#iladitha

Links to:

Prologue- https://www.tumblr.com/harinishivaa/741119072854573056/prologue-sambandham-war-of-hearts?source=share

Chapter 1- https://www.tumblr.com/harinishivaa/741675299243261952/chapter-1-starting-fresh-sambandham-war-of?source=share

Chapter 2- https://www.tumblr.com/harinishivaa/743447339726995456/chapter-2-picturesque-sambandham-war-of-hearts?source=share

******

Two weeks later

Chennai, Tamil Nadu

"Thiju!"

Kshithija's eyes met Nila's bright, lucid eyes, shining with an excitement that the former was sure was reflected in her own eyes. Nila had matured even more, her hair in a loose ponytail, long, swishing around behind her back in her excitement. Her beauty had a glow to it, the glow that only romantic feelings acknowledged, accepted and returned could give one.

Had Aditya asked her out?

Kshithija thought all of this, as she embraced her sister tightly. Nila often felt like a part of Kshithija's heart, an integral part of it. Without Nila, her heart would not be complete, just like without Arun, her heart had no blooming. Even through the harsh rejection, and the many years it had been since she had been in anything more than vague and distinct contact with him and his family, he still ran through her heart and veins, like he had never left it.

And he hadn't. She had tried to be as with-the-flow in healing as possible. Though loving him from many thousand miles away was very different from loving him when in close contact. And she doubted the intensity between them would have died down; in fact, if she could hazard a guess, it was going to be much more intense. More than it had ever been.

How she could guess that she had not divined yet, but she knew her gut too well to doubt it anymore.

"What is it, Vaandu?" Nila asked very affectionately, giving Kshithija a knowing look, tinged with some shyness rare in her.

"Did you end up getting a date, Akka?" Kshtihija whispered, not wanting her uncle, who she had embraced earlier to hear just yet. The delightful blush on Nila's face, splashing across her bronzed skin told Kshithija that Aditya had finally asked Nila out. "Oh! He finally asked you out then."

"He did," Nila agreed, the dark blush filling her cheeks, as she looked at Kshithija, the latter smiling brightly.

"What great news to get as I return, Akka. May you always always be happy," Kshithija wished her cousin, hugging her once more, before both grabbed the suitcases and wheeled it to the car, Kshithija more than ready to return home, to the safety of the place she grew up in.

Kshithija was curled up in her favourite nook on the first floor of her house, the couch as comfortable as her usual bean bag back at London. She looked at the book open on her lap, smiling at the worn out pages. She had read this multiple times for comfort, and somehow felt the urge to pick up the book at that moment.

If she thought deeply, she would know why she was in this state; it had everything to do with Arun, with having to meet Arun again. Maybe not immediately, but they ran in very similar social circles, that meeting him socially would happen at some point. Further, the closeness of the two families also guaranteed that she would have to meet him in informal family gatherings.

Since the loss of her father, her Periappa and Sundar uncle, Arun's father, had bonded even more. While both had been close before, the loss of Appa had sealed the friendship in a deeper, more instinctual way than ever before. When they teamed up, it was known that they could win any argument. Given that she was still the heir of her father's company, and Arun was going to be Managing Director eventually, she suspected matchmaking endeavors.

Would she be able to deal with them? She was after all well aware of the ways this set up will happen. And worse, if Iramathi wanted it to happen even now. Kshithija's affection for Iramathi had not receded by any means, and she was aware she was often a pushover, especially with people she loved. But one thing she had gotten with clarity during her time away was perspective.

Iramathi was loving, but she was also not above pushing people together if she thought it would help her family and the mega empire they ran. Aditya could be ruthless sometimes, despite being gentle as well when needed, though it was not the case every time it was needed. Paavai was a little firecracker, and her two brothers often spoiled her, which often gave her a sense of superiority, despite the genuineness that ran in her. Kalyaani was quiet, but could be very cunning when needed. And Arun...

Arun was more morally righteous and truthful than any of his siblings. But he also had a habit of not trusting anyone easily, despite having known them for a long time. While there was nothing wrong with being cautious, there was wrong with actually believing rumours more than the friendship that had been shared for many years.

She sighed to herself. This was the exact path she did not want herself in, and she had, of course found herself venturing into it. Being a psychologist could not prevent her from completely getting over her overthinking habits, it could only help her understand who could advise and guide her through it, leading to healing.

What was she to do though, if such a situation came up?

"Thiju!"

Kshithija was bought out of her thought spiral by her younger brother, who bounded in and plopped down next to her. They were best friends, having only one and a half years between them.

"Yes Kumara?" she asked, playfully rolling her eyes, giggling at his mock offended look. "What do you need me for, mischief maker?"

"Thiju, we both know that you are the biggest mischief maker between the two of us," he nudged her, making her laugh in agreement, responding, "That is a secret!"

The two siblings basked in the cheerful silence, before Kumaran again broke it.

"The social events of the year are starting, Thiju. In about a month," Kumaran announced. Kshithija knew well that he was aware that she had kept herself informed of all this.

"And?"

"And, Periappa hopes you would join us this time," Kumaran said softly. "But you must know..."

"Arun will be there," she sighed softly. She took in the concerned look her brother threw at her, and squeezed his arm, saying, "Well, I will have to meet him at some time, don't I?"

andha vezham nokkida, ingu thaazhai nokkida, oru mouna kaaviyam pirakka

******

Glossary:

andha vezham nokkida, ingu thaazhai nokkida, oru mouna kaaviyam pirakka- That elephant approached, as did the thaazham flower; that meeting gave birth to a silent epic of sorts.

I am FINALLY back with a new story on VanMozhi, which is something on them at least. It is a modern story, and is pretty angsty, to be very honest. However, it is a happy ending, and I hope you all enjoy this story as much as you have enjoyed my previous ones.

I hope to have a Prologue up in a day or two! For now, please check out these aesthetics, and let me know your thoughts!

These are our leads, Kshithija Velan and Arun Vishvanathan, the ones whose POVs will be fully featured. There are deuteragonists whose storyline will add to the main leads, but their books will not come out till I am fully done with this one. However, if you all are interested in their stories, I will endeavour to write OS' on them, though these OS' will not come till April at least.

Please let me know your thoughts, I would love feedback!

****

Three and a half years later, London

She had done it!

Kshithija had gotten her PhD in psychology, and a license to practice in both the United Kingdom and India, a dream come true for her. She did already have some clients in London, with whom she will be meeting online. At first, she had looked for good spaces across London, wanting to settle there itself, choosing to visit India as often as possible. However, the ill health of her Periappa, who had, along with her Periamma, helped raise her with her dear mother.

Having lost her father at a young age, Kshithija's biggest father figure was her uncle, who did genuinely treat her as his own daughter. She did miss the antics of her brothers and cousins though, and did not want to miss much anymore. Added to that, her dearest cousin Nila had lost her heart to Aditya Vishvanathan, or rather, had finally admitted her feelings to Kshithija, though not to Aditya yet.

The thought of the Vishvanathan family brought with it the trauma Kshithija was slowly healing from, trauma that had not completely gone away. As a psychologist, she knew that healing was not a linear process, but her love for Arun, for the whole family, in fact, had not died down. She doubted it would go away easily, but she had made her peace with him never returning her feelings.

That was the only reason she had agreed to Nila's request that Kshithija meet Iramathi Vishvanathan, the eldest girl in the family. She was well aware of the crush her younger brother Kumaran had on Paavai, the youngest of the five siblings of the family. For their sake at least, Kshithija had to try being friendly with the family once more. She had fought with even Iramathi before she left, and Ira herself had not reached out.

Nila had told Kshithija that, however, Ira was missing the latter, which Kshithija believed. Mostly, at least. Well, nothing like bad experiences to make one bitter, she thought to herself mockingly, scoffing, when her phone suddenly rang loudly, and Kshithija peered at the screen, smiling fondly.

"Nila Akka!" she greeted her elder cousin when she picked it up, her voice finally sounding like bells, a sound that had only recently become more frequent.

"Thiju! Your voice sounds like joy," Nila responded warmly.

"I love you too, Akka. But, what is it, Akka?" Kshithija knew the tonal changes in Nila's voice better than she knew herself.

"Ira wants to talk to you," Nila sighed. It was clear that Nila's barriers of cold politeness was slowly breaking, thanks to her accepting her feelings for Aditya, who had apparently changed over the past three years.

"Why?"

It was sad that Kshithija wanted to know why rather than rejoice that someone from a family she once wished to marry into wanted to talk to her. Additionally, Ira and Lokeshvari, the sister of Deva had been her best friends once upon a time. She missed them, but their closeness with Arun would never have allowed her to heal. She had to put her mental health and heart first.

Not to mention the insane dreams that had started coming to her as she started her PhD, a journey all on its own, giving her proof of things that most would say is fantastical, but things her heart knew was the truth, after three long years of such dreams. It helped that Akshari, one of her best friends, helped confirm Kshithija's theories with her own complimenting ones.

Akshari was one of the few Kshithija had opened up to, Arjun, the third in their trio another one. The latter was one of the few men Kshithija would call her friend, maybe even male best friend. Deva had once been that, but he chose Arun over her.

As expected.

"She genuinely misses you. She and Loka called me in tears almost, Thiju," Nila sighed. "Apparently, the whole family misses you."

"Huh."

Kshithija could not help the scoff that escaped her. As if everyone in the family would miss her. She doubted either of the two brothers, the heartthrob duo of Aditya and Arun would miss her.

"Thiju, I am serious. Arun texted me asking after you."

That caused her to freeze. Arun? Asking after her? She peered at the sky, making sure it had not turned pink, before responding, "But the sky has not turned pink, Akka."

The huff of laughter from Nila told Kshithija that she had hit the mark of amusing her cousin with her now trademark sarcasm. Akshari was to be blamed, Kshithija would teasingly say, though the truth that the latter was the reason Akshari sassed even more was well known in their close circle. Kshithija had become the reason for Akshari to gain more confidence in herself, which delighted the former to no end.

"Thiju, make nice with them, okay? Arun wants to collaborate with Velan industries," sighed Nila once more, to which Kshithija replied, "He wants to collaborate with Anna?"

"He knows brilliance when he sees it."

Kshithija had to accept the truth of Nila's words. Arun's brilliance was well known to those who were as much as his passing acquaintances, let alone to the woman still in love with him despite her best efforts to move on. Arun scouted fresh talents as well, interested, driven individuals who were forthcoming about their passions. That was one of the biggest things that had attracted her to him in the first place.

"I will make nice, Akka. I will not allow the past to come in the way of the future," Kshithija said truthfully, though she had not expected the Vishvanathan family to get so involved with hers once more, despite knowing her sister very much had feelings for Nila. The latter, in fact, had refused to act on it so far, for she was unhappy with how Kshithija had been treated. It had taken Kshithija's convincing Nila that she would be delighted that allowed Nila to be more friendly as before with the younger generation of the family.

"And Arun?"

"And I will be friendly enough with Arun," Ksithija promised, both her sister and herself, though internally she also told herself to not let her still present love for him burgeon out, and to be strong in the face of it. She and Nila continued to talk, making further plans for both their careers, hanging up some time later.

Kshithija sighed, falling into her couch and curling against it, her legs now tucked up in a padmasana position. She closed her eyes, revisiting her dreams once more, knowing that without partially resolving them within, meeting Arun would become a tension filled situation.

********

We have a more reserved Kshithija now, who still is in love but is also healing from the heart break. Who knows that without healing from her previous heart break, she can never be complete friends with the one she is in love with.

Next week, we will see Arun's point of view, and his feelings regarding everything.