Chinnanjiru Athisayamae.....

Chapter 30

Author's POV 

Yaazhi took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around Tamil's hand as they stepped down from the car. The couple stood before the house, its threshold heavy with unspoken history. Thamarai approached with the aalam plate, performed the ritual, and allowed the couples inside. She handed the plate to Ezhil, instructing her to pour everything at the end of the street before returning.

Thiru and Issai entered first. Tamil paused, inhaling deeply, his grip firm as Yaazhi's hand intertwined with his. He glanced at the house again, its walls carrying memories he had long refused to face.

"Inum en angaiye nikura, Tamil... ula vaa," his athai said sharply.

Tamil ignored her words. Thamarai's eyes lingered on her younger son, a lone tear escaping before she quickly wiped it away with her mundhi. She stepped forward, her gaze softening as it fell on Yaazhi.

"Yaazhi... ula kootitu pooma avana," she said, her voice directed at Yaazhi but her glare fixed helplessly on her son.

How many times in the past years had she pleaded with him to step into this house? Even during Ezhilchelvi's puberty function, he had done all the work but never crossed the threshold. He had vowed he would only enter this house with Yaazhi beside him as his wife. Though he visited his family, he stayed in the old house, never this new one. After the marriage, both couples had gone to the old family home instead of here. This was the first time Tamil was entering after three long years.

Yaazhi moved forward, her steps steady, while Tamil walked a pace behind, careful not to draw attention. Yet he was determined, Yaazhi had to be the first to step inside before him.

Issai, her sister, furrowed her brows, watching the interaction closely. Something about it felt strange. Yaazhi hadn't told her family what had happened, so to them, it was simple: after attending the housewarming ceremony, she had felt the urge to have her own home, applied for a loan, and bought the apartment. But Issai sensed there was more beneath the surface, something unspoken that weighed heavily between her sister and Tamil.

Issai knew very well that Yaazhi would never reveal anything if asked directly. So she waited, biding her time until she finally found a quiet moment after dinner. Ezhil stayed with her for company, while Thiru and Tamil had gone out, to settle payments then to meet men from the neighboring village regarding disputes between the two communities. The panchayathu was scheduled for that night, with elders gathering to discuss the matter, and Thiru's peripa had specifically asked him to attend.

After dinner, the men left straight for the meeting, planning to return later with the elders. 

As Yaazhi, exhausted from the long journey, took her tablets and retired to bed, Issai was left alone with Ezhil. who animatedly narrated what had happened years back, her hands moving as she spoke, her voice rising and falling with excitement. Issai listened carefully, her eyes narrowing at certain points. When Ezhil finished, Issai asked quietly,

"Apo unga anna ethum panalaiya?"

"Athan anniya kootitu poitare," Ezhil replied.

"Tamil ila... un periyanna," Issai clarified, her tone sharper.

"Ohh... Avar ena panar? Tamil na ponathum iruntha elaraiyum sari katti anupi vachutar. Avlo than. Perusa avar ethum solala," Ezhil explained.

Issai nodded slowly, her lips pressed together. "Ohh..." she murmured, though her mind was racing.

Their conversation drifted to lighter topics, and eventually it was past 9 p.m. Issai sent Ezhil to her room, then went downstairs where she found Thamarai waiting. She called Thiru to ask when he would return. He told her the elders, along with Tamil, would arrive shortly, but it would take time for him. "Don't wait for me. Go to sleep. Inform the same to amma," he instructed.