Updating early on public demand. Happy Independence Day.

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Vikram was in a bad mood. He requested for breakfast to be served in his room. He planned on sleeping soon after eating. It was only when Latha threatened to break his legs that he changed the plan and took bath.

"I'm going to office. Listen. Cook something for lunch. Don't sit idle." Latha instructed before leaving.

He almost slept when he received a phone call. "Sir, this is Kavya calling from ABC Advertising Agency. We need to have a discussion regarding the concept of our new jewellery advertisement. Your manager said you are free now. Is it good time to talk?"

"Hello Kavya. I'm sorry. I'm not feeling well. Could we talk about this later?" Vikram knew he had to finish the shooting before the filming of second part started. The jewellery ad was for the jewelers who provided the ornaments for the film. 

"Sure sir. I have just called to inform you that both the Jewelers and the creative director think this concept better suits you and Shubha madam. Not Dhwani madam. They are planning to contact her. Good day sir."

"Wait. Wait. Wait. Why? Why not Dhwani madam?" asked 

"As we all know sir, you and Dhwani madam are not a couple. We are planning two different advertisements. One with Chris sir and Dhwani madam. One with you and Shubha madam." Kavya informed him.

"I'll think about this and let you know." Vikram ended the call. 'What do I do now? They will call her and she will think I orchestrated this.' He wondered if he would have to face her wrath.

He tried to sleep when he received a call from Chris. "You are sleeping? Aren't you supposed to work on wooing your girl?"

"I don't think it will work now. The decision is hers and I will accept whatever she decides." Vikram explained the situation clearly. After a lot of advices and discussions he ended the call and tried to sleep again, only to be woken up by someone tapping him on the shoulder. "What is it? Why is everyone disturbing my sle-- Oh! Hello."

Shubha stood there, giving him the sweetest smile he had even seen. "I'll come back later if you are busy sleeping."

"No. No. Please. I am not sleeping. Just napping." He asked her to sit down. 

"I'm here to talk about the letter."

"The letter? Yes." His heart sank.

"I'm really glad you explained everything clearly in that letter. You made me feel a lot better. Now that you have made it clear that you will support me in whatever I do, I am here for your help." Her smile was dangerously sweet.

"Sure. Tell me. How can I help you?"

"I want you to help me choose a guy from matrimony website." 

"Come again."

"Matrimony website. Come on. Keep up." She opened the website. "Look at him. He is handsome. Isn't he?"

He glared at the phone with such intensity that it was a wonder it didn't break into a million pieces. "Looks normal to me." 

"He is handsome. Okay? He is from the US. Earns well. Family stays here in India. What else can I ask for?" She giggled.

"If he is from the US, how can we run a enquiry?" asked Vikram.

"Enquiry?"

"Yes. What if he drinks? What if he smokes? What if he had girlfriends in the past?" Vikram listed out the cons.

"Okay. How about this guy? From Hyderabad. 33 years--"

"8 years older than you. You will have difference of opinion because of generation gap."

"Generation gap in just 8 years?"

"We can't neglect this. It's a very important factor." He locked her phone and put it aside.

"Wait. There is more." She unlocked her phone and showed him another profile. "Oh my Dumbledore! Look at him. He is so hot." She blew a flying kiss to the picture.

"Okay. That's enough. I know you are doing this to annoy me." He looked away.

"Glad you finally understood." She grinned. "And now perhaps you will explain why you wrote that rubbish. It was touching. Until you said I can go away and marry someone else."

"I thought you will be happy."

"What made you reach that conclusion?" She punched him.

"Shubha, what are you--"

"It's Subbu, you idiot. Subbu. S.U.B.B.U." She punched him again.

"But you asked me to call you Shubha." He reminded her, shielding himself with a pillow.

"That's when I was angry. I agree I asked you to stay away. That doesn't mean you should give up. How dare you give up?" She clenched her fists again. He moved back to avoid another punch, which never came. She was in tears.

"Subbu, please don't cry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just thought maybe you will be happy with someone else. Someone like Bhuvan."

She smacked his head. "That's where you are wrong. That's exactly where you always go wrong. You never ask me what I want. You do what you think is the best. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it goes horribly wrong."

He moved towards her cautiously and wrapped his arm around her. "I'm sorry. I'm not perfect Subbu. This is new to me. I will learn everything. Please give me a chance. Please."

She didn't answer. She just nodded. "Great! Now let's start all over again. Tell me what you want."

"You" She pointed at him. "I want you. Everything that makes you the person you are. I love you."

"I love you too." He smiled.

"That doesn't mean that I have forgiven you. I am still angry. I didn't forgive you yet. You have to be punished."

"I understand. I am ready to accept punishment. Tell me. What can I do to make things right?" He asked sincerely.

"Alright. Listen. Resume your treatment with the therapist." She said looking into his eyes.

"How do you know? Okay. Mom told you." He couldn't meet her eyes. "I'm sorry Subbu."

"There is nothing wrong with you. You just need a few sessions with her. You will be fine after that."

"Only if you and mom come with me." He said in an innocent tone.

"We will. But we won't accompany you inside. You have to talk to her alone." She made it clear.

---***---

"So? Tell me Vikram. How is life these days?" asked Shalini, the therapist. "What's going on in your life?"

"Life's good. Except, it's horrible." He answered.

"What happened?" She asked despite knowing. She wanted to hear it from him.

"I helped my fiance-to-be in getting married to my best friend. And then I lied to my mother that I am ready to marry her because she wanted to keep her marriage a secret and I am worried for her.  And then this wonderful girl entered my life. I fell in love with her. She asked me to tell the truth to my mother. I couldn't tell her because I was scared it might affect her badly. Then one day my mother caught us red-handed. Wait. I was just holding her chin. Don't judge me. She was crying. What else am I supposed to do? My mother was like, 'Tell me what's going on'. My girlfriend was like 'Yeah! Tell her.' I was like 'No'. Then my girlfriend told her the truth. My mother fainted and we took her to the hospital. There I had a big fight with my girlfriend and she left. Now I am really worried for her. Now they both teamed up and brought me here because they feel I am over thinking and bringing all these on myself since my dad's death." Vikram said in a go.

The therapist blinked. "I can repeat if you want." He offered.

"No. I understood your problem. I also happen to have a solution. After listening to you and what your mother told me about the case, it is clear that you think about others a lot and get worried often." Shalini started her counselling session. She gave him instructions as well as examples. She gave him a small task which he completed quickly.

"I'm impressed. I have your file here. I will grade you based on improvement. I want you to complete these tasks and update the status. For a change, why don't you do something that makes you feel good? Something for yourself." She gave him a list of things he was supposed to do. 

He came outside. "How did it go?" asked Latha.

"Good." He answered. 

They reached home. Shubha wanted to leave when he requested her to stay on the pretext of telling her what the therapist said. She stayed. "So you should do something you like? Something you want?" She asked him. "I knew it."

"It is difficult."

"Why?"

"Because I obviously can't do what I want."

"Why not?"

"You know very well that only you can give me what I want." He said, trying to sound sincere.

She looked at him without blinking. Then she buttoned her coat.

"Are you serious? Are you seriously serious?" He facepalmed.

"Jokingly serious is not a thing. So, I guess I am seriously serious." She quipped.

They burst out laughing. They laughed until they had tears in their eyes. "Okay. Now tell me. How can I help you? This time I am serious. Seriously." She giggled.

He told her about the ad film shooting. "You will receive a call soon. It's your choice. But I would like it if you say yes."

"I will think about it." She said, trying not to show the bliss in her heart reflect on her face. She liked the fact that people considered her for such a huge brand. She waved at him and left for home.

He went to talk to his mother. "Mom, I want to do something else."

"What is it? Vegas trip?" asked Latha.

"No. I want to demolish my gym and set up something else in that place." He said, leaving his mother utterly shocked.

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