Radha starts to cry and tears roll down her cheeks. Rahini looks at her helplessly and tries to console her.
"Chithi, Please don't cry?" says Rahini with sad voice
"What can I do now, you tell. Look, how is he talking?" says Radha with condemn and cries heavily.
Rahini wipes her tears and comforts her "But Chithi, you tell about this. What Chitapa told about Sanjana are..."
"Yes. Sanjana's womb got damaged in that accident. Ram told me that chances of her getting pregnant is totally ruled out." says Radha with broken voice.
Rahini feels very bad on hearing this. She brings water for her and makes her drink. Radha keeps crying.
"Chithi, I am very sorry. This should have not happened."
"You know, how Ram spoke to me on the phone. His voice showed complete frustration and hopelessness of life in this world. How can a mother tolerate on seeing her child suffering?"
"I can understand your feelings Chithi. Even I am a mother too."
"Had your Chithapa heard his voice on the phone, he would definitely not shout like this. He disconnected his calls several times which I was not aware. Ram was trying to contact me by many means. But somehow today it just happened that I picked up his call. He said to me that he feels like going insane."
"How is Sanjana?" asks Rahini
"Already she did not recover psychologically from her limb loss. He did not inform her about her fertilization problem. Both me and him are scared what would happen after Sanjana knew this. He said that he is not able to handle things alone and he will feel better if somebody backs him up. He did not call me there to be his maid. And your Chitapa did not even allow me to convey what he said. From the moment he spoke, there was quite a lot of fight between us. I am struggling between these two men like anything." says Radha still crying.
"Chithi, What can I say? I cannot tolerate even to hear these things. How Ram Anna is managing things there? Very bad situation it is."
"You tell me. What should I do now? I am not saying that what Ram did to you is correct. I admit whatever both have done to you and to your Chithapa are completely unacceptable. But this is not the time to recollect about them. I wanted your Chithapa to forgive him and support him in this crisis. Instead he is in total rage against him."
"The way Chithapa spoke is not correct. Let me talk to him." says Rahini
"No use. He is not going to change his thoughts. You don't know how adamant he is."
"I know Chithi. But what he don't know is, I am ten times adamant like him. You leave the problem to me. I will solve this. You better start to plan for your tour." says Rahini in smile.
Radha also smiles with some hopes in her eyes. "I forgot to tell you this. He also inquired about you." says Radha with smile.
Rahini turns very much surprised. "What you are saying Chithi. Really?"
"Why would I lie? Truly, he asked about you. Also he watched the program yesterday and he was very surprised to see you taking interview of his company's CEO."
Rahini gets reminded of the information about Ram's job and says "Oh, yeah. I totally forgot. Ram Anna works for Macron corporation, Isn't it?"
"Yes.He said that he is not able to believe that you have grown up this much. Whenever I tell him about your success he did not believe it. He was thinking that I am lying for shutting his mouth. Only yesterday he understood your true victory. He said he wants to talk to you too. But feels very bad and ashamed for the behaviour with you. the accident has changed him a lot." says Radha
Rahini smiles at Radha. But her face turns sad suddenly. Radha notices her expression and turns her face towards her.
"What da Kanna, You got reminded of the old incidents?" asks Radha with pity in her voice.
Rahini tries to smile but only lips smile and not her eyes. Radha hugs her gently and says "I can understand your pain. But God has punished him enough."
"Chithi, I never thought like that. I am not feeling good hearing about him like this. Let me go and talk to Chithapa"
Rahini leaves from the place and goes to the room.
---------
"Appa, I want to talk to you for few minutes." says a young man to Kannapiraan.
Kannapiraan takes his eyes from the newspaper and smiles at him.
"Sure da Kanna." Kannapiraan closes the newspaper and listens to him. The young man looks at Radha who is standing back of Kannapiraan. Radha signals him to say.
"What, you said you want to talk to me and you are looking at her. What is up my sweet son, tell me" says Kannapiraan.
"Appa, How can I say? Actually..." the young man shows hesitation in his speech. Kannapiraan looks at him with surprise.
"What is this? Is my Chatter box got repaired today?" Kannapiraan teases his son. The young man looks timidly at Kannapiraan.
"Ram, What is this? What happened to you today? Just come out and say what you want."
"Appa, Amma told me that you have finalized a girl for my marriage"
"Oh" Kannapiraan looks at Radha and smiles "Your mom cannot keep quiet even for few hours". But Ram did not smile with him. "Yes da kanna. It is finalized. Both me and mom are very pleased with the girl and her family. Sure you will also like her. A perfect match for you in all means. Well educated,very beautiful, very respectful for elders and she has also got visa for US. So post wedding you both can fly together there." says Kannapiraan with enthusiasm in his voice.
"But mindset match is very important, isn't it?" says Ram in same timid voice.
"Of course. I told you that she will be a perfect match. We will visit the bride's home soon and then you decide.After all it is your life."
"Just let him speak what he wants." says Radha with firm but hesitant voice. Kannapiraan looks at her astonished. He then looks at Ram who does not show happiness in his face.
"What is going on here, Ram?" asks Kannapiraan "Ok. I am letting you to speak. Come on speak up."
"Appa" says Ram hesitantly. "I want you to drop this wedding proposal"
"Drop the proposal? What do you mean by that?" asks Kannapiraan with slight anger in his voice.
"Appa, please listen to me. What I want to say is, I am in love with a girl who is working with me in US." says Ram finally with firm but polite voice.
Kannapiraan looks at Ram with shock and he then looks at Radha who is very scared not knowing how to react.Kannapiraan stares at Ram who looks at him with determination that he is not going to back off.
"Love affair you mean?" asks Kannapiraan. After a pause he asks "How many days it is going on?" with mixed expressions.
"For two years, Appa. Her family knew about it and they are fine with us. My visit to India is specifically to settle the matter" says Ram
Kannapiraan does not answer but glares at him. Ram continues "Appa, I am deeply in love with her and want to marry her. She is also well educated,very beautiful, very respectful for elders and caring.Sure you will like her. Please don't refuse for the wedding, Appa." speaks Ram like begging with holding his hands.
Kannapiraan does not answer him still. Ram looks at him with expectation, fear and anxiety. Kannapiraan looks at Radha but she cannot predict what he is thinking.She looks him like 'say yes'. Kannapiraan looks at Ram for a while with some silence.
"Hmm, Shall we conduct your wedding here or in the place of your lover?" asks Kannapiraan in a strict voice to Ram.
Ram looks at Kannapiraan and realises the meaning of what he said. His face immediately turns bright and happy.He starts to smile and Kannapiraan who pretended to be strict also start to smile at him.
"Appa Really?" asks Ram with doubt. He then turns glad on seeing the face of Kannapiraa and says "Thank you very much Appa, Thank you so much". Ram jumps with excitement and delight. He hugs Kannapiraan very tightly. Kannapiraan too hugs him and looks at Radha who is standing with smile and sigh of relief.
"But one thing. Everything should happen as per rituals. I will be very strict in it. Ask her parents to come to our home for further discussion. Is it OK?" asks Kannapiraan to Ram.
"Double OK." answers Ram with full joy. He takes his mobile and talks to his lover. Kannapiraan looks at Radha
"I was really scared about your reaction. Thank God. Nothing unwanted happened." says Radha with happiness.
"Even I saw your face. But what is this? Is this your opinion about me after this much years of life. He is our only son. More than his happiness what else I want for. My only concern is he should not suffer for anything in his life. I hope the girl he chose shall be a good match for him. He should be happy always" says Kannapiraan.
Both of them look at Ram happily.
----------
Appa, Amma, Please come soon. It is getting late.", screams Ram seated in the car.
"Yes. We are coming my dear sweet son" says Kannapiraan who comes outside of the home. He looks at Ram who looks very restless and tensed. Kannapiraan laughs at his expression.
"Appa, What is this? Where is Amma?" asks Ram.
Kannapiraan turns towards the entrance and says "Radha, better come soon before our son leaves us to bride's house and gets engaged by himself" teases Kannapiraan with smile.
Radha stands at entrance of the house carrying a bag. "Just wait and don't hurry up. We should not start at inauspicious time, isn't it?" Radha looks at her watch.
"Amma, how much time remaining.?" asks Ram with controlled irritation.
"Wait, just five minutes more." says Radha in a rigid voice. Kannapiraan looks at mother and son and laughs within himself. Five minutes later Radha steps out of the home and locks the house. Both Radha and Kannapiraan get inside the car and Ram drives.
---------
Ram drives the car towards to his lover's house. Kannapiraan looks at his son and gets reminded of his childhood. He smiles at him who is very much eager to get engaged to his lover.
"Ram, Why this much of speed? Just drive slowly." says Radha with worry.
"Radha, your son's ears would be deaf for next few months. No others except your would be daughter-in-law's voice will enter in his ears and hit his head" again Kannapiraan teases his son.
"Appa, Not like that.I am driving with control only. Amma, you don't worry.I am Ok." says Ram with smile.
Radha also smiles with Kannapiraan. "Cannot believe that our Ram has grown this much. I am still in the memory of his birth on the hospital" says Radha with joy in her eyes.
"But I get reminded of our engagement day. Do you remember what fun happened on that day?" asks Kannapiraan to Radha.
"Shh! What is this? Today is our son's engagement. Why do you want to talk about us?" asks Radha in shy.
"Amma, just tell. I am very eager to know." says Ram
"Like how you are very eager to engagement, I was also feeling like that on that day. I have not seen your mom's face before that. My mother lied, I mean, told me that bride is very good looking." says Kannapiraan kidding
Radha looks at him with playful anger. Kannapiraan smiles at her and Ram laughs. He then continues.
"All my relatives reached the venue except me. I got trapped in the traffic and rushed fast in my two wheeler to reach the spot." says Kannapiraan with smile. Radha too smiles with him.
"Then, what happened?" asks Ram
"As I was thinking about my would-be wife's look, beauty etc that I did not notice a lady coming in front"
"Then?" asks Ram with eager.
"There was a heavy bang on the lady and both of them fell on ground. I really cannot forget how horrible that day was. The lady held my shirt tightly and started to shout. The public started to gather and you know about the general mentality of public about who will they support? For next few minutes my life was at stake. On the other hand, bride's and my family were waiting not knowing about my pathetic situation"
Ram listens the story and Radha smiles at Kannapiraan.
"After few minutes, the lady asked for heavy compensation. I said I did not have that much money. Hence she made me to remove my watch, spectacles and even shirt also."
"What shirt also? Really?" exclaims Ram.
"Yes, Thank god she spared me with my trousers. Otherwise..." laughs Kannapiraan with others. "Then I reached venue shirtless much to everyone's embarrassment" says Kannapiraan. Ram also starts laughing like anything. He turns to ask something to Kannapiraan as he did not notice in front of the road.
But Radha notices it and gets shocked on seeing it. She opens her mouth and screams "Ram, watch out!".
Ram quickly turns in front and realizes the situation. He immediately pushes the brake and stops the car. But everything was too late by the time.
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