Alanganallur, Madurai.
Anjali sat there with a shocked face looking between the two who stood there with a fake ' paal vadiyum mugam'.
Anjali: panrathu ella panitu epadi onu theriyatha apavi mari nikaringa ?
Maya: Naalu varusha training uh..
Anjali: Nee pesatha di..
Maya: Anjali.. she whined.
Anjali: enna nadipu… apava en friend sona.. nan tha nambala..
Maya: Friend ah ?
Anjali: Ama en friend oruthi Bangalore la tha iruka.. Neenga iruka atha apartment la..
Maya and Maaran gave a thiruttu muli while Anjali glared at them.
Anjali: Nan engagement pic story pota apa… unga love ku veetula ok solitangala nu ketan.. nan tha apdi Ella irukathu nu sona.. inga vanthu patha thena theriyuthu.. Sangeet apa romance.. Dinner apa..
Maya: Anjali Anjali..
Anjali glared: ithula Avan vera enkita sona mari avunga kita ketratha swamy adiruvanga nu build up vera.
Maaran: Yaru ?
Anjali: unga anna tha..
Maaran: ayoo Avan kita yenga soninga ?
Anjali: En friend enna nala kolapi vituta.. unga kita epadi kekarahu therilanu avan kita sona.. Avan athu mela.. ungaluku ella set agathu sathiyam panatha korai tha.. nanum atha nambitan.. ana apram nadanthu ella vechu doubt ah irunthuchu.. atha Maya kita pesalam nu vanthan…Ana..
Maya: athu illa.. engaluku ona irunthu palagiruchu.. Inga kalaila tha iruka mudila atha night aachu konjam neram irukalam nu..
Anjali: apa daily ithan nadakutha..
Maaran: hm.. ellarum thoonguna apram varuvan… kalaila nerathula poiruvan..
Anjali: ethuku ivalo kasta padringa.. Pesama veetula solira vendiyathu thena ?
Maaran: athu illanga.
" Maya "
The trio heard a voice from a distance and panicked.
Maya: Ayoo yaro varanga..
Maaran: apa seekram poi Olinga
Anjali: hello nan ethuku oliyanum... nenga thanga oliyanum..
Maaran: ayoo ama illa..
Maaran panicked and looked around to find some space and at the right time Latha walked into the room.
She walked into the room to find Maya and Anjali standing with expressions as if they had seen a ghost and frowned.
Latha: nee enna da panra Inga..
Anjali and Maya panicked and looked around but could not find Maaran.
Latha: Una tha Anjali enna panra ?
Anjali: Illa athai athu… Maya kita night dress vanga vantha..
Latha: Oh seri da.. Nan Thani kudikalanu vantha.. Maya room la light erinjutha atha pakalam nu vanthan..
Maya: ila athai.. nanga pesitu irunthom atha..
Latha: Seri da.. Late aachu illa poi thoonguna kalaika pesipingalam.. Anjali nee room porathu na po.. illa ingaya irukiya
Anjali: Illa illa athai nan ipa poiruvan.. she said looking at the cupboard.
Latha: seri apa va polam
Anjali nodded and bid bye to Maya before she left the room with Latha.
Maya locked the door behind her and let out a deep breath. She noticed Maaran getting out of the cupboard and glared at him.
Maya: unaku oliya vera Edam ah illaya da?
Maaran: hey nee correct ah atha thirapanu enaku epadi theriyum.
Maya: athuvum correct tha.. she sat on the bed with a thud and dragged him along with her and hugged his arms.. Ipadiya oru oruthar ka therinjuta iruntha.. kalyanathuku munadiya ellarukum therinju ninaikaran.
Maaran: Kalyanathuku inum rendu naal thena iruku.. pathukalam vidu..
Maya hummed before laying on his shoulders and closing her eyes. He knew she did not like how they were hiding from others. Even though it was her decision, he also knew she did only to not hurt his brother. He felt bad for her and decided to speak to their parents soon after his brothers wedding.
He kissed her hair and silently caressed the back of her palm for sometime before he noticed her even breathe. He lifted her and placed her on the bed carefully before laying beside her and falling asleep.
Maya twisted herself on the bed before she hit herself on a not so masculine body. She frowned before opening her eyes to find Maaran asleep beside her. She smiled, caressing his hair , making him smile in his sleep before her stomach grumbled.
Maya: ayoo Pasikutha.. Ivana elupalam ah.. Venda..
She covered him with a blanket before leaving the room.
She reached the kitchen and searched for something to eat when her eyes fell on the pickle jar. She grinned before taking the pickle jar and moaned to its taste. From childhood she loved the pickle her athai made using the raw mangoes from their own farm.
" Inga enna Mayu panra "
Maya jerked to the sudden voice and turned to find Yamuna.
Yamuna first frowned and then glared at her when she noticed the pickle jar in her hand and her right index finger in her mouth.
Yamuna: Inerathula eduthuku da atha saptutu iruka ?
Maya: nala irunthuchu..
Yamuna shook her head: nee konjam kooda marala.. china vayasula tha .. yarukum theriyama uruga sapduvan na ipavum ah..
Maya: illa athai.. pasichuthu nu vantha.. ithu pathathu aasai ah irunthucha atha sapten..
Yamuna: pasikutha.. yen kita solala.
Maya: illa athai neenga thoongitu irunthinga..
Yamuna: Athu naala enna.. kupda vendiyathu thena.. iru naan ethachu senju tharan..
Maya: illa athai ennaku Venda.. itha pothu..
Yamuna: Ethu pasiku itha sapduviya ? Adi vanguva.. atha kudu mothala..
She snatched the jar and placed it on the counter before she left for the fridge.
Maya: Athai.. She squealed seeing the dosa batter.
Yamuna: Kutty dosa thena ?
Maya nodded enthusiastically while Yamuna smiled at her and started to prepare for the dosa.
Maya tried to sneak to the pickle jar but was caught by Yamuna who snatched the jar from her and forced a piece of carrot that she was chopping for the dosa.
Maaran lost his sleep when he could find her near him and woke up rubbing his eyes. He checked around to find her and once when he could not find her even in the washroom he left the room in search of her. After searching her on the first floor he noticed the moments in the kitchen from the ground floor before he left downstairs.
Maaran noticed Yamuna chopping onions and Maya trying to sneak something that was beside Yamuna. Maaran frowned when she kept looking at Yamuna and tried to reach the jar. Maya finally managed to reach the jar and licked the pickle from it making him chuckle softly.
Maaran: Amma..
He purposely called out making Maya jerk and replacing the jar back and glare at him
Yamuna: nee enna da panra Inga ?
Maaran: Room la Thani illa ma atha kudikalam nu vanthan.. he said, eyeing Maya.
Yamuna: Seri va sapdaraiya ?
Maaran: Enaku Venda ma.. Ama neenga yen intha nerathula senjutu irukinga.. intha iva Ketala..
Maya: hey en athai kita nan kepan unaku enna da ?
Maaran: En amma kasta pata enaku pudikathu..
Maya: athai ella onu kasta padala.. Illa athai ?
Yamuna: Enaku enna da kastam.. Nee entha nerathula elupunalum.. nan senju tharuvan..
Maaran: apa nee tha elupuniya ?
Yamuna: Dei maara.. Ava ella enna elupa.. nanum Thani kudika tha vantha.. Ava pasikuthu nu urugava saptutu iruntha.. atha pudingi vechutu dosai uthitu irukan.. unaku venum na ukaru illana thaniya kudichutu room po..
Maaran: Nan matum room poi ena pana..thookama varathu… he murmured earning a glare from Maya.
Yamuna: enathu..
Maaran: aah athu illa ma.. ipa enaku pasikuthu room ku pona thookam varathu atha sona..
Yamuna: Apa pesama vanthu ukaru dosa potu tharan..
Maaran: Amma..
Yamuna: kutty dosai thena ?
Maaran nodded, making Yamuna shake her head.
Yamuna: rendu perum eliyum poonaiyum ah adichukonga.. ana panrathu kekarathu ella ore mari..
Maaran looked at Maya who had a poker face. He noticed Yamuna had left to the refrigerator and quickly lifted her to sit on the counter making her gasp.
Maya: enna da panra lusu.. she smacked his shoulders.
Maaran: amma ella pakala..
He winked and gave an air kiss before he settled on the counter with a distance from her. Yamuna came back and started making dosas while these two kept her busy with their talks.
Maya carefully jumped down the counter when the mother and son was busy talking and moved to the pickle jar.
Just when she was about to take a lick of her finger filled with pickle Maaran got hold of her wrist and the jar with the other hand. Maya signaled him to leave her hand but he shook his head.
Maya: vidu da.. she whispered.
Maaran: kondruvan nalaiku vayir valikuthu Aluva..
Maya: matan..kudu
Maaran: Kuduka mudiyathu..
Maya: kudu paapa please..
Yumuna who turned to find these to pulling the jar to each other sighed and snatched the jar from them.
Maaran: Amma unaka theriyama eduthu saptama atha pudungina
Maya: Athai illa atha..
Yamuna huffed before screwing both their ears making the whine.
Yamuna: konjam Vita intha jadi odachu irupinga..
Maya: intha jadiyum ah ?
Yamuna: Yen unaku nyabagam illa.. Nan aasai ah vechu iruntha jadi neenga rendu perum thena odachinha.. ithu Achu minchutu.. pesama poi ukarunha..
Maya looked and Maaran before the duo smiled remembering the atrocities they made in childhood.
–
Maaran returned back home after playing and noticed Three year old Maya settled on the living with a pout.
Maaran: Paapa enna aachu yen ippadi iruka ?
Maya: Athai uthuka thala.
Maaran: paapa ketu tharalaya..
Maya: ama mama.. enku vangi kudu please..
Maaran: Nee va nan eduthu tharan..
Maya nodded and with joined hands they reached the kitchen to find the women cooking.
Maaran: amma yen ma paapa ku uruga kudka mata sona ?
Yamuna: Ava verum urugava saptutu iruka da.. soodu pudichurum..
Maaran: athu ella pudikathu ma konjam kudu..
Yamuna: Sona kelu po mothala.. Nan dosa potutu kupdran.. apa vanthu sapdunga..
She forced them out of the kitchen and the duo stood at the living pouting.
Maaran: Iru Iru amma ponathum nan unaku eduthu tharan.
Maya: ila mama enaku Vena..
Maaran: nee keta illa nan eduthu tharan.
The duo waited there for sometime and once the women left the kitchen these two sneaked in. Maaran got a stool and climbed on it to reach the jar.
Maya: eduka mudinina Vena mama va.
Maaran: Iru paapa eduthutan..
" Maara "
They heard a loud voice causing Maaran jerk and the jar he just took in hand fell on the floor and crashed into pieces.
Maaran got down from the stool and stood beside Maya with thiruttu muli which reflected hers.
Yamuna ma looked at the broken jar and glared at the duo.
Maya: Athai chorry..
Yamuna: neeya odacha ?
Maaran: amma sorry ma..
Yamuna glared at them and began to clean the mess.
Maaran: Amma nan panran..
Yamuna: Una solanum da.. Settai jasthi airuchu.. nan tha kudu matan sona illa apram ethuku edutha.. she chided
Maaran: paapa Keta atha.
Maya: Athai Yen mama va thitra..
Yamuna: Hmm vadi.. avana onum solira kudathu.. vanthruvaya..
Maya: Athai..
Yamuna: rendu perum adi vanga poringa.. ponga mothala..
She chided and Maya pouted with tears.
Maaran: amma.. nan thena odachan.. ena thitu.. paapa va yen thitra..
Yamuna wanted to smile at their bonding but hid it successfully.
Maaran: nee va paapa nama pola..
He got hold of her wrist and dragged her out of the kitchen.
Yamuna smiled at the retreating tiny figures and sighed knowing what to do to convince the duo. Yamuna reached the room to find Maya and Maaran on either side of Rajavel's chest hugging him.
The duo was smiling at something Rajavel was narrating but soon after they noticed Yamuna entering the room both twisted their lips.
Rajavel frowned at the duo before looking at Yamuna and raising his eyebrows. Yamuna shook her head signaling nothing and sat at the foot of the bed.
Yamuna: rendu perum vanga sappidalam..
Maya: Engaluku Venda..
Rajavel: hey thangam.. yen sapadu Venda solringa.. sapdama iruka kudathunu soli irukan illa.
Maaran: illa appa.. amma engala thitanga.. atha Ava Venda solara..
Rajavel: yen ma thituna ?
Yamuna: thita ella illa ga.. iva uruga eduthu saptu iruntha.. atha pudingi vechan.. Ivan eduthu thaaran nu odachutan.
Rajavel: Thanga ponnu uruga saptingala
Maya: konjam tha mama..
Rajavel: ana vayir valikum illa sapda kudathu illa.. Maya nodded.. Maara amma tha Venda sonanga ila apram ethuku eduthu kudutha ?
Maaran: Illa pa konjam ah kudukalam nu.
Rajavel: Inga paru.. Amma ethachu sona nalathuku tha.. athu nala sona padi kekanum.. seriya.. Jadi matum viluntha naala paravala neeyum vilunthu iruntha enna agum..
Maaran: Sorry Appa.
Rajavel: amma kita kelunga.
Maaran: Amma sorry..
Yamuna smiled: Sorry ella Venda vanthu sapdu..
Maaran: Maya neeyum va..
Maya: nan vara matan.. athai una thitu nanga illa..
Rajavel: Thanga ponnu.. Mama thapu pana.. athai thitunanga.. Athu poi kovichukalam ah ?
Maya: Thapu pana solunum thita kudathu mama..
Rajavel: illa da kanna.. athai thena unga amma.. avungaluku ungala kandipa urima iruku illa ?
Maya: athai mama kita sorry Keta tha nan sapduvan..
Rajavel: kanna..
Yamuna: Vidunga.. Mayu ma.. athai mama kita sorry solaran va.. Sorry Maara..
Maya: apa ini thitava kudathu..
Yamuna: seri thita matan
Maya: promise ah ?
Yamuna: promise ah pothum ah ipa vanthu sapdu va..
She pulled Maya to her lap and Maaran sat beside her.
" Aii kutti dosa "
Both yelled excitedly, making their parents smile at them. Yamuna nodded and fed them the tiny dosas. Maya picked the little dosa in her tiny hands and fed it to Maaran making Yamuna and Rajavel smile at each other.
Maya took another piece and fed Rajavel who remembered about his own little sister. Yamuna shook her head asking him to not control his tears and he did as said while taking the piece of dosa from her hands. Yamuna fed both while Rajavel narrated them stories before the duo fell asleep.
—
Maya and Maaran was out of their trance with the sound of the dosa batter being poured on the hot tawa.
Yamuna: anaiku kolanthainga nu suma vitaan.. inaiku odachinga naalu sathu sathuvan… she said, flipping the dosas.
Maya and Maaran looked at each other and eyed before leaving the kitchen.
Yamuna: hey enga poringa ? She asked to find them leaving.
Maya: neenga ena thitaringa illa enaku dosa Venda nan pora.. she said not turning back as she was smiling.
Maaran: ama enaku Venda..
Yamuna ma smiled at the grown up retreating figures. Nothing had changed from their childhood except these two fighting all the time. They were used for fighting right from childhood but still never let anyone into their fight and would solve it themselves. She wondered what changed them in between that they turned opposite poles, but she did not know the opposite poles had already been attracted. She placed the dosas on a plate and left for her room knowing they would be there.
Just like she guessed Maya sat there hugging Rajavel's arms and lying on his shoulders while Maaran sat beside him. Rajavel had a frown on his face, probably not knowing the reason for them being there at that time and also them being together confused him.
He raised his eyebrows and Yamuna showed him the plate in his hands. Rajavel shook his head smiling as he now knew the reason for them being here.
Yamuna sat on the foot of the bed and the duo looked away from her twisting their lips.
Yamuna: Maya pasikuthu sona ila vanthu sapdu va..
Maya: enaku Venda..
Rajavel: Yen da night Olunga sapdalaya ?
Maya: sapten mama ana pasichuthu..
Rajavel: Apa poi sapdu da.
Maya: Maten.. enaku ipa pasikala.. she said, eyeing Yamuna.
Rajavel: Yen enna aachu ipa thena pasikuthu sona.
Yamuna told him what happened before Rajavel broke into a hearty laughter.
Rajavel: Innum neenga marava illa da kanna.. atha vilayatu thanam..
Maya: Mama aasai irunthunu tha saptan.. athuku rendu perum thitranga..
Rajavel: Un nalathuku thena.. rendu moonu naal apram ipa thena nee nala iruka..
Maya: konjam mama..
Rajavel: sona kekanum en thanga ponnu illa.. Pesama ipa sapdunga.. nalaiku nee kekarathu ella athai ah thara solaran..
Maya: promise ah ?
Rajavel: Sathiyama da..
Maya: apa sorry keka solunga apa tha sapduvan.
Yamuna: seri ma thaya unayum thita matan.. un mama nayum thita matan vanthu sapdu va..
Maya: avana neenga thituna enna illa adicha enaku enna.. nan sorry keka sonathu ungala illa avana..
Maaran: hey nan ethuku kekanum.
Maya: enkita irunthu jar ah pudunguna illa athuku..
Maaran: hey amma sonanga nu tha pana.
Maya: athu ella enaku theriyathu.. nee sorry keta tha nan sapduvan..
Yamuna: nee tha keturan da.
Maaran: amma nan yen kekanum.
Rajavel: ketru pa thambi.. ithula ena iruku..
Maaran: Appa.. He sighed as he would never be able to disrespect his father even if it was such a small thing… Sorry.. he said looking away.
Maya smirked at him before she moved to sit beside Yamuna.
Maya: Utunga athai.
Yamuna shook her head and fed her.
Yamuna: Neeyum va da..
Maaran: enaku Venda avaluka kudunga.
Yamuna: en thango illa.. amma unaku Sethi the senja va..
Maaran glared at Maya: Amma unakaga matum tha..
Yamuna: Seri seri va..
Maaran moved a little forward and Yamuna fed both.When Maya took a piece of dosa, even though Maaran knew she would not feed him in front his parents somewhere in the corner he wished for it. As if sensing it Maya smirked at him before feeding Rajavel who took it with a smile before fed Yamuna.
Maya: Mama Mama Katha solunga please… Maya asked once they completed having their food.
Rajavel: Kathaiya ?
Maya: ama mama.. romba naal aachu.. inaiku solunga.. nan inaiku ingaya thoongaran..
Maaran who had moved to the wooden seater looked at her with surprise and glare while Rajavel thought for a few seconds.
Maya: Mama please mama..
Rajavel: seri da solaran..
Maya grinned before she laid on the bed and Rajavel covered her with a blanket.
Maaran was initially annoyed when she decided to stay there which later changed into admiration. He sat there unknowingly smiling at Maya who was reacting like a kid for whatever his father said. He wondered how a woman can be both bold and mature but at the same time be kid when it comes to her closer ones. His eyes closed on their own accord as he watched Maya drifting to sleep.
Yamuna who came into the room after replacing the plate found Rajevel patting Maya to sleep and Maaran asleep on the couch and a smile automatically appeared on her face.
Yamuna: thoongitangala ? She asked as she sat opposite to Rajavel.
Rajavel: hm.. inum kolantha mari kathai kekara ma..
Yamuna: Ava konjam kooda marala ga.. Apdiya tha iruka.. mari iruka ore vishiyam ivunga sandai podrathu… Ivunga panjayatha theekava enaku neram seriya iruku..
Rajavel softly chuckled as he caressed Maya's hair and looked at Maaran.
Yamuna: Yenga..
Rajavel looked up at her who was looking at Maya.
Yamuna: iva vantha 10 naal ah nama evalo santhosham ah irukom.. Avala ingaya vechukalam ga.
Rajavel: Ma un aasai enaku puriyuthu.. ana athu nadakathu.. nan Mapalai ku vaaku kuduthutan.. Ivala avuru ponava thirumba anupuvan nu sathiyam pani irukan.
Yamuna: Pesuna anna purinju paru ga.
Rajavel: ivalo varusham ah nama mela kovam ah irukavuru kita poi.. ponnu kudunu keta epadi ma othuparu..
Yamuna: avuruku nama mela tha ga kovam.. ana avuruku Aathavan romba pudikum.
Rajavel: Sona kelu ma.. Enaku en vaaku tha mukiyam.. ithuku apram itha pathi pesatha..
Yamuna sighed and nodded before Rajavel asked her to lay beside Maya and moved to the floor. The young couple were in a peaceful deep sleep while the older couple lost theirs.
****
Hi dearssss chapter epadi irukunu solunga..
Sorry for making you wait, As I had to move back to present after a long i did not get the touch so had to reread and that took time.
Please do bear my irregular updates until July. From August I will be from work and spent my mostly in writing so might get regular updates.
Do vote and share if you like and comment your suggestions.