Jeeva lost the ability to respond. He is not able to let go of his inner feelings for Meena and start a new life with Mullai. He has messed up his life big time. After seeing Meena today, he knew she was broken inside but showed a brave face just for him. It made him miss her more. He also realized, he could never move past her if he does not step up and try to mend his ways. He cannot go on forever betraying his wife, her rights. With these thoughts he came to speak to Mullai to buy some time, only to see her reject him and deciding to leave him forever. If only, he had spent all his time in making an effort to make this marriage work, rather than sulking in guilt.
Mullai saw him standing rooted without uttering anything. She knew he was still processing all this. Having made a decision with no intention of backing off, she started packing her stuffs, when she heard a knock on the door.
"Mulla! Jeeva! Rendu perum velila vanga. Mama pesanumnu sonar"
She walks out to find all family members gathered except Kathir. She felt relieved, as she was not ready to face him yet. She had lot in her hands and Kathir was not her priority now.
She saw Moorthy giving a cold shoulder to Jeeva and felt a little bad for him.
"Mulla va pa. Ivan inum andha ponnu kuda pesaranu enaku theriyama pochu. Ilana epovo idha naan seri panni irupean."
Mullai has always respected her elder Mama. He was the one who took decisions for all and his brothers followed him. She had never done anything against his words in this one year. Now, how she wished he had consulted Jeeva before he took the decision of his brother marriage with her. She was loathing inside and not being able to hide her emotions any further, she asked
"Enna Mama panni irupenga?"
Moorthy was taken back. He had never seen Mullai talk to him like this before.
"Enna pa ipadi pesara? Avanuku puriya vechu irupean pa. Olunga un kuda vazha vechu irupean"
Somehow, she found his funny. She chuckled a little.
"Unmai than Mama. Ungalukaga, unga varthaikaga en kuda vazha aramichu irupar. Ungalukaga matum! Avarkaga illa. Avaruku pudichu illa! Nenga enna pesi irundhalum, avar inoru ponna virumbaradha mathi iruka mudiyadhu ilaya Mama?"
Moorthy looks at his brother angrily for bringing such shame to the family.
"Nee solradhu unmai than pa. Aana, avanuku kalyanam ayiduchu. Olunga vazhara vazhiya pathu irukanum. Ipadi suthitu irudhu irukan. Nanga elam unaku thonaiya irupom indha veeta. Nee kavala padadha pa"
"Amam Mulla. Nanga elam irukom. Naan Jeeva'va apadi vazhakala. Avan thapa unardhu inametu olunga irupan", added Dhanam to support her Mama.
Mullai was shaking her head in disbelief.
"Nenga elam enaku irundhu,enaku enna aga pogudhu? Ungaluku puriyala. Avar ungalukaga vazhdhu irupar. Apadi panni irundha avara matum avar yemathala, enaiyum sethu than yemathi irupar. Oru poiyana vazhkaiya naan kaalam pura vazhdhu irukanum.Apadi oru vazhkai vazharathuku, naan thanivey irunduduvean Mama"
Dhanam became hyper-emotional. "Jeeva, Pathiya da un pondatiya? Nee thevai ilama andha ponnu kita pesinadhu nala, enna elam nadakudhunu. Oru varthai en kita solli irukalam illa da?"
Kathir who was lost in thoughts, came back to reality when he heard the commotion outside. He heard everyone talking in elevated voice and immediately went to the living room worried for Mullai.
"Enna pa pesara nee? Chumma kovathila vaiku vandhadhu elam pesadha" roared Moorthy who was already angry on Jeeva, was now losing it on Mullai too.
"Nee ithana naal enga kita edhuvumey solama poita. Aparam nanga elam edhuku irukom indha veetla? Unga istathuku nengaley ella mudivum yedupengana, periyavanganu nanga edhuku indha veetla?"
"Periyavangana, elarukum sendhu nengaley mudivu yedukalamngara urimaiya ungaluku yaru thandha Mama?"
Mullai asked with so much hate in her voice, that Kathir stood stunned. He has never seen her speak like this to anyone but him. She has always respected everyone in the family. Yes, she has shown her anger to him, which he liked in a way. It made him feel special that he was the one whom she can be herself. But this side of Mullai baffled and worried him at the same time.
"Elarukum aasai, virupam, veerupu elam iruku. Kudumbathukaga, unga istatha elar melayum theenikadhenga Mama."
Dhanam, who was silently crying inside until now could not see her husband being bashed for no fault of his.
"Pathu pesu Mulla. Indha veetla, ipadi yarum Mama'va edhuthu pesinadhu kedaiyadhu. Nee indha veetuku vazha vandha ponnu. Ipadi elam pesaradhu nalava iruku?"
"Indha veetla inametu vazha poradhu ilanu than ipadi pesarean" said Mullai as matter of fact.
Kathir was looking keenly at Mullai now. Amongst the emotional drama that was unfolding, he was trying to get a grasp of Mullai's state of mind. A little while ago, he heard his brother say, that he is going to give this marriage another chance, which left him dejected. Now hearing Mullai is ready to walk out of the marriage, instantly, his mind starts pondering if she is leaving because of him.
Dhanam, starts hitting Jeeva by now.
"Ipadiya da naan unna vazhathean. Nee panna thapu enga vandhu nikudhu paaru. Mama'kum, indha kudumbathuku ipadi oru avamanatha kondandhu sethuta"
"Nirthunga Akka. Ella thapum nenga panitu avara edhuku adikarenga? Avaruku pudichu iruka, ilayanu kuda kekama kalyanam nichiyam panadhu unga thapu. Pidikalanu therijum, andha en kita solama vitadhum unga thapu. En kuda nichiyam panitu, Meenava ponnu kettu ponadhum nenga panna thapu. Ipo kuda, kalyanam panni vechutu sendhu than vazhanumnu solrenga. Adhu kuda unga thapu than."
"Enna Mulla pechu idhu. Appo, nanum mama'vum than thapu panomnu solra. Akka Akkanu en pinadiyey suthuviyey apo elam. Indha kalyanam panni veinganu sutharapo naan thevai patean. Aana, Ipo naan panradhu unaku thapa theriyudha?
Nenga rendu perum sandhosama vazhanumnu nanga nenaikaradhu un kanuku theriyala? Apadi thana? Ithana naal, onumey solama irundhu iruka. Adhu thapunu unaku thonala?"
"Thapu than ka. Romba periya thapu than. Indha veetla vazhanumnu china vayasil irundhu aasai patu irukean. Othukarean, oru galathula naan Jeeva mamava kadhalichean. Avara than kalyanam panikanumnu pidivadham pidichi kalyanamum panikitean.Aana avaruku pudichu irukananu oru vaati kuda yosikala. Adhu en thapu than.
Kalyanathuku piragu, avar, enna othukararnu therjapovey avar kita kettu irukanum. Avar enna kadhalikalanu therijapovey indha veeta vitu poi irukanum. Ilana, inaiku ipadi nadandhu irukadhu.."
She looked at Kathir. How can she let Jeeva take all the blame, when she was at fault too? However, she cannot come clean with the family. It is not just about her, it involves Kathir too. She cannot just tarnish his name. She did not want to pull him into the drain with her.
She took a deep breath and looked at Moorthy
"Unga elar melayum enaku kovam iruku. Neraya varutham iruku. Adhukaga matum indha veeta vitu poranu naan solala. Nanum thapu panni irukean. Enala indha veetla inametu iruka mudiyadhu. Adhan polamnu mudivu panitean."
Lakshmi Amma was patiently waiting for the youngsters to solve the issue. Now seeing it go out of hand, she stepped in
"Mulla, Apadi elam pesadha ma. Idhu eduvumey enaku theriyadhu. Jeeva va naan illana apovey kandichu irupean. Naan solrean, nala ketuko. Nee indha veetu marumaga. Adhula endha matramum kedaiyadhu."
"Illa Athai. Enna manichudunga. Jeeva mama mela matum thapu illa. En melayum iruku. Naan indha veeta vida porean. Kadasi varai unga thambi ponna, unga mela idhey pasam irukum Athai"
She starts leaving, not wanting to deal with anymore of the drama when her hand gets pulled back. She is startled to see it was Kathir who had stopped her.
"Enga pora nee?"
Everyone looked at them. They knew he has left behind the grudge and was even talking to Mullai and was caring for her. However, they didn't know he respected her to this extent. She shrugs his hand when Jeeva walks next to Kathir.
"Naan panna thapuku, nee en pa veetai vitu poganum. Namba konjam okandhu pesalam"
Before, Mullai could answer, Lakshmi amma spoke
"Nee avan pondatti. Unaku indha veetil ela urimaiyum iruku. Nee engayum poga venam"
Kathir noticed her looking at him before answering and felt a twitch in his stomach.
"Illa Athai. Entha urimaiyum enaku illa"
She looks towards everyone, mustered enough courage to continue.
"Ithana naal enna idha vetla pathukitadhuku romba nandri. Naan yaraiyavadhu epovadhu punpaduthi irundha manichudunga.Naan varean"
With that, she does not even turn back to look at anyone and walks away. Everyone started talking at the same time, unsure of what to get out of all this.
It took a minute for Kathir to digest what is happening. Not wanting to waste any more time standing there, he runs behind her, leaving behind a confused family. He sees her walking at end of the road. He takes his bike and stops in front of her.
"Enga Pora?"
Mullai did not expect him to come behind him. She answers without even looking at him.
"Enga vetuku"
It irks him, that she does not even want to look at him.
" Vandila yeru.Naan poi vidarean"
When he understood, she had no intention to look at him, repeated himself with a stern voice.
"Yerunu sonean "
Mullai obliges and get on the bike, seeing no other way out nor having any more energy left for more drama. She is looking down at her hands, not wanting to look at him nor the road. She was not ready to talk to him, not yet. She did not even realize the bike had stopped and was in her own thoughts.
Her life was a muddle. She was married to a kind soul who he did not love her. All the pent up frustration lead her to kissing his brother. She felt lonely and afraid and just wished she could go back in time just to change it. How she wished she could change everything from her kissing him or maybe from getting married to Jeeva. She was drawn out of her thoughts by Kathir's thick voice.
"Yerangu"
Mullai finally comes out of her trance and looks around. She realizes there are near the mandapam where they meet earlier this evening and not near her house. The events of the evening start flashing in her head and she immediately closes her eyes trying hard to shut down the memories of the evening. Her favorite place where she finds solace, has turned into her nightmare now.
Her wish list keeps increasing. Now she wishes, he did not come behind her nor brought her here. Above all, she just wishes to be alone now.
"Inga edhuku vandhom? Naan vetuku ponum. Enna anga vidu"
"Nee yerangu.Un kuda konjam pesanum"
Mullai just keep looking at her foot.
"Yerangunu sonean", his voice was authoritative that it scared her a little. She slowly got down and walked with him. She was nervous and was sweating excessively by the time they reached the mandapam. They stood in complete silence for a minute and Mullai was just meddling with her clothes, trying hard to avoid an anxiety attack.
Kathir did not even know where to start. He was not prepared to talk to her, but felt the need to. She looked miserable and he feels he is responsible for it. He cannot deny the fact that he was little relived that she decided to walk out of the wedding. At the same time worried if his hasty act today made her take this decision. He does not even know what she feels about him. He took advantage of her vulnerability today. He is more culpable than she is because he knew her situation better.
No matter how much he wants her in his life, he knows society is not going to let him. After today, any remote chance of her being happy with his brother was spoiled and he was solely responsible for it.
"Inaiku nadandhadhu thapunu nenaikareanu enaku theriyum. Naan apadi nadandhukitadhuku un kita manipu ketukarean."
There was no response from her. She was looking everywhere but him.
" Enna paaru. Nee vera edhuvum pesa venam. Indha kelvi'ku matum badhil sollu.
Nee inaiku yedutha mudivuku naan than karanamanu enaku theriyanum Mulla"
He noticed she was still looking elsewhere and her face started losing color. Seeing her appalled, he turned to the direction where she was looking and saw Jeeva staring at them.