Chapter 1: Two Families Meet
The train compartment was almost empty except a very few passengers. “This must be the case with every other compartment as this is the final stop for this train, ” Abhirami thought. She then walked up to the mirror and looked at it. She washed her face with the tap water and then combed her hair. The train siren was getting louder and louder as it approached the station. It was a quarter past 6 when the train arrived at the platform. “Narasimhapura, ” Abhirami read the board as the train entered the platform. As soon as train stopped with the final gerk, she stood from the seat and turned back looking for her father Kumaran. He was sleeping. “It was such a long journey,” Abhi thought. They had started form their home town at the previous night. The train was at 12.00 pm and they had to catch the last bus from their home town at 8.00 pm reach the railway station on time. It has been 22 hours since they started. It is human to be tired she thought. She herself was tired to the core such that she could not walk properly. However, she slowly walked up to her father and called him.
As he got down from the train, he took the big travel bag from Abhi and asked her, “Abhi, where are they?” “They are at the back, come, lets walk towards them. Looks like the exit is also in that direction. Within seconds they found Thara. “Hi Thara Chechi, How was the journey?” “It was fine di,” Thara told in a jolly voice. “This is my papa,” Abhi told, “and that must be your parents, isn’t it?” she added looking at the middle aged couple standing behind Thara. “Hi Uncle,” Thara wished Kumaran.”Yes, they are Abhi. I have shown you their photos na? I am hungry. Let us talk while having some food,” Thara looked at her parents and walked with Abhi. Mohanan and Gayathri Smiled at Kumaran. As the parents were breaking the ice between them, Abhi walked along Thara having their usual chit chats.
It took a while for them to find a restaurant, that too very small to be called a restaurant. It was more like an ugly tiny bar with its dirty benches and short roof. The dim filament bulb lit inside it actually increased its darkness. However, there was no other way other than to enter there as they were in an unsuccessful endeavor of finding a neat family restaurant in that town for the past 20 minutes. The restaurant was crowded with people, mostly gents. They either looked like some loading unloading workers or lorry drivers and cleaners. As they entered the room Kumaran could smell liquor there. As Abhi, Thara, was not familiar with that, they could not understand what smell it is. They sat near a table at the corner. Luckily, there was not any other there. As Kumaran gave the order for some food, he noticed that many eyes in that room are staring at them, especially at Thara. She also had noticed that and wanted to quickly get out of that suffocating atmosphere. As they waited for the order, he asked his daughter,”Abhi, what is the name of this town?”“Narasimhapura” she replied while looking at the mountains that surrounded the small town.
It was Abhi who chose this college at Narasimhapura over the others. They are offering attractive courses with 100% placement in international firms. For someone like Abhi, who even after having excellent marks in her graduation finding it difficult to get a job due to the lack of placement in her college, this 100% placement offer is so attractive. That is why she decided to come to this remote place and continue her studies there even though she was a single child and had never ever stayed other than at her home. “It seems a perfect place,” she thought. “Far away from her friends with no provisions to lose focus. The far it gets the better it turns out.” Once, the decisions are made, the rest was pretty quick. As soon as the graduation certificate was received she called them and they came and collected the documents along with the full fee in advance. Even though it seems a little strange, she felt it good as the seat got reserved then and there itself. Thanks to the education loan she took, otherwise Kumaran who runs a stationary shop would not be able to pay that much amount together. It was only a few days back, she knew that Thara is also joining there. Thara was her senior in previous college. Her story was also something similar. The only difference was that, she wanted to join in some local college along with some of her friends and her father Mohan Nair was very strict and did not like that idea. It was one of his colleagues in his bank who told about this college and its standards. So he decided Thara will study there.For him money was not an issue. Thara came to know about this only after all these formalities. So, when she knew that Abhirami was going to join the same college, that too for the same course, she was a bit consoled. “Even though she is a nerd, it is good that atleast someone I knew is there alongside me.” Thara was stark in contrast to what Abhi is. Even though Thara was also a single child, she was not as pampered as Abhi was. Her parents were more kind of disciplined ones. So, she became a chatter box when they were away, at school, college and all. She was just an above average student.
Thara once again took the brochure from the bag. “Gurukula Institute of Modern Engineering,” she looked at the photo of the college given it. “That is the place where I am going to spend the next two years starting from tomorrow,” she thought. She was excited. She was excited to make new friends new experiences and all. On the other hand Abhi was a bit afraid. She was stepping in to an unknown place. She was confident about her learning. It was the new place that was causing tension in her. Ever since they called her last week and informed the joining date she was tensed. Even though she knew that she will have to stay alone for the first time, she never expect it to be this fast. That is why, when she heard that Thara is also joining the same college for the same course even though she was a bit disappointed at first, later was relaxed as there is someone she already knew. “It’s harmless she thought. Thara chechi is not my friend and all. So there is no chance for usual time wasting stuff as with friends,” she thought. However, she could never dare to travel this distance alone, as the maximum distance that she travelled alone is 5 km to her previous college. That is why she brought Kumaran also with her so that he can return on the next day. Even her mom Meenakshi also wanted to come. She would have only if the shop staff was not on leave. She thought, “How much my parents care me. I need to finish these two years quickly get a good job, and go home, and support my parents” That is when the supplier brought the food for them.
“Oh you both already became friends? Now we all are out,” told Thara looking at her father and Kumaran who were busy talking to each other. Everyone laughed. Gayathri also smiled. In fact they had already broken the ice and was getting more and easier in talking to each other. There was some kind of friendship, the one that you see between people who face the same challenge at some unknown terrain, getting formed between them. Even though Gayathri was not being actively participated in the conversation, because that was her nature, she was also listening to them keenly. They were talking about their concerns on their daughters. And suddenly Thara told, don’t worry uncle I am here for Abhi and she is there for me. We will look after each other.” Even the parents were also sharing the same though and finding their solace in it. While paying the bill the man at the counter asked Kumaran,” Are you people going to the college?” Even Kumaran hesitated initially, in the end he told, “Yes, how long it is from here?” “It is something around 5 km.” “Oh can we get any auto?” asked Mohan. “Oh you will get one if you go to the junction.” Abhi looked at the direction in which he pointed. “However you won’t get after 7,” he told looking at his wrist watch. Kumaran also looked at his watch. There was still 5 minutes more to 7. He paid the bill and looked for Abhi. She was still staring at the nearby mountains. Her college is beyond those mountains. “They are like huge walls of some mysterious fort,” She thought. “Come let’s go to the junction,” Kumaran told as he stepped out from the restaurant.
Even though the junction was at sight, they had to rush to reach there in time. The auto driver allowed all the five of them to travel in same auto. However, they have to adjust and somehow find space for them. So one person has to ho and share the seat of the driver. Kumaran was a big man was difficult to be accommodated there. So, Mohan went to the front. Still the four had to be packed at the back. Both Abhi and Thara wanted the side seats. Abhi jumped in and got seated at the farthest side. Then Kumaran entered after that Gayathri and at last Thara. Abhi and Thara was busy at sight-seeing. Mohan had already started a small talk with the auto driver. Shameer, the auto driver was a young teenager. “Sir, you won’t get many autos to this place as we have to climb a lot of hills and cover a lot of bends. It is very risky and dangerous. We won’t get any passengers from the college too,” told the auto driver. “Oh, thanks for coming,” replied Mohan.” Isn’t there any bus from the college to the town?” asked Mohan. “Shameer replied, “Yes sir, there is one in the morning it will reach the town at around 10 in the morning and will return from there at 5 reaching the college junction at 7 in the evening.” While they were busy talking, Kumaran and Gayathri was still struggling to get a comfortable seating position. Bothe of them were big and Gayathri was a bit fat with her big round butt and thighs. The road had some major gutters and each time the auto jumped, she will land up on Kumaran’s thighs or even lap. For the first few, she bothered to say sorry and even Kumaran tried to adjust as far as possible. Then they both understood that there is no use in it and since they both understood the situation, they were sure that the other won’t mind it. Suddenly there was a drizzle of rain and Shameer unfolded all the window shutters. “Sir, the lights inside are under repair. Please co-operate.” “It’s okay, “said Mohan. So it was completely dark inside and both Abhi and Thara had switched their concentration to sleeping. So, since there was nothing else to do Kumaran and Gayathri also closed their eyes for some rest.
Kumaran was thinking about her. As she was the only child he and his wife had pampered her a lot. They made sure that wherever she goes they will be with him. Because they didn’t want to leave her she didn’t even went to any tours in her college. They never thought there will be a time when they will need to leave her like this. “Even though she is 21, she was as matured as a 15 year old girl only,” thought. He was afraid of that too. At the restaurant, when everyone was staring at her, he had noticed it. He prayed to God to be with her always. Suddenly, Kumaran could feel Gayathri’s whole body on his shoulders. She was so tired that she slept and leaned over to his shoulders. The smell of sweat and hair oil from her head was poking in to Kumaran’s noses. The left one of her loose boobs was pressing against his right arm. He could sense the warmth of her body. He could not sleep. Even though he had no wrong thoughts on her, this was crossing the limits even for Kumaran who was in his early fifties. However, he tried to keep himself as distant from her. It felt like ages for him till they reached the college.
“Okay, sir all the formalities are over. We will take care of them,” assured Annie, the warden of the ladies hostel. They were at the hostel cafeteria. It was more than a kilometer from the gate to the hostel. That too brisk path. All of them were tired. So, when they arrived as soon as the girls went inside the hostel they were shown the cafeteria by Annie. It was when Kumaran, Mohan, and Gayathri were having juice, Annie came back with the girls. They had already changed to homely clothes. Thara was in her three fourth and t-shirt and Abhi was in a nighty. Both the girls were like their fathers. Thara was skinny as Mohan. Slim and Tall, fair complexioned and she was also very naïve and talkative like Mohan. Similarly Abhi was mixed complexioned but stout like her father Kumaran. They had already became friends with Annie. “Parents can’t stay here. That is our policy,” told Annie with a smile. All of them looked confused. They had nowhere to go. They didn’t know anyone here. “But...,” Gayathri was about to raise their concern. “Don’t worry Mam, we know. We can give you the list of tourist homes here in the town and you can avail our cab till the town if you want,” told Annie while handing over a brochure to Mohan. They had no other way. So, they called the tourist homes one by one there were five of them. The first four had no rooms but luckily the fifth one had. As soon as they made sure that room is available there, all of them got relaxed. After some chit chats the girl said adieu to their parents. Annie had already left for her office. So, as their parents left Thara and left to their respective rooms.
The train compartment was almost empty except a very few passengers. “This must be the case with every other compartment as this is the final stop for this train, ” Abhirami thought. She then walked up to the mirror and looked at it. She washed her face with the tap water and then combed her hair. The train siren was getting louder and louder as it approached the station. It was a quarter past 6 when the train arrived at the platform. “Narasimhapura, ” Abhirami read the board as the train entered the platform. As soon as train stopped with the final gerk, she stood from the seat and turned back looking for her father Kumaran. He was sleeping. “It was such a long journey,” Abhi thought. They had started form their home town at the previous night. The train was at 12.00 pm and they had to catch the last bus from their home town at 8.00 pm reach the railway station on time. It has been 22 hours since they started. It is human to be tired she thought. She herself was tired to the core such that she could not walk properly. However, she slowly walked up to her father and called him.
As he got down from the train, he took the big travel bag from Abhi and asked her, “Abhi, where are they?” “They are at the back, come, lets walk towards them. Looks like the exit is also in that direction. Within seconds they found Thara. “Hi Thara Chechi, How was the journey?” “It was fine di,” Thara told in a jolly voice. “This is my papa,” Abhi told, “and that must be your parents, isn’t it?” she added looking at the middle aged couple standing behind Thara. “Hi Uncle,” Thara wished Kumaran.”Yes, they are Abhi. I have shown you their photos na? I am hungry. Let us talk while having some food,” Thara looked at her parents and walked with Abhi. Mohanan and Gayathri Smiled at Kumaran. As the parents were breaking the ice between them, Abhi walked along Thara having their usual chit chats.
It took a while for them to find a restaurant, that too very small to be called a restaurant. It was more like an ugly tiny bar with its dirty benches and short roof. The dim filament bulb lit inside it actually increased its darkness. However, there was no other way other than to enter there as they were in an unsuccessful endeavor of finding a neat family restaurant in that town for the past 20 minutes. The restaurant was crowded with people, mostly gents. They either looked like some loading unloading workers or lorry drivers and cleaners. As they entered the room Kumaran could smell liquor there. As Abhi, Thara, was not familiar with that, they could not understand what smell it is. They sat near a table at the corner. Luckily, there was not any other there. As Kumaran gave the order for some food, he noticed that many eyes in that room are staring at them, especially at Thara. She also had noticed that and wanted to quickly get out of that suffocating atmosphere. As they waited for the order, he asked his daughter,”Abhi, what is the name of this town?”“Narasimhapura” she replied while looking at the mountains that surrounded the small town.
It was Abhi who chose this college at Narasimhapura over the others. They are offering attractive courses with 100% placement in international firms. For someone like Abhi, who even after having excellent marks in her graduation finding it difficult to get a job due to the lack of placement in her college, this 100% placement offer is so attractive. That is why she decided to come to this remote place and continue her studies there even though she was a single child and had never ever stayed other than at her home. “It seems a perfect place,” she thought. “Far away from her friends with no provisions to lose focus. The far it gets the better it turns out.” Once, the decisions are made, the rest was pretty quick. As soon as the graduation certificate was received she called them and they came and collected the documents along with the full fee in advance. Even though it seems a little strange, she felt it good as the seat got reserved then and there itself. Thanks to the education loan she took, otherwise Kumaran who runs a stationary shop would not be able to pay that much amount together. It was only a few days back, she knew that Thara is also joining there. Thara was her senior in previous college. Her story was also something similar. The only difference was that, she wanted to join in some local college along with some of her friends and her father Mohan Nair was very strict and did not like that idea. It was one of his colleagues in his bank who told about this college and its standards. So he decided Thara will study there.For him money was not an issue. Thara came to know about this only after all these formalities. So, when she knew that Abhirami was going to join the same college, that too for the same course, she was a bit consoled. “Even though she is a nerd, it is good that atleast someone I knew is there alongside me.” Thara was stark in contrast to what Abhi is. Even though Thara was also a single child, she was not as pampered as Abhi was. Her parents were more kind of disciplined ones. So, she became a chatter box when they were away, at school, college and all. She was just an above average student.
Thara once again took the brochure from the bag. “Gurukula Institute of Modern Engineering,” she looked at the photo of the college given it. “That is the place where I am going to spend the next two years starting from tomorrow,” she thought. She was excited. She was excited to make new friends new experiences and all. On the other hand Abhi was a bit afraid. She was stepping in to an unknown place. She was confident about her learning. It was the new place that was causing tension in her. Ever since they called her last week and informed the joining date she was tensed. Even though she knew that she will have to stay alone for the first time, she never expect it to be this fast. That is why, when she heard that Thara is also joining the same college for the same course even though she was a bit disappointed at first, later was relaxed as there is someone she already knew. “It’s harmless she thought. Thara chechi is not my friend and all. So there is no chance for usual time wasting stuff as with friends,” she thought. However, she could never dare to travel this distance alone, as the maximum distance that she travelled alone is 5 km to her previous college. That is why she brought Kumaran also with her so that he can return on the next day. Even her mom Meenakshi also wanted to come. She would have only if the shop staff was not on leave. She thought, “How much my parents care me. I need to finish these two years quickly get a good job, and go home, and support my parents” That is when the supplier brought the food for them.
“Oh you both already became friends? Now we all are out,” told Thara looking at her father and Kumaran who were busy talking to each other. Everyone laughed. Gayathri also smiled. In fact they had already broken the ice and was getting more and easier in talking to each other. There was some kind of friendship, the one that you see between people who face the same challenge at some unknown terrain, getting formed between them. Even though Gayathri was not being actively participated in the conversation, because that was her nature, she was also listening to them keenly. They were talking about their concerns on their daughters. And suddenly Thara told, don’t worry uncle I am here for Abhi and she is there for me. We will look after each other.” Even the parents were also sharing the same though and finding their solace in it. While paying the bill the man at the counter asked Kumaran,” Are you people going to the college?” Even Kumaran hesitated initially, in the end he told, “Yes, how long it is from here?” “It is something around 5 km.” “Oh can we get any auto?” asked Mohan. “Oh you will get one if you go to the junction.” Abhi looked at the direction in which he pointed. “However you won’t get after 7,” he told looking at his wrist watch. Kumaran also looked at his watch. There was still 5 minutes more to 7. He paid the bill and looked for Abhi. She was still staring at the nearby mountains. Her college is beyond those mountains. “They are like huge walls of some mysterious fort,” She thought. “Come let’s go to the junction,” Kumaran told as he stepped out from the restaurant.
Even though the junction was at sight, they had to rush to reach there in time. The auto driver allowed all the five of them to travel in same auto. However, they have to adjust and somehow find space for them. So one person has to ho and share the seat of the driver. Kumaran was a big man was difficult to be accommodated there. So, Mohan went to the front. Still the four had to be packed at the back. Both Abhi and Thara wanted the side seats. Abhi jumped in and got seated at the farthest side. Then Kumaran entered after that Gayathri and at last Thara. Abhi and Thara was busy at sight-seeing. Mohan had already started a small talk with the auto driver. Shameer, the auto driver was a young teenager. “Sir, you won’t get many autos to this place as we have to climb a lot of hills and cover a lot of bends. It is very risky and dangerous. We won’t get any passengers from the college too,” told the auto driver. “Oh, thanks for coming,” replied Mohan.” Isn’t there any bus from the college to the town?” asked Mohan. “Shameer replied, “Yes sir, there is one in the morning it will reach the town at around 10 in the morning and will return from there at 5 reaching the college junction at 7 in the evening.” While they were busy talking, Kumaran and Gayathri was still struggling to get a comfortable seating position. Bothe of them were big and Gayathri was a bit fat with her big round butt and thighs. The road had some major gutters and each time the auto jumped, she will land up on Kumaran’s thighs or even lap. For the first few, she bothered to say sorry and even Kumaran tried to adjust as far as possible. Then they both understood that there is no use in it and since they both understood the situation, they were sure that the other won’t mind it. Suddenly there was a drizzle of rain and Shameer unfolded all the window shutters. “Sir, the lights inside are under repair. Please co-operate.” “It’s okay, “said Mohan. So it was completely dark inside and both Abhi and Thara had switched their concentration to sleeping. So, since there was nothing else to do Kumaran and Gayathri also closed their eyes for some rest.
Kumaran was thinking about her. As she was the only child he and his wife had pampered her a lot. They made sure that wherever she goes they will be with him. Because they didn’t want to leave her she didn’t even went to any tours in her college. They never thought there will be a time when they will need to leave her like this. “Even though she is 21, she was as matured as a 15 year old girl only,” thought. He was afraid of that too. At the restaurant, when everyone was staring at her, he had noticed it. He prayed to God to be with her always. Suddenly, Kumaran could feel Gayathri’s whole body on his shoulders. She was so tired that she slept and leaned over to his shoulders. The smell of sweat and hair oil from her head was poking in to Kumaran’s noses. The left one of her loose boobs was pressing against his right arm. He could sense the warmth of her body. He could not sleep. Even though he had no wrong thoughts on her, this was crossing the limits even for Kumaran who was in his early fifties. However, he tried to keep himself as distant from her. It felt like ages for him till they reached the college.
“Okay, sir all the formalities are over. We will take care of them,” assured Annie, the warden of the ladies hostel. They were at the hostel cafeteria. It was more than a kilometer from the gate to the hostel. That too brisk path. All of them were tired. So, when they arrived as soon as the girls went inside the hostel they were shown the cafeteria by Annie. It was when Kumaran, Mohan, and Gayathri were having juice, Annie came back with the girls. They had already changed to homely clothes. Thara was in her three fourth and t-shirt and Abhi was in a nighty. Both the girls were like their fathers. Thara was skinny as Mohan. Slim and Tall, fair complexioned and she was also very naïve and talkative like Mohan. Similarly Abhi was mixed complexioned but stout like her father Kumaran. They had already became friends with Annie. “Parents can’t stay here. That is our policy,” told Annie with a smile. All of them looked confused. They had nowhere to go. They didn’t know anyone here. “But...,” Gayathri was about to raise their concern. “Don’t worry Mam, we know. We can give you the list of tourist homes here in the town and you can avail our cab till the town if you want,” told Annie while handing over a brochure to Mohan. They had no other way. So, they called the tourist homes one by one there were five of them. The first four had no rooms but luckily the fifth one had. As soon as they made sure that room is available there, all of them got relaxed. After some chit chats the girl said adieu to their parents. Annie had already left for her office. So, as their parents left Thara and left to their respective rooms.
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