"Vaanga polam" Tara looked at Varun and Rakesh
"Tara en car la variya ma" Rakesh asked
One look at his face, she understood what he was feeling. He was her brother afterall.
"Varen anna" she smiled
"Haan athellam mudiyathu. Nane kuptu varene"
Varun saw Rakesh's smile fade
"Ila Adi na iniku anna kooda varen" Tara replied immediately.
Rakesh smiled again.
Adi was about to protest but Varun signalled him to keep quiet.
Tara held Rakesh's arm and said
"Don't worry I'll always be your thangachi"
He ruffled her hair and she hit his hand for ruining her hairstyle.
...
"Anneyyy oru nimisham phone ah maranten! Saree katna naala pocket ilaya, athaan kai la pudika somberi nu table la vechen"
Tara rushed inside. Rakesh saw her lift her Saree and run like a penguin. She was still his little sister. He chuckled at her style.
.....
"Machan nee poi vandi start pannu da, na phone ah maranthuten" Adi told Varun
He went back to his room to get it. Latha was standing there fiddling with a box. He ignored her and turned around
"Aditya" she called hesitantly
He rolled his eyes and stood infront of her. He didn't want to talk so he just raised his eyebrows
"Intha" she forwarded the box
He opened it and saw an old pendant. He was confused
She cleared her throat
"Un paati enaku itha kuduthanga, veetuku first time vanthapo. Ipo you have your girl, ava thaan marumagal inime. I want Tara to have it"
He had no other way so he replied
"Ipove en thareenga"
"Kovil ku poreengala. Avaluku anga kudu"
He sighed
"I don't want to put this kind of pressure on her, on us. Ipo itha kudutha, she might think I'm hinting at a marriage"
"You can't speak for her. I think she'll like this gesture"
"Ila it's not just about her-" he stopped suddenly. For a moment he forgot who he was talking to.
"Kuduka poriya ilaya" she crossed her arms
"I'll..think about it" he rushed out
.....
Tara heard the whole exchange. She stepped out of her room. Latha saw her in surprise.
"I heard everything" she smiled
Latha was feeling embarrassed. She wasn't a sentimental person, but Tara has a soft spot in her heart. She doesn't know why.
"Athu..family tradition mathiri..athaan kuduthen. I didn't mean to rush your relationship"
Tara just nodded
"Na Adi ah thaan kalyanam panipen. It may not be this month or this year. But avan thaan enaku nu mudivu paniten. Atha avanum pananum. Athuvaraikum I'll wait" she said and left
....
Tara was scared to open her heart initially, but once he entered her heart, she had no fears. The moment she realized her feelings were safe with him, she was ready to spend her life with Adi. It's not the commitment she feared, it is the confession.
That's not case with Adi. He was always open to love. He loved love. But deep down, there's an Adi who had a traumatic childhood. It's not easy for him to accept domesticity. He knew what kind of father and partner he didn't want to be - thanks to his parents.
But What if I screw up? What if I become like my parents?- these doubts haven't left him yet.
He loved her and he knows it. He is not scared of the confession, he is scared of the commitment that will follow.
....
They all reached the temple and went inside.
Rakesh and Varun left the couple alone and went separately.
Tara looked at Adi. Confusion was evident in his face. He didn't need advises or reassurances. He just needed the comfort of familiarity.
"Kumareyy kovil kulla poratha plan ilaya"
His lips curved into an involuntary smile
"Va ma polam" he held her hand
Tara kept cheering him up by talking about random things, and like always he admired her cuteness.
They prayed for a while and came back home. Rakesh and Varun left.
......
Tara changed into comfy clothes and dragged Adi to the garden.
"Adi I feel light now. Inga evlo silent ah peaceful ah iruku la"
"En mind apdi iruntha nalla irukum" he said suddenly. Tara was taken aback for a moment.
"...do you want to talk about it?" She asked hesitantly
"Yes and no"
"Apo solatha" she shrugged
"Huh"
"You are confused. Yes or no nu doubt ah iruntha, your answer is no"
"Ella situations kum intha solution correct ah"
"Ila. Oru big problem ah iruntha, think about what was your first answer. Yes nu thonunathuku apro no nu un mind solichu na, Yes is the answer. First No nu yosichutu apro maybe nu nenacha, no is your answer"
He looked at her proudly
"Yes"
"Huh"
"Ennoda problem ku answer yes"
"Apo en kita solaporiya"
"No"
"Kolapura Adi"
"Something was bothering me Sithara. Athu ennanu unaku theriyum. Atha un kita sola maaten num unaku theriyum"
"Enaku theriyum nu unaku epdi theriyum?"
"Na pesuratha nee keta mathiri, nee pesuratha nanum keten"
"Ada paavi"
"Pinna you think I won't recognize your scent. Na room ah vitu veliya vantha odane I smelled your perfume. Nee anga thaan iruntha nu kandupudichiten. I wanted to hear what you had to say"
She hesitated for a bit before asking-
"Athaan ketutiye. What's your answer"
"Yes"
She smiled widely
"En future full ah nee thaan ma therira. But marriage pathi accept panika time aagum. I know you understand that"
She looked at his eyes. He still seemed like he was holding something back.
"Innum etho solanum nu nenaikriya" she asked
"Ama onnu solanum. But are you ready to hear that?"
Tara knew he was asking about the three words.
"Yes and no" her eyes were moist
He placed his hand on hers
"First enna thonichu"
She stayed silent for a while. It felt like forever to Adi
"Yes" she whispered
....