While working abroad, Mullai had made several friends. Even now, Ilangovan, Riya, Pooja, Bhavana, and Santosh had all come with her. As the six of them were eating, Pooja was the first to speak. "Mullai, how is my little hero? It's been a week since I saw him," she said with a touch of sadness.
Santosh also added, "Yes! Yes! It's been a long time since I saw my Teddy too." Hearing Ilangovan say decisively, "Where are you staying? Just give us the address. Tonight, we're all going to stay at your house," Mullai was taken aback.
"What are you saying? You're coming to my house?" she asked, stopping her meal. Seeing her surprise, Riya retorted, "What? Can't we come to your house?"
Mullai tried to cover up, "No... no, I didn't mean that. You can come whenever you want."
Bhavana, however, accurately observed, "But usually, you'd be very happy if we said we were coming to your house. But that happiness is missing now, isn't it? You seem very confused." The others also looked intently at Mullai's face, waiting for her answer.
Her face showed nervousness and fear, and those who were suspicious continued to question her. "What happened, Mullai? Is there a problem?" they asked. For a moment, Mullai thought in confusion, "What should I tell them now? What excuse should I give? Should I tell them the truth?"
The next moment, she began, "After I came here..." From the time she arrived in Chennai, Mullai recounted everything – the murder of her grandparents, her sudden marriage, and now her living in Bhadran's house – but she didn't mention that Bhadran was the owner of the company.
Hearing what Mullai said, everyone present was shocked and looked at her. All her friends knew Mullai's story. They also knew that she had two children without being married. Initially, she kept to herself, but somehow they managed to talk to her and develop a friendship. These five people could even be called Mullai's well-wishers.
Ilango was the first to recover. He held Mullai's hand and asked, "Mullai, so much has happened, but didn't you even think of telling me?"
Mullai didn't reply, but just looked at him, and he continued speaking. "Have you suffered so much? I don't understand why God is giving you one hardship after another," he said worriedly. The other friends comforted her, saying, "Mullai, don't worry that you have no one; the five of us are here for you."
Only Santosh asked the crucial question, "Mullai, you said he married you? Who is he? Is he taking good care of you? Or is he mistreating you?" As soon as he asked this, everyone looked at her face.
Mullai replied sadly, "I don't know. I feel like I want to live with him. But he's already in love with another woman. He tied the thali around my neck only because of a difficult situation. He didn't do it willingly. He can divorce me and send me out of that house anytime."
The others didn't know what to say. Their faces also fell. They had hoped that this marriage would at least bring her some solace. However, when Mullai gave a contradictory answer, they didn't know how to respond. Without questioning Mullai further, they started eating.
Just then, Bhadran entered. Everyone stood up as soon as Bhadran suddenly came in. The place became tense. The canteen chef quickly ran and stood respectfully in front of Bhadran. His hands and legs were trembling uncontrollably. Previously, Bhadran had fired the chef who worked there for a minor mistake. He stood there, fearing the same fate might befall him.
Bhadran, ignoring him, was looking elsewhere. Suddenly, he turned and ordered, "Bring me a plate," and sat down directly next to Mullai, who was eating at the third table.
Mullai, oblivious to his entry and his sitting beside her, continued eating while talking to those next to her. But everyone except her had noticed Bhadran. So, they all fell silent. This confused Mullai.
She had been eating and talking with her head down, but suddenly she looked up at them, puzzled. "What happened? Why did everyone go silent?" she asked. When she saw their gaze fixed on her side, she turned around and was surprised to see Bhadran there. That's all it took; she choked in shock.
She started coughing uncontrollably. Ilangovan, who was sitting next to her, patted her on the head and said, "Be careful, Mullai, eat slowly."
He patted her back gently and poured her a glass of water. She took it and drank, but deliberately avoided turning towards Bhadran.
But Bhadran's fiery gaze was scorching Ilango. Seeing him still patting Mullai's head, a furious rage surged through him, making him want to cut off that hand right then and there.
Unaware of any of this, Ilango asked her caringly, "Are you feeling better now, Mullai?" Mullai nodded as if to say everything was fine and started eating. Suddenly, she felt the air in the room grow warmer and looked up.
All the employees in the canteen were standing, looking somewhat anxious. They weren't even sitting down. Only Mullai and her friends were sitting and eating. They didn't know about Bhadran yet, did they? They had only joined the company today.
While Mullai was looking around in confusion, the chef rushed over with a plate of food in his hand. He respectfully placed it in front of Bhadran and stood there. He knew very well that he would be scolded if there were any flaws in the food. He stood near him to handle any such situation.
Bhadran looked up and glared at him, raising an eyebrow and asking, "What?" Frightened, the chef replied, "Nothing, Master," and hurried back to his place. As soon as Bhadran turned his gaze to the other employees, they too sat down and started eating. The place was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Mullai continued eating without saying anything. After finishing her meal completely in a few seconds, she tried to get up, but couldn't. The reason was that Bhadran was holding her hand under the table. She turned sharply to look at him, and he was staring intently at her.
His gaze sent a chill down her spine. A slight tremor spread throughout her body. As she tried to subtly pull her hand away, Bhadran, instead of letting go of her hand, gripped her thigh tightly. Startled, she turned to glare at him, but by then her friends had finished eating and gotten up.
Since all of Bhadran's antics had taken place under the table, her friends didn't notice anything. They got up after eating and called out to her, "Come, Mullai, let's go."
Mullai, bewildered and unsure what to do, stammered, "You guys go ahead, I'll come after I finish my phone call," giving a flimsy excuse. Her friends, seeing Bhadran there, agreed and left.
Once they were gone, Mullai turned and glared at Bhadran, saying softly, so only he could hear, "Sir, what are you doing? First, take your hand off me. If anyone sees, my reputation will be ruined."
Bhadran leaned his head slightly towards her and asked, "Who is he? He's taking too many liberties." Confused, she stared at him and asked back, "Who? Who are you talking about?"
Bhadran replied, "Ah... the one who was stroking your head just now? That's the dog I'm asking about." Only then did she understand that he was referring to Ilango.
She glared at Bhadran with disgust and began to defend Ilango, "He's my friend. He wasn't stroking my head. He just patted it. Besides, don't talk disrespectfully about my friend." At that moment, Mullai's nose had turned red with anger.
Bhadran tightened his grip on Mullai's thigh and said, "It's all the same." As she tried to push his hand away, Mullai continued speaking with disgust.
"He wasn't stroking me at all. You're the one who's putting your hand in inappropriate places and stroking me! First, take your hand off me," she said, squirming. Bhadran said, "Ah... he can touch you, and you won't say anything. But I'm not allowed to touch you?" Saying this, he deliberately stroked her thigh and moved his hand upwards, placing it on her stomach.
Widening her eyes in shock, she stammered, "Hey... let go," and instinctively tried to get up and run. But Bhadran now openly grabbed her hand, pulled her towards him, and made her sit beside him.
The employees there hadn't noticed anything that had happened until then. But when they noticed now, they were greatly shocked. They started looking at Mullai and Bhadran alternately.
Hari, realizing what was happening, muttered to himself, "Hey, hey, what are you two doing? This is the office, everyone is watching." Even he couldn't openly speak against Bhadran.
Startled by him grabbing her hand, Mullai began to plead, "Sir, what are you doing? This is the office, everyone is watching us. First, let go of me."
Looking up, Bhadran gestured to Hari. Immediately, Hari sent all the employees in the canteen outside and then went outside himself, standing near the door.
"Damn! I never even dreamed I'd be doing this kind of pimping work. And that too, in the office," he muttered to himself. Hari also felt deeply humiliated now.