chapter 30

YOU ARE THE RHYTHM OF MY HEART!Chapter 30 :Upon reaching the lake, Nandu and Akhil couldn't contain their excitement. They immediately turned to Aadhya. “Is this water safe to swim in?”, Nandu asked.Aadhya smiled and reassured them,“Yes, it's pure and perfectly safe”.Without wasting a second, Nandu, Akhil, Neil, and Pranay stripped down to their briefs and leaped into the water. They swam with boundless enthusiasm, enjoying the cool embrace of the lake.Meanwhile, Nandu helped Sruthi sit on a rock near the edge of the lake, where the water reached up to their knees. They splashed each other playfully, their laughter echoing across the serene landscape.Amidst the fun, Nandu swam towards Aadhya and attempted to pull her into the water. But she clung tightly to the rock and warned him sternly,“Krish! If you dare pull me in, I swear I’ll beat you later. I didn’t bring a change of clothes!”.Akhil, seeing the opportunity, joined his brother in teasing Aadhya, pretending to pull her in.After a while, Akhil turned to Sruthi, stretching out his hand. “Come join us!”, he encouraged.Sruthi looked at him with sparkling eyes but hesitated. Glancing at the others, she asked softly,“Brother! I really want to swim... but what will people think? This is a village, after all”.Aadhya placed a reassuring hand on Sruthi’s shoulder. “Sruthi! If you truly wish to swim, go ahead. No one will judge you here. This is real happiness—where nature brings out the child in us, letting us enjoy it to our heart’s content. Besides, I brought extra clothes for you”.Sruthi's eyes lit up with joy. “Really?! Then I’ll go!”, she exclaimed, grabbing Akhil’s hand. With Nandu’s help, she waded into the middle of the lake and started swimming. Both brothers kept a close eye on her, as they were unfamiliar with the depths of the lake.They played in the water until their bodies ached from exhaustion. Once satisfied, everyone returned to the shore and began wiping off the excess water.Aadhya took out the towels from her bag and, without looking at them, handed them to Nandu and Akhil. She also placed their clothes back on the rock where they had left them before swimming.Later, she led Sruthi to the motor room and helped her change into dry clothes.By the time everyone had changed back into their clothes, Yeshwanth, Parasuram, and the other elders returned from exploring the surrounding fields.Slumping onto a nearby rock near the youngsters, Yeshwanth sighed dramatically.“Oh my God! I haven't walked this much in years. My legs are aching! And I’m starving”, he complained like a child.Nandu, Akhil, and Sruthi exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter.“Dad!”, Nandu teased, his voice laced with playfulness. “You're sulking like a child! Aren’t we the ones who should be complaining? Look!”. He stretched out his legs and continued,“Our legs are hurting like hell! We even swam in the lake for hours!”. He pouted, making everyone laugh even harder at their playful banter.Parasuram, smiling at the scene, placed a gentle hand on Yeshwanth’s shoulder and suggested,“Don't worry, Sir. There’s a mango orchard nearby. We can go there and have our lunch—it’s peaceful and cool under the trees. Come, let’s go”.Lifting his head, Yeshwanth narrowed his eyes at Parasuram. “Didn't I tell you to stop calling me ‘sir’? Just call me Yeshwanth. We’re friends. If you keep calling me ‘sir,’ I’m not going to talk to you anymore!”. he warned playfully.Grinning widely, Parasuram chuckled. “Alright, alright! No more ‘sir.’ Yeshwanth, let’s go. You’re going to have the best lunch in nature today”. He helped Yeshwanth up from the rock before gesturing for the youngsters to follow.-  *KRISH*