When they got out of Rakshan's house, Sivaangi went insane.

Sivaangi-"Anney Ashwin veetukae polam, please Annay (bro, we will go to Ashwin's home, please)."

Raju rolled his eyes and remarked in frustration "sari papa polam(okay, we will)"

Malini-"En amma vala thane nee ippo ipadi kekura?, intha nilaimaila kooda veetuku varamaatia ma?(Is my mother responsible for this decision? Will you not come to my home in his situation?)?"

Sivaangi--"illa anni, neenga thapa ninaikatheenga. Ippo namakku thangam visayatha pathi yosikanum, oru vela aunty-ku theirncha avanga ethavathu prachanai pannuvanga. apuram namaku rendu prachanaiya samalikura mathiri irukum, athaan (No Anni. Don't mistake me. We have to think about the Thangam's issue. If my aunt finds out, this will become a new problem. This could lead to two problems.)", Ashwin stood silent watching it.

Raju-" Ashwin veetuke polam Malu ma, ippo enalaium vera visayatha pathi yosika mudiathu. ellathukum mela mapla kita ellathaium solanum, athuku avan veedu than sari. (She is right. We can go to Ashwin's home Malu ma, I'm not in the mood to go into other thoughts, besides, I need to tell him everything, so his home is the best option.)"

Malini-"sari polam (Okay)" , she accepted.

Everybody's been to Ashwin's house. Everybody set up in Hall and Sivaangi hugged Jeevan. Ashwin served everybody some juice, and took Sivaangi's baby. He started playing with Jeevan, as Sivaangi watched Jeevan.

Ashwin-"Sivaangi ma, nee ennoda Bed room la poi paduthuka, neraia vomit panita. romba tired-ah irukum, Nan papa-voda varen (Sivaangi ma, Go to my bed-room and take rest. Today, you threw up and you look so tired that I'll come with the baby)."

Sivaangi shook his head in agreement and left.

Ashwin-"Malini nee intha room-ku vaa (Malini, you come to this room)" He walked away and she followed him.

Ashwin-"konjam clean panni tharava (Should I clean this up again)?"

Malini--"illana, ithuve clean-ah than iruku (No, This is enough.)"

Ashwin-"konjam paduthu rest edu. Kandathaium yosikatha. Sivaangi-ya nan pathukaren. Papa vayuthula irukum pothu ivlo stress iruka koodathu. athu kulanthaiku nallathu illa. ithu ellam sari agidum da, Thoongu. (Take rest for some time. Don't think so hard. I will take care of Sivaangi. During this pregnant period, you should not have this level of stress. This is not good for the child. Everything will be okay. Sleep tight.)", he caressed her hair gently and said.

Malini-"Enaku therium anna, Nan Rakshan pathi than yosikaren (I know Brother, I am thinking about Rakshan.)"

Ashwin-"athaium nanga pathukarom. Nee papavaium unnaium pathukita thaan, naanga nimathiya rakshan visyatha yosika mudium, Konjam rest edu (We will take care of that too. You just take care of yourself and the baby, so that we can peacefully look into his problems. Take rest.)"

Malini-"hmm", she closed her eyes.

He came back to the room where Raju closed her eyes with deep thought,

Ashwin-"machan"

Raju opened his eyes, "Mapla maya pathi visarika soliruken, enaku therinja payan antha ooru than. Apuram mapla, paapaa... (Mapla, I already told my friend to investigate about Maya, he lives in the same hometown. Then, about papa...)"

Ashwin-"pesalam Machan. Nan ippo poi Sivaangi-ya pakanum. Jeevan -ku vilayatu saman ellam eduthu kodukanum, rhymes podanum. Nee ippo poi Malini kooda iru. avala thoonga vachitu vaa, unnala thaan athu mudium. Nan sivaangi-ya thoonga vachutu varen, apuram namma pesalam. (We will talk later, Machan. I have to take care of Sivaangi now, so I have to give Jeevan toys with a few nursery rhymes to play on television. You go and look after Malini. Put her to sleep, you're the one who can. I'm going to give Sivaangi some sleep. Then we will talk. )"

Raju-"Thanks Mapla"

Ashwin-"poda.. (Leave, Man)"

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Raju went to the Malini Room and watched it. He slept beside her and wiped her tears.

Raju-"alatha Malu ma, Please (Please don't cry Malu ma)"

Malini-"Rakshan-um papava romba pesitaan, paavam ava odanchu poirupa. (Rakshan talked a lot, Sivaangi might have broken.)"

Raju-"hmm"

Malini-"Rakshan-ah ninaichu feel panratha illa Sivaangi-ya ninaichu feel panratha-nu puriala enaku. rendu perumae romba odanchu poi irukaanga (I don't know who to worry about now, neither Rakshan nor Sivaangi. They both are in broken state now.)"

Raj-"hmm"

Malini-"Raj, kekuria illaya (Raju, are you listening or not)?"

Raj-"ketutu thaan iruken. Nee ennaium, un vayuthula irukura papavaium maranthuta (I am listening, You forget me and our Baby )."

Malini-"nan onnum marakala (I didn't)"

Raj-"maranthuta athaan ipadi polambitu iruka. Ne strong ah iruntha thaan ennala ethuvum panna mudium. Maya Rakshan-ah onnum panna matta. Rakshan odanchupoitan thaan, aana Maya pathi mulusa therinchukama nama avana kaapatha mudiathu. Apuram, Sivaangi-ku Ashwin irukan, En Mapla pathupan ellathaiume. (You did, which is why you are rambling like this. I can accomplish anything, but only if you are powerful. Rakshan won't suffer any harm at the hands of Maya. Rakshan is broken now, but without knowing anything about Maya, We can't save him from her. Then, Ashwin will then handle Sivaangi's situation. So don't worry. )"

Malini gave him a questioning look,

Raju-"Nadanthathu ellathaium sonalum, avan mudivula matram irukathu. Enaku therinju avan munnadiae guess panirupan Jeevan papa-voda kulanthai thaan-nu. Mapla kandipa Sivaangi-ya vidamatan. ivlo nadanthum, namma ellaraium avan thaan pathukaran. avan kita kovamo kulapamo illa. avanukku enna nadanthathunu theriala avlo thaan(Even when he is aware of all, nothing will change. He might have known about Jeevan previously, in my opinion. Sivaangi will never see Ashwin leave. He just looked out for us today after so many events. He is neither irate nor perplexed. He simply doesn't know what's going on, that's all.) ."

Malini--"nee solrathu sari thaan. Appo namma Rakshan pathi than yosikanum. (You are right. Then we should think about Rakshan only now.)"

Raju-"Ashwin sonna mathiri avanukku entha abathum illa. ellathaium Maya thooki potalum athula onnu kooda Rakshan kitayo Jeevan kitayo pogala. Nama naalu per kita matum than ava kovatha katuna. athunala avana pathi ippo romba kavala pada vendiathu illa. Nee konjam strong aagu, thoongu appo than Maya yen rakshan kita vantha? avalukku enna venum? itha epadi handle panrathu-nu nan paka mudium (As Ashwin said, He is out of danger. Maya threw everything, but nothing touched Rakshan or the baby. Only four of us received her throws. Rakshan shouldn't be a big deal, then. Be strong, please. Sleep for the time being so I can find out why Maya came to Rakshan? just what does she require? & further factors.)"

Malini--"hmm, Enaku ippo konjam okay va iruku Raj, Ena thoonga vachutu poo, thalai valikuthu. (Hmm. Now I'm calm. Put me to bed, then please leave. I'm also experiencing head pain.)" , she smiled and said.

Raj grinned back and gave her a soft hug; she soon fell asleep from exhaustion.

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Sivaangi is pondering something as she stares at Jeevan in Ashwin's room. Ashwin signed and exhaled deeply.

Ashwin-"ma", Sivaangi turned to him,

Ashwin-"Nadanthatha pathi yosichute irukatha, Itha kudi (Don't think much about the happenings, drink this.)", he again gave her the juice.

Sivaangi-"ethuvum kalanthirukia vaathi (Did you mixed anything in this)?", She said after taking a small drink.

Ashwin-"sleeping pills"

Sivaangi-"hmm, enaku ippo theva than ithu, konjam thoonganum ... ana thookam varala. Thanks pa (mm. Right away, I require it. I would like to sleep, but am unable to. Thanks pa)", She drank it all at once.

Ashwin-"methuva ma, intha oru thadavai thaan. adutha thadavai thara maaten (Have slowly, I only gave it to you once; the next time, it won't be permitted.)", he took the glass from her. 

After some minutes,

Sivaangi-"unkita maraikanum-nu illa pa, Nan promise panirunthen. athan solala (I promised them, so I didn't shared anything with you.)", She said while holding his hand.

Ashwin-"hmm"

Sivaangi-"Ellarum oru point-la ena vendam nu velila poo-nu solranga pa, Situation nala than solranga. Analum romba valikuthu vaathi (Everyone are throwing me out at some point professor. I know it is because of the situation, but it hurts a lot).", She said this with tears welling up in her eyes.

He kissed her eyes as he dried her tears.

Sivaangi-"Vaathi, enaku oru asai... illa rendu asai... niravethuviah ( professor, I have one... no two wishes, Will you make it happen)?"

Ashwin-"sollu ma (Tell me)"

Sivaangi-"yaarum velila poo-nu thoratha mudiatha mathiri nan vaala oru idam venum enaku. kootitu poriah? ,........ velila poo-nu entha situation laium sollatha uravu venum enaku tharuviah? (I need a place from where no one will throw me out... And persons who will not throw me out in spite of situations. Will you give these?)", She asked him while looking longingly in his direction. These words are a result of the effects of the medication.

Ashwin-"Tharen ma (Sure ma)", he kissed her forehead.

Sivaangi-"enaku Jeevan-oda appa yaaru-nu theriathu.. epadi pregnant anenu kooda theriathu, enakaga oru promise pannuviah (Jeevan's biological father may not be known to me. My pregnancy is a mystery to me. Please make me a single promise.)?"

Ashwin-"sollu ma (Tell me)"

Sivaangi-"oru velai unaku enna pidikalaina... una maraka kathukodu vaathi please, una enaku romba pudichuruku. Marupadium aluga thembu illa.. Enaku saagavum theriathu (Please teach me to forget you if you decide you don't like me, Professor. I really like you. I don't have the energy to cry once more. Even I don't know how to die. )"

Ashwin-"I love you Sivaangi ma, sathyama una vitu pogamaten. Yaro panna thapukku nee aluthathu pothum ma. Please ena nambu ma, ini nan epavum un koodathan irupen (I love you Sivaangi ma, I will never leave you. Don't cry for other's mistake. Please believe, I will be with you always)"

a cartoon television scene that made Jeevan laugh at the same time.

Sivaangi-"enaku avana pola sirikanum nu asaiah iruku vaathi (I'd want to laugh like that, Professor.)", She said as she shut her eyes from the effects of the medication and fatigue.

After giving her a forehead kiss and making sure she was comfortable enough to sleep, he left for the hallway.

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Raju was standing by for Ashwin to arrive.

Ashwin-"sollu Machan (Tell Machan)"

Raju-"Nan, Rakshan, Sivaangi ellarum ore street. ava padichathum nanga padicha school than. apadiae palagitom. Ava, 10th-la district first. 12th-la school first. Middle class family than. Ava thaan first ponnu apuram 2 pasanga. Ponnu poraka koodathu nu ninaikura kudumbathula poranthuta... Pavam ava romba santhosama ah irunthathu enga kooda vilayadum pothu thaan. Apuram naanga velaiku ponom... Naan malini ah kadhalichu kalyanam panikiten. Apuram ava college pona, hostel la vitutanga, appo than prachanai arambichathu (I shared a street with Sivaangi, Rakshan, and myself. She attended the same college as us, and we get along there. In the 10th grade, she won the district, and in the 12th, she won the school. Middle class describes her family. Her younger brothers include two. She was born into a household that despises daughters. She will only be content when we play with her. Everything went well; we found jobs; then I fell in love and wed Malini. She also enrolled in college and a hostel. From that point on, everything began.)"

Ashwin keenly listened to him.

Raju--" adikadi vaanthi edukura, romba tired ah irukura nu solli college la irunthu anupi vachurunthanga.. nalla vela papa veetuku kilambarathuku munnadi engalukum phone panni solita illaina.... ( They sent her home, claiming that she frequently vomited and became exhausted as a result. God is great! She let us know before departing for college if not )", He shivered and shut his eyes. Ashwin comforted him by pressing his hand.

Raju--"naanga vanthu pathapo ava amma avala road-la vachi vilakamathala adichutu irunthanga mapla, apadi adichutu irunthanga. Avangala pudichu niruthina, ava appa vanthu belt-ala avala adichanga da. Avanga kita irunthu kaapathurathukulla uyir poiduchu. Appo than sonanga, ava pregnant ah irukaa-nu. Sethudu nee sethudu nu ava kalutha nerika arambichutanga.. oru valiya Sivaangi ya iluthitu vanthutom. Appo rakshan ava kita ena papa nee pregnant ah iruka nu solranga nu ketathuku papa enna sonna theriuma?? (When we go to see her, her mother is severely hitting her on the street with a broomstick on the road. Her father started beating her with a belt as soon as we took her away from her mother. It is quite challenging to protect her from them. Only then do we learn that she is expecting. They nearly made an attempt to murder her. After removing her from their presence, we questioned her about what had happened. You know what she said in response?)"

Ashwin makes a horizontal head nod.

Raju--"ava sonna 'theriala thangam enna panna pregnant avanganu sollu, nan apadi ethum panena nu solren.. nijamave enaku ethum theriala... Romba valikuthu thangam... Vayuthukula papa epadi vanthuchunu theriala' nu sonna mapla..epadi da nanga soluvom avaluku... enna panna kulanthai varum nu? (She said, 'I'm not sure, What should I do to become pregnant? Please advise. Whether or whether I did something similar, I consider and speak. Really, I have no idea.. It is paining a lot. I'm not sure how there is a baby inside me'. How can we say the process to get pregnant?)", He nearly yelled and slammed his palms on his head.



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Parvathi Suresh Sharma