At around the dinner time 9pm when he stepped into the house....he could smell the aromatic smell of deliciously prepared meals....
The moment he entered he felt like it was old times ....
It was only them...
The kiddos had gone to bed he supposed.....
Rest old clan was sitting.....lakshmi amma was sitting on her wheel chair ...
His brothers, and meena anniwas sitting in the nadumuttam.....central courtyard in their house from where the moon was visible....
Moon....
"Anga paarungalen ....nila dharboosini madiiri iruku" echoed in his ears.....
A distant memory it was from their happy couple time....
He saw his elder anni and his better half walking to and fro from kitchen to the dining area in the middle of the house....bringing the fingerlicking food....
Kanna, the foodie was the first to acknowledge him...
Kanna: vaa annan....ivalavu neram enga pona......
Kathir: varen da...
Jeeva: aaman da....naanga vararthukulaye....nee kadai lendu kelambiten nu mama sonnaru....
Apram enga da pona ivalavu neram....
Kathir: chumma apdiye bike la....oora suthi...m
Moorthy: paara ivana.....
Oor suthi paka poannanam.....
Dhanam: dei thaniya enda pona....
Kanna: annan....enna chinna kozhandaya.....thaniya yen pona nu keka.....
Moo: dei kanna....periya manushan aatam pesadhada....
Jeeva: ellei.....indha pulla mullai aa yum kooti poirukalam la....
3 varushathuk apram vandiruka....
Andha pulaikum un kooda varanum nu thonadha enna....
Kanna: adhane ......
Kathir looked at his wife who was boring her eyes into his.....making him go into a trance just like old times....
Kathir:
Dei Naan enna odiya poga poren....ini inga dane irupen....
That brought a smile on her face....a smile that needed to be seen through a microscope....if for his scrutinizing eyes....he wouldn't have understood her smile.....
But that didn't bring a smile on his face like old times.....
He ate the yummy dinner served.....he knew each and every dish were the delicacies he enjoyed.....and it was made by his wife....
He can never forget her taste....
They all completed dinner and he went with jeeva for a small walk...like old times....
Relishing the old memories.....
Jeeva mentioning how each n every member of the house missed him....right from amma...anna....anni....him....kanna....and even meena.....
He had given special accredite to mullai....telling how she was a brave girl....
Despite missing him dearly ..she made sure ...none else missed him.....
He wanted to prolong the walk....bait more time before he stepped into the space he shared with her....
Kat: annan....innum konjam dooram nadakalam....
But jeeva was a clever one....
Jeeva: adei....yaara nee....3 varysham kazhichu vandiruka....
Ipo poi innum dooram nadakanuma...
Poda ....poi mullai oda iru....
Andha pulla um inneram saptrukum....
Nee poi andha pulla oda iruda.......paavam ....
Ava kannila epovume oru ekkamum....thavipum irukum.....
Inaiku dan nala sirikide.....
Un kanulayum anda ekkam iruku...
Poda ...
Poi pesu....
Kooda iru...
Sandoshama iruda....
He had hinted on how KM needed some "their time"...for they had stayed apart so long....
True to his bro words....mullai and dhanam had completed dinner and had mostly gone to their respective room...
Latching the main door...katir and jeeva walked to their respective room....
He opened the room door with shaky hands and palpatine beats....
Only to see her waiting for him...resting on the floor.....leaning against the wall....
On seeing him...she rose...he saw her fidgeting her saree...with her fingers......
On seeing him move towards bed...
She started in a feeble tone....
Mul: enga.....sorry nga.....naan panadu thappu illa....
That blew his mind....even after 3 years she still thinks what she did was correct....
Like really.....
He didnt expect this from her....
He showed his palm indicating her to stop her talks....
Kat: podhum....enaku onnum pesa venam.....thookam varuud....
He had moved to bed lying down trying to sleep....closing his eyes....
He heard her muffles....also the switching off of the lights.....
He expected a dip on the other side of the bed but all he sensed was some foot movements....
He anticipated she will come to bed in few seconds....but he didnt feel the other side being occupied....
He opened his eyes to see his room dark....and he saw her lying on his pai....
His pai...
His companion during the initial day of their marraige....
Kathir: mela vandu padu.....
Ennala yaarum keela paduka venam....
Kooda paduka prechana na sollu....
Naane keela paduthukuren .....
Eduku indha pazhaakm illathavela
He got up all ready to shift to floor....
Mul:
Ellam pazhaginadu dan.....
Neenga illama anda bed....la.....ennala.....she cried....
He could handle any emotions of hers...her anger....love....silence.....fight....
But not her tears....
So...this was the need of pai in the room....he sadly smiled....
Her tears were his worst enemy....back then and even now.....
Kath: Adnan ipo vanten la....vandu mela padu.....
Mul: illa ungaluku....
Kat: mela padu nu sonen...
Not a comforting word more nor a hurting word less was uttered....
She came back to sleep on her bed ....their bed after three years....
Mul: enanga....
Kat: enaku thookam varudu.....
He turned facing his back to her and went to sleep.....
She tried sleeping with this assurance that atleast he was next to her.....
And Not miles apart....
Though milestone away by heart...her mind chided
Two hearts slept with their own misery.....searching for the dawn amidst the dark clouds.....
Sunrays did peak into the room of the heartbroken lovers...who were cuddled with each other in a mess.....limbs entangled.....
Two pair of eyes opened...clashing with each other ..taking in their appearance....
Just like old times....
One year they had woken up in each others arms....
Just that they were in their blood and flesh sans clothes then.....
Inhaling their bodily scents....
Cuddling each other.....
Spooning each other....
A smile was registered on their face which was replaced by a frown and later sadness in less than a minute....
Mullai freed herself and went to freshen up and start her routine.....
Routine of the day...with a bit of extra enthusiasm..
After all her hubby was present for the morning beverage....
She served the tea and he had to pick it up lest anyone question them....
Or so she thought....
Jeeva meena and Jiya were to go to temple...after breakfast and then to jana house and come back by evening for the birthday celebration by that time...the rest family was to set the house ready for the birthday bash....
With two members out and a part at home, KM didnt find the time for themselves to talk or clear out the mess after that as all were busy with the ongoing decor, food....
Not knowing what's awaiting in the party....
Will KM move apart or put away the mistake and move on together??
Who was guilty??
What was the guilt??