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Readers: Sevvai kizhmazi andru, An Aesthete update seitha pothu enna koorinai.
Me: Athavaathu, iravu mudivatharkul BH update seigiren endru koorinen.
Readers: Seithaiya?

Me: Type seithu kondu irukum pothu satru kann asanthu thoongi vitten. Piragu Vijay Annanin piranthanaal vanthathil saturu busy agi viten. Manithu vidungal ... Athan enna vaanalum indru vidivatarkul update seithu vaiten. Padithu parrthu eppadi endru koorungal
Nandri💜❤️

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Raj

What did I miss with which he found out?

I climbed the staircase to the terrace of the mansion recollecting the arrangement I did in the morning for Rudhran to think that I slept in my room but he found out that I slept in Thooriga's bed with Taran and her. When everyone was busy seeing off the astrologer, Rudhran eyed me to meet him at the terrace.

Did he find out or I'm just panicking ? But he clearly said he wanted to talk about Thooriga and me.

I open the terrace door and step into the open terrace. The terrace is wide open and one can come up through either the Heiress wing or the opposite wing. I look around, searching for her and find him facing the estate and taking a smoke. He has chosen the side above the relaxation area, from that corner no one from the mansion can hear us.

I approach him and he looks behind him at me before completely turning towards me. He takes out his cigarette case from his back pocket and forwards it to me. I shake my head in denial and lean on the short wall of the terrace, next him.

"Yen Thooriga ku cigarette smell pidikatha?" He pockets his cigarette case and leans backs on the short wall. (Does Thooriga not like the cigarette smell?)

"Eppadi kandu pudicha?" I don't delay or beat around the bush and ask him straight on the point. (How did you find out?)

"Unakku irunthalum romba thairiyam da," He takes a puff and blows out the smoke. (You really have a lot of guts my friend.)

If he was Thooran sir, I might have feared to speak with the audacity as I'm speaking with Rudhran but still I would have never feared to acknowledge my love for her.

"Nee en friend nu thairiyam thaan. Ennai purinjipa nu nambikkai la thaan." He has been my friend for more years than he has been an uncle to Thooriga. So I trust that he would understand me.

Though my friends don't know what happened in my past and how I became the way I was, they never spoke a word that would hurt me. They have teased me but it was always light hearted. They never ignored me or talked behind me.

When I slept with Rudhran's girlfriend to prove to him that she is not a genuine girl, he was upset with himself and didn't talk to any of us for a couple of days. Later he collected himself and started being normal around. He started the habit of smoking then, still he hasn't stopped it.

"Siva Ashwika kalyanam ku nee mattum pogala," I look at him shocked as the memory is rekindled. I smile to myself recalling my words and I can imagine Siva's taunting smile when he learns about my relationship. "Naanum unna mari Thooriga college padikum pothu vera paiyana love panuva nu nenachen, aana nadakala. Atheyum mari, neeyum ethachem oru ponnu kita vizhuva nu nenachen athu Thooriga va irukum nu nenaikala," he draws another puff. (You are not the only one who attended Siva Ashwika's wedding.) (Like you, I too was thinking that Thooriga would love some other guy during her college days but didn't expect her to return with the same love for you. Likewise, I felt that you will fall for a girl and settle but didn't expect it would be Thooriga.)

"Even I didn't expect," we both snorted in unison.

"You are serious about her, right?" He taps the cigarette and the ashes fall on the floor.

"I'm planning on proposing to her during the power handover on the day of the will reading," I cross my hands and look at his smile widening to full face.

"Though I knew things, had doubts since Friday night and witnessed with my eyes, today, I still need some time to come to terms with your relationship but you have my blessings."

"Thanks da machan."

"Ayyo un pillai ennai thatha nu kopiduma?" He shakes his head in disbelief and scratches his eyebrow. (Damn. Will your child address me as Grandpa?)

"Eppadi naalum Thooriga oda kuzhanthaiku nee Thatha agapora," I poke at his hip, tickling him. (Either way you are going to be the grandfather for Thooriga's kids.)

"Edhey aaga pooren ah?" He looks at me shocked and I reflex, immediately denying his thoughts. (Am I going to be a grandfather?)

"Ila da ennum oru two to three years apuram thaan," I give him an innocent child look. (Noooo. Only after two to three years.)

"Ipothaan da uyire varuthu," He places his hand on his chest and rubs it. "Dei, intha moonja maatha," he pointed a finger at my face. "Nee yaaru eppadi pattavan enna enna vela panuva nu enakku theriyum. Enna en annan ponnu koda panuviye nenacha thaan nenju konjam valikuthu." He takes a long puff and taps out the ashes. (My heart skipped a beat. Change this innocent look on your face. I know who you are and what all you can do. But the thought of you doing all those things with my niece is giving me a little heart attack.)

"Machan appadi ellam solapadu," I play with his t-shirt sleeve, maintaining my innocent face. (Don't say that.)

"Dei kai ah edu," he moves his hand away. "Thooriga alavukku unna yaarum love panna mudiyaathu. Un alavukku avala yaarum care oda protect panna mudiyathu. Antha oru reason ku thaan naan unga relationship ku support panren athuve avala nee azha vacha friend nu kooda paaka matten motha adi ennodathu thaan irukum." His tone turned serious and I stopped playing with him. (Get your hand off me. No one can love you as Thooriga does. No one can protect her with love as you. And that's the only reason for me to accept and support your relationship. But by any chance, if you make her cry, I'll forget that you are my friend and I'll be the first one to hurt you.)

"Puriyuthu da, I would die before hurting her and protect her with my life," I assure him. (I can understand.)

"Seri nee propose panra varaikum konjam careful ah irunga. Inimey door ellam tharaka varurathuku munnadi bed ah arrange panitu va," My eyes go wide at him as I realise that I forgot to arrange the bed neatly and he must have noticed the impression on the bed. (Well, until you propose to her, stay careful. Don't open the door before arranging the bed.)

What if someone else had noticed it? Arrghhh manda mela iruntha kondaiya maranthuten ye.

"En da vayasu 35 aachu ennumah da thirutu dum uh adipanga," Thiyagu Mama walks towards us. (Are you guys secretly having a smoke even at the age of thirty-five?)

We get into alert mode and Rudhran puts down the cigarette, smashing it with his foot, putting off the fire.

"Appadi ellam illa pa, next Sunday engaluku oru football match vilaiyada vendiyathu irukku atha pathi discuss panitu irunthom pa," we both moved aside, giving him space to lean on the short wall between us. (Nothing like you are thinking, dad, we were discussing a football match we need to play on Sunday.)

"En da moondru vaaramla kalyanam vachikittu, enna football match solitu iruka. Raj venum na pogatum nee aada vendam," he glares at him. (You are having your wedding in another three week and you are telling me that you want to play football. You don't have to participate, let Raj alone play it.)

"Illa pa, Naan kandipa aadiye aganum," he explains the full story about the challenge. (No dad, I have to play this game.)

"Yaaru antha paiyan," Thiyagu mama looks between us. (Who is that guy?)

"Thooriga friend oda annan, Netherland la avanga padicha University la senior um kooda," I answered him, balling my fist behind my back. (Brother of Thooriga's friend and her senior from the University of Amsterdam.)

"Entha friend uh? Tanya va?" He looks at us confused. (Which friend? Is it Tanya?)

"Illa mama, Thooriga oda school friend, Vinitha Ranganathan oda Annan, Vikranth Ranganathan," He thinks for a second before recognition hits him. (No uncle. Vikranth Ranganathan is the brother of Thooriga's school friend Vinitha Ranganathan.)

"Seri, Tuesday kulla estate vellai ellam mudichidunga. Wednesday namma Tina veetla pesa Punjab porom. Raj, nammaku Tuesday evening flight ah arrange panidu." We looked at him shocked, "Enna da mozhikurenga? Tina ah veetai kopidama eppadi kalyanam panna mudiyum?" He leans off the short wall and walks towards the headroom door. "Appuram, Sunday match ku coach venum na solunga namma kooda vambuku varurathe antha Ranganathan Estate alungaluku veliya poochu." He walks away as Rudhran and I look confused at each other.

"Enakku therinju appadi ethuvum illaiye," I whisper among us. (As far as I know, there are no issues.)

"Naanum atha thaan yosikuren," he cringes his forehead thinking. (I'm thinking the same.)

"Seri, nee enna marriage panika poriya?" I insert my hands in my pants front pocket and play football with an imaginary ball. (So, Are you going to get married?)

"Vera vazhi?" He joins me in imaginary football. "Antha amma vera enna solla pogutho theriyala." (Do I have any other choice? Not sure what she's going to say.)

"Yaaru?" (Who?)

"Tina thaan. Thongum pothu oru mari pesura vidinja vera mari nadakura. Night uh marriage la entha issue um illa nu sonna. Ipo kalila sambavam ku appuram enna solla poralo," He shakes his head in disbelief and continues playing. (Of course, Tina. She speaks like someone in the night and someone else in the morning. Last night, she had no issues with getting married. No sure what she is going to say after what happened, morning)

"Edheyy Sambavam ah?" I stop in the middle. (What did you do?)

"Ayyo samy ungala mari sambavam panna naan ellam periyaalu illa pa," He stops playing too and we both laugh. (Ohh come on, I'm not a legend like you to do things.)

"Evlo naal achu la namma intha mari pesi sirichu," I look at him and he smiles back at me. (It's been so long since we laughed like this.)

"Aama. Seri va poi veliya paapom." He walks towards the headroom of his wing and I walk towards the headroom of the heiress wing. (Yes. Let's go and take care of our work.)

After talking with Rudhran, I feel somewhat relieved and content. I was thinking he would oppose our relationship as he has seen me hanging around girls and in bed with his girlfriend. But I never expected him to understand the equation between us.

I enter the heiress suite and lock the door behind me. I turn off the cameras and enter Thooriga's bedroom. She didn't notice me entering but checks her mobile and notes something down in a scribbling pad with a pillow on her lap.

"Enna panra," I walked into her room. (What are you doing?)

She doesn't respond and continues her work. She adjusts her hair and I realise that she has her airpods plugged in.

God!! She looks so beautiful when she is seriously working.

I slowly walk towards her and peck on her cheeks. She jerks in shock and looks at me surprised.

"Enna achu, Mama, unakku? Nee ippadi ellam panna maatiya," she removes her airpods and places them in its case. (What happened, Mama? You never do such things.)

"Ohh, appo naan intha one week la unnai thana kiss panathe illa?" I sit adjacent to her on the bed, removing my slippers. (I have never initiated a kiss in the past week, haven't I?)

"Ayyo appadi illa, Mama. Athu vera mari kiss idhu vera mari kiss adhan," she pinches my cheeks and blushes. (I didn't mean that, Mama. That's a different style of kiss and this one is another style.)

She looks so beautiful in this salwar and the natural blush. I have been controlling myself since I saw her in the dress but now I let go of my control and lean in for a kiss. I brush my lips against her and look into her eyes.

Thooriga cups my face with both her hands and pulls me for another kiss. I cup the left side of his face with my right hand and kiss her back. We suck our lips and savour our taste, without giving more or taking more. We touch our foreheads when we come up for air and I rub the tip of my nose with hers.

"Seri appadi enna serious panitu iruntha, room kula yaaru varanga poranga nu gavanikama?" I take the scrubbing pad from the pillow on her lap and read it as I scoot aside and rest my head on the pillow. (Fine. What were you doing so seriously without noticing anyone entering your room?)

She tries to say something but stops, "Enna achu, mama? Nee romba different ah behave panra?" She looks down at me, worried. (What happened, mama? You are behaving unlike you.)

I'm wondering the same. After the astrologer's visit, there was some nagging in my chest and I wanted to visit my spot at the tip of Catherine falls. Leaning on a tree always gives the feel of a mother's lap. I missed that place, missing going there and with all this work and Thooriga, I won't be able to go there. So, I felt lying on Thooriga's lap and instantly all the nagging flew away.

I remove the pillow and directly place my head on her lap. "Nangalum ella organs um irukka human thaan ma. Enakku oruthi vantha eppadi eppadi ellam irukanum nu nenachen oh appadi iruken, avlothaan," I take her left hand and kiss her palm. (I'm also a human with all organs working. I had some thoughts on how to be with my woman and what all I should do. Now I'm doing it, simple as that.)

"Naan kooda unooda dick mattum thaan work agum nu nenachen," She teases me and I looked at her, shocked but she looked everywhere avoiding my eyes. (I was thinking that only your dick works in your body.)

"Enna panrathu neethan ennoda main working part ah thiruditiye?" I spank her to get attention. (What can you do when you have stolen my main working organ?)

"Naan ennatha thirudunen?" She works her jaw. (What did I steal?)

"Ennoda Hidhaiyatha," I show the saranghae symbol with my thumb and index finger. (My heart.)

"Something has happened to you, Mama," she slaps my hand and tries to cover her blush.

"Thooriga happened," I want to see her blush and she does.

She looks goddamn beautiful when she blushes.

"Antha scribbling pad ah kodu naan ennoda decoding complete pananum," she tries to get the scribbling pad from me. (Now give me that scribbling pad, I need to complete my decoding.)

"Iru naan padichitu tharen," I started reading the content on it. She has written everyone's name and her decoding for the astrologer's prediction. (Wait let me read it.)

"I'm not sure whether my decoding is correct but I was able to find answers except for yours," she caresses my hair. "The last point, 'unnai tholacha rendu uyir unnai thedi varum athuku vimochanam koduthu anupu.' Who could be two souls that lost you and come in search of you to get relieved from their curse?"

I take a deep breath and keep the book aside, thinking. I'm also wondering about it and maybe the nagging feeling was because of thinking about the last point of his prediction.

And suddenly a memory from nowhere sparks in my mind. "Maybe he mispronounced it."

"What do you mean?" Thooriga looks at me confused.

"Actually, when I returned back to the estate and informed my father that I'm going to work for the estate, he gave me a box and asked me to give it to the right person who will come in search of it."

"But how will you identify them?"

"He has given me the name," she nods her head for me to continue. "He said that if two people come in search of Mandakini or her family and if their names are Devendran and Aathirai, I can give it but only if I feel they are genuinely who they are claiming to be."

Why do the names Devendran and Aathirai ring a bell?

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Hope you all liked the chapter, lovelies.

As  a treat for my birthday on June 17, I  wanted to present all my characters to you. But due to unavoidable circumstances, I couldn't on time. 

Now the update order of three chapters of LR, one chapter of BH and A2 will be continued.

Thank you❤️

Love💜

RK Tejaswi 

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