A Test of His Will: No More Flowers for Arun
Lakshmi and the others had noticed the change. Arun no longer resisted when they placed jasmine in his hair—he even seemed to expect it. But what they found most amusing was how he never asked for it outright.
So they decided to test him.
The next morning, as Arun finished his bath and dressed in his soft cotton saree, he reached for the jasmine strands near the mirror—only to find them missing.
Frowning, he stepped out into the hall. The usual floral fragrance was absent.
“Amma?” he asked hesitantly. “Where are the flowers?”
Lakshmi, sipping her coffee, raised an eyebrow. “Flowers? Oh, I didn’t get any today, kanna.”
Arun stiffened. “Oh… okay.” He tried to act indifferent, but something inside him felt… off.
Throughout the morning, he found himself unconsciously reaching for his braid, expecting to feel the soft petals. Every time his fingers met only his plain, unadorned hair, a strange emptiness settled in his chest.
By lunchtime, Meena had noticed his distracted expression.
“Ayyoo, what’s wrong, Maami?” she teased, nudging him. “You look like you lost something.”
Raji Chithi smirked. “Or someone. Maybe a certain fragrant companion?”
Arun’s face turned pink. “W-What? No! I don’t care about that!”
Lakshmi chuckled. “Oh, kanna, we didn’t say anything about flowers. You did.”
Arun clamped his mouth shut, realizing his mistake.
Sumathi Mami, who had come to visit, gasped dramatically. “Aha! So it’s true! Our dear Arun Maami can’t live without her jasmine now!”
Kavitha giggled. “Poor thing. She must be feeling so bare today!”
Arun’s hands curled into fists. “Stop it! I-It’s nothing like that!”
But no matter how much he denied it, his restlessness grew. By evening, he found himself walking towards the marketplace, his eyes searching for the familiar white garlands.
Then he froze.
What am I doing?
His heart pounded as realization dawned—he wasn’t resisting anymore. He missed the flowers. He wanted them.
And worst of all… everyone knew it.
The Final Tease: How Much Longer Can He Resist?
The next evening, as Arun sat quietly in the hall, Lakshmi leaned in with a mischievous smile.
“Kanna, you looked so dull today. I think we all know why.”
Meena grinned. “Poor Maami! Her hair must be feeling lonely without the jasmine.”
Sumathi Mami added, “Maybe we should make a rule—no flowers for a whole week. Let’s see if she can survive!”
Arun’s breath hitched. “Amma, no—” He stopped himself, realizing he had almost begged.
Lakshmi smiled knowingly. “Oh? I thought you didn’t care, kanna.”
The room erupted in laughter.
Arun bit his lip, his heart racing. He was trapped. He couldn’t ask for the flowers without proving them right.
But each passing day without them was becoming unbearable.
How much longer could he deny himself?
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