The Last Bloom of Spring

"Roopa… he's still asking about that Madhu," Janaki said softly, her voice laced with frustration.

At the mention of the name, Charulatha's serene expression hardened instantly. Her eyes narrowed, and she set her teacup down with a sharp clink.

"Madhu?" Roopa's voice was sharp, anger simmering beneath the surface.

Before she could say more, Mrinalini, who had been quietly observing, leaned forward with curiosity. "Who is Madhu?" she asked, her voice calm but genuinely intrigued.

Hearing the question, Roopa's angry face suddenly shifted into a mischievous smile. Her lips curved into a cunning arc, and she looked at Mrinalini with a glint in her eye.

"Oh, we're not the right people to explain this," Roopa said with mock innocence. Picking up her phone, she quickly dialed Gowri.

On the screen, Gowri's face appeared, radiant and confident. "Hey, sweetheart," Gowri greeted, clearly in a good mood.

"Hey, sweetheart," Roopa echoed playfully, her mischievous smile widening. "Someone here is asking, Who is Madhu?"

At the mention of the name, Gowri's cheerful expression froze. Her eyes widened, and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. "Why… why are you asking about her? And you Roopa why should you call me for that girl?" Gowri stammered.

"Come on, Gowri, don't be shy, you are the best to explian among us about Madhu" Janaki chimed in, her tone teasing. "Tell them about Madhu."

Gowri sighed, realizing she had no escape. "Madhu is… well, she's a court dancer in the Imperial Court," Gowri began hesitantly. "She's famous for her beauty and grace. People from all over come to see her perform."

Mrinalini frowned. "A court dancer? What does she have to do with Vikram?"

"That's the problem," Gowri muttered, rolling her eyes. "Our dear Vikram is one of her biggest admirers. Even with all of us as his fiancées, he still goes to see her dance whenever he gets the chance."

"He what?" Charulatha's voice was cold, her earlier playfulness replaced by simmering fury.

"And that's not all," Janaki added, glancing nervously at Charulatha. "Do you remember Gowri's 21st birthday? What gift did Vikram gave her?"

Roopa smiled nodded. "Of course. Vikram gave her that stunning diamond necklace and bracelet set...." She then looked at Mrinalini and Charulatha and said "nothing."

"What?" Both of them exclaimed.

"Yes," Gowri said, her tone dry. "What you don't know is that he spent all the money he had saved to buy gifts. And do you know why he was broke?"

"Why?" Mrinalini asked, leaning in.

"Because he spent it all on Madhu," Gowri said flatly. "He bought her expensive silks and jewelry as thanks for a private performance."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Charulatha took a deep breath, her hands clenching into fists. "So he spends all his time with her, throws money at her, and still has the nerve to come back to us?"

"It's not that simple," Gowri said quickly, trying to calm the situation. "Madhu isn't just any dancer. She has a unique charm. Even I have to admit her dances are mesmerizing."

"That doesn't excuse his behavior," Charulatha snapped. "He has responsibilities—we are his responsibility. How can he act so recklessly?"

"Charulatha, calm down," Mrinalini said gently. "We should ask him directly about this instead of jumping to conclusions."

Gowri sighed again. "It's not that Vikram doesn't care about us. He does. He's just… complicated. Madhu is part of that complexity. But I don't think his feelings for her are the same as his feelings for us."

Janaki nodded reluctantly. "That's true. He adores all of us in his own way. But when it comes to Madhu… it's like he's under some kind of spell."

Charulatha sat back, her expression thoughtful but still tense. "If that's true, then we need to break that spell," she said firmly. "Vikram belongs to us. Not to some dancer in the Imperial Court."

The girls exchanged glances, a silent agreement forming between them. Whatever this Madhu's hold over Vikram was, they would face it together.