I didn't ask you whether she did any work or not, I asked you to give this to everyone," Athai replied back in a dare u complain tone.

Vihaan's looked annoyed as Vihana showed her tongue out teasing him.

With a complaining face, he took the prasaadham and walked away stomping his foot, Hari anna, and Vikram took the other two vessels and followed Vihaan.

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After sitting there for ten minutes, we said our goodbye to the priest and exited the temple.

"Then we will be leaving"

"Be careful on the way." The priest replied with a smile.

"Grandma, can we go to Dinesh chittapa's home please?" Vihana requested as we passed by his house.

(Chittapa- dad's brother or mom's sister's husband)

"Darling, we should return to our home after going to the temple. We can go to his home tomorrow." Patti replied looking at us.

"Okay, Patti," Vihana said and leaned her head on my shoulder with a yawn.

"Harshi, wake me after we reach home," she said and closed her already drooping eyes.

I gazed at the passing scenery with my chin in my hand, the wind and the soothing music that played in the radio slowly lulled me to sleep.

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I woke up, startled as Hari anna parked the car in front of our home.

Patti thatha and Vihaan got down and went inside the home.

"Viha, wake up." I softly patted her cheeks to wake her up from her sleep but, she just pouted and snuggled more into me.

"Vihana, get up, we have reached." I shook her lightly.

"Mmm." She just whined and leaned her whole body against me.

"Harshi, leave her. I will carry her inside. you just lock the car and come." Hari anna stopped me from waking her up.

He got down, opened the back door, and carried the sleeping vihana in his arms back to the home.

I yelped as someone lifted me suddenly off the ground.

"Vikram." I quickly put my arms around his neck.

His chest vibrated as he chuckled, holding me close.

"Put me down, I can walk," I ordered, patting his shoulder to put me down.

"No, I think you too look sleepy so, I will carry you.'' He ignored me and carried me taking steady steps towards the house, his arms holding me in a firm yet gentle grip.

"Okay, enough. Put me down! someone will see" I asked him to put me down as we reached near the front door.

He put me down but, had his arms still around me.

"Vikram." I hissed, fearing someone will see.

"My fees." He leaned down and tapped his right cheek with a finger.

"Is 10rs okay?" I asked, controlling my laughter seeing his expression change.

He looked annoyed for a moment but changed his expression as he saw my laughing face.

"Oh! you enjoy seeing me sulk." With a smirk, he lifted me off the floor again.

"Okay, I'll give, put me down first." I pleaded in a whisper, fearing someone will come out searching for us.

His whole face lit up after I agreed to give him the 'fees' he asked me.

"Not here, this is a dangerous place." He said and quickly dragged me with him.

He backed me against the wall, His eyes looking deeply into mine. I cupped his face with my hands, his stumble pricking my palm as he leaned against it.

"I missed you so much." He sighed deeply, kissing the inside of my palm.

"I missed you more" I replied, circling my arms around his neck. He pulled me closer, wrapping his strong arms around my waist.

We broke apart hearing my phone ring. I opened my wallet and took out my phone to see an unknown number calling

"Hello"

"Hey, Harshi" A man's voice greeted me, his voice familiar yet unfamiliar.

"Who is speaking, your name?" I asked.

"My name starts with A, find me!" He replied in a challenging tone.

I searched my mind for any boy named A but I found none.

"I don't know anyone with a name that starts with A," I spoke

"Think deeply Harshi, you know me"

"I don't know and if you are not saying your name, I'm going to cut your call," I replied, irritated that he disturbed my time with Vikram.

"Hey, okay cool, I will say." He laughed

Vikram took my phone out of my hands looking pissed but accidentally clicked the speaker icon.

"My dear athai ponnu! I'm Arjun, unoda maama paiyan." At his reply, I can feel Vikram's arms tightening around me.

"Apo naa yaru." Vikram asked sarcastically through his clenched teeth.

(My dear aunt's daughter, I'm Arjun, your uncle's son)

(Then who am I)

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to be continued

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