Author's Note : This is an important chapter as it's the beginning of the revelation of Arjun's past. Do read it fully and the upcoming interesting chapters (Atleast that's what I think 😅)
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After the previous night's incident, Arjun opened the door to her room with great hesitation. The hinges of the door whirred loudly. Other than that there was dead silence. As soon as he opened the door, his eyes met hers..
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Yes, she was looking at the door, as if she was expecting him. Was she? Well who knew. The minute their eyes met they forgot the entire world surrounding them. Everything seemed to have come to a standstill.
Both the pupils met. There was yearning in hers, yearning for him, while there was care in his, mixed with the joy of seeing her alive.
Without their eyes changing position, Arjun's feet gradually neared her bed. Some force seemed to be automatically dragging him there.
The minute he neared her bed, he remembered that he had got vermilion for her from the temple. He took it in his hands, brought it close to his chest, closed his eyes and prayed. Then with gentle love and care, he placed it on her forehead. His eyes spoke of the care that she had never seen before.
She was surprised. She felt a gush of energy flowing through her body, which automatically made her get to her feet.
She faltered a bit.
"Hey! Careful, Roja..."
Arjun promptly held her hand tightly.
All this made Roja more and more surprised. She wondered what happened.
"ARJUN sir ah Ithu?! 😳"
She mumbled to herself.
Then in a split second before she could finish her thoughts something happened ....
Something....
Which she hasn't expected in her wildest dreams...
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✨
She felt herself in someone's tight embrace. She couldn't explain that feeling. It was warm, loving and caring and Roja felt just like she was in her mother's safe arms.
It was Arjun!
Yes! He had hugged her tightly!
Roja couldn't contain herself. She immediately hugged him tightly too, tears of joy flowing down her eyes.
Both locked each other in the other's embrace for five whole minutes. They didn't move at all.
After 5 minutes, they finally looked at each other. Roja saw so much emotion in Arjun's eyes.
"I have understood your true, unadulterated, boundless love for me, Roja. Enakkaga nee uyiraye kuduka thuninjapove nee en mela evlo anbu vechirka nu Enakku purinjirchu. Ellathukum mela nethiki nee coma la semi conscious ah irukkarapo kooda en pera sonniye, appo unna vida Enna yarume love panna mudiyathu nu Naa nallavey therinjikitten. En kai viralgal ah pudichikittu nee sonniye Antha varthaigal, athula Naa odanchu poiten Roja. Unnode love ah ethukathathuku reason, Naa Intha anbu kaga romba yengi irukken. Athukum mela oru nalla friendship kaga innum athigama yengi irukken. Un moolama Antha yekkam theernthu pochu nu nenachapo nee love ah sonna, athu ennala thaanga mudiyala. Vaazhkai la Naa Intha Kaadhal naala yezhanthathu Enakku nyabagam vanthurchu.
En Life la Naa natpu kaga yengirken, kaadhal naala yezhanthurken. Innoru thadava Naa oruthar mela anbu vechu, atha yezhakara sakthi Enakku illa. Athunala than Naa unnode love ah accept pannala.
Aana unnode anbu mathri innonu Enakku Life la kedaikathu. Unnode kaadhal kallam kabadam illathathu. Life la ellathayum yezhantha Enakku oru ray of light ah than nee vanthu irukka. I have understood that so well Roja.."
Roja could not bear Arjun's speech. She felt so much pain in his words. She clearly understood that something from his past had shattered him
Roja: Unga varthaigal la avlo vali ah Naa unaren sir. Enna aachu sir. Ennamo nadanthu irukku...
Sollunga sir..ungalukullaye pothachu vechikathimga...
Arjun : Atha ethukku Roja pesikittu, ennode kastam ennode ah ye pogatum. Antha nilamai laam yarukume vara koodathu.
Roja: Please sir. Neenga ennode love ah purinjikittadha sonninga
Athu unmai na Neenga sollanum sir. Unga kadantha kaala vazhkaila Enna nadanthuchu nu.
Arjun became speechless for sometime.
Finally he opened up....
"Nee adikadi solluva Naa anathai nu. Nee unakku nenaivu therinja naal la irunthe appdi.
AANA UNMAIYILAYE ANATHAI NAAN THAN"
🥲
Roja was stunned! What on the earth was he talking about?! She wondered.
Roja: Sir..enna solringa...neenga anathai ah😳
Pechuku kooda appdi sollathinga sir. Neenga avlo uravugal ode poranthu irukkinga. Neenga ippdi pesalama
Arjun: Enakku theriyum Roja, ithathan solluva nu. Ellarum appdithan nenaipanga.
Arjun periya doctor, panakaara kudumbatha sernthavan, amma, appa, thangachi, thambi, paati nu vaazharan. Kai neraiya sambaathikaran
Santhoshathuku Enna korachal nu nenaipanga. Aana Naa kadanthu vantha paathai yarukum theriyadhu. It's a path full of thorns, pains and losses Roja...
Kastam, vali, vedhanai, ezhappu, thunbatha mattom paatha Enakku santhosham eh Naa post graduation padikarapo than kedachithu...
Roja: Appdi Enna than sir nadanthuchu?
[Flashback Begins.....
June 1994.
Venugopal and his wife Padmini were a perfect couple. They had every happiness they could imagine in their life. They had an extremely successful and flourishing business. They lived in a big mansion but were extremely kind and generous. Nobody left their door hungry. They loved each other and understood each other so well that there were no misunderstandings between them. They were the example of how an happy couple should be. Now, there was even more happiness in the house as Padmini was pregnant. They were expecting their first child, their bundle of joy.
However things took an unexpected turn in no time. Venu's business fell in bad hands and they suffered huge losses. Once an happy rich couple, were now living in a small hut. Their properties and company had been seized and Venu and his pregnant wife Padmini were pushed out of their house.
Padmini was 9 months pregnant. Venu was worried about taking care of his wife and their soon to be born child. Once, they who had given alms to so many people, were now in the verge of asking for alms from others. Their relatives and friends had ditched them once they lost their wealth. A few middle class people whom they had helped when they were rich, felt sorry for them and gave them some money for bare necessities and helped them find the hut. There was no bigger house that they could afford. At that time , they just needed a roof above their head.
Venu found a job as a driver in a rich family. It was none other than the house of industrialist Vijaykumar who had a successful leather business. His elder son Prathap had just got married to Kalpana and had started taking care of his business. Venu and Prathap were almost of the same age, only that Prathap was two years younger than Venu.
Venu was only too happy to get the job. He managed to take good care of Padmini with the earning that he got. They still lived in the hut, but were happy with whatever little they had.
March 1995
It was just a few days since Venu had got the job. One fine night, when it was raining heavily, amidst thunder, lightning and no electricity, Padmini gave birth to a cute little baby boy.
He was the apple of both their eyes and their only happiness in the tough times. They lovingly named him "ARJUN" ]
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Back to Present
Roja gasped as she heard Arjun narrate.
"So you were that boy Arjun....."
She asked slowly....
"Yes, I was that Arjun"
Arjun replied nodding his head
Roja was shocked by this revelation. This was something she hadn't expected.
So he wasn't Prathap & Kalpana's son!
"Appram Enna aachu sir? Neenga eppdi Prathap uncle and Kalpana Amma ode paiyan ah Ippo irukkinga? Unga appa amma enga?"
"Naa full story ah sonna unakku automatic ah ithukku ellam bathil kedaikum Roja"
Arjun replied calmly but there was sadness in his face
"Unga baaratha ellam eraki vechidunga sir"
Roja Said placing her arm on his shoulder.
Arjun turned back and looked at her. He saw only pure concern in her eyes.
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Back to flashback
(Author's note : So far flashback was in third person narrative tone as it was before Arjun's birth. Henceforth will be in first person narrative from Arjun's POV)
Arjun's POV
Panam um selvam um Munna mathri illainalum naanga yezhantha santhoshatha meetu eduthutom. Appa driver ah velai paathutu iruntharu. Enga kudumbathukum Prathap uncle kudumbathukum oru nalla relationship develop aachu
Prathap uncle um ennode appa vum nalla Friends aayitanga. Chinna kudusaila kozhandai ah vechittu kasta podranga nu Prathap uncle enga appa amma va Avar veetu outhouse laye thangikka sonnaru. Enga appa amma vum santhoshama ethukittanga. Kalpana amma ku Athu varaikume kozhandai illa. Enna Avanga paiyan aavey nenachu urimai eduthukittanga. Enga amma kitta vida sila neram kalpana amma kooda than neriya irunthu irukken
Kaalam vegama odi pochu. Enakku 2 vayasu aayiduchu. Enga sottha ellam illama panni irunthalum kadavul engaluku santhoshatha kudutharu. Enga amma marubidiyum conceive aayitanga. Prathap uncle, kalpana aunty ellarum Romba santhosha pattanga...
Enga palaya kastathellam sutthama maranthu avlo santhoshama irunthom. Appothan naanga yarume ethir paakatha oru idi enga Thala mela vizhunthuchu......
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To be continued
Thanks for reading ❤️