Vrishali is standing beside Padmanabh while Vijay is measuring the land. Harika is taking notes of the walls. Harika hasn't made any kind of move towards Padmanabh but was professional when it came to work. "I believe we need to break these walls for new walls. They are not strong enough," Harika says.
Padmanabh nods. "Yes, I have been thinking the same. Have you checked the remaining walls?" Harika shook her head. "We are focusing on each section at a time. It might take us two weeks to go through the whole property."
"Okay."
"What do you suggest?" Vrishali asked Vijay looking at the backyard. "The space is excellent for a swimming pool with open bar content. We can use this area for the high open bar while the remaining space can be utilized for the pool area."
"The concept of having a private pool within the pool area is now popular for privacy. Is it possible to divide the pool into two parts?" Vrishali asked. Vijay hummed. "Yes, I have worked on it, and it is a good idea to divide the pool into two equal parts."
Padmanabh glanced at Vrishali. "And why is that?" Vrishali's gaze met Padmanabhs. "Not everyone feels at ease in a shared pool, especially with an open bar. Having a divider allows people to use the other section and unwind. Often, women prefer not to share a pool with men when alcohol is involved."
"It is a good plan," Harika chimes in. "Well, the pool concept has been finalized, then?" Vijay asked. Everyone nodded. They dedicated the next hour to exploring the area and discussing the designs and concepts.
"We will decide on the pool design and send it to you two by Tuesday," Padmanabh said, and Vrishali agreed. "That would be enough time for us to decide."
"Perfect then." Vrishali's phone started ringing. She excused herself to attend the call. Padmanabh looked at his wristwatch. It was time for them to return home to get ready for the function. "You are leaving?" Vijay asked.
"Yeah, Vrishali's cousin's engagement is in the evening. We need to leave." Vijay nodded. "Sure, see you two on the weekend then." Padmanabh waited for Vrishali to return. When Vrishali returned, he was ready to leave.
"Bye, Vijay. See you at the weekend," Vrishali said. Vijay nodded, and Harika glanced at them when they left. Harika gave a tight nod and went inside. Vijay shook his head and followed Harika while Padmanabh and Vrishali left.
"Harika, this isn't a soap opera. Padmanabh is our friend and client right now. I do not like to disrespect my clients when it comes to business. Vrishali is his wife, and that man is clearly in love with and respects her. So, don't even think of doing the drama," Vijay said seriously.
"What are you talking about?" Vijay shook his head. "I know everything about it. I have seen you meet Diya Kumari. Padmanabh wouldn't like it if he got to know about this. Let's be honest, and there's no chance. You know how Padmanabh is, and that man is literally worshipping his wife through his eyes. You have seen it, so don't end up doing something that would break us apart."
While Harika gripped the documents, Vijay went away with the files, and her heart shuddered. She looked the way Padmanabh had left. She loved him. . . She had been in love with him for years but never dared to propose when she knew he would reject her. She was desperate, unable to process that he had married. Married to an outsider. She wanted to try but could not accept the regret gnawing at her heart.
*
Vrishali held both the sarees in her hands, confused about selecting the one for the evening. She has exactly an hour to get ready. Once she selects the one, she can get ready. There's a soft music playing in the background. After putting both the sarees on her, she went with the maroon saree.
She put the dark green one back in the wardrobe. Removing her t-shirt, she put on the blouse and saree petticoat. Picking up her makeup bag, she sat before the mirror and started doing her makeup, keeping it simple and neat. Once she was done with the face, she was doing her hair.
Padmanabh knocked on the door and waited for Vrishali to open. He knocked once more before opening the door. He was stunned as he saw Vrishaliâ She was styling her hair, standing before the big mirror. She hadn't wrapped the sure yet.
He looked away, and Vrishali stopped what she was doing when she saw Padmanabh's reflection in the mirror. "I'm sorry, I did knock before entering the room. Iâ I will wait for you in the living room." He placed the box on the table. "I wanted to give this." Before Vrishali could respond, Padmanabh left, closing the door behind him.
"What was that?" Vrishali asked herself before wandering to where he had placed the box. She picked it up and opened it to see a beautiful gold necklace. She remembered seeing the piece in Kanchipuram and wondered about buying it, but it was sold out.
An exciting sequel left her mouth as she gently traced her finger on the stones. It was a vintage choker piece that she hadn't seen anywhere before, but the design was widely worn by ladies from South India. "Oh my god. . ."
She quickly returned to the mirror, finished her hair and wrapped the saree around her body. It took her time, but she is perfecting draping the saree. She gently picked off the necklace from the box and wore it. The choker and the earrings matched her saree. She brought the saree from Kanchipuram. It was bought by Padmanabh as well.
When she was done getting ready, she breathed out before leaving the room, not before wearing the low heels and taking her bag. She couldn't wait for Padmanabh's reaction. She mostly got ready for him. She had observed that Padmanabh took his time observing her whenever she got ready. He thought she was not observing him, but she was.
She heard a noise coming from the kitchen. She entered the kitchen to see Padmanabh filling his glass with water. "You ready to go?" she asked. Padmanabh turned around and choked on his water as he looked at Vrishali. "You okay?" Vrishali stepped towards where he was standing and handed him the tissue papers. Padmanabh looked away and tried to hide his surprise.
Vrishali is beautiful, and her wearing a saree is something that would be the death of him. He tried to calm his heart down and used the tissues to wipe the water off his chin. Vrishali's perfume filled the air. Vrishali took the chance to check Padmanabh. He is wearing his signature white kurta, and he is stunning.
Padmanabh turns around and meets Vrishali's eyes. "You look beautiful." He compliments, surprising the both of them. His cheeks flare while Vrishali tucks the hair strand behind her ear. "Ahâ Hmm, thank you. You look good." Padmanabh nods, and they stand near the kitchen island in awkward silence.
"We should get going," Vrishali says, breaking the silence. "Yes." Padmanabh clutches the keys in his hands. Vrishali walks ahead of him while he follows her out. His gaze shifts to her back; he quickly checks before looking straight ahead. He pulls his lower lip into his mouth, shaking his head.
*
Vrishali's phone pings with notifications. She unlocks her phone to see Hailey and others' posts. Her heart drops as she goes through the posts. She would be lying if she said she didn't miss her college. She misses her college, friends and her home back in New York. She had plans for her final year. She was supposed to be with them in their photos, parties and memories.
"Are you okay?" Padmanabh asked."
"Ughâ Not really. My friends posted pictures from our campus's biggest music fest. I was supposed to be a part of it, and I had been planning for the day for two years. Now, it justâ" Vrishali's voice shakes as she tries to control her emotions. "It just hurts for not being a part of something you have dreamt of."
"I don't want to complain about it. I guess I'm not yet ready to accept the truth." Vrishali used the tissue paper to wipe the tears. "I don't want to mess up my eyeliner."
"I'm sorry." Vrishali chuckled. "You don't have to be sorry about it. I'm cribbing, and you can ignore it." Padmanabh felt uncertain about what to say. He had never faced a situation like this, which troubled him. He recognizes the trauma Vrishali has endured since the wedding and is doing everything he can to make her happy or discover what might bring her joy.
When they arrive at the venue, Vrishali attempts to dismiss the vibes, but she can't. Everything begins to replay in her mind on a loop. She's teetering on the brink of a breakdown. She doesn't want to upset Padmanabh, but nothing can be done. Her mood has shifted, and a heavy cloud of sadness lingers.
*
Padmanabh stayed with Vrishali as she met her grandparents and uncles. He doesn't want to leave her side when he knows she's on the edge of a breakdown. He had seen the look and was scared that she might feel lonely. Padmanabh greeted Vrishali's family members, and he stood close to her.
"Padmanabh, your grandparents were waiting for you," Kalyan Mewar said. Vrishali went rigid beside him. Padmanabh glanced at Vrishali before looking at Kalyan Mewar. "We will meet them."
Vrishali is unsure if she is in the mood to greet her in-laws. She has no problem meeting his grandparents. The problem is her mother-in-law. She is not in a situation to meet her. Padmanabh gently held Vrishali's hand in his. Vrishali was startled by the warm hand holding hers. She looked at the intertwined hands as Padmanabh excused them from the group and pulled her to a side.
Vrishali followed Padmanabh. On the way, Padmanabh was called and stopped, but he calmly excused himself from everyone and took her outside. Once they were out and sure that there was no one, Padmanabh turned and looked at Vrishali. "Vrishaliâ I'm not sure of what to say. I understand to an exact and if you are not comfortable being here. I will take you home."
Vrishali looked up at him. His voice was calm and gentle. "BuâBut we just arrived."
"It doesn't matter. I will let our family know that you are not feeling well. Even if they don't understand, I will handle it. You do not have to be here when you need the space." Vrishali rolled her lower lip into her mouth as tears threatened to fall. His words are comforting and it is helping her anxiety and gripping sadness.
"Heyâ Are you crying?" Padmanabh spoke in an alert. "I'm sorry if I said anything wrong." He is worried and visibly tense. Vrishali shook her head and turned away. "I just need a moment. You are awfully nice to me, and I'm ruining everything."
"You are not ruining anything. It is okay to cry anytime. It is okay to leave if you feel it is wrong or uncomfortable." Padmanabh patiently waited while Vrishali gathered her thoughts.
"Do you think I messed up my eye makeup?" Vrishali asked, turning around. Her eye Kajol has been mushed up. "May I?" Padmanabh asked, taking the handkerchief from Vrishali. "Look up." Vrishali looked up while Padmanabh leaned down to her level to wipe the messed up Kajol underneath her eyes. "It was supposed to be waterproof. Tears are water, and I will sue the company if I look like a raccoon."
Padmanabh chuckled, and Vrishali joined him. She tried hard to ignore how his fingers felt against her skin while Padmanabh thought the same. "All good," Padmanabh whispered. Vrishali looked into his eyes. The air around them stilled as they felt each other's breath fanning their faces.
The car horn broke their moment. Vrishali looked at the arriving car, and Padmanabh pulled them aside. "Do you want to go inside?" Vrishali nodded.
*
"Where did you two leave?" Riddi asked. Vrishali flushed and played with her bangle. "I forgot my phone in the car. So, we went out." Riddi and Nandini shared a look before laughing. "What? It's true."
"Okay." Manav stood before them while the sisters were sittingâ Away from the relatives and their eyes. Vrishali pushed back the hair that had fallen. Her gaze went to the stage. Radhika and her fiance were speaking with a couple. They looked good together. Her aunt and uncle seemed happy about the prospect of marriage.
"I love the choker piece. Did you get it from Tamil Nadu?" Nandini asked. Vrishali held the choker piece in her hand and smiled. "He gifted it to me. I saw this piece in Tamil Nadu."
"Oh, he loves gifting you jewellery, doesn't he?" Riddi hushed, and Vrishali laughed. "I don't know, but I love his selection." Padmanabh scanned the hall for Vrishali. He was listening to the men who had come over to speak with him. His gaze locked when he found her looking at the necklace he had gifted her. She talked about it to her sisters, and a happy smile appeared.
"Hmm, yes. I agree," Padmanabh spoke. The young man standing beside Padmanabh gave a sly smile. "Is Mr Padmanabh's attention is stolen?" Padmanabh gave a blank stare while the young man smirked.
Ashish said, "Sathish recently shifted to Jaipur. " Padmanabh nodded his head before excusing himself. He then went to grab a glass of water. "Kamma gani. . ." Another young man greeted.
"Gani kamma," Padmanabh replied. He patiently listened as the people introduced themselves to him and started the conversations. An hour passed, and he searched for Vrishali in the crowd. She was on the stage, standing beside her cousins. He watched her as she looked around before her eyes stopped when they found his.
He didn't look away when she held his gaze. She broke the gaze when her cousin said something. Padmanabh excused himself and made his way to where she was standing. Her mood brightened when she was around her cousins.
Padmanabh took his time admiring Vrishali. She has a different glow and kindness that keeps his attention fixed on her. He started feeling it was impossible to look away from Vrishali. He had started understanding why men in love say, 'She's going to be the death of me.'
When Vrishali looked back at him, a smile started growing on her face. He smiled back, and her cheeks flushed as her cousins teased her. Someone stopped him, and he looked at the person and was surprised to see Harika. "Harika?"
"Padmanabh, where were you? I was looking for you." Padmanabh turned to Vrishali, and the smile had dropped, and now she was focused on Harika. Padmanabh felt the dreed. "What are you doing here?"
"Radhika invited me." Padmanabh's brows frowned. "How do you know Radhika?" Harika's smile dropped, but she covered it up. "Radhika is my friend." Padmanabh didn't believe it. He looked at where his mother was sitting, and she was staring at them.
"Radhika? Are you friends with her?" He knew that Harika and Radhika had never met.
"Harika, you know the line; you never crossed it in the past. I hope you continue not to cross the line before I lose it." Padmanabh's voice had dropped cold as he looked at Harika.
Harika stepped away. The people around them looked, but Padmanabh hardly gave them any attention as he searched for Vrishali. She is not at the place he had seen her a minute ago. He looked around but couldn't find where she was.
Vrishali looked for Padmanabh. Although she knew she didn't have to worry about Harika, it didn't sit well with her to see her after what had happened. "I don't understand why we are hiding here?" Nandini asked.
"We are not hiding."
"We are; tell me from whom we are hiding." Vrishali didn't answer their question. "Wait a minute, are you hiding from your husband?"
"What! No!"
"You are!" Riddi and Nandini spoke in unison. "Did you two fight? What did he do to upset you?" Vrishali opened and closed her mouth. Riddi and Nandini waited for her to speak. But there's nothing that she could share with her sisters.
"Vrishali! Jiju was asking about you," Manav said. "Oh hey, Vrishali, you are here; Jiju was searching for you," Hardik said. Nandini and Riddi laughed while Manav and Hardik were confused. "Anyway, dadaji had asked you and Jiju. Everyone is asked to gather around for a family photo. You bring Jiju," Hardik said.
"Ugh." Vrishali groaned, turning around, but hit someone in the process. "Manav, why are you standing so close."
"I'm not." Vrishali lifted her head to see Padmanabh. "Well, you don't have to search for jiju."
"Oh, he found you." Someone said in the background. "Hide and seek is done?" Vrishali looked over to her cousins, who were hiding their smiles. The cameraman focused the lens on Vrishali and Padmanabh. They were on the screen; some relatives turned around and focused their gaze on the screen.
"Oh, you two must've stolen the limelight. The cameraman is recording you two," Manav said. Padmanabh and Vrishali turned to the screen. Looking back at one other, they turned their backs and hurried to the other side with flushed cheeks.