They were back in Kaaraikudi feeling all refreshed and rejuvenated
Kathir and Mullai slipped into a comfortable rhythm
The six month stay in Kaaraikudi till the shop opened was to come to an end soon
They were in April then..the work would be done by July or August max
Another one month passed with no major incidents
Completely happy and blissful days for Kathir and Mullai
The way she prioritised his health, his comfort and his general well being made him extremely happy
For his part he ensured she didn't get bored at home all the time
He took her to the temple every morning
Weekends they went out ..he took her to the major towns nearby and they visited the tourist spots in and around that city
One weekend they went to Madurai..to Mullai's surprise they stayed overnight in a hotel..went around some more the next day before returning home..Mullai was overjoyed
That night at the hotel room Mullai lay next to him smiling
Naan onnu solluven..kochukka koodathu
Ennathu Ma he asked
Munna kooda namma kalyanam pannikitta enneramum Moorthy maamaa Dhanam anni soldratha mattum senju kittu irukkanum athu thaan namma vaazhkai yosichen..
Seri
Ippudi ellam jolly ah ishtathukku namma life namma aasai padi naan ethir paarkkale
Yen en kitta sollale
Ille ithu oru vishayama thonale..but ippo ippudi irukkum pothu thonuthu
Enna thonuthu
Appudi irukkarthu solla theriyale
Meena anni ethaachum sonnaahalo
Hmm amaam..packet poda vendiya nelamai pola..godown la Muthu anne kudumbama etho kalyanathukkaaga leave pottuttaaru pola..Moorthy maamaa nee potta naan avungalukku kudukkara athe kaasu unakku kudukkaren sollittu ..
100/- kuduthuttaaru pola
Theriyum Jeeva anne sollichu..
Thappu ille
Ille kaasaa kudukkarthukku nalla porula vaangi kudukkalaamnu pola..anni oru nalla saree vaangi kuduthaanga pola
Appuram yen kaasu kudukkaren sollanum..yosikkaama yen pesanum
Ithu namakku thevai illaathathu
Oh seri..ippo pesartha nirutharen..aanaa onnu namma anga thirumba pona appuram ithe mathiri enakku nadanthuchunna naan summa irukka maatten
Enna pannuva
Sandai poduven
Athu enakku pudikkathu sonna
He could see the confusion in her eyes
And felt bad for her
Ey Kannukutty ivvalavu kalakkam thevai ille..seri sollu..enna thappu
Athaan panam kudukkaren sonna panam kudukkanum..athu enna velaiya vaangittu pecha maatharthu
Anni etho panamaa venaam..verayam nu yosichaanga pola ..athaan saree vaangi kuduthuttaanga ille
Meena va koottittu poi vaanginaangalaa
Puriyale
Meena uduthapora saree athe Meena va choose panna vittaangala..athuvum 4000/- saree..summa pathoda pathinonna veettula kattarthu kooda ille
Nallathu paarthu vaangi iruppaanga Mullai
Avangalukku saree yaaru vaangaraanga
Avanga thaan
Thanakku pudicha mathiri hmmm..nalla nyaayam Theeraa
Nalla velaila thaan vaangi iruppaanga
Velai mattum Thaan mukkiyamaa..design, colour, material ellame thaane ..
Enakku naane vaanga aasai pattathe ille..so enakku puriyale nenaikkaren..Aanaa Jeeva annen kooda annan ippudi pannuvaaru ethir paarkkale sollichu
Paavam avanga rendu perum...
They lay in thought
A few days later
Back in Kaaraikudi
Kathir was at the site
Mullai called him around 12 pm
Yenga lunch ku eppo varuveenga she asked
Ithu enna kelvi eppovum pola 1:30 manikku vanthuduven he said
She called him again at 1 pm
Yenga correct ah vanthuduveengalaa
Vanthuduven he said staring at the phone
He could sense an excitement in her and wondered what it was
But when he was about to leave for lunch a lady in the site fainted
Kathir rushed over to revive her
They had to take her to the hospital
In all this Mullai called him several times
In frustration he picked up the phone and snapped
Ey enna unakku prachanai he yelled
Ille nga neramaachennu thaan
Neramaanaa naan enna kozhanthaiyaa..vei phone ah he snapped
And he cut the call
It was almost an hour later that he left the hospital after getting the doctor's confirmation that there was nothing serious
He went home preparing himself to pacify Mullai
Kovamaa iruppaalaa varuthama iruppaalaa ..theriyale ye he lamented
But when he reached home and walked in
She looked pale but agitated
Vaanga..late aayiducha..kai kaal kazhuvittu vareengala..lunch soodu pandren she said all this in a rush..and finished with a very soft Ashok vanthurukkaan
Kathir stared at her
But just a second
He let a smile play on his lips and turning he walked over to where Ashok was getting up..
Ashok eppudi irukeenga
Nalla irukken bro neenga
Hmm naanum nalla irukken
Ippo Thaan vantheengalaa..
Ahn amaan ga oru 5 nimisham irukkum Mullai urgently interjected
While Ashok said oru 10 mts aagi irukkum
Oh appo vaanga rendu perum sernthu saappidalaam..kathir smiled at Ashok
Ille bro naan yerkanave lunch mudichutten
Ada konjama saappidunga ..oru nimisham kai kaal kazhuvittu varen
Naanum itho varen Ashok Mullai said and tailed Kathir
Chaaru pregnant aagi irukka pola athe solla thaan vanthaan
Oh nalla vishayam..
5 nimisham athu oru thoraayamaa thaan sonnen
Correct ah ethana nimisham therinju enna aava poguthu
Ille romba neramaa ellam..athu she faltered unable to take the intensity in his eyes
Enna nambara ille she asked so openly wearing her heart on her sleeve
Un kitta munna sonnathu thaan..
Ennathu
Santhegam vara mathiri nadantha naan kattina thaaliya naane pudungittu unne anuppichuduven
She gulped
Innum athu nadakkale ille..appo enna artham neeye yosichukko he said and walked in not waiting for an answer
All through lunch he played the perfect host and made small talk with Ashok
He was normal with Mullai as well
Once lunch was over Kathir got ready to leave
Naanum innum 5 nimishathula kelambiduven Ashok said
Neenga porumaiya pesittu kelambunga..enakku velai konjam irukku athaan..sorry he said and smiled at Mullai
Athu naan onnu unga kitta kekkanum
Night vanthu pesalaam pls.. nejamaa velai irukku he said and nodding at Ashok with a smile he left
Suddenly seeing the woman faint had disoriented him
Apparently she was pregnant
But till that prognosis was made he had been very preoccupied and jittery
He had been nasty with her on the phone
He had all intentions of making up to her
But the way she acted as though he was the suspicious kind when she was the cause for this confusion in the first place was the last straw
The rest of the day went by in a blur
But he went back home early
She was sitting in the hall
She got up on seeing him
And smiled
The doubt in that smile tugged at his heart
He walked over to her and pulled her to him
Ashok appo thaan vanthaan..avan vara poraan enakku theriyaathu..munnaye therinju iruntha thaniya irukkum pothu avoid panni iruppen..time ellam seriya paarkkale..5 nimishama pathu nimishamannu seriya solla mudiyale..aanaa appo thaan
And he didn't let her finish
He crushed her into a hug and kissed her full on the lips
Ithu thevaiya unakku he said ..drama podarthunnu mudivu pannitta athe yen dee sontha kaaranoda potta..yaaraachum college friend oda poda vendiyathu thaane..kaalathukkum Ashokum seri naanum seri koodave vara nerungina sonthanga..engala paarkkaamale irunthuda mudiyuma vaazhkai muzhukka.. thevai illaatha velai pannittu intha praanaavasthai thevaiyaa
She hugged him then and sobbed uncontrollably
He allowed her to let it all out
He only intervened when her wretched sobs turned into hiccups
Seri pothum..vikkal varuthu paaru..vaa thanni kudi he pacified her
Asingama irukku enakku she sobbed
Athukku naan enna pannattum sollu..ennaala mudiyale..innum solla ponaa enakkum asingamaa thaan irukku he said
Sorry she mumbled
Amaam..nee nadathina drama la un maamaa paiyan therinju nadichaaraa ille theriyaamalaa
She stiffened and went silent
Athu pathi pesa venaamaa he asked
There was only a nod in the negative
Seri pesala..enakku oru tea kedaikkuma thalai valikkuthu
Hmm neenga poi kai kaal kazhuvittu vaanga
Nee mothalla kanna thodai..
And she walked to the kitchen head low wiping away at her cheeks
Dinner was also a rather silent affair
They both lay down to sleep as well
Kathir was about to go to sleep when he remembered something
Mullai
Hmm
Mathiyam yen ennikkum illaama innikku athanai phone panna
Athu vera vishayam vidunga maamaa..athu inime onnum panna mudiyathu
Enna vishayam he asked sitting up
Maamaa ethukku enthirikkareenga padunga
Ille nee sollu
Athu onnum ille maamaa en kooda college la padicha ponnu ippo kalyanam panni London la settle aayitta
Ava oorukku vanthu irunthaalaa..poi meet pannanumnu yosichiya
Ille athu anga ava velai pandra
Seri
Avanga company la aal edukkaraanga pola..enna apply panna sonna..athaan unga kitta kekkalaamnu
Kathir felt like he had been hit on his head..
London la velaiyaa..kedaicha anga poganum..appo naan..naama..he thought to himself
He kept mum for a long time and finally heaving a long sigh said
Yen kekkanum unakku viruppamna apply panna vendiyathu thaane
Oru vaarthai kettuttu pannalaam yosichen..neenga vanthathe late..Ashok vera irunthaan..avasarama kelambitteenga vera ..
Apply panni vekkarthukku enna
Parava ille vidunga
Yen ippo apply pannu..
innikku evening 5 manikkulla panni irukkanum..time bar aayiduchu she said
Oh romba sorry..ennaala chance miss aayiduchu
Neenga yen romba tension ah iruntheenga
site la Shantha akka kooda Radha nu oru ponnu iruppaanga
Amaam avangala theriyum
Innikku thideernu mayakkam pottu vizhunthuttaanga athaan lunch kum late ..udane vera kelamba vendiyatha pochu
Oh ennaachu
Maasaamaa irukkaanga..chinna ponnu thaane theriyale pola..velaiyaatta irunthu irukkaanga pola
Oh seri
And they went silent for sometime
Mullai lay wondering why he was a little stand offish
Kathir lay thinking nerungi varum bothellam yen dee ippudi pirivukku undaana pechaa aarambikkara..kashtama irukku..nee illaama naan inga enna pannuvennu yosikka maattiya..saathaaranamaa sollare London velai nu he was very upset
But a part of him wanted to still make it happen for her
If this is what she wants she should be able to do it he felt
In about another 15 mts Kathir realised something else
Mullai he called again
She was asleep
Mullai he said urgently
Ahn enna maamaa enna she woke up
Un friend ku oru message panni innum time irukka kelu he said
Ille maamaa innikku anju mani sonna
5 mani namma time ah avanga ooru time ah
Maamaa her eyes shone
She immediately texted her friend happy to grasp at this straw that was being held out to her
Kathir observed her excitement with a sinking heart
Avanga time maamaa she said eyes glinting..innum 2 mani neram irukku she said
Appo apply panna enna pannanum
Laptop iruntha nalla irukkum
Ippo center kooda ethuvum open ah irukkaathu
Mullai sat thinking and from her expression he could sense she had an idea but her face clouded over
He wondered what it could be and realised
Mullai nee yosi..naan ethaachum xerox kadai thoranthu irukka paarkkaren
Venaam vidunga maamaa she said losing hope
Iru oru 10 nimisham vanthudaren and he left
He called Ashok from outside the house
Luckily Ashok had called him earlier that afternoon
Kathir naan Ashok
Ahn solunga
Athu ungala Mullaiya meet panna excitement la enna vishayam solla vantheno athaye sollaama vittutten
Ada ithulla enna irukku ..unga thangachi vishayam Mullai sonna..romba santhosham
Ille nerla paarthathukku naanum sollanum la he said
Onnum prachanai ille ..eppo thethi kuduthu irukkaanga
October la ..September la thaan function ..appo thaan varaa oorukku
Oh seri seri..neenga
Naan innum oru maasam iruppen..
Appo sunday mathiyam lunch ku vaanga
Hmmm..orey oru request Saturday night varattuma
Thaaraalamaa..sunday velai irukko
Amaam romba periya velai..in fact rendu velai Ashok laughed
Enna sirikkareenga
Amma pandra non veg lunch oru vettu vettittu thoongarthu..ithu oorukku vanthu mothal vaaram vera ..kadamai thavarina thaaikulam kochuppaanga athaan
Kathir laughed
Nalla puriyuthu ..appo Sanikkezhamai night namma veettukku vanthudunga..
Rightu
And the call had ended
Now Kathir stood holding his phone to his ear
Ashok's number rang
Hello
Hello Ashok naan Kathir
Haan sollunga Kathir
Oru laptop onnu oru ara mani neram avasarama thevai paduthu athaan unga kitta irukkumaa nnu
Achacho naan Trichy vanthuttene
Oh appudiya..seri seri naan vera enna panna mudiyum paarkkaren bye Ashok
Sorry Kathir
Ada mathiyam veettula unga kitta laptop bag paarthen athaan ketten vera onnum ille..naan vekkaren and Kathir cut the call
Suddenly realising something he went back in
Mullai
Ahn Theeraa
Studio la laptop irukkum..studio spare key en kitta thaan irukku..Variya
Hmm..unakku parava illiya Theeraa
Ada vaa
Hmm seri and they left
They were in Kunnakudi in 30 mts
Kathir unlocked the studio and switched on the light
He retrieved the laptop from the table draw and gave it to Mullai
Intha nee panna vendiyathu pannu
Mullai was gaping at the neat lovely studio in front of her
Mullai athu appuram mothalla namma vantha velai paaru he coaxed
Mullai got to it and was done in about 40 mts
She had an updated resume ready in her mail..she made the necessary changes to her personal section
Once that was done
She filled in the remote talent application form like her friend directed her, attached her resume and was done
Mudichutten Theeraa she said
Hmm sooper..
Thanks she smiled
Loosu..vaa kelambalaam he said
Theeraa
Hmm enakku oru private dance class kedaiyaathaa she asked making eyes at him