The Chosen One

Chapter 20 - One Father to another

Ashwin was busy reading through some documents when his phone rang.

"Ashwin naan Uncle pesaren, Sivaangi's father"  came the voice on the other side

"Sollunga uncle, all ok? Sivaangi? Kutties?" asked Ashwin with little panic.

"All good pa, onnum problem illa, just wanted to talk to you, can we come by your hotel today? Are you busy?" asked her father

"Sure Uncle, anytime" replied Ashwin little confused, thinking what it could be about.

Mr and Mrs Krishanan were seated across the sofa from Ashwin, all three of them sipping their coffee  while an awkward silence surrounded them.

"Innum ethana naal shoot irukku?" Asked Sivaangi' father as a conversation starter.

"Innum three months at least inga dhaan uncle, neraya work irukku" replied Ashwin with a smile.

"Appo periya project pola? Full movie SG la dhaan shooting ah?" Asked Sivaangi's mother

"Work konjam perisu dhaan aunty" he replied with a smile.

"Appo enna visa la irukeenga?" She asked again

"One year multiple entry visa irukku, but can't stay for more than 56 days at a time, so  have to go back to India for at least a week and then have to come back as per Visa rules" replied Ashwin

"Hmm.. naangalum adhey visa dhaan, we are leaving to India this weekend, adhaan adhukku minnadi unga kitta pesalaamnu..." her father dragged

"Neenga dheiriyama poituvaanga, naan paathukaren avangala" Ashwin said reassuringly

Both husband and wife looked at each other for a second  then Sivaangi's dad took a deep breath and looked at Ashwin

"I don't know with what intention you have come back in her life Ashwin, but as always you are having a huge impact on her" he said

"Uncle" interrupted Ashwin

"Please Ashwin, let me finish" replied her father in a stern voice

"We both till now have no clue what conspired between you both, but after you left romba suffer pannitta"

"The stress caused by your separation,  sudden disappearance of Mika, pre marital pregnancy, adhuvum with twins, she literally went through hell, that it changed her completely. She lost her smile, her chirpiness, eppovume oru rigidness, oru tough exterior nu oru kallu maari aagitta"

"But she didn't give up, she came here with the help of a good friend, konjam konjam ah she started living her life just for the sake of the kids."

"When we thought we will never see our old Sivaangi back again, you came and for past few days, even though she would jump from a building before accepting it, we can see the changes in her, slowly her chirpiness is coming back, and finally after eons we see our daughter smiling and being happy" said her father

Ashwin continued to look at them with mixed emotions, waiting for her father to continue.

"But...... if at all you leave her again, she won't survive it, I mean not mentally alone, but physically too." her father added when Ashwin interrupted with a raised tone.

"Uncle, please" 

but it did not create any impact on the father who continued talking with tears in his eyes

"Two kids Ashwin, twins,  we bought them up as apple of our eyes, but now one disappeared completely from our life and the other is living like a zombie and as a parent the only person we blame is you. " her father said trying to control his sobs.