Mullai's phone rings early in the morning, disturbing her sleep, for the umpteenth time. Tired of silencing it, she decides to pick it up once and for all.
"Hello.." she answers in a sleepy voice.
"Kadhava thora di..." Kathir almost screams at her , huskily from the other side of the phone.
"Kathir....vandhuttiya..??" she asks, now wide awake.
"Aama baby.. first kadhava thora ..kaal valikkudhu.." he whines.
"Sorry baby...sorry..dho varen..." She slaps her forehead, and almost runs to the door.
As soon as she unlocks the door, she hugs him tight, not letting him in.
He pulls her closer.. inhaling her scent.
"Ipdilam welcome pannuva na sollu, daily vena ooruku poitu varen..." He teases from the crook of her neck.
Saying nothing , she kisses him hard in his lips, pulling him closer to her.
He places his hands on her waist involuntarily on either sides and deepens it. They come apart after a while to breathe and she places a soft feathery kiss on his lips.
"Vara vara romba wild aita di nee.. veetu vassal la vachu lam kiss panra.." he says getting in after her, rubbing his just kissed lips.
"Aama en purushana , naa enga vena vachi kiss pannuven..unakku venam na sollu , pannala..".she says mocking him, entwining her arms around his neck.
"Apdilam chollakoodadhu.."he flirts.
"Nee innaikku madhiyam dana varanu sonna..ipdi vidiyuradhukku munnadi vandhu nikkura??
"Anga late aagum nu nenaichen baby..paartha mani 9 ku ellam formalities mudinjadhu..adan apdiye veetukku poitu ..konja neram irundhuttu..night 10 ku kelambitten anga irundhu" he explains and sits, stretching himself on the sofa.
"Parra... enkitta sollavey illa.." she asks sitting before him.
"Un phone out of reach la ye irunduchu di.. solla mudila..."
"Idhu enna bag ..."
"Thorandhu dan paren di...eppo paaru kelvi kettukittu.." He says, tired.
"Hmkoom...." She shrugs nonchalant.
"Hai Fish fry!!! ....Akka na akka dan!! " She exclaims gleaming..running into the kitchen.
"Paithiyam !!..meen ah parthadhum, purushana marandhuttu oduradha paaru!!.." he laughs at her retreating figure. "Hey Appa naa pogata di room ku??" He asks her from the hall.
" Nee poitu dress change pannitu konja neram padu Kathir...naa idhalam fridge la pack panni vachitu varen." He shakes his head and goes to retire for the night.
She comes to their room after a while, and sees him laying on their bed, beside paapu, leaving some space for her next to him, so that he is lying in between them. She slides next to him gently, pulling the blanket over them, and in an instant, she is pulled to lay partly over him, her head on his chest.
"Konja neram thoonga vendidhana... tired ah irukkum la.." she cooes, rubbing his beard with her palm, running her fingers gently over it.
"Thoongalam...porumaya..innaikku epdiyum leave dana ..neenga rendu perum kelambura varaikkum mulichuttu irukken..apram thoongikuren.." he says cuddling a little closer . . Draping his arms around her waist.
"Sollamarandhutten....."
"Ennadhu da..?" He sighs, breathing her in.
"Innaikku Amma veetukku ponum Kathir.. edho poojai arrange pannirukanga."
"Ethana manikku...??" He asks curious.
" 4 manikku ..but naama kaila poiduvom... Amma ku thaniya edhum panna mudiyadhu la..naama oru 9.30 ku veedu vitralam..paapu ku leave solliten...naanum leave.."
"Adhukkennna...poita pochu.."
"Poitu night stay pannitu naalaikku morning vandhudalam ..okay?"
"Sari di..nee thoongu oru two hours..apram kelambalam..."
They sleep for sometime... snuggling into each other .
Kathir wakes up after sometime to see his wife not beside him, and his daughter a feet away from him, leaning onto the wall, clutching her doll . He looks at the time and it's 7.30 am.
He rolls on to her side, and hugs her, nuzzling her face with his beard.
"Daddy.. !!" She screams, and launches herself over him, throwing her arms around his neck .
"Ada ...enna da kutty...nalla thoongitu irundha nu paatha.. thoonglaya neenga..??" He laughs, enclosing her in his arms.
"Thoongitu dan daddy irundhen...apram unga perfume smell vanducha..adan udaney elundhuteney!!.." she smiles giggling.
"Parra..daddy oda smell therinju endirichittingala!!....en thanga kutty da nee...en vella katti .." he pets her ,
cradling her in his arms and kissing her cheeks.
"Daddy...!!" She laughs..."koosudhu..daddy.. please!!"
"Sari appa daddy ku oru kiss kudunga...viturren.." he laughs.. tickling her.
"Sari.. daddy okay..!!" She laughs and kisses her dad.
Soon it is only the laughs and giggles of the father and daughter , that echoes all over the house.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Mullai and Paati are busy cooking breakfast; it is when they hear their laughter.
"Thambi eppa kannu vandhuchu??" Paati asks Mullai.
"Oru 4.30 mani irukkum Paati.."
"Hmm.. sari sari...neenga poi kelambunga ..vitta rendu perum naal poora velayaduvanga ...naa tiffin eduthu vaikkuren.."
"Paati...neengalum dan... kelambunga." Mullai tells her.
" Naalam vara koodadhu ma..neenga kelambunga.."
"Enna Paati indha kaalathula poi.. "
"Naa andha kaalathu manushi ma..naa mara mudiyadhu illa.." Paati isn't ready to budge.
"Ennavo ponga Paati.." Mullai says disappointed.
Soon they have their breakfast, and are almost ready, since Mullai is fasting she doesn't eat anything. They bid bye to Paati and are on their way to Parvathi amma's home ; with Kathir driving the car, Mullai on the passenger seat and paapu over her lap.
"Paapu ma..olunga ukkarunga.. Mummy sarre lam kasangudhu paarunga." Mullai tells her daughter , as her twisting and turning on her is making her saree to pull out from its place , tugging out from the safety pin.
"Hey avala free ah pinnadi ukkara vaikka vendidhana di..paapu neenga pinnadi seat poitu ukkaraunga da !!" Kathir tells his daughter.
"Okay daddy" she nods and gets up.
"Pch ..." Mullai grunts pulling her back to her lap. " Kathir , pinnadi poojai saaman lam vachirukken..iva edachu .."
"Adhu sari.. Oru 10 mins dan da..rendu perum konja adjust pannitu vaanga.." he says looking at them.
"Baby..sarre ah anga poitu naa innoru murai iron panni tharen ..illa vera edachu kattiko..anga unnodadhu rendu saree irukku la"
"Paarkalam Kathir..evening dana..epdiyum poojai ku vera saree maathanum." he nods.
"Daddy...enakku coconut ice cream vaangi tharingala.." Paapu asks her dad.
"Sari da kutty...aana afternoon dhan, lunch ku apram.. okay??. He tells her , and she bobs her head up and down.
"Eppa paati veetuku vandhalum , andha Ice cream ah marandhuradha.." Mullai sulks.
"Mummy please.." she pleads her mom pouting.
"Sari..moonjiya apdi vaikkadhinga.." she gives up not being able to resist that cuteness.
While her husband smiles at them, as if adoring them.Sometimes it becomes too overwhelming for him to believe that, this cute little family is his to love , protect and to cherish.
He himself gets astonished at the extent he is willing to go for the both of them.
Him lost in this thoughts , and his wife and his daughter indulging in their discussion over the ice-cream flavours, they reach their destination rather quickly.
"Vaanga mapla..vaa ma Mullai..chinna kutty!! Vaa da..!!" Murugan Appa welcomes them as soon as they enter the threshold, all smiling, picking paapu in his arms .
"Epdi irukeenga maama.." asks Kathir .
"Enakenna Maapla..naa nalla irukken...oorla ellam epdi irukanga Maapla?? "
"Nalla irukkanga maama. Unga ellarayum visarichanga....atha enga maama??" He asks for his mother in law, his eyes looking around.
"Sandhosam Maapla. Unga atha...Ulla..." He says, looking behind him, with his granddaughter still in his arms.
"Mulla vandhuttiya ma.?? Vaanga Maapla..epdi irukkenga..kutty ma " Parvathi Amma comes to the hall from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her pallu.
"Maa .."
"Nalla irukkom atha" Kathir smiles at her.
"Hi Paati..." Paapu exclaims and leans over from her thatha to paati and she picks her up.
Soon the pleasantries are done, and Mullai and Parvathi get done with the arrangements for the Pooja around afternoon. They call every one for lunch, and are seated on the table.
"Daddy enakku ooti vidunga.." she tugs at the t-shirt of his dad , her voice all mellow.
"Sari da..." Says kathir pecking her forehead.
"Kannu..appa spadattum, vada thatha ootren " Murugan suggests.
" Illa pa.." Mullai says .
" Naa pathukuren...epdiyum naa ippa sapda poradhilla la.." she then turns to her daughter.
"Paapu..daddy saapdattum..vaanga naa ootividuren..." She calls paapu beside her to feed her.
"Ipdilam saapdama irundhu Pooja pannithan aaganuma..?? Erkanavey nee romba steel body..idhula fasting vera..sonna enga kekkura.." Kathir complains.
"Pch.. Kathir ipdilam pesa koodadhu..." Mullai tells him off.
"Aama mapla poojai palan kedaikkama poidum.." it's Parvathi's turn now.
"Hmm...idhula idhu veraya..ipdilam nee saapdama irundhu enakku aayul koodanuma..." Kathir mumbles to himself agitated.
"Daddy..ice cream.." paapu reminds her dad.
"Sari da..neenga first saaptu mudinga.." Kathir nods.
Soon they finish their lunch and Kathir and Murugan take paapu out for ice-cream. Meanwhile , Parvathi and Mullai indulge themselves in making prasadham for the poojai .
"Enna di naanum vandhadhula irundhu neeya edha solva nu parthuttu irukken ..nee onnum vaaya thorakkura madiri therila.." Parvathi starts.
"Ennadhu ma??"
"Ennadi theriyadha madiri kekkura?? Andha madurai kaari ah anga out house la ye thanga vachi irukkangalam enakku theriyadhu nu nenaichiya.." she asks referring to Jennifer.
" Oh adhuva..Ippa adhunaala enna..? " Mullai answers nonchalant.
"Enna Mulla unakku edhum kirrukku pidichi irukka?? Un purushan munnadi avalathan kattikanum nu irundhu irukkar.."
"Ma ...unakkey theriyadha , Kathir en mela evlo uyir ah irukkar...idhukku mela enakku enna ma venum?? She assures her Mom.
"Ellam sari dhan di...Adhu avala paarkadha podhu..ava mela kovama irukkumbodhu..ippa dan ava ipdi vandhu nikkuraley.."
"Adhunaala..en purushan enna vittutu ava pinnadi poiduvara?? enna ma nee loosu madiri pesitu irukka.." Mullai argues with her mom.
"Ayyo en di ipdi puriyada ponnavey irukka?? Podhuva vey aambulainga lukku modhal modhal ah aasa patta ponna marakka mudiyadhu...adum ippa ivar vera kootitu poi vittutu vandhu irukkaru...enna enna pesi vachalo..." Parvathi laments...
"Ivarukku palasulam nenaippu ku vanduruchu na..un gadhi enna nu yosichiya di...ippa ava mela motha kudumbthukkum oru anudhabam vera vandhu irukkum..."
"Maa... please ma.." Mullai pleads her mom to stop talking in that way.
"Ennavo po..andha Pandian annachi vera kooru kettu poi nadandhukittu irukkaru...oru ponna pethu irundha dana en manasu puriyum.."
Mulla stops talking to let her mom to vent out, so that she cools down a bit and then to pacify her a little later.
"Kasthuri appavey sonna...indha pandian stores kudumbam venam , un ponna nee adhukku ashramathukku anupidalam nu...kettana naanu??..unga appa enna ennavo solli enna emathitaru..." She continues lamenting, when,
"Ivlo nambikkai illama edhukku atha katti kodutheenga..? Kathir thunders from behind .
They all had come back, since the ice-cream parlor was closed. Murugan had seen a friend on the way and stopped to talk to him , while Kathir and paapu chose to come home as it was sunny and paapu was getting cranky.
He stopped at the threshold when he heard Parvathi talking about her perception of men's mentality.
He started getting irritated when she started to badmouth his father.
But , what blew him off was the way Mullai stood silent as if agreeing to her mother's allegations .
Why didn't she say anything?
Was she also thinking the same way as her mother ?
Didn't she know what is she to him ??. Are they all going to judge him based on his past relationship ,that didn't mean anything to him now ??.
Well, so be it.
"Kathir..." Mullai says exasperated.
"Epdi atha ungala la , enga mela ivlo veruppayum , kovathayum vachitu, velila onnumey illadha maari pesa mudiyudhu.." he asks Parvathi, his eyes red with rage.
"Please Kathir..." Mullai pleads him , God knows for what.
"Neenga pesadhinga madam, unga Amma enna pathi, Appa pathi, en kudumbatha pathi ivlo kevalama pesittu irukkanga, neengalum ivanga pesuradhu ellam sari nu , silent ah vedikkai parthuttu irukkenga..oru vela neengalum apdi dan yosikkureengala??" He asks glaring at Mullai.
"Kathir...kova padadha please...konjam porumaya na solradha kelu..." Mullai pleads, her voice breaking at the temperament in his voice.
"Aama di...unga amma , oru pullaiya pethadhukku apramum, vera oruthar ku unna katti koduthirukkanum nu solvaanga, neeyum ketutu iruppa ; naanum amaidhiya irukkanum illa...nalla irukku di un nyayam.." he laughs sarcastic.
"Neenga mattum kalyanathukku munnadi virumbuna ponna kutitu poi unga outhouse la vaippinga...adha ponna petha naanga vedikkai parthuttu irukkanum la..." Parvathi retorts adding fuel to the fire.
"Maa..enna maa nee?? ..." Mullai cries this time looking at her mother.
Though he feels bad looking her tearing up, it is his self respect at stake.
Not only his; but the dignity of their matrimony questioned at this good for nothing sort of an issue , irked him to an extent of not tending to her.
It is high time Mullai knows where to mellow down to her mother and where not to.
"Ungala yaaru atha vedikkai paarka sonna? Mullai ku theriyama oru inch kooda en vaazhkaila nagaradhu nu avalukku theriyum... " He looks at Mullai and continues.
" Avalukku theriyum nu than nenaichikittu irundhen, irukken. .. epdiyum iva athachi ungalukku thagaval solli iruppangala...neenga enkitta nerla kekka vendiyadhu dana ... ungalukku en mela nambikkai illati , naa yaar pinnadiyo odi poiduven nu nenaichu irundha , neenga thitta vendiyadhu enna; Korai solla vendiyadhu enna; enga appavayo, illa en kudumbatha yo illa." He lets out a long painful breath.
"Hmkoom..." Parvathi shakes her head and looks aside.
"Naa..kelamburen..." He says looking at no one.
"Kathir ...please iru...poojai ku apram poidalam...naanum vandurren...illati ellam waste ah poidum.. indha poojai romba mukkiyam Kathir.." Mullai implores.
"Venam maa...nee pannadhellam podhum..." he says exasperated.
"Kathir ...na unna epdi apdi yosippen....pesuven....enna pesura.." she retorts.
"Pesa maata...aana pesa vittu vedikkai parthuttu iruppa...unna yaaradhu ipdi pesi irundha , anga enna nadandhu irukkum nu mattum yosichu paaru..unakku naa avlo dan la.." he says..his voice trailing off.
He then looks around for his key and wallet and goes out of the house , clutching them tight in his palms. The car leaves their premises in a jiffy, leaving a gust of dust and mud behind.
Murugan comes a while later, not finding his son in-law around , and seeing the state of his daughter sulking at his wife, he gets a clear picture of what could have happened in his absence.
He goes to the backyard to find his daughter sulking and crying on the steps.
"Ammadi... edhukku da aludhuttu irukka.." he sits near her, taking her palms in his.
"Indha Amma en pa eppavum, enakku nalladhu panren nu, enakkum avarukkum edhavadhu sandai eluthu vitrudhu?? She sniffles looking teary eyed at her dad.
"Unakku dan theriyumey da..ava gunamey apdi dhana??.. avalukku aadhangam da..maapla pathi therinju irundhum...ipdi sara sari aala pesura madiri pesita.." he explains wiping away the tears from her eyes.
"Aama pa..enna ennavo pesiduchi pa..avar paavam erkanavey enna kaaya padhuthida koodadhu nu daily bayandhu bayandhu thavikkurar..Amma vera adhaye pesi vitruchi...idhu la maama va vera vaaikku vandha padi pesiduchi." She cries her heart out for her husband.
"Ivala vechittu enna panradhu...sari ma..nee alugadha..naa Maapla Kitta mannipu kekkuren..naa sari panren da maaplaya.." he pats her head.
"Illa pa..avarukku Amma pesunadha vida, naa onnum solladhadhu dan pa kovamey...amma pesi mudichadhum, naa porumaya eduthu solallam nu nenaichadhu thappa poiduchu.." she cries again, fresh tears oozing out of her eyes.
"Sari viduma...Ippa poi samadhana paduthikkalam...nee vaa da..kelambu..pulla ya thookitu kelambu..Appa kootitu poren..poojai kedakkudhu..maaplaya poi sari pannu da.." he pacifies her.
"Illa pa.. poojai avarukkaga panradhu.. avarukku pona maasam fever vanduruchu la...appa vendikittadhu...panla na thappaidum..naa poojai mudichittey poren.."
"Sari ma..nee alugadha ...podhum...ellam sari aidum.." He says gently patting her crown.
Mullai and Parvathi both perform the poojai in silence..not talking to each other. Murugan being the only one to talk.
Paapu wonders what had happened to her mom, why is her dad not there?? Why is her Parvathi Paati looking like an angry bird..?
"Mummy daddy enga" asks paapu looking t her mother, as she cleans up the hall, after pooja.
"Veetla da.." she says curt.
"Paati edhukku angry bird madiri irukkanga? Neenga fight panningala...?" She bugs Mullai .
"Illa da..unga Paati ku vaaila Vali.." she says mocking .
"Edhukku mummy.. enna aachu paatikku..." She asks concerned at her paati.
"Onnumilla...nee kelambu...naama veetuku porom.." Mullai announces.
"Night stay panlaya mummy...inga stay panna porom nu sonninga ..." She asks again.
"Solra pecha kelu paapu...chumma kelvi kettutu...unga Appa inga illa la?? Naama matttum edhukku inga irukkanum...unga appa irukka edathula dan naama epppavum irukkanum. Iruppom." She fires looking at Parvathi, silencing paapu.
Mullai packs her and paapu's stuff in a bag, picks her up in her arms , while Murugan gets the bag from Mullai. She storms out of the house without glancing at her mother even once. While paapu looks out, from her mother's shoulder to bid bye to her paati.
"Bye Paati.." in a sad voice, making Parvathi melt.
They reach their house in an hour , around 7 pm in the evening. Mullai rings the calling bell twice.
Kathir opens the door looking straight at her.
"Daddy !! " Paapu beams at her father.
"Ka...." Mullai tries to stop him, but he scoots inside too soon , carrying his daughter in his arms.
" Vaa da kutty....!!! "
Leaving Mullai jaw dropped in the hall, not knowing what to do , with a husband who is not even ready to glance at her.!!