You remember this road?

In morning,7 AM.

The sun was coming in through the window. Soft and warm.

I was in the kitchen, making tea.

Footsteps behind me.

"Good morning, Tarini"

I turned. Vihaan.

Hair all messy, wearing that old college t-shirt.

"Ninte tea ready aano [Is your tea ready]?" he asked, smiling.

"Almost," I said. "You don’t even drink tea."

"I will today," he said. "With you."

We were standing close. Making tea together.

It felt normal. Like we never had 3 years in between.

"CLICK!"

Both of us jumped.

Aadhya was on the couch, phone in her hand, hair a mess.

"Sorry sorry! Njan disturb cheyyunnilla [I’m not disturbing],"

she said quickly. "Just capturing the moment."

Vihaan rubbed his neck. "Aadhya..."

"What? 3 years kazhinju [after 3 years] akka is smiling.

I have to take photos, no?" She grinned.

We took our tea to the balcony. All three of us.

The air was fresh. Birds were making noise.

Aadhya sat on a chair and kept clicking.

"Idhu frame cheyyam [We’ll frame this]," she said.

"Nokk, the light is perfect on you two."

Vihaan looked at me over his mug. "Tea tastes better in the morning."

"Especially with you."

I rolled my eyes but I was smiling. "Stop flirting."

"Ennal entha cheyyendathu [Then what should I do]?" he asked, teasing.

Aadhya butted in, "Drink your tea and be cute. That’s enough."

After a while Vihaan came and sat on the floor, right in front of me.

The morning sun was on his face.

"Nee engane feel cheyyunnu [How are you feeling]?" he asked quietly.

"Good," I said. "Really good."

"Me too," he said. "Because you’re here."

Aadhya clicked one last photo.

In the photo: me on the swing, Vihaan sitting on the floor in front of me.

Morning light everywhere.

"Keep this safe," Aadhya said softly. "Ithu important aanu [This is important]."

Vihaan reached out and took my hand.

Right there. In front of Aadhya. In the morning light.

And I didn’t pull away.

I just held on.

Aadhya saw it, smiled, and put her phone down.

"Njan kitchenil pokunnu [I’m going to the kitchen].

You two enjoy. No more photos... for now."

After Aadhya went to the kitchen,

the balcony got quiet.

Vihaan was still holding my hand.

The morning sun was warm on our skin.

"Nee ippol evide pokunnu [Where are you going now]?" he asked softly.

"Nowhere," I said. "Just here."

He smiled. "Good. Because I missed this."

10 minutes later Aadhya came back with tea.

"Okay lovebirds," she said. "Today we are going out. My plan."

"Engottu [Where to]?" I asked.

"Everywhere," Aadhya said and tossed me the car keys.

"Munnar, Alleppey, Kochi. Kerala full."

"Nee drive cheyyu [You drive], akka.

Njan backseat-il irikkam [I’ll sit in back] and click photos.

You two sit in front and... remember."

I looked at Vihaan. "Pokamo [Shall we go]?"

He nodded. "Pokam."

**30 minutes later - On the road to Munnar**

Me driving. Vihaan beside me.

Aadhya in the back with 2 cameras.

Windows down. Mountains starting to show.

Cool air and the smell of rain.

Aadhya: "CLICK! Tea gardens!"

"CLICK! Look at the fog!"

Vihaan turned to me. "You remember this road?"

I nodded. "Yeah. We said we’d come here together."

"3 years ago."

Then

He closed his eyes and smiled.

Like he was remembering something beautiful.

And then the flashback came.

---

### **Vihaan’s Flashback - 3 Years Ago**

---

Same road. Same tea gardens.

Just me and Tarini. On my bike.

We stopped on the side.

Walked between the tea plants.

I looked at her and teased,

"Tarini, ninakku oru paattu paadanam [You should sing a song]."

She laughed. "Entha arthaam [What do you mean]?

Njan gana gayun [I should sing]?"

"Yes!" I said. "You have a nice voice."

"Njan paadillaa [I won’t]," she said, blushing.

"Ayyo please," I begged. "Oru line mathram [Just one line]."

"Nee entha oru teasing aanu [You’re such a tease],"

she hit my arm.

"Then prove it. Sing."

She sighed and sang softly.

**"Unnakul naane,

Unnodu naane,

Unnodu vendi njan jeevikkunne,

Unne kaanaathe njan irikkilla,

Unne thottu njan jeevikkunne..."**

I didn’t tease after that.

I just watched her.

Because that day I knew.

I was in love.

---

### **Back to Present - Car**

---

Vihaan was still sitting with his eyes closed.

Smiling.

I looked at him.

And without thinking, I reached over.

And held his hand.

Vihaan opened his eyes slowly.

Our hands were together on the gear.

"Ninakku ormakkundo [Do you remember]?" he whispered.

I nodded. "Haan."

"Then tell me," he said.

"What does it mean?"

I took a breath.

Then

I said **"You are in me,

I am with you,

I live only for you,

I cannot live without seeing you,

I live only by touching you..."**

We were looking at each other.

"Njan ninne snahikkunnu [I love you]."He said

My heart was beating so fast.

"Enikkum [Me too]," I whispered back.

We both forgot Aadhya was there.

Then from the backseat...

Aadhya: *cough* *cough*

Both of us JERKED.

We pulled our hands apart so fast.

I looked at the road. Vihaan looked out the window.

Both our faces RED.

Aadhya: "Sorry sorry, disturb cheytha [Sorry, disturbed]?"

She was smiling so wide. "Njan oru CLICK edukkayaayirunnu [I was just taking a CLICK]."

Me: "Aadhya! Nee... nee ellam kettuo [You... you heard everything]?"

Vihaan: *clears throat* "Ayyo, ippo rain vannu [Oh, it's raining now]."

He was looking everywhere BUT at me.

Aadhya: "Haan haan, njan onnum kettilla [Yes yes, I heard nothing]."

"Just that 'I love you' and 'Me too' part." *winks*

Me: "Aadhyaaa!" *embarrassed*

Vihaan: *burying his face in his hands* "Daivame [Oh God]."

Aadhya was laughing. "Relax cheyyu [Relax].

Njan happy aanu [I’m happy].

Finally 3 years kazhinju [After 3 years]."

Silence for 10 seconds.

Then Vihaan looked at me.

I looked at him.

Both of us: *simultaneously* "Aadhya..."

Aadhya: "What? Njan window-il nokuva [I’ll look at the window]."

*turns around* "Continue cheyyu [Continue]."

Me and Vihaan: *dying of embarrassment*

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