chapter 29

YOU ARE THE RHYTHM OF MY HEART!Chapter 29 :Everyone admired her, complimenting how the necklace seemed to shine even brighter on her, as though it was made just for her.Hearing the heartfelt praises, Nandu turned to Parasuram, who was subtly wiping his eyes with his thumb, trying to hide his emotions. Gently approaching him, Nandu placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.Squeezing it reassuringly, Nandu asked softly,“Uncle! You’re remembering Aadhya’s mother, aren’t you?”.Looking at Aadhya with deep fondness, Parasuram nodded, his voice filled with emotion. “Yes… She looks exactly like her mother. If she were here, she would have been so proud of her daughter”.Pulling him into a comforting embrace, Nandu chided,“No, Uncle! Don’t say that. She is always here, in our hearts. She will always be with you. And I am sure she is immensely proud of how wonderfully you’ve raised Aadhya in her absence. Please don’t be sad. I can’t bear to see you in distress”, he said, his voice filled with affection.Parasuram’s heart swelled with warmth and pride, not just because he had Nandu as a friend, but also as a son-in-law who had bonded with him beyond blood ties.Watching their interaction, Yeshwanth understood the depth of their connection. He was amazed at how close Nandu was to Parasuram, as if he were his own father. A wave of regret washed over him—he hadn’t been there to give Nandu the fatherly love he had needed most during his childhood. A trace of jealousy flickered in his heart, seeing Parasuram receive such affection from Nandu.However, it didn’t bother him much; instead, he felt a quiet satisfaction knowing that Nandu had someone to share his emotions and feelings with openly.Later, everyone returned home, and the newcomers were allotted rooms. The atmosphere in the house radiated happiness and a renewed energy, as if a festival were taking place.Though always indulging in playful banter with the younger ones, Nandu never missed a chance to tease Aadhya whenever she was nearby—without anyone noticing. He loved the soft pink blush that spread across her cheeks when she felt shy, and the way her long lashes drooped as if they were too heavy under the weight of her shyness.Once the newcomers settled in, Aadhya arranged a sightseeing tour of the village. She planned visits to the fields, agricultural lands, and lakes, where they could see how water was directed to the crops. She wanted to ensure they would appreciate the beauty of nature, as most of them had been born and raised in the city.Early the next morning, the group set out on their tour, with both young and elderly members, including Yeshwanth and Parasuram. They rode on a tractor, as it was the most convenient way to travel across the fields. Aadhya couldn’t stop laughing as she watched Nandu and his family struggle to climb onto the vehicle.Pouting slightly, Nandu exclaimed in exasperation,“This is completely new to us! Isn’t it unfair to laugh at us like that?”. His complaint only made everyone laugh more at his childish reaction.Once everyone was seated, they set off towards the fields. Along the way, Neil and Pranay pointed out their other houses, schools, as well as their family-owned fields, coconut groves, and mango orchards.When they finally arrived at their destination, they got down from the tractor and began walking towards the fields, eager to explore.“Brother!”, Neil began,“All these are paddy fields. Here, we cultivate paddy, and once it is fully grown and ready, we harvest it and separate the grain from the stalk. Then, we sell it near the mill, where it is further processed”.He eagerly showed them every detail—how they grew the paddy, the harvesting process, and how water was directed from the lake to their fields using motors.Nandu, Akhil, and Sruthi walked through the muddy fields, their pants folded up to their knees. Though the slippery ground made walking difficult, they thoroughly enjoyed every moment.Even Yeshwanth, forgetting his age and status, joined his children, rolling up his trousers and stepping into the mud. They played like carefree kids in the water-filled fields, paying no mind to their dirtied clothes or positions in society. For the first time in a long while, they embraced the pure joy of nature.-  *KRISH*