Rathi came back to her room, leaving him alone. There are questions clouding up in her head. Exactly who he is and how could he knew everything about me even my secrets, Did Shankari told about me to him? She thought, stumbling on her bed.
But why did he buy these gifts? What he's going to get doing these things to me?
I did a mistake; I shouldn't leave the conversation in the middle. I need to talk to him and he knows my plans, that's very dangerous for me, Rathi shrieked in fear.
She got up and saw Aadhi going downstairs. So she followed him.
"You want to talk to me?" he asked sliding his hand his pocket while walking before her.
"Yes," she replied gawking at his back. His gestures and walk were kind of charming to see, Rathi watched everything in awe.
"Are you okay with coffee?" he asked standing in front of her.
She nodded.
"Fine then," rolling up his sleeves, he took the milk from the refrigerator for preparing a milk coffee. Rathi didn't blink her eyes and watched him until he handed her cup. Aadhi noticed her stares and had a smirk on his face.
"Tell me what is it? And before that you should know that I utterly hate your choice to leave," he told.
Rathi stared at him. "Are you going to tell this to her?" she asked hesitantly.
"Think like an adult, Rathi. Whatever between you and Shankari is none of my concern but I strongly condemn your stupid decisions," he snapped.
"That's not stupid, you don't understand what I am going through inside," she said. "Have you ever been abused, insulted and starved to get the basic things in your life,"
"Ah, why I am even telling these things to you, after all, you are a relative to her and I can't expect you to understand me," She annoyed and then she realized she is revealing too much of her feelings to this person but she can't help, his questions were like that.
He left out a mocking chuckle hearing that like he has experienced something worse than that. "Drink your coffee," he said. His face doesn't have a gentle expression but his voice has that. She took a sip and it tastes so good. Her eyes watched him, looking at her fixedly.
"Who are you?" she's meekly asked him in confusion.
"I don't know how to explain our connection; I am someone who's very close to you and I know you for a long time."
"I am coming straight to the point, Rathi. I am here to take you with me, come to my home," he told and Rathi couldn't understand anything.
"I don't understand what's your point. Even I can stay with Shankari but I can't come with you and she won't accept this even in her dream,"
"What if she says yes, will you come?"
"No, I can't. Besides, tell me what I am going to do if I come with you," "Don't you have wife and children," she asked.
"I am not married," he corrected.
"Then it's completely impossible." "And how do you know my plans? Who told you that? Do you know I can report you for stalking me?" Rathi's confidence came out for the first time.
Aadhi nodded his head with a smirk in wonder, "I thought you will be a silent- clumsy girl but you proved that you're different. I am impressed, Rathi."
"But dare you TALK TO ME LIKE THAT AGAIN," he punched the table hard and the things jiggled along with Rathi. She was stunned by his reaction.
She didn't look at him and gasped comprehending what just happened?
He came closer to Rathi and placing his hand on her shaking shoulders, he leaned to her ears, "Watch what you say to me. Respect should be in your tone, you understand," his wicked tone froze her blood in fear.
She never saw a psychopath before but this guy is acting like one. Slowly she looked at his face, his green orbs gazing at her lips which is just a few inches away.
"You coming with me, Rathi. We are leaving in three days," he smiled. Her pupils dilated, shivers ran down her spine with the touch of his breath on her skin.
"Now go to your room," he commanded.Rathi did and went to her room like a robot. She stumbled on the floor closing the door behind. She didn't cry but was shocked to the extreme.
Who's that man? Why he's asking me to come with him? Did Shankari aware of his intention or did she sold me to this guy? So many thoughts running in her head.
No, I can't stay with these mad people anymore! She decided and took her phone to call Geetha. But there's no battery and network in that dumb phone.
When she's walking here and there in her room, the door opened to reveal Shankari. She had a hard face and came inside furiously.
"Did you know what just happened? That man, he's asking me to come with him," she complained hoping she will help her.
"I know," she shuts her mouth with her harsh reply.
"Ayya, wants to take you with him, Rathi. You have to obey his orders, "
(Ayya- Sir)"Ayya! Are you stupid? why you're addressing him like that?" she asked knotting her eyebrows.
"Rathi! Watch your words and lower your voice!" she squealed in terror.
"Obey his orders, Rathi; I have been raising you because you're the chosen one for him. He has been waiting for you for a long time. It's time to know what's the purpose of your life," she gripped her shoulders and Rathi couldn't understand a single thing.
Am I in a dream? She nodded her head and then found it's indeed real.
"Enough," that deep commanding voice echoed in the room.
Rathi turned her gaze to see Aadhiyan and behind him, Das was standing folding his hand like a humble servant. Walking in casually, "Leave her alone and I am taking this thing," he took the cell phone.
After Shankari and Das left, Rathi saw Aadhi going through her phone.
"Good, you didn't call anyone," he muttered and broke the phone into two and throw it perfectly inside the trash can before leaving the room. Rathi agape seeing it.What type of danger I am going to see in my life, hereafter? She thought sitting on the floor leaning on her bed. The minutes passed like hours she lost in her thoughts about her future. That night she had her food and slept thinking about a way to escape from this maze.
Meanwhile on the same night,
"Ayya, she needs to know you, that way she'll accept this wholeheartedly," Das said.
"Yes, I think the same," Shankari accepted that point.
They both looked at Aadhiyan, who's watching the moon silently standing near the window.
"You both were wrong. She won't accept if I tell her the truth."
"It's all my fault. I've done a mistake; I shouldn't have let her study. Now she has tasted the freedom and she will yearn for it every time." He said widening his eyes.
"Yes, I've told you about this, I know she will eventually try to escape," Shankari replied.
"So what else she will do when you have always abused her. Did you beat her?" he asked narrowing his eyes at her.
Her body started shaking seeing his eyes which has got a glow, "I did, for putting her under control," she reasoned looking down.
"Don't you know who she is? And what's that you have done?"
"I am sorry. I beg your pardon; I don't know another option," she fell on her knees.
He clenched his jaw, "I forgive you for your service'. You've raised her beautifully and should be rewarded highly for this," he told and sat on the chaise crossing his legs.
"Thank you," she relaxed a bit
"Sacrifice your soul to me," he uttered that simply lighting up his cigarette. Inhaling the smoke, he watched Shankari's face turning with unusual happiness.
"For all my life I am waiting for this. Thank you," she fell on his foot like worshipping her god.
He smiled, "Now it's my job to take care of her," he told respiring the thick smoke out from his mouth. His eyes glowed watching the burning fire at the inglenook, reflecting the fire that's burning in his heart for uncountable years.
Rathi's eyelids disturbed when something kept dripping on her forehead, she opened her eyes and touched the thick fluid in her trembling fingers, it was dark red in color. The place is dead silence and her breathing became rapid when she found herself covered in that thick fluid which is none other than blood. The dark place is soaking in the cold blood. Her eyes shot open in terror to see from where it's coming, the blood is gliding from the insides of her thighs.She felt afraid yet she touched her sex and took her hand only to be soaked completely in the blood, her blood. She couldn't breathe and her wide eyes welled with tears. The more she feared, the more the blood came out from her groin."No!" she left out a scream and gasped for air but felt like someone strangling her throat. She closed her eyes when she felt nothing to do any
Rathi was packing her things along with Shankari. She is allowed to take only minimal clothes, and books that could fit in her two suitcases. And more importantly, she packed her violin and other external things to write down the new songs.She isn't fully okay about going to his house but there's something that changed her mind completely. She wanted to go there than her ambitions. She couldn't think of anything! Her heart wanted to be in his home. Rathi doesn't realize that she'd been changing."Have you been there, before?" Rathi asked Shankari."Yeah, I was bought up there until your age," she replied."Oh, then you'll have relatives there," Rathi asked."Yes, I have people I kno
"You love me?" Aadhiyan asked hugging her tightly. His hand caressed the back of her neck and his hoarse voice gave chills."Yes, I love you," she nodded her head embracing him.Rathi watched them standing away. She didn't stop that girl who's none other than Rathi instead she felt happy for herself finding someone who could love her truly. In his arms, she seemed to be happy... But Aadhi's face doesn't have that happiness. His face carried that wicked smile and the thing that even more terrified is he got an old knife in his hand."Kill me, Ayya, please," she begged and Rathi doesn't understand what's happening. How can she ask him to kill?Before she could stop anything he stabbed her brutally. Blood oozed out from the deep wound. S
"Are you going to starve like this?" Aadhiyan annoyed seeing Rathi who not even touched her breakfast.She cried the entire night sitting in her bed, and now she doesn't want to do anything than being silent. Aadhiyan came close to her and sat getting her attention."You know that she is going to die? Am I right?" she asked him out of nowhere."Yeah, I know. Everyone dies one-day Rathi," he commented."She won't come back and we can't see her hereafter, don't you feel bad for that?""Why should I feel bad. That's her life. You know what sometimes death is a freedom, a reward than a tragedy," he told looking at her eyes."She decided
The sky started drum rolling the thunders and in a few seconds, it started a big rain. The tides raised higher, and the ship unstably moved forward in the reckless waves. Rathi walked gripping the wall, she went to her room and sat on her bed. The sound of rumbles echoed loudly inside her room.She closed her ears to stop getting scared of seeing the other side of nature, she prayed the almighty but no specific god's figure came to her mind. She has already seen how the ocean engulfed Shankari and the fact that she doesn't know swimming greatly made her question the possibility of her survival. She stayed there shuddering in panic and the minutes passed like hours. After some time, she couldn't sit on that bed because it's shaking like crazy, opening her eyes she saw water coming from the gap of that closed door. She watched the titanic movie last year on the Television and realizing it'
The illumination of sunlight gently fondled over Rathi's eyelids, disturbing her peaceful slumber. She slowly opened her eyes and gazed at the antic ceiling which was like in the king's fort, and it shined in the bright rays. She felt so surreal to lie down in that fluffy soft bed, she never had this much of comfort anywhere. Rathi immediately raises from her sleeping state grasping that she is in an anonymous home. She noticed that she isn't entirely covered, the saree was just wrapped around her and one end is tugged in her petticoat but she isn't wearing any blouse. Who changed my clothes? She doubted whether it might be Aadhiyan and then yesterday's events started repeating in her head one by one.I saw an old woman in this room and she went out telling me that she will come with food. Then Aadhiyan came and left telling me to take rest. What happened after that? She again stum
Rathi followed Aadhiyan who's walking too fast for her speed. "Wait, where are you going?" she asked."Don't ask, you'll know once we go there," he replied."Okay but why you're walking too fast?" she asked and he stopped."I am not walking fast, try to say that you're walking too slow," he said since he doesn't like it if someone complains to him."And don't talk useless things keeping the actual matter in your heart," he told and that boosted Rathi's confidence to ask him what she actually wanted to.Before she could proceed, he started walking inside the farm. The sound of chirping birds and the smell of fresh greens made Rathi look around in delight. Rolling up his sleeves, Aadhiyan picked garden scissors, diggers, and a basket on the shelf at the entry."Come with me," he told."That's what I am doing and I'll do even if you won't ask me to," she muttered."What? What did you say?" he turned to her narrowing
He walked to the cupboard and picked her violin which is neatly placed inside. Seeing that Rathi couldn't control her happiness and had a big smile on her face."Yours, but you shouldn't play this whenever you want. Only when I ask you to," he commanded giving that in her hand."Why?" she is vexed hearing that."Because I don't like noisy things." Rathi's face immediately turned sad to know that."You're not allowed to play it in the house but you can anywhere outside," he changed his mind a little bit seeing her dull face."Okay." Rathi nodded her head because he's too generous than Shankari. He's looking intimidating but he's not a bad person. He considers her wishes too."That's better," he said and closed his cupboard. Aadhiyan collected the books from his bed and placed them back on the shelf. Rathi keeping her violin aside and headed near to the window since the view was fantastic from there.The rain is beautiful
40(3)It was a cold night after the wedding. After sending off the bride and groom to their home. Kayanangai and Aathiyan returned to their place. It was a great day. Kayanangai almost forgot everything when she was surrounded by so many people. But after coming back to their chamber, her anxiety knocked her down. Carrying this much sadness and yet acting like she was alright is troubling her. She couldn't take this anymore and wanted an end to this.Aathiyan went to sleep before Kayanangai, and she sat beside him looking at the dark skies for some time. Her mind is only thinking about how she could find that witch. It must be that witch because she knows there's no one capable of such an act.She laid beside Aathiyan and watched him sleep peacefully. Her heart desires only one thing, which
40(2)The next morning, when Kayanangai opened her eyes, Aathiyan was nowhere to be found. She tied up her hair and looked at the morning sun with a smile. She got up and saw Arulvarman was asleep. It's a surprise that he didn't wake up in the middle of the night and she couldn't understand how she slept even after the sun was up. She took him in her arms and nursed him while thinking about what happened yesterday. It's so new that Aathiyan left in the morning, without saying a word. She remembered about yesterday and how she felt unsure about him. But then she convinced herself that it was Aathiyan to feel better.Kayanangai waited for him, minutes passed and an hour passed but there's no sign of him. She bathed, had her breakfast and the guards have told her that they haven't seen Aathiyan since morning.
40(1)Life got a little more peaceful after Aarani stopped coming to the palace. Especially for Kayanangai. She felt so free and started to notice the changes that had happened in her life. She believes Aathiyan has ordered her to not come to the palace as he always hated her around here, but she doesn't know the truth that Aathiyan lied to her. Nakan was always there around them and Aathiyan didn't give any orders because he couldn't find him at all.Ever since Kayanangai saw Aarani smiling at her father's funeral she felt something strange and she decided not to keep her beside her after getting this doubt. She can't help but think whether Aarani is that witch. She has no answers and no one is going to tell her the truth unless she finds it on her own.Aathiyan spends more time with her and she's finally com
39(5)The rain is pouring heavily outside, and the loud thunderstorm echoed inside the absolutely quiet palace. Kayanangai returned to the palace, after two days of staying in her father's home. She met Aathiyan only twice in these two days but she understood what a great human he is. For all these days, she had contradicting thoughts about him. She always hangs in the middle and never believes he's totally bad or good. Now she has a perfect picture of him. She's so fortunate to get a man like Aathiyan, he cares about her more than she cares about him and the greatest favor he has done to her put him on the pedestal of her heart. If her father had asked that favor to her, she could have never done that.Aathiyan could have easily refused to release Veera from prison becaus
39(4)Aathiyan expected a message from his Guru but nothing came even after a week. He wondered how long it would take for him to find something. Aathiyan doesn't want to pressure him so he decides to wait until the message comes.Meanwhile, all of Aathiyan's attention was on Nakan; he's around Kayanangai all the time. Even Though he's in the form of a woman, he sees the admiration and lust in her eyes.The way Kayanangai smiles for his jokes and being affectionate on Aarani makes him frustrated but he couldn't do anything.He noticed that it's been so many days since he talked openly with Kayanangai. She doesn't seem to care about him like she used to. There are many times he tried to tell her the things she doesn't know but Nakan said that he'll face some s
39(3)"Mathinila, please listen to what we are saying. You should stay in the palace," Sumitra said."No, I can't. These people and the King punished my husband and I can't live in their pity concern," Mathinila retorted. It's been a week since Veera went to prison and the family is trying to cope up with the sudden changes in the family. Now Sumitra wanted to leave, she couldn't take people's strange gazes and murmurs behind her back. It's making her even more depressed."I have to protect my self-respect; my father has a big house in the town. I can live there peacefully," Mathinila said, walking carrying her daughter and a few things in the basket.Kayanangai was also there but she didn't stop her sister. She thought it would be better if she went to
39(2)"So Veera Pandya asked you to cast a deadly curse on my father? Is that right?" Aathiyan asked Ganthika, in front of the court. "Yes," she nodded. "He asked me to do that. He threatened me when I hesitated," Ganthika answered in her shaky voice. Like she's a victim too."I gave him a vial full of poison and he gave it to his father," she added."No, that's a lie. I never gave him anything to my father. Ask everyone," Veera Pandya begged.But nothing was heard in anyone's ears. Everyone was convinced of Ganthika's testimony. Even Aathiyan thought that's the truth but later he understood they were equally guilty."Now the
39(1)The next day, the people in the palace were talking about this matter but Aathiyan slept well that night. He has let his anger out after a long time and he didn't pay any attention to the consequences."I heard you have put your brother in prison?" Kayanangai asks when the moment he woke up from his sleep. He has heard this from one of her maids. "That happened last night," Aathiyan answered, leaving out a yawn."Why didn't you tell me anything?" she asks. "Because you were asleep when I came back so I thought I should tell you today," Aathiyan said. Kayanangai can't help but frown hearing his lethargic reply.
38(4)Kayanangai saw him and she couldn't help her worries seeing Aathiyan's face. "Is something bothering you?" she asks. Aathiyan turned to her, "No, I am fine," he answered and sat near her."Are you telling me the truth?" Kayanangai asked. "Yes," he smiled and placed his head on her lap."When you are near me, I am fine," he said. She smiled and caressed his hair. "Aarani didn't come to w