While Ashwin is getting ready for college to complete the necessary resignation paperwork, Raju left for the office.

Ashwin- "nan poitu vantharen, ethunalum call panunga, apuram juice marakama kudinga apuram... (I'll go there and then come back. call if necessary. Remember to drink the juice.)"

Malini-"pothum da anna, nethu lernthu solitu iruka nanga pathukarom (enough, my dear. You've been saying all of these things since yesterday. We'll be cautious.)"

Ashwin went inside the room, "Sivaangi enoda watch enga iruku? (Sivaangi, where is my watch?)"

Sivaangi- "watch ah nan edukalaye!!!  (Watch!!, I didn't took it)", She was muttering, and Malini could hear her.

Malini- "atha avan kaila than katirukaan, unta thaniah pesa koopdaraan, poo. (That is in his hands only. He wants to speak with you alone. Just leave)"

Sivaangi-" ungalukku epadi? (How do you?)"

Malini-"ippo avan advice panum pothu watch ah matikitae than panaan, un koopda vera ethum karanam thonala pola, athanala athaye kekuthu paaki (He tripped when providing advice just now, and now, without knowing what to ask, he is asking the same thing.)" , she laughed. Sivaangi too laughed with her. 

Ashwin- "Sivaangi seekram vanthu eduthu thaa neramachu (Sivaangi come soon and get it for me. It is getting late)"

Malini- "poo di, koopdaraanla, apuram nan iruken nu kooda pakamataan vanthu arambichuduvaan.  (He might come here and do without seeing that I'm here if you don't leave..)", Sivaangi raced into the room as soon as she was done.

As soon as she entered, Ashwin spun her around and gave her a hug.

Sivaangi- "anni irukaanga (Sister-in-law is here)", she said in a low voice

Ashwin- "irunthutu pogatum, nee yen oru mathiri iruka? (Let her be. Why are you like this?)"

Sivaangi- "athu neenga inga than thangi irukeenganu anga neraiah peruku theirum la (Many people know that you are staying here, right?)"

Ashwin- "amam (Yeah)"

Sivaangi-"oru professor student ah love panrathu, athu... avanga oru mathiri pesiduvangalo ungalannu enaku konjam bayam.... nan unga life la oru black mark mathiri irukeno nu thonuthu (A love between a Professor and a student.. Perhaps they'll make fun of you.. I feel like I became a black mark in your life.)"

Ashwin - "entha padathula irunthu intha dialogue ellam kahtukara?.. munnadi ipadi ellam pesamatiye (From which film are you taking these dialogues? You were not like this before)", Sivaangi glared at him.

Ashwin- "Inga paaru di, nee epavum enaku oru black mark kidaiyathu.. Unala than nan ippo santhosama iruken, atha neum feel panra, but still unaku intha thevaye illatha thoughts um iruku.. enna pannalam?, venum na nan theliya vaikava unaku? (Look at me, dear, you are not a black mark on me. You are the reason for my happiness, and you too felt the same. Still, if you have these unnecessary thoughts in you, then May I clear them? )" , With his base voice, he said in a mocking manner. As usual, she loses track of what she was thinking.

Sivaangi- "athellam vendam, neramagiduchu.. neenga ponga. Mathathu ellam vanthu pathukallam (Not needed. You are getting late. Please go. We will look at this after your return)", she said in a hurry to stop him.

Ashwin- "appo nee ready than illaya? (So you are ready right)?", She became shy and glanced down unable to respond when he raised his eyebrows. He began to trace circles around her waist.

Ashwin- "intha vetkam thandi enna paithiyam aakuthu (My craziness increases as you blush.)" ,  he pinched her waist

Sivaangi- "aah, vidunga enna.. please... anni irukanga (aah, Leave me...Please.. Sister-in-law is here. )"

Malini-" dai, watch thayaruchi mudichuteengana konjam velila vareengala, unna morning vara sonanga.. atleast nee afternoon kulla ponum da. (Dear, Please come when you have done constructing the watches. At the very least, get there before midday because they are expecting you in the morning.)" , she mocked.

Ashwin smiled and kissed her gently. Then he came out again, said all the things to follow in his absence, and then left. 

After he left the house, Soon Malini and Sivaangi too left secretly, without informing both Raju and Ashwin.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In college, Students flocked around him at college and begged him to reject the resignation letter submitted. They pleaded and nearly sobbed.

Principal - "Everyone assemble in the Auditorium. Ashwin sir will speak with you all before leaving " , he sent all the students and then turned to Ashwin, "Please sir, neengale pakureengalla pasanga konjam arrogant aguranga. neenga konjam pesunga (Please Sir, Have a talk with them just for students concern.)"

Ashwin- "Sure sir"

Ashwin stood in front of the mike in the auditorium while the other mikes were distributed to some of the students.

Ashwin- "alugama enna kekanumo kelunga, nama pesi oru mudivukku varalam. (Ask the question you want to ask without crying. Let's discuss and decide.)"

Student 1- "neenga yen sir ippo resign panreenga (Why you resigned your job now?)"

Ashwin - "oru professor ah nan thothuten, so resign panren (I failed as a professor, so I resigned.)"

Student 2 - "unga kadhali-ah nanga thalli vachathala thane neenga resign panreenga? .. Student ah love panrathu matum correct ah (Is that because we left your partner behind? Is it true that a professor and a student can get along?)?

Ashwin- "illa nan student ah kadhalikala, en kadhali thaan inga student ah iruntha. Aduthu, avala thalli vachathukaga nan resign panala... i know to take care of her, nan resign panna karanam nan solli koduthathu oru visayam unga yaar manusalaiume pathiyala, athu than (My lover is a student here, thus I didn't love my student. Secondly, I'm not quitting because of that; I know how to take care of her. I resigned because no one here seemed to remember what I taught them.)", he maintained a calm tone while answering.

Student 3 - "ethu sir pathiyala? (Which one is not?)"

Ashwin- "Nan mathavangala, avanga unarvugala mathika sonen. Yaravathu senjeengala? (Everyone should respect others' feelings, as I teach them to do. Was that followed by anyone?)"

Student 1- "Ippovum neenga Sivaangi pathi thane pesureenga? (Now too, are you taking about Sivaangi?)"

Ashwin- "illa, konja naal munnadi, oru ponnuku fees kata mudiatha nilai vanthathu. appo neenga enna paneenga? (No. A girl struggled to pay the fees a few days before. what each of you did?)"

Student 2 -" ellarkitaium momney collect panni katinom. (We collected money from all and paid )"

Ashwin- "epadi collect panneenga?, antha ponnaye ovovoru class-laium poi ellar munadium ninu, 'enaku padika asaiah iruku, please ungala mundinja udhaviah panunga' nu ketka vacheenga (Your collection methods? You forced that girl to attend each and every class, where she then asked for money by pleading, "I like to study, please give me money that you can.")"

Student 3- "ithula enna thappu iruku sir, keta thane ellarukum antha ponnuku than thevaipaduthunu therium, apuram direct ah avakitaye money koduthanga sir. ithu best idea thane sir. (Sir, what's wrong with that? They won't be aware that she is in need unless we ask them. She received the funds directly from them. This is the best plan.)"

Ashwin- "ungala pathi thaan yosikureenga. Antha ponna pathi yosikala ipavum neenga. ipadi ellarkitaium poi kenja vaikum pothu avalukku evlo avamana irukum, kastama irukum? athuku pathila avaluku sponsors ready panna help panirukalam, atleast govt offer panra loan ku help panirukalam la?, apadi paniruntha antha ponnuku ippo matum illa studies mudiura vairaikume fees pathina kavalai illama irunthirupa, mathavanga munadi mariyathayavum irunthirupa... athu than unmaiana help... en ungaluku athu ethuvume thonala?(You are currently unaware of her perspective as well. Do you not believe that her being begged by everyone will harm her? Why can't you assist her in applying for a government loan or in finding sponsors as an alternative to that? She might benefit from this for the duration of her academic career. Why don't you give that some thought?)"

Student 4 - "ava enga friend than sir.. visayam ellarukum therianum nu than avala pesa sonom. sathyama ipadi nu yosikala... (She is our friend. We just made everyone understand her problem. We didn't expect it to be this way.)"

Ashwin - "friend ku avamanama irukum nu thonalaya? avanga ungaluku matum thane friend, college-la ella lass-laium poi keka vachurukeenga? athu avamanam illaya? antha nimisham ava sinthina kaneer ku neengalum karanam nu ungaluku thonave illaya? (Do you not find this action to be disrespectful? She is merely your friend, and you forced her to stop by each class to solicit money. Also, you are to blame for her sobs.)"

Students stood there with their heads down.

Ashwin - "friendship than perusu nu ninaichen, en friend soluvan , 'anaithai endra varthai anathaiyai ponathu natpu endra varthayal' nu. but apadi epavume irukurathu illai nu inga therinjukiten (It's a terrific friendship, in my opinion. It was once mentioned by a friend of mine that "the term orphan becomes orphan because of the word friend," but I now realize that's not always the case..)"

Student 1- "Oru visayathula thappu panita udane friendship ae thappu-nu sollatheenga sir, yarkitaium solla mudiathatha kooda friends ta sollalam, entha oru relationship laium konjam friendship um irukanum nu ippo ellarum solranga. athe mathiri friends illatha aale kidaithu, nallavan, kettaven, panakaran, yelai, kolakaran ,kollakaran, theeviravathi, ellarukum friends irupanga, yen sila psychos ku kooda friends irukanga. (Please don't use that action to judge our friendship. Anything can be shared with a buddy. They require friendships in all of their relationships. A person can be good or bad, wealthy or poor, a murderer or a robber, or even a psychopath can have friends.)"

Ashwin- "intha college la ellarukum friends irukanga. okay, inga Sivaangi yoda friends kai thookunga pakalam.. (Hence, everyone at this college has buddies. Friends of Sivaangi, raise your hands now.)"

No one raised there hand.

Ashwin- "nallavan, ketaavan, panakaran, yelai, kolakaran, kollakaran.. oru psycho ku kooda nanban irupan nu soneenga, appo yen en Sivaangi-ku mattum illa?, ivangala vida yen Sivaangi enna panna nu othuki vachenga? (You claim that anyone, good or terrible, wealthy or impoverished, a murderer or a thief will have friends, even a psychopath. Why doesn't Sivaangi have a friend? What did she do to deserve this treatment more than what was said above?)", he almost roared making everyone shivered. 

Student 4- "sir, athu pei bayathula...  (Sir, we are afraid of ghost...)"

Ashwin- "athe peiya paathu avanga family la yaarum bayapadalaye.. ava koodave thane irunthanga... Sollapona appo avala unga gossip nala arrest kooda pananga... apavum avanga ava kooda thane irunthanga.. Inga irukura yaravathu Sivaangi ku support panni police ta oru varthai pesirupeengala? .. At least ava nalla irukalanu oru phone panirupeengala? (Despite the anxiety, her family decided to stay. Her family supported her even after the police detained her as a result of the rumours you all spread. Anyone in this room that helped her at the police? At least someone phoned her to check on her after that.)"

students stood silent..

Ashwin- "ungala nen pei-yoda porada sollala, at least nalla irukia nu oru phone panirukalamae?. ellathukum mela, ithe college-la ivlo gossips ku apuram ella staff-um ava kooda pesathane senjom, vera yarukum ethuvum agalaye.. mukiama enaku, I am still alive and standing before you (I made no mention of anyone fighting the spirit. You need to have at the very least called her and inquired about her health. We all worked at this same college and spoke with her, and nothing bad occurred to us. Most importantly, I am here in front of you today.)" 

Students -"sorry sir", they chorused.

Ashwin- "inga thaan nan thothuten, ava depression ku poita neenga ellarum othukunathala.., unga gossips nala. unga munadi ava kastapatapo ellarume mounama atha anumathicheenga.. police ta pesa mudialainalum neenga ninaichuruntha at least antha gossips spread agama thaduthirukalam..  mathavangala mathika solikodutha, nan thothuthu appo thaan.. Ungala en students ah ninaichen, responsible citizen ah matha try panen, mudiala... I failed. I am a looser. (No, I failed. Because of your gossip and isolation, she developed sadness. You were all hushed as she cried out in front of you. Even if you are unable to contact the police Why did you not put a stop to the rumours about her? I urged everyone to be considerate of others' feelings. I considered you to be all my students and wanted to make you all good citizens. But I fell short. As a looser, I am.)"

Student 1 -"sir please, You are not a looser. Nanga thappu pana neenga vitutu poiduveengala? (sir please, You are not a looser. If we made a mistake, will you leave us as such?)"

Student 2-"engaluku inoru chance kodunga sir... please (Give us another chance sir, Please)"

Student 3 -"Naanga unga students sir, Engaluku ethu sari-nu theriala... Responsible citizen ah mara asai padurom... unga mathiri aaga asai padurom, please sir, guide panunga. (We are your students sir, We are unaware of which is right. Please guide us to become a responsible citizen.)"

Ashwin stood silent.

Student 4 -"sivaangi inga again join pana solrom sir, ini ipadi nadakathu sir (Sivaangi too can join here sir, We will not repeat the same)"

Ashwin - "naan sivaangi-kaga pesala. ini ava inga join panamata. naanga satharama pesinalum ini unga kannuku love panra mathiri than therium. I don't want that. Nan ippo pesinathu ungalukaga.. Ungala neengale analyze panunga.. verum gossip nu ninaichu neenga aarvama pesinathu oru ponnoda padipa keduthu veetoda utkara vachirukku... think about it. (She won't join us here, therefore I'm not speaking for her. Even when we converse informally, you all seem like endearing talks. I don't desire. They were recently explained to you. Consider yourself. Your rumours damaged someone's education. Consider this.)"

Students realized and stood silent; Ashwin had ignited something inside of them all.

Ashwin- "okay students, ipavum enaku unga mela kovam ellam illa. enaku saria ungaluku solli thara therialainu thaan eduthukaren. So itha vitrunga please. Nalla padinga. Mudincha konjam responsible citizen agavum irunga (Ok, students I'm not upset with you. Simply put, I failed to preach to you clearly. Simply leave it as is. Study hard, and try to be a good citizen.)"

Students- "sir please don't leave us", They all began to sob and surrounded the door.

Principal -"Sir, nanum ipadi solrene nu ninaikatheenga, konjam reconsider panunga.. They are ready to follow you, And this is the right time to engrave them. You are wise enough to understand this. Just rethink. Till then, I will wait. (Sir, Rethinking your choice is requested. They are prepared to follow you, and now is the ideal time to leave their mark. You're smart enough to realise this. Simply do so. I shall wait until that time.)"

Ashwin- "okay Sir"

Principal -"Students, Nan avara yosika soliruken ipo valiya vidunga. kandipa avar thirumba varuvarunnu nambunga (Students, I urged him to reconsider his choice. Give him space and have faith in his ability to return.)"

Students stood aside for him to exit and bid him farewell in anticipation of his return.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two days later,

Malini- "ellam ready la (is everything  ready? )"

Sivaangi- "amam anni (Yeah sister-in-law)"

Ashwin- " Papa ku snacks eduthukitia? anga iruko illayo? (Did you took snacks for the baby? we are not sure if it is there or not.)"

Raju- "eduthachu daa..  (Taken )"

Malini- "ellam ready porom, thaturom, thookurom (Every aspect is prepared. Simply put, let's end it.)" 

Sivaangi -"vaanga polam (Come.)"

Raju -"Enaku Rakshan ah ninaicha parithabama iruku, enna panna poralugalo (I feel pity for Rakshan. Don't know what they will do?)"

Ashwin- "Enaku Maya va ninaicha than parithabama iruku (I feel pity for Maya)"

Without being aware of the girls' strategy, they all marched towards Rakshan' s home.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How it is?

Suggestions are always welcomed.

Please do vote and comment.

Parvathi Suresh Sharma.