The local men had just backed off.
Rilu turned sharply, ready to leave—and something in Vicky snapped.
Not bravery.Not confidence.Just pure, unfiltered panic and stupidity.
"Wait—!"
He stepped forward and grabbed her hand.
She froze.
The entire street froze.
She slowly turned, eyes blazing."Do you know what you're doing?" she shouted.
Vicky blinked."N-no—I mean—yes—I—uh—"
"Oh really?" she snapped, stepping closer."You think you're my husband? My relative? My what?!"
Vicky opened his mouth to say something intelligent.
Instead, his brain malfunctioned.
"Yes."
Silence.Birds stopped chirping.Auto drivers paused mid-argument.
She stared at him like he had just announced he was the CEO of Mars.
"YES-ah?! (YES… really?!)"
Her voice shot up an octave."Ohh evalo thimuraaya? (So much arrogance/nerve you have?)So much nerve?Come. Come da. Let's talk to my parents."
Before he could react, she GRABBED his wrist and yanked him toward the bus stop.
"W-wait—why—where—?!"
"Bus-le vaa. Appa kita pesuvom.(Get in the bus. We'll talk to my father.)"
A few locals who'd watched the scene unfolded stepped forward.
"What happened ma? Evano problem pannanaa?"(What happened dear? Did some guy trouble you?)
She sighed dramatically and pointed at Vicky."He says he wants to marry me. So I'm taking him to my father."
Every bystander turned toward Vicky.
Judging eyes.Pity.Sympathy.Amusement.
One old uncle near the tea stall whistled softly."Very… very daring boy. Mr. Arasu oda ponnu ah?(Mr. Arasu's daughter?!) Aiyo…" (Oh no…)
Another aunty whispered,"Ponnu strong-a irukka pa… (The girl is very strong…)He's finished."
Vicky was sweating so much his shirt could be squeezed like drenched cloth.
"K-Kiran!" he whispered loudly, looking around desperately.His wingman was nowhere.Gone. Vanished.A betrayal worthy of Mahabharata.
She shoved him into the MTC bus.The conductor stopped mid-ticket.
"Enna nadandhudhu? Eloping-aa?(What happened? Are you two running away/eloping?)"
"No," she said calmly."He proposed. So I'm taking him to my father."
Passengers turned to STARE at him.Top to bottom. Judging.
One college girl whispered to her friend:"Girls best-u safe-u da. See how she's dragging him."(Being a girl is safest, look how she's dragging him.)
An old uncle chuckled:"Aambala bayapadama sollitan… respect.(The boy wasn't scared and said it openly… respect.)"
Vicky sat stiffly like he was being transported to prison.
Finally he whispered,"Uh… where exactly are we going?"
She turned her glare at him.
"Home. To my father. So you can repeat whatever you just said."
He swallowed.
"I… I didn't actually mean—"
"Too late."
The bus jolted forward.
His life jolted backward.
And as they sat there, the bus rumbling through Chennai roads, Vicky had one clear thought:
"I'm dead."