So far,
Shakthi's father's elder brother's son Akhil had invited Raji to his housewarming, and Shakthi had dropped her at the bus stand.
Now,
After dropping Raji at the bus stand, Shakthi returns home. He takes out the paper where he'd sketched the new dream design from his drawer and is looking at it. Bharathi comes into his room.
"Hey Shakthi, what's this new dream? Show me," said Bharathi, and Shakthi showed it to him.
"Shakthi, how will this ever happen? In the dream you're lying down beside Shivani's father; he's holding your head in his lap — and he doesn't even speak properly to us," Bharathi asks in surprise.
"That's the very question I have too, Bharathi. A dream may come true, but when it will happen — I don't know," replies Shakthi.
"Then why didn't you show it to Ma?" asks Bharathi.
"I wanted to show her later quietly. Now that she's gone out of town, I can show it to Raji when she returns," Shakthi says.
"Also, Bharathi — don't tell Shivani anything about this. Let whatever happens happen; let them find out on their own, please," Shakthi asks.
"That's sensible. Okay, let's head to work," says Bharathi and leaves.
Shakthi and Bharathi go downstairs.
"Kamala Ma, are you ready? Shall we eat?" they ask as they sit at the dining table.
"Ready, dear," Kamala replies, bringing the tiffin and serving them.
"Dear, I've packed lunch for you two in the bag — take it with you," Kamala says.
"Okay, Kamala Ma," they say, finish eating, and leave for work.
At the bank during his work, Shakthi calls Raji at tea time.
"Raji, did you reach the town?" he asks.
"Yes, I reached. Are you two off to work now?" she replies.
"Yes. Where's Baby? Give her the phone, Raji — it's been so long since I talked to her," said Shakthi.
"One minute — Grandma is busy with something. I'll give the phone to her," Raji says, and hands the phone to Shakthi's grandmother.
"Ayya Shakthi, how are you?" asks Shakthi's grandmother.
"Baby, have you forgotten us? Looks like you and your husband have settled down at your elder son's house," said Shakthi.
"Oh, it's nothing like that. There, you all go to work, and we'd be left alone — just the two of us. But here, your peri-amma, anni, and your cousins are all around, so we decided to stay here. Anyway, why didn't you and Bharathi come?" asked Shakthi's grandmother.
"I had an important meeting at the bank today; that's why I said I couldn't come. Bharathi also said he couldn't. Okay, where is Grandpa?" Shakthi asks.
"He and Periyappa went to the shop," replies Grandma.
"Okay baby, ask everyone hello for me. I'm hanging up now. Love you," Shakthi says, kisses his grandmother, and ends the call.
Shakthi finishes work and returns home. He answers a call from Bharathi.
"Yes, Bharathi?" he asks.
"Did you call Ma — did she get to the town?" Bharathi asks.
"Yes, I called Raji — she reached safely. I also spoke with Grandma; everyone's fine. Baby asked why we didn't come. I told them it was because of work. Anyway, When will you come home?" Shakthi replies.
"That's why I'm saying — I'll get home by night. I was held up at the auditing place; I'm leaving now. What are you doing?" Bharathi replies.
While Shakthi is talking to Bharathi, Kamala Ma comes in with coffee and the night tiffin packed in a hotbox, and she's just leaving.
I can't find my ironed clothes — they're not in your wardrobe either, so I'm checking Raji's," said Shakthi to Bharathi. Just then, his hand hit the framed photo of his father in the wardrobe, and it fell down — the glass shattered.
"Shakthi, Shakthi — what happened?" Bharathi shouts, but there is no answer from Shakthi.
He cuts the call and tries to call back, but Shakthi doesn't pick up. Bharathi doesn't know what to do for a moment, then calls Shivani. She answers.
"Tell me," she asks.
"Shivani, where are you now?" he asks, trembling.
"Why, Bharathi — I'm leaving the hospital and heading home. Why are you so anxious?" Shivani asks.
"Shakthi was here talking and suddenly something fell and there was a crashing sound. He's not answering me — I'm scared. Amma went out of town for the function, and I was late coming from the auditing place. If I leave now it'll be another three hours before I get there. Can you please go to our house and see what happened?" Bharathi pleads.
"Okay, don't worry. I'll go and check and call you back," Shivani says, then ends the call and rushes to Shakthi's house.
Shivani arrives at Shakthi's house in a hurry. She goes inside looking for him and hears sobbing from his mother's room. She rushes in and sees Shakthi sitting there, clutching his father's broken photo, rocking and crying out "Appa, Appa" over and over.
The broken glass from his father's photo has cut Shakthi's hand badly; his whole hand is bleeding. Shivani quickly tries to take the photo from his hand, but he holds it tight. In the struggle, the glass cuts deeper into his hand.
Shakthi seems dazed — he doesn't respond. He keeps repeating only "Appa, Appa" in a trance-like state, crying uncontrollably. Shivani hurriedly washes the blood from his hands; the bleeding won't stop. She rips part of her shawl and ties it tightly around his hand to staunch the bleeding.
Bharathi calls Shivani while she's attending the phone.
"What happened, Shivani?" he asks.
"Bharathi, your father's photo fell and broke. Shakthi picked it up and started crying 'Appa, Appa' — he squeezed the photo so hard he wouldn't let go. I pulled it free, but it cut even deeper. I've tied his hand, but he's in shock and only keeps saying 'Appa, Appa'. I don't know what else to do," Shivani reports urgently.
Hearing Shivani, Bharathi is momentarily stunned and unsure what to do. Then he explains, "Shivani — don't be alarmed. When our father's photo is near him, it triggers him; he remembers the accident and loses control. He won't respond to anything we say — for two days he'll be in a trance-like state, crying and not sleeping, then he'll collapse from exhaustion and finally sleep. Even our mother can't handle it alone. I'll be there in two hours. Until then, please look after Shakthi, okay?"
"Bharathi, if Shakthi keeps crying like this, he'll faint. The bleeding isn't stopping. I'll do something now — I'll take him to my house. Can you come straight to my place, okay?" asks Shivani.
"How will you take him, Shivani?" Bharathi asks.
"I'll put him in your car, lock the house, and take him — where are the car and house keys?" Shivani asks.
"They're on the hall key stand," Bharathi replies.
"Okay, I'll lock the house and take the keys," Shivani says, hangs up, takes the car key, opens the car, lifts Shakthi in and puts him in the front seat, locks the house, and drives off with him.
To be continued...