The Tea Trail

Mazhalai pol unthan nenjam; urangattum paavam konjam

Mullai was terrified...she had seen him cry before..but this time it was different..all the other times it had been tears of hurt, anger, sadness..but this time it was tears of fear..acute and abject fear..helplessness..complete and utter helplessness..and to be honest Mullai was terrified..she was depending on him to set everything right..she had been confident..but this broken man crying like a child in her arms scared her...

She stood there patting his back...gently shushing in his ears...repeatedly whispering thaf all will be alright...and it took a while but he calmed down..only a bit..but even that was an improvement..

She gently disengaged herself..patted his face dry with her pallu..she lef him by his arm and seated him on the cot

Mullai : naan itho varen..athu varaikkum azhuga koodathu..she told him trying to muster a smile for his sake

She went to the kitchen and made him a strong cup of tea..she also made 2 thin dosas..

She took them to the room

It was not easy convincing him to eat..but she coaxed him and somehow managed to feed him..

Kathir : nee

Mullai : etho appappo tea kudichathu..pasikkala..neenga saapdunga

Kathir : pothum..

Mullai : innikku naal pochu..aana naalaikku Kannana koottittu varanum..athukku evvalavu alaiyanum..enga ellam theriyale..athaan athukku thembu venum ille..athukku thaan..rusikko pasikko ille..

How could he argue with that..he obediently opened his mouth for her to feed him

Once he finished she gave him some water and then the tea..

It was strong..hit him in all the right nerves and he looked decidedly better...

Mullai kept the plate and cup in the kitchen and came back to see him sitting in the same position..

Mullai : (gently placing his hands on her shoulder) konjam thoongareengala..she asked him

Kathir nodding his head took her hands and guided her to sit next to him..

He simply lowered his head on to her lap..

Mullai stopped him..

She got up and sat at one end of the bed so he could lie down and stretch himself comfortably...

She extended her hands to him and he willingly took it and lied down head on her lap..

He slowly started talking...

Kathir : enakkum Kannanukkum 4 vayasu vithyaasam

Mullai : hmm

Kathir : naan thaan avana thenamum school ku konduttu poi koottittu varuven..

Mullai : theriyum..

Kathir : school la enna prachanaiya irunthaalum..en kitta thaan odi varuvaan..naan thaan samaathaanam paduthuven

Mullai : hmmm

Kathir : oru vaatti school pasangaloda velaiyaadum pothu keezha vizhunthu adi pattu...ore ratham..naan thaan thookkikittu principle room ku odinen..en sattai muzhukka avan ratham..he said swiping away at that blood from his shirt now