chapter 90

YOU ARE THE RHYTHM OF MY HEART!GChapter 90 :Aadhya looked at Sagarika, her eyes wide with surprise, then quickly stepped forward and said,“No, no, madam! You’re an elder, and you shouldn’t speak that way. You should bless the younger ones—not ask forgiveness from them. If anyone should apologize, it’s me—for denying your request to return home. I never intended to keep Krish away from his family. But I’m not prepared to leave my father either, and I never imagined such a situation. Please forgive me if I offended you in any way”.Her voice was humble, respectful, and filled with emotion.Looking at Aadhya, Sagarika felt a wave of contentment wash over her. Turning to Nandu, she remarked warmly,“Nandu! Any man would desire to have a perfect companion who could understand him, support him, and fulfill his wishes even before he voiced them. You’re very lucky to have found such a partner. She will bring you pride in society”, she appreciated, her voice sincere and genuine.Feeling proud of his mother’s appreciation for Aadhya, Nandu wrapped his arm around Aadhya’s shoulder and replied,“Mom! If she wasn’t extraordinary, do you think your once-playboy son would have fallen head over heels for this tiny little girl?”.Looking at him with a mock glare, Aadhya snapped,“Who are you calling tiny? I’m an adult!”.Yeshwanth approached her and chimed in playfully,“Yes, Aadhya! Who is he calling little? You’re not just your father’s girl anymore. You’re an adult, and he shouldn’t be calling you tiny. Let’s teach him a lesson!”.“Ha!”, Aadhya exclaimed, glancing at Yeshwanth. But as she understood the meaning behind his teasing, she felt embarrassed recalling her earlier childish reaction and lowered her head shyly.Akhil quickly stepped to Aadhya’s other side, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and said with mock seriousness,“You think she has no one to defend her? I’m her best friend, and no one, not even my brother, gets to bully her while I’m around”. He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, offering assurance.Aadhya responded with a bright, grateful smile.“Okay, okay! No more teasing now. Let’s focus on the current situation”, Sagarika interjected, before turning to Nandu and asking,“Nandu, if you wish to stay in the new house you bought, I have no objections. You youngsters need your privacy. But come home at least once a week—we’ll miss you too. I won’t complain if you stay away, as long as we stay connected”, she assured him with a calm voice.Yeshwanth joined in and added,“Yes! Though I’d feel disheartened if you don’t return home, I understand the situation. Being the only daughter, Aadhya might feel agonized about leaving her father. I support your decision. But I do have a suggestion”.He turned to Parasuram and continued,“Parasuram! If you’re not comfortable staying at your daughter’s in-laws' house, we have a fully furnished outhouse—a single-bedroom flat. If you’re willing, you can stay there. It will give you your privacy, and you’ll still be close to Aadhya. What do you say?”.Parasuram’s eyes moved between Yeshwanth, Nandu, and Aadhya before finally settling on Yeshwanth. With a humble voice, he implored,“Yeshwanth! I’m thankful for your kindness, but I’m afraid I cannot accept it just yet. Please give us some time to persuade Aadhya to return home. I hope you understand”.Letting out a helpless sigh, Yeshwanth replied,“Okay! Let’s leave the matter for now. I had hoped for some company if you moved nearby, but we’ll discuss it later”. Turning to Sagarika, he said,“Let’s give the kids some time. Whether they move to the new house or return home, either way is fine. What do you say, Sagarika?”.Nodding, Sagarika responded,“I don’t have any objections. Let’s celebrate this reunion. How about we go out for our first lunch together?”.Nandu quickly intervened,“Mom! Please don’t think about going out for lunch. You need to taste Aadhu’s culinary skills. She cooks amazingly well. Stay back and have lunch here”.He turned to Aadhya and asked,“What do you say, Aadhu?”.Nodding eagerly, Aadhya replied,“It will be my honor to cook for your family”. Turning to Sagarika, she pleaded,“Madam! Please have lunch here with us”.Crossing her arms and keeping a straight face, Sagarika demanded,“I’ll stay—on one condition. If you stop calling me ‘madam’ and start calling me ‘mom’”.Aadhya blinked in surprise at Sagarika’s request. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. Her heart fluttered with a mix of happiness and nervousness. Slowly, she nodded and murmured,“Okay… Mom”.The moment the word left her lips, Sagarika’s stern expression melted into a warm smile. She stepped forward and cupped Aadhya’s face lovingly.“That’s better”, she said, her voice filled with affection. “Now go and show us those cooking skills your husband is bragging about”.Everyone chuckled lightly at her comment, and Aadhya, cheeks flushed with both excitement and embarrassment, turned towards the kitchen.Both Akhil and Sruthi followed Aadhya into the kitchen, eager to help her with the cooking. Parasuram gently ushered the remaining people toward the couches, urging them to sit and relax.Watching Nandu, Sagarika said warmly,“Nandu! I feel truly content seeing your relationship with Aadhya. She’s the perfect match for you—someone who keeps you grounded”, she added teasingly, her eyes sparkling with delight.Chuckling softly, Nandu replied,“Yes, Mom! She’s the perfect companion I could ever ask for”. His voice laced with pride, happiness, and excitement.Hearing their praise for his daughter, Parasuram’s heart swelled with pride. His thoughts wandered to his late wife, imagining her smiling from the heavens, proud of the woman Aadhya had become.The day ended with their laughter echoing through the home, the air filled with joy as they savored the delicious meal lovingly prepared by Aadhya—her culinary skills winning heartfelt appreciation from everyone.-  *KRISH*Hey my lovely readers!Apologies for the delay in the update—I’ve been caught up working on another exciting project. Thank you all so much for your continued support and encouragement!I’m thrilled to share that I’ve already begun a new series titled ‘Pravarakhya’. I would be so grateful if you could check it out, leave your ratings, and share your reviews. Your support means the world to me and helps me keep going!Thank you once again for being such an amazing part of my journey.With love,SUJANA PULIPATI.