AN: Thank you very much for your support, votes and comments. This is the last chapter but became long. So I have split it into two parts. I will post the second part in a day. There may be an epilogue in the weekend if I get time to finish.
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Chapter 7 – Are we there yet?
Vetri is fully determined to get back together with Abi. Now that he has lived with Abi and Sudar for a few weeks, he wants it for a lifetime.
Vetri and Abi again meet at the sit-out on the oonjal after Sudar and Viji go to sleep.
V: Inga ukkantha evlo nalla irukkudi! Athuvum intha oonjal! Ennennamo thonuthudi!
A: Thonum thonum! Vera velai Unakku?
V: En Unakku thonaliya? Chumma kathai vidathe! Nee pazhasai ellam ninaiche paakka maattiya?
A: Ninaichu paathu enna panrathu da? Azhugaiyum depressionum than micham. Enakku nallatha ethai pathiyum yosikka bayamma irukkum. Innum appdi than irukku. Ethachum nallatha nadantha aduthu enna kashtam varumonnu than bayamma irukku! Unkooda ippo pesarathu nijamnu namba mudiyalai! Kathala ezhuntha ethuvum irukkathungra bayam than irukku! Sudar siracha kooda anubavikka mudiyalai! Eppo azhapporomne thonum.
Vetri moves close to her. He puts his arm around her and holds her chin up to look into her eyes.
V: Abi! Mannichudu di! Naan kolaikaran than! Evvalo santhoshama, thimiroda vayadichikittu iruntha! Eppadi ellathukkum oru lecture koduppa! Antha Abiya than kolai pannittendi! Sorry di! Romba sorry!
A: Illai Vetri! Nee mattum thappu pannalai! Naanum than pannirukken. Naanum unkitta pesirukkanum. Un gunam pidichuthan un kooda vanthen. Ana athai fulla maathikka sollirukka koodathu! Naan thappe seyya mattennu thimirla irunthenla! Athuvum thappu than! Unkitta Sudar pathi sollathathu ellathavida romba periya thappu! Ennoda bayathukku mukkiyama athu than kaaranam. Naan unta muthalla sorry ketten. Appo kooda neeyum sorry solluvannu oru ethirpaarppu irunthathu! Ippo muzhu manasoda entha ethirpaarpum illama sorry kekkaren da! Naan pannathu romba periya thappu! Athai vida periya thappu Sudarukku senjathu! Unga rendu perttayum sonnathe enakku periya baram erangina mathiri irukku!
V: Enakkum than! Untta nethikku nadanthathai sonnathukku appuram manasu lesachu! Nethu sonna mathiri intha edathula enakku oru amaithi kidaikkuthu! Intha veedu enakku romba pidichirukkudi! Namma vangikkalama? Enakku intha vintage carukku nalla payment kidaikkum! Already moonu order irukku! naan monthly onnu rendu than pappennu sollirukken! Athu thavira niraiya ideas irukku enta!
A: Vetri ... (hesitates).
V: Enakku theriyuthu! Intha veedu vadagaikku thane irukka? Namakkunnu veedu venama? Enakku intha veedu pidichirukku!.
A: Sari! Yosikkalam. Etho mukkiyama sollanumniye? Ithu thana?
V: Inga thanga varache orutharukku car repair help panninennu sonnen illai! Avaru yaaru theriyuma? "-----"
A: Ohhhh! Avaru than annikku unnai veetukku kooppittara? Enna sonnaru?
V: Avaru ennai pathi visarichirukkaru pola! Unnai kooda sonnaru! Enkitta oru idea sollirukkar! Athai pathi yosichukkittu irukken! Unta discuss pannalamnu than.
A: Ennada? Inga katchi poruppu ethavathu kodukkarennara? Intha pakkam avangalukku selvakku illaiye?
V: Athu than! Nee solra reason than. Avar kitta naan inga enna panrennu sonnen! Avaru partyla memberagittu chinna vayasukkarangalai partyla sekkarathu pathi ethavathu seyya mudiyumannu kettaru! 4 varushathula adutha election varuthu. Athukulla intha pakkam partya valakka mudiyummannu kekkaraaru! Naanu Annanukkaga senjathu avarukku therinjirukku!
A: Unakku enna thonuthu?
V: Enakku senju pakkalamnu thonuthu! Thanakku enna urima irukkunnu theriyama makkal irukkanga! Athe mathiri, ennai mathiri vazhi thavari ponavangalukku ethavathu seyyanum. Ippo ivunga aatchila irukkanga! Invanga party power vechu niraiya nallathu seyyalam. Avaru athai party moolama seyya solraru!
A: Athula avarukkenna laabam vetri? Unnai velai vangittu avanga pera eduthukka poranga!
V: Illaidi! Inga north Tamil Nattula avungalukku koncham selvakku kammi. Ponnerilenthu keezha Thiruvannamalai varaikkum enakku connections irukku. Arasiyal oru sakkadainnu solrathukku bathila, nammalala mudinjathai seyyalamnu thonuthu! Inga katchi presence romba illaingarathunala enakku ninaichatha seyya freedom kidaikkum! Athanala theevirama yosikkaren. Ippo seyyara velai thaan. Ana mostly legala seyyanum. Of course, sila panjayathu ellam courtukku pogamaleye mudikkalam.
A: Vetri! Thirumbavum adithadiyaa?
V: Itho paarudi! Panchayathungarathu adithadi mattum illai. Niraiya samayam rendu pera ukkatthi vechu pesarathu than. En kitta irukkara bayathula avunga pesa thayara iruppanga! Pechu meera maatanga! Athe sila samayam adichuthan aaganum. Athu unakke theriyum. Avaru intha idea solrache unga rendu perukkagavum than yosichen. 4 varushathula electionlayum nikkara idea irukku! Athe mathiri ethavathu ministry kidaichalum eduthuppen. Mukkiyama kalvithurai, thozhil thurai, sattam antha mathiri. Actualla, antha mathiri padhavi vangi nalla policy ellam kondu varanumnu ninaikkaren.
A: Vetri! Neeya pesara? Pathavi, recognition ellam venamnuva! Athikarathukku ethira poradarennu solluva! Nallathu senja pothumnu solluva? Ippo ippadi pesara?
V: Athu Poongavanam annanoda adiyaal. Ippo naan Vetrichelvan! Un purushan, Kamalam Porchelviyoda Appa. Inimel innoruthar sollarathai mattum seyyama naane poruppeduthu seyyanumdi! Niraiya pinnadi ninnachu! Poruppeduthukkama irunthachu. Inimel naan poruppu eduthukka poren. Athikarathai eppadi use pannanum, eppadi abuse pannakoodathu senju kattapporen. Ennala 4 varusham electionla nikka mudiyathu! But intha 4 varushathula ennai ready pannikkalam. Katchiya valakkalam. Correspondencela policy research, politics, administration, criminal justicennu padikkalamnu irukken. Electionla varache enakku MLA seat mattum illai, ennai minister positionukkum katchila consider pannanum. Antha mathiri ready aga poren.
A: Wow! Ivvalo yosichirukka? Eppo unkitta ithai pathi pesinaru Vetri?
V: Avaru oru varam munnadi sonnaru! Appo perusa yosikkalai! Ana annikku antha partyla paappava antha aalunga thappa pesinathulenthu ennai mathikkanumnu ninaichen. Ana nijamma yosikka arambichathu nethikku night untta pesinappuram than. Evlo kashtathula nee padichu collector agi nalla perum eduthirukka! Athu than ennai ithai pathi yosikka vechathu! Innikku poora ithai pathi yosichukittu irunthen. Silathellam unta ippo pesarache thonichu!
A: Vetri! Enakku onnu than theriyum. Nee oru vishayam seyyanumnu ninaicha kattyam seiva! Unnala mudiyum. Un manasukku sarinnu patta sei Vetri!
V: Thanks di! Eppadi di ennai innum ivlo nambara?
A: Innikku than nee first time yaaraiyum follow pannama, naane poruppeduthukka porennu sollirukka! Athai than naan nambaren.
V: Enakku innonnum theriyanum! Nee enna panna pora? Kattayam unakku transfer varum! Athai pathi enna yosikkara?
A: Enakku at the most 5 years Kanchipurathula irukkalam! But next, collector posting varathu! Ethavathu department secretary, commissioner mathiri varum. Department secretary mathiri kidaicha state levella kolkai thittamnu seyyalam. Sila samayam PSU head vantha enga podarangalo anga ponum. Naan medical admin padichirukkarathunala health ministry allathu related posting varalam; illaina pengal nalathurai intha mathiri varum. Ellam Chennaila than irukkum. Naan antha mathiri postingukku try pannalamnu irukken.
V: Ok! Appadinna sari! Chennaina onnum prachinai illai! Athuvum 4-5 varusham irukke! Prachinai irukkathu. Naan avartta sari sollalmnu irukken. Nee enna solra?
A: Naan solrathukku enna irukkuda! Unakku ithu pidichirukkunna nee kattayam seyyanum! Enna Unakku entha ministry irukko athula ennai poda mattanga! Athu enakku okay than.
V: Appo namma rendu perum senthu irukkaporomnu mudivu pannittiya?
A: (flustered) Atheppo sonnen! Athellam sollaliye? Sonnenaa enna? Chumma kathai kattaathe! Neeyum naanum ore oorla irunthaa, rendu peruam Sudaroda irukka mudiyum! Athan! Vera onnum illai! Nee ippo than muthal adi eduthu vaikkara! Athukulla kodi nadalamnu pakkatha!
V: Sari! Sari! Inga lesa mookukku keezha mann ottirukku paaru!
A: Eng... Ei! Chi pe! Naan thoonga poren!
Next night, Abi and Vetri are sitting in the oonjal which is becoming a routine for them to talk peacefully.
A: Vetri! Nee antha thalaivartta pesittiyaa?
V: Pesitten! Shed vekkapporennu sonnen! Athanala shed thirakkarathukku varen, annikke member agidunnu sonnaru! Oru 3-4 vaaram agum. Avare invest panrennu sonnaru! Naan avartta loan/investment ethunnalum ellam legala irukkanumnu sollitten. Avarum sarinnu sollirukkaru! First idam pakkanum. Pakkalam. Naan Anbutta than solla poren. Avanukku theriyatha idam illaiye. Antha veetayum avanaithan vikka solla poren. Avanukkum commission kidaikkum illai. Nee enna pannina innikku?
A: Vazhakkam polathan! Kabilan than konjam stresseda irukkan! Mamallapuram Dance festival varuthu illai! Security sariya irukkanum. Niraiya ladies vanthu two three days thanga poranga! Athellam vera arrange pannanum.
Vetri gives an idea about renting some college hostel and few other suggestions and offered to help them plan security.
A: Naan Kabilantta solren! Ana avan already nee panra panchayathunala makkal policeye mathikkarathillainnu kaduppula irukkan.
V: Policekku pona makkalai gowravama nadathi udane avungalukku help pannina enkitta en varanga! Avaru SP. Nee collector. Ennai solrathi vittutu neenga rendu perum ithukku senthu ethavathu seyyalam. Intha vishayathula enkitta niraiya information, network ellam irukku! Nee personalla eduthu seyyaranna unakku enna venumo naan athai kodukkaren. Intha panchayathu vishayathula ellam eduthen kavuthennu velila vara mudiyathu! Naan ippo entha mamool panamum vangurathillai! Ana, yaaravathu prachinnainnu vantha sila help senju than aganum.
A: Appuram ithukku ennathan da mudivu? Pulival pudichamathiri irangama poga mudiyuma? Help pannarathukku vera vazhiye illaiya? Nee solra, 'naan mamool vanginalum athukku nyayama iruppennu.' Nalaikku innoruthan Bhavani mathiri vanthanna avanum appadiye iruppana? Avanai policela pudicha Vetri senja sari, naan senja thappannu keppan! Athukku enna solrathu?
V: Naan onnu kekkaren! Annikku oru aalu kadan koduthavan vanthu sonnan – avantta kadan vanginavan bungalow, car, nagainnu irukkan ana panatha thiruppi thara mattengarannu! Policela pona angayum lanjam koduthirukkan. Enta vanthan, naan rendu adi adichen, panam thirumbi vanthathu! Prachinai mudinjathu. Mothama 1 mani neram than. Ithai nee eppadi solve pannuva?
A: Vetri! Ithukku claims court irukku. panam kodutha aatharam sariya iruntha property seal vekka order seekiram vangalam. Athai vechu solve pannalam. Enna intha nadaimurai nee sonna mathiri yaarukkum theriyarathu illai. Ithai businessa pannama thanippatta muraila koduthavarunna judges innum favourable-a than paappanga! Unkitta vantha aalum vera levella thillu mullu panra aalla irukkalam. Athan courtukku pona avunga vandavalam velila vanthurumnu unta vanthirukka chance irukku! Athikarathula irukkaravangalla oozhal panravan irukkara mathiri, pothumakkallayum perasaipattutu kashtapadaravanga irukkanga. Unta varavanla ethanai peru nijammave kashta padaravanga? Athai pathi yosi!
V: Sari di! Athellam alasi pathu decide panna mudiyuma? Oruthar kashtamnu ketta udane uthavi seyyanum. Dress sari seyyara mathiri than!
A: Vetri! Seriously! Nee pesarathu ellam cinema vasanamnu unakke theriyum! Yaaro perasai pattu panra thappukku nee enda uyira kodukkanum? Un uyir mukkiyamillaiya? Avangalukku vera help pannalam illai? Perusa avasaram illatha case-a ellam courtla theeka mudiyatha? Poi adikkarathukku badhila oru legal clinic vai! Unakku kodukkara mamoola anga feeya kodukka sollu! Niraiya lawyers pro bono pannuvanga! Ithukku publicity kidaikkum. Unga katchilaya ithai seyya sollu! Un fan club president kitta kelu! Avure first aala varuvaru! Appadi evanavathu lawyersayo makkalaiyo mirattina, nee than irukkiye! Poi meesaiyai murukkikkittu mirattitu vaa!
V: Appo mattum meesaiyai murukkalama?
A: Vetri! Unakke theriyum, nee solra adithadi sila vishayangalla correct! Kannukku munnadi orutharai adichalo, violate pannalo, athikarathukku pinnadi olinjalo, immediate-a adikkarathu nyayam. Ana civil vishayathukku, immediate danger illatha case-ukku ellam courtukku porathu than sari. Naan solrathu athuthan.
She pauses and sees that Vetri is thoughtful.
A: Vetri! Enakku unnai pidichathukku oru mukkiyamana karanam, yaaru vanthu kashtam, udavinnu kettalum, yosikkama help panra gunam than. Athai naan mathikka sollalai! Ana, ippo nee thani aalu illai! Unakku oru kudumbam irukku! un kudumbathukku nee irukkanum. athanala idam porul eval pathu than seyyanum! Naan sonnathai yosi! Athe mathiri nee solrathu sari than. Intha vishayathula naanum Chief ministerta campaign panren. Nee Unakku therinja prachinai ellam sollu. Document pannalam. Matha collectors, secretariestta pesi enna seyya mudiyumo seyyalam. Athe mathiri nee party influence vechu intha mathri help pannu. Kanchipuram Vetriya pathu bayappatavanga Katchi Vetrinna innum bayappaduvanga!
She takes his hand.
A: Nee oru vishayam mattum nyabagam vechukko! Oorukku help panna ethanai peru vena irukkalam. Sudarukku en enakkunnum irukkarathu nee oruthan than. Erkanve oru tharam ennaiyum paapavaiyum vida nandrikadan mukkiyamnu pone! Thirumbavum nee athe mathiri pannuvenna, thayavu senju ippove namma pirinjudalam. Enakku koduthu vechathu ivvalo thannu naan irunthukkaren. Naan pakkathula engayavathu transfer vangikkaren. Nee pappavoda mudinjappa vanthu irunthuttu po! Appa veliyurla velaila irukkarunnu sollikkaren! Ana koodave iruppennu asai kaatti thirumba mosam pannathe!
Vetri turned to face her and held her cheeks in his palms.
V: Ei! Endi ippadi pesara? Enakku neeyum Sudarum thandi usuru! Kattayam inimel ungalai vittu poga matten. Nee sollamale naan onnonna vittutten di! Please nambu. Naan intha katchi vishayam edukkarathe, naan seyyara udhaviya sattapadi seyya than. Nee IAS officerungarathu enakku perumai! Athe mathiri neeyum Sudarum ennai pathu perumai padara mathiri irukkanumgarathu than en aasai. Onnu sollattuma?
A: Enna?
V: Ettu varusham aanalum un kannam appadiye cream bun mathiri softa smootha irukkudi! Taste than appadiye irukkannu check pannanum.
A: Pannuva pannuva! Irukka edam kodutha paduka pai kekkara aalu nee!
V: Pathiya! Sariya purinjikittiye! Nee smart than!
A: Ippadi ellam ennai easya mayakka mudiyathu! Ana, correct directionla than pora! So, continue!
V: Katchila seraratha solriya?
A: Pottu vangariya? Ellathayum than sonnennu unakke theriyum. Sari! Good night!
V: Ei irudi! Innikku urchagam konjam kammiya irukkudi!
A: Athukku muyarchiyai konjam athikamakku! Urchagam thana varumo ennamo?
Both Abi and Vetri go to sleep with a smile.
Next morning everyone is getting ready. Vetri gets a call.
V: Nandhini Anni call panranga. Ippo ethukku koopidaranga? Sollunganni! ... azhareengala? Enna achu? Azhama sollunga! ... oh! Eppo? ... Ippo Annan enga? ... Oh! (He looks up and sees that Abi is looking at him with a blank expression.) Sari! Naan ippo pasangaltta solren. Avunga solrathai seyyunga! Hospital koottitu poittu appuram Police complaint kodukka help pannuvanga! ... Naan paappavai schoolla vidanum. Avunga teacher etho pesanumnanga! ... Illai Anni! Naan porennu othukkitten! Illaina ava meeting cancel pannanum. Athellam vidunga! Pasanga naan koopita 10 nimishathula varuvanga! Vendiyathu seiyvanga! Naan inga Pappa school velaiyai mudichuttu kilambi varen. Sari! Vechudren! Pasangalai koopidanum.
Vetri calls his gang and gives them instructions.
A: Enna achu? Hospital, police complaintunnu solra? Ethavathu serious-a?
V: Ippo Annan etho panam collectionnu ponaru pola! Ivvalo seekiram yaaru koduthiruppangannu theriyalai! Yaaro rendu peru vanthu avarai adichu chain, watch, panam, vandi rc book ellam thirudittu odittangalam. Athan Anni udane vannu kooppittanga! Pasangalai anuppi vechen. Sudar pappa schoolukku poittu appuram poi pakkeren. Athan anni neeye varakkoodathannu kettanga! Illa! Paappa school ponum. Unakkum velai irukku! Athanala naan ippo mudiyathu. Ellam mudichuttu varennu sonnen! Pasanga than porangale! Nee than sonnatha kettiye! Naan pona enna pasanga pona enna? Anni azhuthu tension aana kooda Chitappuvum Quarterum samalichuduvanga!
A: Naan ethavathu seyyanuma?
V: Naane extra than! Venumna nee velai mudichuttu vaa veetula poi pakkalam. Naan unakku ennanu message anupparen. Ippo un velaiyai paaru! Appadi unakku velai ethuvum illainna en kooda vaa! Rendu perum tea kudichuttu varalam.
Abi looks at up and down dramatically!
V: Ennadi kalangathala intha look vidare! Vijimma vera angathan irukkanga!
A: Iye! Buthi poguthu paaru! Naan paakkurathu Vetrichelvan thana illai avanoda clone-annu?
V: Clone-a? koduthenna!
A: Kuduppa! Kuduppa! Athuvaraikkum en kai enna poopparikkuma?
V: Paappa Anni ellam irukkanga! Athan pakkaren! Illaina naan enna koduppen, un kai enna pannumnu oru kutti demo kattiruppen!
A: Iye! Pothum! Vazhiyuthu!
V: Yaarukku? Unakka enakka?
S: Vijimma! Ivunga rendu perum enna pesikkaranga? Enakku puriyveyillaiye!
Vi: Pappa! Enakke puriyamattenguthu! Avangalukku purinja sari! Namma velaiyai paappomda!
A: Akka! Sayanthiram Vetri veetukku porom. Intha bagla enakkum kuzhanthaikkum dress vechirukken. Naan muthalla GH poittu office ponum. Athanala neenga Vetriyoda varache ithai office-ukku kondu vareengala? Anga canteenla snacks sappittitu poidalam.
Vi: Sari!
Later that day at the collectorate.
Kab: Abi! Unkitta oru mukkiyamana vishayam pesanum.
A: Kabilan! Naanun unkitta pesanum. Vetri antha dance functionukku our nalla idea kodutharu! Anga irukkara ...
Kab: Abi! Ithu romba mukkiyam! Vetriya pathi.
A: Enna Kabilan? Vetriya pathi enna?
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What will Kabilan say? Will be posted tomorrow in part 2.