A day of Action

Muhurtam
Kadir hears the entire story. Kalidas is quite understanding of his mother-in-law's anger. Kadir consoles him that one day it will come together.

Ashwini's wimp husband comes over to ask her if she can go back to his house. He says his dad has permitted them to move to a separate flat. When asked by whether he has found a flat, he is wishy-washy. Ashwini's father says frankly he is not in favor of Ashwini going back to his father's place.

Selvi
Action packed. The cops go to the slum where Satyamurthi has said Kanaga resides. They talk to her, but she gives them them a false name. They ask a young man, but he is known to her, and lies. THey leave. But she is on her guard.

Scene at Maya's place, where Ranjini is visiting. The same cops show up, and after an argument, take maya to the station for interrogation. Ranjini telephones Bala, who rushes to the station in anger and makes a scene. After making a big stand about how he doesn't care who is who, the inspector permits Bala to take Maya away before he has asked her any questions. Then he tries to say something over the public address system, which, of course, isn't working.

Final scene shows Bala, Maya and Ranjini entering Priyan's hospital room. His friend says he wants to say something to the patient.

Toodrummmmm....

Manaivi
Kalpana and her parents reconcile. The final blow falls when her parents discover that Arasu was the one behind the filthy article about Kalpana in the magazine. Her father gives him a slap, and her mother clips him in the head and throws him out of the house. When Kalpana comes, she is indignant, asking why they want anything to do with her when she has long rejected them for taking Arasu's side. They say they want nothing but to make up for their mistakes and arrange a good life for her.

Arivu's wedding preparations are taking place, when astrologer, Rohini and her mother arrive. Astrologer falls at Tiruchelvam's feet and says he should give Rohini a life by getting her married to Arivu.

Meanwhile, Rohini says she only wrote the note to prevent her father's death, not because she wanted to stop Arivu's marriage. Divya, though says she is relinquishing Arivu, now that Rohini has arrived.

Arivu's mother is upset at these people showing up now -- she, as you may recall is heavily anti-Rohini (as I am). She yells and screams at Rohini and family.

Tiruchelvam calmly says, let us postpone tomorrow's marriage for now, so that things may be ironed out. Divya's father protests, and led out by Tiruchelvam to be pacified.

Arivu is silent, as everyone says, "what do you choose?". (My money is on Divya, when this resolves tomorrow).

Last scene. Velumani comes to the station. Pallavan slaps him a couple of times when he starts his speech. But nothing concrete results either way.

Kalidas's Story, Priyan's Statement, Nandu's End

Muhurtam
Kalidas continues his story to Kadir. How he and Manjula slowly fell in love. How he got his police job, and moved to an apartment, when Manjula's parents came to know of their love, and tried to get Manjula married off. She came over and said she would not go back. He and she got married the following day, and when they went to get her parents' blessings, they saw her father had died. Her mother cursed them, and Sivaperumal chased them away.

Selvi
Piriyan, calling himself Ganesh, gives the police inspector the salient points of the story. Tells them who threw the acid, and at whom. Says he overheard the would-be assassin phoning from a booth and learned of her plan, but doesn't say anything about Maya. The inspector thanks him and leaves. His friend asks him why he left out Maya. He says he will deal with her in his own way once he getsout of hospital. Friend says, are you going to throw acid at her? Piriyan says he is not as low as that. Friend asks why he did not give his own name. He says then Selvi would know he was alive.

Inspector and cronies go to GJ's place. Ranjini is shaken and rambles on when asked about the servant woman's address. Selvi tells the inspector she a couple of people she suspects, but does not elaborate. Ranjini's husband Satyamurthi (name revealed for the first time today) catches up with the cops as they leave and tells them there has alread been an attempt on Selvi's life, and rather reluctantly, adds that he knows who is behind all this. When the inspector presses him, he says, "Bala".

Manaivi
Nandu, cornered, jumps into the shallow pool outside. A group of his adversaries, led by Arivu, jump in too. The rest of the half-hour is devoted to their dunking him repeatedly. Others, like Nandu's mother-in-law and daughter, even the Krishna, the astrologers, and others try to shout to him to stop. But in his rage, he goes too far without realizing that Nandu has died under water when they push him down one last time. When he realizes what he has done, Arivu collapses.

Pallavan, who is there, says to him. I know you didn't mean to -- whatever has happened is over. Go on, I'll take it from here.

Arivu in the next scene gives a convincing performance of a man who has killed without being a killer. Kalpana is consoling him, but he is totally shattered. Krishna says they did not mean to (actually, Krishna was outside the pool, shouting out to Arivu not to do it).

Last scene. Pallavan has taken over Nandu's old job at the station. Tells his subordinates this has been an eye-opener to him to do no wrong, and his conduct will from now on reflect this change. For starters, he calls for the file of Velumani, and the complaint given by Krishnaveni.

Acid Rains, Rohini's woes

Muhurtam
Not much. Devayani gets riled up by Janani's remarks about her unfairness to Manjula. She rushes to Manjula's house and scolds her former servant (Kalidas' father), and also warns Manjula and Kalidas that if they try to have any more contact with her other children, she will hang herself, just like her husband did.

Just as she is leaving, Kadir shows up with a video of his engagement ceremony. She warns him that this should be the last time he visits Manjula and Kalidas.

Kadir asks Kalidas the reason for her animosity. Flashback. Kalidas recalls how his father brought him to Madras after his post-graduation, and how Manjula's father took a liking to him, and asked him to stay with them.

Selvi
I missed the last episode. Evidently Piriyan saved her from getting hit with acid. Selvi's accident and providential escape causes shivers among her relatives who come rushing to see her, and say they should complain to the police. GJ says it is not a good idea. Tamarai's father says, where is the mystery, it must be Bala and Maya, who publicly threatened Selvi. Anyway, they don't complain.

Ranjini calls Maya and informs her that this plot too has failed. Maya is undaunted, and says she will keep trying.

Selvi insists on seeing the person who saved her (she doesn't know who it is) to thank him. GJ dissuades her, but she does go. The doctor says the patient has been admitted to the ICU in serious condition. She tries to peep in to get a glimpse, but only sees the feet. The doctor tells GJ his face is unlikely to recover.

Piriyan's friend asks him what happened. He says he knows who tried to this, and to whom. But when his friend says he should tell the police, Piriyan says no. However, the friend does tell the police, and they come to take a statement. Piriyan tells them his name is Ganesh, but tells him he knows who was behind this.

Manaivi
Rohini is crying, of course. Swati, Nandu's kid, tries to come and console her, and bring her food. Nandu drops by and threatens her once more. When Swati says he is a bad man, he gets wild and knocks the plate to the floor. She is terrified. Rohini makes one request -- can she see her father once before the wedding?

Nandu takes her to his hideout, guarded by his men. He takes her to the basement, where the astrologer and Pallavan are tied up. The astrologer is unrelenting, telling Rohini she should not marry Nandu. After a while, Nandu comes in, seeking the astrologer's blessings, saying he will release him once the wedding is over. The astrologer curses him. Nandu slaps him, and drags Rohini back, saying, "Time's up". Up the stairs they go, him dragging a weeping Rohini, when...

At the door is Arivu, smiling. Leave her hand, he says. Nandu calls for his guards. Two of them show up with hockey sticks. See, says Nandu. Three of us, one of you. We could leave you here dead and no one would know. Arivu raises his eybrows and jerks his head back. His men emerge from all sides. Nandu sizes up the situation, and, grabbing Rohini's hand, drags her up the stairs and down the other way, with others chasing. As they reach the top of the stairs and head down the other way, they see -- the passage is guarded by Krishna and a group of others...

CJBhaskar..........

Reconciliation?

Muhurtam
Bharati's nichyathartham takes place, precariously balanced when Hariharan leaves in a huff. At Kadir's uncle's place, the old man gets set to attend the function. His wife and son dissuade him, the former because she thinks he is going to cause trouble, the latter because he thinks it is an insult, after the girl has chosen Kadir over him. Nonetheless, he insists.

At the function, he shows up, and to everyone's consternation, behaves with dignity and even apologizes to Kadir. His younger brother gives him the pride of place in the ceremonies, and everything proceeds OK. Bharati and Kadir are now 'officially' betrothed.

Meanwhile, Sivaperumal is given bail. On coming out, he learns from his mother that all his plans have come unraveled. Devayani is up and about, the betrothal ceremony is on because Hariharan has stepped into the breach, etc. etc. He and his mother rush to the ceremony, but it is already over.

He goes home and thrashes his wife (who, it will be recalled, told the crucial lie to convince the idiot woman Devayani that it was Sivaperumal's intention that the ceremony proceed as scheduled).

Right after the ceremony, Devayani comes to his house, and apologizes to Sivaperumal that the ceremony took place without him. When he goes back to drop her, she gets into an argument with her daughters, and proceeds to lock herself in the upstairs room, where her husband had committed suicide.

What exactly happened in that room? When Sivaperumal goes up to persuade his aunt Devayani to come out of the room, there is a flashback. He remembers that his uncle was upset over Manjula's elopement. He goes in to see him, hot and angry. His uncle, howver, has calmed down, saying there is nothing to be gained by talk of killing her and Kalidas, etc. Sivaperumal is not satisfied, and when his uncle tries to restrain him as leaves vowing to kill them both, he pushes his uncle away, and the old man falls down and dies. Sivaperumal is in a fix. He quickly uses a rope his uncle had probably prepared as he considered (but rejected) suicide, and hangs his uncle's body from the ceiling, setting up a scene as though it was a suicide.

As he comes out of the room, his mother is there. He tells her what has happened, and she too conspires to keep this a secret.


Selvi
Absurd to more absurd. Having failed in her objective to kill Selvi, Maya now 'hatches' a new plan. Acid, filled in eggs, to be thrown on Selvi to disfigure her. This too is entrusted to the same lady, Kanaka/Kala, and the rest of the episode is a demonstration of the physics and chemistry of constructing an egg-bomb filled with acid.

Manaivi
Krishnaveni and Ramani have a naming ceremony for the new child, whom they have named Padmini. This line of the story is insipid and holds our attention no longer. Only one item of interest -- her father reveals to Krishnaveni that the child is really Hamsaveni's. She is shocked, but does not indicate to anyone else that she knows this. Ramani (dolt that he is) still does not guess.

The real story has shifted to Arivu, Rohini, and Nandu. Arivu and Krishna manage to sneak into Nandu's compound and make contact with Rohini's mother. They give her a whistle, and tell her to bring Rohini and be out in the compound at night, when they will rescue them both.

What happened to the astrologer? You will recall that he came out of the lockup and was introduced to the person who sprung him from jail -- it turns out to be --- Pallavan! Well, in the same episode, Pallavan and the astrologer are shown having been captured by Nandu's men (how many men an inspector commands!) and hidden away in some den.

When her mother gets past her two female guards and tells Rohini of the rescue plans, the idiot girl sets her face against it, saying suddenly that she only wants to get married to Nandu!

Hitch-yathartham, Priyan and GJ Meet, Arivu back in picture

Muhurtam
Hariharan (Kanya's husband) has been making all the arrangements for Bharati's nichyathartham.
But her mother is back in circulation (not that Sivaperumal is in jail, and unable to keep her sedated). Somehow she is persuaded that it is ok for the function to take place without Sivaperumal (with a deft white lie by Mrs. Sivaperumal, to her mother-in-law's chagrin). But Devayani (Bharati's mother) cannot resist harping on Sivaperumal's absence at every turn.

On the day of the ceremony, Kanya and Hariharan are in the forefront, inviting everyone, etc. But when Hariharan hears Devayani tell one of the guests (disgruntled because Hariharan had not invited his father-in-law 'properly') that everything would have gone much better had Sivaperumal been in-charge, he cannot bear it, and as expected, drags his wife and kids and heads back to his home, just as Arivu's family arrives.

Selvi
Much action. The killer-cook 'Kala' is briefly questioned by Selvi after the poisoning incident, but let off. Ranjini is relieved, and dissuades GJ from following Selvi's suggestion that the dish might be lab-tested. Blame is generally assumed to lie at Selvi's home, and their lax standards of hygiene.

Meanwhile, Ranjini goes to Maya to give a post-mortem (no pun intended) report on the poisoning effort. Piriyan overhears, and writes a note to Selvi. This is intercepted by GJ (accidentally) and he tears up the note, and goes to see Piriyan directly at his home. Piriyan treats him with deference. GJ asks him to fetch a knife. Piriyan hands it to him. GJ lunges at Piriyan.

Manaivi
Main action surrounds Rohini and her family. Arivu hears of her appeal (very smart, they don't show Kalpana and Divya breaking the news to him, etc.). He is shown inquiring at Rohini's old terrace house, where a neighbor tells him what has happened. He goes to the police lock-up and persuades the constable to let him have a few words with the astrologer. The old man apologizes to him for how he had wronged him. Nandu shows up. Eyeball to eyeball confrontation between Nandu and Arivu.

Next scene, a lawyer shows up at the police station. Nandu is not there, but another officer is in-charge. When the officer says Nandu has left instructions not to release the astrologer, the lawyer produces a court order, upon which the officer is scared and orders the astrologer's release. When he comes out, the lawyer leads him to a car, where he sees...

Bharati on track, Poison for Selvi

Muhurtam
After Sivaperumal tells Kadir's parents that any talk of the marriage and related activities when Bharati's mother is in hospital is inappropriate, they resolve to let things proceed as they may, though puzzled and pained.

Kadir runs from pillar to post asking various people to take the initiative. He persuades Kanya's husband, finally, appealing to his ego (and an opportunity to show up Sivaperumal) to take the lead. Kanya's husband (name escapes me) pays a formal visit to Kadir's parents and everything is humming along.

Meanwhile, Kalidas receives an order from his superiors to raid Sivaperumal's quarry. He does so reluctantly, but discovers unaccounted pieces of dynamite. Sivaperumal is arrested by the police, foiling his plan to keep Devayani (Bharti's mother) sedated. Bharati comes in to look after her mother, and the milk where he has mixed in the sedative falls to the ground, breaking.

Selvi
Maya engages an assassin to kill Selvi. Ranjini contrives to admit her into the household as a cook. Maya's conversation with the killer woman is overheard by Piriyan, who tries to warn Selvi, but GJ cuts him off when he says who he is.

The woman (calling herself Kala) poisons some halwa sent by Selvi's stepmother, and gives it to Selvi. As luck would have it, Selvi gets a phone call just as she is about to have a mouthful, but the two children eye it, and Sachin has a go at it. Shortly thereafter, he is in pain, and appears to have fainted. Doctor says he will recover.

Manaivi
Has been running along with basically no story for weeks. Kalpana, who is staying in a hostel after running away, comes across an article in a paper, planted by Arasu, alleging she has run away with Krishna Kumar. She goes to Tiruchelvam, and they proceed to the police station where the inspector still tries to deny he has seen him after the interrogation.

When Kalpana and Tiruchelvam come to her father's place to clarify that Krishna Kumar had nothing to do with it, her parents' eyes finally get opened to Arasu's plots, and her father asks Arasu to release Krishna immediately. He does.

Kalpana decides to stay with Tiruchelvam. Krishna asks her to change her mind about spending life on her own.

Last scene -- Divya, who is going to get married to Arasu, shows Kalpana the unopened wedding invitation from Rohini. When Kalpana peeks in, she finds a note from Rohini to Arasu, saying, "I am in trouble. Please help".

Aside: Hamsaveni drops off her baby on Ramani's office desk. Krishnaveni brings it home and decides to raise it. Neither of them suspect it is Hamsaveni's baby, although their parents know.
This is beyond stretching credulity.

Ranjini pregnant, Husband shocked

Muhurtham
Sivaperumal comes to Kadir's place, complains about Kadir's interference in his family's affairs to Kadir's mother and sister. Informs them that Bharati's mother is in hospital owing to Kadir's saying that their family should welcome Manjula and Kalidas back into their fold (lie). Kadir's mother is shocked when he adds that owing to her illness, the nichyadartham stands postponed.

Kanya, Bharati's other married sister, returns back to pavilion because she does not want to agitate her mother at this time with her problems. Husband taunts her.

Selvi
GJ, in apparent anger, pushes Ranjini out of his house for her perfidy in the Maya affair. Knowing of Maya's horoscope, she still wanted to get her married to him, knowing he might die. She falls on the floor and faints. Doctor arrives, and discovers she is pregnant (though how, without a blood test or any other kind of test -- don't ask -- Tamil serials are full of such doctors). The most surprised (disbelieving is a better word) is Ranjini's ex-armyman husband. He has not been anywhere close to her in years! When she recovers consciousness, GJ still holds to his position that she should get out of the house.

Selvi speaks up, saying it would not be correct to throw her out in her condition. GJ reluctantly agrees, but tells her Selvi is in charge of everything from now on. Later Ranjini goes to Selvi, full of tears and apologies. But it is false. Afterwards she is talking to her husband, who is still in a state of shock. He is furious, and says, "I will never forgive you".

Manaivi
Hamsaveni has a baby girl. Ramani does not go to see her.

Nandakumar is threateing Rohini and her mother that if they stir out of the house, he will have Rohini's father killed in an encounter. They see no alternative to staying put. Rohini makes plans to call Arivu, but the concept of a whisper is unknown in Tamil serials, and she discusses this plan with her mother in the center of the hall, in a voice that could be heard in Hyderabad.
Nandu, who has just departed, obviously has been lurking outside, and confronts her with this later.

Coma, Coma everywhere(And Comalis galore)

Muhurtham
Manjula reaches home in great agitation. Her husband Kalidas calms her down and saying, ignore what Sivaperumal says, your place is by your mother right now, takes her back to the hospital, accompanied by Kadir.

Sivaperumal insults all of them, and while Manjula stands her ground, he starts raising his hand at Kalidas, who responds in kind. A doctor sees this skirmish and orders all of them out, except two people. Sivaperumal and his mother stay on. Sivaperumal meets the doctor, who says it is nothing but mild hypertension. He bribes the doctor and tells him to say this is a serious case. He wants the nichadartham to be postponed/canceled. He is especially angry at Kadir taking Manjula's side.

Sivaperumal gives some pills to his mother, to be given to Devayani (Bharati's mother). Asked why she needs these pills, he says they are to keep her asleep. He says one of them needs to be by her side at all times to make sure she stays asleep.

Selvi
Let's relieve you of your curiosity first -- nothing happens between Selvi and GJ.

Selvi talks about Piriyan, who has promised his hear to her, and she to him. Now she feels she has betrayed him. GJ portrays a man cheated, mentally asking her to cut the yak-yak and get to bed. But, he has to appear dignified, and he manages with difficulty. Good night, he says.

Ranjini's husband teases her about how Selvi holds the whip hand now, and if she (Ranjini) does not behave, she'll get a seruppadi. Ranjini is furious, but she knows he is right. Next morning, she carries two cups of tea to GJ's room. The door is open, and going in, she finds the two kids sleeping. She is aghast. She calls GJ's name, and when she inquires why the kids are in that room, he loses his temper at her, and her sister, who taunts him also about having two wives.

Ranjini tries to be extra nice to Selvi.

Selvi's dad comes to Piriyan's house and sees him crestfallen. He advises him, in the best traditions of Tamil melodrama, that the best thing he can do for Selvi is to leave town and never come back.

Manaivi
Much action. Kalpana leaves home. Arasu halts her and taunts her one final time -- she says he will one day regret his action and come to her apologizing, but she will not forgive him -- that is his punishment. Then she vanishes. Her parents return, and Arasu gives them a tale about how she left while he was sleeping, without even leaving a note. They swallow the tale, of course.

Krishna Kumar goes over his conversations with Kalpana in his mind. He feels remorseful, and is moved to get ready and go and meet her. He tells his uncle that he needs to go and get her because her life may be in danger. Arivu also agrees, and asks him to go get her right away. Mrs. Tiruchelvam agrees.

When Krishna goes to Kalpana's home, he finds she has already fled. He returns to Sriperumbudur, and despite Tiruchelvam's protest, both he and Arivu head out to look for her.

Nandu comes to Rohini and her mother, and asks them to move to his house. They are up late waiting for the astrologer. He tells them he has been arrested for carrying ganja. When they accuse him of having thrown him in jail, he threatens them saying he can arrest them too -- for what women are arrested for. They comply.

No Dice for GJ, Murder contract out on Selvi's life

Muhurtam
Kadir apologizes to his mother and sister for something he has said. After a long silent treatment, his mother is touched by his abject declaration that even when he gets married (if he does, to Bharati), mother, father and sisters will still come first. Like all mothers, this is honey to her ears.

Janani and Bharati take Manjula for her checkup. Meanwhile, their mother is off with Sivaperumal to invite various people, including her married daugher, whose husband is not in town, and when contacted on the phone, makes a big fuss about whether he can come for the nichyathartham. He is actually in town, but doesn't reveal it. When he comes back, his wife fights with him, protesting at his deceit, and when he yells back, decides to take their children and leave home.

Anyway, Bharati's mother feels faint, and Sivaperumal takes her to the hospital. Naturally, it is the same hospital where Manjula has gone for her checkup. When she sees Manjula with her sisters, she is incensed, and falls to the ground. She has to be admitted to hospital. Sivaperumal yells and threatens the two sisters, and hurls abuse at Manjula, who leaves, crying.

Selvi
Bala's hit man arrives, carrying a picture of GJ. Bala wants him dead.

Maya overhears their conversation, and says she considers herself married to GJ, and so they should kill Selvi, instead. No problem, says the hit man, as Bala reluctantly agrees.

At the GJ residence, Selvi is sitting, weeping. The kids sense her sadness, and the little girl apologizes for jumping in the tank, forcing Selvi to agree to this wedding. She tucks them into bed, and comes out of the room. GJ is pacing the corridor, waiting for her.

She is crying. GJ says to her, we should forget the past. She is deeply sad, and ends her longish statement with, "When someone loves you with all their heart, and you deliberately forget them, this is what results." GJ is curious. Who do you mean? Piriyan, she says. GJ's eyes widen in shock.

Manaivi
Hamsaveni is not herself, says her aunt, calling Krishnaveni on the phone. Please ask Ramani to talk with her. Krishnaveni persuades Ramani to call, which he refuses.
Finally she herself calls, and when Hamsaveni answers, silently hands over the receiver to Ramani. She then prompts Ramani to ask various normal questions, are you taking your medicines, are you eating properly, I wasn't able to come and see you only because I was in Coimbatore, etc. etc. Hamsaveni hears Krishnaveni's prompts, and curses Ramani for doing this under Krishnaveni's prompting. Says it is insulting. She says Ramani has forgotten his own child, and there is punishment in wait for him. She rings off, and Ramani tells Krishnaveni, this is why i didn't want to call.

Kalpana's parents have left for their 3-day holiday. Kalpana writes a note to them, saying she is leaving, because she will not be believed. She says she doesn't want their property, but warns them against Arasu, who will talk like a servant but pluck all their property from them. She folds and keeps this in a book, presumably hoping that her parents will find it. Arasu spots her writing it, and pops in and pockets the
note. She is shown seeing him in her room.

The Case of the Wiggling Toes

Muhurtam
Manjula reveals to her husband that she is pregnant. Much joy. She expresses a desire to see her sisters. Her husband (I can only think of him as Ravi in Metti Oli) says that should be no problem at all, now that Kadir is in the picture. Anyhow, the news gets to Janani and Bharati, who make some dopey excuse of going to the temple, and make their way to see Manjula.

Meanwhile, Sivaperumal and his mother are over at Kadir's place to make a showy apology for her behavior. Sivaperumal affects to be furious with his mother and she is suitably contrite, touching the feet of Kadir's mother, etc., to which the expected "oh my god what are you doing", etc., etc. by Kadir's parents. Having created a good impression there, mother and son come out and give each other high fives (figuratively) at their performance.

Kadir and Bharati have one of their syrupy conversations over the phone.

Selvi
Selvi's father, Yogeswaran, is upset with his wife and son for participating in this betrayal of Selvi. The wife is matter-of-fact, saying this is our ticket out of poverty, and loses no time in pointing out Yogeswaran's own disappearance when the family needed him the most. He has no answer. She adds that after all, she herself is a second wife. Then she says that Selvi's marriage was all agreed upon (nichyadartham) but the groom died. Yogeswaran intervenes to say the gro0m is very much alive, and in fact, he is staying with the young man. The mother and brother are shocked, but mother says, this is not the time to bring this up. Mum's the word, so to speak.

Selvi is shown near a door. One was looking for the proverbial glass of milk, but no, this is a welcome change. It is Tamarai's door. She goes in to plead with her friend and to apologize to the comatose figure. When she clutches Tamarai's feet and weeps, the toes wiggle, and the eyelids blink, though Selvi does not notice.

Manaivi
Episode devoted to Nandu and the idiot astrologer. The fool, having witnessed the conversation between Nandu and the electricitian a couple of days back, has still been going with Nandu to 'distribute invitations', as though on auto-pilot. After these rounds, Nandu stops off at the Police Stn. to attend to some work. Astrologer says he'd rather walk back home. On the way, he is accosted by Nandu's friend Pallavan, who takes him to the temple (so it will be convenient to swear he is speaking the truth!) and shows him documentary evidence (photos on his camera) of Nandu and other women. He goads the astrologer to cancel the wedding, throw the invitations at Nandu's face. Astrologer rightly predicts that Nandu is a powerful man ad he, after all, is only an indigent astrologer. Never mind, says Pallavan, Nandu will probably put you in jail, but I will rescue you.

Astrologer heads to the Police Station, and as scripted by Pallavan yells and screams (though not with sufficient conviction) at Nandu. Nandu throws him into a chair (he seems to know this was Pallavan's doing all along) and taunts the old man, "didn't your horoscopes reveal to you that I was a bad guy?" But, he says, I WAS a bad guy; after seeing Rohini, who, though hardly a beauty queen nonetheless presented some inner attractions, he has given up all his vices. The old man refuses to be persuaded, and throws some more papers at Nandu. Nandu calls a constable, hands over a bag (whether recovered from astrologer is unclear) and asks him to check tghe contents. The constable says it is ganja. Throw him in the lockup, says Nandu, and the astrologer is astonished at this devilry. He begins chanting some prayers.

Tooooooodrummmmmm!

Forgive me, Father, for I have...

Selvi
Just as Selvi, tearful but decked out in thali and garland, stands next to GJ, whose portrayal of a quizzical ambiguity is really quite extraordinary, her father arrives. He has brought a present to someone he thinks is the head of his company. He finds Selvi instead. Everyone tears up, Selvi and her father in genuine tears, the other four kids in shock, relief and bemusement. The stepmother alone is unmoved, though stunned by the appearance of her husband, and a little ashamed of her giving away Selvi in this manner. The father is clearly not happy, but, in true Tamil tinsel tradition, a thali is everything, and cannot be reversed.

Then comes Selvi's fiance, who has no clue who is getting married (he thinks it is Maya). When he sees Selvi, he begins weeping. He hides behind a pillar and wipes his tears. She has not seen him, although it seems as if GJ has noticed him crying. Tomorrow will reveal more.

Father asks her why she consented to this absurd marriage. She tells him how she was sacrificed at the altar of the family's welfare. She asks him why he himself ran away when they needed him most. She points the finger at each of them, and how each, for their own reasons, was prepared to give her up.

Manaivi
Kalpana is asked by her mother if she wants to come with them for a 3 day trip. She says no. She wants to hunt for a job. Argument. Arasu shows up, telling Kalpana's mother he will calm her down. When alone, he threatens her, says, run away. She says, 'if it's money you want, you can have it. When alone, she calls Krishna Kumar. His manner has changed. He says they shouldn't see each other any more. Indicates he lacks the guts to marry her.

Next morning, she is determined she should get a job. Goes out without telling anyone. Her parents send Arasu to look, and he returns from Tiruchelvam's house, saying she's not there either. At this point, Kalpana arrives. She says she was out looking for a job. She calls Arasu a criminal and says she will not live with him any more. She wants to make her own life.

Same routine. Her mother calls her to eat. She lashes out at her in frustration. Then Arasu says he will calm her down, comes in, threaterns her again, and teases her to tears.

Wicket Falls

Muhurtam
Kadir phones Bharati and cooes over the phone. Does not notice Sivaperumal watching him. Embarrassed when he discovers him. Sivaperumal offers Rs. 10000 to buy dresses for the nichyathartham. Kadir says why so much. Sivaperumal insults him by saying, "your people may say bad things about us otherwise."

Meanwhile, Sivaperumal's mother is giving hell to Bharati's mother and her own daughter-in-law at a saree shop. Kadir's family has not yet come to pick sarees. When they arrive too, she gently insults Kadir's mother.

Kadir's politician brother-in-law has been given the brush-off by some MLA he helped elect. He and his cronies plot strategy to get back at him.

Selvi
Well, Aishwarya did not die after all. She is rescued, but in the general atmosphere of melodrama, every one on all sides says Selvi should get married to GJ because the children need a mother. Bull. Hire a damn ayah, why get married. Anyway, Tamil Serial logic and common sense take two separate routes entirely, and so Selvi agrees, reluctantly, to get married.

Scene where her stepmother is delighted because of the forthcoming prosperity this alliance will bring. Says to her daughters, go and grab all the good sarees they must have bought. Selvi warns that she is sacrificing herself, but that one day they will regret their pressuring her. Seems like famous last words. Meanwhile, here fiance (the driver guy) is shown rushing in his car, not clear where. At the end of the episode, her father is shown rushing towards a marriage pandal with a gift.

Manaivi
Wholly devoted to Hamsaveni, who has survived without major damage to herself or child. Her mother, and Ramani's parents are the in the hospital, from where they try calling Ramani to persuade him to visit her. He refuses, but Krishnaveni comes to know of Hamsaveni's suicide attempt, and tries to get thim to go. He still does not. Final section, Velu slips into Hamsaveni's room. She says she has been blind in her affection for Ramani, at the expense of the affection of people like Velu who are devoted to her. Hereafter she will correct this, she says. Velu says he will kill Krishnaveni. To which Hamsaveni protests, but only mildly.

Marriage Halted

Muhurtam
Missed yesterday -- confusion in time listings on Sun TV.

Selvi
Marriage stopped by Selvi who has complained to the police that GJ is contemplating bigamy. The force show up just at the thali knotting, big argument between Maya's brother and Tamarai's brother. Finally, marriage is off. GJ's plan is that the setting, and the sentiments of Selvi's stepmother and Tamarai's parents, and his own father, would persuade Selvi to take Maya's pace on the podium, but the fat lady refuses to sing.

Meanwhile, the child Aishwarya, disappointed that her father is going to marry Maya, jumps into the overhead tank while her brother tries to dissuade her. She is shown going down for the third time as the episode ends. Brother Sachin runs to call for help.

Manaivi
Looks like suicide week on Sun TV!
Hamsaveni comes back from a walk, asks her aunt for some water, and proceeds to swallow a handfull of pills. Her aunt, instead of running for help, asks her about ten times what it is she swallowed, before she informs her that they were sleeping pills. Frustrated at Ramani's situation -- he loves her but is forced to stay with Krishnaveni, and losing hope that he will see her, she has taken this step, she says. She is sinking as her aunt runs to get help.