(Ragini called Pasupathy)
Pasu: Solluma Ragini... epdi iruka?
Ragini: Nalla iruke paa... neenga, amma ellam epdi irukinga?
Pasu: Naanga nalla irukom ma... anga unakku onnum prachana illaiyae?
Ragini: Enakku enna prachana pa... athaan ava oorla illaiyae...
Pasu: Oorla illaiya? Enga poita?
Ragini: Avala Kodaikanal ku anupi vachirukaru thatha...
Pasu: Yen thidirnu Kodaikanal?
Ragini: Atha yen pa kekuringa... (She explained everything that happened at home, from the tree branch incident to Kaveri's fear and Thatha's decision to send her to Kodaikanal to help her calm down)
Pasu: Antha Kaveri bayapadrala? Ennama soldra...
Ragini: Aama pa... naa kooda ava antha maram vizhuntha shock la irukanu nenachen, aana vera etho irukku pa... adutha naal epdi alandu poi enthirichi vandha theriyuma? Vijay ah paakura varaikum normal aagavae illa... ava Vijay ku ethuvum aagidumo nu bayapadra maari iruku...
Pasu: (laughing) Oh, apo madam anaiku avloo veera vasanam pesunathu ellam summava...
Ragini: Enna pa solreenga?
(Pasu then shared how he had teased Kaveri at the temple and warned her about Vijay)
Ragini: (grinning) Super pa... apo ithellam unga vela thana?
Pasu: Aama ma... ithula irunthey theriyuthu ava nalla bayanthuta... inime unta vachika maata... ne free-a iru...
Pasu: Ne than antha veetuku Maharani... athu ellam Ajaykum unakum sera vendiya sothu... un getha vitu kudukatha... sariya?
Ragini: Sollitinga-la pa... inime paarunga... avala na enga vaikanumo anga vaikiren...
(They both laughed, feeling satisfied knowing Kaveri was troubled and confident that Ragini could control the situation)
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(ViKa and Arjun, Anjana had dinner at a restaurant and resumed their journey to Kodaikanal. By midnight, they finally reached Kaveri's home. On the way, Vijay guided Arjun through the route.
Vijay gently patted Kaveri to wake her. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking to adjust to the light, and stepped out of the car, surprised to see her house. Turning to Vijay, she found him smiling)
Kaveri: Yenga namba...
(Vijay nodded with a smile. Kaveri moved forward, opening the gate, feeling a wave of happiness wash over her. Arjun and Anjana were equally captivated by the house and its garden, still beautiful even at midnight. As Kaveri welcomed them inside, she realized she didn't have the keys. She turned, and Vijay teasingly held them in front of her)
Kaveri: Itha epoga vanguninga...
Vijay: Athe kita inform pannapove vangiten...
(They entered, and Kaveri showed her father's photograph to Arjun and Anjana, introducing them to him. Throughout, Kaveri's smile glowed, and Vijay silently observed, knowing he'd done all this just to see that happiness return to her face.
Kaveri took Anjana on a tour of the house, while Arjun stayed with Vijay, admiring the place)
Arjun: Deii... un maamanaar ku enna taste uh da... manushan ipdi paathu paathu kattirukaaru veeta... paah... avloo azhaga iruku...
(Vijay grinned proudly, feeling a deep respect for his father-in-law's vision)
(After a while, Kaveri arranged rooms for everyone, and they settled in to rest after the long journey. Vijay, relieved to finally see a smile on Kaveri's face, knew it was a start, but also understood that the fear still lingered beneath her happiness. He was determined to help her find peace again)
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(Later after half past one, Vijay, half-asleep, casually placed his hand on the right side of the bed and realized it was empty. Alarmed, he immediately woke up, his eyes scanning the room. Kaveri wasn't there. He checked the restroom but found it empty. His concern grew as he opened the room door and walked towards the hall, only to find Kaveri standing before her father's photo frame, her back to him)
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(Kaveri, lost in her emotions, stood there silently sobbing, praying in her heart to her appa)
Kaveri: (softly) Appaa... na 1st time Vijay ah inga kootitu vanthapo, avara than naa contract kalyanam pannirukenu sonnen... apo enaku theriyathu pa... en vaazhkaila ipdi oru naal varum... na ungakita vanthu itha solluvenu enaku theriyathu... (her voice breaking, sobbing) Ippo intha nimisham, Vijay than enaku ellam... avar illana na illa... avaru mela na uyire vachiruken pa... avaruku onnuna ennala thangikave mudiyathu pa... (sobbing more) Nadakurathu ellam paatha enaku bayama iruku pa... neenga epdi enga ellarukum thonaiya paathugaapa irukingalo... athe mari Vijaykum, entha kettathum nerungama neenga than pa paathukanum... ungalukae theriyum-la... avaru romba nallavaru... avarku epothum nallathu mattu than nadakanum... appa... contract mudinjathum naanga rendu perum pirinju ponaalum, neenga epothum Vijay ku thonaiya irunthu avara paathukanum... paathupinga le pa? Pls pa, epothum avaruku thonaiya irunga pa...
(Just as her sobs filled the silent hall, she felt a familiar touch on her shoulder. Startled, she turned and found Vijay standing there, his eyes filled with concern)
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(Vijay had been silently watching her from afar, feeling a knot in his chest as he saw the love of his life breaking down in front of her father's memory.
[📍A/N: Makkaleyy "love of his life" namaku, but thalaivan innum atha muzhusa realize pannala enbathu kuripidathakkathu😉]
He had approached her gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Kaveri turned towards him, her face stained with tears.
Seeing her in that state made Vijay's heart clench. Without a word, he cupped her face, gently wiping away her tears)
Vijay: (softly) Kaveri... ennama aachu... appa nyabagam vanthurucha?
(Kaveri slowly shook her head, unable to speak, and instead threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. She sobbed softly against his chest. Vijay, understanding her turmoil, embraced her, patting her head with all the tenderness he could muster.
After a few minutes, he gently pulled her back, holding her by the shoulders, and spoke in a soothing voice. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her everything would be okay. He then took her hand and led her outside. They both sat quietly on the stairs, gazing at the garden. The cool night breeze brushed past them, but the silence between them felt comforting)
Vijay: (glancing at her, his voice calm but firm) Inga paru Kaveri... innu ne ethana naal than ipdi bayanthute irupa...
Kaveri: (avoiding his gaze, her fingers nervously playing with dress, trying to mask her emotions) Athellam onnum illaga...
Vijay: (not convinced, his tone soft but knowing) Enaku ellamae theriyum...
(Kaveri's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. She turned slowly to face him, a mix of surprise and confusion in her expression. Vijay met her gaze, nodding slightly, letting her know he was aware)
Vijay: (leaning forward, his voice gentle) Anaiku neeyum thathavum pesunatha na ketutu than irunthen...
(Her surprise deepened, not expecting him to have overheard)
Vijay: (his tone shifting slightly, teasing her) Ne epola irunthu superstition ellam namba aarambicha...
Kaveri: (flustered, trying to defend herself) Illa... athu...
Vijay: (smiling faintly, amused by her response) Enaku therinja oru ponna rendu naala kaano... unaku ethachum theriyuma...
Kaveri: (blinking, confused by the shift in conversation) Kaanomaa... yaaru ga...
Vijay: (with a playful glint in his eyes) Athu... oru aarvakolaru... epo paru ethachu thuru thuru nu pannite irukum...
(Kaveri blinked at him, her confusion growing)
Vijay: (continuing to tease her) Yaarukum bayapadathu... even paei pisaasuku kooda bayapadathu... keta naane oru periya paei kooda than vazhnthutu irukenu solluva...
Kaveri: (unable to hold back, her lips curving into a pout) Enna nakkal ah... enna pathi than soldringa nu enaku theriyuthu...
Vijay: (laughing softly, shaking his head) Cha cha unna pathi illa ma... na en wife ah pathi pesitu iruken... ava romba courageous aana ponnu...
(Kaveri's expression softened as she listened to him speak about her with such pride. The way he called her "en wife" made her heart swell. She felt an overwhelming sense of belonging, the warmth of his words seeping into her)
Vijay: (his voice more serious now) Entha alavuku na... family la ellaruku pidikathunu therinjum ava familyah protect panna boldah villain ah jail ku anupuna... en kita kooda sanda pota...
(a small, shy smile appearing, her eyes meeting his)
Vijay: (pretending to sigh dramatically) Ipo avala than kaano... variya namba nalaiku police station poi oru missing complaint file panitu varalam...
Kaveri: (giggling softly) Yenga..."
Vijay: (grinning, his eyes full of affection) Pinna enna Kaveri... ne yaaroo maari iruka... ithu en Kaveriyae illa...
(Hearing those words-En Kaveri-she felt a lump form in her throat. The way he said it, with such care and possessiveness, made her feel more loved than ever)
Vijay: (gently placing his hand on her shoulder, pulling her closer) En Kaveri evlo bold aana ponnu theriyuma... antha Pasupathy unna meratunanu therinjapove... enaku kovam vanthuchu... aana antha aaluku na bathil soldratha vida nee sonna than crctah irukum...
(Kaveri leaned into him, the weight of her fears slowly lifting as his warmth enveloped her. She felt protected in his embrace)
Vijay: (reassuring her, his voice steady) Unaku kadavul nambikai iruku-la... apo matha negative emotions ellam value pannatha... ethuvum thappa aagathu... naa iruken seriya...
(Kaveri nodded softly, her heart feeling lighter, her fears beginning to fade. Vijay always knew what to say to ground her, to bring her back from the spiral of worry)
Vijay: (with a playful tone again, trying to make her smile) Na ennamo intha Vijay Kaveri ooda strength nu nenachitu iruke... aana ne ennana... Vijay unnoda weakness mari behave panitu iruka...
Kaveri: (blinking at him, surprised by the statement, but understanding his point, she shook her head) Illaga... Vijay ennaikumae Kaveri ooda weakness kedaiyathu.... He is Kaveri's backbone, her strength...
(Her smile was no longer forced or tentative. It was genuine, filled with affection for the man who had done everything to bring her peace. Vijay's heart swelled at the sight)
Vijay: (smiling in relief, his voice soft) Ithann... itha than na miss panne... that's my girl... intha smile epothum fade aaga koodathu, okva...
(Both of them laughed lightly, the tension between them finally easing. Kaveri rested her head on his shoulder, feeling safe in his presence, while Vijay wrapped his arm around her protectively. For a while, they sat in silence, simply holding each other, basking in the calm of the night)
Vijay: (after a pause, yawning slightly) Rendu naala over time paathu na romba tired ah iruken di... ulla poi thoongalama...
(Kaveri realized how late it was, glancing at the time. She nodded and stood up, helping Vijay inside. They both lay down on the bed, and within minutes, Vijay was fast asleep, exhaustion catching up with him. Kaveri stayed awake for a little longer, gazing at him, her heart full of gratitude for everything he had done.
Her fears were no longer as overwhelming as they had been. With Vijay by her side, she knew she could face anything that came their way)
To be continued.....
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I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments-any feedback or suggestions are always appreciated. Thank you so much for your continued support!
See you in the next update!
Until then, bye! 👋🏻 Take care! ❤️
With love, Ria 🫶🏻