Chapter : 5

Everyone was waiting for Chandrasekhar and Vami to enter... She gave everyone a friendly smile...

" Come here kid...does our baby know all of us... "

Parameswaran took Vami's hand in his and asked...

" I've seen everyone's photos... I believe I knew everyone... "

Vami smiled as she looked around at everyone.

" Then, tell us who we all are... "

Padmanabhan kissed Vamika on the cheek....

"This is my dad's father and mother...."

Vami grins at Padmanabhan and Kausalya as she holds them together... With tearful eyes, he fondles her forehead... Kausalya sobs and kisses her forehead...

"This is my mom's father and mother...."

Vami grinned as she grabbed Parameswaran's chin and Janaki's... He laughs as he pokes her nose...  Janaki sobbed and kissed Vami on the cheek...

Vami went slowly towards the following generation, who were lining up behind them... After talking on the phone, Rudraksh arrived and stood behind Vishwa and Kashi...

"Veeran Uncle and Bhanu Aunty...."

Vami smiled at Veerabhadran and Bhanumathi as she held their hands... A tiny girl's face with the words "big bother" flashed in front of him.... Everyone was taken aback by the change of expression on the tempered and strict Veerabhadran.... Bhanumathi smiled enthusiastically as she patted Vami on the cheek...

"Hey... Is that your father..."

With astonishment, Dev pokes Ranju...

"That's what I'm thinking too..." 

In worder, Neeraj, Nived, and Ranju all averted their gaze...

"Heman Uncle and Ambika Aunty..."

Vami smiles as she holds Hemachandran's and Ambika's hands... He sobs and alternately kisses her with both hands... Ambika wipes her tear-filled eyes, beams, and kisses her on the cheek...

"This is my Harshan Dad...."

Vami gives Harshavardhanan a hug and says... He closes his eyes and weeps while holding her close...

"Look... look... if we walk in front of him regularly and he don't even mind us... don't you see now..."

Kashi whispers with a little jealousy in Vishwa's ear...

"Shut up and be silent..."

Vishwa taps Kashi on the shoulder...

"Indu Mom..."

Vami shouted out to Indubala, who was standing next to Harshavardhanan, and Indu hugged and kissed her all over...

Both of them grieved silently for a long time.... Harshan hugged them both close and kissed their foreheads to calm them.... Ragini's face turned envious as she saw this...

"Jayan Uncle and Ragini Aunty..."

Vami smiled as she wiped her eyes and held Jayadev and Ragini's hands... With a little smile, he patted her cheek... Ragini smiled forcefully, as if she wasn't interested....

"Gopi Uncle and Renuka Aunty..."

Vami smiled as she grasped Gopinath and Renuka's hands... He smiled slightly and nodded yes, gently caressing her hand.... Renuka also smiled at her for someone...

"Ananthan Uncle and Indira Aunty..."

Vami smiled as she grasped Ananthan and Indira's hands... With a huge smile, they both patted her head and cheek... 

"This is Prabha Aunty...."

Vami smiled as she held Jayaprabha's hand... Jayaprabha kissed Vami and hugged her with tears in her eyes...

" Hmm.... There is one person to be seen in this group... Where is Giri Uncle and where has he gone?"

Vami took a suspicious glance around and asked Jayaprabha...

" Giri and Varad are in Chennai, baby girl.... They are now in charge of the enterprises there.... "

Jayaprabha gave Vami a friendly smile...

"Is it... Is Varad's brother also there…. When will they return here...?"

Vami gave Jayaprabha an anxious look...

"They said that they will come next week..."

Jayaprabha smiled in response...

Vami went gently towards the following generation, who was standing opposite them... She became more aware of her chest heaving...

"My elder sisters Navami and Bhavya..."

Vami smiled as she clutched the hands of Navami and Bhavya who were standing together... They made an effort to smile as though they weren't interested....

"Eleder sisters Sivani and Shivami..."

Vami smiled as she clutched Shivani and Shivami's hands and smiled...they also smiled slightly for someone....

"Elder brother Neeraj, Sister-in-law Dhwani and baby Yashvin..."

Vami smiled as she grasped Neeraj and Dhwani's hands... Neeraj hugged her close to his chest, smiling... Dhwani smiled as he patted her on the head... Vami reached out and grabbed Yashwin's tiny cheek... He smiled at her with a milky grin...

"Elder brother Nived and Sister-in-law Smriti..."

Vami smiled as she grasped Nived and Smriti's hands... Nived smiled as he kissed her cheek... Smriti smiled as she patted her cheek...

"Elder brother Daksh..."

Vami grins as she grabs Daksh's hand... Daksh smiles and shakes her hands, nodding yes...

" Elder brother Druv... "

Vami grinned as she clutched Druv's hand...Druv smiled as he patted her face...

"This is my younger sister Rudhi..."

Vami kissed Rudhi on the cheek and whispered... Rudhi came out laughing as he hugged Vami...

"Netra..."

Vami grinned as he held Netra's hand... Netra smiled as she held Vami...

"Bhumi..."

Vami smiled as she grasped Bhumi's hand... Bhumi grinned as she shook Vami's hand...

"I am Raksha by the way..."

Raksha got up and held Vami without allowing her to speak... Vami returned her hug with a familiar smile....

"Since elder brother Varad is not here, what is left is Panchapandavar..."

Vami grinned as she looked at the Pandavas standing behind everyone...

"Elder brother Niranjan..."

Vami smiles as she grabs Ranju's hand... Ranju smiles as he pats her head...

"Elder brother Devang..."

Vami smiled as she clutched Dev's hand... Dev smiled and winked at her...

"Elder brother Vishwak..."

Vami smiled as she held Vishva's hand... Vishva winked and smiled as he pecked her cheek...

"Elder brother Kaushik..."

Vami smiled as she clutched Kashi's hand... Kashi smiled as he pulled her nose... She pursed her lips in response to his...

Vami's heart was beating by the time she approached the person standing behind Kashi and Vishwa...

Her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest... She felt as if her heartbeat was ringing all around her...

She felt as if her arms and legs were weakening and that she would collapse if she lacked strength.... Some feelings came over her... She had the impression that her body and mind were not under her control....

She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply... She opened her eyes and gazed straight ahead, slowly soothing her mind... Her gaze was drawn to his dark blue eyes first...

A pair of deep blue eyes she'd seen before emerged in front of her... In amazement, she blinked her eyes repeatedly...

She had the impression that everything around her had vanished, leaving only her and him... He was attracting her like a magnet...

He is staring at her just as she is... His blue eyes and her brown eyes locked on each other...

Vami and Rudran stood face to face, clueless to their surroundings, as if darkness had descended around them... They just stood there as if they didn't comprehend...

"Don't you understand who this is..."

Vami was pulled back to reality by Indu's question... She blinked at her and smiled at Indu, whom she recognises....

"Ya, I know him.... Elder brother Rudrass..."

Vami smiled as she gazed at Rudran... As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell silent... So silent that you could hear a needle drop... There was a sudden surge of laughing...

Vami looked about, puzzled, not knowing what had happened... She looked in front of her, seeing that everyone was laughing...

Vishva and Kashi are giggling madly as they lean on Rudran... Rudran is gnashing his teeth in fury...

"Oh my God.... What's going on... Is it possible that I made a mistake... "

Vami looks around with scepticism... (Vami's Mind Voice)

"What elder brother..."

Vishwa looked to Vami, choking back his laughter, and asked

"Rudrass..."

Vami gives Vishwa an innocent look... Only the young group laughs once again...

"Damn... In the meantime, this little one found that too..."

Kashi teased Rudra by peeking behind him... In wrath, Rudra stomped on Kashi's leg...

" Oh.... Oh.... God.... Get off my feet, you devil... "

Kashi glances pitifully at Rudra...

"Not Rudrass dear.... It's Rudraksh..."

Vami was corrected by Chandrashekaran... 

" Oh... Sorry... I really apologise.... It's hard to say for convinced... That's what I assumed I heard..."

Vami glanced pityingly at Rudra.... But he stood there violently staring at her, as if his look would kill her, he would burn her right now...

"It doesn't matter dear..." 

Indu consoles Vami and kisses her... Vami gives her a friendly smile....

The older men all went outside to talk, while the women all went to the kitchen... The youngster's gang covered Vami egerly anticipates Bhavya Navami, Shivani, Shivami and Rudran... Then Bhavya, Navami, Shivani, and Shivami sat a bit apart, as if none of this mattered... Rudra's attention was drawn to their conversation, yet he was not with them, but was still close by, pounding his phone in anger...

Even though Vami glanced at Rudran occasionally, he didn't seem to mind her back, which upset her greatly... Because of her earlier blunder, she understood them all...

"Have you met everyone… Now go to your room, take a bath, clean up, and rest... You'll be exhausted from your journey..."

Indu looked concerning while holding Vami's hand... They all nodded as though everything was fine...

"Indu Mom... Can you give me my mother's room..."

Vami clenched Indu's hand and worriedly inquired...

"Why not… Why do you ask so many questions... It is solely yours, my darling.... I've already cleaned the room so it's ready for you to stay..."

Indu strokes Vami's head and leads her upstairs...

"My son, Sekhar... Are you coming home, dear…"

Kausalya gently stroked Chandrasekhar's cheek....

"No Mom... I will come there tomorrow..." 

Chandrasekhar kissed Kausalya on the cheek...

Those in Vaikundom said their goodbyes to everyone, while those in Kailasam went about their routine....

Vami informed Philip, Maria, Joe, and Charan of her arrival in the country after entering the room. She gazed around the room... Photo frames of her mother and father, as well as images from her youth to the present, were hung on the wall...

Her room is located in the back of the house... The room opens immediately onto a long balcony... Vami's room is at one end of the balcony, the hallway door to the common hall is in the middle, and there are six rooms with balcony access on either side of that corridor... A large sheepfold is in the centre of the balcony, with a care swing nearby and a few modest tables and seats...

Rudran appeared when Vami was staring out from the balcony... She was startled to see him, but she carefully approached him with a smile...

"Hi... I apologise... I'm very sorry... I stated that without realising it... I've been hearing things like that for a long time... Then I imagined the name would be something like that... I didn't say anything on purpose to mock you... It happens because I have no idea... I swear..."

Vami put her right hand to her throat and stared at him with concern... He gave her an angry look and went inside his room without saying anything... The Pandavas who followed him gave her a sad smile...

Rudra's room located at the far end of the balcony, opposite Vami's... Vami enters her chamber, concerned... She simply stared out the back window... She merely stared at the mystical snake grove in the forest...

She could smell the fragrant scent she had gotten from the breeze earlier that swept into her room... She felt her mind calm down as she breathed it in... Vami slid onto the bed slowly, sleep soon covered her eyes, and she fell into a deep sleep...