Kalarikkal House [7]: Chapter 82, p. 16 - Page 8

Pallavi and Arnav's relationship is intriguing and heartening at the same time. Their kinship was formed mostly as a result of seeking reprieve from all the tumultuous excitement that Kashi, and by extension, the illam gave him. And he has only truly ever found 'Shaantham' with Pallavi and her veena. Maybe he sees a little of what could have been with his own sister, in her. Or maybe he hopes to find it.

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The updates in this thread are more scary than all the rest of them put together!

"Family... I guess this title was overdue for some time now. Not because Arnav and Kashi are married but since the day Arnav has arrived at Kalarikkal illam intentionally or unintentionally he has done things that only a family would do and unconsciously and consciously he has established that after his sister's death, with this family he finally belongs somewhere.

He became the family when he told Nalan his name was "Chote, he used Pallavi to blackmail Kashi to go to Delhi with him, he kept in touch with Pallavi to keep her updated on Kashi, he paid off the loan on illam, he came back to illam when their father got sick, he tied talli to her because he knew her father expected it and when he agreed to marry with all traditions and rituals and when he didn't abandon Kashi, even after she up and left him without telling him.

"Arnav felt a warming in his chest as he watched them, feeling strangely as if he belonged somewhere for the first time since his sister died. He didn't know how two women and a boy who had been virtual strangers until four days ago could seem more a family to him than he had allowed anyone to be for fifteen years."

Pallavi is the first person with whom Arnav could connect at a different level. It was of losing a loved one, it was pain, and it was living with that pain. It was her playing Veena that he experienced the stillness and calmness (Shantam) that always evaded him. It was with Pallavi he shared about his sister. If Kashi provoked him, Pallavi understood him and gave him the space he needed. Arnav the man who only listened to himself, believed in what he wanted to believe always had his walls down with Pallavi, he always listened to what she has say.

"She looked at him for a brief moment then. There were times like this when he got the sense that both of them spoke in riddles... That the things that they said inevitably had a hidden meaning...

Pallavi is the catalyst between Arnav and Kashi. She keeps Arnav sane and shows the facts to Kashi and keeps her grounded to the reality.

Pallavi is like Anjali Di to Arnav. Deep down he saw his sister in her.

Seeing Pallavi lying there on the cot must have reminded Arnav of his sister lying in the hospital bed lifeless, gone forever. He also understood that seeing bloodied bedsheets and he all bandaged brought back her own nightmares back to Pallavi. It brought to fore memories of Anathan's accident, his death. Hence, his promise to her that he will never do anything that will make her relive those tormented and tortured memories.

I know Pallavi is fine and Arnav is okay, but I am still on the edge. The day has not ended yet and forces at illam are never too far.

So happy that you are completing the story. it's an amazing and gripping tale. thanks

A beautiful bond formed dere...

IT all makes sense now... Pallavi reminds me so much of my own elder sister. I don't know what it is like to love as Pallavi loved Anantha, but I hope that one day, the pain in her heart becomes bearable. Loved how Arnav allayed her fears and distress.

Im so glad you started writing Gain and that i stumbled upon it. I left India Forums when my favourite writers stopped writing. Im glad i thought of checking in

I am so glad you are writing again ah i missed this magic

Arnav has a way of connecting to this family, from the very beginning. And the family too has reciprocated in equal measure, especially Pallavi. So beautifully narrated! Loved it.