Raj

"How did we forget this?"

Rudhran and I say in unison and Eshwaran sir scoffs. He was the Defender and Captain of Harshavardhan Estate Football Team and I have seen him playing until I was in my tenth grade.

"Mama, neengale coach panunga, namma intha vattiyum win panuvom." Rudhran asks Eshwaran sir. (Mama, if you train us, we would surely win this game.)

"Vilaiyaadi iruvathu varusham mela aguthu. Ipo antha ellam othu varum ah nu therila. I lost touch." He speaks in general and shakes his head. (It's been twenty years since I have played. I don't think I can coach them.)

"Once a player, always a player, Mapillai. You are just going to bring out the best in them." Thiyagu Mama encourages him.

"I'm just a local player, not a state player like them, Mama." He looks between Thiyagu Mama and Rudhran. "I'm done with my breakfast, I'll better start for the office." He informs Ilakkaiya anni and stands up from his chair before walking to the wash basin at the back corner of the dinning hall.

My lapel comm beeps and I press the button to attend it. "Sir, It's Gate Security. Vikranth Ranganathan is here to meet the family."

Enda unaku vera vela ellam illaiya?

"Let him in." I order the security and inform the family. "Vikranth is here." I look at Rudhran and he rolls his eyes.

"Please stay until he leaves." Ilakkiya Anni stands from her chair and stops Eshwaran sir. He releases a frustrated breath and walks past her. She washes her hands and orders the cook to make coffee for Vikranth before joining Eshwaran Sir in the living room to welcome him.

Not sure when he is going to mingle with the family.

As far as I remember he never had a fun conversation with the family and always behaves as if he is there just for duty. I don't know whether Ilakkiya Anni ever gets tired of running behind him and trying her best to involve him with the family events.

The remaining of us finish our breakfast and meet Vikranth in the living room. Ilakkiya anni introduces him to Thiyagu Mama and Parvathy Athai and Vikranth touches their feet to get their blessings.

"I have heard about you. Which Nathan's son are you?" Thiyagu Mama pats his shoulder before sitting on the main sofa between Thooriga and Parvathy Athai on his right and left respectively.

Rudhran is sitting with his family on the adjacent three seater sofa to the right of Thooriga. Ilakkiya Anni and Eshwaran sir are sitting on the adjacent three seater sofa to the left of Parvathy Athai and I stand between Thooriga and Rudhran.

"I'm Ramanathan and Neelima's son, Thatha." Vikranth sits in the middle of the three seater sofa opposite the main sofa. "Mom and Dad died in a car accident and Uncle found me afterwards."

"Ohh. The second one." Thiyagu Mama nods his head at him. "I always get confused between the names of the three brothers as all their names start with R and end with Nathan."

"Raj, why are you standing? Sit with us." Parvathy Athai instructs me. I look around before looking at Vikranth as only there is a place available next to him in the fourth three seater sofa that decorates the living room. He rolls his eyes before moving aside to the right corner of the sofa.

"Taran, go and play with your Tanya akka." Rudhran moves next to Tina after Taran runs upstairs. "Raj, you sit here." He pats the seat next to him. I cock my head at Saby, signalling him to follow Taran before sitting next to Rudhran. Thooriga gives me a sideway look before maintaining an unaffected posture.

"So, Why are you here, Vikranth?" Thiyagu Mama asks Vikranth.

"I'm here to talk about the football match, Thatha." Vikranth looks between Rudhran and me. "We fixed the date on Sunday but we hadn't finalised the Venue, Referees and other things." A maid arrives and serves him coffee but he gestures to place it on the coffee table.

"You should have dropped by the Estate office to discuss this." I look at him, challengingly. "Estate office is closer to your place."

"Isn't the office used for professional purposes, Uncle?" Yet again he calls me uncle and Rudhran places his hand on my thighs, trying to calm down.

"What's your age, Vikranth?" Parvathy Athai interrupts before he talks any further.

"I'm twenty five, Paati." He replies, cheerfully. "And please call me Vik."

"Raj is my cousin's son and Chandriga's younger cousin. So Thooriga calls him Mama but he is not that old for you to call him Uncle." Parvathy Athai corrects him and Thooriga gives me a secret assuring smile. "You can call him Anna or brother or bro."

"Sure Paati." If Vikranth is irked for the family supporting me, he hides it well behind his smiling face. "Anna," He bites the word out. "As this game is a friendly match between two families in which only friends and family are going to play. I thought of discussing it here."

"Vik, need not get offended." Ilakkiya Anni tries to control the situation. "Raj is not against your visit." I'm exactly against it, Anni, and it's not just me. I look at Rudhran who is as pissed as me. "Everyone was starting for the office and this might delay them. That's why he said so. And please have some coffee."

"Come on, aunty. Who is going to question the CEO and COO?" He shrugs at her as he takes the cup of coffee and points the cup between Rudhran and Eshwaran sir before taking a sip.

"Well, though Tina is my wife and Tanya is her friend, they both are answerable to their superiors and the HR." Vikranth stops drinking his coffee and looks surprised and confused at Rudhran. "And, Though Raj is my cousin and friend, he is very strict and expects punctuality as the Chairman to whom the CEO and COO are answerable." I maintain a cool demure as Vikranth's face loses its colour and he places the coffee cup back on the coffee table.

"Yes. Thooran appointed him as the Chairman and guardian of Thooriga in his will." Thiyagu Mama crosses his legs and pats a hand on his knee. "Now regarding the game, we were also talking about it during breakfast and thought of informing you by this evening. Actually, We have planned to get Rudhran and Tina married publicly."

"Ohh Wow. Congratulations." Vikranth stands up and forwards his hand to Tina first but Rudhran takes it. "Thank you. Since we will be running around for arrangements, we were planning to talk with you about postponing the football match."

"But..." Vikranth tries to stay something but Thiyagu Mama interferes with him. "A football match between Harshavardhan Estate and Ranganathan Estate is not a fun match between friends but a custom which we couldn't continue for the past ten years. You should have discussed this with your uncle and he would have said more about it. We should inform the Ooty Football academy and the Police."

"Why do we need to inform them?" Vikranth looks at Thiyagu Mama confused.

"Because the Referee and other game officials will be sent by the OFA and Police for protection to avoid any disputes during or after the match. We shall have the match in the third week as one of the wedding celebrations at the Mansion lawns."

Vikranth thinks for a while and nods his head. "Okay, Thatha as you all wish. The match should have happened two days back but I requested for this week as I need to find the players. Now when you are asking we shall change the date." He smiles at Thiyagu mama. "We can even have the match after the wedding. We all will have more time to practise too."

"I guess there will be post marriage rituals." Rudhran throws his hand on the backrest of the sofa, behind Tina. "And we will be leaving for our honeymoon." Tina looks at him surprised and Ilakkiya Anni snickers a giggle before everyone looks away from the couple. Thiyagu Mama and Eshwaran sir clears their throat but Rudhran is lost.

"Also we are having other personal and business affairs following his marriage." I glare at Vikranth. "So if the game is one of the wedding celebrations it will be easy to schedule and organise." I place my hand on the back of Rudhran and he comes out of his trance.

"It's not that, Unc.. sorry Anna, Thatha said this game is going to resume the years old custom of the football match between both the Estates. If we schedule it between the marriage and the Harshavardhans who are also the groom's team loses a younger boys team in front of the bride's family due to insufficient time and practise it won't be nice." Vikranth looks at Rudhran and me challengingly.

Rudhran almost stands up to give him a fitting reply or knocks him but stops when an unexpected voice speaks up. "Harshavardhan team has never lost to Ranganathan team." Eshwaran sir leans forward and leans his elbows on his knees, looking at Vikranth. "And this time, a Harshavardhan himself is playing who will be coached by a former player and guided by a senior Harshavardhan." He looks at Thiyagu Mama who nods his head at him. "So they will definitely win the match. It's better you ask your Uncle to find the finest coach and players for your estate team." He smirks at Vikranth and Ilakkiya Athai looks at him in a mix of utter surprise and joy.

But except her, all of us looked at him in utter shock while Vikranth looked at him confused. He scratches his temple and stands up. "It's getting late for the office. I'll go get my things." He informs Ilakkiya Anni with a smile, turns, walks around the living room and climbs up the left side stairs two at a time.

Ilakkiya Anni watches him with dreamy eyes as if she is a teenager who is struck by an infatuation. "I'll go and check whether he needs anything." She follows him, running up the stairs and we all witness the happening in surprise.

Thooriga looks at me, widening her eyes and lifting her eyebrows in surprise and I shrug my shoulders with a slight moment. As far as I remember, in the twenty five years of their marriage life, this is the first time I'm witnessing something like this.

Kula saamy kovil vitutu poitu ipothaan thirumbi vanthu iruka. (You, the deity of the clan has left the temple and returned home recently.

I recall the astrologer's words and indeed Thooriga is the clan's deity. She was born and a lot of good things happened to the family and me. When I sent her away, everyone in the family was living but there was no light in our lives. Now she has returned and slowly the happiness started to return.

I found love. We won Taran's custody. Thiyagu mama and Parvathy athai returned. Rudhran is on his way to finding love. Eshwaran sir is starting to mingle with the family. And now a new found happiness is starting to bud in Ilakkiya Anni's life.

"Well..." Rudhran stands up from his seat. "Tina, call and inform Tanya, we shall also start."

"Okay. You stay here and I'll get our things." Tina gets up and leaves.

I look at Vikranth expectantly and he releases a frustrated breath before standing up. "Then, I'll take my leave. If you people need any help in the wedding arrangements, kindly let me know."

"Thank you." Thiyagu mama stands up. Tanya and Taran descend the right side stairs. "Your family is on the guests list. Do attend without forgetting and wish the couple." He folds his hands up, and Vikranth follows it.

Eshwaran sir and Ilakkiya Anni also reach downstairs followed by Tina. Vikranth wishes goodbye to the family and leaves.

"Ivan moonja paathale irritating aguthu, Mappilla." Rudhran pockets his hand as he watches Vikranth get into his car. (I'm getting irked just by seeing his face, Mapilla.)

"Same here, Mama." I throw my hands over his shoulders and we both laugh .

"Dei, nalla pandreenga neenga rendu perum." Thiyagu Mama comments. "Ivlo varushama pesikatha maariye irunthutu ipo Mappilla Mama nu. Hmm nadathunga." We both give him a sheepish smile but Ilakkiya gives me a knowing look. (You both are great partners in crime combo. All these years you two acted as if you don't speak with each other but now you both are all buddy-buddy. Hmm fine.)

"Okay. Let me know when shall we start practising." Eshwaran sir doesn't look at either of us but speaks in general before leaving. Rudhran and I look at each other in surprise.

"Seri, captain sir, players ellam yaru nu decide panni vainga evening vanthu discuss panren." He pats on my shoulder and nods at Tina and Tanya to start. (So, Captain sir, decide upon who the players are and let's discuss it in the evening.)

"Dei, you be the Captain. I have to take care of your marriage arrangements and other work too." Though our motives are to stop Vikranth from frequenting here, I want him to lead the game in front of his son.

During the match it's going to be teamwork and who gets an opportunity will place a goal. But I don't want to overshadow him. I want him to be the superhero for his son. He thinks for a while on my suggestion and nods his head.

"Okay, I'll be the Captain but you have to be the Vice Captain." I nod my head at him and he leaves with Tina and Tanya after waving at Taran.

"Taran, come let's go and play for sometime." Ilakkiya Anni takes Taran with him. "I'll also join you." Parvathy athai goes along with them.

"Yay!!" Taran hugs her. "Vaanga paati naan en games ellam kaaturen." (Paati, I'll show you all my games.)

Thiyagu mama watches them going upstairs and waits until they disappear before looking at his granddaughter.

"Thooriga, what's the status of our plan?"

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Hey Lovelies,

Hope you all liked this chapter, let me know your feedback through comments.

Meet you next in AA update.

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