" how long do you know my Akka Sir " Swathi asked Ashwin  who ia sitting infront of her sipping his coffee.  He just smiled in return.

" Sir... I'm asking you for an answer  not your smile " she said leaning more onto her chair.

" why does it matter " he asked her nonchalantly.

" It matters to me sir " she said trying to hide that she is getting irritated.

" maybe since childhood " he said sipping his coffee.

Swathi started thinking of something hard while Ashwin noticed it with narrow eyes.

" Ashwin.... Ashwini.... don't tell me my sister just renamed you as Ashwini " swathi asked him elated.

Ashwin coughed the coffee he is sipping.  He wiped his mouth with tissue still looking at Swathi.

" I think its time for me to leave " Swathi scrambled away from the room. Ashwin just shook his head looking at her antics.

It was at afternoon when Swathi just about to cross Ashwin's room she heard something which increased her curiosity.  So she eavesdropped his conversation.

" ok ok don't cry na baby " Ashwin was trying to console someone in his mobile.

" I  will do as you say...... I will take you far away from here so you don't have to talk to anyone " Ashwin said to the other person in the call.

" fine... fine...  we will leave as soon as possible ..... yeah yeah I'm on my way " he said picking up something from his drawer.

" Love too Nithya...... and I'm coming to get you as soon as possible " he said kissing her onto the mobile.

Swathi dropped the files in her hand hearing her sister's name from her ex-lover.  She felt something uneasy in her heart. She can't decipher her feelings.  Soon Ashwin left the office with smile on his face.

Swathi was totally confused about his conversation on his call. She left to her home with the uneasy feeling.

When she entered the home she could feel a different silence in her home which she had never felt. She went inside the kitchen and drank some water. She hummed a song and went to freshen up.

Later at night everyone sat in the hall quietly except Nithya and Vishak .

" where is Akka and Maama " Swathi asked them .

" Your akka left " Janaki said with anger laced in her tone.

" where did she go " Swathi asked playing with a ball in her hand.

" your sister ran away with her lover...leaving my son alone. If your sister badly wanted her lover then why hell did she marry my son and spoiled his life " Janaki yelled with tears in her eyes.

" wha.... what are you saying " swathi stammered as the ball in her hand fell down.

" Don't act as if you don't know anything.... your sister always says everything to you na " Janaki yelled at her. But Swathi's mind did not register anything.  She was recalling Ashwin's conversation in the morning.

Love too Nithya...... and I'm coming to get you as soon as possible

She tried calling Ashwin but his mobile was switched off. Swathi felt scared when she recalled everything.  She ran towards her sister's room. There she saw Vishak sitting alone looking at their wedding picture on the wall.

"Maama .." Swathi called him slowly.  Vishak looked at her and gave a weak smile.

" what happened maama " she asked sitting near his leg holding his hand.

" she asked me to let her go.... and I let her so that she can live the life once she wanted to live " he said trying to control his tears.

" maama..."

" Na its okay Swathi... I will overcome this too.... concentrate on your life " he said dismissing her....