Agree?

Chapter 23

Adi went to his hometown for a week.

She missed him a lot. So did he.

Tara knew he would be busy catching up, so she didn't disturb him a lot. She just texted him now and then. But today he returned and she wanted to surprise him for a change.

She got ready, went to his house and stood outside.

She called him

"Adi"

"Sollu ma"

"Veliya iruken kathava thora"

Adi dropped his phone and ran to the door. He almost teared up.

"Thank god you're here" he held her hand and brought her in.

Tara noticed that he was very emotional

"Adi enna aachu"

"I missed you"

"I did too. But there is something else. Sollu enna aachu"

Adi just looked into her eyes

"Epdi ma"

"I know you"

They sat on the sofa facing each other

"Ennaku en family epovume supportive ah irunthathu ila. 12th mudichu engineering ponen. Athuku apro I wanted to pursue maths. Velaiku pogama ipdi ethuku mela padikira. Atleast mba aachum panirkalam nu appa thituvaru. And Rakesh and Varun vera Chennai vantanga with jobs. Athula compare paniye saavadichanga enna. Athuku apro i completed my studies and professor ah offer vanthuchu"

Tara felt all the emotions with him. He smiled- she smiled. He teared up- so did she

"I thought ipo aachum accept panipanga nu. Enna kevalama pesuna relatives eh paravala professor aaitan nu sonanga. But my parents resentment stayed the same. Ennala apdi oru edathula iruka mudila. Athaan Chennai vanten"

He looked at her and held her hand

"Thank god I did"

She smiled through her tears

"The problem was never my choice of work. It was always me. Avungaloda unhappy marriage oda reminder ah thaan enna pakuranga nu late ah thaan purinjithu. Perhaps that's why I value love a lot. Because I've seen how absence of love could affect one's life" he said

"Adi. Families can be toxic. Ella families uhm happy ah thaan irupanga nu ila. Maybe the society has framed that all marriages are happy but they don't know what goes on behind closed doors. You should never feel guilty for moving away from them. Vera enna panuva nee. Adi ah intha world ku kondu vanthathu avunga thaan, I'm grateful for that. But athuku apro they failed as parents. You built your own life and it was time to move on from the source of your pain. I'm glad you did."

"Thanks ma. Na epovum ooruku poitu vantha ipdi thaan aaven. The only reason I go there is my thatha. I love him so much. Aana that place holds a lot of bad memories. Veetuku vanthu recover aagurathuke pala naal aagum. Yaar kita pesurathe nu theriyathu so ulle irupen. This time, nee iruka. Thank you"

"Thanks laam vendam. Na ipde thaan irupen eppovum"

He looked at her

"A hug please?"

She loved that he asked permission every time. A gem -- she thought

Tara moved closer and laid beside him. Taking his arm and wrapping it around her shoulder

"This is not a hug. We are-"

"Almost cuddling. I know"

"Ohh" he raised his eyebrows

"Ohhhhhhh" she said cutely

They laughed

....

Adi and Tara sat like that for a while. Suddenly she stood up

He held her hand and pouted

Before he could talk, she made him stand

"Vaanga polam"

"Enga"

"En veetuku"

"Etheyy. Un appa amma irupangale"

"Ama athuku thaan. Va polam"

"Sithara veladatha ma. Bayama iruku"

"Bayapdatha Adi. Trust me"

"Seri" Adi was still nervous

....

Tara's home:

"Maaaa Paaaa inga vanga" she yelled

They came downstairs

"Yaaru Adi ahh" her father asked

"Yesss"

Their parents smiled widely

That was a relief for Adi

They sensed his tension and decided to put him at ease

"Va pa Adi. Unna antha photo la thaan pathirukom. She always talks about you. It's good to meet you finally" her mom spoke

Adi stammered. He couldn't believe this new development. He just stared at Tara.

Her father tried to lighten his mood so he said
"Ava unna pathi neraiya pesuva but still food takes the first place"

"Appaaa summa irunga. Apdilam ila Adi" she was blushing

"Ohhh apo Adi thaan first ah" her mom asked, now it was his turn to blush

"Ponga. Na mela poi fresh aaitu varen. Adi neeye samalichiko. Enna romba kalaikuranga"

Adi stood there like a lost puppy.

....

Tara wanted him to experience what a non toxic household felt like. She knew she couldn't take away his trauma, but she wanted to help him heal from it.

Her parents have always been the reason she feared love because they created such high standards and she thought no one could meet the expectations she had built.

But then Adi came into her life and somehow exceeded the expectations that she thought were unattainable.

...

AN:

This chapter is to show why they had different ideas of love initially.

I hope I did justice to their feelings towards love.