They all reached the parking lot.
“Ok, now Niki I want to know what’s this all about?” asked Kannan in an impatient tone.
“That was… was… a mistake daddy… I am sorry… But…”
“Shut up!” scolded Kannan. He had not expected this scene on his return…
Rangaswami understood what’s going on… He looked at Pooja and she looked dumbfounded… So he chimed in to help both Pooja and Nikhil…
“Mr. Kannan I think you should talk about this later… You are meeting your family after so many years and I don’t think any other topic deserves to be discussed at this moment… We can talk about this later…”
“No Mr.Ranga! This is not just another matter… This is Pooja’s life! Do you think I am pleased to see my son introduced as someone who spoiled this small girl? Pooja is not just any one! She is my friend’s daughter…”
“Friend????!!!” scorned Nikhil.
Gayathri, Kalai and Pratap were quiet…
“Friend or not, I don’t want to hear that my son has done something wrong…”
Pooja was standing quiet all the time… She was at a loss for words… She didn’t know what to say… She could see the hatred in Nikhil’s eyes when Kannan mentioned about her father… It didn’t took her much time to calculate and understand what has happened…
The puzzle is complete now! She thought to herself…
Her mom distanced herself from her thinking that would safeguard her daughter from her father’s wrong doings…
Her husband used her to payback the wrong things her father did to his family…
So she lost both her mom and husband’s affection because of her father!
Her eyes went to Gayathri…
Gayathri’s eyes were still filled with tears but this time there was more of guilty and anxiousness.
Guilty??
So Gayathri is behind all this?
But still Pooja didn’t want to see Gayathri unhappy… she made a sudden decision…
“Uncle, it was a misunderstanding… We met each other, liked each other and got married immediately… And only later we came to know about the problems in our families… Do you think we could stay together with all those differences?”
Ranga looked at Pooja and bit his lips as if to force himself to stay quiet…
Nikhil looked at Pooja but didn’t say anything…
There was a glimpse of hope in Gaytahri’s face and Pooja knew she has understood it right this time!
Kannan looked at Pooja and Nikhil for a few seconds… Then turned towards his wife,
“Gayu, why did you allow him to walk away from her life? This is Pooja! Your Charu’s daughter…”
Gayathri’s lips shivered in nervousness…
“Uncle, aunty doesn’t even know about me… Ranga knows about our marriage because he was the one who signed for us in the registration office… I will not be surprised if aunty doesn’t even know about our marriage…”
Kannan looked at Gayathri again…
Kalai selvi looked at her mother’s face and decided to help her…
“Yes daddy, we are also surprised and shocked just like you… None of us were even aware about their marriage till now…”
“Oh!” said Kannan and thought for a few moments…
“Nikki, marriage life shouldn’t me taken for granted… And that too this is something concerned with Pooja! She saved my life! I can’t let her down! I know you are a grown up son and I haven’t done anything to you as a father… But can I ask you a favor… Or maybe I should say it’s a request…”
“Dad! Please, tell me what do you want me to do?”
“You know what I am thinking, don’t you? You both should start your life fresh…”
Nikhil’s eyes went in the direction of Pooja… Kannan noticed that…
“Pooja, may be you are the one who can take a decision here… Can you please forgive our son and give him another chance? You don’t know how much it hurts me to see you like this… I never imagined a welcome like this… I was expecting a heartwarming, happy meeting with my family…”
Pooja was confused…
She hated Nikhil and she had no intention of starting a new life with him…
Her Eyes again went back to Gayathri… She kept looking at her for a few seconds and then said,
“Yes uncle, I will!”
Gayathri came near her, held her hands warmly and said,
“Thanks Pooja!” in a soft voice.
“Pooja Pooja…”
A hand pulling her right hand brought her back to sense.
It was Kalai!
“Sorry Pooja! Don’t go that side, come here…” she said.
“Why? What’s there?”
“Nothing… Just simply…” said Kalai with a shy smile.
Pooja peeked through in curiosity and saw Kannan and Gayathri sitting in a bench. They were lost in their own conversation.
“O! I am sorry Kalai! I didn’t see them… Good that you stopped me. I don’t want to disturb them either…”
“Yes, they have lost so many precious years and now every second is precious for them…”
“True Kalai…”
Kalai looked at Pooja…
“Pooja, I know you will not like this topic… I am a woman and I can understand how you feel… But can you just listen it for me?”
“Yes tell me! What’s this all about?”
“It’s about my brother… Please try to forgive him Pooja…”
Pooja didn’t say anything she just looked at the beautiful plants in the garden.
“I know it’s difficult for you… But my brother is not really bad. He… May be he should have fought with you in a different way instead of betraying you and stealing away your properties…”
“…”
“But the difficulties and embarrassment we faced have made our heart and mind tough…”
“…”
“You don’t know what we have been through…”
“…”
“I still remember the day when mom made him promise that he will destroy your father and complete the retribution for her…”
Pooja looked at Kalai.