*Long Chapter Alert*

The world she has build with all her love and hopes is now shattered!

The most painful thing,when you realise that there is someone in your most loved one's heart.She leaned on the door and tears made its way on her cheeks.

Her heart ached realising he is not HER Aadhi anymore,her feelings remained just onesided and its going to be,there was no rights for her on him anymore..

Her gaze moved towards the painting she has done.It was a portrait of Aadhi she did for a long and completed just few days ago.It was a picture of him listening to her singing with his head resting on his palm and with a smile. (Episode-His appreciation)

Tears escaped her eyes as she caressed the canvas.
'Avlodhan la Aadhi?En love ku ini arthame illala?',she choked in tears.

Her gaze moved to her cupboard,she opened her cupboard and found many photographs of him,A particular photo caught her attention and she took it in her hands as a memory flashed inside her mind.

It was Aadhi's childhood picture,which was once in Aadhi's room.
'Maa..Nee olunga padichutu iru, I'll be back..', Aadhi moved down as his mom was calling him for the nth time.

Her eyes fell on a photograph,which was on his study table.It was his childhood picture,he was looking more cute and smiling,showing his dimple.

She took the photo and chuckled thinking,'Meesa dhaadi mattum dhan illa..Appovun,Ippovum ore maaridhan irukaaru...'.

Diya had a thought and quickly hid the photo inside her bag.
'Ayoo thirudrome..Thapilla?..Cha everything is fair in love and war..Thapilla thapilla..',she composed herself with a shy smile.

Diya chuckled as tears still flowing down her cheeks.

Her hands moved to his outfit,that day he left in her house.She chuckled remembering that she hadn't returned to him back.

Her eyes fell on another outfit, which Aadhi gave her on those practising days as his shirt was wet of sweat when he changed into a spare one,he asked her to keep it in his bag but our Diya kept it in her's.

Those memories hits her hard which made her collapse on the floor, hugging his shirt tightly.Her sobbings soon turned into hiccups.

She heard her phone ringing sound and it was from Vicky.She attend the call and just remained silent.
'Diyaa...Diyaa are you okay?Nee kelambumbodhu un mogame seri illa?',Vicky asked and she smirked.

'Ellaame mudinjuruchu Vicky...Ellame mudinjudhu..En love story aarambikuradhuku munnadiye mudinju pochu..', Diya said silently crying.
'Enna pesura Diya?Ennaachu?Naan varen ipove veii..',Vicky declined the call.

Each and every memory flashed on her mind.
'Ellame mudinju pochu..',she mumbled clutching his shirt more tighter and closed her eyes as tears escaped from.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as her heart aching more.She wants nothing just to erase this day and went back to the old days.

'Ungaluku enna pudikumo pudikaadho..Oru dhadava atleast orudhadava..Naan ungala evlo love pannirukenu sollanumnu nenache..Aana irundhum illamaye poiduchu en kadhal..Neraya sollanumnu iruku..Aana solla dhan mudiyaadhu.. Yeppavume ini solla mudiyaadhu...'

She cried hugging the shirt more closer and tears became more heavy when she felt his cologne in the shirt.

She heard a door knock,she wiped her tears and opened the door to find Vicky.
'Diya...Azhdhiya?',he asked as he couldn't look at his friends state.

She wordlessly hugged him and cried more and more.All the time she needed a shoulder,to cry and vent out her feelings.And just there God sent Vicky in her life.

Vicky had many friends but Diya was always special to him because none of them gave the importance he wanted than Diya.

He patted her back for a while and she pulled back.His eyes fell on her painting,Aadhi's shirt scattering on her bed.

'Vandhu ukkaaru modhella,thanni kudi..',Vicky gave her a glass of water and she composed herself.
'Enna aachu Diya?',he asked.
'Sonnene Vicky,Ellame mudinju pochu..En love..Kadasi varaiku sollamaye Mudinjuruchu..',she said and he frowned.

'Yen apdi solra?',he asked.
'He is carrying someone in his heart, that's not me!Vera oru ponnu irukaa..Avaru manasula naan illa vera oru ponnudhaan iruka..',Diya said and Vicky was shocked.

Vicky didn't want to ask further,he knew how her mind set would be now.He just pulled her and hugged her by her shoulder.
'Namma namakaanadhu nenaikiradhellam nammalodadhu illa Vicky..

I lost something which I never had!Naan aasa padradhellam,those things were never meant for me!Naan yen da ivlo unlucky ah iruken..',she sobbed and he just patted her shoulder.

He know no words can heal her wound now,he just comforted her with his pats and presence.

'Konjo neram thoongu..You must be tired..',Vicky said and Diya just laid down on the bed.She slowly closed her eyes crying while Vicky patting her arm.

Kavya came up and saw Vicky.
'Is she okay now? Yedhavadhu prechanai ya?', Kavya asked as she worried.
'Problem illa ka, she'll be alright..Paathukonga naan varen..', Vicky left and Kavya too left her after covering Diya with a comforter.

Diya opened her eyes as they left the room.She can't sleep,can she?She know sleep has went so far from her.

Diya woke up with an irritation in her eyes due to lack of sleep when Kavya patted her shoulder.
'Happy Birthday Diya..',Kavya kissed her forehead and Diya smiled weakly.

Diya loves Birthdays.A girl who'll wait and count her days for each and every birthday from the very next day of her last birthday now totally forgot her birthday.
'Thanks ka..',she hugged her and Kavya reciprocated it.

'Sorry ka..Nethu edho mood out..Adhaan unta olunga kooda pesala..',Diya said and Kavya ruffled her hair.

'Loosu, idhukellama sorry kepa..Im happy that you shared it atleast with Vicky..',Kavya said and Diya nodded with a smile.

'Seri are you fine now?',she asked and Diya just smiled.
'Seri,Nee enichadhum Vicky call panna sonnaan,call panni pesu..Naa keela poren..',Kavya said and Diya nodded before Kavya leave.

She dialed him.
'Diya,Thoongi enichiya?',Vicky asked.
'Ipodhan da enichen..', Diya smiled.
'Serii!!!Happy Birthday...Birthday iniku unaku adhu nyabagam vechuko..Varshathodakathulaye azhudhu year ah spoil pannadha...', Vicky said and Diya chuckled.

'Amma thaaye sirichutiya..Seri seri naan varen una pick up panna ready ah iru..',Vicky said.
'Yenga?',she asked.
'Yenga va?Nethe Raghav anna sonnaru la..Hey are you okay,Unaku okay na vaa illaati its okay..',Vicky said.

'Illa da naan varen..Iniku apro ungala ellam adikadi paaka mudiyumanu therila... Varen', Diya said.
'Sure?',he asked.
'Sure..', Diya assured before declining the call.

She sighed and hissed when her headache increased a little.Her nose blocked due to her continuous crying.She just got up from the room and her eyes fell on the painting.

'Idha ungakitta naan love sonnadhuku aprom kuduka vendiya first gift ah irukanumnu nenache..Ini adhuku velaiye illaama pochu..', Diya smirked before leaving into the washroom.

Diya came out and saw a gift box.She smiled opening the box to see a pink saree.
'Happy Birthday my little one',she smiled at her sister's gift and drapped the saree.

Usually Diya will get ready excitedly to meet her brothers especially when there was Aadhi with them.Her face lost the glow which had before.She somehow plastered a smile on her face.She mentally prepared herself not to broke down or not to cry.

'Diya,he wants you to be a good friend,and its really a big day for him!So..Unaku nyabagam irukulla,Un feelings ah moota katti vechutu,cheer him okay?',she said to herself looking at the mirror.

She left her hair free and did a little make up.She was in no mood to admire her infront of the mirror.She sighed heavily and gulped the tears which was ready to fall.

'Happy Birthday Diya ma...',Nila hugged her knees.
'Thank you Nila kutty..',she bent down and kissed her cheek.

'Gift venaama unaku?',Nila asked and Diya nodded.
'Naane oru periya Gift unaku...',Nila said and Diya chuckled at her reply.

Nila frowned as she didn't receive a big response from Diya,If usual Diya have received this reply, she would have never spared Nila giving her usual punishment but all she received is just a chuckle.

'Thala valikudha?',Nila asked touching her forehead and Diya nodded.
'Seriya poidum Diya ma..',Nila kissed Diya's forehead before running away.

Diya is having a bad vibe from morning but she was too tired to notice.
'Kaa...',Diya hugged Kavya tightly.
'Yen da?',Kavya asked and Diya just nodded a no.
'Therila..I just need this..', Diya said and Kavya kissed her temple.

'Poitu vaa.. Refresh aagum..Aadhi audition la select aanadhuku dhana celebration?',Kavya asked and Diya hummed in response.
'Seri,tell him that I wished him..',Kavya said and Diya nodded.

'Diya enaku thideernu un mama nyabagamave iruku..',Kavya said and Diya pulled back.
'Yen?',she asked and Kavya just shrugged.
'Romba yosikaadha ka..', Diya turned when she heard Vicky's horn.

'Seri ka..Naan poitu varen..', Diya said.
'Bathram..',Kavya smiled and Diya left with Vicky.

'Vicky..Yen da oru maari iruka?', Diya asked.
'Huh?Onnum illaye..', Vicky lied.
'Poi solladha pachaiya theriyudhu..', Diya said.
'Onnu illa Diya..Vaa anga poi pesiklam..', Vicky said and Diya remained silent.

They reached Aadhi's house making Diya frown.
'Inga yen da vandhurukom? Restaurant polaya?', Diya asked.
'Naan solradha konjam porumaiya kepiya?',he asked and she frowned more.

'Enna?',she asked.
'Aadhi bro va night la irundhe kaanomam.. Adhaavadhu nethu night unna vittutu avaru veetuku varala...',Vicky said and Diya's eyes widened.
She ran inside and found her brothers and Aadhi's parents.

Meenakshi was crying on Venkatesh's shoulders and he was just sitting still.Her brothers were being silent and restlessness were well visible on their faces.

'Maa..paa..',Diya rushed to them.
'Diya kannaa..Aadhi...', Meenakshi cried hugging her and Diya hugged her back.
'Yenga ma poirupaaru..Inga dhan engeyavadhu pakkathula poirupaaru..Vandhuruvaaru..Paa.. Vandhuruvaaru pa..',Diya said while no reaction from Venkatesh.

'Thangam...Yenga poirupaaru?',Diya asked moving from them to Raghav.
'Therilaye ma',Raghav huffed.
'Namma poi paakalam..',Diya said.
'Nee yedhuku da.. Naanga mattum porom nee amma appa kooda iru..',Pugazh said.

'Illa na ennala nejama nimmadhiya iruka mudiyaadhu naan varen..',Diya said and they nodded.
'Maa,Paa naanga vandharom',they left from there leaving Vicky at the house.

They searched everywhere, wherever he will go usually but no use.
Diya's heart became more heavy,she didn't know what to do,to cry or what..Her mind was completely took over by his thoughts.She just wanted make sure that he is safe.

Her mobile was in silent inside her purse and she didn't even noticed her mobile was ringing for hours.

They didn't know how the day gone,they were exhausted searching almost half of the chennai.
'Yenga ponaan avan...Cheii..',Pugazh sighed.
'Therila da..Yen avan ipdi sollaama ponum..?',Shravan asked.

'Dei nee thirumba try pannu avan phone ku..',Raghav said and Pugazh tried once again but failed.
'Switched off dhan da..',Pugazh sighed.

'Nee Vicky ku call pannu..Ange yedhum vandhaana kelu..',Shravan said to Diya and she nodded.
She took her mobile out and opened her mobile to found numbers of missed calls from Kavya.

'Cha... Phone ah silent la potu vechuruken, edhavadhu emergency ah irukumoo..',Diya cursed herself at her stupidity and again her mobile received a call from Kavya.

She quickly attended it,
'Hello..Hello ka..Enaachu ka?Ithana dhadava call panniruka?', Diya asked and panicked hearing Nila's cry.
'Diya ma....mummyy...mummyyy..',she sobbed hard.

'Amma ku ennaachu da?Enga irukeenga?',Diya asked.
'Hospital la..',Nila said.
'Ho.. Hospital laya?Pakkathula yaaravadhu periyavanga irukaangala.. Yepdi Hospital poneenga?', Diya asked and her breath hitched realising what she just heard.

She walked to her brothers with an emotionless face.
'Enna Thangam call panniya?',Raghav asked.
'Anna..Phone vandhuchu..Akka..Akka erandhuta nu solraanga..Onnum purila na',Diya said and everyone's eyes brimmed in tears.

'Thangam...Enna da solra?Akka..Yaaru sonna?', Raghav asked crying.
'*** Hospital..', Diya said and Raghav engulfed her in a hug while Diya stood still.

She didn't believe what she heard,her eyes were too tired to shed tears.
'Macha.. Hospital polaam da ippo..',Pugazh said and they rushed to hospital.

They saw Nila crying in a corner,Pugazh rushed to her and lifted her in his arms.
'Amma enga da? Ennaachu?',Raghav asked.

'Dhideernu amma mayakkam potu vizhundhutaanga mama...Odambellam chill nu aayiduchu naan bayandhuten..Apo Diya ma ku call pannite irundhe edukave illa..Apro pakkathu veetu paati kitta sonnen,avanga dha hospital kootitu vandhaanga..Apro amma room la irundhu varave illa..',Nila cried.

Diya was sitting with an emotionless face still.
'Inga Patient Kavya oda relative yaaru?', Doctor asked.
'Naanga dha doctor..',Raghav said.

'Umm.. Pugazh nee kozhandhai ya konjo veliya kootitu poo', Raghav said and Pugazh left with Nila.
'Ennaachu Doctor avangaluku?', Raghav asked.
'Avangaluku Brain tumour, Final stage..Unga yaarutayum sollalaya?', Doctor asked and they all looked at Diya and it was another shock for her.

She just shook her head as no.
'Hmm..Avanga oru 5 months ahve check up vandhutu irukaanga but avanga varumbodhe,it was too late.Enga yaaralum edhuvu panna mudila..And it reached it extreme today..We are sorry..Neengalam poi paarunga,Body edukka ambulance varum..Stay strong..',the doctor left while both Shravan and Raghav broke into tears.

'Thangam vaa da..Vaa da poi pakalam..',Raghav said and Diya nodded a no.
'Vaa Diya..', Shravan said and Diya firmly nodded a no.

They didn't force her, Pugazh informed Vicky and he too arrived with Aadhi's parents.Everyone consoled her but Diya didn't even utter a single word nor shedding tears.

'Kannaa..Azhudhura da..Ipdi irukaadha..', Meenakshi said.
'Mudila ma..Idhuku mela azharadhuku odambula thembu illa..', Diya replied with no expression.

She lost her parents,she lost her brother in law,Her most loved one disappeared from her sight and now her sister too left her..Why fate is too cruel with her?

What a Birthday?

They took Kavya's body for the funeral and Diya did all her final rights but a single tear didn't escaped her eyes.

Its been 15 days since Kavya's demise,Diya made Nila sleep who was crying all over night asking Kavya.She left the room after confirmed that Nila has slept.

She sighed at Raghav and sat near him.
'Aadhi pathi edhavadhu therinjudha?',Diya asked.
'Ila da..Thedadha edam illa,visaarikaadha aalu illa..Police complaint kuduthurukomm.. Seekram kedachuruvan ma..',Raghav said and Diya nodded.

'Inga neenga thaniya iruka venaam da..Anga vandhurunga enga kooda..', Meenakshi said.
'Ungaluku edhuku ma kashtam?', Diya asked.
'Oru kashtam um illa thango,vaanga..Poo Nila bag ah pack pannu,naan un bag ah pack panre..', Meenakshi said.

'Illa ma..Neenga veetuku poonga,naan pack pannitu Raghav anna kooda vandharen..', Diya said and both Venkatesh, Meenakshi left.

She packed her bags including memories of both Kavya and Aadhi.She saw a letter in Kavya's cupboard.She opened and started reading it.

Diya,
Indha letter nee padikumbodhu naan irupenna illaya nu enaku therila ma..Brain tumour final stage,enake konjo maasathuku munnadi dhan theriyum..En prechanai ya solli unga nimmadhiya naan kedukka virumbala da,Nee ipodhan happy ah iruka,Romba naal ku apro..Enaku adha vida happiness vera onnume illa da..Adhu kettu poga reason ah naan iruka koodadhu..

Aadhi unkooda irupaaru,Nila va paathuko,Enna nenachu azhudhutulam irukaadha I'll miss you both a lot and I am already missing Madhavan and appa amma..Kandippa neenga avangala romba miss panreenganu avanga kitta sollidren!

Good Bye Diya!Love you!

Diya collapsed on the floor, hugging the letter closer to her chest.She cried her heart out loudly,Raghav rushed to her hearing her crying sound and hugged her tightly.

'Azhudhuru da..Unaku evlo thonudho avlo neram azhudhuru da..',Raghav patted her back.

***

'Diya...',they heard Aadhi's voice and jerked.Diya quickly wiped her tears and Raghav too.

She realised the morning already dawned and she was narrating everything the whole night to Raghav.

'Aadhi...Enichuteengala?', Diya asked and he nodded.
'Nee yeppo enicha?Raghav enna da neeyu inga dhan irukiya?', Aadhi asked and Raghav just nodded.

'Seri ma..',Aadhi smiled.
'Serii Aadhi,naan veetuku poitu varen..',Diya said.
'Naanum varata?..', Aadhi asked and Diya nodded.

'Seri naan ready aayitu vandharen..',Aadhi left inside his room.

'Yepdi thangam?Ithana naal ipdi?Avan munnadi epdi normal ah iruka,ithana naal enga yaarukume therila..', Raghav said.
'Theriya vendiyavangaluke therila..adha vidunga thangam..Aana you should make me a promise!Idhellam enna aanalum neenga Aadhi kitta sollakoodadhu..', Diya said.

'Diyaa...',Raghav was about to deny.
'Please na,mudinjadhu mudinjadhave irukatum..Idha neenga eppavum Aadhi kitta solla koodadhu,idhu en mela promise!',Diya moved from there without waiting for Raghav's reply.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Hello Makkale 👋
Past over!Innu konjo iruku,it will be like Diya explaining to Aadhi! It'll be short one and will be a part of next episode.

-Minnie 🌸