Recap: Veera and Kanmani consummate their marriage.

*********************

Kanmani woke up in the morning and saw Veera's face nuzzled into her chest and her chin resting on his head. Her lips twitched with a blush coating her cheeks as she reminisced the last night's romance between them. She slowly removed him and got down from the bed grabbing their clothes. Veera woke immediately and pulled her back to the bed hugging her from behind.

Kanmani: Veera, everyone must be waiting for us. Let me go now. I will bath first and then you can do. We need to clean the room and wash our clothes before leaving from here.

Veera: Lets bath together and we will do all the chores together.

Kanmani: No, be a good boy and let me go now.

Veera kissed her cheeks and pecked her lips before letting her go.

Kanmani wrapped the saree messily around her and entered the bathroom. She soaked the clothes and completed her bath meanwhile Veera cleaned the room removing all the flowers.

Kanmani walked out with a inskirt tied upto her chest. Veera sat on the bed leaning on the headboard looking at her.

Kanmani: Go bath Veera and I will dress up in the mean time.

Veera: Let me watch you drape the saree and then I will go take a bath. I m your husband and today is our first day after marriage so don't hurt me denying my wish. If you are scared that I will drag you back to the bed then be assured that I will not do anything until night. Now come on start dressing, we don't have all day to stay back here. Everyone must be waiting for us.

Kanmani shook her head and turned to the other side as she started dressing up in the saree Bommi had left. 

When she was done Veera grabbed a towel to bath and looked at Kanmani with a smirk.

Veera: What is the use of turning to the other side when I have a mirror over there ?

Kanmani gasped and Veera entered the washroom with a chuckle. When he walked out drying his hair Kanmani was missing in the room. He quickly wore a shirt and pant and reached the backyard where Kanmani was squeezing the clothes to drain the water from the clothes after washing.

Veera: Give it to me, I will hang them to dry and you dry your hair first.

He took the bucket of clothes and started doing his work. Kanmani dried her hair and lit the lamp in the pooja room. She applied the vermillion on her forehead and Veera kissed her forehead. They locked the door and together they drove to Ranga's home.

Arul and Bommi were sitting on the coir cot in the front of the home cutting onions and tomatoes. On seeing the couple Bommi smirked but Arul hit her on the head.

Ranga and Mathi smiled at the couple calling them inside home. Kanmani and Veera were surprised to see so many casseroles placed on the floor. 

Veera: Mama, namma veetukku yarachum guest varangala enna ? Ivlo samachu irukinga ? ( uncle are we expecting guest at our home ? Why have you cooked so many dishes ?)

Ranga: Not guest but special person and that is my son in law. This is a simple and first feast for my son in law.

Kanmani: So daughter doesn't matter anymore ?

Ranga: You are always special but today my son in law takes a little more special space. Come sit down both of you.

Ranga placed a plantain leaf before the couples and started serving all the food he had cooked with the help of Mathi, Arul and Bommi. Veera was gobsmacked to see Idly, dosa, fish curry, chicken curry, mutton fry, fish fry as breakfast in the very morning.

Kanmani: If you have cooked all these for breakfast then what have you planned for lunch ?

Ranga: Mutton briyani, prawn fry, fish fry, egg curry, 4 sweets and for dinner..

Veera: I won't wake for dinner after eating all these uncle. Don't stress so much. I m still the same Veera and you don't have to do any special treatment for me.

Ranga: I dreamt of this day for years and wanted to do all these for you so don't stop me. 

Arul: start eating by feeding each other. Kannu pick a chicken and stuff in his mouth.

Veera pulled Arul to sit next to him and stuffed a chicken piece in his mouth. Kanmani called Bommi and informed his father to serve for them too. As usual their breakfast was filled with laughter.

Ranga was in the backyard cleaning the prawn when Veera and Kanmani arrived there. Kanmani took the job in her hand and Ranga washed his hand sitting next to Veera.

Veera: Uncle, I couldn't ask you yesterday. Please tell me what did you say to my mother to convince her for the wedding ? I m really curious to know that.

Kanmani stopped for a second but continued her work but all curious to know her father's answers even if somewhere in her heart she knew what could it be.

Ranga: Veera, you have just married so don't worry about that now. From today you and Kanmani will stay here for three days and enjoy my feast for you both. We will talk this later until then you both enjoy, go to movie, temple. Enjoy the vibe of being newly wed.

By evening everyone was seated in the hall watching TV. Ranga called Arul and gave a huge plate to him and gestured him to give it to Veera who was stunned looking at the clothes and jewels placed in it.

Veera: Uncle why are you doing all this ? Please ..

Ranga: This is my love for you Veera. And these jewels belong to Kanmani's mother and some I bought for her. You have to accept it.

Veera called Kanmani and together to received it from Arul and Ranga. Arul took the chain, ring and bracelet and made Veera wear them.

Arul: Now you look like a groom. Come lets take selfie.

They clicked many pictures and by night Ranga, Arul and Mathi decided to stay at Mathi's home leaving the home to the couples.

Veera: Uncle you don't have to leave. Please stay back. There is another for Arul and he can stay there.

Mathi: Let it be Veera. We will return in the morning with breakfast. Lock the door before you go to sleep.

Once they left Veera sat on the couch with Kanmani next to him.

Veera: Kanmani, did you try to know the reason from Arul ? 

Kanmani: I m not asking about anything Veera. Let it be, also appa said that he will let us know so why worry now ?

Veera: I m worried Kannu, what if ..

Kanmani shut his mouth with her palm shaking her head as no.

Kanmani Mv: I know you got the clue when my appa said that we will have to stay here for three days which means we will be sent to Chennai after three days. But I hope that doesn't happen and my appa will not do this to me.

Kanmani: I m tired after eating too much food so I will sleep for sometime.

Veera: Seriously Kanmani ? I m worried of what is running in uncle and my mother's mind.

Kanmani: then stop worrying and come join me. May be we can do something to keep worries away. 

Veera jumped from the couch hugging her and she squealed but shut her mouth immediately.

Veera: This is why they wanted to leave us alone. 

He carried her to the room and laid her on the bed hovering her.

Veera: Missing the flowers on the bed but no problem the jasmines adorning your hair is more than sufficient to vibe the night.

Three days later:

Kanmani sat on the rock in the backyard with her mind running like a thousand miles race making her feel giddy.

Arul who came in search of her saw her feeling restless and fidgeting with the pallu of he saree.

Arul: Kanmani, what are you doing here ? come, appa is calling you.

Kanmani: what happened brother ? Is everything alright ?

Arul: Why do you always fear of something bad happening Kanmani ? Come now, even Veera is looking for you.

The siblings reached the hall of the home and Ranga smiled at her passing a basket of pooja items.

Ranga: Kanmani, you and Veera go to temple and take blessings of the god. by the time when you return the dinner will be ready.

Kanmani: where is Mathi aunty ?

Ranga: She went to her home and will return anytime now. You get going now.

Kanmani saw her father not meeting her eyes and she knew something was sure coming for her, still she nodded her head and saw Veera waiting for her in the bike. She got behind him and they drove to the temple but none spoke a word.

Once they reached the temple the priest informed there was a special pooja for them and made them wait until it was over. Veera and Kanmani sat in the premises of the temple and Kanmani applied a thin line of holy ash on his forehead.

Kanmani: Why are you not talking anything Veera ? You look as if something is bothering you ?

Veera: I don't know Kanmani, amma, uncle and even Arul behave very different today. I m watching them from the morning and they speak through eyes every now and then. I m sure they are upto something.

Kanmani: Lets go home and appa said he will reveal today about the reason he convinced aunty. 

Veera hummed and they drove back home. As soon Veera parked the bike they saw Mathi waiting with luggage and there were few more luggage. Arul and Bommi stood not meeting their eyes.

Kanmani: Appa, why so many luggage ? Is someone going out of village ?

Veera: Maa, why is your luggage here ? Where are you going ?

Mathi: not me Veera. We are going. Everything is packed. Time for us to leave.

Kanmani: You are taking Veera with you ?

Mathi turned to look at her brother who gulped and sauntered to Kanmani. He held her hand and gave a pleading look to her.

Ranga: Kanmani, Veera come inside and we will talk. 

He tried to turn to take Kanmani but she stood rooted.

Kanmani: Please tell us what is going on here appa.

Ranga: Kanmani, I promised your aunty that I will send you and Veera to Chennai with her after three days of your marriage. 

Kanmani's felt her heart shatter hearing his words and tears rolled profusely from her eyes but she stood numb.

Veera: Uncle, what are you saying ? What about Kanmani's wish ? I m not agreeing to this. Amma, please don't do this.

Kanmani: So the new trolley is mine is it ? You packed my clothes too ?

Ranga: Kanmani, trust me this time. I will bring you back at the right time but for now you need to leave with Veera to your home.

Kanmani: My home ? So this is not my home ? 

Veera held Kanmani's hand intertwining their fingers and squeezed a little to comfort her.

Veera: Uncle, we will talk about this later. We are not leaving the village now.

Mathi: Veera, train tickets are booked and we need to leave. Go have dinner and in meanwhile Arul will get the car to drop us at the railway station.

Veera: Why are you so stone hearted maa ? Why are you hurting us like this ? Arul, we trusted you and you too betrayed us right ? You could have told me about their plans and I would have spoke to uncle before you did all these ?

Arul: I m sorry Veera, but this is good for you both. Go stay in Chennai for some days and we will talk about everything later. Please don't hate us. We only want good things to happen in both your life.

Ranga: Kanmani, say something. Come inside and I want to talk to you.

Kanmani: Veera, go get an auto. Lets leave.

Mathi: Thank You Kanmani, thank you so much. We were scared that you will fight with us for this decision but you understood.

Ranga: Kanmani, come inside child. Please.

Kanmani: Thanks for packing my things and calling me inside your home but I prefer to wait outside until my husband gets an auto for us to leave. Hope you don't mind me sitting on your coir cot for sometime.

Kanmani sat on the coir cot with her gaze cast on the floor and Ranga's heart broke completely to look at his daughter. Bommi sobbed and hugged Kanmani  but she refrained from hugging her back. Veera drove away even though he didn't want to leave Kanmani alone.

Arul: Kanmani, do you think we will do bad to you ? I will come to meet you and please speak to appa. He has a reason why he did that.

Kanmani did not spoke a word in response and soon Veera returned with a auto driving behind him.

He placed the luggage and Kanmani straight away walked to the auto and got seated without looking at anyone. Ranga hugged Veera and he patted the oldman's back.

Veera: You did very wrong to Kanmani uncle. She doesn't deserve this. Everyone of you broke her and I feel it would have been better if we stayed without being married instead seeing her broken like this.

Arul: Veera..

Veera: Thank you Arul for everything you did. I will take care of her.

Veera ambled to the auto and Mathi stood next to Ranga.

Mathi: Don't worry brother. They are angry but they will come around and talk to you. I will take care of Kanmani. She is my daughter.

Arul: I will pray Manickam uncle to forgive you for doing this to us, to Veera and Kanmani.

Ranga: Arul

Arul: You took the side your sister but by doing that you took away my sister from me. She was not only a sister to me but I considered her as my child. Look at her now, she doesn't even want to see my face. Go throw all the food you cooked for her. She is leaving without even taking water to quench her thirst.

He kicked the TVS Champ in frustration and sauntered to the auto. He stood next to Veera though the couples refused to exchange any words. Mathi sat next to Kanmani while Veera sat next to the driver leaving the luggage to fill in the back seat.

He gestured the drive to start and their journey for a new beginning started with everyone's bleeding heart. 

They are leaving only to come back stronger on their own.

*******************

A/N:

Please vote and comment

Take care and Thank You