Chapter 60: chapter 60

Author's POV"So, will you both tell me why you're here at this hour... it's 10 p.m.," Thuyavan asked, his voice laced with suspicion. He looked at the duo with a mix of curiosity and irritation, wondering what could have brought them to his doorstep so late.Agathiyan let out a deep, weary sigh, the frustration evident in his posture. He gestured towards Aadhavan, silently passing the baton.Aadhavan, ever the smooth talker, stepped in with a disarming grin. "I'm here to meet my wife," he began casually, then added with a playful edge, "and he's here to convince his angry wife."Agathiyan rolled his eyes, his patience already wearing thin, while Thuyavan's frown deepened. "Angry wife? Does that mean you fought with my akka?" Thuyavan's tone was sharper now, his protectiveness over his sister kicking in.Aadhavan nodded, his expression a mix of amusement and sympathy for his brother's plight. Agathiyan, however, remained silent, his jaw tightening. He had no time for this back-and-forth. He was here for one reason only—to see his wife—and the conversation felt like an unnecessary hurdle in his path."Is that why she's here and staying back?" Thuyavan asked again, his curiosity unyielding.This time, Agathiyan nodded curtly, his eyes darting around the premises as if calculating an escape route. Thuyavan's frown only deepened, his arms now crossed as he fixed a sharp gaze on Agathiyan."What exactly did you do, maams?" Thuyavan demanded, his tone filled with both curiosity and subtle accusation.Before Agathiyan could respond, Aadhavan interjected with a chuckle. "He's still processing... so I'll explain." His tone was light, but there was a subtle undercurrent of mischief.As Aadhavan launched into an explanation, Agathiyan's mind wandered. He scanned the surroundings, his eyes landing on the familiar pipe he usually climbed to reach Thulir's room. But the rainy season had taken its toll—it was rusted, and climbing it seemed perilous. He mentally weighed his options, considering the need for gloves or something to secure his grip.Meanwhile, Aadhavan recounted the story to Thuyavan, who listened intently. As the tale unfolded, Thuyavan's eyes narrowed, his gaze flickering between Aadhavan and Agathiyan.Agathiyan noticed Thuyavan's accusatory look and felt his irritation spike. Before Thuyavan could voice his thoughts, Agathiyan cut in, his tone sharp. "Thuyava, you know about Thulir's writing, right?""Yes," Thuyavan replied nonchalantly, his expression unreadable."Then why didn't you tell me?" Agathiyan pressed, his frustration bubbling to the surface."You never asked me, maams,"Thuyavan replied with a shrug, his tone casual. His indifference only added fuel to Agathiyan's simmering irritation. Aadhavan chuckled at the exchange, finding amusement in the growing tension, while Agathiyan rolled his eyes in exasperation."You sound exactly like your akka," Agathiyan muttered, his tone laced with a mix of annoyance and disbelief.Thuyavan frowned, his protective instincts kicking in. "When that's the answer, why would we say anything different? And what do you mean by this? Are you implying my akka needs your permission to do anything she wants? Or that she wouldn't tell you if you'd asked her? It's not her fault if you ignored her and assumed she was just playing the perfect wife and had no hobbies. You can't blame my akka for your ignorance!" His voice was steady but carried a sharp edge, the words hitting their mark.Agathiyan gritted his teeth, his temper flaring, but before he could retort, Aadhavan stepped in, raising his hands to diffuse the tension."Hey, hey! Calm down, both of you," Aadhavan said, his voice firm but conciliatory. He turned to Agathiyan, his expression serious. "Agathiya, I think this is your worst day yet. It'd be wise to keep your mouth shut unless you want more problems. I know you're losing your mind after this sudden argument with your wife—it's been a long, long time since you've faced anything like this—but calm yourself and focus on why we're here, okay?"Agathiyan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. But as Aadhavan's words sank in, he let out a slow, measured breath, forcing himself to regain composure. He nodded reluctantly, acknowledging the truth in his brother's words.Aadhavan then turned to Thuyavan, who stood with arms folded and eyebrows raised, his expression demanding answers. The atmosphere was tense, the air heavy with unresolved emotions, as the three men stood at the crossroads of confrontation and resolution."My sisters are together after a long time, and I don't want to ruin their mood—especially since I know you've upset my akka," Thuyavan declared firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.Agathiyan, already irritated and running low on patience, retorted, "Who needs your help? I know how to meet my wife."With that, he strode toward the other side, abandoning his earlier plan of climbing the rusted pipe. The idea was long forgotten as he decided to take a direct approach instead.Thuyavan glanced back and smirked. "Oh, sure. Try—Appa is sitting right there," he teased, stopping Agathiyan mid-stride.Agathiyan froze and turned, narrowing his eyes. "Why is he still awake?" Aadhavan asked Thuyavan responded nonchalantly, "Because my son is awake, and he's telling him stories.""Where are the other kids, then?" Agathiyan asked, his thoughts briefly shifting to his daughters, whom he'd seen earlier in the morning."They're with akka. I think they've already gone to sleep. All the ladies are together—it's their time, so we haven't disturbed them," Thuyavan explained.As Thuyavan spoke, he suddenly remembered his wife and her tendency to stay up late duo to their night owl son and she kind of used to that disoriented sleeping schedule. If she overslept in the morning, she'd surely taunt him for it. With a sigh, he pulled out his phone and sent her a quick reminder about the time. She had to wake up early for the University tomorrow, where she worked as an Assistant Professor, having just resumed her role two months ago after her maternity leave."So, Thalir is with them in the same room?" Aadhavan asked, his curiosity piqued."Yeah, and Gowri has already fallen asleep. I just saw Amma returning to her room with her," Thuyavan replied casually.Agathiyan, overhearing the conversation, returned to the duo, his frustration simmering. Thuyavan sighed deeply, recognizing the determination in Agathiyan's eyes."Listen, maams," Thuyavan began, his tone measured. "I know you want to convince akka, but barging in now would mean interfering in their ladies' time, and that'll only make her angrier. So, here's the plan: I just sent a reminder to Anbu. Once she replies about the situation there, and the women's council dismisses, you can go. And, please, don't even think about using that rusted pipe. I noticed how bad it looks—it's not safe. I'll call the plumber tomorrow to fix it. Instead, take the back door and use the stairs to climb up. That way, you won't cross paths with Appa."Thuyavan paused briefly before turning to Aadhavan adding, "And, maama, call your dear wife. Ask her to leave akka's room and go to hers—it'll make things much easier for you to meet your wife without stirring more trouble."Thuyavan's advice was practical, and Agathiyan finally sighed in relief, patting Thuyavan's shoulder in gratitude.But Aadhavan frowned, raising an eyebrow. "Why are you helping us now?" he questioned suspiciously.Thuyavan shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not helping you. I'm helping maams. You asking Thalir to leave will ultimately help him. After all, he can't call akka directly—she's already upset with him. And it's fine even if Thalir taunts you—she'll still listen to you anyway."Agathiyan let out a low chuckle at Thuyavan's bluntness, his amusement growing as he spotted the incredulous look on Aadhavan's face. his brother clearly wasn't prepared for such a straightforward response."Even I'm the son-in-law of this family! Why the partiality now?" Aadhavan exclaimed, throwing his hands up dramatically in mock indignation, his voice tinged with disbelief and a hint of humor.Thuyavan, completely unfazed, shrugged casually. "Because maams gave me ideas to correct Anbu," he replied, his tone as matter-of-fact as ever."Dei, wasn't your marriage an arranged one?" Aadhavan shot back, his brows furrowing slightly as he questioned the logic behind Thuyavan's statement."So what? I still wanted to impress my fiancée. And when I needed help, I thought of him immediately," Thuyavan said, his conviction unwavering. There was a trace of pride in his voice as he recalled the effort he had put into those early days."You could've asked me for help too," Aadhavan countered, his tone now carrying a mix of mild offense and genuine curiosity.Thuyavan rolled his eyes dramatically, his exasperation palpable. "I needed ideas to impress my future wife—not to make her pregnant before the wedding," he quipped, his words sharp and unfiltered.Aadhavan's jaw dropped, his face a blend of embarrassment and indignation. "Dei! That wasn't planned, daa! It happened out of our control—it wasn't intentional. You can't blame only me for that," he protested defensively, his voice tinged with frustration as he tried to justify himself."Oh, so now you're saying Thalir is at fault because she loved you blindly? You were older than her, man!" Thuyavan snapped, his frustration spilling over. His voice had risen slightly, and there was a clear protective undertone for his sister as he glared at his brother-in-law.Aadhavan opened his mouth to respond, ready to defend himself further, but before the conversation could escalate, Agathiyan raised his hand firmly and intervened. His tone was authoritative yet calm, effectively silencing the brewing argument."Alright, alright, enough. Let's focus on the present, guys. Thuyava, check your phone. Aadhu, don't call Thalir—just message her. Calling might raise suspicion," Agathiyan said, his voice measured and steady as he redirected their focus back to the task at hand.The two men paused, exchanging a brief glance before letting out deep breaths and turning their attention to their phones. The tension between them began to dissipate, though the underlying emotions lingered.As Thuyavan and Aadhavan busied themselves with their respective tasks, Agathiyan shook his head in disbelief, a sigh escaping his lips. "The lengths I have to go to just to meet my wife," he muttered under his breath, his tone filled with both frustration and resignation.