Mullai sensed the angry tone of Janarthanan and looked around helpless. When she saw Kannan walk towards her, she signed relief.
"Anni! Nenga epo vandhenga?", Kanna asked totally ignorant of the brewing situation.
"Avala edhuku da Anni'nu kupidara?", Janarthanan roared at Kannan. Kannan blinked his eyes not sure on how to respond to him.
Kalai who stood behind Janarthanan sensed the tension and tried to pacify him "Enga chumma irunga. Prachanai panama"
"Chumma iru Kalai. Naan enna prachanai panrean? Iva than namba ponnu vazhkaiyil prachanai panna thirumba thirumba vara"
He turned towards Mullai,
"Inga paaru. Pazhaya uravu elam vechukitu indha veetu pakam vara velai vechukadha"
Kanan had always maintained a distance with him. However, he could not stand here doing nothing, seeing Mullai get taunted.
"Inga parunga, Periya annan veetla illa. Periya annako, Kathir annanuko nenga ipadi pesaradhu therinja avalavu than. Anni'a edhuku thevai ilama satham podarenga? "
"Enna paniduvanga? Nyayatha ketta indha veetla kovam vera varuma? Inga paaru, Olunga indha anni'nu kupidara velai modhala niruthu"
"Avanga enaku anni thana?", Kanna politely replied which irked Jana.
"Inga parunga. Kutty anni'ku indha veetla enna urimai iruko, adhey urimai Mullai anni'kum iruku. Thevai ilama prachanai panadhenga"
"Podusu nee, enna edhirthu pesariya nee?", Jana lost all his cool now being insulted by Kanna.
Kalai once again tried to interfere "Avar solradha perusa yeduthukadha pa. Nanga kelambarom"
"Vanga polam", she said and tried to drag him out
"Indha ponnu modhala kelambatum, aparam namba polam", he said his voice full of arrogance and determination.
Kanan opened his mouth again only to be stopped by Mullai
"Venam Kanna. Naan kelambarean"
"Anni, irunga. Kathir annan varatum. Solitu aparam kelambunga", Kanan held Mullai's hand not letting her go.
"Solitey irukean. Nee kelambu" Jana came to Mullai's side, gripped her arm, and signaled her to move. She tried to stand still but he was practically dragging her.
"Anni kaiya vidunga modhala", Kanan was losing his patience and did not know want to do further. He wanted to walk back in and call Kathir for help. At the same time, did not want to leave Mullai alone there with Jana.
As if on cue, Kathir came back from the backyard towards them. His smile faded when his eyes glanced the scene. He made quick steps to reach Mullai. He could sense the tension in the air when he saw Janarthanan dragging her literally.
"Mulla, enna achu?", Kathir aksed his voice full of concern.
"Onum Illa Kathiru.", Mullai tried to speak but it started to get dizzy
"Anniya velila poga sonanga!", Kanna barged in, as he knew only Kathir could handle Janarthanan.
"En ponnu veetuku vara, iva yaru?", Janarthanan said plainly.
Kathir snapped his head towards Mullai and she indicated through eyes not to make a scene.
"Ava kaiya vidunga modhala" Kathir hissed looking at Janarthanan's grip on her hand.
"Jeeva mama oda mamanar. Prachanai venam Kathiru", Mullai murmured only to get a death stare back from Kathir.
"Inametu indha veetu pakkam unna pakka kudadhu", Janarthan boomed and dragged her further.
"Avala vidunga. Ungalauku late achu, nenga kelambanga. Enga veetu vishayatha nanga pathukarom", Kathir placed his palm on his chest in an attempt to stop him.
Janarthan got angry and let go off Mullai's hand.
Mullai looked at Kathir pleading with her eyes to take his hand off from Jana's chest. Kathirs expression was scaring her to death. He looked as if he could explode any moment.
"Avala sonna, elarukum ivalavu kovam varudhu? Ipadi munal purushan veetuku edhuku varanum ava?"
"Niruthunga! Varthaiya pathu pesunga. Idhuku mela edavadhu pesinengana avalavu than", He warned and pushed Jana back that he almost stumbled.
"Kathir!!", Meena shouted
"Avar enga appa. Pathu pesunga"
"Adhu nala than inum avara adichu veeta vitu thorathama irukean. Avara idhuku mela Mullai pathi pesa venamnu solli veinga". Kathir voice sounded dangerously cold that it gave chills.
Meena noticed Kathir's eyes were bloodshot, reflecting raw anger raging in him.
"Inga paaru, en mela marubadi kaiya vekara nee.Enna nadakum theriyuma?", janarthanan gave a sarcastic laughter only to be stopped by Meena
"Appa. Prachanai panama kelambunga. Naan eduva irundhalum pathukarean", Meena shouted her anger at its peak now.
"Enna ma nee? Ivangaluku parinju pesara?", Janarthanan asked in shock.
"Inga parunga. Nenga than prachanaiya aramichenga. Nenga patuku edavadhu panitu poita, Jeeva en mela than kova paduvan. Naan inga nimadhiya vazhanuma venama?", Meena asked
"Unkaga pesa ponna, enna ipadi solra illa?", disappointment evident in Jana's voice
"Apo ungala kenji ketukarean. Nenga kelambunga. Naan veetuku aparama varean"
After few minutes of coaxing by Kalai, Janarthanan and Kalai finally left.
Kathir was still fuming, when Mullai spoke out to Meena
"Inga prachanai panna varala. Elaraiyum pathutu polamnu than vandhean"
Meena nodded "Puriyudhu. Nenga enna pathadhum vazhthu than sonenga.
Enna irundhalum ungaluku enna pidikadhunu puriyudhu. Enakum adhey mathiri than. Unga thappu ilanalum, nenga Jeeva'va kalyanam panni irukenga. Andha kovam varutham elam enaku iruku."
Mullai nodded understandingly "Nenga Jeeva mama oda sandhosama irukaradhil enaku endha varuthamum kedaiyadhu. Sandhosam than. "
She turned towards Kathir "Kathir nee avar kita nadandhadhu thappu. Avar unoda Anni oda appa"
Kathir threw dangers at her but did not utter a word. Sensing the anger, Mullai turned towards Meena again
"Pappa poraka pogudhu. Indha timela thevai iladhadha pottu kolapikadhenga. Unga appa kita Kathir pesinadhuku, ,naan venna manipu ketukarean"
Meena felt for the girl standing in front of her. Though her sight has always given her unpleasant feeling until now, she could sympathize with her as another girl. Even after the things that happened, Mullai wished a peaceful and happy life for her.
Meena nodded understanding the genuineness in Mullais words.
"Illa parava illa. Nengalum sikiram inoru kalayanm pannikonga", Meena uttered leaving Kanna in shock.
She turned towards Kathir "Nenga enga appava asinga paduthi irukenga. Idha naan manikavo, marakavo matean."
"Illa.." Kathir started to be interrupted by her again
"Neenga enna nyaya padutinalum, thappu thappu than. Avar periyavar. Andha mariyadhai atleast thandu irukanum nenga", she stated before storming inside towards her room.
Mullai stood watching between retreating Meena's figure, Kathir and Kanna. She noticed, Kanna standing there helpless too.
"Kathir...", she trailed.
"Inga pesa venam. Va polam", Kathir held her hand and dragged her out of the house. He brought her to a park nearby.
They were both sitting not uttering a word. After several minutes, which felt like eternity, Mullai finally spoke up
"Kathir, en apadi panna?"
Kathir was still seething in anger and did not answer back.
"En mela kovama?", Mullai asked again.
"Naan irundhum Andha aala pesa vitu pathu irukean naan. En mela than kovam"
"Nee enga chumma irundha, thali vitayey apadi. Vizhundhu irupar", Mullai teased trying to calm him down.
When Kathir didn't budge at all, she turned serious again
"Unga anna pathi yosichiya? Ipadiyey pesaradhu?"
"adhu elam en kanuku theriyala...unna thapa pesinadhu matum than enaku therijudhu. Yepadi adikama vitenu enakey achiriyama iruku. "
Mullai knows how much Kathir loves his family and was surprised to see he stood for her not thinking about what might happen to his family.
"Unna pathi apadi pesa vitutean illa kadasila..", He bends down his head as he was not able to face her.
After few seconds, kathir starts speaking again,
"Idhu nala than, nee enna vitu velagi ponna illa? Naan prachanai varama pathupenu unaku nambikai tharala illa?"
"Thevai ilama yosikadha Kathir"
He stared at her with dry amusement before letting out a humorless chuckle
"Nee sonalum solalanum adhan unmai. Unna pathi oruthan pesa vida kudadunu nenachean. Kadasila veetuku vandhu asinga patuta. Adhvum enala"
He punched the grass beside him with all his might trying to release his frustrations through it.
"Kathir", she gasped in horror.
"Deivayasenju edhum pesadha", he warned his eyes reflecting the raw anger raging in him.
She took deep breath and tried blinking away the tears.
She tried taking his injured hand only to be jerked by him.
"Kathir please", she pleaded
Taking silence as an answer, she took his hand into her and caressed it to sooth the pain. She felt his intense stare on her.
"Enaku edhirgalam nenacha bayama iruku than. Aana adhu unala illa Kathiru"
After a brief moment of silence, Kathir bend down and touched his forehead with hers. He extended his left hand holding the nape of her neck while the other injured hand was still in Mullai's hold. Their tears kissed each other.
"Unna yarum kaya paduthama pathupenanu bayama iruku Mullai", His face held expression of helplessness and frustration.
His words cut through her heart.
"Un kuda irukaradhu nala than,naan ivalavu sandhosama irukean kathiru. ", she whispered a big fat tear rolling down her cheeks. He brought his hand up and wiped her tears.
"Apo enna nambariya?" , He breathed against her lips and all she did was smile back at him "Romba.."
They sat there for few minutes with just their breaths doing all the talking.
"Seri. Polama?" he said pulling away.
"Inga konja neram irukalama?", Mullai asked.
He nodded and lay on the grass looking at the overcast clouds not speaking any word further.
She lay next to him. She looked up and the sky was beautiful. It looked like the sky was painted orange and pink looking like a brush stroke.
Yet again, minutes pass in silence and Mullai starts talking away to no one in particular.
"Enakum Jeeva mama'kum kalyanam agama irundhu irundha, indha prachanai edhuvum vandhu irukadhu illa? "
Kathir turned towards her and looked at her sternly. He again laid back in the grass and replied looking at the sky.
"Unakum Jeeva annanukum kalyanam nadandhu iruka kudadhunu naan nenaikala "
Mullai looks at him confused, but he was still looking at the sky.
"Ella uravum needikaradhu kedaiyadhu.Adhey mathiri ella uravum seriyana uravum kedaiyadhu. Aana nadakaradhu elam oru karanama than nadakudhunu naan nambarean"
He turned around to face her. He looks at her eyes before continuing
"Indha kalyanam nadakalana, naan un kuda pesi irupenanu kuda enaku theriyala. Idhu elam nee en vazhkaiyil varathuku oru karanamnu nenaikarean. "
He placed his hand around her waist and pulled her closer.
"Jeeva Anna kuda kalyanam aanadhu nala than, nee enaku kedachu iruka. Adhuku naan oru nalum varathu patta matean. Neeum pada kudadhunu nenaikarean"
She stared at him in amazement. Numerous emotions were running through her heart. She can also see lot of emotions running through his eyes too...anger, sadness, and confusion but mostly love. She felt a pull towards him like a magnet. She had been rejected and abandoned once. The fear of abandonment has always made her fear to think about her future. However, seeing him open his heart and accept her past as boon turned something deep insider her. The truth in his words made her insecurities sound pointless now.
She did not want to miss a beautiful future with him scaring few hurdles on the way. She wanted to kiss him and shout to the world that she would face any struggle just to be with him. She takes a deep breath and instead takes his hand into hers. He holds her close to him while she laid on his arms. Without uttering any word, their actions spoke a thousand words. They lay there quietly looking at the sky, admiring the beautiful clouds and enjoying the heat radiating from the setting sun onto their skin and a warm feeling filling their hearts.