Chapter 1

Mrs. Kartika Raghunandan was bustling around her son’s bedroom, her voice clear and commanding as she instructed the servants. “Place his favourite books on the bedside table, and make sure his wardrobe is organised with his suits on the left and casual wear on the right. He likes everything in order.” The room had to be perfect; after all, her son was coming home to India after a decade, now a qualified doctor. 

As she turned to leave, her eyes fell on a photo frame hanging on the wall. It was a picture of her son as a young boy, grinning from ear to ear. A smile tugged at her lips, and she felt a warmth in her chest. She surveyed the room one last time, satisfaction twinkling in her eyes. “Good job, Kartika,” she whispered to herself.

She jogged downstairs and found her husband, Mr. Raghunandan, lounging on the couch, engrossed in a movie. “What are you doing, Mr. Raghunandan?” she asked, her tone playful yet slightly admonishing.

He looked up, startled, and smiled sheepishly. “Just watching a movie, dear.”

Mrs. Kartika Raghunandan shook her head. “Your son has no sense of time, does he?” she said, sitting beside him.

Raghunandan smirked and pointed to the screen. “Watch this scene, it’s the entrance scene from ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.’ Look at how Shah Rukh Khan makes his entrance. Your son could learn a thing or two about timing and making an impression.”

Kartika glared at him, but there was amusement in her eyes.

 He tried to suppress his laughter. “This is how entrance scenes should be. Learn something from Jaya Bachchan, and tell your son to maintain timing like Shah Rukh Khan. What a background score! You’ve got plenty of time; you should practise.”

She playfully started hitting him with a pillow. “Stop it, Kartika!” he laughed, grabbing another pillow to defend himself. She stumbled into his chest, and as she was about to pull away, he gently cupped her face, drawing her closer. She closed her eyes, anticipating a kiss.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out, “Stop! Stop!” Kartika and Raghunandan looked up, startled, to see their son standing in the doorway, his eyes wide with shock and amusement. 

Kartika pushed Raghunandan away, causing him to fall back in a sitting posture. “I didn’t see anything,” their son said with a wink.

Raghunandan stood up, stretched his arms, and grumbled, “Such a mood spoiler.”

Kartika ran to her son, tears of joy streaming down her face. She hugged him tightly. “I missed you so much, Maa,” he whispered, hugging her protectively.

“I missed you too, Kittu,” she replied, her voice choked with emotion.

“Maa, don’t call me Kittu. I’m not a kid anymore,” he protested, but there was a fondness in his tone.

Raghunandan chuckled. “Welcome home, Dr. Athiradh Krishna.”

Athiradh Krishna rolled his eyes. “I don’t like my name. At least call me Krish.”

Kartika broke the hug and looked at him sternly. “What did you say?”

Krish smiled, kissed her forehead, and wiped her tears. “I love you, Maa.”

She beamed at him, her smile radiant. Krish then turned to his father. Raghunandan placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him into a hug. “It’s good to have you back, son.”

Kartika’s smile was radiant as she broke the hug, watching her son walk towards his father. Athiradh, or Krish as he preferred, bent down to touch Raghunandan’s feet, seeking his blessings. 

Raghunandan pulled him into a warm embrace, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “So, have you registered the ‘I Love You’ phrase to anyone special yet?” he teased.

Krish blushed, looking flustered. “Seriously, Dad?”

With a hearty laugh, Raghunandan hugged his son tighter, lifting him slightly off the ground. Krish squirmed in his father’s grip, feeling momentarily disoriented before finally managing to escape. He sighed dramatically, as if regaining his life.

Raghunandan laughed uproariously. “What is this, Kartika? He seems as delicate as a girl. If he stays like this, all the girls will tease him.”

“Stop it, Raghu,” Kartika said firmly. “When he was little, he used to be so scared to come near me. If I hugged him, he would start crying. Seems like some things never change.”

Krish looked down nervously, shuffling his feet. He mumbled something about needing to check his room and quickly walked away.

•••••

Evening had settled in, casting a warm glow over the house. Kartika sat beside her son Athiradh, affectionately messing up his hair. 

“Kittu, your father is waiting to talk to you,” she said with a smile.

Athiradh gently stopped his mother’s hand and laid his head in her lap. “Maa, why did you name me Atiradh Krishna? Couldn’t you find a simpler name?”

“That’s my favourite name,” she replied. “In the Mahabharata, Bheeshma described the valour of various warriors. A Rathee led 5,000 soldiers, and an Athiradh commanded 12 Rathees. I added Krishna because I’m a devotee of Lord Krishna.”

“Then why Kittu?” he asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.

She beamed, pulling his cheeks gently. “That’s your nickname, Cutiepie.”

“Maa, I don’t like it. Don’t call me that and don’t mess up my hair. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“Who told you that?” she teased.

“Crazy,” he said, sitting up and smiling. They both got up and walked to the drawing room together.

Raghunandan was waiting for them, a set of blueprints spread out on the table. “This is my gift to you,” he said, gesturing to the plans. “It’s a hospital. If you want to make any changes, feel free. You’re in charge.”

Krishna looked at the plans, unsure how to voice his reluctance. “Dad, I don’t want to be just another doctor in a city filled with hospitals. I want to make a difference where there are no facilities. I need that sense of fulfillment.”

“You can find that here in this hospital,” Raghunandan argued. “Why lower yourself by going elsewhere?”

“You won’t understand the value of true satisfaction,” Krishna said softly.

Raghunandan’s expression hardened. “Don’t forget, I am a top criminal lawyer and businessman. Many politicians and people like you wait for my appointment. Do you think I don’t understand satisfaction? Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. You’re insulting me, Atiradh Krishna.”

Krishna remained silent, not wanting to escalate the argument.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Raghunandan asked suddenly.

Krishna shook his head. “No.”

His father looked incredulous. “Why do you avoid girls? Do you have some sort of allergy?”

“Dad!” Krishna exclaimed, shocked.

“Lower your voice,” his father commanded.

Kartika intervened, siding with her son. “Why are you irritating him, Raghu?”

“He’s the one irritating me. I sent him abroad not just to study, but also to… Never mind. If he sees a girl, he runs a thousand kilometers away. What will he do after marriage? Anyway, tomorrow one of my business associate’s daughters is coming to Pune from Mumbai. You’re going on a date with her.”

“I don’t want to get married,” Krishna protested.

“What? Why?” Kartika looked at him, equally shocked.

“I’m just not interested.”

Raghunandan’s tone turned serious. “Do you have some sort of problem? You know what I mean.”

Feeling frustration, Krishna walked away to his room, with his mother following close behind.

Raghunandan watched them go, exasperated. “Where should I go now?” he muttered, heading towards his own room.

•••••

“Kittu, you just can’t walk out like that!” his mother said, trying to calm him down.

“Leave it, Maa. I don’t want to talk about it,” Athiradh replied, frustration evident in his voice.

“Arey, without saying anything, how do you think we can understand? I don’t have supernatural powers,” she chided gently.

“I don’t want to be part of the race for money. I have my own ethics and principles.”

“That’s up to you, but I’m asking about the date. Why can’t you go with her?”

“I met her long back because Dad forced me to, but not again. She’s not my cup of tea. I’m not interested in her.”

“She is very beautiful and…” Kartika started, but Athiradh cut her off with a sharp look.

“Just beauty, education, and status are not enough to share a life with someone. I’ve never met a girl who reflects your qualities.”

“So, you’re saying I’m not beautiful or educated?” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“Maa!” He gently placed his palm over her mouth. “I’m serious. You know what I mean.”

“But you said you’re not interested in getting married,” she reminded him.

“Let me come across a girl who’s my type, and I’ll automatically be interested.”

Kartika thought for a moment. “What about our Chinni? I mean, Krishna Siri?” she suggested, a spark of hope in her eyes.

“Krishna Siri? Who is she?” Athiradh asked, his curiosity piqued.

“She did her bachelor’s in Recreation Therapy and Rehabilitation,” Kartika began, but Athiradh interrupted.

“Maa! What are you talking about? Who is she? Who is Krishna Siri?”

“She is your father’s sister’s daughter,” Kartika explained gently.

“Dad has a sister?” Athiradh questioned, clearly taken aback.

“Yes,” Kartika continued. “Your grandparents adopted Shruthi because they longed for a girl child. Your father loved her as his own sister. But on her wedding day, Shruthi eloped and married someone else. That’s when the bitterness towards Shruthi and her family started.”

“I still don’t understand,” Athiradh said, confused.

Kartika took a deep breath. “When Shruthi left, it broke your father’s heart. He felt betrayed. That’s why he never mentioned her or her family. Krishna Siri is Shruthi’s daughter.”