Shalini's mom woke up to heavy knocking on the door. She opened the door and gasped seeing a tear claded Shalini. "Shalini indha nerthiku enna ma thaniya vandhurka?" She asked while Shalini just passed her bag to her mom and rushed in tearing. She locked her room and cried out for a moment. "Shalini!! Shalini!! Shalini kadhava thora ma!!" Her mom banged the door. "Ennaku oru ten minutes kudunga ma... Please!!" She exclaimed and the knocking stopped.
Shalini came out after half an hour to find her mom worried. She just hugged her mom wordlessly. "Naa un madila konja neram paduthukuta?" She asked and her mom nodded.
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Shalini slept in her mom's lap, her mom caressing her hair. Her hands then caressed her neck to find hickeys. "Unnakum mapillaikum ennama prechana?" She asked. Shalini stiffled. "Innaiku hospital ponna appo AD ah paathen." She told and her mom intervened, "AD ah?!" She exclaimed. "Hmmm... AD coma la dhan irrundharam, avanga appa dhan enkitta sollala." She continued. "AD ah paatha shock la naa enna panradhu nu yoscha appo Avi engla paathu thappa nenachitaru... Naa AD kitta pesa vendiyadhu neraya irrundhudhu... En kalyanam, naa GBRC (Golden Bike Racing Championship) jeichadhu indha maari neraya... Adhunala avaru kooptapo naa veetuku varala." "Naa pesi mudichitu veetuku vandha appo enna veliya poidu, Avan koodave poidu nu soltaru.... Adhan veliya vanten!" She told.
"Shalu ma, avaru pannadhu thappu dhan, adhukaga pavam andha pullaya vitutu vandha pokkunu poidadhu?" Her mom asked. "Unnakaga naa Inga irukken, en madila paduthu azhudhu ellathyum solla naa irruken, Anga avaruku apdi yaaru irruka?" She asked. "Adhukaga apdi kathunadhu correct ah?" Shalini whined. "Inga yaaru sari, yaaru thappu nu naa edhuvum sollala." "Avar kathuna tirumba kathu, adhukaga ipdi amma veetuku kelambi varadhu ellam seriya?" Her mom asked and Shalini pouted. "Adhukaga avaru po nu solliyum, naa vekkame illama Anga irrukanum nu solriya? Avaruku en aruma puriyara vara naa tirumba ellam poga maaten." She told her mom.
"Seri indha oru dhadava vandhuta.... Aana tirumba avara vandhu koopta kaprom, pogama Inga irruklam nu plan pota kondruven!!" Her mom playfully warned. "Enna Mrs.Sasikala Mahadevan, Veedu unga Perla irruku ngra timura?" Shalini asked. "Adhan nu vechikoven?" Her mother asked back making the girl sigh. "Inime kochikitu ingellam vara koodadhu, adhan un Veedu purinjudha?" Her mom asked and she nodded.
A whole week passed, Shalini couldn't do any work. She would always zone out and be engulfed in his thoughts. Her wedding ring was the only thing that gave her comfort. But all her worries and her missing feelings would vanish when her siblings have her company. They would always banter among themselves making Shalini laugh.
But Avi on the other hand was extremely broken and lonely. She was always around him, be it work, be it home or be it his dreams. She would always find a way to be in all of them. She was an excited puppy in his life, being deprived of her made his life seem dull and depressed. Sharanya and Rakshan were both matured individuals, they could only comfort him, not make him smile.
"Machan enga wedding ah konjam delay panlam nu irrukom!" Rakshan told. "Yen?" Avi asked. "Illa Anna neengalum Shalini um ipdi irrukambodhu, naanga kalyanam pannalum engluku fulfilled feeling varadhu." Sharanya told. "Englukaga neenga yen kalyanam pannama irrukanum?" Avi whined. The argument went on, Rakshan and Sharanya only made him feel worse with that descion.
Around two months rolled by and Avinash looked like the life inside him was drained away. He was having insomania and lost around Five kilograms of weight. He had another PA by now, it was a guy who was equally dull and lifeless as him. "Sir innaiku oru cancer patient, fifteen years old, avangluku ungla romba pudikumam, avanga parents ungla visit panna kooptanga. So ippo **** hospital ku ponum." He told and Avi nodded playing with a paper holder.
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Avi reached the ward a small girl, her head shaved due to cancer but a smile that shines widely. Avi walked to her and pinched her cheeks and kissed it. "Cutie!" He called and she smiled. "Neenga varuvinga nu naa nejama expect pannala!" She exclaimed and winced as the syringe connecting her hand to the glucose bottle hurt her. Avi winced along with her and helped her. He talked with girl and was surprised on how well informed the girl was. "Current affairs pathi nalla informed ah ve irruka." He commented. "Ennaku UPSC exam clear pannanum nu oru wish but ippo ennala mudiyuma nu terila." She told.
"Kandippa mudiyum. Never lose the will to live, life la enna nadandhalum, vazhnum ngra hope lose panna koodadhu. Cancer vandha Namma recover aagradhu Namma vechirka hope la dhan irruku! You are a strong girl right? En wife oda per ah vechirka.... Avanga evalo strong teriyuma? Avanga twenty years la oru family ah ve run pannanga....She was a wonder woman. Neengalum Wonder woman dhana?" Avi asked.
"Illa probably Scarlett Witch, ennaku Marvel dhan pudikum." The girl told oblivious to the entire point of his question making Avi finally smile after weeks. "Seringa Wanda madam seekiram recover aagi collector madam ah enna paakanum okay va?" Avi asked and she nodded causing them to share a fist bump.
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Avi walked away from the girl, she was giving him a new power. Even after being on the verge of death she was ready to battle the disease. This gave Avi the power to battle his ego. He wanted to talk it out with Shalini. He wanted to settle things out with his wife. "Raghav, innaiku plans Ellam cancel pannunga, Naa en wife veetuku ponum." He told and his PA nodded lifelessly despite Avi's excited voice.
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For security reasons, Avi had to take the stairs instead of the lift. He was being escorted down with bodyguards, but he had his mask on so the general public couldn't figure out who he was. On one particular floor, Avi noticed Shalini in the waiting chairs. He stopped in his tracks and walked to her causing his black cats to follow.
Shalini's mother noticed Avi and stood up while Shalini didn't even look at his face. "Ma okkaru, en enchita?" She asked. "Shalini ennachu? Edhuku hospital?" Avi asked but she remained silent, not even looking at his side. "Shalini unna dhan kekuren!" Avi repeated himself. "Token number 69" The digital display displayed. Shalini got up to walk in. "Shalini naa ketukite irruken la, ennachu?" He asked. "Why am I even answerable to you?" She questioned back. "Because, naa un husband." He added. "Oh ippo dhan nyabagam varudhu ah?" "Illa rendu maasama coma la irrundhiya?" She asked.
"Naa ippo unna dhan di paaka kelambunen!!" He told. "Neenga veetuke vandhalum idha dhan sollirpen!" She exclaimed. "Seri di sorry, aana ippo hospital ku (she opens the door and he holds it for her)... Shalini Inga edhuku?" He questioned noticing 'gynaecologist' written on the door.
