chapter 5

Author's POVokay, people let's see the flashback from why Thulir gets those dreams and the actual scene behind his words.It's the weekend, and all the family members at Revathi Illam are home because it is mid-summer and the schools are on break, so the children are at home.The eldest children, Agathiyan and Aadhavan, returned home for their semester leave. Agathiyan is in his second year of Civil Engineering, and Aadhavan is in his first year of. They study in different states and pursue different fields.Thulir just wrote her final board exam and waiting for her result to join college and yeah other kids were still in school...Agni, the youngest child, is the three-year-old son of Aadharsh and Cynthiya. He is the ninth youngest by age and the seventh boy in the cousin gang. Although he has finished eating by himself, the eldest girl is still eating. Thulir is a food enthusiast who eats slowly, and only two people patiently wait for her to finish her last bite.Agathiyan and Aadhavan. In stark contrast to Thulir, Aadhavan is a fast eater. Despite finishing first, he always waits for Thulir to complete her meal, keeping her company.Agathiyan often taunts her about various things, yet he never complains about her slow eating habits. Ironically, he calls her "Theeni," which literally means 'food'...maybe she is his Theeni Today, Thulir felt sad because Aadhavan had gone to visit his grandparents (Tisya's parents). If he were here, at least he would have spoken kindly and entertained her. Indeed, she is like that, she talks a lot but also loves listening to people's voices. Just the voices are enough for her, she absorbs the words only if she's interested in the topic. Otherwise, the voice alone suffices. She can recognize all her family members by their voices and sometimes even mimics them.She often quarrels and plays pranks on Aghathiyan, and they bicker like cats. It is always Aadhavan who resolves their disputes and persuades both of them. he is the middle man between them and Thulir's shield to hide when she overdid and makes Agathiyan angry...Agathiyan loves his brother and compared to him Aadhavan is sensitive and wise they were more or less of the same age, and both are like contrast twins, Aadhavan came into their life when Agathiyan was 1 and a half years and Uyir was just got pregnant with Thulir.....The age difference among the trio is relatively small compared to other siblings. Thulir has an 8-year gap with her twin siblings, while Agathiyan and Aadhithya are nearly 10 years apart. and the youngest one Umaiyazh is yet to be born...Simply put, the three eldest are the ones the younger siblings look up to, and they must act responsibly. They are always responsible, just not when the three of them are together.okay coming back to the scene...Now, she left with Agathiyan, who was engrossed in his phone. His hands were nearly dry, yet he waited patiently for her to finish. Observing her toy with her food, he sighed, set his phone aside, and coughed to capture her attention.she didn't raise her head. he rolled his eyes."Oii Theeni "Thulir glared at him.."Seriously! I thought you became mature after going to college seems like you are still the same irritating Karapanpoochi...Let me have my food "she said and again went back to her gloomy mode....'"Yeii Inga par dii"(Yeii Look at me dii)"Why did you learn any magic tricks in college that you want to show me now to entertain me ...if yes then go ahead"she mumbled...he signed "I am trying to speak so that you won't feel uncomfortable...I know you hate silence "he reasoned out..."Ohh...why this sudden concern....Are you planning anything ??"Thulir narrowed her eyes, questioning. She surely didn't expect him to state his reasons outright. She knew his actions well, yet he never admitted his care for her. Now, his direct admission made her feel strange. His voice had deepened, rougher than his teenage timbre, sounding more mature, even his muscles had developed. Hearing no answer from him...she spoke"Okay......the thing is.....I came here to meet Aadhavan and speak about my confused self....he would say the solution to my problems now he had gone to his patti's home and I didn't want to have this conversation over the phone call.....I know if I call him to come back as I want to speak with him he would be here the next minute but I don't want to disturb him...you know he only goes there rarely after his college life he would get much less time to come home too.....I mean in this home there is a group of children there but for them, he is the only grandchild and I don't want to disturb their time......Do you understand what I mean" He nodded his understanding of her point ..."That's right...but from when you started thinking about others Theeni???"He teased her...Thulir threw a spoon at him which he caught..."Okay, angry bird calm down....now say what is confusing you...Let me see if I can help you in solving it""Wait... are you sure you're Agathiyan Aadhiran? The person I'm referring to has never been sensible, he always has that stoic, stern face as if he were on a battlefield."Thulir said with a chuckle gaining a glare from him....she raised her hand in surrender and then started eating the food... he smiled inwardly his acts were working now..."Okay if you are done laughing then say what is the problem.."Thulir drank the remaining payasam and spoke..."about what to do next.....I don't know what to study... it's confusing and I don't know what exactly I want....if I sit back and think about what I am good at and love to do is speaking and telling stories...You know right I have won many speech competitions and my teacher said I am good at taking seminars even my friends complimented me...I know what you are thinking.....yes, I know that I want to go into the teaching field but don't know which subject .....I just love all the subjects I don't know which one to choose "he nodded his head understanding  "what about English Literature?""That's a good option too....but nope ""Then go for Tamil literature....you are good at it and you love to read and always eager to learn the stories behind the literature poems right...""That's right....but do you think I can make it..."she voiced out her concern while standing up with her plate and walking towards the kitchen which he followed too...Thulir washed her hands and the plate and moved aside to give him space to wash his hand and plate....she climbed and sat on the kitchen slab and Agathiyan's hands continued to wash the vessels they used.....Thulir did washing after breakfast he is doing now...swinging her legs she asked him again..."You didn't answer me karapaa""why are you doubting yourself dii...It's fine to be confused okay....just give it a try if you don't like the first year then drop the plan you will get another 6 months to think and come up with what you exactly want...see you are privileged to take this chance because normal and middle-class girls won't be given such an option but our family will support you in whatever you choose to do....But remember education is a must just because we have money and wealth to live the rest of our lives doesn't give us any right to say Education is a waste and follow the passion.....because following the passion does need privilege and financial as well as societal status matters...that's the fact and reality....if you didn't born in this family then you won't get a chance to think about passion let alone following it..... Yeah people do succeed in their passion and they work hard on it but if you see the percentage of people who follow their passion is comparatively less and those who succeed are mostly privileged... "Agathiyan stopped and looked at her for a response......she was blinking her eyes...he chuckled and asked..."Ena dii""I heard you are preparing for UPSC....is this is effect of it??"Thulir asked him....he shook his head in disbelief..."No, Gowri mentioned this... it might have been the last lengthy conversation I had with her. The day before they departed for the function, I insisted on sleeping in their room, pleading with her and Thatha to tell me a story. He told a dull story, and during our conversation, she said this in response to my question about what I should do after school."Thulir hummed nodding her head...Again asked him..."Are you sure you are preparing for UPSC""I am""Then would you become police like Shiva did?""Hmmm"he hummed nodding his head now he arranged the utensils neatly..."Woah! See you are going to become a police officer and I will become a Professor just like Shiva and Gowri "he stilled hearing her....he was standing between her legs as he leaned to hang the spatula on its place behind her.....he pulled back lightly and looked at her....the playfulness from her face slowly vanished....she was now aware of their proximity..."You know what you mean right Theeni??"he asked raising his brows...she gulped her throat went dry and this was new for her......"Ka...Agaathiya......what....what ...are..you doing?"Thulir slammed as he leaned closer and placed his hands on either side caging her..."I am just asking you something.....""Anybody will come....move Agathiya..."she was scared to get caught by any of their family members like this..."oii Look at me..."she signed and looked at his eyes straight...he smiled at her....yeah she was gone already..."See I don't want any distraction so I planned I won't come back till I succeed in what I wanted to.....I won't make any calls and I am joining an academy and managing it with my college would make me busy......You won't get any calls from me to...it may make you think I forgot you and ignoring you.....but that's not true....if those thoughts arise in the upcoming years ignore that for me......Puriyutha di en Theeni.."his hot breath fanned her cheeks and his words stirred a bunch of butterflies in her stomach.....why was he doing this to her...why was he messing up her innocent mind.....she didn't have an answer neither did he answer those questions...she gulped she was trying to answer him but didn't know what exactly she should say....so she mumbled what came abruptly..."Leave Agathiya...""Nejama Poogata dii"(Are you sure...shall I go dii...)her breath was uneven.....she nodded her head....he smiled and kissed her forehead before moving back and leaving her alone...it took her lot more time to recover from the sensation of his single forehead kiss......when she opened her eyes he was nowhere to be seen and that was the last time she saw him its been 3 years......Thulir did joined B.A Tamil Literature and now completed it too...