Raj

Koochikitalatam iruku, but cute ah iruka. (Seems like she is pissed but she looks cute.)

Though Thooriga was a couple of feet behind me, I could feel her anger in her walking style. I opened the door of our bedroom and she walked past me. Rudhran and Tina in a different costume were sitting on the sofa and looking eye to eye.

What a surprise!!

Rudhran looked at us casually but he was taken aback when he saw Saby and Tanya. Tina whispered something to him and he nodded his head.

Paavam machan, nee. (I'm feeling very sorry for you, buddy.)

"Wow, my girls look chic." Thooriga whistled as she walked towards them and all three of them met in the middle of the living room for a group hug. "Come, let's go." She hooked her hands with them and almost dragged them towards the door.

Tina and Tanya looked helpless at Saby and Rudhran before the boys looked at me questioningly. "We cannot go as couples until we reach the night club." I walked past the girls and stopped them from opening the door without checking outside.

I peeked out through the peephole and then opened the door when I felt it's clear. "One of you, stay inside." I instructed the newly appointed guards. "Two of you guard the suite from outside and you three come with us." Madan and two guards walked in front in inverted V formation and the girls in the middle with the three of us following behind them.

"Enna panna?" Rudhran whispered to me. (What did you do?)

"Thooriga ku chithappa va kekuriya illa enaku friend ah kekuriya?" I looked both ways whenever we were about to cross a suite door. (Are you asking as my friend or as Thooriga's uncle?)

"Tina's husband." I looked at him surprised but stayed silent as we reached the private elevator and the guards checked it once before letting the girls in.

The few seconds elevator ride was quiet as Thooriga tried to be casual but whenever our eyes clashed through the elevator mirror, she glared at me. We exited the elevator at the floor where the night club is situated and walked, maintaining a distance.

"What a surprise, Mama? I didn't expect this answer."

"College poona apuram la irunthu machan nu thaane kopta ipo enna marupadiyum Mama nu arambichitan?" He gritted out his words. (Since our college you addressed me as Machan. Why all of sudden you resumed addressing me as Mama?)

"Athan sonnen la Akka kum Thooran sir kum kalyanam aanatgu naala nee avaroda thambi naala Mama nu koptan. Same age naala peru solli kopda sonanga." I adjusted my lapels as we followed them. "Nee thaan aniku Vikal.. chi.. Vikranth vanthu pogum pothu Mapillai nu sonnan." I shrugged, inserting my hands in my pocket. (I have already told you. As Chandriga akka and Thooran sir married and as you are his brother, I initially addressed you as Mama. But as we are both of the same age, everyone asked me to use your name.)

"Dei atha dialogue flow ku sonnen da. Hey iru..." He abruptly stopped and I dragged him to walk along Saby and me. "Naan thooriga oda chithappa naala nee onnum ennai Mama nu kopidalaiye?" He gaped at me with shock. (I said that in a flow of the dialogue. Wait! You aren't addressing me as Mama because I'm Thooriga's Paternal uncle, are you?)

"Athuve unaku ipothaan theriyutha?" I shook my head disappointed as he was very slow to catch up. (Now only you are realising that?)

"Pichipudven, rascal. Rendu perum boxing training onnathaan poonom, nyabagam vechiko. " He patted my back. (I'll kill you, Rascal. We went for boxing training together. I hope you remember that.)

"Seri atha vidu. Enna thidirunu Tina purushan nu solra?" I threw my hand on his shoulders. (Leave that. How did all of a sudden you become Tina's husband?)

"Just before Thooriga and you walked out of your room, we decided to implement your plan but you did something and Thooriga took her away." We walked past the line standing for entry and directly entered the club through VIP access.

"It was just a small tease, if she sees any girl approaching me, my tigress will automatically come to mark her territory." Everyone looked at us, especially our girls but averted their eyes when they met mine.

"Overconfidence udambuku aagathu, Thambi." He slapped on my shoulder and we walked into the club looking for a table. (Overconfidence is not good for health, bro)

"Moraiya mathatha da." He chuckled. "I need to share something with you, I'll use that time away." He looked at me, confused but didn't press much as we have to shout over the music, if we have to speak standing near the dance floor. (Don't change the relationship.)

Thooriga pointed out a corner table with the corner couch and followed them. Thooriga sat in the middle with Tina and Tanya on either side. Rudhran and Saby sat next to their respective partners and I sat next to Rudhran. From this table, the entire club could be seen properly.

Nice choice, my angry Kitty.

I looked at Thooriga who was busy whispering something with her friends but she looked my way as if she felt my eyes on her.

"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen," A waitress approached us. "I'm Kirti."

"Kitty?" I looked between her and Thooriga.

"It's Kirti." Thooriga replied to me and looked at the waitress. "He is ageing, so his hearing ability is fading." I glared at Thooriga and she flipped her hair without a care. Rudhran chuckled as if backing her.

"He doesn't seem old." The waitress's eyes scanned me and I leaned back on the couch, crossing my legs. "What can I get for you, sir."

"Iced Soda." I maintained eye contact with her and without seeing, I could feel the heat from Thooriga's gaze.

"One Martini." I heard Thooriga placing her order and looked at her.

"Which one do you prefer, Ma'am? Vodka or Vermouth or..."

"Vodka." Thooriga locked her gaze with mine as she replied. Tina and Tanya ordered a Mojito for each while Rudhran and Saby ordered iced soda for themselves.

"I'll be right back with your drinks." The waitress gave me one last look and left.

"Can't you order a mocktail? We are visiting Tina's family tomorrow."

"It's just one cocktail." She threw her hands out, imitating me before we left our room. "And I know how to handle myself."

"Yeah, I remember." I lifted an eyebrow.

"Enough, both of you." Rudhran spoke an octave above us. "Just the day before yesterday, you both got into a quarrel and it affected everyone. This is your second fight since she returned."

"Third." Thooriga and I said in unison.

"Ithula oru korachal um illa." He glared between both of us. (Yes, the count is very important.)

"Okay, leave it. Did Tina and you check the catalogues I shared?" I mailed him the catalogues sent by the decorators and caterers and asked him to finalise one in each while we were flying.

"Yes, wait a minute." He checked his mobile and I glanced around the dance floor and club for anyone roaming suspiciously. "These." He showed me their names and I mailed them by copy pasting the already drafted letter through reply.

"Did you ask Siva about Mahadev Industries?" I tried not to look Thooriga

"Yeah, I mailed him." He dusted off an invisible lint from his turtleneck shirt.

"Mailed him? Why didn't you call him?" I looked at him with confusion but before he could reply, the waitress returned with our drinks.

She served our drinks neatly but I could feel two set heated eyes on me, one with anger and one with lust. "Would you like to have anything else?"

"Fine. Thank you." Thooriga replied for all.

"Enjoy your evening, sirs and madams." The waitress turned around and left.

I cannot let her drink without tasting and she won't let me test.

I looked at Saby and eyed him towards the dance floor. Thooriga took her drink and was about to take a sip but stopped when she noticed Saby whispering something to Tanya. "What happened?"

"Saby and I are joining the dance floor." Tanya closed her drink and left with Saby.

I looked at the empty place next to Thooriga and leaned forward pretending to stand up but she stood up dragging Tina along with her. "Chitha, I'm taking your wife to the dance floor." I placed a hand on his thigh and Rudhran nodded at her.

Once Thooriga and Tina were a couple of feets away from us, I took my hand off Rudhran and asked him to fetch me Thooriga's drink. He rolled his eyes before passing on the drink to me. "This is why you sent them away?"

I nodded my head before taking a sip from the Martini she ordered and let the liquid flow down my throat.

"When are you going to change, Raj?" He got the drink from me and placed it back at its place, covering it with a lid. "What if anything happens to you?"

"Nothing will happen to me. The hospital is very close and I have emergency medicines with our bodyguard kit." I looked at the newly appointed guards and signalled them to cover the dance floor.

"Until then did you think of Thooriga's state?"

"She will be crying when I'm unconscious and when I get back to consciousness, she will hit me or fight with me. I can handle her anger but I cannot handle seeing her in a worse state." I know that no one can fill my shoes in her life but she at least has Rudhran and others except for the conspirator to take care of her. But I'm not capable of even thinking of anything worse for her. Mentally and emotionally she is stronger than me. "Why didn't you call Siva but mailed?" I changed the topic.

"If I call him, I might have to tell him about the marriage which I don't want to do."

"Why do you not want to tell him?" I looked at him confused before averting my eyes back to the dance floor.

"Not just him, our entire gang." He took his soda and sipped on it. "It's a fake marriage, Raj. I don't want to give false hope to our friends that my life is settled and break it after three years."

I blew out a frustrated breath and turned towards him. "Do you think that in three years it won't become real? As far as I know I have never seen you looking at a girl like you see Tina."

"No way, she is of Thooriga age."

"I'm your age."

"That's different. You both are eligible to marry uncle and niece and it was Thooriga who has been in love with you forever." He threw his hands out. "But..."

"Whatever the but is, Tina is your legally wedded wife and in two weeks you are tying the knot ritually."

"She doesn't care about anything. For her everything is just for the eyes of the world and judiciary. Even if by chance, I want it to be real, she would never want it." My lips curled up into a smirk. "What?"

"So, you want it to be real?" He looked at me confused for a second before realisation hit it. He shook his head and opened his mouth to protect but I threw my arm over his shoulder and closed his mouth with my other hand. "Whatever excuse you are going to say is going to be a lie, so save it. Now listen to me. Tina was at minimal risk when she entered our grounds as Thooriga's friend but you made her one of the potential targets by marrying her. So you have to always stay close to Tina and Taran."

I tell him about the car blast, excluding certain details. I trust him but not his family. "Does anyone in our family know about this?" I shook my head. "Good. You know about my mom."

"Yes and it's time for you to join the dance floor."

"Why? Do you want to join Thooriga?" He raised his eyebrows, playfully.

"You are her uncle." I frowned at him.

"I'm your friend, too." He patted my hand that was thrown around his shoulder.

"I'll join after a while. But you have to go. Don't look around with panic. Your mom and sister are here to spy on you."

~~~~~~~

Ilakkiya

Would he be done with his work or should I have to spend the night in the living room?

After our dinner in the restaurant, Thiyagu Chithappa directly went to the gaming area with Taran. He asked us to check whether Rudhran and Tina are left for the clubbing. The moment we entered the suite, Eshwar left for our room stating he wanted to make a call and not to disturb him.

When we got married, he was a good person. He is still good but he has distanced himself from everyone after certain hurts he went through. In my generation, I was the only daughter with an older and younger brother. Like Thooriga, I was the apple of their eyes and they wanted me to stay with them forever.

Twenty five years back, Eshwar was working as the Chief Estate Manager and he was also the Captain of Harshavardhan Estate football team. He was the choice of my older uncle, Thooran Anna's father, Lingarajan and my father Natarajan's choice. We got married along with Thooran Anna and Chandriga Anni on the same stage.

Initially we were happy and he was promoted as General Manager. Things started to change then. Don't know who has taunted him, but he wanted us to move out of the house. When Periyappa and my father denied and threatened him to not divorce me, he started maintaining a distance from the family.

Though he was angry with them, he was kind to me. But when Anni was pregnant with Thooriga and I couldn't mother his child, he started to distance himself from me too. I was happy with Thooriga, she never gave me the longing of a childless mother.

Relatives started to speak superstitiously stating that two couples shouldn't have got married on the same stage and hence we are childless. To prove them wrong we tried IVF but failed despite our healthiness and money. The doctors suggested surrogacy but Eshwar denied it. He later dropped out of the football team and started to show hatred towards everyone.

Since then, he has been living with us for the namesake but Monday was a surprise. After ten years, after Anna and Anni's death along with many others, he stood by us for support. In the twenty years, it was one of those few moments, he stood by the family. But this time he'll be more involved with the family which might bring him closer.

Not too late to change.

"Ilakkiya?" Chithi's voice brought me out of my thoughts and I looked at her. She leaned towards me and whispered, so that Jagan cannot hear us. "Namma rendu perum poi anga enna nadakuthu nu paapom ah?" My eyes widened and I leaned back. "Don't panic, it's your Chithappa who asked me to do it."

(Shall we both go and check what's happening in the nightclub?)

I turned to look behind me at my room and Jagan. "But Jagan will update Raj if we move out. Also who will stay back here to guard Eshwar?"

"Wait." She looked at Jagan and signalled at him to come near us. "We are going to the gaming area to play with Taran. Will you be coming with us or guarding here?"

"I'll ask Raj sir, Ma'am."

"Don't disturb him. You are third in order, when an emergency occurs and if Raj and Saby are out guarding Thooriga, you might have to act on your decisions."

"Ma'am, but this is not an emergency."

"Do what I say. You stay here and guard Eshwaran. Mohan is already there with Taran and my husband and we will take one of the new guards with us." Jagan nodded at her and I looked at her shocked thinking how she overpowered Raj's orders. "Ilakkiya, you follow me." She stood up and walked towards her room.

"Chithi, namma chinna vayasula paatha amaithiyana pulla Raj ipo illa." I warned her as I followed her. (Chithi, Raj is no longer the quiet boy we had once seen.)

"I've been seeing him since his birth and only for the past two years, I was away from the Mansion." She entered the walk-in closet and opened her wardrobe, taking out a mini travel bag. "His situations and unexpected pressure has changed him but he will never talk back to me."

Raj was the softest and caring of all the kids that grew up within the Harshavardhan Mansion compound. Since he was a relative to Parvathy Chithi and Chandriga Anni, and also his father was the family's Chief Security Officer, he was allowed to mingle with all of us compared to other kids. And because of his silent nature, we let him play with Thooriga.

Raj cared and cherished Thooriga as his world and we can be worry free if he is with her. But something changed when he went to his aunt's house for his high school studies. Whenever he came here during holidays after exams, he was scared and nervous. When he went to college and returned after completing his graduation and post graduation, he was turned into a completely different person with the lifestyle we never expected from him.

After the bomb blast, he completely turned into a person with a tough attitude. We were afraid to let Thooriga with him but they were each other's calming factor. If she was crying uncontrollably in sorrow and any of us couldn't calm her down, he only handled her. She used to huddle up in his arms and he used to rock like she was a little baby until she calmed down. In the process he used to calm down too.

In fact he was one who informed us when she turned into a woman. But when Thooran's Anna will was read and Raj was announced as the legal guardian, he sent Thooriga away from us without our knowledge or a goodbye. When Thiyagu Chithappa confronted him about that and I asked him to bring her back, so that I can adopt her from him if he can't take care of her, he denied.

"Sorry, I can't bring her back or tell you all where she is. It's for everyone's safety. And I cannot protect all."

In the ten years, he became rigid, ruthless, arrogant and distant from us which often led us to have verbal arguments and tauntings. Now after Thooriga's return, she has brought him back to his old self and he started smiling. We all were able to visibly see what we all expected from them since their childhood is now happening. And Thooriga is bringing him back to the proper track.

She is indeed the lucky charm of the family. She returned and the light of the family returned

Parvathy Chithi tapped her arms and gave me a pair of denim pants, t-shirt and a hoodie. "Enna Chithi itha ellam paatha spy pannapora mari illa yaaraiyo kadatha pora mari iruku." I looked at the clothes surprised. (The costume doesn't look like we are going to spy but to kidnap someone.)

"Cowboy hat potutu spy panna porathu ellam antha kala technique. Ithu 2020s, ippadi pona thaan Rudhran kannula chika maatom." She unpacked another pair of dresses. (Wearing a cowboy hat to spy on someone is an old technique. This is the 2020s and this is how we have to dress to be discreet from Rudhran's eyes.)

"So, Chithappa and you have planned everything in advance?" I hugged the clothes and looked at her with a knowing look.

"Yes, even Thooriga and Raj are part of it." She winked at me and my jaw dropped realising she too has recognised what's brewing between them. "But going to check on them is Thiyagu and my plan." She lifted my chin to close my mouth and went inside the bathroom with her set of dresses to change. Chithappa and Chithi have decided to settle these boys down and none can stop them.

Raj and Rudhran are thirty-five and it's high time they settle down for good.

~~~~~~~~
Hey Lovelies,
Hope you have enjoyed this update. Please do vote and share your feedback through comments.

See you soon with the next update.

28/02 - AA
03/03 - TS
06/03 - BH

Thank you & Love
R.K. Tejaswi
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