chapter 80

Author's POV After dropping those sassy dialogue, Thulir straightened the bulky Royal Enfield off its side stand. But the moment she did, she let out a dramatic screech."Yei yeiii yeeiiiiiiii!"Her balance wobbled. Agathiyan, thankfully, was quick. He darted forward and steadied the bike, holding it firm before she could tip it over and hurt herself. With a deep breath, he looked at her—half annoyed, half used to her chaos."Thevaiya dii idhellam?"(Is all this necessary dii)He pushed the stand back down, grounding the bike safely, but Thulir didn't get off. She sat there stubbornly, one leg casually hanging her hands still on the handles. He sighed, about to pass a teasing comment—maybe even a mini-lecture—only to see her narrowing her eyes at him. And being the experienced husband, he knew exactly what was coming."This is all your fault.""Mine?""Yes, you. Don't act like I've always been this weak or clueless about riding a Royal Enfield. I owned one, okay? Learned to ride at sixteen! I used to kick-start that beast like it was nothing. You don't know how many fans I had back in my UG days, riding through campus like a queen."She placed a hand over her chest like she was remembering some lost glory."And I gave it all up. For you. Idiot.""You had fan-following even in school, I know that. But I never asked you to ride distracted and get into an accident. And for the record—it was your Appa who banned you from REs. You didn't even argue with him! So don't dump that on me."Agathiyan's defense didn't stand a chance."Don't even start. That accident happened because of you, Mr. Agathiyan. It was your call I got while riding! And I was already distracted—thanks to you and your brother, both deciding to confess your feelings at the same time. I was in a mess, thinking about you, thinking about everything."She folded her arms, now in full rant mode."And about Appa's so-called ban—you really think I didn't fight back? I went on a hunger strike, okay? A full hunger strike! Only then he agreed to let me ride again. But instead of giving me back my RE, he gave it to Thuyavan, who didn't even have a license! And I got stuck with a scooter. So just... shut up. Keep your opinions to yourself. Now get on."Command issued, With that, she pulled the bike upright again, this time with more purpose. She kicked once. Twice. Three times. By the fourth, the engine roared to life like an angry lion. The sound echoed in the place, pure Royal Enfield magic. Thulir looked pleased with a satisfied smile she was waiting for him to hop on. But Agathiyan stood there with his arms on his hips, eyeing her warily. She tilted her head towards him, raising her brows."Are you sure you can ride?" he asked, voice dipped in doubt.Thulir clenched her jaw, her knuckles tightening on the handlebar."Listen, Agathiya. You've got two choices. One—get on the bike, ride with me, and if I mess up and crash us both, I promise I'll forgive you. Two—stay back, keep your doubts and precious life, and tomorrow morning I'm filing for divorce. How's that sound?"She didn't even finish the last word before she felt his weight settle behind her on the seat. Thulir rolled her eyes without turning around."Don't you think 'divorce' is too much for this, dii?"Agathiyan's voice was barely a whisper, careful like a man tiptoeing through landmines.Thulir didn't spare him."You're the one who said you wanted your Theeni tonight...All of her. This is her and you know that, So Mr. Agathiyan zip it"And with that, the bike surged forward.The growl of the engine echoed through the courtyard of Revathi Illam. The watchman, already familiar with the sound of that Royal Enfield had the gates wide open. The bike rolled out like thunder slipping into the night, husband and wife riding out into the street—her stubborn, him silent.The rain was still drizzling when Agathiyan leaned in, closing the space between them. He wrapped his arms around Thulir's waist, careful but firm. She smiled to herself as he rested his face near her shoulder, his lips brushing her ear just enough to make her flinch and bite back a laugh.She didn't lose balance. It had been years since she last rode a bike like this, but it came back to her easily. There was no struggle, no hesitation. Her body remembered. The rhythm, the balance, the hum of the engine beneath her—it all returned as naturally as breathing. She had once taught her brother to ride; her hands had always known how to take control of the machine.The Royal Enfield had been Agathiyan's pride. At first, she only rode it because he loved it so much. But over time, something shifted. The more she rode, the more she understood what he saw in it. And then, somewhere between she had fallen in love with the bike too—just as she'd fallen in love with him."Back to normal mode, madam?" His voice brushed softly near her ear. She could feel the grin in his tone She smiled. "You brought up my bike. That triggered some old Wounds" she said, speaking a little louder so the wind wouldn't carry her words away.Agathiyan chuckled behind her. "I knew you loved that bike.""Hmm..."There was a pause. Then he added, "Aadhi told me Maaran wants this bike for his next birthday."That caught her attention."Ohh, really? So you're giving him this one?""Hmm. Let him have it.""Fine. That means we're taking mine to Salem this time. Thanks for reminding me. I'll ask Thuyavan to send it over tomorrow itself. That way, before you reach there, your jeep and my bike will already be waiting at the quarters."Thulir finished speaking, but Agathiyan didn't respond. He went quiet.He still hadn't told her the truth—that he'd decided to leave her and the girls here at Revathi Illam until his transfer came through. The thought weighed heavy, but now wasn't the time. So before she could bring it up again or ask more questions, he quickly changed the subject."Heyyy... stop at that tea stall dii. Let's have a tea."And just like that, it worked.Thulir said nothing, but steered the bike to the side and parked it in front of a modest roadside tea stall. A rusted tin roof, a wooden counter, a big steel kettle steaming in one corner. The smell of cardamom and boiling milk filled the cool air.They got off the bike. The rain had eased into a whisper now—just light droplets brushing their hair and shoulders. Their clothes clung a little, especially around the collars and sleeves, but neither of them looked bothered.A small group of men—six, maybe seven—stood near the stall. They were gathered under the small shelter, laughing, passing around tiny glass tumblers of tea, their voices rising and falling while they chat.The moment Thulir stepped off the bike, a few of them turned.She didn't notice. Or if she did, she didn't care. She was casually fixing her hair, running her fingers through the damp strands, brushing off droplets from her sleeves. She stood with the confidence of someone who wasn't new to attention.But Agathiyan saw it all. The lingering looks. The smirks exchanged. His eyes sharpened.He leaned toward her and spoke low."Stay by the bike I'll get the tea."There was something firm in his tone now, protective. She nodded and leaned back against the seat, stretching her arms, still unaware of the shift in his mood. As he walked toward the counter, his jaw was clenched. His mind wasn't just on tea anymore."Na... Rendu tea" he told the tea master."Agathiyaaa... butter biscuit umm!"It was a casual request, said without a second thought. But her words pulled more than just Agathiyan's attention. The group of men clustered around the tea stall all turned—some curious, others lingering too long. There was a momentary pause in their chatter. Their eyes found her, studied her, and didn't look away.She didn't notice. Or maybe she chose not to react.She stood with an easy confidence, one foot resting against the bike's pedal. She was brushing wet strands of hair away from her cheek, eyes casually taking in the quiet street—completely unaware, or deliberately ignoring the eyes on her.But Agathiyan saw everything.As he waited by the tea counter, his jaw clenched. His knuckles tightened around the metal tumbler before the chai master even handed him their drinks. The way those men were looking at his wife lit something sharp in his chest—something protective, something fierce.He took the two steaming glasses of tea and the butter biscuits without a word. As he walked back toward her, the drizzle had faded into stillness, but his expression stayed stormy.When he reached her, he positioned himself directly in front of her—close enough to hide her from view. His broad back now formed a silent wall between her and the onlookers. His shoulders were stiff, his gaze still fixed on them, still burning quietly.Thulir didn't comment, but she noticed.She took the tea he handed her, gently dipping one of the butter biscuits into it. She held the softened piece out to him, offering it wordlessly. But he didn't respond. He was still watching the men. Still silent, his eyes sending a message louder than any words.The biscuit she was holding lost its shape and broke, falling to the wet ground. She sighed shaking her head, she dipped another one into her tea, then ate it herself in a single bite. Agathiyan still hadn't shifted his gaze. Thulir reached out, gently cupped his chin, and turned his face toward her. Then, she eyed toward his glass of tea. With a deep breath, he finally lifted the glass and took a sip. She pushed the plate of butter biscuits toward him. He shrugged and picked just one.Thulir grabbed another, dipped it into her tea, and took a bite. Between chews, she murmured, "Every woman is used to those stares, Agathiya. Men have romanticized these for ages, never bothering to notice how uncomfortable it makes us. So your possessiveness... it doesn't make me feel safe or happy. And it surely won't change their mindset. So, chill."She said it lightly, sipping her tea again."At least a few slaps might help to keep my sanity"Thulir scoffed. "You think that'll stop them? Maybe for a day. But after the sting fades, they'll replay what they saw, objectify me more. A slap won't teach them respect, Agathiya. I don't want to cause a scene. I just want peace. Let's go. Pay the bill and return the glass, please."She handed him her empty tumbler. Agathiyan clenched his jaw. Thulir simply smiled and nudged him with a teasing hum. Irritated, he moved back, paid the bill, and didn't leave without throwing a silent warning glance at the men across the tea stall. Being a well-built cop with a visible pistol at his back did the trick—they lowered their eyes, not daring to look her way again.When he returned, he kicked the bike to life in a single go, the tension in his shoulders still simmering. Thulir climbed on without a word, wrapped her arms around his chest, and pressed her cheek against his back. Her mind had drifted elsewhere.After a few moments, she spoke softly."Take me to our place, Agathiya."Agathiyan brought her hands to his chest, his fingers gently weaving through hers. He lifted them and pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand. A quiet smile curved Thulir's lips as she placed a tender kiss on his shoulder. The wind brushed past them as the bike carried them down the road—toward the place they called theirs.Author's Note I know many of you were expecting romantic chapters... but for now, I'm choosing to focus on these moments.I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter—your interpretations, your feelings, what lingered with you.Once we wrap up this story, we'll be stepping into "Mayavisai".I am more excited for that story and trying hard to suppress my urge to start that book right away.Happy Reading 📖📖📖📖📖Thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️