Aadhi's mind was just frustrated thinking about the gazes filled with sympathy.It gave him an alien feel which he never liked at all.Running his fingers through his hair,he sat on his bed.His eyes fixed on the awards and trophies he got for his performances and a lone tear escaped his eye.

Diya sighed heavily seeing him.She knew what was running inside his mind now.
'Aadhii..',she sat near him.
'Mudila ma...Enna sympathy oda ellarum paakura paarvai nejama thaanga mudila..Andha paarvai..Enakulla irukura andha konjananjam confidence ahyum odaichurudhu...', Aadhi said as tears rolling down his cheeks.

'Yepdi iruku theriyuma..Poravan varavan ellam enma melayum keelayuma paavam ah paakumbodhu...Apdiye odambula kambilipoochi oora maari iruku ma..', Aadhi said and Diya closed her eyes as tears escaped.

'Veliya dhan apdinaa..Veetlayum apdidhan,Iniku kaalaila car la ukaara pogumbodhu,ennaalaye mudinjirukum aana odane Raghav odi varaan,Ippo amma..Enna yen yaarume normal ah nadatha maatranga?Ini life long indha paarvai en mela irundhute dhan irukumla?Ellarum edho enna kaikaal aagadhavana dhan paapangalla?Ennaala edhume mudiyaadhula?', Aadhi asked and Diya held his hand.

'Aadhii...Enna paarungalen..', Diya said and he looked into her eyes.That was an emotion which he have never seen in anyone's.Its not sympathy but something else which he failed to figure out.

He just threw himself on her.A comfort hug, that's what all he wanted.Diya patted his back slowly and let him cry while her eyes to shedding tears looking at his state.He pulled back from the hug and she held his hand.

'Idho paarunga Aadhi...Namma indha paarvaiya maatha mudiyum..Neenga manasu vecha mudiyum..', Diya said.
'Yepdi?',he asked.
'Aadhi,Naan onnu kepen,Neenga no solla koodadhu', Diya said.

'Apdi enna ma keka pora?',he asked.
'Illa Aadhi..Neenga thirumba dance try pannanum..',Diya said.
'Maa..Naa yepdi..', Aadhi hesitated.
'Aadhi..Unga aasai ellam adhudhana?Unga talent ah innu neraya stage ku kondu ponumnu..Ippo yen neenga try panna koodadhu?Ungalala mudiyaadhu nu nenaikaadheenga,kandippa mudiyum..

Enna andha circle la irundhu veliya kondu vandha Aadhi naala,ippo avaroda circle la irundhu veliya vara mudiyumnu enaku theriyum..

Indha paarvai lam kaanama poidum Aadhi neenga stage la perform pannumbodhu..Neenga aasa patta maadhiri ellarum ungala paapanga Aadhi!Full Admiration oda paapanga!Ungala unga talent aala recognise pannuvaanga,indha kaal naala illa..',Diya said and Aadhi looked at her with glassy eyes.

'Yedhavadhu magic vechurikiya enna?Vera level ma nee', Aadhi said and Diya chuckled.
'Aadhi,appo yen neenga namma production house launch panra show la apo audition attend panna koodadhu?..',Diya asked and he looked at her with a teasing smile.

'Idhu recommendation lam illa suggestion dhan,Neenga audition la select aana dhan ulla vara mudiyumm..Adhula ellam naan romba strict pa,En friend nu lam ungaluku concern thara maaten..', Diya said and Aadhi chuckled.

'Business woman aayita?Aalu serkuriya show ku?', Aadhi asked with a playful smile.
'Umm.. Apdiyum vechukalam!Pinna ungala maari oru talented fellow en show ku vandhaa enakum benefit dhana..',Diya said and Aadhi nodded with a smile.

'Seri..Yepdiyum innum oru 15 days iruku audition ku!Practice pannunga,Stage la paapom..Okay ah?Deal ah?',she asked him for a fist bump and he did.
'Aadhi..Apro Raghav anna,Amma panadhellam unga mela irukura oru akkarai la dhan..Paavam neenga amma ta vera romba harsh ah pesiteenga..Vandhu pesunga Aadhi..', Diya said and Aadhi nodded.

'Maa..',Aadhi called her.
'Sorry Kanna..Enaku nejama unna idhu ivlo kashtapaduthum nu theriyaadhu..Amma va mannichurupa..', Meenakshi apologised and Aadhi hugged her.
'Naanum sorry, ungala apdi katheeruka koodadhu..:,Aadhi said and Diya smiled at the mom and son's duo from distance.

Meenakshi noticed her and called her with opening her one arm.Diya too smiled and joined the hug.
Aadhi smiled at her and Diya blinked her eyes reciprocating his smile.

'Come on Aadhi!You can do it!', Diya cheered him and Aadhi smiled.
'Aama indha show la jeicha enaku enna kedaikum?', Aadhi asked.
'Car,veedu, bunglow,lottu losuku ellam ungaluku dhan!',Diya said.
'Lottu losuku venaam ma', Aadhi said and Diya chuckled.

'Seri seri come on..',Diya said and Aadhi tried to dance.He did some steps good but some leads him to fell.He didn't fell down because Diya was there with him,to balance him whenever he was about to fell, but he didn't know she was there not only in dance but in real life too!

'Mudiyum Aadhi!Come on konjam try pannunga..', Diya said holding him.
'Illa ma.. Indha step evlo try pannaalum mudila..', Aadhi said.
'Mudiyum..!!', Diya said.
'Illa ma..Idhu kooda innoruthanga irundha dhan mudiyum..Naan solo va dhana panna poren..Vidu',Aadhi said and Diya nodded.

Fifteen days rolled and it was the day of competition.Aadhi was extremely nervous and was cracking the knuckles.
'Aadhi,Enna idhu?Nyabagam irukaa?Munnadi ellam indha maari Competition nu varumbodhellam naan dhan nervous ah irupen,Neenga enna calm pannuveenga.. Ippo enna role reverse ah?',Diya asked driving.

'Yedhuvum munna maari illala?',Aadhi sighed.
'Aadhi please..Neengale ungala discourage pannikaadheenga.. Adhellam ellam mudiyum..Anga poi namma paathukalam..', Diya boosted him and Aadhi nodded but still his mind were holding lots of insecurities and fears.

Diya stopped her car infront of the gate where audition was happening.
'Aadhi..Enaku theriyum you can do it!Kandadhaiyum yosichu don't put yourself in a confused state,Okay?',she said and Aadhi nodded.
'All the best! Enaku office la oru chinna meeting dhan,naan vandhuruven seekram.Seriya?', Diya assured before leaving him at the place.

'Dei machaan..Inga ena da panreenga?',Aadhi asked visibily surprised when his eyes landed on his friends.
'Thangachi solluchu da..Nee audition attend panrenu adhaan unaku support ah irukalamenu vandho', Shravan said.

'Thanks da..', Aadhi smiled.
'Vechuko un thanks ah neeye..',Pugazh sighed.
'Seri Raghav yenga?',Aadhi asked.
'Avan yedho velaiya poirukaan da,vandhuruvaan..',Shravan said.

They comforted him until he left inside and a token was given to him and his number was '25'

Aadhi was extremely nervous.He sighed thinking how confident he was once especially when it comes to dance.He slowly composed himself from reacting to those thoughts by Diya's words.

When Aadhi entered the stage,all his eyes were fixed on him.Some eyes were filled with sympathy,some were in astonishment while some were in mock.

'Indha paiyan?Indha kaala vechutu aada poraana?',one of the judges asked.
'Mam,Ipdi yen discourage panreenga?Ivlo effort eduthu vandhurukaaru.. Don't judge him before he performs',another judge said politely.

'How can he dance?Indha maari aalunga ellam rendu round kooda thaanda maatanga..Yen?Indha audition ahye thaanda maataan..Ivan aadi ivanalam select panni naaliku edhavadhu ivanuku injury na,periya vambaa poidum..:, another one from three said.

'First let him perform,aprom pesalam..', the one who spoke for Aadhi said again.
'No no yedhuku risk?Let him go..',the judges discussed for a while and Aadhi left the auditorium.

Aadhi's heart ached like nothing.Who can he blame?His fate or himself or The God?..Tears flowing down his cheek and the memories flashed his mind.He smirked painfully thinking when once the stage and crowd welcomed him.

'Enna machaan?Selected ah?',Pugazh asked.
'En thalai ezhuthu avlodhan da..Vaa..', Aadhi moved.
'Enna da?', Shravan asked looking at his worried face.
'Indha kaala vechutu ennaala onnume panna mudiyaadhunu oore decide pannudhu.. Vidu vaa..', Aadhi sighed.

Pugazh and Shravan understood what may happened inside.They didn't have words to comfort him but their eyes caught a tea shop.
'Vidraa Machaa..Romba naal aachulla..Oru tea sapdlama?',Shravan asked and Aadhi nodded as his lips curved a little.

Diya was anxiously waiting for his response and even in her meeting she was thinking how would he have performed,what was the result.She dialed him after her meeting finsihed but no response.
'Enna ivaru call panna eduka maatraaru?',Diya thought.
'Mam,any problem?',Maya asked.

'Nothing Maya,is the audition over?', Diya asked.
'Half of audition for today was done mam,the crew has gone for lunch break',Maya replied.
'Ohh..Vaanga namma audition nadakura edathuku polam',Diya left with Maya the cabin and took her car.

She noticed Aadhi's mobile in her car and sighed.
'Indha manushana enna panradhu..',she started driving towards the auditorium.
Her eyes fell on the guys who were having tea and Diya smiled at the them before parking the car.

'Maya neenga ulla ponga, I'll be back',Diya said and Maya left inside.

'Enna idhu malarum ninaivugal ah?',Diya joined with them.
Diya noticed Aadhi's face was dull.
'Aadhi, ennaachu?Perform panniteengala?', Diya asked.
'Kedaikala Diya..', Aadhi smiled weakly.

Diya know Aadhi's mind was in a terrible state,she patted his arm.
'Indha audition pona enna,namma vera audition try panlam Aadhi..',Diya said and Aadhi smirked.
'Indha kaala vechutu endha audition ponaalum enaku kedaikaadhu..Vidu ma', Aadhi shrugged.

'Purila Aadhi..Enna aachu?',Diya asked.
'Adhellam onnum illa..Vidu', Aadhi said.
'Aadhi solla poreengala illaya? Yaaravadhu edhavadhu sonnaangala?',Diya asked.

'Illa ma..', Aadhi lied facing down.
'Enna paathu sollunga..!',Diya said and Aadhi was still looking down.
'Paarunga Aadhi!', Diya said sternly and Aadhi looked at her with glassy eyes.

'Perform panningala illaya?',she asked and he remained silent which was enough to Diya understood what might have happened.
'Enkooda vaanga!', Diya held his hand.
'Venaam ma..', Aadhi denied.
'Vaanga nu sonnen Aadhi!',she said sternly pulling his hand.

Diya took her inside the auditorium.
'Stop itttt!!!',the entire auditorium stunned hearing her roar.
'Mam..What happened?',the coordinator rushed to her.
'Yaara ketu ivara perform panna vidaama anupuneenga?',Diya asked.

'Diya,he is not eligible.Avaroda andha kaala vechutu yepdi perform pannuvaaru?',a judge asked.
'Adhu perform panna vandha avaruku theriyum,Neenga yen decide panreenga?Avara first neenga perform panna vitteengala? Avaru perform eh pannama yepdi neenga decide panalam?',Diya asked.

'Illa Diya, Yedhavadhu injury nu aayiduchu na kashtam adhaan..',another judge said.
'Enna? Idhellam avaroda ishtam, idhellam therinju dhana avaru audition ku vandhurukaaru!Yen matha contestant kulam dance pannumbodhu injury aagadha?How cruelly you guys have send him out just because of his leg', Diya roared as her blood boiled.

'Recommendation ah?Adhaan vandhu sanda podraanga..Madam idhu oru common show,Unga ishtathukellam engalaala contestants ah select panna mudiyaadhu..',a judge said.
'Oh really?Yes its a common show.Idhula enaku therinjavanga ellam participate panna koodadhu nu irukaa?',Diya asked.

'Woah!!Apo neengale naaliku ivara dhan title winner nu sollanumnu solluveenga..Aprom yedhuku audience?Judges?Camera?', another judge asked.
'Diya..Venaam please va', Aadhi held her hand.

'Irunga Aadhi!!!', Diya said sternly making Aadhi silent.
'So,what you guys want me to do?',Diya asked folding her arms.
'Enna panradhu?Neenga dhan sollanum..',one shrugged.

'Fine!Naan ippo Inga CEO irukuranaala dhana naan ivara title winner ah announce panna pressure pannuvenu solreenga?Fine!Ipo indha second,Im resigning my CEO post!',Diya said making everyone stood froze!

TO BE CONTINUED...