She vented out everything on him. He was stunned. He was at a loss of words. A lone tear that escaped Roja's eyes in the morning, escaped Arjun's eyes now. He was deeply hurt too. He had something totally different to tell her but now he couldn't as he was rendered speechless
Arjun (mindvoice) : Naa enna solla varen nu kooda kekkama ippdi varthai ah alli kottitiye Roja. Ithukku mela Naa atha sonnalum ethavthu proyojanam irukkuma, athu Enakke theriyala Roja...
Roja on the other end of the call, still angry, spoke up again
"Pesunga Arjun Sir! Bathil sollunga"
Arjun : Roja, Enakku puriyarthu nee evlo disappoint aayita nu, but Naa ethunala varala, athukana reason Enna, ippdi ethuvume theriyama varthai ah vittutiye Roja. Nee Enna purinjikittadhu ivlo thana?
Nee en mela vechirkara nambikkai ivlo thana? Etho oru naal varama ponathuke ippdi react panriye oru vela naa unna vitta orediya poita?
Roja : Arjun Sir! Enna sir Neenga..
Arjun : Paravaila Roja, unnode kovam nyayam aanathu than. Aana Intha Arjun sir mela unakku innum love and trust irukku na naalaiku hospital ku va...Naa unna ethuvume force panna matten, aana nee Enna respect panrathu unmai na nee naalaiku varanum
With that he hung up the phone, without waiting for Roja's response, leaving her in a pool of thoughts
———————————————————
The next day.
Roja was still angry with Arjun for ditching her and her hopes. However she had no heart to refuse him. Also, she felt that he really wanted to tell her something, but unfortunately she didn't give him a chance to, the previous night.
So she got ready in simple clothes, like she would, if she was going to work.
When she went down and sat at the breakfast table, everyone was surprised
Rajesh : Hey Roja! Nee marubidiyum velaiku poga poriya
Roja : Ama Rajesh, Inniki la irunthu pogalam nu irukken
SM : Naa unna thaduka matten ma. Nee Romba naala hospital, room nu 4 walls kullaye irunthuta. Velaiku pona konjam mind relaxation Ah irukkum. Nee poitu va. Aana nee drive pannitu poga koodathu.
Naa Rajesh ah drop panna solren.
Innoru vishyam Roja, Itha Naa solla thevai illa, neeye poruppana ponnu than. Unakku naalai marunaal nichyadhartham. Jaakiradhai ah iru.
After breakfast, as instructed by Shanthamoorthy, Rajesh dropped Roja at Arjun's hospital. She felt so good to be back there again, after quite sometime. After all, for her, it was like her second home.
She entered the hospital. As soon as she did, she was greeted by a shower of rose petals. Then all the staff (the doctors, nurses, ward boys, Roja's fellow receptionists) gathered in front of her. They held a huge decorated placard
« WELCOME BACK OUR BELOVED ROJA. WE ARE SO PROUD THAT YOU PULLED OUT THROUGH THIS. THE HOSPITAL WASN'T THE SAME WITHOUT YOU. IT GIVES US IMMENSE PLEASURE THAT YOU'RE BACK TO THE GRIND »
Roja was overwhelmed to receive so much love. She happily accepted the placard and the bouquet of beautiful pink roses which they gave her.
She greeted everyone and hugged her friends. Soon after they all went back to work. Then she saw that the entire hospital staff had gathered, but yet again, there was no sign of Arjun.
Roja sighed.
"Looks like Arjun sir doesn't care for me anymore. Athuvum kalyanam fix aana appram. Ulagathaye ippdi oru purushan Enakku mattom than kedaikum. Ellarum kalyanam fix aagarthuku munnadi eppdi irunthalum kalyanam nu mudivu panniyachu unga mudinja alavukku vara pora Life partner kooda marriage ku munnadi irukkara sila naal ah spend pannanum nu nenaipanga. Ithukku ethukku than Enna kooptaro..intha welcome kagava?!
Arjun sir, ethana peru Enna welcome pannalum ungalode welcome than Enakku eppovume special nu ungaluku theriyadha? Neengale kooptutu neengale ippdi pannalama"
She muttered under her breath.
Then she stopped a ward boy and asked him where Arjun was.
"Doctor Avar room la than irukkaru madam"
Came the reply. She wasted no time and walked straight to his room, very angry.
She opened the door to his room and what she saw left her confused.
Arjun was smiling and playing happily with a young girl. She would be no more than 8 or 9. She was wearing hospital gown, and needless to say, definitely one of his patients.
Just then Arjun noticed Roja.
"Hey Roja! Va va! Unakku than waiting. Nee varuva nu Enakku theriyum" ☺️
Roja stormed in angrily
"Enna sir Neenga..."
But before she could say anything
That little girl came and hugged Roja tightly. Roja's anger totally melted away.
She bent down and hugged her tightly too.
Arjun came near them.
"Roja, do you remember this girl? I think you don't after all that happened for the past some days with you. She's Tara.
Namma hospital ku adikadi varuva.
She has ventricular septum defect (VSD) since birth. Athu so far chinnatha than irundhuchu, and therefore we could manage with medicines.
But last one month ah romba chest infection, breathing difficulties nu complications athigama aayirchu. Athunala than surgery urgent ah panna vendiyatha poirchu. Athu mattom Naa nethiki pannirkalena inniki Tara uyiroodu irunthu iruppala nu theriyadhu. Athunala than nethu Naa varala. Tara is healthy and happy now. Her surgery is a success. Nethe conscious um vanthurchu. Athula irunthu she's adamant that she wants to go out and spend time with both of us.
Paavam, romba naala medicines, hospital ney irunthuta, santhoshama veliya poi eh Romba naal aachu"
Tara: Ama Roja Akka. Unga rendu perayum Enakku avlo pudikum
Naa hospital vanthapo laam Enna avlo anba akkaraiya paathukittadhu Neenga rendu perum than. Roja akka, nyabagam irukka...Enakku injection na avlo bayam. Aana ovvoru Time injection podrapo vum en koodave irunthu Enakku Antha vali eh theriyatha alavukku pannirkinga. Inniki Naa injections ah paathu bayapadrathu illaina athu ungalala than. Enakku evlovo kadhai ellam sollirkinga.
Inga irukkara staff laye Enakku Romba pudichathu Neenga than ka
Roja was rendered speechless.
Tara continued : Nethiki Naa surgery ku pogarthuku munnadi ungala evlo miss pannen theriyuma. Aana Neenga illainalum ungala mathriye Enna motivate panni, Enakku dhairyam kuduthu ellame pannathu Doctor sir than. Athunala athukku appram Neenga illa nu koraiye theriyala. ☺️
Roja : Nee ippdi pesartha kettu evloo santhoshama irukku nu Enakku solla theriyala Tara. But unakku nethu than surgery pannirku, innike veliya poganuma? Innoru naal pogalame
But Tara was so adamant that eventually both had to give into her request.
But before leaving -
Arjun : Tara chellakutty, one condition
Tara : Ennathu Doctor sir
Arjun : Veliya irunthalum medicines laam Time ku sapdanum, ok?
Tara: Neenga solli kekkama iruppena...
Then all the three of them left in Arjun's car.
Roja sat in the backseat cuddling Tara, while Arjun drove the car, stealing occasional glances at his beloved, through the front mirror.
Arjun : Where do you want to go first, Tara?
Tara : Let's go to my house first. Ennode uyira kaapathina nalla ullangala Naa ennode periya kudumbathuku kaatanum
Arjun agreed and drove as per the instructions Tara gave. However, the place where Tara made them stop left both Roja & Arjun in shock. It was an ORPHANAGE !
Tara : Enna paakringa. Ithuthan ennode veedu
Arjun : Tara, nee inga irukkiya...?
Appo unnode amma nu unna eppovum hospital kootitu varavangale Avanga...
Tara : Athu Intha ashramathode care taker Thamarai amma. Ennode amma Avanga than 🥰
Nenaivu therinja naal la irunthu Enakku amma paasatha kaatinavanga
Roja became emotional hearing Tara's words. As she herself could feel Tara. Roja wiped a tiny tear drop and turned away to hide her face from Arjun & Tara.
However Arjun sensed her feelings
He quickly went near her and held her face in his palms cupping it. He wiped the tears that were sticking around
"Don't try to hide your feelings from me Roja. I can understand everything about you. Naa irukken"
He gently side hugged her.
Tara then took both of them inside
It was a warm world in itself filled with pure love and affection. Thamarai came running and greeted them.
Thamarai : Vaanga vaanga doctor. Vaanga Roja ma.
A swarm of children surrounded Roja & Arjun. Apparently it was an orphanage meant just for kids.
The kids warmly welcomed Roja and Arjun to play. Initially hesitant, both soon agreed. And were soon dragged into a stress free world. They were taken back to their childhood days as they played every game that they did in childhood. Roja reminisced playing with Priya, Rajesh and other kids of her age while Arjun remembered his childhood days with Akshaya, Ashwin & Deepa. He became a bit emotional remembering his sister.
As they played marbles, Arjun wiped a small teardrop from his eyes.
Roja : Akshaya nyabagam vanthurcha sir?
Arjun : Ama Roja, Ithu avalode Fav game. Ava kozhandai mugathode avlo santhoshama vilayaduva. Naa atha appdiye rasichu paapen🥲
Roja just smiled and walked away from there. A minute later, Arjun caught her among the children, playing marbles - with the same enthusiasm and same childlike face that Akshaya had, when she played the game in childhood. Just like Akshaya, after aiming the marbles, roja jumped up and clapped her hands. Everything was so similar to Akshaya that Arjun felt that he was seeing his sister back alive. He was transported instantly to almost 15 years back and unknown to himself started clapping and admiring Roja just like he did for his sister.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Roja.
"Unga thangachi ah ennala thirumba kondu vara mudiyathu. Aana ennala ungaluku kuduka mudinja chinna santhosham ithuthan"
Arjun hugged her tight.
"Thanks Roja!" 🥹
Thamarai was watching all this from afar.
Later after playing, Roja and Arjun cooked food for the children with their own hands in the ashramam kitchen. It was such an amazing feel.
Soon after, Roja and Arjun laid out the food and served the hungry children. Some of them fed them back. The food tasted even more divine.
Just then Thamarai came with a basket in her hand and gave it to both of them.
Roja: Enna ma ithu
Thamarai: Ithu Neenga rendu perum Samachadhu than. Ungalukum Pasikum la. Thaniya poi sapdunga.
Arjun : Naanga ingaye sapadrom Paravaila ma
Thamarai : Neenga rendu perum avlo azhagana jodi. En kanne patrum pola irukku. Naa ellame paathen. Ungaluku oruthar oruthar thaniya Time spend pannanum nu aasai irukkadha. Neenga ponga, Naa kozhandaingala paathukaren
Roja and Arjun thanked Thamarai. They took the basket and went to their car.
Arjun beautifully laid Out the food on the bonnet of the car. He placed a bouquet of roses in the middle and the sweet smell of roses filled the surroundings.
He then took some food in his hand and fed Roja
"Intha Roja, sapdu".
"Sir..."
"Nee enakkaga avlo seiyara. Naa itha seiya koodatha. Sapdu da"
Roja felt that she was the happiest at the moment. An outdoor meal, from the hands of her beloved, with the sweet smell of roses. What more did she need.
After the best meal of their lives, both of them returned to the orphanage and bid good bye to Tara, Thamarai and all the other children. They promised that they'd visit them often.
Just as they turned to leave -
Tara : Naa ketta odane rendu perum vanthu enga kooda ivlo neram Time spend panni irukkinga. Thank you so much.
Doctor Arjun, Naanum Life la nalla padichu ungala mathriye oru periya doctor ah varanum. Neenga Ippo Enna save panna mathri naanum vera oru uyira kaapathanum.
Saying this she hugged both Roja and Arjun tight.
"Nee kandippa aayiduva da. Enna vida periya doctor ah varuva paaren" Arjun chuckled.
With thoughts of the beautiful time they spent with the kids brimming in their heads, Roja and Arjun bid farewell and left.
After travelling for some distance, Arjun stopped his car near a cycle stand. It was late afternoon.
Roja : Enna aachu sir
Arjun : I have a surprise for you
Saying this, he held her hand and led her to the cycle stand. There was a beautifully decorated cycle waiting for them there. It even had their names written on the basket. Roja was surprised
Roja : Enna sir ithu
Arjun : Namma rendu perum Ippo onna cycle ride poga porom! 😌
Roja was jumping with joy. It was her long time dream, and it was coming true! Riding a cycle in the beautiful greenery, with her beloved!
Roja : Ithu ennode Romba naal aasai. Ungaluku eppdi sir theriyum.
Arjun : Unnode friend Priya than sonna anniki Naa ashramathuku vanthu irukkarapo...athan unnode aasai ah fulfill pannalame nu oru chinna muyarchi. ☺️
The next 2 hours Roja and Arjun had the time of their lives, riding in the beautiful greenery, sharing one bicycle, singing their favourite songs. 🦋🎶
They had no heart to give back the cycle as they felt that they could go on a trip to eternity with it. But they had to, as Arjun had rented it only for 2 hours. 😂
It was late evening already. Finally, before ending their beautiful day, both of them decided to spend some time at the beach.
Luckily the beach was calm, with just a few people there. Just as the sun was setting, they reached the beach.
After spending some lovely time at the beach, both of them sat on the clean white sands, thanking the universe for this beautiful day.
Roja was leaning on Arjun's shoulder
Roja : Sir...
Arjun : Hmmm...
Roja : I am sorry, Arjun Sir!
Arjun : Ethukku
Roja : Illa, Neenga avlo periya nalla vishyatha senjirkinga. Ethuvume theriyama Naa ungala phone la Romba hurt panra mathri pesitten. Neenga enna avoid panringalo unga profession naala nu thappa nenachitten. Aana nethiki Neenga Antha nalla vishyatha senjirkalena Enakku ippdi oru naal Inniki kedachirkuma...
Intha naal la Naa anubavichu irukkara santhosham irukke, athu ungala nethu nerla paathu iruntha sathiyama kedachu irukkadhu. Itha vida oru azhagana engagement gift irukkave mudiyathu. I'm indeed blessed!
🫶🏻✨💫🌊🤍🦋🌊💫✨🫶🏻