Rathi watched the crabs of all sizes making their way towards its hideouts and some towards the ocean at this unusual afternoon time and the dark cirrus clouds were marching towards the island which she has never seen before.

The signs of the hurricane were hard and heavy just like the first time she came to this place. The wind gradually starts to blow in high current which made Rathi anxious and she couldn't see anything properly. She went inside the house, and placed Migali who's soundly on her bed, and came to see all these changes that were occurring all of a sudden.

The high waves almost came to the fence, Rathi knew that nothing will happen to her since she believes whether the God here is good or evil it will protect her and the people who were worshipping it for all these years. But she wondered what will happen to the men who went out to the ocean. Aadhiyan will save them but still in front of the ferocious nature no one stand and fight it. She hates him yet she doesn't want anything to happen to him. He's the reason why she's here and he's her hope for her future. She closed her eyes and said this to him, "Come back." Hoping that he will listen to her at least for this one time.

As soon as she opened her eyelids, her pupil dilated in fear and shock to see the dark frame floating near the ocean. The densely dark clouds almost veiled the sun, entirely making the place so dark and eerie. She doesn't want to ponder whether it is good or bad and thought it's better to avoid it. As much as she fears the king she dreads to see this ghost who's one of the reasons for this curse upon her and on this family. Maybe it might be worse than the King, she supposed.

Rathi stepped back seeing the ghost which starts to move slowly in the air towards her. Her heart almost stopped to beat and her breath hitched in her throat when she realized that she couldn't move an inch out of the place. She lost her senses in her feet and it felt like her legs were cemented on the ground. She closed her eyes when the wind becomes too unbearable. In order to save herself, there's only one way for Rathi, it is to call Mithran or her father-in-law for help but shockingly her voice didn't come out of her throat. This startled her, and her eyes welled in tears thinking this ghost is trying to do something to her.

Obviously, Rathi thought it going to enter her body and dreaded if she will become like Aadhiyan. If the king wants Aadhiyan to fulfil his deeds then this queen will need me! It will take me.

Floating just above the surface, it came in front of Rathi in a swift moment. It looked like a woman as it has long hair dangling in the air. It has radiant brown eyes just similar to Rathi. The face is fully black and plain, there's no way to describe what it looks like.

Rathi's tears glided down to her cheeks as she looked at the ghost closely, more than fear it's so stressful to look into those eyes which reflecting the pain it carrying for thousands of years.

She leaned back her head when it slowly lifted up its distorted hands around her neck. It indeed felt like someone's holding her neck. Is it going to kill me? She questioned and staring at the figure unable to move, talk or at least blink. Totally, she's not in her control.

As its grip turned firm, Rathi thought it's going to kill her. But then something different happened, it closed its eyes and Rathi mimicked it involuntarily. There she saw a very beautiful woman dressed up royally in front of her, she looked so innocent, calm, the smile on her face told that she's happy, and surprisingly she's pregnant.

There's no doubt, it must be the ghost, Rathi thought, and all of sudden she opened her eyes. It's still there and took its hand from her neck.
Rathi somewhat calmed when she realized that it's not here to hurt her. Placing its hand on her growing belly, the ghost stared at Rathi for one last time.

The huge thunder rumbled across the ocean at that time which made Rathi shudder in panic and in a blink of a second the ghost vanished from that place and it's nowhere to be found. And in a few seconds the rain started pouring vigorously, and Rathi, at last, got control over her body. The next moment she stumbled on the wet sand unable to stand and comprehend the things that happened just a few moments before.

She inhaled the air and got drenched in the rain watching the ocean.
"Rathi?" Mithran came out calling her name.
"What happened? Why you're sitting here?" He asked once he noticed her.

Fear and sadness didn't let her utter a word and she just looked at him.

"Get up, let's go inside," he said and she felt like she lost all her strength in her body.

"What happened? Say something?" Mithran patted her shoulders as he's getting wet as well.

Rathi finally able to pull herself together and nodded, 'nothing.'

She went inside feeling terribly anxious. Why it came? Who is that woman exactly? Is that the ghost? Why she showed it to me? Is she telling me that I will become like her in the end? Rathi thought.

"Why you're like this, Rathi? Did you saw any ghost or something?" He asked and Rathi came out of her thoughts. Even if she says that she saw a ghost, maybe Mithran will believe it but he won't accept that at all.

"I slipped on the mud, outside," Rathi replied.

"What? Are you alright? Did you got hurt?" He questioned worriedly.

"I am fine," Rathi assured and Mithran nodded.

"I am just worried about this storm," she said.

"Yes, I am worried too. I hope everyone will return safe," he told and Rathi nodded.
That time,

"Mithra," Aadhavan's voice got their attention.

Mithran walked to the front door and Rathi followed him. Seeing her Aadhavan got relaxed. He's worried to leave her alone after her mere death experience so he took the responsibility to be around her all the time, that's what the guardian told him.
"Let's go home, Rathi. I prepared a herbal tea for you," her father-in-law said.
Rathi nodded with a smile.

"Why did you drenched in the rain?" He asked noticing her wet clothes.

"She said she got slipped on the mud, but she's fine, Mama. Don't worry," Mithran said for her.

"Oh, come and change your clothes first," he said.

"And Mithra, you also have some tea, it's in the kitchen. In this climate, having tea will be soothing, " Aadhavan said. Rathi wondered why he's on not worrying about his son who went into the ocean. Except for Rathi, no one worried about him or maybe they know that he will return back.

Rathi made her way towards the house looking at the showering rain. Compared to the last storm, this is intense. The afternoon turned like it's midnight without any source of light. As soon she entered the separate room, she closed it behind after lighting the oil lamp.

She removed her saree and when she looked down at herself she saw a dull small beaded white pearl necklace around her neck along with her wedding chain. She wondered how it came to her neck and the answer made her astonished, it's from the ghost!

Rathi immediately took that off and went close to the lamp. She intently observed it in the light, it has a small fish dollar and looked very old. Why it gave this to me? What's she trying to say? Rathi got puzzled and the sudden knock on the door disturbed her. "Rathi, come fast. Tea is getting cold," Aadhavan said.

"Ah, coming," she replied and hidden the necklace in her saree folds because she can't hide anything here in this house.

Considering Rathi's mental state about this place and the people Aadhavan is so conscious about her every move. It's not because he's obeying his God, he genuinely cares for Rathi because of the guilt which he's carrying for all these years.

Rathi came out and bought the glass from her father in law and sat down watching the rain. The mist touched her skin and the hot glass in her palms is so good to feel.

"Will they return safely?" She asked Aadhavan, who's sitting away and enjoying his tea.

"Yeah, of course, they will. Aadhiyan is with them so there's nothing to worry about."

But the thing is, she's worried about Aadhiyan and she wants him to return safely because the words he said in the morning are still ringing in her ears.

She sipped the sweet-sour tea added with so many flavors of spices. It's felt so good to swallow it down to her stomach and strangely she calmed after finishing the glass.

"It's refreshing right?" Aadhavan asked with a smile and Rathi nodded with a small smile.

"Mama? The King and his wife, what happened to them?" Rathi asked.

Aadhavan was quite surprised by her sudden question, "How do you know about his wife?" He asked.

"I saw her in my dreams," Rathi said.

"Better, not talk that matter, Rathi. Calm yourself and think only about your child. That's what important now," he replied and Rathi accepted it without arguing.

When they were sitting, the sound of men got their attention. Rathi and Aadhavan came out to find that everyone returned from the ocean except Aadhiyan.
"Iniya, where's Aadhiyan?" Aadhavan asked.

"Ayya said that he will return with the boat and we came after getting the stuff," he answered and walked along with Maaran to their home. They didn't talk about Aadhiyan, because they don't want to comment negatively on his safe journey which is hard to make after this since the storm is at its intense stage.

Hearing them, Rathi thought why he's acting like an idiot. If it is not safe can't he just stay away? Even I told him to come back, but he didn't listen to me. Yeah, when did he heard anything I said! Rathi becomes angry thinking that.

What if something happens to him? What if he never returns? She strongly felt at that moment and become too nervous.

"The weather is too bad, why can't he just come?" Rathi asked her father in law.

"I said this one hundred times, Rathi. He never listened to me. He always risks his life like it doesn't belong to him," her father-in-law said and walked.

"I worried like you all the time, but he will return back. Come and sit inside," he added.

Rathi waited outside for some time, then eventually went in having hope that he will return back. In the meantime she also thought about the ghost and the necklace, wondering what's the purpose for it. Time passed away and the old watch showed the time 8.00 pm in the evening.

Now Aadhavan also starts to worry about Aadhiyan. He never took so long to return and the storm is somewhat calmed but still, the rain is pouring out.

"What happened? Why he didn't return?" Aadhavan said out of fear.

"I am so worried, Mama. Please look for him," Rathi said.

"But it's dark outside and it's tough to search, Rathi."

"Then?"

"We should wait until he returns back," he answered and Rathi's heart started pounding in fear.

She couldn't sit in the house anymore and go out to the ocean taking her father-in-law's umbrella. She stood outside the fort and watched the immense ocean in front of her. There are no good signs that Aadhiyan shall return and there's no way anyone can go and search for him.

Yeah, where can I search for you! You have to return. Don't play with me anymore, please come back to me, she cried staring at the menacing thunder strikes upon the ocean.