kaaval kaaran

Chapter 8

The days following Bhava’s confession passed in a blur. Siva was juggling the murder investigation and the mounting pressure from both families regarding his marriage to Bhava. But with Bhava’s revelation about Ram, Siva felt a strange sense of relief. He no longer had to worry about the marriage talks, and surprisingly, Bhava’s secret only brought him closer to a realization he had been avoiding.

In the middle of all this, one person had been on his mind more than usual—Dharani. The teasing, the playful banter, and the subtle moments between them had started to make him wonder if there was something more between them. Could there really be a spark, or was it just in his head?

---

One evening, Siva came home after a long day at the police station. The murder investigation had taken a new turn with the discovery of the alias Muthukumar, but he needed a break from all the tension. As he entered the house, the familiar sound of laughter greeted him.

Inside the living room, Dharani was sitting on the floor, surrounded by her cousins, including little Mani, her mischief-filled cousin. She was teasing him about his cricket skills, and Mani was doing his best to defend himself.

"Mani, nee appove run out aagita nu nenachan da! Aana andha ball boundary la epdi pochune therila da (Mani, I thought you were run out already, but the ball flew to the boundary instead)," Dharani teased, her laughter ringing through the house.

Mani pouted, trying to act serious. "Akka, naan practice pannitu irukken! Ellarum naa periya cricketer aagiduva nu sonnanga naa adhuku dhaan prepare pannitu irukka (Sister, I’ve been practicing! They say I’ll be a great cricketer someday, and I’m preparing for it)."

Dharani laughed even louder, her voice full of affection. "Cricket ah? Nee enna, Virat Kohli ah illa M S Dhoni ah da? Paathu, olunga vandhu padikkira valiya  paaru illana unna kadavul thaan kapathanum! (Cricket? You think you’re Virat Kohli or M S Dhoni ? Make sure you study on time, otherwise only God can save you!)."

Siva stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a smile. Dharani had a way of lighting up any room she entered. Her loud, carefree nature was the complete opposite of Siva’s composed and serious demeanor, and yet, there was something about her that always drew him in.

"Enna da, cricket-a pathi enna pesittu irukinga rendu perum? (What’s this? Gossiping about cricket again?)" Siva called out, walking in with a smirk on his face.

Dharani turned her head, raising an eyebrow dramatically. "Siva mama, nee mattum than namma veettoda ore nambikkai. Nee Cricket velaiyaduna thaan engala ivan kitta irundhu kaapathu mudiyum (Siva mama, you’re our family’s only hope. If you’d play cricket, you’d save us all from him!)," she teased, her eyes twinkling.

Siva rolled his eyes. "Naan adicha rendu ball-laye veliyadi mudichiduva. Ipo nee paathu velaiyadu. (If I play, I’ll finish the game in two balls. Watch out for yourself now)."

Dharani’s laughter rang out again, and Siva couldn’t help but chuckle. Her energy was contagious, and every time they bantered like this, he felt a lightness in his chest that he couldn’t explain.

---

Later that evening, after dinner, Siva was sitting on the terrace, the cool breeze offering a brief respite from the heat of the day. Dharani wandered up with her usual swagger, holding a cup of chai in each hand. She sat down next to him, offering him one.

"Enna mama, thalai-kku mela case-oda tension-a? (What’s up, uncle? Full of tension from the case?)" she asked, her voice casual but curious.

Siva took the cup and sipped, sighing deeply. "Hmm, case romba confuse ah thaan irukku but ippo paravala lead kedaichirukku (Yeah, the case is confusing, but it’s on a track now)."

Dharani nodded, taking a sip of her own chai. For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the quiet of the night wrapping around them.

Then, out of nowhere, Dharani spoke. "Mama, nee enna apdi yosichitu irukka iru naane kandupudikira ----- bhava kooda kalyanatha pathi thana mama.(You seem to be thinking deeply about something. Let me guess—it's about your marriage to Bhava, isn’t it?)."

Siva chuckled softly. "Aama da, Bhava kooda pesita ipo thaan oru clarity vandhirukku. Avalukku vera yaaraiyo pudichu irukku nu sollita, ippo thaan konjam relief ah irukku. (Yes, actually. Bhava has someone else, and that takes some weight off my shoulders)."

Dharani looked surprised. "Really? Bhava enkitta edhum sollavey illa! Ethukku ippo unkitta solliruka? (She didn’t tell me anything! Why now?)"

Siva shrugged. "Family pressure da. Avalum naanum ippo mariyaadhaiya pesi mudichutom (Family pressure. We both decided to end it amicably)."

Dharani grinned, teasing him as usual. "Athaane! Seri vidu, idhu bhava ku nallathu ana unakku enna pannuva kalyanam vena nu saniyaasi ya poga poriya? (Is that so? That’s good for Bhava, but what about you now? Are you just going to avoid marriage altogether?)."

Siva turned to face her, his eyes narrowing playfully. "Nee mattum thaan d enkitta ippadi pesuva. (You’re the only one who can talk to me like this). Naan ippo kalyanatha pathi kandippa yosiche aaganuma enna? (Do I really need to think about marriage right now?)."

Dharani smiled mischievously, her eyes twinkling. "Aiyoo mama, nee enkitta sonna mattum pothum, naane unnaku nalla ponna paathu vaikiran. Nee innum kathuka vendiyathu neraiya irukku. (Oh no, mama, just leave it to me! I’ll find you a bride. You’re missing out by waiting too long!)."

Siva raised an eyebrow. "Nee paakura ponnuku naa correctah irupen nu nenaikiriya? (You think I’m a good fit for the bride you choose?).*

Dharani’s laughter rang out again, this time softer, almost shy. "Naan adha pathi yosikave illaye mama. Seri adha vidu adhu nadakkura apo nadakatum.... (I don’t have to think about it. I’d just stop talking and let it be…).

The way she said it—half-joking, half-serious—made Siva pause for a moment. The teasing, the jokes, the laughter—they had always been their way of interacting, but tonight, there was something else in the air. Something unspoken but real, lingering between them.

For the first time, Siva wondered if what he felt for Dharani was more than just affection for his mischievous cousin. His thoughts had always been focused on his job and the expectations of his family, but sitting there, under the stars with her, he realized there might be more to their connection.

He turned to look at her, and in that quiet moment, their eyes met. Dharani, for all her loudness and jokes, suddenly looked vulnerable. It was as if she felt it too—the subtle shift between them. Neither of them said anything, but the spark was undeniable.

Dharani was the first to break the silence, her usual bravado returning as she stood up, brushing her hands off. "Seri naa kelambura mama. Seikiram kalyanam panniko illana naa paakura ponnu kooda un vaalkaiya ottanum paathuko. (I’m leaving, mama. You better get married soon, or else my bride idea will ruin your life!)."

Siva laughed, but the moment stuck with him long after she left the terrace. Maybe there was more between them than either of them realized. And maybe, just maybe, it was time for him to figure it out.