"My name is Sashirekha, but you may call me Sashi. I would want to make an introduction. I was Rajeev's sister and childhood pal. Thus, it is you who has won my great brother's affection
Gowthami is well acquainted with her; Rajeev informed her that Sashi was the one who tends to her while she is asleep.
"Hello, we met before, It's nice to meet you properly, Sashi. And I'm really sorry for misunderstanding you the other day. I didn't know..." , Gowthami remarked, a little uncomfortable since she had previously misinterpreted Sashi.
Sashi chuckled and replied, "Don't worry, I didn't take it personally."
The conversation was interrupted by Abhimanyu, who stated, "Hey hii, himself as Rajeev's childhood friend and the sister's husband."
Gowthami recalled him too, since the man was in that chamber when she had woken up that morning, when she glanced at Abhi.
"Good morning" , gowthami stated. "You are Rajeev's family, right?"
"Salutations, Sister-in-law. We all grew up together; Rajeev's grandfather Jaishankar and Abhimanyu's father Gurdeep employed to work in tandem" . As he got near, Ram said, "Following that, Gurdeep uncle relocated to the city and opened a medical facility nearby before residing there."
It was Ram who revealed to her the nature of the connection between Rajeev and the Abhi family; Rajeev just indicated that they were his relatives.
"Abhimanyu, our elder brother, is not just family—he's our closest buddy." Rajeev said with a smile, his hand resting affectionately on Abhi's shoulder.
Abhimanyu, always quick with a joke, grinned mischievously. "You might think I'm young," he began, a playful sparkle in his eyes, "but the truth is, I was a late arrival for my parents."
Despite being in his thirties, Abhi had the youthful energy of someone in their twenties. His light-hearted nature made him seem younger than his years, something he often used to his advantage in moments like this.
Sashirekha, ever the realist, laughed and shook her head. "Don't listen to him, Gowthami," she said, placing her hand on her hip and turning to face her husband. "You say you're young, but Rajeev is twelve years younger than you!"
Ram, who always had a penchant for precision, jumped in without hesitation. "Actually, Rajeev is fourteen years younger than Abhi."
Abhi's face scrunched up in mock indignation. "I refuse to accept that!" he declared, raising his hands dramatically. "Whoever said I'm old is absolutely mistaken."
Sashi wasn't about to let him off the hook. "Oh, please," she teased, rolling her eyes. "Don't act like a teenager when you've got a twelve-year-old kid yourself. And don't you dare try to pass yourself off as a college student again!"
What started as a few light-hearted jabs quickly escalated into a playful argument, with each family member chiming in. Ram, Sashi, and Abhimanyu sparred back and forth, their banter growing more animated by the minute. Gowthami, watching from the sidelines, chuckled at the absurdity of it all, finding their squabbling both endearing and hilarious.
Rajeev, his amusement evident, reached for Gowthami's hand as he laughed along with the rest. "This is what I deal with on a daily basis," he said with mock exasperation, squeezing her hand gently.
Abhimanyu and Sashi continued to poke fun at each other, the jabs growing sillier and more exaggerated. Ram, ever the instigator, added his own witty remarks, fueling the fire as the banter flew back and forth with increasing speed.
Gowthami, standing slightly apart, couldn't help but laugh at the spectacle before her. It was rare to see the usually composed Abhimanyu getting teased so relentlessly by his wife and siblings, and it made her feel even more at home. The entire scene was both heartwarming and chaotic, the kind of familial chaos that was filled with love and laughter.
In that moment, as the laughter echoed through the room and the teasing continued, Gowthami realized just how lucky she was to be a part of this warm, loving, and slightly ridiculous family.
The whole scene was heartwarming and a bit chaotic, but in the best possible way.
As the light-hearted bickering continued, Rajeev leaned in closer to Gowthami. "Welcome to the madhouse," he whispered, grinning.
She smiled back, feeling a deep sense of joy. "I love it," she said softly, squeezing his hand.
The funny fight continued, with everyone taking playful jabs at each other. Gowthami's laughter blended with the rest, filling the room with warmth and mirth. It was in these moments that she realized how fortunate she was to be part of such a loving and lively family.
As the humorous disagreements continued, with everyone playfully jabbing at each other, Rajeev glanced at Gowthami. These individuals are very close and unique from one another, and they have been having humorous disagreements since they were little.. The room was filled with laughter and a sense of familial warmth.
Rajeev approached her and took her grasp, guiding her away from them. "Let's flee," he muttered., his voice barely above a whisper, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Gowthami looked at him, surprised but delighted. Without a second thought, she let him guide her away from the group. They slipped out of the room unnoticed, the lively banter continuing without them.
They moved quietly through the house, Rajeev's hand warm and reassuring in hers. The sound of their family's laughter grew distant, replaced by the quiet of the hallway. It felt like they were kids sneaking away from a gathering, bringing a spontaneous smile to Gowthami's face. Rajeev and Gowthami sprinted through the connecting hallway, their laughter echoing behind them as they reached the rear garden of Ram's house, which was conveniently attached to Rajeev's home. The cool evening air greeted them as they burst into the garden, their breaths quick and exhilarated. Bathed in the soft glow of twilight, the garden felt like a private sanctuary away from the lively chaos inside.
Gowthami leaned against a tree, taking a deep breath. "It was fun," she said, a bright smile lighting up her face.
Rajeev, still catching his breath, stepped closer to her. He looked at her intently, his gaze softening with affection. "I have fallen short of you terribly," he confessed, his voice tinged with a mix of longing and sincerity.
Gowthami felt a flutter in her chest at his words, gave him a quick embrace and added, "Me too."Gowthami emphasized how happy she was to be married to Rajeev and how much she needed him.
Rajeev's eyes gleamed with a playful challenge. "Prove it," he said, his voice low and teasing.
She looked at him, puzzled. "How?" she asked, genuinely curious.
With Rajeev getting closer to her, Gowthami began to back away. Her pulse rate was rising when she abruptly stopped when her back touched a barrier. He instantly pulled her into his embraces ,Without another word, he cupping her face gently in his hands. "Like this," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her.
Just as their lips were about to meet, a loud voice boomed through the garden, freezing them in place.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"