"You are excited to see Rathi, aren't you?" Mithran asked.

"No, why should I? I have so many things to take care of. Even if I am going to live in the same house, I shouldn't talk to her until the right time comes." Aadhiyan replied.

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.

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"Did she ate her breakfast?" Aadhiyan asked Shankari.

"No,"

"Why?" Aadhiyan asked worriedly sitting on the dining hall of Rathi's old house.
"Because she's asking for a violin and she won't eat until I buy it for her," Shankari replied.

"Then do it! Aunt Shankari why you're too stubborn?" he exclaimed frowning at Shankari

"But your father said, I shouldn't do anything that will set her free."
"Buying her a violin isn't going to free her. She's just like us and we shouldn't treat her like a prisoner," Aadhiyan told.

.

.

.

"I want the best violin in this shop," Aadhiyan said. "And can you deliver it to this address?" he asked the shop owner and he agreed.

.

.

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"Look at here, someone has sent me a violin!" Rathi screamed in happiness and started dancing in that joy.

Aadhiyan watched it from upstairs. When Rathi turned her gaze feeling someone's presence, he walked into his room before getting caught in her eyes. Closing the door behind, Aadhiyan smiled muttering, "You and your dance, silly girl."

But his expression told something else. His face glittered in the bliss to see her happiness.

Rathi wanted to remember this, she always wanted to remember him like this.

"Rathi..."

"Rathi?" her father in law woke her up from her sleep and once Rathi got her senses she immediately rose up from the bed. The dream she had, it's like dull audio and an unclear vision of their past, where they were so close yet Rathi couldn't meet him or not even know his existence at that time.

"Where is he?" she asked hoping that he's going to tell her that Aadhiyan has returned.

"Aadhiyan didn't return, Rathi," Aadhavan answered sadly.

Hearing that Rathi's eyes welled in tears. She doesn't want to hear this, it's aching inside to think whether something has happened to him. Rathi leaned back on the wall feeling utterly dejected. The rain is still drizzling outside and she could hear it against her ears.

"Now I am going to search for him, Rathi." Aadhavan assured, "And I will return back with him."

"Can I come with you, please?" she asked.

"No," Aadhavan retorted.

"Please," her tears swelled from her eyes.

"No, Rathi. Please understand the situation. At this time and in this weather it is really dangerous to go outside. Even I don't know whether I will come back safely so you stay here. You have to," he ordered.

Rathi becomes silent and agreed by showing her silence.

"Have your breakfast, and stay in Mithran's house until I return with Aadhi," he told.

"Hmm," she nodded having no other option left with. She watched her father in law along with other men leaving the place. The storm hasn't left and the sun is nowhere to be found in the sky, and still, it is grey. Rathi finished her morning chores and had very little food as she couldn't eat at all at this awful time.

She sat behind the house, looking at the banyan tree and her hands had the necklace she got from the ghost. She was quite afraid to wear it again, but right now there's no one who can save Aadhiyan except their god or by that ghost. She at least wanted to know whether he's alive and for that, she has to see that ghost again.

When she was in her thoughts, Mithran came to her doorstep. He called her name and Rathi got up hiding the necklace in her saree folds.

"Come to my house, Rathi. Don't stay alone here," he said and Rathi nodded since that's what she wanted too.

She sat down beside Migali and watched Mithran feeding her the porridge.

"Don't worry, Rathi. Ayya will return safely and I believe it," his words gave strength to her wish.

"How you're so sure about that? I am so afraid, Anna (Brother)," she questioned.

"I am seeing him since I was a little boy. You know, he's not like us, not like any of the people who lived before. I think there's no death for him?" he told.

"What?" Rathi uttered in surprise hearing that.

"I mean, he's guarded by our god. Then how can it leave him to die? Compared to others, you and Ayya are so important."

"Why? Why are we important?" Rathi responded.

"Because you know you are going to end the curse, and you'll set us free."

"How I will do it? Whether I will die?" she asked because she still believes that's going to happen.

Mithran's face apparently changed and his voice shook while answering, "N-No, you won't die. I don't know about it," he stopped there. How can he say that she has to offer her child to the god and that's the only way they all can leave this place. Everyone in the family has decided to never say this truth to Rathi because it's the order from the King.

Rathi knotted her eyebrows and jumped into her imaginations. There Mithran decided to change her thoughts, "I am really looking for that day. I shouldn't say this sitting in this land but I really wanted to go out of this place since Sumaya died. She's everywhere and I couldn't stop thinking about her. Sometimes I feel like I just want to die. There's nothing here," he told and Rathi felt sad for him.

She can understand his feelings and how hard for a man to live without a companion and also to look after this child.

Rathi doesn't want to ask this yet she said, "Don't worry, Anna, we will leave this place soon. And don't take me wrong for asking this but will you remarry in the future?" she asked.

He left a quiet chuckle, "I can never think of anyone in Sumaya's place. Before marriage, she asked me the same question whether I will marry anyone if she dies unexpectedly for that I promised her that she will be my only wife in this lifetime, then how can I break that promise," he asked and Rathi eyes again welled in tears.

She thought herself in Mithran's position if she loses Aadhiyan then how it will feel like?

Her heart pounded in dread and experienced the worst moment in her life with those thoughts. She doesn't want that to happen. Whether he's good or bad she wants him to be alive. Even if she isn't with him she needs that thought that he's alive and safe somewhere.

"Leave it, Rathi. Let's not talk about things that give nothing but bitterness." He said, "You go and take rest in the room," he said and Rathi agreed.

Instead of going to the room, she went outside and looked at the great ocean which looked so dangerous now.

She stood under the shelter yet the drizzles damped her face. She drew the necklace out and looked at the ocean hoping she will see the ghost. She closed her eyes to summon it.

"Please wherever you are, save my husband. I want him back, please," she told and opened her eyes. Heaving a sigh she wore the necklace.

Thunders rumbled and wind spiraled across the ocean. Rathi is quite nervous when she felt something strange around her.

"Your husband is dead!" A woman's voice told near her ears.

Rathi shrieked out in fear and almost fell on her ground but she held the wooden pillar supporting the shelter. "W-w-what?" she cried to hear it.

"Yes. And don't remove this from your neck or else no one can save you," it said.

"No, I won't believe you, he can't die," she told and raised her hand to remove the necklace but her hands were stopped by the ghost.

"Please, don't remove it, then you can never learn the truth or get out of this place,"

"What you're saying? Please leave my hand," Rathi struggled.

That time, Mithran came out calling her name and Rathi's hands got free.

"What you're doing here?" he asked.

"I-I am waiting for them," she said.

"Come inside Rathi, they won't return for now," he told and Rathi walked into the house still has the necklace in her neck.

"Do you want anything to drink? He asked.

"No, I am going to sleep," she told and went into the room.

Sitting on the bed, Rathi looked at the chain, "Rathi?" she heard the ghost's voice from her side.

"No, don't say anything." Rathi started to cry and removed the necklace in frustration.

It hurts greatly to hear something like that. She fell on the bed and cried praying it shouldn't be the truth before dozing off.

The time flees as Rathi kept looking at the ocean hoping that her Aadhiyan will come and jump out of the boat with that fascinating smile. He's a very strong man, his shoulders were rigid and he can carry anything heavy in his well-made arms. He's the fastest swimmer in this place and he can even escape the storm. He will come back! At least, for this child, she thought.

Then, at last, the boat went to search Aadhiyan returned in the night. Her father in law hopped out of the boat and Rathi came out of the house. She didn't care whether she will be drenched in the rain.

Her eyes searched for Aadhiyan but he's nowhere in that which turned her dizzy.

"Mama, what happened? Where is he?" she cried and Aadhavan fell on the ground crying harder. He showed the wood pieces from the boat where Aadhiyan left.

"I couldn't find him, Rathi. And I don't know whether he's alive," he sobbed

Hearing that Rathi's ears slowly silenced the outside world and her eyes rolled back. Then the next moment darkness filled everywhere.

***

In case if you didn't get the previous sentences, it's just her dream.

In Tamil, Mama- Father in law, Anna- brother and Ayya means sir or master. So please remember these things.

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