Sakthi
When Jithu's father questioned me, I immediately realised my mistake of blurting out about the altercations.
I muffled my words with my hands, uttering, "Ayayo olaritaney. Uncle ennaladha sanda. Jithu enaku support pannidha sanda potan avan mela thappu illa."
With raised eyebrows, he questioned, "Nee enna panna unnala sanda vara?"
"Na onnum thappu pannala, uncle." Then I disclosed every detail of the incident.
As he inquired, "Andha pasangala maati vitiya illaya?" I responded, "Na pakalanu solliten, uncle."
He wondered, "En nee pakalaya?"
I clarified for him, "Pathen, ana solli enna agapogudhu? suspend pannuvanga avlodha. Avangalam final year pasanga, last semester la suspend aana black mark agum ,campus interview la place airundha andha job poidum, vera interview place aaga mudiadhu, adha solala."
"Yen Arjun kuda unperu sethu solli kathunanga? Do you like him too? Actually, Arjun is my nephew. Unaku theriuma?" He posed another query.
I blurted out, "Nejamava? Jithu sollavey illa idhu varaikum. Neenga ivlo kelvi kekuringa? na full version story solliten. Idhuku neenga firstey full story ketrukalam."
"Sari vidu mela sollu, nee love panria Arjun, ah?" he pondered.
I clarified, "Na love ellam panala. He likes me, so message, call panuvan, na ignore panniten, as I told you a moment ago. Apdium en kindal pannanganu therila."
"Aduthavati pogadha andha college ku." He suggested.
"Na indha semester exam result vandhadhum SPS Delhi la poi join panna poren. Ini indha college la padikamaten uncle." I told him about my plan.
"En avlodhurum?"
I shrugged, "Enaku anga padikadha ishtam, munnadi enga amma dha poga vidala."
"Ippo, how would she send you ?"
"Now, I decided to go even if she doesn't like it."
He handed me his business card, wrote his personal phone number on the back, and handed it to me. " Pathu po, text me after reaching home". I smiled at him and muttered goodbye.
He then asked his son to accompany me to my car and ensure that I was safely seated inside. I walked alongside him without saying anything. He gave me a few glances but did not say anything. "Kayal epdi iruka? I heard she is pregnant," he asked as I sat in the car.
I suppressed my smile. "She is good. Yes, she is pregnant. Neenga enta ketadhu avangalukku therialama illa theria kudadha?
He asked, "En apdi kekura?"
As I replied, " Illa neenga avangamela bayangara kovama irukradha ellam pesikitanga aana neenga avangalapathi enta kekureenga adha keten. so ippovey sollidunga illa na olarita aparam emela kovapada kudadhu." He shut my door with a thud, and the driver took off from there.
I explained everything to everyone involved in this issue and spoke with the professor, which was kind of disappointing. But part of me felt relieved. Now no one can blame me for involving Jithu and Sakthi and I am not disturbing or stealing anyone's place anymore. All that remains for me is to finish this semester's exam and travel to Delhi. I controlled my tears and self-assured myself that everything would be alright soon.
When I was on my way home, I turned down a call from my father. My father began contacting me the day after I left their home. After two days of not hearing from me and failing to return his calls, he came in person. When everyone spewed venom on me, he remained mostly silent, and I returned the favour when he arrived. He returned, defeated each time. But I stood firm in my decision, even if it meant hurting and crying myself to sleep every day. I should not return to them if I wanted to learn to be self-sufficient. I also do not want to go somewhere where I am unwanted.
Dada and Thatha raised me more than my parents did. So, if they wanted me, I would stay with them. Through their small gestures, they made me feel wanted every day and every second they were with me. After the meeting, I went home, took a hot shower, and slept like a baby.
Days passed, and I studied at home with the books and notes brought by Sakthivel from my classmates. We did not do group study like we did last semester before the exam, but I missed it. I only went to college for my practical exam and then to write my semester exam. Apart from my close friends, I never returned phone calls or texts from anyone in college. I no longer received any messages or phone calls from the professor. I, too, refrained. I want to move on, but I promised him that I would wait six months, so I will.
Yesterday, after returning home from my last exam, I slept the entire afternoon and evening and then watched a Korean series marathon until early morning. I am no longer a student at SK Engineering and Technology as of today. My admission to SPS is almost complete, and I am just waiting for the results of this semester's exams to be confirmed.
I wasted my days by sleeping and binge-watching movies and TV shows. We went out a few times with Sakthi and didn't get the opportunity to meet Mukhil Anna. Two weeks later, my mother called me. I ignored her phone call. The admission process accelerated when the results arrived.
Within a week, we received confirmation, and Thatha summoned me to the home office. When I walked in, Dada and Thatha were discussing something with PA Uncle.
Thatha handed me the confirmation letter after they finished talking. "Muthukutty, you must now tell us how we should proceed from here. I am a grandfather who wishes to always have his favourite granddaughter with him, but I understand that you want to be independent and stay at the hostel. I also know that for you to manage our businesses in the future, you will need to learn a variety of skills, including independence and socialisation, which you clearly lack at the moment. Even though I have every reason to send you alone, I am concerned about you, your safety, and your well-being. What I had in mind was to place you in our guest house in Delhi, which is already fully equipped with staff to maintain and cook.
Raghu and I can alternate visits and stay with you. We will gladly do so; please do not assume that you will be burdening us. It is not difficult for us to operate from Delhi, or you can stay in a hostel for a few months as a trial period. Raghu or I will stay at the guest house to see how things go for you. If it works out, we will return to Chennai and visit you whenever we want, or we will take turns staying at the guest house with you if staying at the hostel is not convenient for you. So, what do you want to do?"
Despite my fear of staying alone, I mustered the courage to say, "I will stay at the hostel. Anyone of you stay in a guest house for a few days, not months. I will get the hang of it in a few days, and then you can return to Chennai. We can talk on the phone on a regular basis, and you can come by whenever you want."
He instructed Dada, "Raghu, hostel ku arrangements ellam pannidu. Let's go and stay in our guest house for 10 days before the reopening day. We could take her sightseeing and shopping to familiarise her with the area before relocating her to the hostel. Purchase a car for her and keep it in the guest house with a permanent driver."
"Thatha, I do not want a car; if I need one, I will take a taxi." I objected.
"Sari adha aparama pakalam. I would like to notify your parents. Do you want to be the one to do it, or should I or Raghu inform them that you have been accepted?" he asked with a sigh.
"Neengaley sollidunga thatha. Na pesala avanga yartaum." I whined.
I gave him a nod when he asked, "Innuma kovam?"
He stood up, approached my chair, and stood beside me, facing me and leaning over the table. "Muthey, I know you feel hurt by what your mom and sister said and you spoke the facts back to them that day and they're valid exactly. However, keep in mind that your mother spoke in a very angry and emotional state. That is not to say that I am justifying her actions; simply consider them from her perspective.
She felt the pressure of being the daughter and wife of two prominent businessmen, as well as coming from a family with a long legacy in the city. To make matters worse, you were sick. She did the best she could and enlisted our assistance. We were delighted to have you, but for the same reason, she feels very possessive of you, as well as guilty. So that could be the reason for her outburst when she learned that the professor likes you and that you were injured and hospitalised just days before as a result of his actions and you again went to help his sister when you were in pain.
You can only understand a parent's thought process if you become one. Consider how you would handle your child if you thought he or she would die before the age of five. Like a precious, that is exactly what she did. That is why she helicopter-parented you and made everyone around you treat you like you were made of glass. She could not bear the thought of being separated from you when Raghu adopted you, which is why she pleaded with him and kept you to herself, even though he is now your father.
I am not against love if this professor truly loves you but your mother is not there yet, because you are still a child in her eyes and she believes the professor is exploiting you, but she fails to recognise that you are still an immature child due to her parenting style. Her perspective will shift, and she will realise her error soon.
Set aside everything and talk to your mother, not for her sake but for your own. Trust me, forgiving and letting go of things will give you peace of mind. She believes you will not go to Delhi and will instead stay here because you are not used to being alone. I will notify her of your transfer, but I want you to speak with your parents before you go.
Regarding your sister, I believe you are correct; she may be jealous. She has no right to speak about your inheritance. He named you his heir after him since you are his daughter. Never turn down your parents' inheritance. They give out of love, and if you refuse, it is as if you are refusing to acknowledge their love for you."
As he looked at me expectantly, I replied, "Sari thatha pesuren ana enaku innum kovamdha. Na veetla yartaum solama ponadhu thapudha, but I don't deserve the verbal lashes they gave me. I am hurt. But I would like to be the bigger person, so I would try."
He kissed my forehead, and as I stood up to leave, I asked, "Thatha, could you please arrange dinner for everyone in Amma's home or here someday before I go to Delhi? I do not want to face them by myself. And could you please take me there once? I have a few things to take before I move."
he agreed. "I will arrange for dinner here and invite your family and your periappa family. You can invite your friends, too. Let it be your sendoff party. In a few days, we will go to your mother's house. We only have 10 days in Chennai because we have only 20 days until the college reopens and I want to go before ten days. I will plan dinner for the day after tomorrow because it is the weekend and we might be busy the following week."
I nodded and walked away to invite my friends. I contacted Ramya, Sakthi, Rakesh Umesh Anna, Mukhil Anna, Priya, Pavithra, and Nivetha. I informed them about the admission and invited them to the party. I purposefully did not invite Jithu because I was not sure how Anni and Anna would react if I did. If Anna or anni wanted to, they could invite him.
The next day went by in a jiffy. My father arrived with Mom in the evening. She stormed into my room as I was scrolling through my phone and snatched it from my grasp. "Thatha nethu ph panni unaku admission kadachiduchu and Delhi ten days la poromnu solraru? Enna sakthi idhu velatu ?"
"I am not playing at anything. I have already told everyone that I want to study at that college."
"Oru maasam thaanguria paakalam adhum hostel la. I am sure you could not last even a month without anyone's help and the luxury you were born with. You will come to me in tears. I will wait until then." She spoke with a challenge in her voice.
"All right," I said calmly.
My mother exited the room, and my father sat in the bed and hugged me. "I am sorry I did not support you as much as I or you would have liked that day." When I warned her, she became even more enraged. I do not want to complicate matters by interfering between you two. Shri will never interfere again; I reprimanded her the next day. Please return home. I know I was an absent father for many of your milestones, but I love you so much that it hurts to know that I caused you to leave earlier than I would have liked."
I whispered, "Why did you give me up for adoption? It is not that I do not like Dada as my father, but why?"
He reasoned, "Raghu is like my son. When he asked to adopt you, he was in a bad place. We could not deny him because we were afraid he would not be able to be revived once he hit rock bottom."
I returned his embrace. "Illa pa na varala, it is for the best for all of us. This distance will provide clarity for all of us, as well as teach me many things I am currently lacking. I need to improve myself in so many ways to be worthy of being Dada's heir."
He told me. "All right, Appo, come home for a few days before you go to Delhi."
"No." I denied him right away.
"It will never change the fact that that is also your home," he reasoned.
"Yes, I know that, but you all made me feel like an intruder and hurt me. I need time and I would like to stay with Dada and Thatha in the future. You gave me up for adoption. If you ask me to return there, it is not fair to Dada and thatha." I stated it emphatically.
When he kissed my head and exited my room, I knew he had accepted my decision and wanted to pursue my dreams. The rest of the day was spent working on party preparations.
Everyone who had been invited came to the party. Umesha Anna and Harish Aththan, Ramya's parents, and mine. Akka did not show up. Aththan stated that she was ill due to her pregnancy. I didn't want to dwell on it. Anna and Anni also arrived. Dinner was awkward at first, but when Ramya and Sakthi started talking with the elders, they too began to talk, and conversations with the elders flowed smoothly after that. Except for Sakthivel and Ramya, everyone went home after dinner. Sakthi appeared to be angry with Ramya, and their relationship appeared to be strained. They spoke for my sake.
They stayed for the weekend before heading home to join their family for their vacation. That week, I went to Mom's house with Thatha and Dada and took a few items from my room. When I arrived, only Aththan and Anni were at home. When I inquired about Akka, Aththan stated that she was suffering from severe morning sickness and was resting upstairs.
I went upstairs to her house. When I went inside, the main door was open and eerily silent. I walked over to their room, which had a slightly ajar door. Akka had fallen asleep on her back. I approached her, kissed her cheeks and stomach, and exited the room. We went back to Thatha's house after I got down.
When my father and mother asked if they could come to Delhi and stay with me, I refused, explaining that they needed to look after Anni and Akka. Dada was supposed to accompany me to Delhi, and Thatha was supposed to join us in four days.
Mom and Dad arrived at the airport on the day of my departure to see me off. Ramya, Sakthi, Mukhil Anna, and Jithu also showed up. My siblings were unable to attend due to prior obligations. I left Chennai with a heavy heart, but full of dreams and hope for proving my place in this society on my own.