Bhoomi and Shantha were sitting together and were talking all hush hush when Parthu, Raghu and kids joined them.

"Akka! Ordered?"

"Yes ra. I ordered just one fried rice ra."

"Okay let me go and order for us and Prasiddhi

"Already ordered for her. You just order for yourselves."

Bhoomi said taking a sleepy Dhitvi.

"Bhoomi.. For you?"

"Come on Mr. Architect. She has ordered. And I know what she would have ordered."

"And I know what you will order!"

"Mr. Architect. Remind me never to come shopping with ex lover"

"Abbo! Ex lover anta!"

Grunting Parthu pulled Raghu who was taking the food card from Shantha. Bhoomi giggled rocking Dhitvi.

In the counter,

"One corn and peas sub.. No wait.. One Paneer tikka.. No!"

"Hello! Order fast. You are not the only.."

And the voice trailed and stopped as Parthu turned frowning.

"Ram ram! Why do I always become the Adavi Pandhi to Devasena's arrows"

The man muttered.

"Hello Mr. Vishwa. Just be happy that you are not Bhallaladeva!"

"Amma Mahathalli! I am sorry"

"That's like good boy. Now wait until we order. I think your Maha Naari shiromani will not mind"

Raghu chuckled.

"Parthavi. Just order."

"Yeah! One Veg burger meal and choco lush crush medium instead of coke. For you Mr. Architect?"

"I will take one Paneer tikka sub."

"Good choice."

"Thanks Ms. HR! Shall we?"

He asked offering his arm. Giggling she took his arm. But turned once.

"Hey Mr. Adavi Pandhi.. I mean, Mr. Whoever. Enjoy your meal with your wife. Bon appetit."

Raghu shook his head as they walked to their table.

"Why?"

"He irritates me.. He gets it back Mr. Architect!"

"I can see a bright future for me!"

"I see a very colorful future. What say?"

Raghu shook his head again chuckling and settled on their seats. Bhoomi raised her brow.

"For ordering a veg burger and choco lush you take so much time!"

"Well, as if you don't for your same old boring country feast Pizza and garlic bread stix!"

"Raghu! Remind me never to go out with ex lover!"

Bhoomi repeated Parthu's dialogue raising her brows twice. Shantha giggled.

"One of you should have really be born as guy. You could have ended up husband and wife!"

Shantha said.

"Whoa!"

Raghu said choking on his water.

"Shantha akka! My poor Mr. Architect is building his dreams on me and you had to say this?"

"Abbo! YOUR Mr. Architect?"

Shantha asked. Parthu looked everywhere.

"Huh.. Our order is here"

"Escape Ms. HR"

Raghu whispered in her ear. She kicked his leg under the table making him chuckle. Parthu unwrapped her burger and took a bite as she heard him.

"Did you play football anytime?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Ahem.. You have strong legs"

"I play vollyball. I have strong hands also Mr."

"I consider myself lucky then"

Raghu said taking a bite of his subwich. Parthu turned to him.

"Are you by anyway flirting with me?"

"Is this called flirting?"

He asked raising his brow.

"Abbo! Innocent much."

"Thank you thank you!"

"Grr!"

Raghu chuckled enjoying both food and riling him up. Shantha was feeding Prasiddhi and eating herself while Bhoomi was enjoying her pan pizza. Parthu bit one french fry and was looking at Dhitvi in Bhoomi's arms when she felt something. She turned to the fry in her hand and widened her eyes at the absence of it. She looked up to see Raghu munching it and kicked him under the table.

"What?"

"What did you just do?"

"I am eating!"

"Eating what?"

"Food!"

"Seriously?"

"Of course!"

"Mr. Architect!"

"Yes, Ms. HR?"

Parthu shook her head and finished her fries and took a sip of her choco lush when Shantha phone rang.

"Hello"

".."

"Haan Amma! Raghu is with me. Cheppu."

".."

"WHAT?"

".."

"Oh oh!"

".."

"Fine. I will tell him. Tomorrow we can go."

".."

"Yeah yeah. Bye."

Raghu was looking at Shantha and so were others.

"Pandu.."

"Enti?"

"Parthu.."

"Enti akka.."

"You marriage.."

For the first time, Parthu felt anxious. Earlier, few prospective grooms have rejected her. She did not feel much as she never cared for them. She herself chased few.

But this time.. She felt.. She did know what she was feeling. She held Raghu's hand under the table and felt him grip hers. She held it more tightly.

"Shantha! Tension patti champaku. Just out with it."

Bhoomi said. Parthu's eyes thanked Bhoomi which blinked in assurance. At that moment Parthu felt Raghu's thumb caressing her hand that was in his hold.

"Rei Pandu.. Your marriage has been preponed ra. To the date when your engagement was fixed actually. And your engagement is going to happen within a week's time"

Raghu and Parthu looked at each other and then at Shantha and Bhoomi and blinked. And Parthu broke first.

"WHAT THE?"

Raghu hit his forehead and prasiddhi giggled. Bhoomi laughed.

"Parthu! Was that shock or surprise?"

"I am yet to understand myself Bhoomi!"

"The way your hand has relaxed in it says another story darling."

Bhoomi said and laughed. Shantha joined in as Parthu pulled her hand out. Raghu felt hollow as he flexed his fingers that held hers sometime ago.

"Bhoomi!"

"I am married Parthu."

"Yeah yeah! Experienced old matron."

"Akka! Are you serious?"

"And my Moddhu Pandu finds his voice."

"Akka!"

"Yes ra. Some problem in yours and Parthu's jathakam ra. So Panthulu said its better to prepone. And also Amma felt it would be easy for Pedanana to come for the wedding."

Raghu fisted his palm hearing his pedanana's name. Parthu frowned.

"Pandu.."

"I am fine Akka.."

Slowly Parthu pushed her choco lush to him.

"It will make your mood better."

She whispered. Raghu smiled. As he took one sip, Parthu's mobile rang. She looked at the name and frowned which made Bhoomi and Raghu frown as well.

"Hello!"

".."

"Ento Cheppandi Ayyagaru. Tell me what it is"

Bhoomi hung her head.

"WHAT!"

Bhoomi shook her head as Parthu stood up and walked away speaking heatedly.

"You expect me to? I am in CMR.. Where are you? WHAT?"

Raghu frowned and looked at Bhoomi who was looking at Parthu's direction with a look that he understood but could not name it.

"Bhoomi?"

"She is not going to be in good mood after this."

"Who was that?"

"Her father. Mavaiyya"

"But.. she.. Ayyagaru.."

"Its a long story. Its her place to tell."

Bhoomi shook her head. Raghu took the choco lush and waited for her as Bhoomi and Shantha went down. Just as bhoomi said, Parthu was indeed in a very bad mood. He forwarded her the Choco lush.

"For your mood Ms. HR"

Parthu sighed and took the cup from him and tipped it into her mouth. Raghu threw the empty cup into nearby bin and waited as Parthu calmed herself.

"Shall we move Parthavi?"

Parthavi looked up at him. He did not have any questions. He was giving her time to adjust herself.

"That was Ayya.. I mean Nana."

"Bhoomi said so"

"He wants me to pick Vasu from college."

"Oh! That shouldn't be a problem right?"

"No! But her College is over already. I should rush"

She said sighing. Raghu sighed too. He did not want this day to end already.

"Its okay parthavi."

"I am sorry Raghu.. I did not.."

Raghu halted her and held her shoulders looking into her eyes.

"Today is a day of surprises for me Parthavi. And I would like to end it on a happy note."

Parthu felt her insides becoming light.

"So Ms. HR. Can you spare a smile for this candidate?"

Parthavi smiled. Raghu scrunched his face and she giggled. And Raghu smiled. He let the back of his palm touch her cheek fleetingly.

Both walked to the lift. Slowly their hands slipped into each others as they walked into the lift. The silence was so soothing and kept saying something to them. What? They did not know.

They got to the car and this time she got into the passenger seat. When did she get that comfortable? She did not know. But she felt good around him.

Soon they reached Bhoomi's home. Bhoomi went inside with Dhitvi and leaving behind a sleeping Prasiddhi, Shantha went with Bhoomi to give the diaper bag and the things she shopped.

Parthu got down. And Raghu came around the car and stood beside her.

"So.."

"So."

"We are getting engaged in a week."

"Hmm."

"Parthavi?"

"Hmm?"

She asked as he held her hand in his. Again he did not know when he felt so comfortable in touching her. But it felt so right.

"Are you really happy?"

"I am still contemplating."

She said looking at him. This feeling of not knowing but being on the right was something new to both of them. They kept looking at each other and into each other's eyes.RAghu was about to turn away when he felt her hold on his hand tighten. He turned and looked at her.

"Today was good."

"Good indeed."

"Will you text me?"

"Will you reply on time Parthavi?"

The way he said her name.. No one said it that way. And his grin was so refreshing. She smiled and lowered her gaze. He lowered his hand and again he felt her hold tighten before she left his hand. He looked down at his hand and he did not like that hollow feeling. Not once in his 32 years of life he felt this way.

He looked up at her as she stood inside the gate. Shantha smiled at Parthu and bid her adieu and got into the car.

Raghu looked at her once and got into the car and drove away as Parthu stood looking as the car disappeared in the turning. What was this emptiness in her suddenly? What was this called?