Dhiviya didn't even hear Anjana mocking her. Her mind had gone completely blank. Her hands were trembling, her breath shallow, and her eyes flooded with tears. Panic had taken full control. She staggered a step back, her body weak, and mumbled, "What am I going to do now? How am I going to tell him this?"
Her fingers clumsily fumbled for her phone, but her vision was too blurred to make out anything on the screen. Punitha held her tightly, not just to offer comfort, but also to stop her from getting closer to the debris-covered wreck of the BMW. Sharp fragments of concrete were scattered everywhere.
Shankar, composed as always, quickly turned to the security guard. "Prathap, check the CCTV now."
Prathap looked uneasy. "Sir... CCTV has been out of service since this morning."
His voice was low, almost guilty. Shankar noticed his frequent glances at Navin and Anjana, who were standing a distance away with suspiciously calm expressions.
"Is this their doing?" Shankar thought inwardly.
"Let's make a police report first," Shankar suggested. "They'll investigate and maybe find out who's responsible. Dhiviya, you should call your husband or your father."
Dhiviya, slowly regaining some awareness, turned to Punitha. "Puni... how am I going to tell him?"
"It's okay, Dhiviya. You didn't do anything wrong," Punitha reassured her. "Let's call him first."
Dhiviya bit her lip. "I don't know his number," she whispered, a new wave of anxiety crashing over her. She fumbled with her phone, her hands still trembling. She regretted never asking for his number. She didn't even know whether he had a phone or not. "I'll call Appa," she whispered.
She dialed Vasanthan. "Appa… ah… something happened…"
Her sobbing resumed before she could finish. Shankar gently took the phone from her.
"Uncle, this is Shankar. Don't panic—Dhiviya is fine. But there's been an incident involving the car. Can you come to the office right away? Maybe bring her husband too." Shankar summarized everything to Vasanthan.
Navin and Anjana overheard. Anjana's face paled immediately. Navin quickly signaled her to keep calm. The two siblings quickly retreated into the office building, leaving the others to deal with the aftermath.
Anjana, now fully aware of the seriousness of the situation, whispered, "Navin, what if—"
"Relax. I've already covered the police angle. Muru's contacts will keep it quiet. Even if they go to the station, nothing will happen. Don't worry," he said, trying to sound confident, though his clenched fists said otherwise.
Meanwhile, at a nearby temple, Vasanthan rushed up to Athavan, who was cleaning the steps.
"Maapilai! Come with me. Something happened at Dhiviya's office. Guna's waiting outside."
Athavan's eyes sharpened. His voice dropped into something cold and deadly.
"Is she okay?"
Vasanthan felt a chill run through him. He gathered himself and summarized what little he knew.
Guna added, "Do you need to get your passport from home? Only the owner can file a police report."
"No need. I'm Walaysian-born. I've got my Walaysian ID card. And the car's under my name," Athavan replied.
Back at the office, a police patrol car arrived. Two officers stepped out. One was relaxed and indifferent. The other, Officer Sabri, looked arrogant and disinterested.
"Who called about the report?" Sabri asked curtly.
Shankar stepped forward, raising his hand in greeting. "I did, Officer. It's my friend's husband's car. Please follow me."
Sabri ignored the gesture. "If it's not your car, why are you even talking to me? I want to see the owner."
"Owner isn't here yet. Only his wife. But at the moment, she's not in the right state to speak. She's in shock."
Sabri scoffed. "Not in the right mind? Is she a mental case?" His partner chuckled.
"CCTV?" Sabri asked.
"Out of service, sir," Prathap muttered.
Sabri shook his head. "No CCTV, no proper report, and the owner's not around and his wife mentally unfit? This isn't our problem. Tell her to make a report at the station once she comes back to her senses."
He turned to leave. "And next time, don't waste our time!"
As the patrol car started to pull out of the lot, Guna's Kancil blocked their exit. Shankar rushed forward. "The owner's here now!"
Sabri slammed the door open. "You again?!"
And without warning—slap! He struck Shankar hard across the face. Gasps echoed across the parking lot.
"Move your car now!" Sabri barked.
Guna reversed quickly in a panic, clearing the way. The patrol car drove off with no further explanation.
The moment Athavan stepped out of the Kancil, he scanned the area. His gaze landed on Dhiviya, standing frozen, her body shaking, eyes red.
"Is the car recording on?" he asked Guna.
"Yes," Guna replied.
"Good."
Athavan walked toward Dhiviya. Each step was deliberate, his expression unreadable. Dhiviya's heartbeat rose with every step he took toward her. Her breathing faltered, eyes filled with panic. The entire office watched in stunned silence.
He stopped in front of her.
Dhiviya couldn't look him in the eye. Shame, guilt, fear—all of it swirled inside her. Her knees felt like jelly.
He studied her face. She wasn't hurt—just panicked. Athavan's body relaxed slightly, but he maintained his stoic expression.
"Stop crying," he said—firm, emotionless.
She flinched, lips trembling. His voice made her panic even more. Her fingers clenched the edge of her kurti out of habit. She wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Wipe your tears."
She obeyed instinctively.
Punitha and Shankar exchanged glances.
"He's… strict," Punitha whispered. "Maybe that's why she was so scared."
Dhiviya hesitated. Her lips trembled again before she whispered, "I'm sorry."
She wanted to say more, to explain everything, but the weight of shame and fear kept her silent.
Athavan looked every bit the village man—dhoti, country-style shirt, and a stare that could cut glass. Anjana's earlier rumors still lingered in the minds of Punitha and Shankar. They didn't know what to believe.
"Brother," Shankar stepped forward. "It wasn't her fault. She didn't—"
Athavan raised a hand—not in anger, but in silence.
Everyone went quiet. The tension was thick. Vasanthan and Guna were visibly uneasy. They too feared Athavan might blame Dhiviya for the entire incident.
And yet, he said nothing. Not a word. Just a quiet stare that left everyone guessing.
The End.