Three months after Lakshmi’s illness, life slowly returned to its original madness.
Which meant peace officially disappeared again.
The television volume became unbearable.
Arguments returned.
Somebody always misplaced slippers.
And once again Ravi shouted daily:
“WHO FINISHED THE WIFI DATA?”
The house was healing.
One Sunday evening, Karthik made a shocking announcement.
“I got a job.”
Complete silence.
Nobody believed him immediately.
“Real job?” asked grandfather carefully.
“Yes!”
“Office?”
“Yes!”
“Salary also coming?”
“THATHA!”
The entire family erupted with joy.
Meera cried immediately.
Ravi hugged Karthik so hard his glasses bent sideways.
Lakshmi proudly announced:
“I always knew he had talent.”
“Last week you called him useless.”
“That was motivational support.”
To celebrate, the family decided on rooftop dinner night.
Lights were hung everywhere.
Plastic chairs appeared magically.
Music played softly from old speakers that worked only if kicked twice.
Neighbors watched from terraces already prepared for Narayanan-family entertainment.
Food covered the tables.
Hot dosas.
Paneer fry.
Bajjis.
Three sweets.
And one suspicious chutney Ravi accidentally made too spicy.
Bruno ran happily between everyone stealing food professionally.
The night breeze felt cool.
The city lights sparkled around them.
For a while, everyone simply sat together smiling.
Then grandfather stood up dramatically holding juice glass.
Speech time.
Entire family groaned immediately.
“I have seen many things in life,” he began proudly.
“Economic crisis. Rising petrol prices. Ravi’s driving.”
“Please stay on topic,” muttered Ravi.
Grandfather continued.
“This family fights daily. Shouts daily. Creates problems everywhere.”
“True,” said Meera instantly.
“But whenever life hits us…” he paused softly,
“…we still sit together like this.”
The terrace became quiet.
Even Lakshmi looked emotional.
Then grandfather ruined the moment completely.
“And thankfully nobody inherited Ravi’s dancing.”
Everyone burst into laughter again.
Music became louder.
Karthik danced badly.
Anu danced worse.
Lakshmi clapped offbeat confidently.
And somehow Ravi’s blazer from the wedding disaster returned for unknown reasons.
At one point electricity suddenly went off again.
Darkness covered the terrace.
Everyone shouted together:
“RAVIII!”
“I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!”
Phone flashlights turned on.
The city glowed around them under starry sky.
Then softly…
Lakshmi began singing an old family song.
Her voice was shaky but warm.
One by one, everyone joined.
Even neighbors listened quietly from nearby terraces.
And in that little darkness filled with weak singing, crooked laughter, and terrible dancing…
the Narayanan family looked perfectly complete.
Not rich.
Not perfect.
Not peaceful.
But full of life.
Full of noise.
Full of love.
Later that night, after everyone slept, the house finally became silent.
Only the ceiling fan hummed softly.
Bruno snored near the sofa.
And on the refrigerator door hung Anu’s drawing from weeks ago:
The whole family standing together.
Still smiling.
Still loud.
Still unbreakable.