The games mode was on for both the couples making the moment merry for everyone around...
While mullai was pretending to be enjoying the fun, she never failed to notice the puppy dog face of kathir...
Not wanting to see him sulky, she tried to cajole him...

M : hello laddoo boy... oh kovama irukiya... hello mirchi boy...

K : pode...

M : chummaa velaiyattuku sola matten nu sonnen... athuku poi ipadiya chinnapullaa madhiri moonjiya thooki vechupanga...

K : naan vechupen...

M : video la yelam intha face than varum...

K : paravala... varatum... future la theriyatum nee naan ketathu panala nu...

M : acho... en sweet laddoo da nee... sari solren... aana disappoint aga kudaathu...

K : aama FLAMES kellam disappointment vera aavangala... comedy panama sollu de...

M : hmmm friendship nu vanthuchu...

K (grinning) : wow... FLAMES la ipadi unmai   yellam varuma... naan kuda antha arthiku vanthatha vechu athu oru bluff game nu nenachen...

M (chuckling) : namaku favour ah vantha good game illaana bluff game ah...

K : aama athu than eh human nature... intha flames super po... perfect ah vanthuruku...

M : apadiya yena... naan nee disappoint aaviyo nu nenachen...

K : cha... past, present, future yepavum namma bestest friends... correct ah vanthuruku... appuram yena...

M : correct than boss... aana itha mathan annakita solava... semaya posessive aavaru unmela... jolly ah irukum paaka...

K : hmmm nee ennoda friend ah mattum irunthuruntha kandipa agirupaan... aana inga apadi illaaye... friend... mama ponnu... atha ponnu... appuram... (a naughty smile)

M : appuram... appalam...

K : yena...

M : appuram pesinathu pothum appalam udaikaranga... atha paaru nu sonnen...

K : hmm ipadiye escape agu... yetho kutti papa nu vidaren...

M : thanks boss...

Mullai turned to the couple games with a grin making kathir smile too...
They did enjoy the fun happening joining the cousin club and after sometime...

M : kathir...

K : hmmm...

M : enaku oru idea...

K : yenathu... poi sweet sapitutu varalama... (wink)

M : rascal... kola poren unna... stage mela irukom... konjam chumma iru...

K : nee rascal solite iru... naan chumma iruntha madhiri than... sari sollu... yena idea...

M : illaa anniki school la FLAMES potapo tamil iruka la... avalukum mathan annakum pottom... appo ava anna ah manmadhan nu than eh kindal panuva... so antha name ku potu paathom...

K : niruthu... niruthu... naan unna kutti paapa nu nenachutu iruken... nee school la intha velaithan panitu irukiya...

M : hello boss... kutti paapa kita tha  sweet kekarathu, kan adikarathu yellam panuvangala...

K : athu...athu... naanum normal paiyan than eh... slip aga than seiyum... ithu kathir oda controlled version... future la nee paaka pora kathir eh vera... appo soluve intha kathir yevalo chamathu nu...

M : yaaru nee chamatha... athu sari... nee panrathelam yaaravathu paathuduvaangalo naan bayapadarathu enaku than theriyum...

K : athelam naan paathukaren de thakkali... nee matter ku vaa... manmadhanuku potenga... athuku yena...

M : illaa namakum yen apadi potu paaka kudaathu... mirchikum, thakkalikum...

K : parra... sema idea... vaa try panuvom...

M : acho kathir... veetuku poi panalam... inga yenga panrathu... stage la irukom... suthi yena nadakuthu nu paaru...

K : pode... intha thengai urutarathu, appalam udaikaratha yevalo neram paaka... ennala yellam wait pana mudiyaathu... ippove try panalam... yepadi...

Kathir turned around to see if he can find anything and his eyes landed on a big plate with yellow rice that was kept for nalangu in the corner of the stage...
He pulled her to it and looked at her...

K : ithula panu...

M : aiyo kathir... theriyaama soliten... pesama vaaa... chummaa vambu panathe... yaaravathu paaka poranga...

K (adamantly) : chhh... paatha paakatum... enaku ippo theriyanum... panu de thakkali... enaku therinja naan eh panuven... athan unna kekaren... please de...

M : veetuku poi paakalam kathir...

K : appo naan ketta pana matte la...

M : uff... sariyana adam da nee... iru...

Mullai tugged her half saree in her hip and kneeled down near the floor started to write their names while kathir just stood as a shield so that others couldn't see her and importantly gazing at her...
Then...

L : chinnakutti... yena de achu... yen ukanthuruka...

M : athu... athu...

K : maa... pavadai golusula sikiduchu... atha yedukara...

L : yen da arivuketavane... chummaa paathutu nikare... yeduthu vidalam la... thallu ipadi...

K : maa enaku iruka ariva paatha nee meranduduva... paathudathe... ithelam naanga paathukarom... paaru puthusa vantha marumaga mothiratha yeduthutanga... maamiyaara yetha villathanam panni un magana jeika veipo...

L : adei... vaaya moodu da... kudumbathuku gundu vekka nee oruthan pothum... unnaa yellam vechukitu kashtam...

K : thank you ma... po po... paaru calling you...

Lakshmi moved aside as next parvathi called lakshmi to start the finding ring game for kasthuri and jega and mullai started working out again with kathir watching keenly...
With the background voices echoing kathir's  heart "Sikiram", " ada yevalo neram", " mudinjutha", mullai finished the calculations and finally circled the result...

At the sametime, there were loud cheers from the stage and even offstage as kasthuri has picked up the ring...
It felt to kathir and mullai as if everyone were celebrating their little cute moment...
Kathir gestured blushing mullai to get up by giving her a hand and she took his hand smiling widely...

K : naan than sonane... FLAMES super game than... bluff game illaa nu... ippo yena solre...

M : sari than...

K : sure...

M : pakkaa...

Their eyes landed on the circled letter "L" with a wide grin...

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K : aiyo thakkali... ennala mudiyala de... (laughing)

M : ei kathir... ipadi vizhunthu vizhunthu sirikara alavuku yena achu...

K : illaa yevalo chinnapullathanama panirukom nu nenacha sirippa adakka mudiyala de ennala... we have been so so crazy la...

M (chuckling) : hmmm... ithelam nenachu thoongama yellam irunthuruken theriyuma... porandu porandu paduthukitu... classla thaniya sirichukitu... cinema heroine madhiri... ippo nenacha nammala ipadi nu iruku...

K : aama naanum... ceiling ah paathutu paduthutu sirichutu irupen...  vaandi ootum bothu... sapidum bothu... omg... i love those days... ( feeling nostalgic)

M : hmmm those days were really special illaa kathir... athelam ippo nenacha kuda inum enaku manasukula pattamboochi parakara feel varuthu... aana ippo yellam oru kutti kosu kuda parakarathu illaa...

K : adi paavi... ivalo performance panren... kosu kuda parakala nu solre... performance ah increase pananum pola...

M : panu panu... aana anniki sonathula onnu unmai... antha kathir rombave chamathu than... ufff ippo iruka paaru... sariyana settai... ennala manage panave mudiyala...

K : experience de thakkali... first night la yethu yenga iruku,  yethu yepadi pananum nu theriyaama thadumaararom aana poga poga expert agidarom la... apadi than...

M : chi... rascal... yarachhum ketta yena nenaipanga... unaku konjam kuda vekkame illaa da...

K : vekkama.. apadina... pandian stores la kedaikuma... vaangitu vara soluvoma... oru rendu bottle ullaa yerakki paakalam...

M (giggling)  : unnakelam container container ah yerakinalum athelam varathu... try panathe...

K : manufacturing defect pola de...

M : yethu defect ah... brahma oda manufacturing expertise ithu da nee...

K(smiling): cute thakkali de nee...

Kathir kissed her cheeks softly, lied on her shoulders clutching her arms tight and they got back to the video...
The games were over and there started the photo session...
The reflection of the happiness in the video could be seen well in everyone's face...

They enjoyed the video chatting with everyone and as the video ended they could feel a hollow inside...
When they saw the brides crying to leave to their respective home, the pain reflected again in them...
Finally, the last picture of the marriage video did give everyone a mixed feel...
Not that they were in amnesiac mode till then forgetting the past and was dwelling in  happiness wholeheartedly...

Though there was a little prick, they were happy as they were living the moment in the video...
Once it was over, they were pushed to hard reality and felt bad for the changes in life since then...

Lakshmi who was sitting on the floor with parvathi and paati cutting veggies and watching the video took off saying she will start cooking...
Kathir turned and looked at mullai who returned the same...
Parvathi and paati were silent with moist eyes...
There was a understanding smile with a head nod between kathir and mullai...

K : ammanala mudiyala pola de...

M : hmm athunala than video, album yeduthutu vanthatha solave illaa da... namma room la paakalam nu nenachen... kandipa paatha kashtama irukum nu... aana pasanga olaritanga... udane luckymavum aasaiya iruku podu nu soliduchu... avoid pana mudiyala... sorry...

K : ei loose... nee yen sorry kekkare... nammakum than appa ah video la paaka aasaiyaa iruku... apadi than eh ammakum irukum... ivalo neram paathe la yevalo happy ah antha days ah cherish pani paathutu irunthuchu...

M : hmmm still antha missing feel is normal la... we cant help it... ammaavum paatiyum kuda upset agitanga...

K : face pani than eh aganum... reality ache...

M : hmmm... nee poi luckyma ah paakariya...

K : poren... nee variya...

M : illlaa nee po... unkuda thaniya iruka aasai paduvaanga...

K(smiling) : puriyuthu... naan poren... nee ivangala paaru...

M : sari da...

K : ei thakkali... konja nerathula vanthudu de... enake thidirnu oru madhiri iruku... nee illama mudiyaathu...

M : acho kathir... onum illaa da... naan iruken la... en kathir strong ache... ipadi yellam feel pana mattane...

Mullai embraced kathir by kissing him in cheeks and rubbing his arms which he responded back with a relieved smile and a kiss...

K : un kathir avanoda thakkali iruntha strong agiduvaan... so sikiram vaa... naan varen...

Kathir folllowed lakshmi to kitchen while mullai sat near parvathi and paati pacifying them...
As kathir entered kitchen, he saw lakshmi standing near the counter with eyes closed and face scrunching with pain...

K : maaa...

L ( faking normal) : kathiru... yena da yetha venuma...

K : hmmm... amma venum...

L : thangam...

Lakshmi let down her mask of being normal and hugged kathir letting out all the anguish through tears...
Kathir too had tears but then managed to stay strong just pacifying his mom by patting her back...
He didn't have any words to say because he knew this is not a pain that would subside with talks...
Tears were the only medicine and he let it take effect...
After sometime when crying turned to sobbing kathir tried to add fun to divert her and that worked...

K : maa... azhathe... please...

L : video paathathu nalla irunthuchu da... yetho avaru kudave iruka madhiri... video mudinjathum, nitharsanam purinjatham valikithu... yen da thangam namaku mattum intha vali... yena da thappu panom namma...

K : chhh apadi yellam yosikathe ma... yena agiduchu ippo... appa illaa nu yen nenaikare... ippovum namma kuda than irukaaru nu nenachuko... ippo kuda inga irunthu namma pesaratha kekararunu yosi...

L : ...

K : naan yepavume apadi than nenaipen ma... yetha oru vishayam confuse panuthu ilaa kashtama irukuna first appa than... oru virtual call ah potuduven... avaru sorgathula irunthe virtual meeting la guide pani solve paniduvaaru...

Trust me... unkita solatha matter yellam kuda avarkita soliruken na paaren...

L (a little smile) : hmmkmm unaku yepavume un appa than eh first... un love matter eh avaruku than eh first sonna...

K : objection your honour... naan solala... avarkita vasama maatinen... rendukum vithiyasam iruku...

L : athu sari... avaru yepavume buthisali da... yellathaiyum sari ah yedai potuduvaaru... avaru irunthuruntha neraya prachanaiya thavirthurukalam... enaku avalo arivu illaa...

K : chhh... maaa... yena pesare nee... nee innocent than ma... but not stupid... rendukum vithisayam iruku... single mom ah yevalo kashtapatu ithu varai vanthuruke... personal professionalnu kalakitu iruke... un strength unake theriyala... i swear you are the best...

thakkali solite irupa theriyuma... avaluku neenga moonu perum than inspiration nu... avalo sarakku iruku unkita... nee ipadi pesare...

L : yethu sarakku iruka... irukatum irukatum...

Lakshmi let out a smile though not completely alright making kathir feel better...
Soon then mullai came inside with parvathi and paati who seemed to visibly dull but a little smile assuring they are good to take the pain...

M : naanga varalama... ammavum, paiyanum konji mudichaacha...

L : mudikalainalum nee vanthuta un purushanuku yaaraiyum kannu theriyaathu... athunala thairiyama vaa..

K : ithu point... ithuku than lucky venungrathu... yen maa nee yellam serial maamiyaar madhiri iruka matengare...

L : yen apadi villithanam pananuma... sollu paniduvom...

P : yaaru neenga villi ah... sirippu varuthu athachi...

dei athachi mudhala mullaiku athai... appuram than maamiyaar... athu than apadi...

K : ithe varthaiya nee enkita soliruka athai... niyabagam iruka antha naal... (wink)

P : marakakudiya naal ah athu...

T : athan eh...

M : pothum pothum... antha flashback ku inum time iruku... ippothaiki pause potutu yellarum konjam poi samayal panrengala... chinnakuttiku pasikum la... paavam la... (pout)

K : yepadi de ipadi moonjiya vechukara...

Kathir side hugged mullai kissing her cheeks which made her giggle...
Unlike other days, none had a problem with it as they needed some pleasant things to change their mood...

T : ava apadi vechukalainalum ipadi than panuva.. ithuku saaku vera... un kedithanam engaluku theriyaathaakum... poda poda... poi velaiya paaru...

K : vara vara unaku kusumbu over agiduchu... vechukaren... sari iniki naan samaikava... thidirnu interest vanthuduchu...

M : heyyyyyyyyyy... kathir samayal... panu kathir... ne cook pani months together achu... im missing your cooking badly...

T : oh ho... avan kiss panran... iva miss panrala... athu sari...

There was a loud roar of laughter hearing to those words and everyone had a wide grin after that...
Thayammal for her age had come across lots of hardships and has been gifted with lots of mental strength and stubborness...
She was a pedastal of this family and can never let anyone be upset...
So she tried her best to change and everyone understood her intention letting go the pain...
Kathir started cooking with mullai helping him and others settled on the floor...

K : ei thakkali... ipadi thali ninna help panuvaanga... katti pidichutu pananum... maranthu pocha...

M (seeing the other three) : athelam mudiyaathu... idikkum... pesama panu...

K : idikaama irukaa naan idea solren...

M : pinnadi avanga irukanga... pesama samayal mattum panu...

K : paravala...

When kathir tried to embrace her, there was a squeal from paati...

T : adei... naanga irukava... pogava... yen da vayasaana kaalathula paduthara engala... konjam thalli than nillen...

K : hello paati... veliya apadi iruntha kannu padum nu sonenga... ippo than yaarum illaye... yena problem...

To shanthi : shanthi ka... neenga yetha kannu vechudathenga...

Sha : aiyo thangam... kandipa matten... nee nadathu...

K : paarunga avangalum vekka matangalam... ok ah...

T to L : adiye lakshmi... ivana pethathuku unna naalu podanum... yepadi irukaan paaru...

Aama yen da thangam... enaku romba naal ah santhegam... yepadi da ipadi iruke... konji kulavi than neenga purushan pondatti nu kamichukite irukanuma... yen de chinna kutti unaku kashtama irukaathu...

M : yethuku paati kashtam... naanga than ideal couple nu kaamichuka poliya nadicha kashtama than irukum... yevalo than nadikarathu nu...

ithu apadi illaa... ithu husband and wife ngratha vida more of comfort... athavathu pidichavangaloda irukum bothu iruka iyalbana nerukkam...

K : hundred percent... chinna vayasula irunthu avala paakaren... kai pidika, katti pidika, mutham kuduka, thol la saanjuka yethukume yosichathu illaa... oru samayathula konjam physical ah odhungirukom... yena athu pakaravanga kanna uruthum nu... and kalyanamgra license kedaichathum back to those carefree days... actually enga baashaila ithelam periya romance illaa... just normal mirchi thakkali things... yena de thakkali...

M : exactly... neenga konjam yosichengana appo iruntha engalukum ippo iruka engalukum periya vithiyasam illaa paati... aana neenga than avan en pakathula vanthale kadupagarenga... athu enakum tension aguthu...

P : naanga rasipom de... enga kannuku kolla azhaga theriyum... aana yella kannum apadiye irukuma... antha bayam than...

M : maa... namma manasuku than importance kudukanum... aduthavanga kannuku illaa... apadi kuduka arambicha namma vazhkai aduthavanga vazhkai agidum...

K : apadi podu... ithuku than en thakkali venumgrathu... naan pakam pakama pesuven... iva one line la claps vaangiduva... sema de nee...

Kathir dropped a quick kiss and turned to the other three...

K : appuram... innonu pathivu panikaren... ipadi oru azhagana pondatti iruntha yaaruku than thalli iruka thonum... athum oru reason... (wink)

T : atha sollu mudhala... atha vitutu color color ah reel vitutu irukaan... unna pathi engaluku theriyaatha...

K : therinjuducha... sari vidunga...

The elder ladies laughed fondly seeing blushing mullai and ever love smitten kathir...
How rightly said "face is the index of the mind"...
They enjoyed how well the love inside them reflected in their looks and visage...
How well the anger or anxiety between them showed their affection...
How well the comfort and fellow feeling revealed their intimacy...
Not everyone would be blessed with this...
With a prayer to God to freeze this love ever, the ladies enjoyed the funtime with them cooking and chatting...

With all funny talks and more admiration, they finished cooking just to welcome their little darlings home...

Chorus : maaaa.... paaaaaa....

TBC...

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MM by MM