Ananya descended the stairs to have breakfast after her shower, her skin still tingling, her mind still a dizzying swirl of Vikram's touches and whispers. She found the dining table already bustling with morning activity. Vikram was in his usual seat, looking utterly composed and devastatingly handsome, as if he hadn't just unleashed a hurricane in her. The sight of him sent a fresh wave of heat through her, and she had to take a deep breath to steady herself. She settled into her seat, trying her best to appear normal, though her cheeks still felt hot.

She quietly started eating, acutely aware of Vikram's presence. Just as she was halfway through, Raghava, their grandfather, called out to Vikram from the head of the table. "Babu Vikram, repu Jathara kadha? Panulu anni bagane jaruguthunnaya?" he asked, his voice laced with the usual village patriarch's concern for the biggest event of the year. ( Vikram, tomorrow is the Jathara, right? Are all the preparations going well?)