The rest of the day went on as usual, with everyone at the office immersed in their work. Maya, though fuming inside over yet another defeat, chose to stay silent and focused entirely on her tasks.
By evening, since it was Friday, Maya left work early, picked up her luggage, and headed straight to Lekha’s place. Tina and Lekha were already there, dressed and ready, waiting eagerly for her arrival. As soon as Maya stepped in, the three of them rushed into a warm group hug.
Lekha smiled. “Maya, we missed you.”
“Me too,” Maya replied, smiling softly. “Fine, shall we start?”
Just then, Riya walked in. “Wait, Vivaan is yet to come.”
Maya’s brows furrowed. “Vivaan is coming?”
Lekha nodded. “Yeah. He is joining us.”
Maya looked surprised. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Lekha shrugged playfully. “Hey, you got into friendship with him, right? Then what does it matter?”
Maya muttered. “Still, I thought of having girls’ time.”
Riya gently said, “Maya, he’ll be of no harm. In fact, he’ll be there for our safety, so we can actually have a more relaxed time.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea, taking him with us,” Maya insisted.
“Come on Maya,” Riya coaxed. “Just two days. He’ll be there purely for protection.”
Lekha grinned. “Think of him as a bodyguard.”
Unaware of their conversation, Vivaan arrived right at that moment. Hearing some chatter but not catching any of the words, he simply called out to them. The girls quickly composed themselves, and without further discussion, they all got into the car. Vivaan took the wheel, and after a long drive, they reached the resort in Ooty early the next morning. Exhausted, they all retired to their rooms to rest.
At Aryan Mansion, Sanju got ready and was waiting for Pavi and Keerthy to arrive. Meanwhile, Aryan was enjoying a leisurely morning, reading the newspaper, also waiting for Pradeep.
Soon, Pavi and Keerthy arrived at the mansion. The four of them sat down together for breakfast.
Sanju stood up after eating. “Aryan, take care. We are leaving now.”
Aryan looked up with a smile. “Okay ma. Enjoy and have a great time. Stay safe while playing in water.”
Sanju nodded. “Hmmm, okay.”
Aryan continued, “The maids are there to help you all. Guards will stay on the premises for safety. And if you need anything else, call me or Ranjith.”
The girls hummed in agreement and walked out, getting into the car. With the guards following in another vehicle, the driver took them toward the beach house.
Pavi stretched in the seat. “No phone calls, no office tension… just us enjoying.”
Keerthy laughed. “Yes! Sanju, after a long time, we’re hanging out like this.”
Sanju smiled warmly. “Yes Keerthy. We’ll enjoy and have fun.”
When they reached the villa, one of the chief guards stepped forward and scanned his fingerprint to open the gate. As the car pulled in, they were immediately enveloped by the vibrant fragrance of the garden’s blooms. The sight was breathtaking—flowers of every color imaginable swaying gently in the breeze.
Keerthy gasped. “Wow, Sanju, am I in Ooty or what? This is amazing!”
Pavi looked around in awe. “I’m getting settled here. I never imagined this when Aryan sir spoke about the place. But it’s totally worth it. Like Keerthy said, he’s made it look like a mini Ooty.”
Keerthy added, pointing ahead. “Yes, Pavi. Oh my, this fountain… cherry on the cake! Very unique.”
Sanju’s thoughts drifted for a moment. It looks exactly like it did when I visited the first time. Excellent maintenance.
They spent time admiring each flower, clicking selfies in the garden, and eventually made their way into the villa. The interiors were equally stunning, with a blend of modern elegance and warmth. After a quick tour, they decided to watch a movie before lunch.
Settling comfortably on the plush couches in the movie room, they had a mini tug-of-war deciding the genre, but finally agreed on a film. Meanwhile, the maids served them an assortment of snacks and soft drinks.
Keerthy sighed contentedly. “It feels like… I want to stay here forever.”
Pavi nodded. “Correct, Keerthy. Sanju, how often do you visit here?”
Sanju replied, “Sometimes, when work gets too stressful… or casually on weekends. Actually, I love the beach here. It’s private, so we can have fun without fear.”
Keerthy grinned. “Let’s visit the beach in the evening!”
Finally, the girls settled down and started the movie at the resort.
Meanwhile, back at Aryan Mansion, Pradeep arrived to spend the day with Aryan and Ranjith. The trio moved to the swimming pool area and stretched out comfortably on the sun loungers. Pradeep brought some drinks for himself and Ranjith, knowing Aryan didn’t keep any alcohol at home.
Aryan glanced at the glasses and muttered, “I hope Sanju doesn’t see these.”
Pradeep smirked. “Are you scared?”
Aryan shook his head. “No, it’s not fear. She just doesn’t like them.”
Just then, Ranjith walked in with a tray of fresh juices.
“Sir, have some juice,” Ranjith offered, placing the glass on the small side table.
“Thanks, Ranjith. You take drinks with Pradeep,” Aryan said, accepting the juice.
Pradeep smiled. “I hope the girls are having a great time.”
Aryan nodded. “Yeah, I just received a message from Sanju. They got settled with a movie, it seems.”
With that, the three men began their relaxing poolside afternoon, shifting between casual conversation and light business talk.
At the Ooty resort, the group woke up feeling refreshed and headed down for breakfast.
Lekha looked at Maya. “Maya, what’s the plan now?”
Maya shrugged. “I don’t have any plans.”
Vivaan chimed in. “Actually, I know a friend here who owns a pub. We can go there in the evening. For now, how about boating and lunch?”
Everyone agreed, and after finishing breakfast, they left the resort and headed to a nearby boating spot. Lekha and Tina excitedly hopped into one boat, leaving Maya and Vivaan to take another. They put on their safety jackets before boarding.
As they started drifting on the calm water, Vivaan glanced around at the scenic surroundings where several couples were enjoying their time together.
He turned to Maya. “Maya, shall I ask you something?”
She nodded. “Sure, go ahead.”
He looked at her with a slight smile. “If you had not seen Aryan, then we would have been couples by now, right? I mean, we might have got married.”
Maya didn’t respond immediately. She just stared into the distance, her expression unreadable.
Vivaan quickly added, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Just got this random thought.”
“It’s okay,” Maya replied softly.
There was a moment of silence before Vivaan spoke again.
“Maya, just remember that I’ll always be there for you.”
She turned slightly toward him and said, “Vivaan, shall we talk about something else?”
“Sorry, Maya,” he said apologetically, then shifted topics. “Tell me, how is your business going?”
“It’s going fine,” she replied. “But I want to get out of the partnership.”
Vivaan raised an eyebrow. “Why? What happened?”
Maya’s voice carried irritation. “I hate getting commands from that Sanjana. As per the clause, we cannot break the partnership until six months from the start of it. Else we need to pay a huge sum of money.”
Vivaan nodded in understanding. “Understood. Just rejuvenate yourself these few days without thinking about the problems.”
He reached over and gently squeezed her hand, offering silent support.
Sanju called the maids to serve lunch, and within minutes, the dining table was set with an array of mouth-watering dishes. The aroma filled the air, and the girls’ eyes sparkled in surprise.
Keerthy exclaimed, “Hey! How is it that my favorite dishes are done?”
Pavi added, wide-eyed, “Mine too!”
One of the maids smiled and explained, “Ranjith sir had already given the menu of the dishes to be prepared.”
The girls were delighted. Excited chatter and laughter filled the room as they savored the delicious spread, sharing banter and compliments between bites. After a satisfying lunch, they lounged around the villa, settling into easy girl talk, reminiscing old memories and laughing over silly things.
As the sun began to dip, casting long shadows across the villa, they moved toward the backyard that opened into a private beach. The golden sands shimmered under the evening light.
Pavi squealed, “Sanju, this is amazing!”
Keerthy and Pavi couldn’t hold back and ran toward the shore like kids, their laughter echoing across the open space. Sanju followed slowly behind, smiling as she watched them enjoying the freedom of the day.
The three of them stepped into the cool waters, splashing one another like carefree children. Eventually, they sat on the wet shore, waves gently brushing their feet. Keerthy and Pavi lay back in the sand, letting the water roll over them, giggling at their soaked clothes and messy hair. They even tried building sandcastles, only to see the waves wash them away each time. They laughed harder and built again, completely immersed in the moment.
As the sky turned a breathtaking mix of orange and purple, the sun melted into the horizon. With sandy feet and satisfied hearts, they walked back to the villa.
After freshening up with a hot bath, the girls gathered in the garden, sipping warm beverages under the early night sky. The fragrance of flowers and the hum of crickets surrounded them in a comforting cocoon of peace.
Sanju stood up suddenly to fetch her phone from inside the villa, but as she took a step, she staggered and collapsed onto the carpeted grass.
“Sanju!” Pavi shouted in panic.
Both Keerthy and Pavi rushed to her side, patting her cheeks gently.
“Sanju… open your eyes,” Pavi pleaded, her voice trembling.
There was no response.
Panic rising, they carried her carefully into the living room and tried reviving her by sprinkling water on her face, but she remained unresponsive.
“Keerthy, I’m scared,” Pavi said, her hands shaking. “I think she fainted due to stress again.”
“Does she get this often?” Keerthy asked, alarmed.
“Let’s call Aryan anna immediately,” Pavi said, pulling out her phone.
Back at Aryan Mansion, Aryan was in his study, reviewing some business reports after Pradeep had left. His phone buzzed, and seeing Pavi’s name, he answered immediately.
“Pavi, tell me. Is your day over? Where’s Sanju?” he asked casually.
“Anna…” Pavi’s voice cracked. “Sanju fell unconscious. Please arrange for a doctor immediately!”
Aryan shot up from his chair. “What happened to her?”
“Not sure,” she replied anxiously.
“Wait, let me call the doctor. Just stay with her and don’t leave her side,” Aryan ordered, already yelling for Ranjith as he dialed the doctor with trembling fingers.
Ranjith rushed into the hallway to find Aryan sprinting to the car.
“Sir, what happened?” he asked as he followed.
“Sanju fell unconscious. Pavi just called me,” Aryan replied, jumping into the car.
“But she hasn’t had any stress-related issues recently. How could this happen?”
“I don’t know,” Aryan muttered, driving at extreme speed. His face was pale, sweat beading on his forehead.
“She’ll be fine,” Ranjith tried to reassure him as him.
Back at the villa, Pavi was on the verge of tears, rubbing Sanju’s hands and legs, calling her name over and over.
“Sanju, please… wake up…” she whispered.
“Pavi, I’m scared,” Keerthy said, her eyes wide with worry.
“She’ll be fine,” Pavi said firmly, trying to stay strong. “She used to have blackouts from stress, but it’s been a long time since the last one.”
Just then, the villa gate opened, and the doctor arrived, escorted in immediately by the chief guard who was briefed on the situation.
The doctor rushed inside and checked Sanju quickly and thoroughly.
“Doctor, what happened? Why is she not waking up?” Pavi asked anxiously.
The doctor stood up and said, “I don’t find any problem for now, madam. But we should take her to the hospital for further tests.”
“Sure, sir,” Pavi agreed.
With the doctor’s help, Pavi and Keerthy gently carried Sanju to the car. The guard took the wheel and drove them swiftly to the hospital. On the way, Pavi called Aryan again.
“Pavi, is she awake?” Aryan asked as soon as he picked up.
“Anna, the doctor wants to take her to the hospital. Please come there,” Pavi informed him.
Aryan’s voice trembled. “P… Pavi… Please tell me, how is she?”
“Doctor hasn’t said anything yet. We’re just on our way,” she replied, trying not to break down.
Tears welled up in Aryan’s eyes as he heard the words. He slammed the brakes, the car screeching to a halt. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Ranjith quickly got out of the car and walked around.
“Sir, please get in the passenger seat. I’ll drive,” he said firmly.
Aryan, numb and vulnerable, got out and switched seats. Ranjith didn’t waste a second—he drove like lightning toward the hospital, both of them praying silently for Sanju.
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[…] Chapter 58 […]