Mullai had always loved melodious music all her life, any song that had a fast beat in it would not make it to her heart- that was an unsaid rule between her ear and mind. But that day, the harmonized playing of the Nadaswaram and Thavil had taken its way into her soul and heart in no time and if anyone ever asks her which was her favourite song from then on, she would not give it a second thought before she says it was the piece of divine music she heard before she got married. Everything was so perfect in her eyes that moment, in spite of the untimely wedding, her in-laws had made it to be so. Though things she didn't dare dreaming of were turning true that instant, her eyes just wandered among a selective family and friends who had come there accepting their late invitation. She reciprocated Priya's smile while her vision fell on her and she looked down tears brimming in without restraint.
She could feel Kathir's unwavering gaze on her and she knew he wanted to look in her eyes while he tied the knot. The absence of her parents didn't go unnoticed by her and she didn't want to make any of them guilty for it- it was her mistake and she knew she was reaping the harvest of her deeds. It was a minute to go for her to belong to him and him to her but something in her was crying out loud and she couldn't feel entirely happy. While she was consumed in the swirl of her own spiral, Kathir touched her fingers and she looked up with her eyes fogged with tears. She saw him giving her a soulful smile, she knew she couldn't muster up even half of its genuineness while she saw him take the thaali in his hands from the priest and she heard him say, "anga paaru Mulla...", her eyes moved in the path he directed and it met her parents' half-angry yet gleaming eyes as he tied the first knot saying, "un kannu la irundhu vara kadaisi kanneer thuli idhuva thaan irukum... Happy married life my dear wife...".
Her lips curved into the most beautiful smile that had never ever made its appearance on her before and she saw her parents mirroring it, forgetting every little hard feeling they had on her. And before she could think what was actually happening she turned to look into Kathir's orbs, who was literally on cloud nine and his eyes were shining and dazzling like never before, her mouth uttered, "I love you Kathir..." sweeping away his smile in a second. His eyes rounded up like saucers in pleasant surprise and once reality did finally sink in him, he saw her face drooping down looking in the direction her parents had stood some seconds back. He knew they could have their moment any other time and her emotional welfare did take a front seat every time in his heart. As he was pulling up words to console her, he saw her smile again and she looked at his side but her eyes rested on his mother who stood behind him, saying in a whisper with the most contented happy smile, "Thanks athai...", for Lakshmi to bend down to leave a peck on Mullai's forehead. That moment he felt like even if he claimed that he was the happiest man in the world that would only be an understatement.
~~~~~
His eyes were glued on his phone's screen which held the screenshot of Kayal laughing merrily while on video call with him an hour back. Mullai had stuck to her words of looking into Kayal again only as her mother while Kathir couldn't resist that angelic face of the little one they had witnessed a day back, and requested Gayathri for a video call with Kayal for a few minutes. As his lips held a hearty smile, the door moved ajar bringing in view- Mullai all dressed up with a red bordered violet silk saree, her hair neatly plaited adorned with jasmine flowers that clogged his senses already. She locked the door and walked with her head bowed down with a glass of milk in hand. The phone slipped away from his grip and he, in his cargos and a sleeveless tee, stared at her like she had grown horns, every happiness his heart held since the day begun was shattered into pieces that second and his hands shivered in frustration as he heard her say, "indhaanga paal kudinga...".
Kathir sat straight with his legs dangling out the bed and didn't look into her as he uttered through gritted teeth, "enna Mulla ithellam... amma kitta avalo sonnen konja neram munna thaan athu edhuvum avungaluku puriyala la... modhalla poyi dress change pannitu thoongu... tomorrow is a big day... naan poyi amma ta konjam pesitu vandharen...", he stood up only to be held on firmly by Mullai and when their eyes met, she burned him with the fire it oozed out, pushing with a force to make him stumble and settle on the bed again. She placed the milk on the table and sat beside him, pulling him to sit facing her as she questioned him with glaring eyes, "yen ithellam venaam nu amma kitta sonneenga Kathir... did you even think of asking me what I had in mind? Enaku sangadama irukum nu vera sollirukeenga... naan sonnena appadi nu...", his mouth dropped down in astonishment as his mind couldn't process what her words meant.
Mullai took the milk from the table, gulping it without sparing even a drop for him and continued with a tone of disbelief, "and yaara kettu sonneenga avunga kitta that Kayal will be our only child nu... sathiyama solren naanum namma vishayathula avlo thooram innum yosikala thaan aana how could you say such a big thing... athuvum enkitta oru vaarthai kooda kekama...", he swallowed his own saliva with eyes protruding out, not knowing how to put down a valuable point from his side which he actually didn't have, "illa Mulla... naan enna solla vandhen na... Kayal is just a year old... ava perusu aagara varaikum matha vishayatha pathi yosika mudiyathula namma naala... and avunga manasulayum thevai illatha expectations ah valara vida koodathula...", her expressions were growing more fierce for every word he uttered, "edhu thevai illatha expectations Kathir... us having a baby... do you really think so... and naan kettathuku padhil varalaiye innum... yaara kettu indha decisions edutheenga neenga... this matter has both of us involved nu nenaikuren...".
Kathir's eyes fluttered in incredulity and seeing her gazing at him with utter fury, he shook his head with a sheepish smile saying, "sorry Mulla... I thought... indha samardhaayam laam unna upset pannum nu... apram Kayal kaaga thaan namma kalyanam...", his words died in her mouth as she pulled the thin sleeves of his tee kissing him on his lips with all her heart. He stilled for a few seconds unable to process what was actually happening to him, as his body felt as if it had cut ties with the land beneath, floating unbound in between heaven and earth. When he finally pulled her up reciprocating her kiss with extreme fervour and passion, her face broke into a beautiful smile as his lips fondled over hers. It took them a few minutes to even move a bit away for air and in the daze of their first kiss, he heard her mellow voice say, "ennamo sollitu irundheenga... Kayal kaaga namma kalyanam... ennadhu...", she cocked her eyebrows with a flirtish smile and his face calmed down with serenity taking its place forever on it.
Kathir tried speaking but all that came out of his mouth was just air, seeing her giggling at his state, he let out a huff saying, "Mulla... sorry... naan appadi panniruka koodathu... naalaiku amma kittayum sorry kekuren podhuma... nee ippadi ellaam panna apram ennala control panna mudiyaathu... please...", Mullai hit him on his head with her knuckles and palmed his mouth stifling his shout saying, "Kathir... you cheated me...", the pain his head had a minute back suddenly vanished in thin air as he gazed into her accusing eyes, "kaalaila enna sonneenga... enna eppada kalyanam pannikalaam nu irukura paiyanoda enaku kalyanam na... ippa enaku appadi thonala Kathir... mathatha ellathayum vitrunga... evalo aasaiya ready aagi vandhen... oru chinna compliment kudutheengala... illa... naan ungala oru remo range ku nenacha neenga ambi ya vida mosama irukeenga Kathir...".
Her words made him chortle out loud but seeing her eyes turn more scary, he held both his ears, apologizing with twinkling honest eyes, "unmaiya sorry Mulla... nee palaya Mullai ngra nenapulaiye iruken naan... nee vera maari aayita... enaku seriya solla theriyala... nee eppavum azhagu thaan... velila sollala naalum eppavum unna naan rasichuruken... un dress un hairstyle ellame... aana inniku ithana naal paakatha oru azhagu unkitta iruku... pattu saree... poo... indha feel athellam okay... aanalum un mogathula vera ennavo...", Mullai cut in between and his words choked listening to hers, "naan romba sandhashama iruken Kathir... romba naal kapram... ore korai ippa Kayal namma kooda illa nu thaane thavira... I am so happy... neenga en life partner ah kedachuthula... indha veetuku marumagala vandhathula... athai mama Kanna... I don't know whether I deserve...", he was quick to catch up with her this time though, "don't say that again... you deserve all the happiness in the world Mulla...".
A soulful smile bloomed on their faces as they looked into each other's eyes, "Kathir... athai romba nallavanga... avungha ithana varushama neeyum en pulla maari thaan nu sollumbothu kooda naan serious ah eduthathu illa... aana indha rendu naal... she has been more than a mother to me Kathir... athuvum ippa konja neram munna avungha pesumbothu I loved her more than I love you...", Kathir's eyes widened as he suddenly remembered her acceptance of her love towards him while he tied the knot. Keeping in mind to ask her that eventually, he probed her to say what she had in mind instead, "andha last line ah avoid pannirukalaam... anyways... enna sonnanga appadi en pondati en mela vechurukura kaadhala overtake panra alavu...", she giggled with the most contented eyes saying, "namma adoption panrathukaana kaaranam... was it because we had a problem nu ketaanga... like namma naala kozhandhai pethuka mudiyaathu athunaala we are doing this ah nu... neenga vera Kayal thavira engaluku vera kolandhai venaam nu sollavum appadi thoniruku pola avungaluku...".
The playfulness in him flew away in a second as he said, "idhu kettu unaku kovam thaana vandhurukanum... enake varuthu... nee enna avungala paaratitu iruka... I don't understand...", Mullai shook her head replying, "puriyaathu Kathir... yenna neenga oru ponnu illa... athai enaku prechanaiya nu kekala... nammaluku prechanaiya nu ketaanga... and innum avunga kettatha appadiye sollanum na... avunga Kathir ko unako edhavathu prechanaiya nu ketaanga... idhu evalo periya vishayam nu ungaluku puriyutha nu enaku theriyala... aana enaku romba periya vishayam... oru ponna oru marumagala andha nodi romba sandhosha patten... ippadi oru maamiyar ella ponnungalukum kedaikanum nu kadavul ta vendikitten...", Kathir smiled soulfully looking into her joyful orbs that glittered with a glaze of tear on it and yet her following words made him choke controlling a fit of cough, "adhu thaan avungala sandhosha paduthura maari... innum oru rendu moonu varushathula twins illa triplets ah pethu tharen nu sollitu vandhen...".
He jumped for the water jug on the table nearby and drank water like his life depended on it and Mullai looked at him like "ivaru yen ippo ivalo scene poduraaru... oruvela...", her eyes scrutinized him and he tried masking up his shock with a sheepish smile saying, "athu vandhu... athu... haan... avungala sandhosha paduthanum nu appadi sonnathuku romba thanks Mulla...". She got up with anger written in bold letters on every part of her face, "Kathir you are testing my patience...", she moved to the dressing table and started to take off her jewels, freed her hair from the plaits that held it tangled with her lips murmuring with scary glances at him through the mirror once in a while. He gaped at her cuteness with a kittenish smile on his face and he didn't know why on earth he felt this moment between them to be even more romantic than when he had her in hand, kissing her with all his love. His reflection on the mirror and that smile on his face did talk volumes of how much he wanted her but she didn't know what got into him tonight and with eyes widened in realisation, she turned towards him asking, "neenga enna pali vaangureengala Kathir... for what I did to you these two years...".
He blinked at her, not getting the point she was hinting at and then laughed out loud settling on the bed saying, "vaa Mulla vandhu padu... thoongalaam...", she gritted her teeth, gulping in the urge to hit him so badly. Her slightly curled hair that had taken birth in being held captive within the plaits all this while and her saree pleats let down to leave only one pinned to the shoulders, she looked no less than an angel in disguise. Glaring at him for goggling at her for so long, she laid beside him facing the ceiling just like he did as she came closer, leaving as much distance between them as possible. He didn't turn to her side but without wasting even a second, he had filled the distance letting only a few inches to be spared and his right hand weaved into her left which made her heart thud fast forgetting every little qualms it held some seconds back. Even his small advance towards her did make her extremely nervous and she couldn't do much to hide the effect he had on her too, "madam konja neram munna andha pechu pesuneenga... ippa kaiya pudichathuke... ippadi verkuthu unaku athuvum AC ivalo chill ah irukumbothe...".
Her hold on his hand tightened and she turned snuggling into his shoulder with eyes shut tight, whispering her heart, "Kathir... ithellam kanavu maari iruku... neenga en kooda velaiyadurathu tease panrathu... like a typical husband... naan ungala... ungala kiss pannathu... I don't know... or atleast I forgot this Mullai actually exists within me...", he tilted his head slightly to look into her closed eyes and her murmuring lips looked like she was talking in her sleep, a smile formed in his lips as he let his left hand caress her cheeks making her lose track of words, "Mulla... thaali kattumbothu I love you sonnala... athu unna ithana varushama virumbuna Kathir ka illa un husband ka...", she giggled replying in a teasing tone, "rendume illa... en amma appa ooda marumagan Kathir ku adha sonnen... by the way lover Kathir and husband Kathir has a lot to prove...". Kathir hit his head over hers saying, "athu seri... apram onnu note panniya... namma rendu perum 90s kids thaana... and naanum oru kaalathula believe pannen oru ponnum paiyanum kiss panna kolandha porandhurum nu... ithula comedy ennana namma case la athu unmaiyaaga poguthu... naalaiku we will be parents...".
Mullai lifted her head to have a peek into his gleaming happy eyes and uttered her heart solemnly, "Kathir... unmaiya solren Kayal is so lucky to have you as her father... and I am so lucky to have you both... indha rendu varushama edhirkaalam pathina oru chinna yennam kooda vandhathilla... aana inniku unga mogatha ippadi paakumbothu avalo aasai avalo kanavu varuthu... and bayamavum iruku konjam ungaluku oru nalla wife ah irukanum... Kayal ku nalla ammava... indha veetuku nalla marumagala... enga amma appa ku nalla pullaiya idhu ellame venum enaku... ennala mudiyuma Kathir...", Kathir pulled her into his embrace, cocooning her within his arms he kissed her forehead saying, "enaku puriyala unaku ethuku bayam varuthunu... nee sonna ellathulaiyum you are already the best... aana nee ellaraiyum pathi yosikura alavu inni unna pathiyum yosi... un vaazhkaiya rasichu vaazhu... unna rasichu vaazhu... mathathu ellam thaana nadakum... ippa en wife ah konjam kanna moodi nimmadhiya thoonga vidu... Good night Mulla... inni un vaazhkaila vara ovvoru pagalum rathiriyum... you will cherish every little thing so much and I promise you that...".
To be continued...