The sunlight streaming through the window fell on the face of the man sleeping on the sofa, and Bhadran woke up from his sleep. He didn't even know when he had fallen asleep after thinking all night. Narayanan was sitting in front of him as he rubbed his eyes and got up.
Unexpectedly seeing him there, he was startled for a moment and looked to the side. The children were asleep, but Mullai was awake. He looked at her sleepy face for a moment, then turned back to look at his father. When his father asked, "Bhadra, do you understand what you've done?", he sat up straight on the sofa and said casually, "Hmm... I know, Dad..."
With a hint of anger, his father said, "So you tied the thali around that girl's neck knowing all this?" Only then did Mullai look at the thali around her neck. It was gleaming in pure gold. Seeing it, she froze in shock.
"Oh my God, I didn't even remember that he tied the thali around my neck!" she scolded herself. A tremor ran through her body as she realized the truth.
Stammering, unsure what to say to Narayanan's question, he said, "Dad, it was an accident. In the haste to save her, I did it without knowing what I was doing."
His father said, "No matter why you tied it, she is your wife. You are her husband." The moment he said this, both of them shouted, "What...?" Narayanan turned to look at Mullai, but she avoided his gaze and looked down. "Look here, Bhadra, whoever wears your mother's thali (mangalsutra) around her neck is my daughter-in-law. It's now around this girl's neck. So, she is the daughter-in-law of our house," Narayanan said calmly.
An angry Bhadran retorted, "Enough, stop it, Dad... Mom wanted Janvi to be her daughter-in-law, not this girl. Understand that first!"
Narayanan replied, "Bhadra, all that is a closed chapter. You have tied the thali around an innocent girl's neck. And she even has two children. That girl also seems like a good person. You know me very well. I only speak for your good. Just find a way to live properly with her," he finished firmly.
Bhadran countered, "Or else, what will you do?"
Narayanan laughed and said, "Hey, I'm your father. Don't forget that. You might be a big gangster now, but you'll always be my son. If you don't listen to what I say, all the businesses you've been working on are in my name... If you want them in your name, then try to live with her," he threatened.
"Dad...!" Bhadran shouted, smashing the nearby table. Narayanan simply sat there, unfazed, saying, "Your anger won't affect me."
Mullai stood there, trembling at Bhadran's anger. Although she didn't understand what the two of them were talking about, she knew it concerned her. "So what are you trying to say now? That I should live with her, right?" Bhadran asked, gritting his teeth, and the other man nodded his head as if to say, "Yes."
Although anger was boiling inside him, he was in a situation where he couldn't show it, so he reluctantly said, "Okay... I'll live with her, as you say."
Narayanan, his face beaming with joy and a smile, got up and said, "I'm so happy, Bhadran. Today is the happiest day of my life. Bring my daughter-in-law and my grandchildren to our house soon." The moment he said this, Bhadran interrupted him.
"What? To our house? Say to my house! I will never stay in the house where you live," he said, and Narayanan's face fell. Bhadran didn't pay any attention to it. He stood there with a stern expression.
Mullai, who had been frozen in shock listening to their conversation, hadn't fully recovered from the shock yet. She couldn't even digest the fact that she was married, and now the prospect of having to live with him was another devastating blow.
"Our lives are already completely ruined. Just when things were starting to look a little better, everything changed in a single night. They're talking as they please. We don't need any of them. We can take care of our own lives," many thoughts raced through her mind.
Narayanan's voice broke her silence. "Daughter-in-law, even though you're young, you're quite beautiful. By the way, what's your name?" he asked kindly.
Mullai hesitated, wondering whether to answer or not. Before she could say anything, a childish voice said, "My mother's name is Mullai." Narayanan immediately turned around. Vaishnavi and Theeran, who were lying on the bed there, woke up, sat up, and were looking at them.
Seeing them, he affectionately asked enthusiastically, "My darlings, have you woken up?", but the two of them just stared at him without saying anything.
He then went to their side...
He went there and said, "My darlings, I'm no one else, I'm your grandfather. Look, the man standing there, he is your father," and he introduced him to them.
Vaishnavi looked at both of them alternately and asked, tilting her head prettily, "Grandpa, my father has passed away, hasn't he? Who is this new person?"
Enjoying her question, he said, "Darling, he is the one who has married your mother now. From now on, he is everything to your mother. It's the same for you too. He is your father from now on," he explained in a way they could understand.
"Father?" Theeran thought in shock and glared at Bhadran. He didn't like Bhadran at first sight. Bhadran also looked at Theeran, who was staring at him without blinking, and they both glared at each other without backing down.
Sensing their gaze, Narayanan went to Theeran and said, "Son, what's your name?" as he stroked his head. Theeran, however, turned his fiery gaze towards Narayanan. He froze right there. Although he wondered, "Why is this child glaring at me like this?", something struck him.
He looked at Theeran from head to toe and was shocked. Theeran looked exactly like Bhadran's mother. The same facial features. Even the mole on the side of his cheek was like his wife's. He wondered how this was possible and was confused.
Meanwhile, Bhadran asked, "Haven't you left yet?" in an attempt to drive him away. Coming out of his thoughts, he realized that if he stayed there any longer, he would incur Bhadran's wrath, and so he left.
After he left, Bhadran looked at Mullai, who was standing there fidgeting nervously, and said commandingly, "Come with me quickly, bringing the children." Immediately, before Mullai could say something like, "No, we...", Bhadran interrupted her, saying firmly, "Whatever it is, we can talk about it at home. Let's go now," and walked out.
Having no other choice, Mullai took Theeran and Vaishnavi and followed him. If someone were to ask how she was going with him when she didn't even know who he was, it would remain a question mark.
He had saved her. Although she told herself that she was going with him because she had developed a good opinion of him, beyond that, her heart was beating strangely, and it was drawing her towards him without her even realizing it.
Outside, a black Rolls-Royce car was waiting. Bhadran got in and then opened the car door for them. She and the children got in as well.
The car drove straight and stopped at a place. Although Mullai was frightened inside, she showed a brave face and got out of the car. Bhadran went to her side and said without showing any emotion on his face, "This is the house where you will be staying."
Mullai looked up and was astonished. The house was incredibly majestic, resembling a palace. There were many lush green trees, plants, and vines all around. She looked at it in amazement and went inside.
Seeing them arrive, the cook, Ramu, came out from inside and said, "Master, welcome. Janvi madam has come to see you." Bhadran frowned and went inside to see.
She was sitting with her legs crossed, as if it were her own house, and was engrossed in her mobile phone. When he stood in front of her, she looked up at him, became happy, and started talking enthusiastically. "Uncle, you're here? I've been waiting for you for a long time. I fainted because I hadn't eaten properly," she said, but then stopped abruptly, shocked to see Mullai standing behind Bhadran with the children.
The sight of the thali (wedding necklace) around Mullai's neck shocked her even more. Unable to stand properly due to the shock, she stumbled, and pointing towards Mullai, she tried to speak, "Uncle... she..." but the words wouldn't come out.
Without worrying about whether Janvi had found out, Bhadran shouted, "Ramu..." Hearing him, Ramu, who was standing at a distance, quickly ran over and asked respectfully, "Yes, Master?"
"Take them to my room," Bhadran commanded, and Ramu led them away. Dheeran looked at Janvi questioningly as they left.
As Janvi continued to stare at them, Bhadran snapped his fingers in front of her and spoke a few words in an emotionless voice.
"They are people close to me; they will be staying here for a few days. Don't disturb them," he said, and anger began to flare up on her face.
"Uncle, what are you saying? Who are they? And those children...? And the thali around that girl's neck... that's Aunt's, isn't it! Then!... Then...! Did you tie the thali around that girl's neck...? Tell me, Uncle!" she shouted angrily.
Janvi didn't know where she got so much courage from.