Anbum Aranum Udaiththaayin

Alosanai

"Aana, aparam okandhu yosichu patha, thappu panadhu elam namba. Adhuku Mullai enna panuva? Ava yepadiyum inoru kalyanam panna pora, adhu unaiya irundha enna thapunu thonuchu.

Jeeva'ku inoru ponnu mela virupam irukunu theriyama irundhu irukean. Ava inga yepadi kasta pattu vazhdhanu kuda enaku theriyama than irundhu irukean . Oru amma va, Ava athaiya Idhu elam naan gavanichu irukanum.
Ipo unaku avala kalyanam panni vechu, naan panna thappuku, naney parigaram thedara mathiri than thonudhu enaku"

Kathir just sat there listening to her mother in admiration on the clarity she carried, though she has stayed inside the four walls most of her life.

"Un appa thavarina apo, Kanna china pillai. 4 pasangala yepadi pathupenu, enna inoru kalyanam kuda silla peru panna sonanga. Panama mutal thanam panreanu silla peru sonanga.

Oru vela avanga sonna mathiri inoru kalyanam panni irundha, enkaga suyanalama kalyanam panikiteanu kuda silla peru solli irupanga. Nambala pathi thappa pesa epovum nalu peru irupanga da. Namba manasuku edhu serinu padudho adha seiyanum da"

Kathir had no words and just hugged her while still holding her hand and cried. He felt too emotional to even utter anything. Lakshmi just sat there until he composed himself. She could understand what he was going through.

"Kalayil saptengala ma?", Kathir asked finally breaking the hug.

"Illa da, thyroid mathiri potutu oru mani neram kalichu than sapidanum. Dhanam vandhu tharuva"

"Naan tharata?"

Lakshmi amma smiled and nodded her head. Kathir left his mother's hand and picked up her medicine box from the nightstand and filled a glass of water.

While she extended her hand for the medicine, she said

"Amma onne onnu matum sollikarean da. Indha kalyanathala namba kudumba epavum pirinjidama pathuko da"

Kathir's heart dropped at her words on how even she felt their marriage was not possible without breaking the family. However he hide his feelings and smiled at her and nodded his head.

"Seri ma, naan kadaiku kelambarean", he said and left to the shop.

Lakshmi amma heaved a sigh as she stared at the door through which Kathir left. It has been 15 years since her husband passed. In these years so much has changed in their lives. There was not a moment when Kathir would not have kept the comfort of everyone in the house above his own self. His mere presence was enough for them to feel comfort. For the world, he was a grown up 27-year-old hardworking man. But for Lakshmi, he was still the 15-year-old boy, who left everything behind for their family's wellbeing.

"En Kathiruku kalyanam aga pogudhu!", Lakshmi amma said. Her eyes were still fixed on the door. Different emotions passed through her eyes.

"En ma, adhula sandhosam ilaya ungaluku?",  Kanna asked

"Enna da kelvi idhu? Romba sandhosam da. Adhuvum Mullai mathiri oru thangamana ponnu amanju iruku.", she smiled

"Aparam en ma, ipadi kolapama irukenga? ", Kanna asked.

"Idhu elam kandu pidikara avaluku nee periya manusan ayitiya da? Dhanam inum unna kolandhainu solitu iruka", she chuckled but remained silent after.

After a long silence, she decided to tell him the truth

"Ava marupadi indha veetla yepadi da vandhu vazhva?", she asked.

"Indha veetla iruka venam, Kathira thaniya kutitu porenu sonalum adhu thappu illa. Ava yedathil irundu patha adhu seri than. Aana, naan suyanalama indha kudumbam piriya kudadhu, en pasanga onna irukanumnu asai padarean", she shook her head. The mere thought of Kathir leaving them was painful. Though he spoke less, she was emotionally dependent on him. Last year him being away was painful enough that she could not bring herself thinking it could be permanent.