கட்டம் கட்டும் ஆளு
என் உலகம் வட்டம் இல்ல
புலியா நீயும் ஆனா
தினம் ஆட்ட அடிக்கணும் கொள்ள

Jeeva: seri anni , mulla vaanga naan ungala drop panidren.

Dhanam nodded her head.

Dhan: aama mulla vaa, jeeva meena vandu Tidel park la dan vela pakranga....

Pora vazhi la namala drop paniduvanga...

Mullai nodded her head and was about to join Dhanam.

Ab: di, jaldi vaapas aana....(di, come back soon) lets go out somewhere in the evening.

Mullai nodded her head.

Ab: hopefully jeez would also come back by then.

Mullai simply smiled, and abhi understood he wouldn't.

Me: abhi, you will go out with only your jeez and di, not with any of us?

Abhi nodded her head in a no vigorously, indicating that was not what she meant.

Ab: no...I didn't mean it that way...

Kan: kutty anni, en chumma avala vambu izhukuringa....ungaluku anni ku vishaka darshan aa paathukanum la...

Adhan ava Mullai aa matum kooptrupa...

Adukula...

Me: yeppa....kanna....avala oru vartha ketra koodadhe...adu kulla vandu haajar ayi kaapathidra...

Kan: chumma enna ottadheeya anni....punch in pana late aaga pogudu...Kelambunga...

Me: adhu seri....vaa jeeva namba kelambalam...

Dhanam and Mullai hopped on to the back seat of Pajero while Jeeva and Meena sat on the passenger and co-passenger seat respectively.

Meena and Jeeva decided this was the perfect time to know more about Mullai.

Their yesterday late-night talks, had kindled quite a number of doubts about her.

About 10 hours ago,

After they retired to their room,

Me: jeeva, enaku un kita oru vishayam solanum...

Je: enakum dan meena...Nee sollu....modhala...

Me: ellam kathir Mullai aa pathi dan...

Je: ey enna di solra...

Me: enaku theriyum nee epovum pola naan veena yosikaren nu dan scene poduva nu...

Je: ada eva di iva....

Naanum avungala pathi dan pesanum...

Me: apdiya...

Je: ada aaman di...Nethi nama oor lendu kelambinapo lendu....nariya vishayam nadandichu di....

Me: enna da solra...

Je: nama kathir ku avan vandi aa avan kanna thavira yaar otnalum pidikadhu la...

Me: adhan ellarukume theriyume....andha oru karanathala dane avaroda Peugot 4 maasama Kunnakudi laye irundichu...

Je: nethi night, kathir ku tired aa iruku nu yaaruku vandi key kuduthan theriyuma?

Me: kanna ku dane ? she asked rolling her eyes..

Je: ada adhan di illa...avan Mullai ta assault aa key kuduthan otiko nu...

Me: edhu...

Je: ada aaman....

Me: epdi da...

Je: adhan enakum therla...avan mulla car aa paathadu lende seri eh illa nu enaku thonichu...

Naan dan veena yosikiren nu nenachen...

Aana nethi car la andha pulla, vandi aa handle pana vidham nee paathrukanum meena...Evalo ease oda otichu theriyuma...

Me: dei vandi otnadhu nala otnadhu ...

Je: ada muzhusa sola viden di...

Me: soli thola...

Je: aduku aprom andha pulla vandi otitu irundapo...nama kathir ara thookathula andha pulla kayula mutham kuduthan di...

Meena looked wide-eyed.

Je: aaman di...andha pulla adhuku oru reaction kooda kodukala...aprom abhi oda porandha naal nu cake lan cut panumbodu...

Mulai kathir ta enamo pala varushama therinja oruthar ta pesara maadiri pesuna...andha pulla abhi um kathir ta romba nala pesudhu mulla ta yum pesudu nu...

Enaku doubt vandu abhi ta keten...kathir vera bangalore la dane internship panan nu....

Me: adhuku enna sonanga?

Je: andha pulla abhi, aama nu solichu....koodave mulla ta keten....

Andha pulla pattu nu kathir aa nala theriyum bangalore lednu nu solichu...kanna aprom andha pulla anna Vetri moolamavum theriyum nu solichu...

Je: aana therinja aal na....kai la laan mutham kuduka viduma enna...

Unaku nyabagam iruka...anaiku koil la kalyanam eh venam nu solichu...aana kathir aa vechitu ketapo yosikaren nu solichu...

Innaiku kalai la enna na....mullai tea kudika maata nu avalo urudiya solran meena...

Beach la enna na veladala nu sonna pulla, velada arambicha podu kathir vacha kann vangama andha pullaya paathan...

Avan kannula ambutu paasam ambutu akkara meena...

Anna anni enna na....kalyanathuku munname kathir epdi akkaraya paathukuran nu solranga...

Enna thavira vera yaarukume ipdi thonala...

Saingalam nee um dane paatha... andha pulla pana yanji aa lan...aduku munname enamo email anupanum nu sonapavum enamo kanna ta kan jadai la pesinaan...

Avan night kelambarathuku munna andha pulla ta enamo kannula sonan...

Naan paathen...

Aana vera yaarum paakalaya...illla naan veena yosikaren...enna edhu ne enaku therla... Enaku sathyama purila meena...

Meena sat stumped ...

Meena whose mind was already revolving with doubts, the percentage of suspicion increased.

Je: adiye meena, ipdi ukandha enna artham...

Edachum solen di...naan karpana panren naa adhayachum soli thola...

Me: nee veena karpana lan panla jeeva...

Je: epdi di ipdi urudiya solra...

Me: nee sona madiri saindharam tea kudikarapo...

Mulla tea pana enga 3 perukum pudikum nu kanna sonan la...

Jeeva nodded his head.

Me: apo edho madhan nu oruthana sonan la ...

Je: hmmm...

Me: apo kathir munumuntahru...iduku en peraya soli tholanjirukalam nu...

Je: edhu?

Me: aama jeeva...adu matum illa...unga amma ini mulla aa anni nu kooptu pazhagiko nu sonapo...

Kanna sonan " adhelam pazhaginadhu dane nu"

Je: enna di solra...

Me: aama jeeva...adhu matum illa...kishore nethi kanna abhi kathir aa paathapo...

Oru Mullai aa pathi pesinaru...

Confusion was slowly getting ebbed away, and clarity was seeping into his eyes

Me: Kishore vandu mulla irunda paatu paada aal irundirukum nu sonaru...

Je: en di...apove solirukalam la...

Me:aana apo adhu indha mulla nu enaku thonave illa...en theriyuma?

Je: en di?

Me: avaru ipo lan mulla aa TV la paaka ve mudila nu sonaru da...

Je: TV aa?

Me: aaman da....adan naan vituten...ana inaiku...

Je: inaiku?

Me: inaiku mulla ava Bachelors vandu Journalism, English and Mass communication major nu sonapo....

Enaku apo dan anaiku Kishore sonadhu ivungala dan nu purinjide....

Mulla indha school la vandu 6 months kooda agala nu akka sonanga la....

Je: hey ipo dan nyabagam varudu...kanna avan shooting skills aa pathi mulla ta kelu nu sonan beach la...

Ketapo mulla...vandiruka avan camp ku sonan...sister nu soli allow panadha sonan...

Me: adu epdi da mudiyum...nama avan training time la kanna yaarayum allow pana maatanga nu dane sonan...

Je: adan nee ipo Tv journalism nu solrapo dan....

Me: irukalam da...mulla oru journalist aa anga poirukalam...

Inaiku kooda resign pani enna vela nu ketapo avunga mazhupunanga....

Aana journalist na eduku ipo teacher aa vela pakanum....thirupi ipo resign pananum...enaku onume purila....

Koodave, Kalyanam la venaam nu dane solvaaru kathir epovum, inaiku atha solranga Mulla okey sonna avanuku okey nu sonadha

Je: hmmm....

Kathir um Mullai um lovers na eduku apo andha pulla anaiku kovil la yaarum illa nu solanum..

Namalum avan india ku vandu 6 maasam la ethanayo mura ketom la UK la edum girlfriend edum iruka nu....

Avan illa nu dane solirukan...

Nama veetula love ku enda edirupum illa la, aprom eduku apdi solanum kathir..

Me: en jeeva kathir mullai ku break up apdi edacha irukalam la....

Je: enakum adhan thonudu... indha long distance la break up romba common....avunga bangalore la love panirupangala irukum...

Aprom avan US ku padika ponapo may be break up ayirikalam...

Meena nodded her head affirmatively..

Me: ellame yoogam aa dan iruku....kathir Mullai aa pathi kandipa kanna abhi ku theriyum...

Je: aana avunga sola maatanga....

Me: hmm...nama mulla kitaye kepom nalaiku...

Je: en di andha pulla soluma...

Me: ketu papome....

Je: hmm...

Me: seri vaa thoongalam...iduku mela en moolai ku innaiku yosika Thembu illa...

Jeeva gave out his genuine happy smile of the day..

Me: happada...ipo dan da un moonji la nimadhiyana siripe paakuren...

Je: illa di 2 naal aa iduve manasa ozhapitu irundichu adhan....

He pecked her cheeks...

Me: en jeeva....unga anni dan ellam CB CID aatam kandu pudipangale....Idu epdi da miss pananga...

Je: therlaye di...

Me: nama vishayam nu vanda dan panuvanga pola...

Je: unaku innum adelam marakalaya?

Me: marakara vishayama da adhu laan...

Unna hug pana, theriyama ellar munna oru peck laan kudutha....

Chinna pasanga irukanga...paathu nadanduko nu

Idula enna pechu...kathir kaachum avunga ponnu thedi kati vekanum nu...kathir Mullai love pananga nu matum confirm aagatum...

Aprom iruku....

Jeeva nodded his head and pulled her for sleep.

Now, inside the car

Me: mulla, ungaloda last working day epo?

Mul: inaiku pona aprom dan theriyum....probably next Friday aa irukum nu expect panren..

Dhan: Friday aa irukadhu mulla...nama school la Republic day Celebration la...

Mul: aama adu maranten maam...apdi na therla...

Me: Vera enga job try pana poringa...

Mul: Inga irundu last date therinja piragu dan....She replied a bit uncomfortably.

Dha: ennaku nee innum en resign panra ne therla mulla...inga enna prechana...

Mul: prechana edum illa...aana enaku teaching set avala...

Dhan: ada appa amma teacher aa dane irundanga...

Mul: adunala dan maam teaching ku oru trial kuduthe....but that's not my cup of tea...

Me: neenga en mulla journalism try pana koodadhu...

Adu dane unga bachelors la major paninga..

Je mv: pinrale....correct aa timing paathu...

Mullai gave an asadu smile...

Before she could reply,

Dhan: enna meena ne....journalism lan mulla ku set eh agadu...

Je: en anni apdi solringa...he asked really confused while meena rolled her eyes seeing mullai's face withering down.

Dha: mulla evalo soft aana ponnu theriyuma...journalism lan romba bold aana avungaluku dan set agum...

Koodave....family life nu varapo journalism lan set aguma nu lan paakanum la..

Mullai sat confused with downcast eyes, her this very words had put dilemma into her mind, when a "pattala veera" song came from her phone.

The ringtone set for kathir.

She picked it up quite immediately, before any one question on how or why kathir was calling her.

Mul: hello...

Kat: good morning babe...

Mul: good morning.....his babe lifted her mood

Kat: en di ipdi oru bayanda good morning....everything fine?

Mul: hmmm...

Kat: verum one word answer dan varudu enna aachu?

Mul: illa car la school ku poitu iruken...

Kat: ohh anni irukangala...?

Mul: hmmm...naan aprom pesata?

Kat: illa...I will be busy...enaku IB oda oru meeting iruku...I just wanted to tell you something..

Mul: sollu..

Kat: immediate resignation 24 hours du mudiyuma paaaru...edachum amount kuduthu settle panamudiyuma na kooda kelu...

Mul: yen ivalo avasaram...

Kat: I wanna speed up things....veena delay pana venaam....adhan....Republic day vera varudu...so...munna join pana na u can cover something better la...

Mullai sat stumped, all her confusion caused by his anni leaving her.

Kat: oii, enna badhil eh kanum...

Mul: ketu paakuren...

Kat: that's my girl...my stay might be extended....would come back by week end dhan...

I might be busy...nee enaku text panu if anything..i would call you back...

Mul: okey....take care...

Kat: kandipa ....mmuuahhh...love you babe....

Mul: bye bye...

She had a smile lingering on her post the call.

By then the school had also come,

Dhan; thanks da jeeva...meena....vaa mulla...

Mullai nodded her head and was about to get her luggage.

Me: en mulla luggage vacha school kula poringa...jeeva namba mulla aa avunga hostel la drop panitu luggage vacha aprom inga drop panlam....

Dha: enaku inaiku "thought of the week" ezhudanum neenga ivala drop panidunga...bayapdama po mulla...

And she left...

Mullai let out a gush of air, after Dhanam left making the two in front to chuckle at her, making her make an embarrassed face.

Mul: sorry nga...

Mee: happens....meena joined in...

Me: mulla, naan onnu keta thappa nenaika maatingale...

Mullai nodded in no.

Me: yen journalism pathi naan pesinapo unga face marichu...

Mu: en face aa illaye....avunga journalism lan set agadhu nu sonapo dan en face maarichu...

She smiled.

Anna, en hostel vandidichu....varen...neenga kelambunga...inga irundu room mate kooda poikuren...

And she left smiling at them.

Je: enna buss ayidicha...ipdi than naanum anaiku keten...oru badhil aa kuduthu off panidichu...

Me: hmmm....enaku oru doubt....mulla journalist na adhu kathir ku theriyuma theriyadha?

Je: theriyum nu dan nenaikuren....en di kekura...

Me: illa unga anni...dan veedu set aguma adu idu nu kekarangale...adhan kathir ku therla na mulla ku kashtam aache adan keten....

Je: hmmm....seri ipo ivungala pathi therinjika enna vazhi?

Me: oru vazhi um illa, kathir varatum....

Vandu kepom...

Enaku enamo kathir keta unmaya soliduvaru nu dan thonudu...

Je: ivalo naal illa nu sonane...

Me: ipo dan Mullai kalyanam ku oke solitangala...

Je: apdi ngra...

Me: yessu...nee vena paaru....namba kathir ta mulla oru journalist dane...neenga rendu perum college days la love paninga la nu keta...

Aaama nu dan solvaru....

Je: seri avan vanda aprom pesalam...

Couple of days later early morning,

A "maaamaaa" shrieked out everyone from their sleep, to the hall.

Moo: en di katharava....

Kanna and abhi who joined later stood with wide eyes looking at the newspaper.

Me: enna aachu ka? Eduku ipdi kathuninga?

Dha: kathir...

Je: kathir ku enna anni?

All were worried.

Lak: enna achu ma kathir ku...

Dhanam pointed out at the newspaper....

The headlines printed in bold with pictures

" No more terrorist attacks in India" assures Defence Cyber Agency South Terrain Chief, Kathirvelan Pandian.

Every one stood shocked seeing the newspaper.

Dharshan came running to hall,

"Chithapa va news la kaatranga....

And he turned on the Tv to CNN news channel, making kanna want to bang his head,

"We were informed that there was intelligence information on terrorist attacks being planned ahead of Republic day. What would be your stand on the same?"

"DCA was planned and executed couple of years back to avoid all possible attacks on the country. Today, am feeling proud to tell that We, DCA has stopped two terrorist attacks on our country this week"

"Sir, can we Indians start believing there wouldn't be any more attacks in the future"

"I can assure DCA would make sure no such attacks planned would be ever executed in India. Our very purpose of Defence Cyber Agency would be achieved"

"Even now, Countries like even United States, have attacks on them, so how could you assure that there would be no attacks on India"

"Being an army man, my words mean the world to me and I believe in action more than words reporter.

So instead of answering your question, I would rather like to execute and show them"

"Is it true that DCA would be having a head office at Chennai?"

"All states would be having an DCA office and the head office of the south terrain would be Chennai led by me. Thank you"

"This is Mullai murugan, signing off from Chennai Airport"

And the whole family stood stumped sans kanna and abhi..

TBC....