Ignoring Sanjana's skeptical statement, Shankar quickly replied "It should be around RM40K, including rental, a three-month deposit, agreements, and other fees."
"Oh, it's that cheap?" Athavan whispered. Everyone froze and stared at him. "Is this dude for real?" His village-man appearance and casual statement didn't add up together.
Sanjana scoffed, "It's Malaysian Ringgit, not Indian Rupees."
Athavan ignored her and turned to Dhiviya. "You should just go ahead and do it."
"I don't have that much money," Dhiviya replied instinctively.
"Didn't I give you some pocket money before for your expenses? Why aren't you using it?"
Dhiviya was stunned. "What money?"
Athavan sighed. "The bank card I gave you."
Her eyes widened. She had completely forgotten about it. Athavan had given her the bank card on their wedding day.
"Would it be enough?" Dhiviya asked hesitantly.
"It seems you've never checked the card balance. Why don't you check it first at the ATM?" Athavan pointed toward the bank next door, gesturing for her to go.
Still doubtful, Dhiviya got up, with Punitha following closely behind. As Dhiviya keyed in her birthday date (the password) to check the balance at the ATM, her hands trembled. Punitha, on the other hand, was curious. Who exactly is Athavan? Is he a big shot or just pretending? The events at the police station still felt like a staged drama to her.
The bank balance flashed on the screen. Both women turned to look at each other in shock. Punitha raised her stick-like finger, touching the ATM screen as she counted the zeros.
"1,2,3,4,5… Owh, God!"
Balance: RW 1,000,000.00
Punitha's mouth fell open. "Dhiviya, is this what your husband calls pocket money?!"
Dhiviya's eyes widened in shock. "This is enough to buy the entire space." Quickly, she turned to Punitha, her face serious. "Do me a favor. Please don't tell anyone about this. I want to return this card to him."
Even though she was still shaken by what she had just seen, Dhiviya's gaze became firm. She couldn't believe she had been walking around with a million Ringgit in her pocket all this time.
Punitha felt like bomb after bomb had just dropped on her. She had never seen such a bank balance in real life. Having a million in savings was an unthinkable dream for her. But now, she had just witnessed a man casually giving his wife a million Ringgit as pocket money.
Even before she could fully process her envy, Dhiviya dropped another bombshell.
"Return it back? Why?!"
"I don't want him to think I'm after his money," Dhiviya hesitated before replying. Her emotions were conflicted. She still regretted her phone conversation with Athavan earlier. Maybe she had misunderstood him when he said, "Let's talk about it later."
On top of that, Athavan's mystery only seemed to deepen.
Punitha was speechless at her innocent friend. If it had been her, she wouldn't even hesitate to accept a man giving her a million Ringgit as pocket money. "Maybe that's why she's blessed," she thought. Proud to have such a friend, she decided to speak her mind.
"I think he actually likes you very much."
"Why?" Dhiviya froze. That thought had been lingering in her mind for a while now. Did he really like her?
"Yeah. Otherwise, with him having so much money, why would he choose to stay in your budget apartment, leaving behind luxurious facilities? And I still remember how he shouted at the Police Department Head for that officer who called you a mental case.
"All of this leads me to one conclusion—he really likes you. Otherwise, why would he do all this?"
Dhiviya remained silent.
"Please tell him I'm waiting for him outside," she finally requested.
Punitha nodded quickly and rushed back to the coffee shop to relay the message. The rest of Dhiviya's friends were baffled.
"What is she doing outside?" Sanjay asked.
"He's wasting our time," Sanjana complained.
"I think it's worth waiting. I have a feeling we'll be hearing some good news soon." Punitha smiled mysteriously.
Everyone stared at her, trying to decode her words.
"Don't ask me. It's just a hunch!" she quickly added.
Outside the Café
"What is it?" Athavan asked as he stepped outside. Dhiviya stood there, lost in thought.
Her gaze was serious. "Please take this card back. This is too much money."
Athavan looked at her outstretched hand, offering the card back to him. But he didn't take it. Instead, he smiled lightly.
"I know my family promised not to ask about your past, but I can't help asking again. How can you give me such money? Who are you, really?" Dhiviya finally voiced her biggest doubt.
"Didn't my mother tell you anything about me?" Athavan countered.
Dhiviya tried to recall something, then quickly shook her head. "She only said you have a sensitive identity."
Athavan seemed deep in thought for a moment. Then, he took a deep breath and spoke in a soft voice.
"I have a few identities I can't share with you yet. But I'll tell you one of them. Promise me first."
He raised his pinky finger like a teenager, asking for an oath with a smile.
Inside the café, Dhiviya's friends couldn't help but peek outside.
"They're making a pinky promise!" Shankar suddenly pointed out, watching Dhiviya and Athavan from the glass window.
Dhiviya noticed that his demeanor had changed a lot lately when he was with her and her family. She couldn't help but smile in return as she raised her pinky finger to make the promise.
Athavan finally spoke. "I have another name… Vishwakarma.
" Dhiviya's lips parted slightly. Vishwakarma?
The name rang in her ears, stirring something deep in her memory. "Vishwakarma… Vishwakarma…" she whispered, her brows knitting together.
Why did that name feel so familiar? Her heartbeat quickened. She had heard it before. But where?
Her mind raced, sifting through years of memories, trying to grasp the answer. Then—it hit her.
Her breath hitched. Her entire body stiffened. Her hands went cold. Her heart slammed against her ribs. She took a shaky step back, staring at him as if seeing him for the first time.
"You…" Her voice cracked.
"You're saying… you're Vishwakarma?"
Athavan said nothing. He simply watched her reaction. Her lips quivered. Her entire world tilted.
Before she could say another word— A car honked loudly from the street, breaking the silence.
She flinched, her pulse still thundering. Her hands trembled.
"No… It can't be…" She looked back at him, her throat dry. If this was true… then—
The End.
Hindu Mythological / Cultural / Belief References – Chapter 23
VishwakarmaIn Hindu mythology, Lord Vishwakarma is revered as the divine architect of the gods—the celestial engineer who crafted the palaces of the devas, divine weapons, flying chariots (vimanas), and even entire legendary cities.
He is believed to be the son of Lord Brahma, the Creator in the Hindu Trinity, and is said to have assisted Brahma in shaping the structure of the universe itself. This makes Vishwakarma not only a builder of tools but a co-architect of reality.
His creations include:
Dwarka, the golden city of Lord Krishna.
Indraprastha, the imperial capital built for the Pandavas.
Pushpaka Vimana, the flying chariot of Ravana, later used by Rama.
Weapons like Vajra, wielded by Lord Indra.
He is worshipped as the patron of engineers, architects, artisans, and inventors, and often depicted with multiple arms, holding sacred tools of craftsmanship.
The End.