Anvitha sat thinking about the events that had happened almost four years ago... Her mind wandered back to the time when her sister Aadhira, then three months pregnant, had refused to terminate the pregnancy despite their parents' constant pleading.
But Aadhira only cried. No matter how much her parents scolded her, pleaded with her, or even hit her, she refused to reveal who was responsible for the pregnancy.
Even now, Anvitha could remember the way her mother had cried that day. People in their town would often say, "You've raised two beautiful girls! You've made them both doctors—Sakunthala, you've achieved your dreams."
But her mother had screamed in agony, "I defied my family and married your father for love. We're not against love, but this? Pregnant before marriage? No one in our family accepted us when we married. We struggled and built this home, educated both our daughters to become doctors just to be humiliated like this?"
"We wanted to raise our heads high before those who insulted us! And now, look at what has happened," she cried. "How will I face our relatives? What do I tell them—that my daughter, who was studying to be a doctor, is now standing pregnant before marriage? They'll only laugh and mock us."
Her father tried to talk gently to Aadhira one day. "Aadhira, who is he? Who is the father of your child? Tell me, please. Even if I have to fall at his feet, we'll make sure you marry him. Just tell us," he pleaded.
But Aadhira sat silently, staring into nothingness, as if the world had betrayed her. It broke Anvitha's heart. Her father eventually stopped speaking to Aadhira altogether, disheartened by her silence.
As Aadhira's pregnancy became more visible, their relatives in Kumbakonam started hearing the news. Her parents couldn't face anyone. Everyone gossiped and slandered them.
One day, Krishnaveni, her father's sister from Madurai, came home. A widow, her two uneducated sons were known for gambling and mischief. Krishnaveni had long desired to get her sons married to her nieces, to strengthen family ties and share wealth.
But Anvitha's father had refused to give his daughters to her sons. Still, she came and said mockingly, "Venugopal, didn't I tell you not to send your daughters far away for higher studies? If you had gotten them married to my sons after school, would this have happened? Look at your daughter now, pregnant before marriage! Who will marry her?"
She continued sarcastically, "And who knows when your second daughter will end up pregnant like this? You people never listen."
When someone tried to stop her, she snapped, "What? You don't like my words? I asked for your daughters, and your wife said my boys had shortcomings. Now look at your daughter—standing here pregnant, and no one knows the father. Who will tie the knot now? Maybe my sons have to step in after all."
Enraged, Anvitha shouted, "We don't need anyone to marry us! No one asked you to take our daughters as brides. Please leave."
Krishnaveni, not backing down, shouted back, "Do you even know who the father of your sister's baby is? If she won't tell, what does that mean? That she slept around with whoever came her way?"
Venugopal wept and begged, "Please don't speak this way about my daughters."
Krishnaveni retorted, "Why are you so upset? I just spoke the truth. I came thinking at least as my brother, you'd let your daughters marry into our family. But you'll never change. Fine, live with your shame. I'm done!"
Shattered by his sister's words, Venugopal withdrew into himself. No one in the house ate. Aadhira continued crying in her room. Her father sat in silence, tears streaming down his face. Her mother was weeping as she cooked. The house had become a living hell.
Suddenly, Venugopal called Anvitha. "Come here, Anvitha. Sit down," he said. "At least you'll listen to me, right? Someone has been asking for your hand in marriage. The boy's name is Vijayan—you know him, right?"
Anvitha nodded. "Yes, their house is just a few streets away. I know his mother from the temple."
"Yes, they're the ones. They've been asking for you for a long time. If you still respect me, marry him and live happily. Take care of your sister," he said.
Anvitha, unsure why her father was speaking this way, tried to console him. "Don't worry about anything. Everything will be fine."
That night, after everyone had gone to bed, Anvitha couldn't sleep. She went to check on her parents and gently knocked on their bedroom door.
But when she opened it, she froze in shock.
Both her mother and father were hanging from the ceiling fans.
Even though she wanted to scream, no sound escaped her lips. She sat motionless, staring at them in horror.
The milk lady entered through the open door, saw the scene, and screamed. Neighbors rushed in. The final rites were conducted.
Now, Anvitha and Aadhira were truly alone in the world. Anvitha sobbed uncontrollably, thinking of her parents.
But Aadhira didn't shed a tear, even after seeing them like that. She sat motionless, her gaze empty.
After the funerals, Anvitha asked her sister, "Aadhira, we've lost everything—our whole family. I have no one but you now. Please, at least now tell me—who is the father of your child?"
But Aadhira remained silent. The child had now grown to five months in her womb. Anvitha eventually stopped asking, as she knew her sister wouldn't answer.
She made up her mind—she would live for Aadhira and the unborn child. She applied for jobs at hospitals in Kumbakonam.
After their parents' death, Vijayan and his family often visited, offering emotional support.
Aadhira only ate enough to keep the baby healthy. She never cared for herself. Anvitha had to even comb her hair. Aadhira sat staring blankly into space, as if she no longer wanted to live.
Remembering all this, Anvitha now looked at her hand, held gently by Saithanya.
If Aadhira had truly wanted to, she could have aborted the baby or married someone else. But she did neither. That meant she must have loved Saithanya deeply.
Didn't Saithanya realize that? How could he speak ill of her now?
He was the reason Anvitha lost her entire family. And yet, her heart longed for him.
Perhaps it was because he had once protected her dignity. Maybe that's why she had unknowingly fallen in love with him.
Her heart ached with that painful realization.