"Chiti.Vanga, ulla vanga. Mullai varalaya?", Dhanam tried to facilitate the conversation as always.
"Avala veeta vitu thorathitu, ipo varalayanu kekara?", annoyance being too evident in Parvathy's tone.
"Chithi apadi elam illa. Nenga ulla vanga modhala. Roadla ninikitu edhuku pesikitu?"
"En, unga veetu manam poidumnu bayapadariya?", exasperated Parvathy.
"Ada enna nee. Podhum niruthu Parvathy. Ulla poi pesikalam", Murugan tried to mediate.
Finally, there were all inside the house. Parvathy was still seething in anger, seeing Meena in the house.
"Pathengala, unga Akka veetu pavusa? Kadasila, en ponna kadai velai seiyavum, unga akkaku othachiya irukavuma inga kalyanam panni kuthoma nama? " ,Parvathy let out all her anguish.
"Chithi, Mullai enga veetu ponnu. Inga than vazhuva. Adhuku naan porupu chithi", said Dhanam confidently.
"Amam di. Un nadipi elam enaku theriyadhunu nenachiya? Chumma pasama irukara mathiri nala nadikara. Indha veedu un controla irukanum nenapu unaku.Ella kolundhanaiyum kai kula vechu iruka, un purshanaym sethu. Elarum nee solradha than kekanum. Avangalum nee kilicha kota thanda matanga. Ipadi pesi pesi yemathi thana, inoru ponna virubaranu therinjum en ponnuku katti kuduta. Apo thana nee solradhuku elam thalai atara ponnu indha veetuku varuvanu?", Parvathy breathed fire.
"Dhanam unna enna senjutanu , ava kita malluku nikara Parvathy nee? Konjam neram pesama iru", said Murugan well knowing his wife's character.
Parvathy had no intention to back off and continued. "Naan enga amadiya irukanum?. Ipovum pesalana, ivala elam adakavey mudiyadhu. Andha kadaiyila elarum than velai seiyaranga, aana Moorthy mapillai velayum solayuma galala okandukarar. Iva nala nala selaya katikitu minikitu theeriyara. Uzhaikarathu elam matha 2 thambi, sothu elam Moorthy mapillai perla. Panakara marumaga vandha, iva nala ipadi iruka mudiyadhu illa. Adhan nama ponna kalyanam panni kuduthu iruka iva. Oru ilichavaya kalyanam panikitu, inoru ponna kadhalichutu irukaru mapillai. Elam iva solli kuduthu than irukum"
"Inga parunga athai. Thevai ilama anni'a idhula ilukadhenga. Meenva kadhalichadhu naanu. Unga ponna kalyanam paninadhu naanu. Enna ena venna nenga solalam, thevai ilama Anni'a ilukadhenga", said Jeeva not wanting her to suffer because of his mistakes.
"Unna kenju ketutukarean Parvathy. Konjam neram amaidhaiya iru. Ipadi elam pesina, nama ponnu indha veetuku yepadi thirumba vara mudiyum? Nama ponnuku oru vazhi porakanumnu pakarean. Adha nee ula pugudhu keduthu vekadha. ", Murugan tried to sooth the situation. He was upset with Jeeva too, but he did not want to react and make the situations worse. He believed his sister would not let him down and make sure his daughter lives in this house peacefully.
"Amamnga. Epo paaru en vaiya adainga. Ipadi onumey iladha mapillaiku katti kuduka than otha kala ninenga. Ipo parunga, enga vandhu nikudhunu.
Adhu yepadi mapillai. Inoru ponna kadhalichutu en ponna katikitenga? Unga vetuku velai seiya aalu venumna, adhuku en ponnu than kedachala? Ava vazhkaiku ipo enna badhil? Itha ponnukagava en ponna udarshina paduthinenga? Iva moonjum, mogarayum", whimpered Parvathy thinking about her daughter's life.
Parvathy is not able to stand that Meena is still standing here and no one bats an eye. "Emma ponnu, unaku orala vera payaney kedaikalaya? Inoruthan purushan than kedachana?"
Jeeva was looking at Meena. His eyes met her watery ones. Her face showed disappointment and sorrow. He knew, she expected him to stand by her.
"Athai..."
"Ohh ivala sonna ungaluku pudikalayo. Apadi mayaki vechu irukala ungala? Ayoo en ponnu vazhkai ipadi ayiduchey. Petha vayiru pathitu varudhu. Nenga yarumey nala iruka matenga", Parvathy wept openly and sat on the floor.
Jeeva was not able to see anyone. His Athai was wailing openly. His Mama, stared at him blankly, brows pressed and mouth slightly opened. He was mad, angry, disappointed and sad.
Murgan, wanted to think this was all a joke. His mapillai could not be in love with someone other than his daughter. He was waiting for one of them to laugh and say it was just a prank. That shred of hope was slowly fading away as Jeeva's face did not seem to change.
"Mapillai. Enna mapillai idhu elam? Mulla romba nala ponnu mapillai. Ava vazhkaiya kelvi kuri akitadhenga ", Murugan started crying holding Jeeva's hand.
Jeeva could not endure the pain any longer. "Ayo mama, azhadhenga"
"Meena, nee inga irundhu kelambu. Jeeva'ku kalyanam ayiduchu. Avanuku pondatti iruka. Jeeva avala pathi matum yosicha podum. Un prachanai elam inga vandhu solli, inum prachanaiya perusakatha. Jeeva, avala poga sollu da", said Dhanam not wanting Parvathy to taunt anything against her family anymore.
Meena looked at Jeeva, hoping he would say something. She was losing her patience. She never wanted to come in any other girl's life. However, this was her life and Mullai had come between, not the other way around. Nevertheless, seeing a mom cry for her daughter's life, made her not say anything and she kept numb. Dhanam was going overboard and her interface was annoying beyond her limits. Dhanam knew Jeeva loved her and still got him married to another girl. She was not ready to buy her acting all innocent.
"Unna kelamba sonean Meena. Dhayava senju endha prachanayum panama kelambu", said Dhanam
"Adha Jeeva solatum. Neenga solla venam", came a curt reply from Meena.
"Venam Meena. Prachanaiya perusu akadha ipo.Nee kelambu. Aparam pesalam", pleaded Jeeva
"Naan enna pananumnu nee sollu Jeeva. Phone panna cut pandra, messagekum reply illa. Nerla pakalamnu vandha thorathara.
Nee edavadhu panni, yepadiyavadhu ennai kalyanam panipenu nenachean. Andha nambikayil than indha oru varusham irundhean. Ipadi enna thuki potutu inoru kalyanam panipenu kanavila kuda naan nenaikala Jeeva.
Unga rendu peryavum kovila vechu sethu pathapo, manasu apadi valichudu. Unna unga veetla force panni than kalyanam panni irupanganu enaku puriyudhu. Kandipa unaku Mullai mela virupam irukadhunu enaku theriyum Jeeva", Meena confessed her heart out. Her heart was just waiting for an assurance from Jeeva too.
"Avan samadham oda than indha kalyanam nadadhuchu.", Dhanam stated the fact not understanding how the words were slowly killing Meena inside.
"Nenga pesadhenga. Elam therijum avana enaku kalyanam panni vekama vitu irukenga. Kovila avalavu sonean unga kita. Edhumey theriyadha mathiri ipo pesarenga"
"Meena, podhum Meena. Niruthu", Jeeva helplessly shouted to top of his lungs. He saw Meena's face losing color slowly.
"Epavum unaku un kudumbam than mukiyam. Naan elam unaku oru aaley illala? Ipo kuda un anniku than support panra.
Enna vennamnu thuki potta unna, naanum thuki podanumnu than pakarean. Aana mudiyalayey. Enna naan unna unmaiya kadhalikarean Jeeva"
Her muffled cries made Jeeva's heart pain. He was making all his loved ones suffer.
" Ipo, Inoruthara kalyanama panika solli, enga appa varpurutharar. Unna thavira naan yaraikum manasara nenaika matean Jeeva. Apadi oru nelamai vandha, sethalum savene thavira, inorutharku kaludha neeta matean.
Idhuku melayum, inga ninnu un kita kenja mudiyadhu enala. Naan varean"
Meena looked at him with an undefined expression. She slowly walked to the door. She swing the door open, quietly closed it without looking back at anyone.
Jeeva was looking at the door as if there was some sort of ghost. She was here just now and now she is not. Why did his happen to him?
Moorthy walked in there hearing the commotion.
"Enna Dhanam nadakudhu. Athai, Mama enna achu?"
"Vanga, vanga. Nee matum enna panida porenga? Unga pondatikum, thambikum amam Sammy thana poduvenga?
Inga irukara elarukum sollikarean. En ponnu indha veetla than vazhuva. Adhula yaravadhu prachanai panunga, apo iruku unga elarukum. Apo indha Parvathy yarunu ungaluku puriyum", said authoritatively before dragging Murugan out of the house.
Dhanam narrated everything to Moorthy while Jeeva just stood there thinking about what Meena said. The loud "Jeeva" from Moorthy, drove him out of that thought. Soon, other thoughts, more terrifying ones surged up. He looked at Moorthy eyes with dying terror.
"Unga istathuku nadanthu kitu, ipo enna vandhu nikudhu paaru"
At the same time, everyone heard Lakshmi Amma calling Dhanam from inside. "Dhanam, anga enna ma satham?"
"Pathiya da. Enna elam nadakudhunu. Naan valartha Jeeva'va da idhu? Andha ponna maraka mudiyadhuna, solli irukalam illa. Naan yepadiyavadhu kalyanam panni vechu irupean. Ipadi kondandhutiyey da. Ava istathuku, un mela enaku akarai iladha mathiri solitu pora?". Dhanam was horrified. Meena and Parvathy had doubted her upbringing. She had nurtured and protected them as her own kids but now worried if she failed as a mother to them.
"Ayo Anni. Ava sonadha perusa yeduthukadhenga. Nenga enga elarukum Amma mathiri "
"Apadi nenachu irundha, ipadi en kita elathaiyum marachu irupiya da? Illa, naan patha ponnuku dhoragam panni irupiya? Verum Anni'a pathadhala thana, onumey solama vittu iruka indha oru varushama?", Dhanam wanted some affirmation that she didn't fail in her love and affection.
"En Dhanam, avan kita ketutu iruka. En thambi oru naalum thappu panna matanganu solitu irundhean. Ipo en moonjia enga poi vechukaradhu naan?", said Moorthy displeased with Jeeva.
"Anney"
"Nee apadi kupidadha da. En thambi Ipadi elam oru naalum seiya maatan. Nee en thambiyey illa da".
Moorthy walked inside to his crying mother along with Dhanam.
After couple of shocked seconds, Jeeva dropped on to the couch. Tears slowly slid down his cheeks and drying off. He disappointed his Anna and Anni whom he considered as his parents. He would not be able to argue his side. That does not mean, he is going to sit and crib over it. He would make all efforts to win back this Anna, Anni's trust back.
Kathir stood there all this while silently observing everything. He was now looking at Jeeva thinking on how and what to talk to him. Jeeva gave a defying look at Kathir. He made a spit noise, stood up and left. His decision was more than obvious to Kathir.
Later that day, Kathir retired to his bed. He was not able to concentrate on work all day. He knew Jeeva wanted to give anything to make his family happy. He felt a knot in his throat. Desperate tears escaped his eyes and slid down his temple. After debating for long, we decided to call Mullai and apologize. Somehow, he was responsible for all this mess. Although, he would not be able to set it right, he could start with an apology for his behavior.
Meanwhile, Mullai was pacing her room unable to sleep. She was tired of her parents accusing Jeeva's family and wanted some sleep, but tears failed her. She heard her mom crying to her dad. She closed the door shut and threw herself to the bed. She hugged one of the cushions tightly to her chest and cried, when her phone rang.
As she brought it to her face, she failed to register the number because of her blurry vision. She wiped her eyes to stare at familiar name glaring back at her. With shaky fingers, she unlocked the phone and brought it next to her ear, making a click sound as her Jimmiki tapped the glass screen on the phone.
"Hello", she heard brightly from the other side of the line.
Kathir was not optimistic, that Mullai would pick the call. He dialed her name, assured it would go as missed call. He was pleasantly surprised to hear her pick the call. She did not answer but her earrings made a sound, making her presence felt. His heart immediately lighted and a smile formed on his lips along with a bright "Hello"