The book of snippets

Mersal: R~1

"Ayya.. avan pannadhu thappilaya?"

"Illa pa" Thalapathy answered earnestly.

"Aana... avan dhaan indha ooru, andha veedu, murugan oda aatha, murugan... ellarayum vittu poitaan la...?" Maaran asked innocently. 

"Avan padichu munnerradhuku veliyoor ponaan da... mudinjadhuku aprom thirumbi vandhuruvaan... apdiye varala naalum adikadi  thirumbi  varuvaan." Vetrimaaran explained patiently.

"Appo padicha naanum veliyoor poganuma?"  Maaran asked with doubt coloring his face.

"Unakku venumna po.." Vetri maaran said giving his son a big smile. But Maaran didn't return it and that made him frown. "Enna da?" he prodded.

"Appo ungala vittu ponuma?" Maaran asked and both his parents could hear the hint of sadness in his voice.

"Apdinu yevan chonna? Nee veliyoor poradha irundha... naan, ice, unakku poraka pora thambi thangachi, vadivu ellarume un kooda varuvom." Vetrimaaran and this time Maaran laughed out loud. It sounded like music to Thalapathy's ears. He looked at aishu who was glowing, smiling and blushing simultaneously. 

Then she chastised him for talking too much and told them both to shut up and sleep.

They lulled into peaceful sleep one by one.

Then, Maaran screamed. 

Thalapathy jolted awake and Aishu was already up. She was soothing and enquiring their son at the same time. Maaran was sweating and shaking like a leaf. Thalapathy wasn't an easily scared man, but he was terrified seeing his boy like that. 

Then, a broken, tortured and suffering "amma"  trickled out of  Maaran's mouth and Aishu physically recoiled before worriedly holding their son. But thalapathy beat her to it, he gently placed his hands on Maaran and worriedly asked, "Maaran enna da achu?" 

Maaran's wide and frantic eyes turned to him and a disgruntled "appa" rolled out of his mouth.  It struck Vetrimaaran like a brick wall. They didn't decide on it but Maaran usually called him 'ayya.'

Then he brought his knees to his chest and buried his head in his crook, while whispering 'no' over and over again.

"Maara?" Aishu gently shook. He flinched and that scared them both. Maaran never flinched.

"Illa.. idhu nijam illa. You are not my parents. Yeah...dream... this is a dream... Kanavu thaan, nijam illa.... kanavu thaan, nijam illa... Kanavu thaan..." He repeated. 

(it's a dream... Not real... Dream.. Not real.)

Vetrimaaran couldn't get his bearings and his eyes were already moist but Aishu was worse, tears flew down her cheeks and she couldn't hold back her silent cries. 

Vetrimaaran firmly held maaran, his son squirmed under his grip but he didn't let go. "Maaran... enna paaru..." He ordered.

(look at me)

Maaran shook his head. "Nee appa illa..." his tone rose in volume.