As Ashwin was thinking of how his life used to be few years before, a thought kept lingering in his mind - to talk to his parents or not. He misses them, does so much to hide that feeling, to accept the fact. He knows he's a disappointment to them and without achieving anything if he calls them, it's going to be a shame, that's what he's thinking. 

Ashwin's Dad(Govind): your son's on call, Vasu

Ashwin's Mum(Vasukhi): coming

She came and took the phone from her husband.

Vasukhi: (with all excitement) Hi pa, epdi iruka? 

Ashwin wasn't expecting that's the first word he's going to hear from his mum. He teared hearing her speaking with so much of love. He wasn't ready to continue the conversation, and he ended the call.

Vasukhi: looks like the call got cut, help me get the number pls

Govind: (with a sigh) ivlo naal illama ipo matum yen thideernu, en kita sonnan amma irukangalanu, un kita mattum yen pesala. Ennavo po, ennadha panrano, nenachale enaku BP lam yerudhu morning ae

He dialled back to Ashwin's number and passed to Vasukhi. Ashwin answered the call but didn't utter a word.

Vasukhi: Ashwin? Kanna? Are you there, can you hear me?

Ashwin: haan ma, kekudhu..

Vasukhi: evlo naal aachu un kural ah ketu, epdi pa iruka? 

Ashwin: how are you ma, all good there? how's dad?

Vasukhi: all good da kanna, when are you coming back to us?

Ashwin: ma...

Vasukhi: just come to us, we will see something here itself

Ashwin: no ma, I've not done anything that I can come and stand in front of y'all with a pride, I'm still a loser, just like how I was there. I don't want to make things worst. Missed you both today a little more than usual that's why gave a call after thinking for long. I don't want to disappoint you all more.

The phone was on speaker, Govind heard it all and murmured from the back. 

Govind: Vasu, what are you doing with a disappointment? He's grown up to leave us, find his own way and live on his own. Can't you do the same Vasu? I'm hungry, can we have our brekfast!? 

Ashwin understood his dad's anger towards him and that he's showing it to his wife. He didn't want his mum to go through such things due to him.

Ashwin: ma, unga kural kekanumnu irundhuchu adhu ipo ketuten, thanks ma. Take care, ena pathi worry pana vena. Epo enala konjamavadhu achieve panrano apo vandhu appa va pakren ma. Bye

Ashwin woke up from his dream sweating, recollecting all that which happened. It was such a nightmare for him. For a moment, he really felt it wasn't a dream. He left out a huge sigh, drank some water and sat thinking what is wrong with him and his life. He told himself "there's no way you're going to them or even talking to them before proving who you are to yourself. Either make them proud or don't see them at all". He calmed himself a little and went back to bed.

( F L A S H B A C K )

Ashwin, born and brought up in the US has been a person who's jovial, carefree and looks at life lightly. He studied MBA and had interest to open up his own business, as he can be his own boss, and not work under someone. He had huge plans for his business, he was passionate about it and put in all his hard work towards it. He saved up for this and invested that, with a partner (his uni mate). His partner came up with the idea of investment banking and explained the benefits/future of it. Ashwin was pumped after hearing and was all set for it. Ashwin worked day and night for it, bringing in deals and clients, the business went well. 

However as it was getting picked up, Ashwin wasn't getting his share and credentials. When he confessed about it to his partner, he ghosted Ashwin first and then said "I'm off from this business, don't think it can run anymore. We will get back the money we invested". Ashwin saw his dreams crashing in front of his eyes, he never imagined such a day would come and that the partner he had so much trust would ditch him. 

It took Ashwin months to come out from this trauma but he was still passionate about business. He needed money, he gambled, used up his dad's money, put in that for some random investment with random people. It was all going to waste, nothing helped him, he wasn't getting anywhere close to being an entrepreneur. He realised it one fine day and that's the day he left his home, without letting his parents know that he'll be away for such a long time. He came to India where his good friend is, stayed with him for a month, even there couldn't secure a job as it wasn't a city. Then, after multiple rejections, he secured a job at Chennai and moved in. 

To Be Continued