A Sunflower's Tale

~ Chapter - 6 ~

Kathir stood dumbfounded beside Mullai staring into her determined face and the stunned faces of everyone from his and her family. Mullai and Kathir, having returned from Hyderabad late at night, had brought along Murugan and Parvathy to Kathir's house as Mullai had made a call to Pandian himself saying that she had to speak to both their families immediately. Kathir's head swirled at the way Mullai had disclosed the matter to everyone around, she was blunt and to the point, "I and Kathir are going to adopt a baby... idhu ennoda aasai thaan... idhuku othukitta thaan enga kalyanam nu Kathir kitta sollirundhen... he accepted... odane kalyanam pannikalaam nu irukom... we need to adopt the baby on Monday... ithuku mela ennala onnum solla mudiyathu... sollanum nu avasiyamum illa... yenna idhu en life... mama... athai... Kathir ah naa sathiyama force pannala... avara thaan othukittaru...".

No one spoke since then, they were all too shocked to even process where did all this suddenly come from. Kathir had pleaded all the way from Hyderabad to Chennai that he would explain things to either of their families but Mullai had been unyieldingly adamant and somehow made him promise not to utter a word until she had made her statement. Parvathy was blistering in anger and her hands shook in fury looking into Mullai's emotionless face. She could hardly bring herself to speak and Murugan just stared blankly at Mullai, they had gone through so much pain in the past two years but this was something beyond everything they ever thought of.

Lakshmi was the first to break the silence, she peered into Kathir asking, "Kathir... unaku samadhama Mullai solrathula... oru kulandhaiya adopt panrathu valakurathu romba nalla vishayam... periya vishyamum kooda... aana neenga innamum chinna pillainga... kalyanam kulandhai laam periya porupu da... ungaluku nu oru kulandhai porandha thaan adhu puriyum... athu kapram vena idha pannalaam... adopt panna thaan kalyanam na engaluku puriyala...", Mullai had her eyes shut tight and her palms fisted, she knew Lakshmi had a point but she had no answers to any of their questions. She only knew that the right thing to be done now was to have Kayal with all of them as soon as possible.

Kathir was agitated but his clear eyes gave his consent even before his words did, "amma idhu rendu peroda decision um thaan... we know the responsibilities... aana naanga romba serious ah irukom idhula... namma rendu family um irukom la... ellarum sendhu paathuka mudiyaatha papava...", he turned to address Pandian, who had already connected the dots by now. Though he didn't know the correct reason, he did know they do have a strong one as he heard Kathir say, "appa... kaalaila kovil la kalyanam... register office la pesiten... namma client thaan ippa anga irukaaru... monday morning anga marriage ah register pannitu Hyderabad porom... athai mama... sorry indha vishayatha ippadi solla koodathu thaan aanalum vera vali...".

Parvathy didn't stand to listen more, she took fast strides and before anyone could gulp in what really was happening, she slapped Mullai straight on her face and kept hitting her crying out loud as Kathir had pulled Mullai into his cocoon and Kanna held onto Parvathy as her voice shrouded them all, "engadi vandhuchu unaku indha dhairiyam... oru pullai thaan appadi enga pecha kekama pochunu nenacha neeyum adhaiye panrala engaluku... Kathir mapala unna kadhalikuraaru adha nee use pannikura unnoda ishtathuku avara thalai aata vekkura... unnoda payithikaara thanathuku andha kudumbatha yen di bali aakura...".

She hurriedly wiped her tears and moved towards Murugan, "ellathaiyum neeye mudivu eduthutala... kalyanam pannu illa sethu po adha pathi engaluku kavala illa... engaluku pullaiye illanu nenachukurom... oru ponnu illadha valiyoda sethu idhaiyum anubavichukurom... indha kudumbam unna kai vidathu yenna avunga ellarum nallavanga... suyanalam illatha manushanga... suyanalamana unaku ivunga arumai puriyaatha... indha kudumbathuku nee thaguthi aanava illa... mapalaikum nee thaguthi aanava illa...", she folded her hands in front of Pandian and Lakshmi saying, "engala manuchurunga anna... ippadi oru pullaiya pethu unga ellaraiyum kashta paduthurom... innimel ivalukum engalukum samandham illa... ivala neenga yethukanum num endha avasiyam illa... appadiye yethukittalum iva oru anaadhai nu nenachukonga... yenga vanga polaam...".