Here is the English translation of the chapter:
—
**Bhagavan 4**
“Sir, this is a grave injustice,” Arumugam spoke, wiping away his tears.
“What happened?” asked the Puthiya Thalaimurai reporter.
“My daughter and son-in-law went to the temple for Aadi Perukku. They left home so happily. But when they came back… I couldn’t even see them alive. They both died.”
“How?”
“When they were crossing Veppampattu, a car coming from the opposite direction rammed into them. It was driven by some wealthy family’s son. Even at the police station, they catered to his every need and looked after him. And now, the court gave him bail just after making him write an imposition. Sir, isn’t justice supposed to be the same for everyone? If you have money, is there no punishment for anyone? Is there no answer for the injustice done to my daughter and son-in-law?”
The Puthiya Thalaimurai reporter comforted him.
“Don’t worry. May you find peace of mind.”
“I’ll never get any of that, sir. We were born in this country, so we can’t expect such things. Let them live well,” he said, wiping his eyes as the reporter turned to face the camera.
“What is the answer to this father’s tears? Reporting for Puthiya Thalaimurai, camera person Raju, Vijay.”
—
Padmakumar answered his ringing phone. It was Lawyer Vasanth on the line.
“Sir, this is Vasanth.”
“Tell me, what happened?”
“The boy got bail.”
“Very good.”
“I’ll pick him up and head home.”
“Alright.”
As Padmakumar hung up, his wife, Subraja, asked anxiously, “What happened?”
“He got bail.”
“It’s all the grace of our family deity.”
“Don’t be foolish.”
“What are you saying?”
“It isn’t the grace of any deity. It’s money—the money I earned. Even though our son caused the death of two people, that money is bringing him back home without a single scratch. Money is what matters. God comes only after that.”
“Don’t talk like that.”
“Don’t lecture me. Go mind your business.”
“Dear…”
“What?”
“If only our son hadn’t been speeding that day, those two people wouldn’t have died.”
“It was their destiny to die. What can we do about it now?”
“We should go visit their family in person and give them some compensation.”
“Don’t interfere in all this. Just mind your own work.”
“No, it’s just that…” Subraja started to say, but noticing Padmakumar’s angry glare, she went inside without another word.
A few hours later, Vineeth and Vasanth walked inside.
Seeing Vineeth, Padmakumar hugged him.
“Dad…”
“Vineeth, everything alright?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“What happened that day, son?”
“I went to a party, Dad… I overdid it a bit.”
“Haven’t I told you not to drive if you’ve been drinking?”
“Sorry, Dad.”
“It’s okay. Go take some rest.”
“Okay, Dad.”
Padmakumar watched Vineeth leave, then turned back to Vasanth.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, sir,” Vasanth said, looking hesitant.
“What is it? Speak up,” asked Padmakumar.
“We got bail, but our chances of winning the case are very slim.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
“Alright, sir.”
Vasanth took his leave. Padmakumar lit a cigarette and sank into thought.
—
**9:00 PM**
“Peter!” Padmakumar called out, and the servant stepped forward.
“Sir?”
“Has Vineeth eaten?”
“No, sir.”
“Why?”
“Young master went out in the evening, sir,” Peter said hesitantly, as anger flushed across Padmakumar’s face.
“Why did he go out again now?” Padmakumar grabbed his phone and called Vineeth.
After ringing for a long time, Vineeth answered.
“Dad…”
“Where are you?”
“Just stepped out for a bit.”
“You’re out on bail. Don’t go causing any more trouble.”
“Okay, Dad.”
“Come home right now.”
“Okay, Dad.”
Padmakumar waited.
Time passed.
**10:00 PM**
Padmakumar kept his eyes fixed on the entrance.
**11:00 PM**
Furious, he picked up his phone and called Vineeth again.
*“The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off.”*
Hearing the recorded message, he cursed, “Rascal!”
The night slowly turned to dawn.
Feeling that something was terribly wrong, Padmakumar’s phone rang.
Thinking it might be Vineeth, he picked up eagerly, but his expression instantly changed.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Padmakumar?”
“Yes.”
“Two lives were lost because of your son.”
“Who is speaking?”
“I’ll tell you.”
“The case is in court!”
“Yet your son acts as if nothing happened, doesn’t he?”
“What do you mean?”
“He wrote an imposition, got bail, and walked out. Now he goes back to partying and enjoying life.”
“He did nothing wrong; he’s following the law!”
“Sir, you don’t seem to understand the situation.”
“What are you saying?”
“Two people are dead.”
“What can be done about that now?”
“Isn’t it wrong that a young girl and her husband, who had their whole lives ahead of them, are dead, sir?”
“It was their destiny. What can I do about it?”
“Generally, when children make mistakes, they must suffer the punishment for it. Only when they experience that punishment will they refrain from repeating the mistake. But what do most parents do? Thinking ‘they are our children,’ they do whatever it takes to save them from punishment. How will children raised like that turn out? They grow up with the mindset that no matter what wrong they do tomorrow, their parents will save them, feeling zero guilt. That is not good for this society, sir.”
“You won’t even say who you are. Are you trying to lecture me? Hang up the phone!”
“Sir, don’t hang up in a hurry. The loss will be yours.”
“What do you mean?”
“Vineeth is with us.”
Padmakumar was stunned.
“What?”
“It’s true, sir. Vineeth, tell your father that you’re here.”
Following the voice on the other end, Vineeth’s terrified screams echoed through the speaker.
“Dad! Save me, Dad!”
Padmakumar flew into a rage.
“Hey! Do you have any idea who you’re playing with?”
“No, sir, we know very well who you are.”
“Vineeth is my only son! If anything happens to him, I won’t spare you. Tell me how much money you want, and I’ll bring it to you!” Padmakumar shouted.
The man on the other end chuckled.
“Looks like you love your son very much.”
“Yes, he’s my only child!”
“Arumugam, who lost both his daughter and son-in-law because of your son, also had only one child.”
“Who are you?”
“People’s Welfare.”
Padmakumar was shocked.
“Forgive me, I don’t know who you are…”
“Mr. Padmakumar, your son has lost the right to live.”
“Please, don’t do anything like that! He’s my only son!”
“Let me tell you a story—the story of Chola King Manu Needhi. In fact, it isn’t just a story; it’s a real historical event. It was only after this incident that the king earned the title ‘Manu Needhi Cholan’—because he implemented the law of justice (*Manu Needhi*). Shall I tell you how he implemented it, sir? Are you listening?”
“Mm…”
“The Chola king was ruling the land. The people had no grievances, but one day, the justice bell hanging at the palace gate rang. Everyone was surprised and went outside to check. It was a cow ringing the bell, with tears in its eyes. The king rushed out in distress and inquired about the cow’s grievance. The prince had taken out his chariot and driven through the town streets, and the cow’s calf had been crushed to death under the chariot wheels. Unable to bear the grief, the cow came to the king. The king knew the laws of justice well. He ordered the chariot to be brought out again. At the exact spot where the calf had died, he arranged for his own son to be sacrificed under the chariot wheels. And he sacrificed him. Do you understand the lesson behind this story, sir?”
As the voice asked calmly, Padmakumar gasped in horror.
“Sir… what are you saying?”
“At exactly 3:00 AM, at the very spot where your son caused the accident and killed those two people, your son’s body will be waiting. You can come and collect it.”
“No, please! Don’t do anything like that!”
“Sorry, sir. None of us here make any decisions. There is only one person who makes all the decisions. Once he gives the order, we don’t think twice about anything else. Don’t you understand? Once Bhagavan has spoken, that’s it, sir. He has already declared your son’s punishment. Be at the spot by 3:00 AM.”
The call disconnected. Padmakumar stared at his mobile phone in a mix of fury and terror.
*Who on earth are you people? I will come to the spot you mentioned at dawn. If anything happens to my son, I won’t spare a single person in your organization!*
Padmakumar stayed awake, waiting. At exactly two o’clock, he left the house. Telling the driver to stay behind, he drove the car himself.
*Where did the accident happen? Near the Veppampattu Amman Temple.*
He arrived there within half an hour.
Parking his car on the roadside, he stepped out and walked forward.
*Is this the Amman temple?* He looked around.
He closely watched the vehicles passing on the road. Sweating profusely, he wiped his face with a handkerchief.
The clock approached three.
*(To be continued…)*
