The next day in the morning Kathir got ready to leave to the shop
But before leaving he warned her
Naan illatha pothu kozhanthaiya thottennu therinjuthu athu thaan nee enna kadasiya paarkkaratha irukkum
Thookka maatten..namma kozhanthai pakkame poga maatten she whispered
He walked out but was stopped by Dhanam in the hall
Kathiru tea kudichuttu tiffin saappittu po she said in a stern voice
Anne enga Aishu
Periya Maamaa kadaikku kelambittaaru maamaa
Kathir fished his phone out
Maamaa Kathir pesaren..neengalum athaiyum oru ettu veettukku vanthuttu poganum he said konjam urgent maamaa he said
Kathiru Dhanam shrieked
But he ignored her completely
In about 30 mts Jega and Kaamakshi arrived
Enna aachu Kathiru Jega asked
Maamaa annikku oru periya prachanai..veettu aambalainga oruthar kittayum sollaama Mullai Meena avuha kitta mattum sollittu thaanaa enna ellaamo panni irukkaanga
Enna prachanai Kathiru
Athe solla vendiyathu unga thangai
Enakku en pondaatti mela santhegham vanthuchu naan anni kku c section panna doctor paarthu ella unmaiyum therinju kitten
Ungalukkum ithu theriyanum thonichu athaan kooppitten..
Enna vishayam nu sollunga Kaamakshi asked
Athu unga ponnu thaan sollanum..ille enna mathiri doctor kitta kelunga
Kathiru yen ippudi pandra
Engalukkaaga kozhanthai illaama irukkaanga therinjathum ungamma enga ellarayum sabichaanga maamaa ..Kannan odi poi kalyanam panni padaatha paadu pattaan..amma poi sernthe sernthuttaanga ..Mullai ku kozhanthai porakkaama treatment athu ithunnu aayirathettu prachanai..romba periya veedu illattiyum..sontha veedu appa kattina veedunnu santhoshama irunthom..aanaa ippo 8 perum thani room kooda illaama komainju vaazharom..pathaathathukku jeeva annan sandai pottu poiduchu..
athu naanga chinna pasangalaa irunthappo engalukku theriyaama nadantha vishayam..athukke unga amma vitta saabham intha kudumbatha summa sozhatti pottuduchu..ippo ivanga maraikkara vishayam..en pondaatti kku therinju irukku..enakku therinjuduchu..naan sollaama vittu unga amma marupadiyum sabichutta he asked
Kaamakshi stood head low
Dhanam looked stupefied
Kathir handed over a bag to Jega
Inside was cash worth 300000/-
Enna Kathiru
Marupadiyum nagai vechu irukkaanga
Intha kudumbathu aalunga ellam kai aalaagaathavanga nenaichuttaanga pola..unmaiya sollanumna en nenje vedichudum pola irukku ..aanaa avangalukkaaga akkarai pada engalukku urimai illengara mathiri othukki vechuttaanga ..aanaa selavu enga kadamai..ungalaala mudinja unga thangai kitta irunthu unmaiya vaangi avanga nagaiya thiruppi avanga kittaye kuduthudunga ..enakku messla velai irukku..naan kelambaren
And he walked off without a word
Outside Jeeva and Meena arrived
Meena's eyes were red
Jeeva looked crestfallen
Meena walked in
Jeeva stood head low crying
Kathir stood stoic
Only a moment and Kathir said naan mess ku kelambarenne and he left
Jeeva had gone in and confronted Dhanam too
Marupadiyum marupadiyum engala anniyam aakkareenga..neenga mattum ellam senju engala onnum panna vidaama kadangaarangalaave vekkareenga..romba varutham anni..ithe solla thaan vanthen he said and took Meena with him
Jega and Kamakshi had knackered Dhanam and gleaned what the issue was and were shell shocked
They had hugged Dhanam and cried
Jega resolved to break the news to Moorthy
At the mess
Murugan avoided speaking to Kathir
Kathir felt uneasy
He had a great relationship with his maamaa now
He felt he owed him an explanation
That he was not in his maamaa's good books irked him
He approached his maamaa
Annikku udambu sugam ille..delivery seekkirama operation panni mudichuttu adutha katta treatment pannanum solli irukkaanga
Appudi enna prachanai Murugan asked despite his anger
Breast cancer Kathir whispered
Ethu Murugan gasped standing up
Ivalum Meena avuhalum akka sonnangannu delivery la aarambichu Trichy la poi kattiya velia edukka operation panna varaikkum illaatha poi ellam sollittu poi irukkaanga
Murugan stood shell shocked
Ethaachum vibareethamaa nadanthu iruntha yaaru bathil soldrathu maappillai he said worried
Athey thaan maamaa..neruppunathum vaai venthudaathu..ellam nalla mudinju vanthuttaanga..aanaa appudi illaama operation appo annikku ethaachum aagi iruntha
Enna mannichudunga maappillai
Enna maamaa neenga poi
Ille maappillai..unga mela kovama irunthen..aanaa neenga senjathu seri..ippudiye vitta Mullai innoru Parvathy ah thaan varuva ..Aishu kitta kooda athattalum uruttalum jaasthi thaan..
Kathir stood his brows knit
At the PS home
Their baby was crying
Mullai stood wringing her hands
Aishu came rushing in
Akka enna ka kozhanthai ippudi azhuvara..paarthu kittu nikkareenga
Mullai stood tears rolling down her cheeks
Akka enna aachu Aishu asked
Kozhanthaikku pasikkuthu paal kudukkanum she said
Kudunga ka..she said
When Mullai stood not moving Dhanam came there
Enna Mullai kozhanthai azhuvuthu eduthu paal kudu she said
Aishu looked at both women and making a snap decision picked up the baby and fed it her milk
Aishu Mullai gasped
Yen ka iva en ponnu illaya she asked
Unakkum kai kozhanthai irukku Mullai said
Neenga akka kozhanthaikku feed panneenga la athey mathiri thaan ithu ..porantha kozhanthaikku sathaana thaai paal kudukkaama vera ethuvum yen kudukkanum she said
She finished feeding the baby
The baby slept her tummy full
Aishu gave Mullai a hug and said seri aayidum kavala padaatheenga
Dhanam walked out to call Kathir
But he didn't answer her phone
She called Murugan appa and asked to speak to Kathir
Seeing that Murugan appa was getting pulled in 2 directions
He answered with a curt sollunga
Enna nenaichuttu irukka nee
_ _ _
Petha amma va pullaiya thoda koodathu solla nee yaaru
_ _ _
Un kozhanthaiye aanaalum athukku thaai paal kedaikkaama panna nee yaaru
_ _ _
Mariyathaikku Mullai kitta pesi kozhanthaiya paarkka sollu she snapped
There was silence for a few seconds
She could hear Kathir
Pesi mudichuttaanga maamaa..inthaanga
And the line got disconnected
Dhanam stood staring at the phone
He walked out of the mess and called Mullai's number
She answered in the first ring
Hello sollunga
There was excitement in her voice
Enna anni kitta azhuthu drama panni en kitta pesa soldriya he snarled
Aiyo illenga she said
Vaaya moodu..intha drama ellam vendaam sollitten..velai seyyara edathula call panni thontharavu pandrathellam inime nadanthuchu avvalavu thaan sollitten and he cut the call
Mullai sat sobbing
She walked to Dhanam
Akka ungala kenji kekkaren..enakkum avarukkum nadoola irukkara vishayathula neenga please mooka nozhaikkaatheenga
Athellam appudiye vida mudiyathu Dhanam said
Appo naanum maamaa kku phone panni unmaiya solliduven she said
Mullai Dhanam gasped
Unga velai ennavo athe mattum paarunga..innoru vaatti ippudi panneenga naan sollaama kollaama engayaachum poiduven she said and walked off
Nethu athana vishayam nadantha pothu support pannala ippo thevai illaatha velai panni kittu she muttered and walked in
In some time she heard Dhanam's baby crying
She went to feed the baby
But Dhanam was stubborn
Avangavanga prachanai avangavanga paarkkalaam she said and fed normal
milk to the crying baby
Mullai felt very hurt and went into the room
She could feel her breast filling with milk but with no baby to feed there was no use for it
She had already once expressed it out and didn't have the heart to do it again
The inexperienced girl didn't know that this could lead to complications
Moorthy had been told the truth by Jega
He was an emotional mess
Naalaikku motha velaiyaa namma doctor poi paarkkarom Dhanam he cried
Kathir cast a glance at Mullai who sat head bent playing with her food
He felt sorry for her..sorry that she was stuck with him..his brothers were more lenient..his annis had gotten off easy
But he really was upset
That night in their room
Onne onnu soldren..intha saappaatta korikkarthu..saappidaama drama pandrathellam vendaam..ozhungu mariyathaiya seriya saappittu udamba paarthukkanum sollitten he said
She only nodded her head and lay down
Kathir stood looking at her for some time and proceeded to lie down himself
The next morning
He saw his brother sitting in the hall and offered solace to him
Bhayappadaatheenganne..doctor nalla vithamaa thaan sonnaanga ..innum oru treatment mattum thaan
Dhanam illenna naan ille da his anna sobbed
Namma kudumbame illenne ..aanaa appudi ellam onnum aagaathu he said
Jeeva walked in then
The brothers spoke some more
And started out for work
Jeeva spoke to Kathir
Mullai paavam da
Puriyuthu nne
Jeeva smiled..kallu karaiya aarambichuduchu..ritu
Kathir came home in the afternoon
Dhanam and Moorthy were at the hospital and taken the baby with them
Kannan and Aishu had gone to the hospital as well for the baby's vaccination
Mullai was home alone he knew
And the baby was crying
She stood looking helpless
Azhathe thangam..Aishu chithi ippo vanthuduvaanga she was saying
Something about her stance was disturbing
She was gently pressing her breast and her face was slightly contorted in pain
Kathir hurried in
Lifting the baby he looked at her
Entha vishayathula en pecha meeralaam entha vishayathula koodathu theriyaatha he asked in a soft voice
But Mullai was not in a position to hear him
She was by then moaning in pain
Enna aachu ma he asked standing in front of her
That ma did her in
Romba valikkuthu nga ammaa ennala thaanga mudiyale she moaned
Enga valikkuthu vayiraa he asked
Ille
Pinna
Inga she said pointing to her chest..
She took his hands and placed it there
He went straight to panic mode
Ey enna ippudi kallu kanakka aagi irukku..udambu vera kothikkuthu he said
He took her into the room and made her sit on the bed and she moaned louder
Even slight movements seemed to hurt
He helped loosen her blouse a bit and also helped unhook the undergarment so it wouldn't squeeze her breast
She gasped in relief
He quickly called his athai
Athai
Hmm sollunga maappillai
Mullaikku konjam joramaa irukku
Yen enna aachu
Theriyale athu paal kudukkara edam kal mathiri aagi valila thudikkaraa
Paal katti irukku..naan itho kelambi varen ..neenga venneer vechu lesa oru thuniyaala othadam kudunga ..lesa elagi varavum kozhanthaikku kudukka sollunga seri aayidum she said
Kathir immediately sprung to action
He heated up some water and gave her a hot towel massage
Soon Mullai sagged against him in relief
He could sense the difference
He held the baby to her
Paal kudu he said
She looked at him
The anger and resentment was still there in him she felt
She silently retrieved the feeding bottle that was sterilised and pumped the milk into that
At one point the relief was so intense that she almost fainted
She took a moment's break
But continued with renewed vigour
Kathir leaving the baby on the bed went out
Mullai's face fell
But he was back in 5 mts with a hot glass of beverage
She had by then expressed from both sides..closing the bottle she handed it to him and tried to lie down
Holding her by her elbow he made her sit
Ithe kudi he said
She sat unmoving
En Kannukutty la..please he said
She drank then for she frankly needed the drink..she was completely drained
Kathir fed the baby and it drank the milk eagerly
Parvathy arrived soon enough
Mullai ennamaa ippo eppudi irukku she asked feeling her forehead
The fever had subsided
Mullai on seeing her mom pulled her arm to make her sit down on the bed
Scooting over to her she lay her head on her mom's lap
Ippo vali pocha
She nooded her head
Enna aachu vela velaikku paal kuduthiya illiyaa
Seriya kudikkale
Seri iva thaan kudikkala..Dhanam kozhanthaikkum nee thaane kudukkara ..
Antha kozhanthaikku naan kudukkale
Yen
Akka vaangara paal kuduthuttaanga
Ada loosu..2 kozhanthaikku paal kuduthu pazhagittu thideernu oru kozhanthaikkum kudukkalenna ippudi thaan aagum she said
Kathir was feeling guilty
He hadn't known all these complications existed
Nee thoongu amma naan paarthukkaren she said..Oru nimisham iru varen
And she walked towards the kitchen
Kathir followed her
Ethaachum help pannanumaa he asked
Ille maappillai..
She worked in silence
After a few moments she said
Mullai mela unga kovam thappu ille thaan aanaa pacha udambu kaari..melum kozhanthaikku yen intha thandanai..neraiya ammakkalukku paale illaama poranthathulernthe kozhanthainga butti paal kudichu valararthu undu thaan..illlennellam
Sollale..aanaa inga appudi ille..
Enakku Mullai ku ippudi oru avastha aagum nu theriyaathu he mumbled
Parvathy said nothing more
After Murugan told her the news even she felt the 3 women had gone overboard this time
Neenga mess ponga naan Mullai kooda irukken Parvathy said
Kathir left after saying bye to Mullai
She was half asleed and only mumbled in response
He didn't want to disturb her
Moorthy dropped Dhanam at home and left to the shop
Chithi vaanga she said
Parvathy only nodded her head
Mullai was sleeping
Eppo vantheenga chithi
Ippo thaan oru mani neram aachu
Doctor enna sonnaanga the older lady asked after a pause
Onnum periya prachanai ille..operation nalla vithamaa mudinjuchu..inime chemo therapy mattum thaan she said
Hmm romba bhayappadaathe..ippo ellam unne vida vayasaana ladies eh intha treatment ellam eduthu themba irukkaanga..unakku vayasu kammi oru prachanaiyum varaathu
Dhanam smiled
Naanga ellam irukkom thairiyama iru she said patting her cheeks
Her baby cried
Mullai kitta kudu Parvathy said
Dhanam looked at her
Parvathy fixed her with a stare
Rendu pillaingalukku kuduthu pazhagitta..ippo oru kozhanthaikkum kudukka mudiyaama paal katti ore avasthai..antha vali theriyumaa unakku
Dhanam looked shocked
Maappillai oda kovathula oru nyaayam irukku..unakku enna..melum ithulla pacha mannu intha kozhanthainga enna pannichu she snapped
Dhanam wordlessly went in and gave the kid to Mullai
Paal kudukkariyaa..romba azhuvaraa she said
Mullai happily fed the baby
That night at dinner
Mullai sat next to Kathir
He was serving her some veggies
Nalla saappidu he smiled at her
She ate well in 2 days
She finished early
Naan kai kazhuvittu ungalukku omelette onnu seyyattumaa she asked
Vendaam ippudiye ukkaaru..he said..udambu nalla therinathum pottu tha he said
Everyone watching this heaved a sigh
Later in their room
He pulled her into a hug
She came willingly enough
Udambukku sugam illenna oru phone panna maattiyaa
Yaarukku..yaarum thaan en kitta pesalaye she sobbed
Pesaattiyum akkarai irukkunnu theriyaatha
She gave him a bleak look
Enna ma
She nodded her head to say nothing
Un varuthatha sollidu he coaxed
Neenga veetta vittu poga soldreenga..amma anga vara thevai ille sollittaanga..appavum amma pinnadiye poittaaru..enakkunnu yaaru irukka she sniffled
Loosu kannukutty he whispered
Anga koottittu pona namakkulla virisal
Jaasthi aagumnu unga amma avasara avasaramaa kelambinaanga..un kitta irunthi othungi irukkanum na enakku mess laye thoonga theriyaatha ille Kumaresan maamaa kooda poi irukka theriyaatha
She smiled a little at that
Sorry she said innime ippudi poi ellam solla maatten
Oru kaattaan kitta maatti kittomnu thonutha he asked
Yen
Annanunga rendu perum ippudi kovikkala aanaa naan mattum unnaiya he trailed
She smiled then
Athe mathiri enakku oru koraiyum vekkaama ovvoru edathulayum enakkaaga nikkarthulayum neenga unga annanungalukku mel thaan she said
Puriyale
Kovikka koodathu
Hmm sollu
Periya maamaa..akka kitta kekka koodatha onna kettaaru..sila varushangalukku appuram kudumba nelamai seri aayiduchu..akkavayum ethana sabai la kuthi kaamichu iruppaanga..akka kanneer vidartha paarthum avaru onnum seyyala..thambingala naanga thaan pasanga nnu solla vittu vedikkai paarthaaru
Jeeva maamaa vum Meena kaaga ethuvume pannala..oru bathroom athe pesi senju thara mudiyale..Meena mothalla pinnadi oru extra bathroom toilet thaan kettaanga..room oda attached nu maarinathu pregnant aana appuram thaan..oru padam thaniyaa poga aasai pattaanga..athe nadathi kudukka avarukku 3 varushathukku mela aachu
Neenga appudiya she finished
Illiya he asked
Ille..oru edathula kooda enna azha vittu paarthathu ille..enakkaaga ninnu irukkeenga..nalla thuni udutharthulernthu..school padippu mudikkarthaagattum..treatment selavukku prachanai aanappo enakkaaga ninnathu aagattum neenga vera she said ippo kooda akka kitta seriya pesala aanaa en kashtam paarkka mudiyale la she said
He hugged her a little tighter then
I love you Mullai he whispered
She smiled then a very happy smile
Naanum she said
Theriyum he whispered
Ippo vali pocha he asked
Hmm pochu ..she said
Nejamaa sorry..enakku sathyama ippudi aagum theriyaathu he said
Pothum antha pechu vidunga she said
Padu vaa he said
She lay down
There was silence
Enga she said
Hmm
Enakku nejamaa exam ellam ezhutha venaam she whispered
He chuckled
Thoongu dee he said
Hmm
Appuram innonnu onnu
Enna
Neenga eppudi antha horlicks podareenga solli thareengala she asked
Naane pottu tharen he said
She smiled
Inga vaa he said
She moved closer to him
Offering his shoulder for her to lie on he pulled her closer to him
Kissing her gently on her forehead he said
Kozhanthai thoongum pothu neeyum konjam thoongikko he said
And snuggling into him Mullai was only too happy to oblige
The cold war continued between Kathir and Dhanam for a few days..but during the radiation treatment it was sorted out..And finally peace was restored in the Pandian household