Days passed one after another, quietly slipping away like pages turning in a book. Before Maha even realized it, her exams were over.
For weeks she had been buried in textbooks, highlighters, sleepless nights, and silent prayers before each paper. Now, for the first time in a long while, she woke up without tension pressing on her chest. The morning sunlight filtered softly through her curtains, falling across her bed in warm golden streaks. She stretched lazily, feeling light almost free.
No revision.
No last-minute panic.
No exam stress.
Just peace.
From downstairs, a familiar voice echoed through the house.
"Amma Maha… coffee!"
It was Raghu.Maha shook her head with a small smile. "Oka nimisham, nanna!" she shouted back.
(One minute, dad!)
She quickly tied her hair into a loose ponytail and walked into the kitchen. The comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. She carefully poured the coffee into her father's favorite steel tumbler, making sure the foam formed perfectly on top just the way he liked it.
Carrying it carefully, she walked to the hall ,raghu was sitting on the sofa, newspaper wide open, adjusting his glasses.
She handed him the cup. "Here, nanna."
Raghu looked up and smiled warmly. "Thank you, amma."
That single look of appreciation made her feel proud,she then turned toward her mother.
"Maa… nee tea."
Sanjana took the cup and looked at her daughter with pure affection in her eyes.
"Naa bangaram."
(My gold.)
Maha immediately narrowed her eyes dramatically.
"Aa aa… eppudu ila antav. Malli taruvatha tidathav."
(You call me gold now. Later you will scold me.)
Sanjana chuckled at her daughter's expressions and reached forward, pulling her cheeks gently.
"Maa!" Maha protested instantly. "How many times should I say I don't like when someone pulls my cheeks?"
Raghu folded his newspaper and joined the teasing. "But we like your cheeks very much."
Sanjana nodded. "So we will pull and pinch it."Maha glared at both of them like a betrayed princess.
"You both are impossible!" she said, stomping her foot dramatically before running upstairs.
The moment she disappeared, Raghu and Sanjana burst into laughter.Inside her room, Maha closed the door and leaned against it for a moment. A small smile escaped her lips. No matter how much she complained, she loved these little moments.
She walked toward her bed and flopped down, grabbing her phone absentmindedly.Her thumb moved automatically,Instagram opened and there he was.
Rudra.
Her breath stilled,he had posted a new picture.
Black shirt,Sleeves neatly folded.
A watch resting elegantly on his left wrist.
And the first two buttons of his shirt slightly open.Too casually open.
His hair looked slightly messy, like he had run his fingers through it. His expression was calm but intense the kind that could make anyone look twice.
Maha zoomed into the photo unconsciously.
"Aha… even this bava is trying to increase my anger, ah?" she muttered. "Doesn't he know he looks good in that shirt? Still he posts that photo in IG."
Her subconscious mind immediately mocked her.
"Oh really? You are the one staring at it for five minutes."
"You shut up," she argued internally. "He is my bava only. I can see him like this. Not everyone."
Her jaw tightened at the thought of other girls liking the photo.
Who are they?
Why are they liking it?
Why does he need to post like this publicly?
Her thumb hovered over the like button.After two seconds of hesitation,she liked it immediately, she locked her phone.
"Idiot," she whispered to herself.Just then, her phone started ringing again.
Lucky.
Maha answered quickly. "Hello Lucky, you called me?"
"Maha! I want your help. Please come home fast… please!"
"Lucky, what happ—"
The call disconnected.
Maha's heart jumped into her throat without wasting time, she rushed downstairs and hurried toward Lucky's house.
She entered breathlessly. "Seetha, where is Lucky?"
"She is upstairs," Seetha replied calmly.
Maha rushed up and opened the door.She froze,the entire room was covered with clothes. Dresses were scattered on the bed, the chair, the floor.
"Lucky! What is happening here?" Maha asked, completely confused.
Lucky turned dramatically. "Maha, please select a dress for me. I have to go to a get-together party. I don't know what to wear, so I called you." Maha blinked.
"That's it?"Lucky nodded seriously.
Maha glared. "For this you called me urgently? I thought something happened to you!"Lucky gave a sheepish smile.
Maha sighed but began checking the dresses carefully. She lifted each one, imagining Lucky wearing it, analyzing colors and style.
After a few minutes, she selected one elegant outfit.
"Take this." Lucky's face lit up instantly. "Love you, Maha! The dress is nice."
"Did you tell about get-together party to bava?" Maha asked casually.
"I told maa. She will take care of brother," Lucky replied.
Something about that answer relieved maha,lucky quickly changed and twirled before the mirror.
"Okay bye, Maha! Bye amma!" she shouted before running off.
Maha shook her head with a smile and walked downstairs.
"Seetha, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Your bava's favorite curry ladies finger," Seetha replied.Maha's heart skipped.
"Oh… let me see how to cook."Seetha smiled knowingly. "Of course you have to learn. After all, you only have to cook for your husband."
The word echoed in Maha's mind.
Husband.
Her cheeks turned pink instantly.
She lowered her head shyly, pretending to focus on the curry before she could respond—
"Maa, where are you? I am hungry."
Rudra's voice.Deep. Firm. Familiar.
Her heartbeat quickened without permission.Seetha said, "I think Rudra came. Serve him food. I will come later."
Maha swallowed nervously and walked toward the dining table.Rudra was sitting there, completely engrossed in his phone. His brows slightly furrowed in concentration.
He didn't notice her,she quietly placed the plate and began serving food.She noticed the way his wrist flexed when he moved. The veins on his hand were visible.
Why am I noticing all this?
Stop it.
He ate silently,she stood there for a second longer than necessary before stepping back.After finishing, he cleaned his hands and spoke without looking up.
"Maa, tell Maha to come to dad's office in the evening. He said he wants to discuss something."
"Ok, bava," she replied softly.
The word made him look up.Their eyes met.Time slowed.
Something unspoken passed between them.
His expression changed slightly — surprise? Confusion? Something else?
"Ok," he said finally.
Maha turned to leave.Her heart was still beating strangely,her foot slipped.
Rudra's POV
I saw it happen in slow motion.her foot slipped against the floor,body tilted,fear flashed across her face.Before my mind could think, my body moved.I stood up instantly and reached out andcaught her.
One hand supported the back of her head,the other wrapped around her small waist,she wais lighter than I expected.
And her waist so small, soft.
What are you thinking, Rudra?
She had her eyes tightly shut, expecting to hit the ground her fingers gripped my shirt slowly, she realized she wasn't falling ,her brows frowned slightly then she opened her eyes and looked at me.
For a moment, everything disappeared.Her eyes were wide like deep ocean waters reflecting fear turning into relief,her breathing was uneven ,lips slightly parted.
My gaze drifted without permission.
Those lips.
Stop it.
This is Maha.
My cousin.
But why does my heart feel like this?
She was so close.Too close.
I could feel her breath against my face.Her fingers still clutching my shirt.
Why is she trembling?Or am I the one trembling?
Her eyes softened as she realized she was safe in my arms, realization did something to me.Something dangerous.we kept staring at each other.
Seconds passed but it felt longer like time had paused ,world had disappeared.it was just us.
A loud sound from the kitchen broke the silence.we both blinked reality crashed back i immediately loosened my hold ,she stepped away quickly.Neither of us spoke. something had changed and neither of us could name.