As the sun slowly spread its light across the earth, and the birds left their chicks in the nest and flew off in search of food, Mullai's family was hurriedly getting ready to leave for the airport, as if to say, "We will keep pace with your speed."
Mullai, dressed in a simple white salwar kameez, was getting Vaishnavi ready, but since Theeran hadn't yet come out of the bathroom, she called out, "Theera, come quickly, it's already late."
"I'm coming, Mom..." Theeran came out. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, and Mullai took his clothes and came to help him get dressed.
But Theeran stepped back and said, "Mom, I'll put them on myself. I'm not a little child anymore," and taking the clothes from his mother's hand, he went into the dressing room and changed.
Once he was ready, she took both of them outside, made them sit in the car, and then went back inside to get the luggage. "Grandpa, Grandma, we're ready, come quickly," she urged them. "We're coming," they replied and got into the car, which then headed towards the airport.
At the airport, with the plane ready for departure, they quickly got out of the car and hurried inside. As soon as Mullai entered, she looked around, searching for someone. Since the person she was looking for wasn't there, she called them on the phone. As the call was answered on the other side, she said, "Sir, where are you? We've arrived at the airport." The voice on the other end replied, "I've also arrived, Miss Mullai. Just look behind you." She turned around.
Prakash, dressed in a black suit, walked stylishly, running a hand through his hair. He was the owner of the company where Mullai worked. As he approached, Mullai asked impatiently, "Why are you late, sir?"
"Well, Mullai, I woke up late. That's why I'm late," he said, and then, with a hint of expectation, asked, "Did you wait for me for a long time?" Mullai replied, "No, sir, we just arrived too. By the way, sir, isn't anyone else with you?" She asked suspiciously, noticing that he was alone.
He replied, "Miss Mullai, they all said they'll be coming on the next flight. Now, only we are going. Come on, the flight is about to depart." "Let's go inside," he said, and went to Mulla's side to take the luggage from her hand.
Not letting him do that, Theeran stood protectively in front of Mulla. "Uncle, we know how to carry our own things; you mind your own business," Theeran said, his words like a slap in Prakash's face.
Although Prakash felt humiliated, he managed to compose himself and looked down at Theeran. His gaze felt like it was burning Prakash. The same inexplicable feeling that always arose within him whenever he looked at Theeran surfaced again, and he struggled internally, unable to pinpoint exactly what it was.
Outwardly, he said, "Hmm... let's go," and picked up Vaishnavi, who was standing next to Theeran.
They boarded the plane and sat in their seats. Prakash went to sit next to Mulla, but Theeran, not letting him do that either, sat next to her. Disappointed, Prakash sat next to Theeran and kept looking at Mulla.
His eyes were admiring Mulla, and noticing this, Theeran tilted his head in the direction of Prakash's gaze. The one who was admiring Mulla suddenly saw Theeran's face and stumbled, quickly turning away.
Prakash thought to himself, "Why is this little devil threatening me with just his gaze?" He cursed Theeran inwardly and glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, only to find Theeran still glaring at him.
He grinned sheepishly and said, "Theera, I need to tell you something. You won't misunderstand, will you?" As Prakash was subtly trying to broach a subject, Theeran, rubbing his nose with his left hand, said curtly, "That depends on what you're going to say, Uncle." Although his action reminded Prakash of someone, he didn't dwell on it and began to speak what was on his mind.
"Th...at... that Theeran... I... your mother..." he stammered, trying to say something, but before he could finish, Theeran pulled out a small knife from the modern watch on his wrist and showed it to him. Startled, Prakash said, "Nothing, Theeran, I'm getting a call, I'll talk to you later," and pretended to answer a non-existent phone call.
"Oh my god, this little devil is silently threatening me with a knife? I need to be very careful around him, Prakash," he warned himself.
Meanwhile, Theeran thought to himself, "I know what your intentions are, Uncle, but I won't let that happen. It's best for you to stay away from my mother," and he put the knife back into his watch.
Vaishnavi's eyes were drooping with sleep, and Mullai, holding her on her lap and patting her, had her thoughts elsewhere.
Although Mullai had been brave until now, as soon as she boarded the flight, the bitter events of the past came flooding back, tormenting her mind.
Even though time had passed, the humiliations and pain she had suffered remained as unhealed wounds in her heart.
That's all there was. Her eyes welled up, and a single tear rolled down her cheek, which a tender little hand wiped away. Suddenly snapping out of her thoughts, she turned to see that it was Theeran.
Knowing the reason for his mother's tears, he didn't say anything but made his mother lie down on his lap and gently stroked her head with his little fingers. That was all he could do. She cried for a while, feeling his son's lap like her own mother's lap, and then closed her eyes and lay down peacefully.
When Prakash casually turned around, he saw Vaishnavi on Mullai's lap, Mullai on Theeran's lap, and Theeran stroking his mother's head. A faint smile appeared on his lips. To his eyes, Theeran looked like a divine protector.
As soon as the plane landed in Chennai, they got out and boarded the car that was waiting for them. Vaishnavi and Theeran were looking out the window, watching the sights, when the car stopped in front of a house. Prakash took them inside the house.
"Ms. Mullai, you'll be staying here. And later in the afternoon, we have to go to the company, so be ready. I'll come back later," he said, and after telling the grandparents as well, he left. "Mullai, he seems like a good person. Is he your friend?" the grandfather asked. She said, "No, Grandpa, he's my boss. We don't know anyone in Chennai, do we? That's why he's showing us the house," and she started arranging the things she had brought in a room.
At the same time, Bhadran was exercising, sweat pouring down him. Just then, the servant brought coffee and knocked on the door of the room. Bhadran called out imperiously, "Yes, come in." The servant, trembling, handed him the coffee and ran away as quickly as he could.
A little later, Bhadran shouted "Hari!" so loudly that it seemed like the whole house would collapse. Hari, who had just taken off his clothes in the bathroom and was about to take a shower, quickly wrapped a towel around himself and rushed to him.
Bhadran stood there in a fit of rage. "What's wrong? Why are you shouting like this?" Hari hadn't even finished asking when the coffee cup landed on his head. The one who was about to take a shower now had to bathe in coffee. Wiping the coffee from his face, he asked meekly, "Master, what happened?"
A woman was peeking at what was happening from another room.
"Who asked you to bring me coffee?" Bhadran asked angrily. Hari, confused, asked, "When did I bring it?"
But Bhadran warned him, "I've taken you into this house out of pity. Don't take advantage of that. If you do unnecessary things again, I'll finish you off," and he went back into his room as quickly as he had come out.
Hari was left looking bewildered. "Hey, couldn't you have told her directly? Why are you bothering me?" he grumbled. He turned around and saw the woman standing there. Immediately, his expression changed, and he walked away without even looking at her again. The woman's face fell. With teary eyes, she entered her room.
A short while later, Bhadran, stylishly dressed in a suit, came out and sat down at the dining table to eat. Hari also came and sat down, and then the woman from the kitchen brought the idlis and served them. Initially, without looking at her, he took a bite, but the unusual taste made him look up suspiciously.
Seeing the woman standing there with the sambar pot, he threw his plate away and shouted, "Hey! Don't you understand when I tell you something once?" As he lunged to hit her, Hari stopped him, glared at the woman, and dragged Bhadran away.
Watching them go, the woman smiled and said, "How far will you go? I will keep doing things like this until you accept me," and then she went to her room.
The car stopped in front of a very large company building. Bhadran, wearing black sunglasses, got out and walked inside with quick steps. He ignored the employees who greeted him along the way and went to his office room.
Hari followed him, and as soon as Bhadran sat down in his chair, he handed him a document. Bhadran took it, read it, and signed it, then asked Hari, "Hasn't Prakash arrived yet? It's almost time for the Board Meeting. Why isn't he here yet?" Bhadran grumbled, and Hari's face broke out in a sweat.
Bhadran was generally a short-tempered man. And no one knew what he would do if he got angry about office matters. That's why Hari was afraid.