Dusky Moonlight

Chapter- 19(1)

Sitting on the rock chair in front of her father in law's house, Rathi watched the rain that's gently started pouring, arising the Petrichor which is her favorite fragrance to smell. Aadhavan has planted a lot of floral plants before his house which was bloomed at that evening time, flowers are her favorite sight to see and the sound of rain is her favorite sound to hear but, she couldn't relish anything. In fact, she hates everything around her, she hates to stay in this place and she hates these people.

It's been a day since she came back from her near-death experience. She despises the fact that she's here alive and that got the gloomiest expression on her face. The stains of turmeric-ginger paste she applied on her cheeks for the swelling is still there; her eyes were tired after all the crying and her body is too light to feel any pain. Her wounds started healing but she doesn't know how she's going to heal her heart.

Imagine the girl who went to escape the hell was again dragged into the same hell -she's too angry, frustrated, and sad. But she can't show it to anyone so she put herself in the state called silence and didn't utter a single word since morning, just nodding her head yes and no.

When she came back to the conscious this morning, she was in her father-in-law's house, her wounds were nursed and she was wearing Aadhiyan's shirt. She doesn't want to think who done that and no one talked about that either. Her father-in-law and Das scolded her for taking this decision, Mithran advised her calmly like her brother and she started crying unable to tell how badly she was punished. But one thing from them has greatly hit her hard. That is, she should at least live for the child.

She considered that advice while lying on the mattress for the rest of the day. When she felt too lonely she came out and now sitting on the chair. She knows she's alive only for her child so she becomes calm and leaned back on the rock understanding her purpose.

Slowly she starts to notice the beauty of her surroundings and she became calm. That time, covering his head in a rag Mithran came with a bowl of warm soup. He placed it beside her and said, "It's too hot, let it cool,"

She nodded.

"Are you alright now?" he asked. For that, she nodded yes.

Then he cautiously asked, "Do you want to go to your home?" Rathi nodded 'No' looking down.

"Are you afraid of, Ayya?

She shook her head as yes. Mithran asked these questions not for him to know, but for Aadhiyan who's watching them from the kitchen window; he wanted to know what Rathi wants and now he got the answers. Mithran didn't compel her anymore and he thought she needs time.

"Okay, don't sit here for too long, it's getting cold," he said, "Tomorrow come to my home and look after my daughter. We are going to the sea."
Rathi agreed with a small smile. After he left Rathi again leaned back on the rock and stared at how the flowers getting soaked in the rain.

She took the warm bowl and had a sip. Her eyes shot in surprise once she recognizes that familiar taste. She looked into, the color, the texture, and the smell everything is similar to the soup that once Aadhiyan made for her. There she found why Mithran asked all those questions which usually won't ask.

He is watching me, she thought. In a hesitation, she again took it near her lips but she couldn't drink it and placed the bowl aside in repulsion. She leaned on her lap and started crying hugging her knees which she has been controlling all this time... And Aadhiyan heard this one thing from her, please don't disturb me.

He clenched his jaw looking at her and for the second time his eyes welled in tears, the first time was when he watched how he with his own bloody hands punished her, mercilessly. It aches inside to see her this way, to be away from her, and to be the reason for her tears. He never imagined this could hurt him so much.