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"See, Miss Aarathi, we only have a week's time before the legal deadline. We are running out of time, but we need this audit signed off. You know how serious this is?" The finance director spoke with sophistication and firmness.

"Yes, sir. I will manage it and complete the task." Aarathi assured him and left the room.

"Are you okay?" A familiar voice asked her.

"Yes, Nandini," Aarathi answered her friend.

Aarathi had no time to waste, so she started working immediately. Due to the increasing pressure, she couldn't go for her lunch break, and she worked till late hours, returning home with more pending tasks.

Around 9:00, the doorbell rang, and the nameplate read, "Mr & Mrs. Gopalakrishnan." Below the nameboard, it also had "Miss Gopalakrishnan," indicating the couple had a daughter residing there.

"Va, ma. (Come, dear)," Revathi called her daughter in, who was tired and dead on her feet.

Aarathi gave a slight, weary smile to her mother, who welcomed her in with concern and care, realizing how exhausted her daughter must be.

"I'll pour some strong coffee for you and set your dinner," Revathi said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Seri, Amma," Aarathi said and went to her room to freshen up.

After cleansing herself, she wore a comfortable frock that covered her well. She clutched her hair into a half ponytail and walked out after checking herself in the mirror.

"Amma," Aarathi called out and waited outside the kitchen, admiring her mother.

"All done, kutty (little one). Just wait a little for me, won't you?" Revathi asked while circling the batter on the pan. She glanced at her daughter with a smile filling her countenance.

"Seri, Amma. I will. You take your time," Aarathi stated and walked into the kitchen.

"Did Appa dine, Amma?" Aarathi questioned while helping her mother.

"Yes, he did. Nowadays, you are coming home too late. Your Appa needs to take his medicines, so he couldn't wait for you," Revathi explained while drizzling some ghee on the dosa.

"I get that, Ma. Don't let Appa wait," Aarathi stated and opened the fridge to get some cold water for herself.

"Yet, as a father, he is not okay with your late arrivals. He is upset-not that he wants to discourage you, but he is concerned. Puridha? (Understood?)" Revathi asked her daughter and looked at her.

"I know that. Just bear with me for a week, Ma," Aarathi said and gulped down the coffee that her mother offered her.



Soon, the mother-daughter duo finished helping each other, and they both settled into their chairs for their meals.



"Your Appa and I have a few invitations to cover next week. We also need to visit the temple," Revathi stated while eating her dinner.

"Oh. That sounds good! Appa would enjoy the change, and you would get some free time too," Aarathi said while adding curry to her plate.

"Yeah. Hopefully," Revathi said and smiled at her daughter.

They were conversing when Prashant entered the hall.

"Aarathi," Prashant called while wearing his specs.

"Appa," Aarathi looked back and called out.

"When did you come? Your Amma didn't inform me," Prashant complained, faking his anger as he looked at Revathi.

Revathi chuckled. "I was about to, but you had already drifted off to sleep."

Prashant heard her and took a seat beside his daughter.

"How was your day, kutty?" He asked, adding another dosa to his daughter's plate. He also served curry to his wife.

"It was good, Appa. A little more pressurized than before. But I will learn to manage," Aarathi stated and smiled at her father.

"Good, Radhi. Keep up the positivity," Prashant complimented and smiled back.

"Amma, do you remember Jhanvi?" Aarathi asked her mother.

Revathi took a little time to recall the name.

"Oh yes! She is your school friend, right? I remember her from when I used to pick you up, and you both would come home together," Revathi said with a glint in her eyes as she reminisced about those days.

"Yeah. Your memory power is too good to test, Amma," Aarathi said, laughing.

"Why wouldn't it be? After all, she has been practicing for years. That's how she has won all the arguments with me." Prashant stated with teaseful smile.

"I should be learning this from Amma," Aarathi said and laughed with her father.

Revathi faked anger at the duo. The three of them talked for a while before heading to sleep.

The next bright morning, all three were up. Prashant had to buy groceries, Revathi had to cook, and Aarathi had to leave for work.

After the morning rituals and routine, Aarathi left for her workplace.

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I am very much pleased to share this novel here. The updates would follow every once or twice the day of the week.

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©️Archana Ashokkumar Adhilingam.