The Chosen One

Chapter 12 - Tough love

Ashwin was standing near the dry area of the kitchen counter, with Nethra and Mithra on either side of him, standing on a stool to match to their father's height to some extent, wearing cute chef's hat, their hands elbow deep in some flour and mouth full of giggles and laughter.

All three of them were facing the camera that was on a tripod.

"Hi ammmmma, come come, we are making muffin and Ashwineyy is taking a video of it" squealed Mithra happily.

Sivaangi walked really fast towards the tripod and ripped the camera out of it forcibly with audible grunts and raised her hand to throw it on the floor and smash it into pieces when she saw the horror and fear on her baby daughters' faces.

She stopped herself, took few breaths, calmed her down and then threw the camera on the couch instead and went directly near them, took their hands and started walking towards the door.

Both of them followed her like a puppy without a single word, with fear and hurt overflowing in their eyes.

Ashwin who froze in shock, came into senses when he heard silent whimpers from Mithra.

"Sivaangi nillu" his voice came booming stopping her on her tracks

He came slowly near her and looked into her eyes, his eyes red with anger, which she had witnessed only once before, on that fateful day, sending chills through her spine

"Whatever your problem with me, deal with me when we are alone, but please not in front of our kids, look at them, they are terrified" he said

Even though his words were polite and his voice was calm, she felt like she was stabbed with a ice pick.

She just looked at him, and started to leave without saying anything when his hands stopped her

"Please Ma, look at them, they are petrified, it is not healthy for them if you leave when their mental status is like this, konjam irundhutu po, let's show them that we are not fighting, please" he pleaded

Sivaangi looked at her daughters' face and even though she couldn't accept it, she knew Ashwin was right.

She bent down to the height of kids and touched their cheeks

"Sorry kuttimas, edho tension, adhaan amma appadi behave panniten, sorry" she apologized to them.

"So you are not angry with us for coming to Ashwineyy's place without informing you?" Asked Mithra

"No Ma, kandippa illa, see even amma is going to stay here, you three go back to what you were doing, I will wait here" she said and went and sat on the sofa.

Nethra who was silently looking at her mother, came near her.

"Amma, please don't be mad with our Ashwineyy, he is very sweet and we like him very much, please be friends with him" pleaded Nethra with tears in her eye.

Sivaangi stared at Ashwin for sometime, and then at the tiny face of her daughter. She let out a huge breath, got up, and gave her hand for a handshake, indicating she wants to be friends with him, shocking him the second time for the day

"One second" said Ashwin, went inside his bed room and within seconds he was back with a huge bouquet of red roses and gave it in her hand