Mitra smelt the flowers and said, "Hmmm.... They smell so sweet. I love flowers. They feel so soft. Thank you so much. Aana next time enakku chocolate vaagittu varingala? Neenga US la irukeenga nu Daddy sonnanga. Ange semma tasty chocolates ellam kedakkum la? Daddy thaan pallu kettu poidum nu vaangiye tharamaatanga." Abhi shut Mitra's mouth before she could say any further and apologized to Samyuktha, "Sorry iva konjam vitta romba pesuva." He let go off Mitra and said, "Chellam Selvam uncle vandhaachu paaru. Nee piano class ku kelambu." Mitra smiled and nodded, "Ok daddy. Neenga Queen kooda pesanum nu enna kazhatti vidareenga adhu thaane. Ok. Selvam uncle vaanga namma polaam. Bye Queen. Naan vara varaikkum irupeenga thaane?" Samyuktha smiled and held Mitra's hand saying, "Kandippa iruppen. Unakku bye sollama poga maaten ok?" Mitra nodded, "Okay. By the way, inniki Daddy vizhundhu vizhundu virundhu samachirukaar. Paavam. Kevalama irundhaalum ok nu sollidunga" and she giggled. Abhi pretended to scold her saying, "KD kozhuppu paaru. Seri nee vaai pesinadhu podhum. Kelambu." Mitra waved and with the help of Selvam, left for her piano class.

Abhi smiled and said, "Seriyana vaayadi. Seri, nee freshen up pannanum na washroom ange irukku. Naan elai podaren. Unakku pudicha items ellam samaikka try paneerken. Eppidi vandhirukku nu therila." She smiled back saying, "Kandippa super aa irukkum" and went to use the washroom. When she returned he had set the banana leaf on the table with a tumbler of water next to it. "vaa ukkaru. Unakku thaan Kerala sadhya na avvalo pudikkume so here you go. He started placing the items one by one. Sweet pachadi, thayir pachadi, kaalan, olan, puli inji, beans thoran, vazhakka podimaas, chips, homemade mango pickle, rice, nei, paruppu, sambar, moru curry, rasam, thayir, and of course paal payasam. Samyuktha was shocked and overwhelmed at his effort. He served her and then his own leaf and they ate. Samyuktha asked, "Mitra saapadliya?" He giggled, "Ava morning dosai yum vengaya chutney yum saapta. Lunch ku idhellam pannaren nu sonna udane madam swiggy la avallukku mattum biryani order panna solli saaptuta. 8 vayasu aaga pordhu aana idhellam nalla therinju vachirukka."

Samyuktha didn't know how to ask so she just blurted out, "Mitra oda amma, I mean, unga wife." Abhimanyu laughed out loud, "Mitra oda amma yaaru nu theriyadhu. Enakku wife kalyanam aana thaane varum?" Samyuktha was even more confused, "Konjam puriyara maadhiri sollareengala. Enakku manda vedikkudhu." He smiled at her and said, "Nee first ozhunga saapdu apparam vivarama sollaren." They finished eating and cleaned up. They went to the back verandah and he offered her the swing and he took the garden chair. He cleared his throat and started, "Samyu I was heart broken when you left me that day. Nee ponadhoda nee enna purinjukalainu thaan naan romba odanjutten. Adhukku apparam evvalavo Unna reach panna try panninen but you had blocked me. So naan ennoda work la focus panna arambichen. I worked day and night. I started working out like a maniac. Nothing was working but I continued to divert all my energy into movies. Idhula I became more and more aloof Appo thaan I met Mr. Arjun. This was 5 years back. I had still not overcome the depression of you leaving me. Arjun sir naan nadichittu irundha padathula villain but thangamaana manishan. Oru naaliki enna kooptu vachu Ennachu yedhachu nu kettar. There was something very honest and genuine about his concern so I opened up to him. Onnu theriyuma Samyu, anniki thaan I actually cried. Nee poi 5 years ku apparam. Avar kitta ennoda vedhanaya kottinen Appo avar onnu sonnar. Dei thambi, enakku manasu romba kashtama irukkum podhu naan oru edathukku poven. Namma kashtam ellam marandhu poidum Unna kooteetu pottuma variya nu kettar. Naan ok nu sonnen. Next day he took me to a place that changed my life forever. It was an orphanage. Ange pona udane instant aa oru amaidhi kedachudhu. Ange irundha kozhandhainga kitta onnume illai aana avalo happy ya irundhaanga. Avanga namakaaga pray panninaaga. Adhu oru vera ulagam madiri irundhu. Appo thaan oru kozhandhai pant a izhuthu daddy nu sollichu. Adhu thaan Mitra. Appo avaalukku barely 2 vayasu. Ava mugathula appidi oru sirippu. Ange ava thaan ellaroda kutty kozhandai. Adhu ennamo therila I just felt an instant love. I just picked her up and she hugged me. That hug was so heartwarming. That unconditional love that I received that day changed my perspective and my priorities. I decided to adopt her. That's when they told me that she was slowly losing her vision. She will be completely blind and would be a burden to me but I was stubborn about adopting her. Girl baby ngardhu naala enga ammavum oru caretaker aa register panninom." He laughed sadly saying, "Ennoda celebrity status ku kedacha oru periya advantage enna na two years la I finally got Mitra legally. Andha rendu varshathula I went to see her every day and built a bond with her. I knew that I wanted to be a hands on dad. Amma vera passed away so my priorities changed. I now own a chain of hotels in the city. Franchise madiri. That way I don't have to be away for too long. Mitra school pogumpodhu naan office poitu vandhuduven. My life now revolves around her. She need a donor. Avalukku Idhuvaraikkum oru correct match kedakkale but I will not stop until I make my daughter see."

Samyuktha jumped out of the swing and ran up to him hugging him tightly. She wept uncontrollably. He wrapped his arms around her. Finally, between her whimpering, she said, "I am sorry. I am so so sorry. Ennoda overthinking mind and aarva kollaarla naan ungala appovum purinjukkala ippovum purinjukkala but now I realize how much I love you." She then knelt on the floor saying, "Abhimanyu I made this mistake once but I do not want to make it again. Will you marry me and allow me to be a part of your beautiful family?" Abhi smiled and said, "I have waited for this moment all there years but you know I am a dad now. Indha die ellam pochuna ange ange gray hair etti paakum. Unakku USA la periya velai, maaligai madiri veedu, 3 car garage ellam vittuttu vara mudiyuma? Unga Appa Amma idhukku othupaangala?" She placed her palm on his mouth saying, "Enakku andha Abhi yoda idha Appa Abhimanyu thaan innum pudichirukku and your gray hair is sexy. Aparam USA kedakkardhu. Evano oruthanukku velai paakardhukku naan namba business paathukaren Neenga namma ponna paathukonga. Yes innime Ava namma ponnu. I know that she will always be your priority and I am more than happy to be the next in line. Namma ponna US ku kooteendu poi operation pannalaam. I will sell my palatial house if need be. Adhukaaga atleast use aagattum. As far as Appa and Amma go they will only be proud of the guy their daughter is head over heels in love with." Abhimanyu was speechless. He just held her tightly asking, "Are you sure?" Samyuktha quickly cupped his face and locked his lips with hers and they closed their eyes, enjoying the moment that they had been waiting for, for 10 long years.

Brinda Subramanian