Chapter- 4(1)

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 know but I don't have close relatives."

Before Rathi could enquire further. "I had a younger brother, he's the only person I had but he died a long time before," Shankari said.

"Oh, I am sorry,"

"Don't be sorry, it's all past nothing can be changed now," she replied with a smile.

Shankari was not entirely a cold person she had gone through a lot to become one. If she isn't abusive Rathi won't think about leaving her.

She has done many things to hate her, but Rathi still feels a slight love on Shankari because she protected her like her own mother. She has given a lavish shelter, healthy food, and knowledge for eight years. Maybe it's all Aadhi's money but she has given it wholeheartedly.

Sometimes Shankari used to crack jokes to make Rathi smile that she's realizing now. Rathi feels safe when Shankari is near her.

"Will you stay with me there right?" Rathi's question made her face go pale.

How can she tell that she won't be with her at all?

"I don't know?" Shankari nodded and looked at Rathi's upset face. Rathi is going there because Shankari's coming along with her but she doesn't know how she will be there alone with the stranger.

"Don't expect anyone to stay in your life forever, Rathi," she advised instead of telling some kind words.

"Do you want me to marry him?"

"Yes, of course, that's my last wish, Rathi. You should marry Ayya and you should serve him for looking after you for all these years," she replied.

"You did. He's not here," she shrugged.

"I know but I did everything in his orders. He wanted to educate you, he allowed you to learn the violin and he wanted you to be bright like how you're now," she placed her hand on Rathi's cheeks.

"Rathi, your life is not what you think. You have an important purpose to fulfil."

"What is it?" she asked in a meek tone.

"You'll know it soon. Your destiny will guide you there," Shankari gave a mysterious answer. Rathi stared at her blankly.

"Go and get your toiletries," Shankari turned aside.

Yesterday, Rathi said yes to go to Aadhiyan's house after coming from the coffee shop but she doesn't say okay to marry him. She cannot say that easily and to him it's unimaginable.

She strongly feels there's a connection lying between her and them or else why Shankari is going to adopt her when there's a lot of children out there.

After packing her bags Rathi got ready to leave the house. She wore her black salwar. Tying her hair in a bun she slides the bracelet in her hand.

Taking one last look in the mirror, she turned to leave but was surprised by Aadhiyan, who's standing at the door.

"You should know something?" saying that he came near to her. He is wearing a sweater and also glasses. Rathi can't help but admire his well-formed frame. He's not that greek god type but having a strong, toned, and muscular physique.

"In my place, it will be cold so don't wear these silky clothes. Get your sweater. Shankari didn't tell you this?" he frowned.

"She did and I am having it in my bag," Rathi replied.

"Oh, and we don't wear these fancy clothes there. You will be given a separate set of dresses and whatever you need. So don't take many things," he added.

Rathi nodded her head.

"You will surely like our home," Aadhiyan told having a small smile at the corner of his lips.

Our home? why he's mentioning that we are already married.

He isn't smiling often but whenever he does Rathi couldn't control her heartbeat. It's pounding like crazy. Never in her dream, she thought she will be attracted to a man who's too old for her.

"I'll wait outside," Aadhiyan said before leaving.

Rathi took her handbag and came out and Chandran followed her carrying the suitcases.

Shankari and Das got inside the separate cars. Rathi left with no other option than going with Aadhiyan.

She seated in awkwardly and Aadhi looked out.

"Talk with me than staring me like that," he said when she's gawking him.

"No, I am just watching out," she replied and turned to the other side.

The evening is so beautiful and the air is chill. Rathi felt sad about leaving this place.

Once they reached the airport, a few men came to carry their luggage to the plane.

"Are we going there in flight?" Rathi asked Shankari.

"Yes, till Chennai, then a ship will take us to Ayya's home," she replied and Rathi raised her eyebrows.

It's far away from here, I guess. Can I able to find a way if I want to return? she thought while getting on the plane.

The flight takes off, Rathi felt nervous and gripped her seat belt firmly closing her eyes.

"Give your hand," Aadhiyan held her hand safely to make her feel calm.

She blushed hard and turned to see the skies through the window.

Aadhiyan conversed with Das in Tamil for some time and Rathi fell asleep hearing it, she's trilingual and knew Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi.

From there they traveled to the Harbour to get on their ship.

It's a big ship, and it also owned by Aadhiyan, which will carry the necessities needed for his people staying in his place every month.

Then only Rathi learned that his home is located on an island, where they could go only through ships.

"What's the name of that place?" Rathi asked him.

"Aathi Theevu," he answered.

While getting on the ship, a strong wind blown on Rathi. She turned to see the people.

It feels like she's going to be separated from this world for all her future. She looked at the dark cloudy sky and breath in the ocean air before starting her adventures journey, she thinks it in that way.

She doesn't know what is going to happen, it's completely a hypothetical question in her life. But she had a determination to explore the thing which is tied in her fate. She's always a great fan of fantasy when something in her life pushes her in that direction she can't help but lured to follow it.

They were all speaking Tamil and Rathi was surprised when Shankari conversed in good Tamil.

She was given a room adjacent to Aadhi's. Shankari and Das stayed above their rooms.

Once Rathi entered her room she saw there are a bed and a bathroom present in that tiny place, a dim light was hanging at the top. Rathi felt cold and took her sweater to cover herself.

Once the ship started moving and Rathi lost her balance. She stumbled on her bed and smiled for being clumsy.

"Rathi," Aadhi called her knocking the door.

"Coming," she replied and went to the door holding the nearby objects.

She opened the door and Aadhi's eyes observed her smile.

Rathi lost her balance once again when the ship's moved through the strong tides. But this time she stumbled over Aadhiyan and he gripped her against his hard torso.

"Careful," he whispered.

"Sorry," she smiled and stood straight but she lost when the ship slanted to the right.

And this time something unexpected happened, her lips brushed his cheeks.

She's five foot and four inches and with her shoes she's could almost reach his face.

But never in her wildest dreams, she thought something like this could happen.

She felt so embarrassed and looked down.

His dazzling eyes gazed her face, "Hold my hand, I won't let you fall," he said.

She smiled and looked at him. "I am sorry, this is my first time traveling in a ship," she reasoned, grinning widely.

"Yeah I know, hold me," he gave his hand, and Rathi in a hesitation hugged his arms.

"Let's go for dinner," he told.

She nodded.

After the dinner, Rathi came to the deck to watch the ocean. The wind is blowing very hard and she was so delighted to see the sky full of stars. She kept staring at the tides heaving up and down. And the sound of the ocean is kind of mesmerizing to hear. After a long time, she's watching the night sky and it feels she's getting her freedom.

"What you're doing here?" Aadhi stood beside her lighting up a cigarette.

"This is my first time seeing an ocean, so I am just watching it in wonder," Rathi said.

"You're going to live by the sea, so don't stand here for too long you might catch a cold," he ordered exhaling the thick smoke.

"But I want to watch it, I couldn't take my eyes off this," Rathi said folding her hands across her chest.

"Often the beautiful things are the dangerous one." "All I could hear from the ocean is whispers." He said gazing the ocean and again took a sip from the cigarette.

"What is it says?" Rathi asked.

"It's asking me to die," his reply made her stunned since she couldn't hear anything.

He threw the cigarette in the water,

"Now come with me, I don't want you to stand here," he reached his hand for her.

And she obeyed him and they walked to their cabins.

Before leaving his room, Aadhiyan stood before Rathi.

"Goodnight," she smiled.

"Goodnight," he told and giving one charming look he went into his room.

She has so many questions raised in her head and she's afraid to ask him as much as her desire to know the truth.