Ashok dragged her forcibly into one of the rooms after throwing away the Bluetooth and asked the guard to bolt all the doors from inside.
He took her into the room and locked it from inside.

"Nalla pala pala nu than chellam irukka. First atha gavanippomaaa..."

"Ashok! Vendam Ashok! Periya thappu panra Ashok!"

"Thappu panrathu thappu illa ma, athu yarukum theriyama pannanum...!" 👿

Deepa looked at Ashok in horror as he approached her with an acid bottle. He opened the bottle with full force and hurled it at Deepa....

"Aaaahhhh...."

Deepa shut her eyes tightly unable to look. Moments later she realised that the acid never fell on her. Instead she felt a jerk and a strong hold on her arm.

She opened her eyes slowly and felt a familiar touch. She looked and saw Arjun there. He had pushed her away and had dodged the acid with his hand resulting in some acid falling on his hand, creating a small chemical burn. He yelped in pain

"Annnaaaa...!"
"Deepa nee po...!"
"Anna..unga kai.."

Deepa ran downstairs. She found Arjun's car outside the gate and remembered that the car boot had a first aid box. She quickly unlocked the car with the key she had grabbed from Arjun before running down and took the first aid box
She ran back into Ashok's house inspite of knowing that it was risky. For now nothing seemed more important than treating her brother's burn. After all, he had sustained the burn while trying to save her.

Meanwhile, Ashok confronted Arjun.

Ashok : Heyyyy!! Nee eppdi da ulukulla vantha?! Nee mattom Ippo vanthu irukkalena..un thangachi ah oru vazhi pannirpen. Unakku Enna dhairyam iruntha Enna wave paaka un thangachi ah anupirpa
Inga ulla vara dhroginga veliya uyirode poga mattanga nu unakku theriyadhu?

Arjun (with a smug smile) : Athu mathavanga vishyathula unmaiya irukkalam. Aana Deepa ennode thangachi! Ava mela oru chinna thurumbu kooda pada vida matten
Ippo paatha la. Eppdi vanthen nu.

Meanwhile, Deepa ran into the room with the first aid box and held the injured portion of Arjun's hand delicately.

"Deepa, nee yean da ulla vantha. Po ma.."
"Anna..kaiya kaatunga na..."
"Anna...Bluetooth keela vizhunthu connection cut aayirchu. Appram eppdi na..."

Both the siblings exchanged a tender look. Deepa gently tended to his hand.

Arjun : Nee Intha idam evlo risk aanathu nu therinjum enakkaga ethukagavum kavala padama ulla vantha. Nee enakkaga ivlo senjapo unna kaapatha vendiyathu ennode kadamai...

******

FLASHBACK:

Deepa dropped her Bluetooth and ran. As a result of which Arjun lost connection with Deepa. Till then, Arjun, who was hearing every bit of the happenings in Ashok's house suddenly couldn't hear anything. Both Roja and Arjun who were sitting in front of Arjun's laptop were perplexed.

Roja : Ennachu Arjun sir! Yean thideernu onnume kekkala...

Arjun : Athan enakkum onnum puriyala Roja. Bluetooth disconnect aayirchu pola.

Roja : Bluetooth disconnect aayircha. Appdina Enna aayirkum sir

Arjun : Onnu, Antha Bluetooth keela vizhunthu irukkanum, appdi illaina atha yaravthu pudungi thooki potrukanum
Appothan disconnect aagum.

Roja : Ayiyoo Arjun sir! Ethuva irunthalum Deepa aabathula irukka nu than artham. Namma waste panra ovvoru second um previous sir. Neenga odane Naveen ku phone pannunga

Arjun : itho panren Roja

Arjun dials Naveen's number

Naveen : Sollunga Arjun sir!

Arjun : Naveen anga enna nadakuthu
Deepa ode Bluetooth disconnect aayirchu.

Naveen : Inga onnume velila irunthu theriyala sir
Sir..irunga irunga...etho satham kettuchu. Athu enna nu theriyala. Atha kettutu gate la nikkara guard oruthan ulla odi poran sir

Arjun was already starting his car. He didn't want to waste any moment. Any delay could cost his sister's precious life.

Arjun : Naa ippove varen Naveen. Nee line laye iru.

Naveen stayed in the line and informed Arjun that it was long since the guard went in but didn't come out. Arjun's heart was racing as he sped up his car. He was sure that Deepa was in danger.

Within 5 mins he was in front of Ashok's gate.
Arjun beat up the guard who was at the gate in no time and ran in.
He had to tackle some other henchmen too.

But for Arjun it was no big deal. He was soon outside Ashok's room just as he heard Deepa's screams of panic.

He found a thick iron rod close by, broke open the door and prevented Ashok from throwing the acid on Deepa's face by putting his own hand.

******

Ashok looked at Arjun in some kind of a shock.
Deepa finished tending to his burn and tied a piece of loose gauze over it as per Arjun's instruction.

He snapped his fingers in front of Ashok

Arjun : Ennada mulikara. Ceiling la flashback Ah nalla 4K clarity la paathiya. En thangachi mela acid Ah ootha paathiya. Nee Enna pannalum workout aagathu, ok? Vartaa...

He placed his healthy hand over Deepa's shoulder.

"Nee Vaa da thangam polam.."

Arjun wore his coolers stylishly while Deepa looked at her brother beaming. Both walked away from there, leaving Ashok to grit his teeth.

Ashok : Arjunnnnn...! Un thangachi eppdiyum Naa Gautham kitta pesinatha kettu iruppa. Atha unkittayum solluva. Aana nee nenaikarthu ethuvum nadakathu. Atha paathukarthu en poruppu👿
First Namma Amma sentiment avanuku eppdi therinjithu nu theriyanum...

—————————————————————

Driving back home.

Deepa offered to help Arjun with the gear changing as Arjun's hand was injured.
As he drove with one hand, he looked at Deepa. She looked shaken and worried.

He ruffled her hair affectionately.
"I'm sorry da.."
He said softly.

"Neenga ethukku na sorry kekkaringa...
Ithula unga thappu Enna irukku. Naa than konjam careful ah irunthu irukkanum. Naa careful ah illama ungalayum kasta padithitten"

She said gently holding his bandaged hand.

"Illa Deepa. Naa evlo periya risk aana mission la unna thalli vittuten. Enna irunthalum Intha plan ah pottadhu Naan thane. Enakku Romba guilty ah irukku. Therinje unna aabathula thalli vittuten. Antha Ashok mattom un mela acid oothi unnode virginity ah keduthu irunthan na...ayiyoo nenachu kooda paaka mudiyala"

Arjun shuddered at the mere thought of it

"Athan appdi onnume nadakalaye na. Neenga than sariyana nerathuku vanthu unga uyir ah panayam vechu Enna kaapathitinga la. Appram yean guilty ah laam feel panringa."

Arjun : Thanks Deepa.

Deepa : Anna veetla ketta Enna solla..

Arjun : Naanum un anni um nee college camp ku pogartha sollitom. Aana nee ore naal amma return aayita. Athunala veetla unmaiya than solla porom Deepa.

Deepa : Bayanthurvangale Anna

Arjun : Naa paathukaren da. Nee ethukkum kavala padama va.

Both of them shortly reached home.
Roja was at the door. She immediately hugged Deepa.

Roja : Deepa unakku onnum illa la. Naa Romba pathari poiten theriyuma. Arjun sir nalavela nerathuku vanthu unna kaapathitaru

Sir, ungaluku onnum illa la.

That's when noticed the big gauze on her beloved's hand. She panicked

"Achoo Arjun sir! Enna sir ivlo periya kattu. Enna sir aachu ungaluku" 🥺
"Achoo Roja! Nee ethuvum kavala padatha. Ithu onnum periya kaayam illa. Naa doctor thane. Naa paathukaren. Seekirame gunam aayidum. Nee ulla va Naa ellarayum kooptu ellathayum solren .."

Roja carassed his wound softly and tenderly full of affection. Arjun felt a sprig of blossoms touch him. All his pain and burning sensation seemed to ease down.

All three of them walked into the house. As soon as they reached the centre of the hall, Arjun took the bell from the pooja room and started ringing it. It was the family's trademark way of calling everyone for a talk in the main hall.

As soon as everyone arrived, Arjun confessed everything that he did - his plan, how he sent Deepa, how she got into trouble, how he saved her.

Everyone was dumbstruck

Kalpana : Enna da solra?! Ivlo nadanthu irukku. Neenga 4 perum itha enga ellarkittayum sollama marachitingale da

Arjun (facing down) : Ellarum Enna manichirunga. Naa pannathu thappu than. Unga yarukittayum sollama Deepa va aabathu la pottuten

Prathap : Nee yean Arjun feel panra. Ithu dharma yudham pa. Ithula ethuvum thappu illa.
Nee than nerathuku pou un uyira pathi kooda kavala padama avala kaapathitiye

Annapoorni paati : Athane! Prathap solrathu 100% unmai Arjun

Kalpana : Deepa mattom than enga kozhandai ah. Neeyum thane Arjun. Un kai eppdi pa irukku

Arjun (overwhelmed) : Neenga Ellarum ivlo akkaraiya vum supportive aavum irukkarapo Enakku Enna ma. Naa nalla irukken. Once again am very sorry.

Yashoda : Ada Enna Arjun!
Thirumba thirumba manippu kekkara. Iru, unna eppdi sirrika vekkanum nu Enakku theriyum

As soon as she said this, Malar and Kaushik came running down and hugged both Arjun & Deepa. That's it. That did the magic ✨

The atmosphere became light and joyful.

Roja gently held Arjun and led him to the room to rest while Deepa also went to her room. Others went to carry on with their respective work.

—————————————————

In Rojun's room.

Roja : Sir, kaiya kaatunga sir.

Roja gently undid his bandage and was horrified to see a deep burn.

Roja : Enna sir Ithu..kai ippdi venthu poi irukku

Arjun : Roja roja. Ithu 2nd degree chemical burn injury. Cure aaga 3-4 vaaram aagum. Red swelling and blisters common than. Nee onnum bayapadatha.
Ennode drawer kulla ithukku ointment irukku.

Roja took the ointment and used a peacock feather to gently apply it on his wound. After some tender moments of care, she took a fresh new piece of gauze and tied it loosely over it.

"Valikitha Sir?"
"Huh - uh" 😍
Arjun nodded his head negatively flashing one of his million dollar smiles.

—————————————————

Later that night.
Arjun, Roja & Ashwin were gathered in Deepa's room. Naveen was on video call. They were here to discuss the next course of action.

Deepa : Aayiram kettadhu layum oru nallathu irukkum nu solluvanga la. Athey mathri avan kitta maatikittalum athukku munnadi Namakku thevaiyana information ah collect panniten.

Ashwin : Sollu Deepa! Medical council la avanode aalu yaru nu therinjitha

Deepa : Therinjithu na. Solla pona atha record panna try panrapo vantha notification than ellathukume kaaranam

Roja : Athu yaru Deepa

Deepa : Ashok avara Dr. Gautham nu kooptan. Anna ode license ah poiya cancel panna help pannathu Dr. Gautham. Athukaga ivan Avar ku 25 Crores kudukartha deal pesirkan
But Avar ku athigam theva paduthu pola. Athunala than Ivan phone la tension la kathitu irunthan.

Arjun : Dr. Gautham Mehra va...?!
Avar medical council la Romba periya position la irukkaru. Avara Intha alavukku keel thanama yerangi ivanuku poi help panni irukkaru.

Ashwin : 25 Crores ah?! Oruthan ah azhika ivlo periya dealing ah. Anna Ippo next Enna na panrathu

Arjun : Dr. Mehra va Delhi la poi paakanum

Roja : Ithunala Enna sir palan

Arjun : Palan ethir paakatha Roja. Namma mudinja varaikum ella possiblities ah yum try pannuvom. Solla mudiyathu, Intha Delhi trip Namakku saathagama kooda amayalam

Naveen : Yaru ellam sir porom

Arjun : Nee, Naa, Roja 3 perum than porom Naveen.

Ashwin : Appo naanga?

Arjun : Deepa ippothan periya gandathula irunthu thappichu irukka Ashwin. Ava ippothaiku engayum poga koodathu nu Naa nenaikiren. Ava konja naal veetlaye safe ah irukkatum. Neeyum ava kooda ingaye moral support ah iru. Nee thevai illa Ashwin Delhi varanum nu.

Ashwin : Ok na. Neenga sonna padiye nadakatum.

Naveen : Sir, appo Delhi ku 3 flight tickets book panniduva?

Arjun : Kandippa Naveen. Pannidu. Evlo seekiram mudiyumo avlo seekiram Namma Delhi porom

Roja : Ok sir, nammalum ready aavey iruppom
Ippo Deepa thoongatum sir. Paavam romba poraditta. Ava udambukum manasukum amaidhi theva paduthu.

Turning to Deepa,

"Deepa, naanga ellarume un pakkathulaye than irukkom
Ethavthu thevai na odane ezhupu da. Ethana mani Naalum thayangatha. Ethayum manasula pottu kolapikama nimmathiya thoongu Deepa. Naanga varom"

The three of them left the room after Deepa slept.

———————————————————

Two days later

"We have landed in New Delhi. We wish you a safe and a pleasant stay in this city"

The air hostess was announcing over the mic.  Three people, chasing behind truth, landed in the capital of the country

What does this Delhi trip have in store for the trio?

To be continued.
Thanks for reading. ❤️