"What's the problem?" asked Vikram.

"My program is not working." Shubha sighed.

"Your equipment must be malfunctioning. It's impossible for my Subbu to create a program that doesn't work." He said.

She blushed. "What did I do to deserve you?" She pulled his cheeks.

"Can I get a hug?" He asked her.

"You are being greedy now." She pushed him away, giggling. "Now I have to change the program."

"Wait. I am not an expert or anything. But if you need any help please do tell me." He offered. "I can be your assistant."

"I have 73 combinations of values out of which I took 20 most likely combinations and inputted them to the program--"

"Wait. What about the remaining 53?" He interrupted.

"I am sure they won't work. Besides, I have to cut the costs somewhere." She said as if it was the most obvious thing.

"How can you conclude without trying everything? Don't change the program before trying all combinations." He stopped her from changing her program.

"But--"

"You don't have to worry about costs. This is our house. Not your workplace. Run every combination and see." He advised her.

"Okay." She finally agreed. She inputted all the combinations to the program. "It will take some time to run completely. You finally get some time to sleep."

"I can't sleep now. I have to buy the ring." He could feel his cheeks turn pink.

"If it is my ring, then you should take me with you." She said.

"No. It's a surprise. I want you to see it on the day of engagement." He waved at her and left for the jewellery shop.

---***---

"This is the necklace my mother made me wear on my engagement." Latha gave ancestral jewellery to Shubha. "It's yours now." She helped Shubha wear it. 

"It looks beautiful" said Shubha.

"You look more beautiful" said Latha.

"Can I wear it on my wedding?" Shubha asked for permission.

"Not wedding. For wedding let's buy new jewellery. Wear it for some other function." Latha was about to keep it in the locker when her eyes fell on a simple gold chain. She took it out and caressed it.

"It's beautiful." Shubha remarked.

"It was his first gift to me." Latha smiled at the memory. "He saved money for three months to buy me this on my birthday."

"Was yours a love marriage?" Shubha asked her.

"No. Love after marriage." Latha giggled.

"Aunty, tell me your love story. Please. Don't say no. How did you feel when you first met him?"

Latha blushed. She took a while to compose herself and started telling the story. "I was only 20 when my mother told me about him. She said the prospective groom was coming to see me just a few hours before they arrived. I panicked. I wasn't ready for marriage. I still had my final year exams to complete."

"What happened next?" The story sounded interesting to Shubha.

"My aunt helped me get ready. She adorned my hair with fresh jasmine flowers and my eyes with kohl. When she finished, I couldn't believe it was me. I looked so beautiful back then."

"You look beautiful even now." Shubha complimented her.

"Thank you." Latha smiled. "When Bhaskar garu arrived, I was asked to come to the living room. I tilted my head downwards slightly as per the tradition. I was dying to have a look at his face. But I couldn't. I hated that rule. And then suddenly his grandmother asked me a question. I looked up and stole a quick glance at him before answering."

Shubha grinned. "Wow! That's so cute." She clapped her hands.

"After that grandmother asked me to sing a song. Back in those days women were expected to take music classes. Luckily, I am a violinist. I played violin and sang. Everyone clapped their hands. Including him." She emphasized the last part.

"Did he say something?"

"No. If he had, then it would have been the talk of the town. We weren't allowed too speak. He looked a lot more interested after the song. He kept stealing glances until it was time to leave. I wanted to look at him again. God granted me my wish. We were engaged the next week." Latha showed her an old picture of her engagement. 

Shubha smiled, looking at the picture of 20-year-old innocent Latha. "Your pair is so beautiful. Made for each other."

"That's what he used to say." Latha wiped a lone tear that escaped her eyes. 

Shubha wrapped her arm around her shoulder. "Do you think he would have liked me?"

"He always wanted a daughter. He would have loved you like his own child." Latha caressed her face.

---***---

"Which colour should I wear in your engagement?" asked Pragathi.

"Anything except red" said Shubha.

"Okay. I'll be wearing red." Pragathi teased her. 

Dhwani joined them. "Same. I will personally message all the invitees that the dress code is red."

"Bad girls." Shubha pouted. 

"You look so good when you pout" said a voice. Shubha turned around to see a famous director aged 32, stand there. 

"Er, thanks." Shubha didn't know what else to say.

"Shubha Narayan. The new sensation of film industry." He sat beside her.Pragathi excused herself and went away. "I'm Ajay. An acquaintance of Vikram."

"Hello Ajay. Would you like to have some tea?" Shubha offered him a cup of tea.

"No. I like coffee. I would be happy if a beautiful lady like you joins me in the cafe." He smiled at her.

"I would love to. But I have to resume shooting in 10 minutes." Shubha tried to make an excuse.

Precisely at that moment, an assistant director said, "Madam, Vikram sir sent me to tell you that there will be a delay of an hour in the next shot."

"Now, you can come with me" said Ajay. 

"Sure." Shubha couldn't find another excuse. Before Dhwani could say something, Ajay stretched his hand forward and held Shubha's hand. Though she felt slightly uncomfortable, she remembered how Vikram fought with her when she arrived late for the meeting with the directors.

They reached the cafe. He insisted to pay for the coffee. Shubha reluctantly agreed. he touched her hand twice accidentally. She was furious. Yet, she kept quiet because she didn't want to make a scene.

"You know what's illegal?" He asked her.

"What?"

"To look as beautiful as you." He tried to flirt with her.

"You know what's cliche?" She asked him.

"What?"

"To tell a beautiful girl that she is beautiful." She faked a smile. He too smiled.

"Okay. Let me come to the point. I would like to offer a new film to you. It's a woman-centric story. I think you suit the character the best." He gave a brief narration of the story.

"I would love to be a part of the film. But currently my calendar is full." Shubha rejected the offer politely.

"No problem. I'll wait for you. Ask Vikram if you want. I mean, you might need his permission for everything." He said.

"Why would I need his permission?" Shubha was puzzled at the statement.

"He is so dominating. Isn't he? Entire industry knows that he is a bossy director" said Ajay. "In addition to that, he is your fiance to be."

Shubha was outraged. She wanted to shout at him for talking about her Vikram like that. She took a deep breath to calm down. "I don't know what the industry thinks about Vikram. But I assure you, he is not dominating at all. he treats his artists as his equals." She stood up. "I have to rush now."

"Think about my offer." He reminded her. 

"Sure." She said without looking at him.

That evening, she told Vikram about the new offer. "That's great. You should consider it." he advised her.

"No. I want to concentrate on my research right now. I can't afford to have too many distractions." She said. "I told him already. If he comes again, I will say it clearly."

Vikram didn't say anything further. For him, Shubha's decision was final. He didn't even ask who the director was.

---***---

"Okay. So in this scene we will be in a lake, with neck deep water. The enemies will attack us from behind. We try to run forward." Vikram explained the scene to Shubha. They chose a real location for shooting.

Shubha looked at her script paper for a few minutes and memorized the dialogues. They took position. The shooting started. As required they walked in the neck deep waters quickly. Suddenly Shubha felt something touch her foot. Before she could move her leg she felt something bite her.

"Ah!" She yelped. "Something bit me."

Vikram looked down to see an enormous snake in the water, at her feet. He quickly lifted her up and carried her to the van. There the doctor examined her foot and confirmed that it was a snake bite. 

"Oh my Dumbledore! Vikram. Remember that I love you." Shubha fell down unconscious. 

---***---

Don't forget to vote and comment (long comments, if possible) on all parts of this story.