10 days later
In the evening, Dheena, Nivi, Deepak, Harish, Lux, Dr Ajay, Dr Varsha, Roy, and Divya are inside a temple guarded by some unnamed members of the Flower Storm.
Dheena is in a grey full-sleeved and collared t-shrit, and a light blue jeans, just like in the pic given below.
(Note:- Please ignore the sunglasses, the shoes, and the watermark.)
Nivi is in a red blouse and a red transparent saree just like in the pic given below.
Deepak is in a red round-neck t-shirt and a navy blue jeans just like in the pic given below.
(Note:- Please ignore the shoes and the watermark.)
Ajay is in a yellow half-handed shirt and black jeans just like in the pic given below.
Varsha is in a grey full-sleeved blouse and a transparent saree just like in the pic given below.
Harish is in a white full-sleeved t-shirt with some designs, and blue jeans, just like in the pic given below.
(Note:- Please ignore the sunglasses.)
Lux is in a white kurta with two side openings and a middle opening at the front that exposes her navel, and a blue jeans, just like in the pic given below.
(Note:- Please ignore the footwear.)
Roy is in a navy blue shirt tucked in a sand-colored formal pants just like in the pic given below.
(Note:- Please ignore the shoes and the sunglasses.)
Divya is in a golden blouse and a black transparent saree just like in the pic given below.
All of them are praying for the following:
- Vikram should recover soon without any side effects.
- Deepak should be safe and happy with his newfound family.
- Deepak should get a good tutor.
- Every single member of the Flower Storm must be properly equipped with zero defects.
- Every single member of the Flower Storm must wholeheartedly be willing to do whatever it takes to erase the taboos imposed on female navel exposure and the act of a male child touching momma’s navel.
All of them continue to offer their prayers.
A few seconds later
A young woman, clad in a yellowish green saree with her navel peeking out, enters the temple.
(Note:- Please ignore the flower basket and the footwear.)
The unknown woman joins the prayer. After the prayers are offered, all of them turn towards the unknown woman and ask her who she is.
The unknown woman introduces herself as Ponnila and she too is in her mid-20s.
PONNILA: Are you all members of the Flower Storm?
All of them nod their heads.
PONNILA: Then I think I’m with the right people.
All of them have no clue of what Ponnila is talking about.
NIVI: Care to elaborate, Ponnila?
PONNILA: The Flower Storm fights against taboos imposed on female Thoppul exposure, right?
All of them nod their heads.
NIVI: Also against taboos imposed on a child, especially a male child, being physically close to his momma and placing his hands and resting his head on her tummy.
PONNILA: (nodding her head) I see!!!! Then I would like to be a member of the Flower Storm. And marry any one of its member.
They look confused and say “WHAT???????” together in a chorus.
Ponnila gets startled and looks embarrassed.
PONNILA: Did I say something wrong?
They say “NO” and then agree with Ponnila to let her join the Flower Storm.
PONNILA: If I have to get married, I’ll get married to only to a member of the Flower Storm.
After Dheena agrees to enroll another member into the Flower Storm, Nivi shakes her hand with Ponnila.
NIVI: Welcome to the Flower Storm, Ponnila. My name is Nivedha. You can call me Nivi. I work as a sniper.
Ponnila smiles at Nivi.
PONNILA: Nice to meet you, Nivi.
Nivi then introduces Dheena to Ponnila.
NIVI: And this is my husband. His name is Dheena. He’s the founder and the leader of the Flower Storm.
Ponnila is fascinated on hearing what Nivi just said.
PONNILA: Really?????
Dheena now intervenes.
DHEENA: Yes. I’m the one who founded the Flower Storm. And now I’m its leader.
Ponnila nods in agreement.
PONNILA: I see!!!!!
Nivi intervenes and introduces her adopted son Deepak to Ponnila.
NIVI: And this is my son.
Ponnila turns her attention towards Deepak.
PONNILA: Looking adorable!!!!! May I know your name?
DEEPAK: Deepak.
Ponnila ruffles Deepak’s hair but she doesn’t know that he doesn’t like to be touched by anyone except his parents Dheena and Nivi.
PONNILA: Nice name.
Deepak stares right into Ponnila’s eyes with an intimidating look.
DEEPAK: I’m glad you like my name. By the way, I request you to kindly refrain from touching me.
Ponnila is taken aback by what Deepak just said. She then turns towards Nivi.
PONNILA: Comrade Nivi, I simply ruffled your son’s hair. He got mad at me. Why?
Nivi grins mildly.
NIVI: He is very strict about who can and should touch him. He doesn’t like to be touched by anyone except me and my husband.
Ponnila nods her head in realization.
PONNILA: I see!!!!!
Ponnila then turns towards Deepak.
PONNILA: Sorry, Deepak.
Deepak’s stare at Ponnila gets less serious.
DEEPAK: It’s okay. Just make sure to keep your hands away from me.
Ponnila nods her head in a mocking way.
PONNILA: Of course, little warrior.
Nivi then reveals what they all were praying for to Ponnila. The latter is deeply touched, especially for the hospitalized Vikram.
PONNILA: May he recover soon.
Varsha intervenes and places one of her hands on Ponnila’s shoulder.
VARSHA: Hi Ponnila. My name is Varsha and I’m a doctor.
Ponnila smiles faintly at Varsha.
PONNILA: Nice to know you, Dr Varsha.
Varsha then introduces Ajay to Ponnila.
VARSHA: And this is Ajay. He too is a doctor. And he is my fiancée.
Ponnila nods her head and smiles at both Ajay and Varsha.
PONNILA: Great. Congratulations.
Ponnila and Varsha shake their hands with each other.
VARSHA: Thank you, comrade Ponnila. And my medical team is working hard to save Vikram without any side effects. No need to worry. He will be alright.
Ponnila nods her head again.
PONNILA: Alright. Your team is being counted on.
Varsha smiles slightly.
VARSHA: Don’t worry. We won’t disappoint you.
Ponnila smiles back at Varsha.
PONNILA: Thank you.
And Ponnila turns her attention towards the rest of the Flower Storm.
PONNILA: I wanted to join the Flower Storm mainly because I’m most comfortable in clothes that expose my Thoppul.
The other members of the Flower Storm smile at Ponnila and find her reason justifiable.
LUX: You are already with us, comrade Ponnila. And look here. I’m also wearing clothes with my Thoppul exposed.
Saying this, Lux pulls her kurta towards the either sides, revealing more of her navel.
(Like this)
Ponnila chuckles softly at the way Lux flaunts her navel.
PONNILA: Nice one. BTW, what is your name?
LUX: My name is Lakshana. You can call me “Lux”.
Ponnila laughs softly.
PONNILA: That’s a creative way of shortening your name, Comrade Lux.
Lux laughs along with Ponnila.
LUX: (in a teasing tone) Thanks for appreciating my creativity.
Ponnila continues to laugh.
PONNILA: (in a teasing tone) Creativity is always meant to be appreciated, right?
Lux knows that Ponnila is teasing.
LUX: (in a teasing tone) Yes. Absolutely. And by the way, I’m a logistician. I make sure that every material required for the Flower Storm is available at the right place in right time.
The laughing fades and Ponnila nods her head in realization.
PONNILA: I see!!!!!!!!!!
Ponnila then turns her attention towards Roy and Divya.
PONNILA: I don’t know both of your names. Mind if I ask your names?
Roy and Divya introduce themselves to Ponnila. Ponnila shakes hands with both of them.
PONNILA: Pleasure to meet you.
DIVYA: Pleasure to meet you too.
ROY: Pleasure to meet you too.
PONNILA: May I know what your designations are?
Both Roy and Divya smile mildly.
DIVYA: I work in a sniper team led by our comrade Nivi.
Ponnila smiles with her eyes wide open.
PONNILA: Really?????
DIVYA: Yes.
Ponnila then turns her attention towards Roy.
PONNILA: And what’s your designation?
ROY: I give combat training.
PONNILA: Really????
ROY: Actually it’s Vikram who provides combat training to the Flower Storm. Now that he’s being hospitalized, I’m his substitute.
Ponnila nods her head but deep down, she feels so much for the hospitalized Vikram.
PONNILA: Okay. Fine. Your prayers will be answered.
Both Roy and Divya smile warmly at Ponnila.
10 seconds later
Now Nivi intervenes.
NIVI: Ponnila, we were also praying that Deepak should get a new tutor. Can you be my son’s tutor?
Ponnila humbly accepts the role offer.
PONNILA: I have no problem with it. Ask your son.
Nivi turns her attention towards Deepak.
NIVI: Deepak, are you okay with this newcomer being your teacher?
DEEPAK: She is always welcome, Amma. Provided she keeps her hands away from me.
Ponnila turns her attention towards Deepak and speaks in a teasing tone.
PONNILA: Don’t worry, little one. I’ll never touch you without your consent.
Deepak stares into Ponnila’s eyes.
DEEPAK: Well and good.
Ponnila nods her head in a mocking way.
The Flower Storm members, accompanied by the little Deepak, return to their headquarters. But not without taking Ponnila with them.
In the next chapter, we will see how Ponnila’s first day as a teacher goes.
Ponnila suddenly appeared and said that she wants to join them and marry one of their associates. It’s not strange by the statement, but her sudden appearance makes me doubt about her (Whether she’s a good gal or the opposite!)
Will be known as we go further.
Who’s the woman in the 2nd last slide?
You mean the one in a yellowish green saree?????
Sorry, my mistake. The 3rd last slide!
The one in black transparent saree, right? Her name is Shalu Chourasiya.