Enna maamaa
Vaa
Mullai followed him
He took her to the saree section
Unakku pudichathu vaangikko
Ethukku maamaa
Unakku vaangi kudukkanumnu thonichu
Appo neengale ethu venaa edunga maamaa
He stood put not saying anything
Entha mathiri vaangattumnu sollunga naan athulla choose pandren she said in a small voice
Kaila 5000/- irukku..athukkulla vara mathiri ethunaalum vaangikko..saree thaannu ille..vera ethaachum kooda ok thaan..konjam mela aana kooda parava ille..kadai kaarar therinjavar thaan..sollikkalaam
Mullai decided to take a semi crepe saree
She shortlisted 2 sarees a peacock blue saree that had peacock feather motifs in green all along the bottom side and the pallu was filled with peacock feather prints ..another was the same saree in ivory with peacock feathers in blue and green
She stood unable to decide between the 2 ..she placed them on herself and stood in front of the mirror
Kathir who was chatting with the owner cast a glance when she placed the white saree on herself and glanced away
But when she put the peacock blue colour one on herself he glanced, glanced away and glanced back his eyes a little wider
And Mullai knew which one she would buy
She waited for him to finish chatting
Naan ithe eduthukkaren she said
Hmm seri
But when he was handed the bill and he saw that saree was just 1500/- he looked at her
En ivvalavu kammiya he asked
Nalla irukkula...
Mootta thookki thaan..aanaa sontha kadaila..kaasukku entha panjamum kedaiyathu..he said
She looked at him
Aasaiya vaangi kitten..pana mathippu paarthu ellam yosikka kooda ille.. she said her face falling and turned to speak to the nearest shop assistant
Oru help..intha bill cancel pannunga ..5000/- velaila saree enga kedaikkum..
enna material paarkkareenga mam
Ethuva irunthaalum parava ille..velai 5000/- athu thaan mukkiyam she said with an edge to her voice
And she started randomly looking at the price tags on the sarees in the nearest counter
She took the first one she saw that was in the 4700+ range
A parrot green saree with a cotton candy pink border
She thrust it to the shop assistant
Ithe bill panni ivar kitta kuduthudunga
Once the shop keeper went
Correct ah 5000/- nu theda mudiyale..athaan oru 200 300 roobai..kammiya eduthen..Kadai kaarar unga nanbar ah irukkalaam..aanaa enakkaaga yaaru kittayum neenga kadan solli nikkarthu enakku sammatham ille
And saying that she actually marched out of the shop leaving him standing alone
He came out 15 mts later
Mullai tried to gauge his mood
But he said nothing and started the bike
She got on behind him and they reached home without a word
Everyone at home were eager to know how the day went..
Kathir was shocked to see her give an exuberant account of how it was
She did not lie he noticed..spoke about how her parents had fawned over him..cooked his favourite food..but she left out the part about how they had summarily dismissed her
He almost wondered if it was he who had misread the situation but he knew that was not the case
Things settled into a comfortable rhythm
The coming week 2 important things happened
One was the construction of the super market they were going to open in Kaaraikudi needed more supervision
Kathir volunteered to take on that responsibility
Mullai was devastated when she realised it was at least a six month work and he would shift base to Karaikudi for that time
That night in their room
6 maasam na inga varave maatteengala
Sundays varuven..theriyale..romba velai tired ah iruntha rest eduthuduven
Appo saappaadu
Anga hotel illiya..ille velai seyyara akka yaar kittayaachum sonna enakkum serthu samaichu konduttu varuvaanga
Oh..athu taste ellam set aaganum la
Pasikku thaan saappaadu
Thuni ellam..
athellam paarthukkalaam ..periya vishayam ille
Mullai stood looking at him
Naan enna pannattum she asked in a whisper
Inga iru ..ellarum irukkaanga..
Neenga
Yen naan daily kaarthaale pona night thaane varen
Night varuveenga ille
Oru 6 maasam thaane..athellam periya vishayam ille..thoongu he had said
Not knowing what else to say she slept not liking this one bit
But the next day another thing happened
Mullai's parents came visiting
L amma and Dhanam were in the hall
Vaa Muruga..Parvathy Vaa eppudi irukkeenga
Nalla irukkom attachi..Dhanam eppudi ma irukka
Chittappa chithi vaanga..ukkaarunga..thanni konduttu varen
They sat
Maappillainga ellam enga kadaikku poi irukkaangalo
Ille Muruga..Mo Jeeva mattum vellenna kelambittaanga ..Kathir innum pogala
Oh seri ka seri ka
Neither of them asked anything about Mullai
Dhanam brought the water glasses out and called out to Mullai
Mullai came out
Enna akka and stopped short on seeing her parents
Kathir came close behind her all ready to leave to the shop
Amma appa vanthu irukkaanga paaru Dhanam said
Mullai stood silent
Enna ma onnum solla maattengara L amma asked
Mullai turned to leave
Mullai L amma's voice was stern
Enna athai
Veettukku vanthavangala vaangannu kooppida maattiya
Athaan vanthuttaangale Mullai muttered
L amma looked confused
Mullai veettukku vanthavanga un appa ammavaa ve irunthaalum ippudi thaan pesuviya Dhanam chided her
Yen appa amma thaane naan paarthukkaren..enna vida ungalukku enna akkarai..she snapped
Dhanam stood shocked
Thimiru..udambu muzhukka thimiru avalukku P amma spoke
Amaam Thimiru pudichava thaan naan..aanaa Unga suya nalathukku munnadi en thimiru ellam onnum ille
Appudi enna maa suya nalamaa pannittom Parvathy challenged
Ethu enna suya nalama..ungalukku naan baaram aayitten na enna panni irukkanum..en kitta inime unne paarthukka mudiyathunnu solli irukkanum..Athe vittuttu ethukkaaga kalyana erpaadu panneenga..samuthaayam ungala pathi enna pesumnu thaane ..
Mullai Murugan gasped
Atheppudi en kitta kooda kekkaama en vaazhkai ya mudivu pannuveenga appudi thaane
Both the parents sat head hanging low
Enna ketteenga athai..vaanga nnu koopidanuma..ethukku..naan ponen avanga veettukku..avanga kooppittaangalaa..
Enna ma soldre
Kelunga avanga kitta
Ennachu parvathy
Ponna thalamuzhugina mathiri..kalyanam aana naalula irunthu inni varaikkum eppudi irukkennu oru phone kedaiyathu..naan panna oru phone kooda edukkale.. naan mattum en akkarai kaamikkanum she was shouting now
Mullai pothum Kathir intervened softly
But she clung to him by his shirt
Ungalukku ellam theriyum ille..neenga sollunga..Annikku virunthukku kooppittu enna eppudi nadathinaanga..naan kalyanathula pannathu thappa..jeeva maamaa manasula enna irukkunnu theriyaama mudivu eduthathu yaar thappu..en mansula enna irukkunne kekkaama ella mudivum eduthathu seriya..ungala manasula nenaichuttu eppudi unga annan kooda vaazhven..unga munnadiye..athunaala thane intha kalyanam kandraavi ethuvum venaamnu Jeeva Meena kku kalyanatha panni vechuttu en vazhiya paarthu poga irunthen..she sobbed
Kathir felt wretched
Seri puriyuthu..azhaathe ..vaa..thanni kudi..vaa
She resisted his pull
Ille naan innum mudikkale..appovum avanga ishtathukku ungala kalyanam pannikitten thaane..appuramum enna avvalavu kovam..ivanga kaiaalaagaathanatha maraikka enna venaa seivaanga..yaaru kooppitta ivangala..naan ille..athu naala naan entha ubasarippum panna maatten
She was literally shrieking
She suddenly turned to face her parents
Aanaa onnu purinjukkonga..en Theerana katta sonneenga athu naala mattum thaan neenga potteengale nenja pudichu kittu oru drama athu workout aachu..illenna en kitta onnum nadanthu irukkathu
Ellam un nallathukku thaan ma Parvathy said
En kitta yen pesareenga..pesa koodathu..athaan 2 maasamaa pesala ille..appudiye irunga
Mullai
Enna maamaa..
Attachi naanga kelambarom..
Thirumba varatheenga..appa amma nnu enna thedi..en kitta irunthu ethuvum ethir parkaatheenga
Mullai Kathir said in a raised voice as Parvathy and Murugan left
Neenga sollunga naan senjathu thappa..innikkum seri annikkum seri..she wailed
And fell on his chest with a thud
Ungalukku mattum thaan urimai irukku..mathavanga ellarum drama panni enna emaathittaanga she sobbed
Seri puriyuthu ..vaa en kooda
Kalyanam aagi 2 maasam aayiduchu..en kitta pesala..oru phone she started again
Athaan sollittiye..vidu innime pannuvaanga..
Naan edukka maatten..intha ulagathulaye ellarum irunthum oru anaathai na athu naan mattum thaan
Even in the middle of the outburst she could sense him stiffen..his hold around her tighten
Anni annanukku phone panni naan innikku kadaikku varalannu mattum sollidunga please
Ille maamaa..enakkaaga neenga leave ellam poda vendaam..naan ippo ok thaan
Ille athu
Ore oru help..yaarum enna disturb panna venaam..unga anni kitta athu mattum sollittu ponga ..yen appa amma kooda eppudi irukkanumnu enakku theriyum..athulla avanga thalaiyida thevai ille..she said
Dhanam looked on at this poor wretched girl..tears glinting in her eyes
But saying this she snuggled closer to him indicating he was all she needed
Seri yaarum unne thontharavu seyya maattaanga..nee vaa
He took her to the room and sat her on the bed
Konjam rest edu
Ennaiya paartha paavamaa irukku la
Amaam he stated matter of factly
Yaaroda anuthaabamum thevai ille she sulked
Ennikka irunthalum enakku un mela akkarai undu Mullai..eppovume nee santhoshama irukkanumnu thaan yosippen..un mela kovam neraiya irukku..intha kalyanatha kooda ethukka mudiyale.. muyarchi pannittu irukken..aanaa nee azhutha paarkkara sakthi ippovum enakku ile..athu anuthaabam ille..kaadhalaanu ketta theriyale ..aanaa en maamaa ponnu mela enakku irukkara maaraatha anbu..en kadaisi moochu varaikkum athu maaraathu..
Mullai seemed to take solace from his words..the Kaadhal ille pricked like a thorn but that was her doing..she would have to live with that..his affection was more than enough for her..will have to be enough
She proceeded to lie down
But Kathir ventured
Ethaachum saappiden
She sat up again
Venaam maamaa
Inga konduttu varattuma
Venaam maamaa...naan seri aayitten..nerathukku saappiduven..neenga ethuvum yosikkaaamaa velaikku ponga
Kathir didn't press after that..he left for work
Mullai went to her athai
Athai
Lamma looked at her
Vaa maa
She sat next to her athai and placed her head on her lap
Sorry she whispered
Murugan Parvathy paavam Mullai..muzhu vevaram theriyaama avanga kovamaa irukkarthu nyaayam thaane
Athukku enna panna mudiyum..en vithi..vidunga athai
Nee chinna ponnu thaane..athaan konjam vittu kuduthu po ma
Neraiya pannen athai..aanaa sontha veettulaye mul mela nikkara mathiri senjuttaanga
Naan pesaren Murugan kitta
Athai
Kavala padaatha solla vendiyathu mattum thaan solluven..intha murai emaatha maatten
Athu naan oru kovathula sollitten
Theriyum aanaa unmai thaane
Ungalukku naan nandri kadan pattu irukken she said fingering the nuptial chain adorning her neck..proclaiming her and her Theeran as a couple
Ellam nalla padi nadakkum
Mullai gave a mirthless smile
Kathir un kitta ethum
Nalla padiya nadakkaraaru..naan panna velainaala..enna muzhusa ethukkavum mudiyaama..veruthothukkavum mudiyaama..allaadaraaru
Seri aayidum
Intha jenmathula en Theeranukku manaivi..athu thaan aasai patten..athu nadanthuduchu..enakku athu pothum she said
Murugan kalyanathula nenju pudichu sarinjathu drama ille Lakshmi amma whispered
Athai
Nejamaa
Enna soldreenga
Parvathu ku mattum thaan munname sonnen..Muruganukku ethuvum theriyathu
Mullai was devastated naan appavum drama nnu her lips trembled
Dhanam walked in
Mullai inga irukkiya..
Ahn amaam akka
Naan Tiffin saappida poren..nee variya
Hmm varen..
Meena vum Jeevavum eppo varaanga ka
Monday thaan varaanga
The 2 ladies ate
A week went by without any incident
And then the day arrived for Kathir to leave to Kaaraikudi
Mullai stood fidgeting feeling very unsettled
Kathir sensed her distress..if he were honest her state made him happy..the thought that life without him would be difficult for her was heartening to say the least
Naan unne kandukkaama ille dee..konjam time kudu..ennaala sattunnu unna nerunga mudiyale he fretted to himself
To her he simply said
Vaara kadaisila inga vara try pandren..sani nyaayiru rendu naal illaattiyum oru naalaachum..
Hmm seri
Nee nimmathiya iru..romba yosikkatha..athai maamaa kitta pesu
Mudiyathu
Mullai
Pls maamaa..enna force pannaatheenga
Un Ishtam..naan kelambaren
Kovamaa
Enakku enna urimai irukku un mela kova pada..athellam ille
Try pandren..udane mudiyathu..aanaa manasula vechukkaren..
That earned her a small smile
He went out to the hall
Dhanam had a long list of instructions..nerathukku sappidu..thalaikku ennai vei..daily phone pannu..veyyil pada nikkaatha..the list went on
He listened patiently and left after bidding bye to his mom
Enga anni paartheengala evvalavu akkarai Kanna chirped in
Pinna 6 maasam velia thanga poraan..kavalai irukkum la
Mullai anni ungalaala mudiyuma enga Dhanam anni mathiri akkarai kaamikka Kanna asked
Mullai simply smiled then
But no one was prepared for what she did the next day