My dearest readers,

Thanks a lot for the support and love shown towards "Journey" so far.

50th Update of journey ...

After Unknown love story, this is the story which is crossing 50th chapter and the story is still unveiling.

Do continue giving support...

Enjoy the update of the day..

அன்பே எந்தன் காதல்
சொல்ல நொடி ஒன்று போதுமே
அதை நானும் மெய்ப்பிக்கத்தானே
ஒரு ஆயுள் வேண்டுமே

Kathir completed his part of story and turned his gaze towards her with sheer pride and happiness, but the look on her face was something he couldn't contemplate.

Mullai's face gave away her heart's feel, one of confusion and anger.

Mul: seri naan kelambren. Poi dinner panren...

And started to leave his room, making his calmness to exit the door first.

Kat: hey enna nee....he pulled her hand.

Mul: enna kathir...with pure irritation..

Kat: nee patuku kadamaiku ketutu poi dinner panren nu solra...

Mul: vera enna pananum...

Kat: naan keta kelviku badhil solanum...

Mul: enna kelvi? with raised eyebrows

Kat: edhuku nee idhelam panra nu...

Mul: adhukana badhil dan naan solitene...

Kat: naan ivalavu sonadhuku apromum unaku adhu matum dan solanuma...

Mul: evalavu sonadhuku apromum?

Kat: hey enna vambu izhukuriya?

Mul: yaara naana neeya ?

Kat: ohh naana nu vera kepala..

Mul: pinna?

Kat: Unna lan madichu sonen paaru enna solanum....

Mul: en sonna? Illa edhuku sonna ngren?

Kat: thimiru di unaku....nee enna sonalum vandu pesuren la...adhan...

Mul: enaku puriayama dan kekuren....5 varusham flashback lan sonna....aana andha ponnu yaaru nu dhan nee solave illaye...

Kat: edhu?

His face gave away a comical expression, one depicting " manushan urugi urugi flashback sonna...iva ennatha kekura paaru"

Kat: apo naan ivalo soliyum unaku...

Before he could complete, there was another person's entry calling out "Captain".

A pretty girl in her early 20's, fair in colour, and grey eyed entered into his room even without a knock.

And went straight away to examine his wounds, by checking his shoulder and forehead, where it was bandaged.

Girl: acho captain...romba adi ah....chithapa ipo dan sonaru....

How are you?

Ungala paathuka vera yaarume illa la adhan I have brought dinner for you....

Kat: am fine...enaku edhum illa poorvika...

Poorvi: aama aama onnum illama dan...ipdi bandage potangala...show me your medical file...naan pakuren...

Kat: shoulder la oru bullet graze avalo dhan...

Their convo was disturbed by the loud bang of the door.

Kathir saw her departing figure with a forlorn look of "sabba....mudiyalaye".

Poor: yaaru adhu...vera yaarachum irundangala....

Kathir nodded his head...

Poor: oh ur cousin, chithapa was talking about.

Kathir nodded his head...

Kat: vaa hall la ukandu pesalam...

Poorvi followed him..

Kathir tried checking out for Mullai in his vision, but she was nowhere visible.

Kat: epdi vandha poorvi? Prabhakar sir drive panara?

P: illa chithapa was busy...naan scooty la vanden...

Kat: innerathuka? Are you crazy? Its not safe...

Mullai who was coming out of her room for sure heard his last line filled with worry...

And she closed the door back, her eyes brimming with tears.

She felt her throats chocking in pain, tears were flowing like rain drizzles, one after another.

She was feeling a fool.

Seeing him avoid the answer of who the girl was, she should have guessed, he had someone in his life.

A bloody reminder of her life "avan en friend dan" to madhan.

What was she supposed to do now?

Leave? Get back to work and brace her heart?

She didn't know.

She remembered him telling not to worry or do somuch for him.

True, why would he need her to do anything for him, when there was a girl in his life who had the rights to take care of him.

She decided to stay in room and then apologize to kathir and leave tomorrow first thing in the morning.

While she was sitting planning her exit from his life, she heard a knock on the door.

She didn't know who it was, but she didn't want to face anyone right now.

But, she was a girl who knew her basic manners.

She was in someone's house as a guest and she had to open the door and respond, the basic etiquette of guest

She wiped her tears and opened the door to see the very face of the girl, she didn't wish to.

Poorvi's smile flattered once she met his cousin.

Mul: yes...

Poor: you are his cousin?

Mullai nodded her head slowly.

Poorvi didn't know what to do next.

Mul: what happened?

Poorvi looked around her room and her face came back to its normal self.

Poo: am poorvi...

Mul: Mullai.

Poo: you work here?

Mul: hmmm in CNN

Poo: ohhh...may be that's why kathir always watches only CNN news channel. Well, am doing my house surgency.

Mul: ohh okey..

Poo: can I come in?

Mul: sure...

Poo: Naan actually vandu unga kita oru help kekalam nu dan vanden...

Mul: sollunga...

Poo: adu vandu...neenga kathir cousin la adhan...

Mul: purila...

Poo: enaku kathir na romba pudikum...adu kathir kun theriyum...

Mullai's heart broke further and bleed.

But she tried maintaining a neutral face atleast until she leaves the place.

Poo: adhan unga moolyama?

Mul: en moolyama enna? Purila enaku?

Poo: naan kathir aa love panren, propose kooda panen...chithapa, adhan Prabhakar sir kitayum sonen avan kita sola solli...

Mullai's face still showed confusion.

Poo: aana avan othukala....not interested nu solitan...adhan avan cousin oru ponnu vandu irukaradha chithapa sonanga...

So neenga sona avaru keparu...en solren na...he doesn't like anyone taking care of him, avan kooda yaarachum help ku munadi vaati adi patapo sonapodum he was against it...

Aana ungala thanga veka edum solalana neenga avanuku close n important...

Adhan unga kita konjam pesa solalam nu...

I frankly expected someone elder in age, adhan ungala paathadum konjam shock anen, aprom dho photo pathadum dan...konjam nimadhiya irundichu..

Poiting to a framed pic, where she was standing hugging Vetri.

Avan en no solran nu therla....please neenga konjam solungalen...

I really like him a lot...

Mullai didn't know how to react, was she telling the truth...

Is she close and important to him?

In the past for sure, she was......but, even at present.

Was this girl mistaken or was she mistaken?

She didn't know.

Poor: enakaga pesuvinga la?

Before she could respond, she heard her name being called out by kathir.

Poo: koopdaran naan poren....naan dinner kondu vandiruken...vaanga sapdalam...

Mul: illa...adhu...

Poo: ada vaanga moonu perum sapdalam..

This girl looked sweet and genuine, but how could she do what poorvi had asked for...

She stepped out of her room and she saw his eyes clashing with hers.

She looked down immediately.

All of a sudden his eyes looked intimidating.

Kat: poorvi, prabha sir will come in sometime to pick you...naan guard aa un scooty aa drop pana solidren..

Poo: naane nalaiku eduthukuren...

Kat: veena eduku..its fine...

Poorvi nodded her head.

Poo: chithapa varathukula lets have food....naan nama 3 perukum dan kondu vanden...vaanga Mullai...

Vaanga captain...

Seeing mulla move towards dining even he followed.

She served rice, rasam, and yam poriyal.

Poo: ungaluaku naan bowl la spoon potu serve panren...

Kat: naane...and he left to get the bowl

Poo: sabba....mulla neengalachum solunga...he doesn't let anyone do his things....adinalaye military la kooda verum guards matum dan captain ku...

Mullai was confused, she had fed him food for the past 5 days and he didn't even tell anything other than the "no" which was clearly a formality.

But, here he was not even allowing her to serve food in a bowl for him...

She started eating in the same confused state. Kathir who came from kitchen sawa Mullai about to eat yam poriyal lost in her thoughts, and he snapped.

Kat: hey mulla, unaku dan karnakezhangu allergy la...aprom en taste pana pora...

Mullai looked surprised seeing him still remember something she said long back, and reprimanding her from having it.

The care and the concern unavoidable.

Mul: gavanikala...

Kat: edha gavanikanumo ada matum gavanichada dee...kadupa kelapikitu...

Mul: sorry kathir...

Kat: vandiru...sorry poori nu...

Poorvi was confused....she knew they were cousins and it was normal for them to be informal but the worry and concern and the tone he used as if he had all the right over her. She didn't know what to make out of it.

Poo: naan vena omlette edum pani tharava..

Mu: illa venaam thanks....

That's when mullai's phone rang. It was kanna.

Her eyes immediately met kathir's.

Mu: hello...kanna solu da....

Kan: hi mulla...sooper aa iruken...nee....

Mu: good da...

Kan: naan actually unga ooruku oru 10 naal camp ku vara poren adhan meet plan panlam advance aa nu...

Mul: ennadhu nee Kashmir variya...

Kathir's eyes looked wide open...

Kan: edhu Kashmir aa? Nee epo Kashmir pona?

Mul: adu 1 month aachu da...

Kan: en di solalla...

Mul: nee dan koopdalaye adhan...\

Kan: cha naan unna paka poren nu sema excited aa irunden....ellam indha camp aa solanum..oru phone allow panraingala...training time nu...chai...

Mul: vidu da...nee Chennai varapo naanum varen...kandipa meet panlam...

Kan: rightu innum 1 month dan vacation ku......seri naan vekaren enaku 5 min dan call time...veetukum koopdanum...

Mul: bye da kanna...take care...be safe...

Kan: kandipa bye...

And they hung the call.

Mul: kanna dan line la...

Kathir looked at phone sadly...

She could understand, kanna had told multiple times on how he couldn't talk with only kathir in the past 1 year after he joined BSF training.

Mul; avan nala irukan nee kavala padadha...1 month la his training is getting over...aprom skype panikalam...

Kathir nodded his head...

Poo: kanna yaaru...

Mul: en bestie / Kat: en thambi

Poorvi was surprised with their answer.

Poo: kathir thambi na ungaluku cousin dane...

Mul: aama dhan....

Aana we were classmates n collegemates...adhan more of a bestie than cousin.

Poo: oh hokey....So how old are you?

Mul: 25

Poo: enna vida 3 years bigger....unga family layum early aa ve girls ku marriage paniduvangala.

Mullai nodded in negative.

Poo: illa nu solringa 25 is early dane....for marriage.

Kat: she is not married.

Kathir snapped and was quick to clear it.

Poo: unmarried aa? Unga room la irukura pic.

Mul: my brother Vetri.

Poo: ohhh....slowly, something was coming to sense...Mullai's exit once she came, the care and concern in kathir for her...

Was something cooking between them?

But, before she could question much, her uncle had sent the car for pickup and she knew how much of a punctual guy these military men were.

She left with confused and partly sad mind.

Once she was out of their sight, and after locking the door, Kathir left to his room and Mullai followed him.

Kat: enna?

Mul: I want answers?

Kat: enna manangati answer? Andha video call la vandha ponnu yaaru na?

Mul: illa naan yaarunu ?

Kat: loosa di nee?

Mul: naan yaaru unaku...solu kathir....ipo vandha ponnu soludu unna love panra...unna propose pana nee othukala,..

Una help panradho assist panradho unaku pudikadhu...

Unna vidraru na u should be important to him, enakaga konjam pesungalen nu...

5 days aa naan dan unaku sapadu ootren...nee verum formality ku no solitu, amaidhiya dan sapduva...

Aana inaiku unaku serve pana oru bowl eduka ponadhuke venaam nu soli nee pora...

Kat; idhulaye unaku therinjirukanum....nee enaku yaaru nu....

Mul: suthi valaikama unaku pesa theriyadha?

Kat: unaku edum purinjika theriyadha....Pathu nimisham paathava solra nee enaku important na...

Adu en nu purinjika unaku therilaya...

Illa, naan solanum nu edir pakuriya...

If that's what this is about, if its about satiating your ego, naane solre...

" I fucking love you...

I have loved you, love you and hope to love always you

Podhuma....

Aprom nee ketiye, andha skype ponnu, ennoda passport issue vandapo, I stayed in a rented shared accommodation till I came back.

Anga room share panra oru roomie avalo dhan..

Nothing else...nothing more..."

And he stood showing his back to her, each breath like fire through his nostrils.

He heard a weep, he was about to yell at her for crying, but he felt her body against his back, her hands going around his body, and her tears soaking his T's back side.

Mul: I love you too...

She said crying...He turned around and stared at her...

Kat: adha yen di azhudu kite solra...

Mul: varudhe...

Kathir shook his head and pulled her more into him, his lips descending on her wet lips, sucking them, her tears stopped, her hands clasped around his neck, her tongue darted within his lips and dueled with his, till they were out of breath.

Kat: Be mine.

He said knocking his forehead with hers.

Mul: I am.

She replied back, by pecking his lips and snuggling into his embrace.

Mul: kathir....vaa sapdalam...

Kat: venaam...

Mul: adam pudikadha...

Kat: nee dan cook panren nu emathitiye...

Mul: seri vaa I will make something quickly....aana andha ponnu kondu vandha food waste ayidum...

Oorla ethane per food illama kashta padranga theriyum la...

Kat: seri seri sapudren....

And both went to the dining. They chewed the food, lost in their thoughts about themselves. He was happy he got the bullet, or he didn't know how long their alter ego would have played with them.

He was about to help her keep the dishes away, "poi mathra sapdu kathir" was her reply.

She was about to wash the utensil, when he reprimanded her.

"nalaiku andha ponnu varum, adukum edachum vela irukanum la"

Mullai followed him to the room and gave the medicine to him, and was busy changing his dressing.

She for the first time saw the wounded place and her eyes teared.

Kat: hey azhada...am an army man....iduku lan azhuda epdi...he wiped her tears.

Mul: idu unnoda 3rd admission hospital la nu sonna...iduku munna enadhu?

Kat: aduva...once a fracture right foot la during an operation.

Once a bullet, right forearm la...

Mullai looked at him in worry..

Kat: idhan en vaazhka, something that's uncertain, but everything am proud of.

Ipovum "I LOVE YOU" va?

Mul: Epovum "I love you dhan"....she pecked his forehead..Seri nee rest edu...naan kelamburen...

Kat: enaku rathri valicha...enna panatum...

Mul: koopdu kathir....

Kat: inga irundu koopta epdi kekum...

Mul: adhunala...

Kat: nethi lane n kooda dane irunda...inaikum en koodave iru...

Mullai looked at him with a smile.

Kat: ada bullet adi patruku naan pavam ma...

Mul: nambiten...

Seri naan andha couch la iruken...

Kat: rendu naala couch dane thoongura uncomfortable aa irukum...ipdi king size bed iruku...ingaye padu....

Mul: kathir...

Kat: enamo ore room la nikatha madiri dan pesura...bangalore la nee abi sonapo naan odane okey sonen...

Aana nee...

Akaraye illa mulla unaku en mela...

Mul: appapa enna nadipu....she giggled...

And she went towards the door...

Seeing his face fall, she added.

Mul: charger eduthitu varen...

She came back with a jug of water, and her phone charger, her face reflecting the love and trust she had on him.

She got into the left side of the bed, albeit a large bit shy, but he pulled her into his embrace.

Kat: good night...he pecked her lips and turned off the light.

She pecked him back in dark and snuggled into his arms.

Though there was break of 5 years in their relationship, it was not visible in their comfort and trust and love they shared.

Both of them shared a peaceful and content sleep, enjoying the comfort the snuggling was providing in the cold winters in the month of February.

TBC..