Thooriga

My family or my father's friends might be behind my parents' death.

Raj has shed all the burden he was carrying for all these days on me. I still couldn't accept what he had said, and now I have to have lunch with them. It has been ten years since I have met them. Raj had forbidden me to have any sort of contact with them.

Only today I understood the reason behind why he did this all those years back. He cares for me, but he doesn't love me. He is protecting me, only for the promise he made to my mother. I have to change it, but I don't know how to change that or how to change him to protect me for the love he has for me.

My friends and I are walking, covered by the bodyguards on all sides. Moving out of the Heiress wing, we reach the main house, and I'm assorted with memories of me with my parents.

My dad returning home with a teddy bear toy for me and mom scolding him for spoiling me.

My dad is talking with some people, and I go running to him. He lifted me off my feet and placed me on his lap as he continued talking with them. My mom entered as a servant following her with a coffee tray and she sat next to my dad, joining the conversation.

I was named by clubbing my parents' names, first four letters from Thooran and last four letters from Chandriga. A drop of tear flows down my cheeks as Tina holds my hand and Tanya gives a press to my shoulders. Raj hands me a handkerchief to wipe off her tears, "Neenga theriyama irukanum, intha maathiri unga balaveenatha yaar munnadiyum kaata koodathu" he says. (Try to be stronger, Heiress, you should not show your weakness to others)

As I wipe the tears off, my family members arrive at the living room. Though I feel happy to see them, I'm disturbed at the same time. Disturbed in two ways, One, the news that Raj gave and the other, the number of family members staying in the house has reduced to my uncles, Eshwar and Rudran, Aunt Ilakkiya and a little kid. Also, I notice that there is a mixture of reaction in the air... excitement and annoyance.

Ilakkiya Aththai and Rudran Chithapa are my dad's cousins, my dad's younger and youngest uncle's children, and Eshwar mama is Ilakkiya Aththai's husband. Eshwar and Ilakkiya don't have any kids, so she loved me as her own and has been a second mother to me, but Eshwar Mama used to scold me as a child. Rudran Chithapa is the youngest, and he is of the same age as Raj, but Raj became my dad's friend instead of becoming Chithapa's friend.

"Yaar aachum intha ponnungala Thooriga yaaru nu solla mudiyum ah?" Eshwar Mama asks in an irritated tone. (Would anyone tell me which one is Thooriga among the girls present here)

I hear Raj letting out a cough, probably thinking of the airport incident. Tanya and I giggle as Aunt Ilakkiya shuts him up saying, "Neenga konjam chumma irukeenga, namma Thooriga yaaru nu ungaluku therila?" as she comes forward and hugs me. (Ohh please stop it, can't you recognize our Thooriga)

"Ayyo, evlo periyavala valanthutu iruka, appadiye anni maathi azhaga iruka, enna kanne patrum pola irukku," she says as she wards off evil eyes by cracking knuckles against either sides of her head. Ilakkiya Aththai wanted to adopt me when my parents died, but as a guardian, Raj didn't allow it and sent me to Cape Town without informing anyone. (OMG, you have grown up so well, you look beautiful just like your mother)

Next, to Ilakkiya Aththai, Rudran Chithapa comes forward with his son to hug me, "Evlo varusham aachu, eppadi iruka?" he asks me. (How have you been all these years?)

"Irunthen chithappa avlothan," I replied. (Hmm, I was just alive, nothing much)

"Neethaan thirumba vanthutala, Chellam, intha motha estate ah ye kalakurom," he says and introduces his son to me. (Oh dear, now you are back, let's rock the estate)

The little boy seems to be around eight years old. I kneel before him and ask his name.

"Taran," he replies.

"Dei muzhu pera solla," Rudran tells his son. (Hey, tell her your full name)

"Thooran," the little boy tells me.

I look up at Rudran, "Annan Nyabagam ah vachen," he answers my unasked question. (Named him after my brother)

I hugged the little boy tightly against me, and I let out a small sob looking at my uncle. Tina comes forward and kneels beside me and rubs my back to pacify. Uncle Rudran looks down at Tina and gives her a grateful smile. I ask him about his wife and the child's mother.

"Moonu varusham munnadi oru car accident la ava thavarita," he replies. (We lost her in a car accident three years ago)

"Oh my god, eppadi aachu chithappa?" I ask him. I always received an anonymous letter from Raj, but he never mentioned any events happening in my family. (How does it happen?)

"Taran ku school la adi pattuduthu nu Jeevitha car eduthu poona thirumba varum poothu oru car driver kudichitu vanthu vandila mothitan. Taran ah car la irunthu thalli vitutu ava..." Rudran Chithappa stops, unable to complete and blinks his eyes to stop his tears from flowing. I stood up from the floor to hug him. (Taran got hurt at school and Jeevitha left in the car but while returning they met with an accident when a drunk driver crashed his car against hers. She pushed Taran out of the car and...)

"Ennala thaan amma eranthutanga," Taran says with a crackling voice and blowing his head down. (If it was not for me, Mom wouldn't have met with an accident)

"Hey, little Rockstar, it's not your mistake. It's the other driver who was the cause of your mom's accident. Don't blame yourself," Tina says as my uncle and I look down at them.

"And when you have a family like this, why are you worrying? You have your dad, and now your elder cousin has also returned. She is the most caring person I have ever met. And we are gonna enjoy ourselves until we are here in the estate," Tanya joins Tina in cheering up the little boy.

"And you know what? Like your elder cousin having bodyguards for her. Your mother is safe guarding by sitting up there in the universe's tallest building and monitoring your every action," Tina adds.

Everyone is looking at my friends and probably wondering 'who are these girls?', and I smack my head as I forgot to introduce them. "Achoo, naan solace maranthen. Ivanga en friends, Tina, Punjab la irunthu apuram iva Tanya, Mumbai la irunthu, Netherland la en kooda padichavanga, en roomates um ivanga thaan." I pointed out as I introduced them to my family. (Oops, I forgot to introduce these two, this is Tina from Punjab and Tanya from Mumbai, they are my besties and roommates when we did our college in Netherland)

Ilakkiya Aththai and Rudhran Chithapa give them a warm welcome, while Eshwar mama just greets them with his trademark annoyance. "Appo ivangaluku Thamizh theriyatha?" Eshwar mama asks. (Then they don't know Tamil?)

"Puriyum uncle," Tanya replies in her Hindi mixed Tamil slang. (We can understand, uncle). I heard someone saying 'wow' and looked back to find Raj glaring at Sabarish.

"Konjam Konjam Pesuvom. Naan moonu perum moonu language movies um onna paapom," Tina says. (We can also speak a little Tamil. We three used to watch all the three language movies together)

"Hmm, that's commendable," Rudhar Chithapa says, smiling at them.

"Acho, paarunga avlo thooram travel panni vantha pillangala evlo neeram nika vache pesitu irukom, vaanga ma poi sapdalam, saptukite pesuvom," Ilakkiya aththai invites everyone for lunch, and all of us follow her as I stop Raj. (In the joy of your return, see I forgot to feed you after your long travel, let's continue our talks while having lunch)

"En Itha pathi entha letter layum nee sollala?" (Why did you never mention this in any of your letters?)

"Etha Pathi?" (About what?)

"Jeevitha Chithi ah pathi." (About Jeevitha Chithi's death)

"Naan anonymous letter thaan pooten. Neenga atha marathutengala? Athu mattum ilama ungaluku intha vishayam therinju iruntha, en kita kooda solama neenga adutha flight pudichu inga vanthu irupenga. Athuku thaan naan solala" (I was writing as anonymous; Did you forget that Heiress? And you could have flown here without informing me. I didn't want that to happen.)

I look at him, my nostrils flaring, though I'm angry at him for not informing me about Jeevitha Chithi's death, he was right about me flying back here to be with Uncle Rudran, without informing Raj.

"Okay fine. Avangaluku epo kalyanam aachu?" When I left Rudhran Chithapa was a Bachelor, he and Jeevitha Chithi were best friends since their college. (When did they get married)

He thinks for a while, "Neenga kelambi oru varusham irukum, Heiress." (A year after you left)

"Okay, intha Heiress Heiress nu moochuku moonuru thadava soldratha niruthu, oru mathiri iruku kekave" (Okay, And will you stop this Heiress crap, I feel awkward hearing that.)

"Apo naan unga ena nu kopudunam, Heiress? Neenga intha Estate ooda vaarisu, naan intha la vela seirawan. Adupadi nan ungala Heiress nu thaane kopudanum."(Then what should I call you, Heiress. You are the Heiress of this Estate, and I'm an employee. So, I should call you Heiress)

The way keep on calling me Heiress, irks me and I stay silent for a moment and gestures at him to bend so that I can whisper in his ears. He hesitates, for a moment and looks around before bending a little, "Un bathroom la irukum poothu nee ena yena peru soli koptiyo antha perala kopudu" He leans straight immediately with a shocking look. (Call me by the name that you used when you were in your bathroom.)

Adapavi apo nee unmaiyave en pera sonniya? So indeed, you had called my name?

I just said those words in a fluke thinking he would deny it, instead, he looked shocked.

Seri vidatha Thooriga apadiye maintain pannu. (Don't give up Thooriga maintain as you know.)

Ilakkiya Aththai appears at the living area, asking me to come and join them.

"Haan, Aththai thou vanthuten" I reply to her and divert my vision back to Raj, "Oru vela namma rendu peru bathroom aduvula irukura sevura romba thin oh ila nee romba sathama koptiya enaku anga kekura maathiri." (Ya Aththai, just a small business ; Maybe the wall that separates our bathrooms is too thin, or you were too loud to be heard on the other side).

I walk away leaving him standing there shocked.

***

For the first time in ten years, I'm having lunch with my family. We talk about everything; I tell them about the places I studied and about the culture of those places and how the three of us became friends. The servants come to serve our lunch, and Raj checks it before serving it to me.

"Intha maathiri ellam pannatha nan unaku soli irunthen," I reminded him, gritting my teeth. (I asked you not to do such things)

"Ithu ennoda Kadamai, Heiress," He says. (It's my duty, Heiress)

"Pathu varushama nee anguilla intha maathiri sapada check pannavo illa.." I stop, thinking about the bathroom incident and my face becomes flush, "illa matha vishayangala check pannavo," I manage to finish. (Ten years you were not there to check my food or...or other things)

Raj stays quiet but keeps tasting my food, ignoring me. I attempt to stop him, but he holds both of my hands with his one hand. A spark of current flows through my body. I want him to pin my hands in the same way but in a different situation.

"Naalaiku un birthday ellam ready ah irukiya?" Ilakkiya asks me, glaring at him with a bit of annoyance, and I come out of my imagination trail. (So, are you ready for your birthday tomorrow?)

Raj leaves my hand as he finishes checking the quality and goes to have his lunch. I immediately feel the loss of his touch, but I don't show it in front of my family.

"Of Course, yeah, Ithana varusham kazhichu en family ooda celebrate pana pooren. Athu mattum illa intha vaati en friend um kooda irukanga, so romba ve excited ah iruku," I exclaim. (First time with my family after a long time. I'm extremely excited also this time my friends are also with me)

"Then be ready for the blast, tomorrow," Ilakkiya says.

"Blast?" Raj questions from the nearby table where the bodyguards were having their lunch.

"Ayya samy, naan kondattam party ah sonnen," She replies. Raj nods his head and continues eating. (Oof oh, I mean birthday bash, party blast)

Irritated Eshwar mama says, "Ivane party, nightclub nu ponnunga pinnadi suthitu irunthan. Ipo nee thirumba vanthathum romba nerimai yaana bodyguard maathiri nadikuran." (He had been a party animal going to nightclubs and picking up girls. Suddenly as you returned, he started acting as a dedicated bodyguard)

All the blood from my face drains as Raj chokes on his food after hearing Eshwar mama's comment. From my childhood, I knew he was a playboy. I still remember the looks that girls were throwing on his way at the Founder's Day fair. Also, he was flirting with me thinking I was someone else. But hearing it from Eshwar Mama, that he has been a man who was spending his nights in nightclubs and partying, had hurt me very badly.

Dad had granted Raj the right to be my guardian and look over the business affairs. My parents trusted him, I trusted him, but he was spending his night in clubs and with women. I want to leave the dining hall, but I see others having their lunch and decide to stay. My appetite is gone, I drop my cutlery and engage in some small talks with the others.