💫NEW BEGINNING-CHAPTER-23

Aaradhya pov:

My phone buzzed with a confirmation message.

Congratulations! Your documents have been approved. You are now officially a CS Executive Level student.

I stared at the screen for a second, my heart skipping a beat. It's real now. I was really going to study again!

Before I could fully process it, Dhivya  let out a dramatic gasp and pulled me into a tight hug.

"Aaru! See, because of you only I joined this course! I'm suffering for you!" she whined, squeezing me.

I giggled, hugging her back. "dhivi, you're the one who said you wanted to study with me!"

"Still, I need someone to blame if it gets hard, right?" she teased, winking.

I rolled my eyes, but my heart felt so full. It felt good knowing I wasn't doing this alone.

Priya Akka sit on the couch, watching us with a small smile while munching on snacks, shaking her head like we were little kids.

And guess what? Me and Dhivya finally joined a really good institute for our weekday classes! Morning to afternoon, just perfect for us. All thanks to Sandeep Anna—he's Rudhran Mama's P.A. and seriously a lifesaver! He searched for so many good places, did all the work, and made sure we got into the best one. I swear, without him, we'd still be sitting and overthinking everything

Days passed

The morning sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on my pastel-colored churidar as I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my dupatta, and my long hair, neatly tied with a clutch, framed my face. I carefully placed a small bindi on my forehead, trying to calm my nerves.

Today was my first day at the CS coaching institute. I can do this... right?

Behind me, I suddenly noticed a familiar presence. My heart skipped a beat as I saw Rudhran Mama standing there, watching me through the mirror with a soft smile.

He walked closer, his gaze never leaving mine in the reflection. Then, before I could say anything, he took a pinch of vermilion between his fingers and gently applied it to my hair partition.

" Mama..." I mumbled,

He tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering for a second. "Aaru ma, today is your first day. Be calm, don't be nervous," he said in his deep, reassuring voice. "Dhivi is with you, so you're not alone."

I nodded, my fingers playing with the edge of my dupatta. He always knows when I need reassurance.

His expression suddenly shifted, his jaw tightening slightly. "And listen," his tone dropping, "if anyone bothers you, tell me. I'll break their teeth."

My eyes widened. "Mama!" I gasped, looking at him with disbelief.

He just smirked, clearly not joking. Why is he like this?

Before I could protest, he reached for my nuptial chain, gently pulling it out so it rested outside my dress. "Let this be visible," he muttered, his fingers brushing against my skin for a brief moment.

I gulped, feeling shy.

Then, as if to reassure me once more, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.

"You'll do great," he whispered.

I closed my eyes for a second, feeling warmth spread through my chest. No matter how much he acted tough, his gestures were always so tender with me.

Before heading to the institute, we visited the Murugan shrine. The moment I stepped inside, a sense of peace washed over me.

I lit a small diya, whispering a silent prayer. Muruga, give me the strength to do well in my studies. And... please, don't let me make a fool of myself today.

After praying, I blessings from Patti, Sathyan Uncle, and Gomathi Athai. They all smiled warmly as they placed their hands over my head.

"Study well, ma," Patti said, her wrinkled hands patting my cheek lovingly.

"Don't stress too much, just do your best," Sathya Uncle added with an encouraging nod.

I grinned, feeling a little more confident.

Then, I hesitated for a moment before turning to Rudhran Mama. "Mama... shall I inform Rajendhran Uncle too?" I asked softly. "He's the elder of this family, and he deserves to know."

Rudhran Mama exhaled, rubbing his temple as if debating. Then, he sighed in defeat. "Fine, but make it quick."

I beamed and nodded eagerly before rushing toward Rajendhran Uncle's room. Knocking lightly, I waited. The door opened, and his face brightened the moment he saw me.

"Come, ma," he said warmly.

Just as I stepped in, Yamuna Athai scoffed and walked past me, muttering something under her breath. I ignored her and turned back to Uncle.

"Uncle, today is my first day at the CS institute!"  my voice filled with excitement.

His eyes crinkled as he smiled, genuinely happy for me. I bent down to touch his feet, but before I could, he held my shoulders, stopping me.

"You will achieve everything, ma," he blessed me, patting my head.

My heart swelled with gratitude as I smiled at him before stepping out.

Just as I walked back, Vishnu Mama along wit Dhivya appeared, leaning against the pillar with his arms crossed, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.

"So, first day, huh?" he drawled, looking between me and Dhivya.

"Yes, Mama!" I nodded excitedly.

Dhivya, however, groaned dramatically. "Ugh, why did I agree to this again?"

Vishnu Mama laughed. "You're already regretting it? It's just the first day!"

"Let her be, Mama," I giggled. "She just wants to blame me if it gets hard."

"Obviously!" Dhivya huffed. "Dhivya, at least act serious today," Priya Akka said, smiling as she handed us both a small container. "I packed some snacks for you both. It's your first day—you might need something to munch on in between."

"Anniii, you're the best!" Dhivya hugged her dramatically, making everyone laugh again.

I smiled softly, feeling the warmth spread in my chest. This family... even with all the teasing, they always supported me in their own ways.

The drive to the institute was mostly smooth, with Dhivya chattering away in the backseat while I occasionally commented here and there. Rudhran Mama, as usual, drove in his composed way, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel lightly as he listened to Dhivya's endless talk.

As we neared the institute, I could already see a few students gathered outside, some chatting, some rushing in with books in hand. The building itself looked professional, with a large board displaying Company Secretary Coaching Center in bold letters.

Just as we pulled up, I noticed Sandeep Anna leaning against his bike, checking his watch. As soon as he spotted us, he straightened up and walked toward the car, greeting us with a polite smile.

"Good morning, Rudhran Sir," he said with a small nod, then turned to me. "Mrs.Aaradhya, all set for your first day?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yes, Anna."

Beside me, Dhivya froze for a split second before looking away, pretending to fix her bag strap.

Rudhran Mama's sharp eyes scanned everything before turning to Sandeep Anna. "Everything set?" he asked in his usual commanding tone.

Sandeep Anna nodded. "Yes, sir. I handled all the formalities. They are enrolled, and their batch starts today without any issues."

Mama gave a firm nod before turning to me and Dhivya. "Aaru ma and Dhivi, Be careful and study well. If anyone bothers you, let me know immediately."

We both nods our head,

With that, Mama gave us one of his rare smile, before getting into his car and driving away. I sighed in relief, adjusting my bag strap.

"Come on, let's go in," I said, nudging Dhivya, who was still stealing glances at Sandeep Anna, who is following Rudhran mama car in his two wheeler.

As we stepped inside, the atmosphere of the institute felt so different from a regular college. The air was filled with a professional seriousness—students in neatly pressed formal clothes, some discussing legal and financial concepts, others buried in books and laptops. It was nothing like our carefree undergraduate days.

The classroom we entered was well-organized, with a clean whiteboard, projectors, and rows of desks. Most of the students were adults—some even married women who had come back to pursue their professional dreams. Seeing them filled me with inspiration.

Dhivya, on the other hand, muttered under her breath, "Why did I do this to myself..."

I giggled, nudging her. "Because you love me!"

She huffed but didn't deny it.

Just then, the professor walked in—a middle-aged man with a no-nonsense aura. The class immediately fell silent as he placed his books on the table.

"Welcome to the CS Executive batch. This journey will not be easy, but if you are here, that means you are ready to work hard."

I straightened in my seat, already feeling the weight of those words. This is going to be intense... but I'm ready.

THIRD POV :

At Rudhran's company headquarters, the atmosphere was as professional and dynamic as ever. Employees greeted him with respect as he walked through the glass-paneled corridors, exuding authority with every step.

Sandeep, who had just parked his bike, followed behind him, keeping up with Rudhran's brisk pace.  "Sandeep, we're visiting the factory today. Make arrangements for that."

"Okay, sir," Sandeep replied with a nod before continuing inside.

Meanwhile, in the conference room, Vishnu, the CFO, sat at the head of the long, polished table, deep in discussion with the company's shareholders and auditors. The primary topic? The upcoming 50th anniversary of their company—a grand milestone that demanded a spectacular celebration.

Alongside that, they were ironing out details regarding their latest project, a health drink set to launch in the market.

As the meeting wrapped up, Rudhran let out a quiet sigh, rubbing his temples. Sandeep busied himself with other work, making arrangements for their upcoming factory visit. Meanwhile, Vishnu sat beside Rudhran, casually chatting about the company's progress when Rajendhran entered the room.

The moment Rudhran saw his father, his expression turned ice-cold. His sharp gaze flickered over Rajendhran once before he turned away as if the man didn't exist.

Vishnu, however, smiled faintly. "Periyappa, come inside."

Rajendhran walked in hesitantly, his usual confidence dimmed by the weight of the situation. He took a seat across from them, his hands clasped together.

"How was the meeting, pa?" he asked, calmly.

"It went well, Periyappa," Vishnu replied smoothly.

Rajendhran nodded, but his gaze flickered toward Rudhran, who had yet to acknowledge his presence. Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.

"Rudhra..."

Rudhran didn't even glance at him. His fingers tapped lazily against the table, his disinterest palpable.

Rajendhran sighed, but he pressed on. "It's been almost a month since you and Aaradhya got married," he started slowly. "But we never officially announced it, our business circles... they don't know yet."

At this, Rudhran let out a short, sharp laugh, finally turning to face his father. His eyes held nothing but mockery.

"Oh? So now you want to announce it? Why, Chairman?" voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you think a grand reception will make you look like a responsible father? That it'll magically fix all your past mistakes?"

Rajendhran flinched slightly, but his face remained composed.

Rudhran smirked coldly. "Or maybe you just want to throw a party to show off to society? Play the role of a perfect father, pretending you had a hand in my marriage ?"

Rajendhran took a deep breath, his fingers gripping the armrest tighter as if grounding himself. He didn't respond to Rudhran's jabs, didn't defend himself. Instead, when he spoke again, his voice was lower, softer.

"You're right," he admitted,"I failed you. Over and over again."

That made Rudhran's smirk falter—just for a second.

" I was a coward, Rudhra. And you had every right to hate me for it." He inhaled shakily. "I don't expect your forgiveness, pa. I don't even deserve it. But this..." He looked up, meeting his son's unreadable gaze. "This reception isn't for my satisfaction"

Rudhran remained expressionless, but there was something different in his silence now.

"It's for Aaradhya," Rajendhran's voice almost pleading. "That girl walked into our family and accepted everything—without complaint, without demands. She deserves to be welcomed properly, Rudhra. She deserves to be recognized as your wife, as our family's daughter-in-law to the world. I know I can't do much for you, but at least... let me do this for her."

The room was deathly quiet.

For the first time, Vishnu saw the slight shift in Rudhran's expression. Something hesitant. Something vulnerable.

But Rudhran being Rudhran, he masked it quickly. He turned away and muttered, "Do whatever you want."

And with that, he stood up and walked out, his expression unreadable.

Rajendhran closed his eyes briefly, exhaling deeply. He hadn't expected miracles, but this... this was enough for now.

Vishnu grinned, finally breaking the silence. "Periyappa, you heard him, right? Don't worry! We'll throw an amazing party for them!"

Rajendhran nodded, his heart feeling a little lighter. His son may not have forgiven him yet, but at least now, there was a door left slightly open. And that was a start.

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