En Uyir Ninnathandro

Samarasam

Ahn seringa thanks

Mullai placed the phone back and went down for breakfast

Ahn Mullai vanthutteengala vaanga saappidalaam..

Acho Meena neenga innum saappidalaya

Innum ille ungalukkaaga waiting

Vaanga vaanga late aayiduchu

And they sat down for breakfast

Meena antha kadaikku phone pannen..intha paavaadai return pannittu vera vaangikkalaamnu confirm pannittaanga

Ethukkunga veen alaichal enga Kaaraikudi la ya vaangineenga

Ille athu Trichy la

Ethu Trichy ya..intha paavaadai maathannu marupadiyum Trichy varaikkuma poveenga..free ah vidunga ..adutha vaatti vera colour vaangikkalaam

Ille Meena ..itho irukku Trichy veettula summa thaane iruppen ore ettu poi maathi kittu vantha pochu

Dhanam who had joined them by then said

Thevaiyaa..yaaraiyum kekkaama ethukku pannanum ..pesaama en kitta kudu..naane poi maathittu varen she said

Mullai who had almost finished by then excused herself under the pretext of leaving to wash her hands

She wordlessly retired to her room

She didn't bother coming down to help prep lunch..she was really upset

Around lunch time she got a call on her phone

Hello she heard a voice

Hello she said a question in her voice

Lunch saappida variya

Sorry yaaru Kathir neeya she asked

Kathir eh thaan came the reply

Neenga vanthu irukkeengala..itho varen

And she came down almost immediately

He smiled at her

Sernthu saappidalaame nnu thaan kooppitten

Mullai smiled back at hin

But at the lunch table said

Neenga ukkaarunga naan podaren..breakfast late ah thaan sappitten..

She made him sit and started to serve him

Dhanam came out then wheeling L amma out..

Mullai kitchen la omelette senju vechen paaru athuvum podu

Ahn seri ka

And Mullai stood serving him..

Lakshmi amma sat smiling fondly..

She knew Kathir and Mullai were not complete strangers but Kathir had said no to this proposal initially

She had no idea why

But in the hall he had been willing and she knew this son of hers..he didn't do anything halfways..he was really ok with this alliance..she had even proposed the Kodaikanal trip to gauge his stance..she had been concerned when he refused but the next day he had taken her out..

Again it was not a tick in the box..Mullai's retelling of the day in Madurai when she had shown the earrings and bracelet to L amma had confirmed that..the smile on Mullai's face was radiant

She was happy to see him taking an effort

She liked Mullai..it had been a week..only a week but this girl came across as honest and fearless and sweet..someone who would be happy with even the tiniest gesture of kindness..