“I can understand your surprise, but what are we going to gain because of this money?”
“…”
“My father died of heart attack after hearing that this Kumar has cheated him and has absconded… Now can we get our father back with this money? I really can’t understand why people run after money like this… It’s just a commodity to help you to lead your life and it’s not the LIFE!”
Dinakaran was left dumbfounded for a few seconds…
“Both my father and mother were from financially good family only… Even now all my aunts and uncles are financially well placed but there was not even a single soul to help us when we actually needed their help… I have learned a lot from my mother… My mother's own brother and younger sister have more than enough money… I have never seen them in the past five years… and of course my mother never went and begged for any help from them too… Also I have never heard her crib about anything… We were in a bad situation and we had to come out of it… While I tried my best to help my family, it was my mother who actually supported both Kavya and me like a root… If she was not this strong, we wouldn’t have crossed that tough period… Now we don’t have lot of money but we are very happy… Happy than most of the families with lot of money…”
Thulasi looked at Dinakaran’s face and she could understand his astonished look…
“I am sorry to say this but I cannot understand why you ignore your mother this much… I understand your aspirations and other concerns… But what Seetha amma wants is someone to talk with… If you can spend some time with her, why should she need a stranger like me or Uma to spend her time? You need to spend some time with your mother also...... Dinakar….”
Dinakaran’s eyes shined hearing the way Thulasi completed her talk…
“Sure Thulasi! If you call me as Dinakar and ask me to do something, I am willing to listen and do whatever you ask me to do”
“Really?”
“Oh yes! Let me prove this… Next time when you meet my mother, surely you will hear her crib about me spending too much time with her…”
Thulasi's face blossomed with smile…
“It’s not about the quantity of time, but it’s the quality of time that you spend with her…”
“Hmmm…”
“What?”
“Was this addressed to me?”
“Come on Dinakar…”
“This is much better… Now, with the same smile in your face, tell me why you came here today instead of going to your home directly?”
“mmm…”
“If you don’t want to share it’s fine…”
“mmm…”
“It’s about Ranjan right?”
Thulasi didn’t say anything…
“Come on Thulasi, you have crossed such a turbulent period so very easily, can’t you handle this small mosquito???”
“Mosquito?”
Thulasi started laughing, imagining Ranjan as a mosquito…
“Oh yes Thulasi, you have been so strong and have guided your family so very well during the difficult period… Now again be firm and tell this person directly that you don’t like him and you are not comfortable in continuing any sort of communication with him…Of course I am assuming that you don’t like him…”
There was a curiosity in his face and Thulasi understood that…
“Oh yes, I don’t like him, there’s no question about that… But Dinakar, the problem is I can’t show my anger directly… My mother has always…”
Dinakaran interrupted her and said,
“I know that Thulasi, but sometimes, you need to show your reactions directly… That will send the required strong message… As I accepted your advice, in this case you try to follow my advice and I assure you, you will not be disappointed… And of course, if you still face problems from him, don’t hesitate to call me and I will take care of it…”
Thulasi looked at his eyes and said,
“Thanks…”
Dinakaran could understand the multiple emotions in that single word… His eyes continued to wander around her face…
“Just a thanks?”
His husky voice and his gaze again made Thulasi feel shy… She turned her face and bent it a bit…
“What else can I give Dinakar?”
“You are really asking this question Thulasi?” asked Dinakaran in the same tone with his eyes absolutely fixed on her face.
To be continued...