Prathap, Kalpana, Ashwin & Deepa were already worrying about Arjun's absence now. They wondered about where Arjun could be.

Just then they found a letter sticking under the bedside lamp. Ashwin noticed it and immediately pulled it out of there

Ashwin : Arjun than etho ezhudhi vechirkan...

Kalpana: Arjun letter ezhudhi vechirkana. Ennathu nu padi

—————————————————

At Anbalayam

Everyone was excited to welcome Arjun's family, although they had no idea why the entire family had planned to come.

Roja was almost normal now and could walk around, do her chores and even help in the kitchen, but the others didn't allow her to do it.

Now Roja knew why Arjun's family wanted to come, but still she wasn't sure if it was exactly that reason as she still doubted whether they would take up that topic so soon. Nevertheless, she picked a lovely blue saree with violet border, and carefully chose the accessories to go along with it. As she was adorning herself with the accessories, Priya entered the room.

"Kalyana kala ippove vanthurche Roja poo ku.."
Priya said winking 😜
Roja blushed.

"Tho paruda, Roja poo vekka paduthu😁
Madam, Avanga veetuku varen nu than sollirkanga, innum athuthan vishyam ah ney confirm ah theriyala.  Neenga Athukulla engayoooo poitinga..."

Roja (brushing her aside) : Nee Enna Romba vaarra Priya. Azhaga ready aanathu oru kuthama. Antha vishyam ah iruntha than nalla ready aaganuma Enna

Priya : Jokes apart, my dear Roja poo
You look like an angel 😍en kanne patrum pola irukku...

Saying this, Priya did dhristi for Roja, with her fingers. Both giggled 🤭

Priya: Ivlo azhaga irukka. Unna photo eduthe aaganum. Eduthu unnode varungaala purushan ku anupuvoma...

Roja : Intha paaru, photo evlo vena eduthuko. Aana Avar ku ethuvume anupa koodathu. Athan nerla vararu la. Avar Enna first nerla than paakanum 😌Ithu ennode katalai Priya!

Roja told faking a strictness, pointing her index finger at Priya

Priya (bowing meekly) : Utharavu Maharani😄

Both started laughing. Then Roja gave many different poses and Priya clicked her in all angles. They also clicked some selfies together.

Meanwhile downstairs , Shanthamoorthy and others were taking extra care in getting things ready. They had already cooked many dishes, for SM had insisted that they stay over for lunch, when paati had called him to inform that they were coming. And the family too had agreed to stay for lunch. Hence, lunch preparations were going in full swing since morning, and the entire ashramam family were trying to make sure that their guests felt the most welcome.

——————————————————

In Arjun's house...

Prathap, Kalpana, Ashwin and Deepa came downstairs with the letter

Prathap read the contents of the letter
Here's what it said -

To my entire family,
I wish to apologise to all of you. I am very well aware that today is a very important day, and all of you are all set to do something for me, something for my life, something for my future. And today is the stepping stone of that. How I wish I could be a part of all this. But all of you know my profession very well. Medicine is a kind of sacrifice, and a true doctor should be ready to put his family aside, and attend to his profession, whenever need arises, without any hesitation. And today, I'm going to do that. I am choosing my profession over family today. I got a call urgently at 4 am, about an emergency case, which I couldn't refuse. I didn't want to disturb anyone at that time, hence this letter. All of you please proceed. I'll definitely try to join you all, as soon as possible. I know that you'll are very disappointed with me. My sincere apologies 🙏🏼
-Arjun

Everyone let out a long sigh. It was expected.

Paati : Ippdi nadakum nu ethir paathu than Naa annike avan kitta Friday entha commitments um vechikadha nu avlo sonnen. Enga, kadaisila oru proyojanam illama pochu.

Kalpana: Avan ippdi panrathu onnum puthusu illaye athai. Enna porutha varaikum ithukaga nalla vishyatha laam thalli poda vendam athai. Avanga samadhatha thane kekka porom..nichyadhartham than Inniki illaye. Athuvum illama Arjun eh operation mudinja odane vanthu join pannikuren nu sollirkan...Namma poitu vanthurlam athai
Avanga vera anga nammala ethir paathutu iruppanga.. Neenga Vera sapda varom nu othukittinga. Ippo poi varala nu sonna avangalukum thevai illatha kastam thane...

Nobody could deny Kalpana's words.
So as planned, all of them left.

——————————————————

Back to Anbalayam

Shanthamoorthy was standing at the entrance itself.
Soon after, Arjun's family arrived.

SM : Ellarum vaanga Avanga vanthutanga!

Janaki Paati, Raman thatha, Lakshmi Aunty, Rajesh, and the kids all came out.
Paati got down from the car first, followed by others.

Paati : Vanakkam aiyaa 🙏🏼

SM: Vanakkam ma! Vaanga Ellarum ulla

The ashram inmates welcomed them warmly. Arjun's fam was really happy to see the warmth and hospitality.

The minute they entered the main hall and sat down, the ashram kids surrounded Malar and Kaushik.

"Neenga rendu perum enga kooda vangalen. Enga kitta irukkara toys, games, books ellam naanga unga rendu perukum kaatrom. Namma Ellarum vilayadalama?" ☺️

Malar and Kaushik were only too happy to join them. The kids immediately ran to their room.
Shanthamoorthy offered tea / coffee to the fam

Paati : Illainga, naanga oru mukkiyamana vishyam pesanum. Atha pesitu appram naanga Enna vena sapadrom.

Just then Priya came down
"Iva than Priya. Roja ode best friend."
Shanthamoorthy introduced priya to the family.

Paati : Romba santhosham ma. Priya, nee poi Roja va kootitu variya
Priya obeyed.

Then turning to Shanthamoorthy

Paati : Naanga suthi valachu ellam pesala. Nera vey vishyathuku varom.

Roja was just climbing down the stairs, and heard paati's words
She became very happy.

But that happiness was short lived. The minute she climbed down and saw everyone, she noticed that Arjun wasn't there. She was very disappointed. She ran her eyes through the bunch of people sitting two to three times, in the hope of finding her man, but to no avail.
She was hurt. But managed to fake a smile and greeted everyone there.

SM: Enna vishyam ma. Ethuva irunthalum dharalama sollunga

Prathap began : Enga paiyan Arjun ku seekirame kalyanam pannalam nu irukkom

Janaki Paati: Oh appdiya nga. Romba santhoshamana oru seithi ah sollirkinga. Sathiyama solren aiyaa, unga paiyan Arjun thangam. Avara kattika pora Ponnu nejamave kuduthu vechava

Happy about the great impression the ashramam inmates had about Arjun

Prathap continued : Antha athista kaara ponnu yean unga ashramathula irukkara oru ponna irukka koodathu?

SM : Puriyalaye

Kalpana: Puriyara mathriye solrom.
Enga paiyan Arjun ithuvaraikum love athu ithu nu ethukume aasa pattadhu illa. Love nu oru chapter eh avan life la illa nu than vaazhnthan. But Roja avanode hospital la sernthu, first ava than Arjun ah one side ah love panna. Solla pona, Arjun kittayum thanode kaadhal ah velipadaya sollirka. Aana sila pala kaaranangal naala Arjun ava love ah accept pannala.

Anniki function la roja ku adi pattu hospital la irunthale, athu ethu naala theriyuma. Ennode paiyan ode uyira kaapathanum nu en paiyan ku nadaka vendiyatha avale vaangikitta.
Ithu ellam paathu avalode unmaiyana love ah accept pannitan Arjun. Athunala unga ponnu Roja va enga paiyan Arjun ku katti kuduka ungaluku virupama nu therinjika than naanga inga vanthom

Shanthamoorthy was shocked to hear all these revelations. He slowly turned towards Roja.

SM : Roja...Ivanga solrathellam....

Roja could not control herself. She fell at Shanthamoorthy's feet and sought forgiveness whole heartedly, tears rolling down her cheeks

"Appa, Enna manichudunga pa. Ithu thappu than. Athuvum unga kitta marachathu atha vida periya thappu. Neenga enna appdi valakala. Unga nambikkai ah keduthuten la pa"

Shanthamoorthy lifted Roja up from his feet and smiled at her. He then wiped her tears and said -

"Unna nenacha Enakku perumaiya irukku da. Oruthar ah love panni, Antha love kaga unnode uyiraye kuduthu poradi irukka. Love eh vendam nu sonnavaru manasa maathirka, athula irunthu unnode love evlo unmaiyanathu nu Enakku nallavey puriyarthu. Ellathukum mela naangale unakku oru paiyan ah thedi iruntha kooda, ippdi oru thangatha mappilai ah kondu vanthurka mudiyathu. Nee yean Roja manippu kekkara"

Turning to Arjun's family, Shanthamoorthy gave his whole hearted consent to their marriage. He affirmed strongly -

"Entha status entha bhedham Um paakama, panakaranga nu oru thimiru kooda illama, unmaiyana love kaga Inga vanthu pesuringa. Enga roja ku unga veeta vida paathukapana edam irukka mudiyathu, Arjun thambi ah vida oru nalla purushan kedaikave mudiyathu. Padippu, panbu, gunam, mariyathai nu ellame irukku. Innime Roja unga veetu ponnu, naanga ellarume paripooranama Intha kalyanathuku samathikarom"

Everyone in Arjun's family was elated. So was everyone in the ashramam. Ashwin and deepa immediately went near Roja and proclaimed her "Anni" and congratulated her.
The kids just came out and hugged Roja.
Malar and Kaushik exclaimed happily
"Enga arjun mama ku oru vazhiya kalyanam. Enga kooda enga company ku enga kudumbathuku oru puthu member vara poranga" 🥳

Roja was in mixed emotions. She didn't know whether to feel happy or sad. Her wishes were getting fulfilled. Everyone had agreed for the marriage. But, on such an important day, her beloved Arjun was missing. She simply couldn't hide the disappointment. A lone tear escaped her eyes. How eagerly she had got ready for him, and had even prevented Priya from sending pics to him, as she wanted him to see her in person. But he had thrown cold water on all her hopes.

Just then Lakshmi aunty asked-
Ellarum irukkinga, enga mukkiyama Arjun thambi ah kannom? Avar varalaya

Roja felt that she had pulled the words right out of her mouth, the words that she was dying to say.

Yashoda ; Avan aa usual. Over sincere. Etho emergency case nu kaalaila 4 manikke kelambi poitan. Avan varanum nu naangalum than aasa pattom. Athunala Enna, athan Inniki nichyadhartham illaye. Athukku avan irunthale pothum.
Neenga othukittadhu Romba santhosham. Vara Monday vey nichyadhartham vechikalam. Naanga already naala kurichitom, Neenga ok sonna irukkatume nu. Arrangements pathi ellam Neenga kavala padathinga. Location solrom, Neenga kelambi vantha mattom pothum.

Enga veetla irukkara ellarode aasa padi, thatta maathi traditional aavum, ring maathi modern aavum oru hall eduthu pannalam nu engaluku idea. Ungaluku ok va

Janaki Paati : Naanga Enna ma solla porom, Neenga ivlo paathu paathu panrapo. Naanga kandippa enga side arrangements Ah panni kandippa vanthurvom☺️

Paati : Appo Romba santhosham nga 🙏🏼

Arjun's family then had lunch, and left happily. But Roja immediately went inside her room and shut the door

——————————————

Later that night, Roja called up Arjun.
He immediately picked up

Arjun : Roja...🤩

Before he could say anything more, Roja burst out and poured out all her heart to him

Roja : Enna solla poringa sir! Ennode profession ah pathi theriyadha unakku, emergency case, thavirka mudiyala, ithellam thane solla poringa!
Itha kettu kettu pulichu pochu! Enakku unga profession ah pathi theriyama puriyama laam illa, aana atha thaandi Oruthi thanode porantha veeta vittutu, poranthathu la irunthu ava kooda iruntha uravugal ah ellam vittutu ungala nambi vara pora. Avala Neenga ippdithan nadathuvingala. Ungalukaga Naa evlo aasai aasaiya ready anen, ungala evlo ethir paathen nu ungaluku ethavthu theriyuma?! Priya photos eduthu ungaluku anuparen nu sonna, aana Naa...Neenga enna nerla than paaka poringa appdinu en manasula expectations ah valathukitten nga. Athu ennode thappu than. Yean, velai ah mudichitu, Atleast unga family Inga irunthu kelambarthuku munnadi aavthu enna last la paathutu ponum nu ungaluku thonicha?? Ungala pathi nalla purinjirchu. Inniki kalyanathuku munnadiye ippdi irukkinga, naalaiku Naa eppdi nga ungala nambi unga wife ah vararthu? Profession nu vanthuta pondatti entha nilamai la irunthalum vittutu poiduvinga la ARJUN SIR?!

She vented out everything on him. He was stunned. He was at a loss of words. A lone tear that escaped Roja's eyes in the morning, escaped Arjun's eyes now. He was deeply hurt too. He had something totally different to tell her but now he couldn't as he was rendered speechless

Arjun (mindvoice) : Naa enna solla varen nu kooda kekkama ippdi varthai ah alli kottitiye Roja. Ithukku mela Naa atha sonnalum ethavthu proyojanam irukkuma, athu Enakke theriyala Roja...

***********

(Author's note : Longest chapter I have written till date. 😀
Almost touching the 2000 word count. Reviews will be appreciated. Next chapter will be a happy one 😌)

To be continued.
Thanks for reading. ❤️