Maya sat on the attendees bed staring at nowhere in particular while she was cutting the fruits for Jaanu. It was a week after her accident and Maya made sure to accompany her most of the time. She was feeling guilty for not being able to help her and she tried to come out of it by helping her. Latha who has been there for the whole week had just left that morning leaving them alone.
Jaanu: Mathini.. Mathini..
Maya: Haan… she jerked to her and jogged to her.. ethachu venum ah Janu..
Janu: enakku onnum Venda Mathini.. neenga yen oru Mari iruka.. Vitaa kaiyava cut pani irupa
Maya: onu illa.. iru nan unaku fruits tharan…
She sat opposite to her and started feeding her the fruit.
Maya held Janu’s palms in hers: sorry Janu.
Janu: Ethuku Mathini ?
Maya sighed: illa Janu… enaku AB - tha.. mothala blood donation kuda pani irukan.. ana konja naal munadi anemic ah irukan nu pana Venda nu solitanga.. atha..
Janu: ayoo mathini.. ithuku ellama mathini sorry soliva.. nan kuda enna vo etho nu ninachutan
Maya: illa da.. unaku pana mudila nu inum enaku guilty ah iruku..
Janu: Ada po Mathini.. ithu Ella oru vishiyam ah… she looked behind Maya and saw Maaran who stood at the doorstep… Anna Inga paru Mathini enna solaranga nu..
Maaran: enna ?
Janu: Avunga anemic ah iruka naala blood donate pana mudilaya.. athuku sorry ketutu irukanga.
Maaran nodded his head and walked in with a carrier and placed it on a table he sat on the other side of the bed.
Maaran: Ok va kutty ma.. Vali iruka ?
Janu: mothaluku ipa paravala na… Kai tha konja valikuthu…
Maaran: seri airum… ama doctor vanthangala ?
Janu: vanthanga na.. kaal better ah iruka naala.. apdiya methuva nadaka sonanga.
Maaran: seri apa nee first sapdu.. apram nan una nadaka veikaran ok va.
Janu nodded and Maaran served a plate before he fed Jaanu. He noticed Maya sitting facing the other side.
Maaran: avuluku Sethi tha kondu vanthu iruku.. sapda solu..
Janu: neengalum unga sandai uh.. Mathini nee poi sapdu.
Maya: illa Janu enaku Venda..
Janu: kalailayum itha soninga.. una mogatha parunga epadi irukunu.. Poi sapdunga..
Maya nodded and left to serve herself. The lunch time was silent as she had her food and Maaran continued to feed Jaanu.
Maaran helped Janu sit on the bed after he had accompanied her to walk for a little time. Helping her to lay for a nap he covered her with a blanket and sat beside her until she fell asleep. His eyes automatically searched for Maya and found her asleep on the attendees bed. He moved her and covered her with a blanket and sat there staring at her without realizing the time.
-----
Maya was seated on the bench of a park caressing her well grown belly with a constant smile on her face.
Maya: paapa un appa va pathiya oru ice cream vangitu vara ivalo neram… she shook her head.
“ Umaya, Umaya “
Maya frowned as she looked around hearing a familiar but distinct voice.
“ Enna Umaya nan yaru therilaya? “
Maya searched around but found no one who would be the owner of the voice.
Maya: Yaru athu..
She questioned and only heard divine laughter as a response which somewhat calmed her down.
“ Ivalo varusham ah yen paka varala nu ketutu ipa vantha yen vanthanu kekaraiya ? “
Maya's eyes widened as it teared on its own.
Maya: amma..
She stood up from the place and searched all the places dragging her tired body.
Maya stumbled when she saw a woman dressed in a green silk saree sitting under a tree on a fence facing the other side. She slowly walked to the woman, only a part of her face was visible as she walked watching the long flowers filled hair that casted down to the back of her knees. Her hands trembled as she placed her palms on the woman’s shoulder. A lone tear slipped her eyes filling on her cheeks when she saw a blurred image of her mother. Her face was not so clear but she sensed the divinity in her face. She widely smiled at her and holding her hand she brought her to the front and made her sit opposite to her.
“ Romba neram nika kudathu.. ukaru.. “
Maya: amma neenga…
“ amma tha..yen ipa tha mothal thadava pakara mari pakara.. enna aachu ? “
Maya: Amma amma.. she tried to touch her but Ilavarasi got hold of her palms within hers.
“ Ena Umaya enna aachu ?”
Maya: Amma nee vantaiya ?
“ Nan enga pona varathu.. unkudaya thena irukan ? “
Maya: Ama amma ama.. nee unkuda tha iruka..
“ Seri atha vidu.. she caressed Maya's baby bump… Patharama iru seriya.. mathini una nala pathupanga… irunthalum.. gavanam ah iru.. “
Maya: gavana ma irupan ma.. un Marumagan en kaal tharaila padatha mari.. Thangaran ma.. ana onu ma paapa porantha apram.. Avan ala tha unaku ipadi airuchu nu avunuku iruka guilt pogum ma..
“ en vidhiku avunuku enna Samantham.. “
Maya: Avan apdi tha ninaikaran.. un pechu kekama veliya pona naala tha.. nee avunga pinadi poi unaku.. she sighed.. apdi nu Avan nambaran ma.. nee tha engaluku paapa va vara poranu nambitu irukom… atha nee thirumba vantana.. Avan nimadhiya irupan ma.
Ilavarasi stayed silent with a blank face and without replying she just caressed her baby bump. Maya looked down at her mother's hand on her bump and smiled.
Maya: amma.
She looked up but was shocked when she could not find her mother opposite to her. Even though her subconscious mind reminded her that it was just a dream but she could not accept it and she ran around the place searching for her mother.
“ amma.. “
Maaran jerked open his eyes when he heard her yell and found Maya sat on the bed straddled. She was panting for air and her face was filled with sweat.
Maaran: Maya ena aachu ?
Maya: Amma amma.. she panted looking around like a lost kid and sighed caressing her tummy.
She turned to look at him but without speaking she stayed silent panting.
Maaran: onu illa.. intha itha kudi.. he forwarded her a water bottle, she got it before she sipped some water.
Maaran: ok va ?
Maya nodded and leaned back while Maaran moved back to sit on his chair. Maya leaned back on the wall trying to calm her breath.
Maya mv: Amma yen evalo varusham illama ipa kanavula varanum.. paapa pathi pesunathu.. yen amaithiya poitanga…
Her trance broke when she heard Janu call for her before she walked to her to help her.
-----
The whole family was in the temple to fix a date for the wedding. They decided to do it soon after Jaanu was discharged as it was already delayed by ten days after the accident. Maya was in a room in the temple while Elango walked into the room.
Maya: Appa…
She squealed and hugged him trying hard not to cry. She had always been a girl who would seek comfort from her father whatever the said situation was. She had never hid things from him except their relationship. And when there was a problem in that relationship her heart seeked his comfort but her situation did not pave the way for it. And now when he was in front of her she could not stop herself from hiding in embrace.
Elango pulled her back and kissed her forever smiling.
Maya: missed you appa… she again hugged him with her head on his shoulders.
Elango: I too missed you Mayu..
Maya: apa yen enna paka varala..
Elango: atha nan kekanum… nee Inga vanthu one month ah aga poguthu.. uruku vara idea iruka.. illa apdiya mapla veetuku poiralam nu irukiya… he teased.
Maya pulled back and looked down with a guilt ridden face. Initially she had agreed to the alliance to make Maaran come out. But once the family started being serious and Maaran being silent, guilt started gripping her. She was unwantedly putting two families into trouble for her selfish needs. She even wanted to stop everything right away but Naveen had convinced her saying he had done all the arrangements.
Elango: Mayu.. he shook her.. suma sonan da..
Mayu nodded with a smile while he caressed her hair and kissed her forehead once again.
Maya: Rachu uh Ajay uh enga pa ?
Elango: Ajay veliya irukan
Maya: Rachu varalaya ?
Elango: illa da.. anga oru marriage iruku.. nangalum Inga vantom illa.. atha mama anga poi irukaru..
Maya : oh seri pa..
Elango: seri Mapalai veliya irukaru.. nan poitu vara solara..
Maya: appa?
Elango: nanga ella apava introduce agitom.. seri iru…
Maya nodded before Elango left the room and Naveen introduced.
Naveen: enna Maya nervous ah irukiya ?
Maya: illama epadi… ipa kooda ethuvum illa.. let's stop everything.
Naveen: Maya nothing to worry.. ellama set paniyachu..
Maya: enna panni irukinga ?
Naveen: athu surprise…
Maya: enga intha surprise mood la ella nan illanga.. thayavu senju solunga.
Naveen: uh..hmm… veliya vanga ungaluka theriyum..
Maya: yenga yenga..
He just smiled and left the room without paying heed to her.
Maya and Naveen’s family gathered in the temple and sat opposite to each other eagerly waiting for the priest to go through their horoscope and fix a date.
Maya looked around in search of Maaran but could not find him.
“ Enna swamy pathuta irukinga.. ethachu solunga.. “ one of the person gathered spoke.
“ pathuchu pa.. Intha mari porutham iruka jadhagatha nan parthatha illa… “
The elders smiled at each other while Maya looked at Naveen in shock while he just blinked his eyes.
Eshwar: apram enna nga.. naal ah kurichu kuduthinga na.. nanga kalyana veliya papom.. enna samanthi..
Elango: ama nga paniralam.
“ Athu la oru sikal iruka… “
Rajavel: enna ayya.. ipa thena.. nala iruku nu soninga ?
“ Ipavum solaran.. avunga Jadhagam romba nalava othu poguthu.. ana avunga Jadhagam porunthara mari.. seriyana naal inum 3 naal masathuku illa.. “
Maala: enna ipadi solaringa.. ipa enna panrathu..
“ Onu prechana illa pa.. Kalyanatha oru 6 masam kalichu vechukonga..”
Maala: 6 masam ah ?
“ Ama pa.. avunga nala irukanum na.. 6 masam kalichu paninga na tha.. nalathu… “
Rajavel: apa apdiya panikalam.. kolanthainga vazhkai illa.. enna mapalai..
Elango: seri ga.
Eshwar: Seri anna..
Rajavel: seri apa neengala athuku naal kurichu kudungalan
“ Illa pa.. ipava Venda.. 6 masam kalichu vanga… apa kurichukalam... Una mana thirupthiku venum na.. oru poojai pa panikonha."
Maya looked at Naveen who smiled and mouthed him a thank you.
" Venum na unga mana thirupthiku.. oru poojai panirunga.. "
The elders agreed and moved out of the place.
Maya and Naveen stood behind the temple and Maya thanked him for the umpteenth time.
Maya: Tha..
Naveen: ithuku mela Thanks soninga… nan poi nalaika kalyanam veika soliruvan.
Maya laughed at him who imitated leaving the place.
Maya: seri seri solala…
Naveen: ungaluku 6 months iruku.. athu kula enna pananum oh panunga..
Maya nodded while she noticed him looking behind her.
Naveen: enga enga thirumbirathinga.. Maaran pinadi ninu ena kanulaya erikara mari morachitu irukaru..
Maya: Avan apdi tha ga..
Naveen: Apa atha unga Trump card.. use panikonga.. seri nan varan.. bye..
Maya nodded and once he left she stayed back waiting for him to come to her. Just when she sensed him right behind her she saw her brother in front of her, glaring at Maaran.
Ajay: Inga enna panra ?
Maya: athu Naveen kuda pesitu iruntha…
Ajay: pesi aachu illa va polam..
Maaran watched Ajay glare at him once again before holding Maya’s wrist and dragging her out who kept turning to him.
Ajay dragged her to the place where all the others were gathered.
Elango: enna da kelambalam ah ?
Maya: polam pa..
Surya: ayoo Maya avunga veetuku polam nu kekala.. Trichy ku kekaranga.
Maya: Trichy ka ?
Ajay: Hello atha nama veedu maranthurucha ?
Maya: illa ana..
Elango: enna da ?
Maya: inum konja naal irunthutu varen pa please.
Yamuna: ama anna inum konja naal vechukaran na.
Elango: illa ma.. oru masam leave la vanthu.. full ah ingaya irunthuta .. leave uh mudiya poguthu.. odana bangalore poiruva.. enga kuda epa irupa..
Maya: illa appa.. nan Ayesha chechi kita Pesitan… Avunga work from home pana soli irukanga… nan anga vanthum.. neraya naal irupan pa.
Ajay: Maya enna vilayadariya.. oru varam irukan nu solitu vanthu oru maasam aachu.. ipavum vara matan nu solaran..
Yamuna: Ajay Ava matu illa.. nee iru.. 10 naal la nama poorviga Kovil thiruvila varuthu.. athu mudichutu polam.
Ajay: ayoo athai.. Enaku neraya site work iruku..
Yamuna: itha soli tha anaikum veetu varama pona..
Ajay: illa athai.. he eyed Surya.
Yamuna: sona kelu pa.. avala aachu vitutu ponga.. thiruvila mudinjathu.. nana anupi vekaran.. Please anna..
Elango nodded after sometime: seri ana mudinjathu seekram vantharanum.
Maya: seri appa…
Rajavel: Mapalai apa antha poojai..
Elango: neengala ella pathukonga.. enga rendu perukum ah site final stage la iruku… enga naala vara mudiyathunu ninaikaran.. neengala nala padiya mudichurunha.
Rajavel nodded with a smile before the duo bid bye to everyone.
Maya: Rachu va ketan nu solu pa.
Elango: seri da..
He patted her cheeks and the duo left the place.
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Hi dearssss chapter epadi irukunu solunga..
Hello most of you are ok with the plot but not with Maaran taking a step. No I am not degrading Maaran's character, if you notice his side had not been revealed until now. This is the flow of the story and no worries you will definitely get his side of the story. So yeah.. he not losing his character but just staying silent for his own reasons..
Yeah I know it's less than expected but I had a bit struggle for writing. No worries the next two chapters are resting in my documents for months. So will upload it once the previous one reaches 1k reads.