மாலை மங்கும் நேரம் ஒரு மோகம் கண்ணின் ஒரம்

உன்னை பார்த்து கொண்டே நின்றாலும் போதும் என்று தோன்றும்

The dawn was new for both of them, neither of them had the mind nor the will to get up from the safe cocoon and go about with their day's work.

Not that, the embrace was first or new, but it was special, feeling his soft chest curls under her palm, her ears being graced with his chest mane giving her a tiny tingly feel, a future they always wanted.

Kathir was the first to open his eyes and all he had that moment to wish was this embrace. No matter how much they fight, argue or cry, all he wanted in this lifetime was her in his embrace or her presence in his life until his last breath.

An atheist he was, yet he sends out a small wish to the supreme power to make sure this sight becomes a constant in his life.

He wanted to go for a job, but he didn't have the mind to wake her up nor the mind to miss her reactions on seeing their position in the morning and so he chucked away his physical exercise for a day, sending a quick text to Prabha sir.

Hopefully, he would not question much all thanks to kanna's presence yesterday.

Now came the hardest part...kanna....

Kanna was a tough nut alike him, and he really needed more energy and more will power to maintain his temper. He sincerely hoped his brother doesn't give him a tight and tough time and give the minimum consideration of being once his confidante.

While his mind wandered along with his thoughts, his mate had wakened up staring right into his soul and pecked him. It was that peck which brought him back to reality. His lips lifted up and opened , joining its partner for a dwell right in the morning. The clash of their lips, tongue and teeth and their fight for dominance made her swap her position from the mattress to his torso.

His etching fingers almost creeped inside her dress, and found the strap of her bandeau, they were about to unclasp it, when shrill of her phone call pulled them back to reality

He cussed a "Fuck" and shut his eyes, partly cursing the caller. She took a minute to compose her palpating self and tried rolling back on the bed to pick the call, but she saw herself tightly held within his arms, making her knock her forehead with his.

"Hello sollu madhan"

"Enna madam disturb panitena....phone eduka romba neram aachu"

"Nee koopta vishayatha sollu da..."

"Rightu...madam mazhupuringa nu theriyudu.....Inaiku namaku oru chinna coverage iruku...confidential....oru 1 hour la vandhu pick panata unna"

"hmmm seri da...yaar kooda"

"Some XYZ...phone la sola mudiyadhu"

"hmmm okey...I will be ready in an hour"

"Breakfast enga kooda saapdu...I will make it all ready"

"okey"

And they hung up the phone.

Seeing her all serious, kathir came back from his flirty mood.

"All fine?"

"hmmm yaaa....some confidential meet"

"Paathu iru....be safe"

"I will...seri naan poi breakfast ready panren....he ll be here in 1 hour....nee poi freshen up ayitu vaa"

And she left to start her day, not before pecking his forehead and ruffling his hair. This was something she really admired him. She knew how her work could give a break to him and vice versa, yet they stayed away from each other's professional life.

She was blessed to get such a partner was a fact she would never be able to deny.

Stepping into the kitchen all freshened up, he saw her humming "Engeyum kadhal" pouring two ladles of khewa for their Kashmiri tea. Something about this scene was so serene wanting this for all the future days in his life.

He nuzzled into her neck pecking her cheeks with a sound making her giggle.

"Enna sir ore romantic mood la irukura madiri thonudu"

"Naan lan epovume romantic dan....madam ku thonala naa naan enna panatum..." he winked at her.

The cooker whistled pulling them apart, making him stare a hole into the cooker with his mere stare.

"Naan poi freshen up ayitu varen....innum 15 min dhan iruku"

"ponga madam ponga"

"nama romantic aa irunda matum enna use...time seri aa irukanume...time" he was talking to himself when he felt her run towards him and pecked his cheeks.

"I love you kathir" she purred into his ears and left the very same way she came, making him smile and shake his head at her behavior. Life can never be dull with this female's presence in his life.

He heard the house bell ringing, indicating Madhan's arrival.

" Good morning captain"

" ada yen da neeyum captain nu kooptu kadupethu ra"

Madhan calling him as captain had somehow reminded him of Kanna sarcastically addressing him. No matter how many times he had repeated madhan to not address him so, he somehow did the very same thing to rile him up.

"epovum koopdaradhu dane...enna pudusa kadupavuringa captain"

"ellam en keragam.." he muttered and left to get him his tea.

" indha da Kashmiri tea...."

"thanks machan"

"adhane paathen...onnu apdi illana ipdi"

"hahah....aama unga aal enga...1 hour la varen nu sonen ava kita"

"Ready ayitu iruka...dho vanta"

"vaanga madam....enna ivalo neram..."

"en da nee sonna time ku naan dan ready ayitene aprom enna da"

"Chumma unna vambu izhukalati naal eh seri aa illa di....naan enna panatum"

"ayya saami nee eduvume pana venam....aala vidu"

"namba breakfast saptu kelambalam...."

They had their breakfast and parted their way for work.

The moment he pulled his jeep into the army base camp, the first face that came to wish him a "Good morning Captain" with a salute was his very own brother. He didn't know was it a coincidence or was his brother doing all this intentionally.

Nodding his head in acknowledgement, he left hoping he doesn't have to face this very first thing every morning.

Guess luck was not in his favour the whole day, everytime there was anything that needed to be communicated on behalf of his team he saw his brother standing before him.

Like as if he was the only one assigned to come to his cabin..initially he thought it was mere coincidence..

But when the same continued third time in a row he knew it was his revenge. With a file or an important information to pass along with the repeated salutes n yes captain for each and every word dropped out of his mouth.

By 12 noon, his head just started blasting all thanks to his brother's shenanigans. He simply avoided going to canteen fearing it was lunch time.

The army had two mess one for the officers and one for other staff's. How can he forget the non officers mess and its food...too bad to his taste buds with the food coated in mustard oil.

Unfortunately the officers mess was inside non officers mess and he didn't have it in him to see his brother munch on the food while he had his own feast.

For the first time ever in the past 3 years, he requested one tea to be given in his cubicle, surprising even the food server in the mess.

" Come in" he ordered when he heard the knock mostly his tea to see his brother bring in tea for him, making him want bang his head on the desk.

"Captain tea captain " he kept the tea on table and saluted.

And his heart went out to his house scenario...how many times had he asked for tea...

"DEI KANNA TEA EDUTHUTU VAA DA"...

" KATHIR ANNAN...UNAKE TOO MUCH AA ILLA....NAANE EPOVACHUM DAN HOSTEL LENDU VAREN ENNAYA TEA EDUKA SOLRA PO NAAA....NEEYE POI EDUTHUKO" and him leaving

Now the very same guy was irritating him by bringing his tea. There wasn't a moment he hated tea as much as now...

" thanks subedar kanna..but you don't have to do this"

" you don't have to thank me sir....jai Hind captain " and he left saluting him...

"Kadupa etharadhu epdi nu oru puthagame ezhuduvam pola ivan"...

His longing for the tea had already left him but his blasting headache made him resort to tea for need.

He would have sipped his tea a couple of times when his phone rang, her melodious voice oozing out as caller tune "Anal mele pani thuli".

He relished her voice before picking up the call.

"Sollu baby"

"Kathir, I have to go to jammu for a coverage."

" seri epo ponum"

"Right now...I will be back in couple of weeks paathuko"

" weeks aa??"

"Aama kathir...I might have to go to couple of other places as well adhan"

"Hmm....neeyum dan....madhan varanla kooda??"

"Aan varan varan...."

" seri take care both of you....."

"Hmmm....."

"I love u baby"

" me too kathir.....muahhh....I miss you already"

"Just know that am just a phone call away"

"Theriyum da.....don't worry I will be safe....neeyum ....

Aprom..."

" sollu....edo start pani niruthita"

"Kanna....how is he ??"

" un friend ku enna sooper aa dan irukan....en thala dane uruludu...

Enna vera level ku kadupakuran di avan ....

Venumne gate kita salute pani good morning....

Pakarapo ellam salute...

Dho ipo venumne enaku tea kondu vandirukan...

Indha tea aa yaar da kandu pudicha nu iruku enaku"

Mullai giggled out..

"Eyyy naan inga polambi thalren...nee enna di sirikura"

"Chumma dan....aana keka nala iruku"

"Mulla....."

"Seri seri kadupagatha...he is just taking revenge...

Ivalo kooda panlati epdi...

Naan kooda avan apdi pesinapo unna avoid panuvano apdi edum nadakumo nu bayanden...

But ipo am happy....

Avan just unna irriate pana nenaikuran and he is right in his place la."

"aaama madam....aama you be happy very happy....

Kaduparadhu ennamo naan matum dan...

N yes...he is right...

Every damn person other than me is always right...

Epovum naan dane thappu..."

And he hung up the phone.

Kathir cussed and cursed within himself, he unnecessarily riled her up as well. He knew his genuine smile, a hearty sorry and small peck would set her right, yet it was mean of him to behave so.

A knock brought him out of his thoughts, to see the very reason of his anger stare back at him.

Kat: ipo enna da venum...

He asked almost pissed and given up tone already.

Kan: captain, major sir is calling you for some work captain. Jai hind and he left.

Kathir left out a puff of air and went about to do his work.

There wasn't much of a difference in their routine for the next fortnight, other than the constant ridiculous stuffs he was faced done with sole intenyoom to irritate him from his brother and his overly busy long distance girlfriend partly or completely pissed off with him.

She though pissed was not explicitily showing it, a small boon and a very large bane.

He has or needs some major patchups with her to be done in due time, she deserves it for being the jerk he was at times.

Though he missed the usual " I miss you"  in her sweet laden voice with quite a number of pecks she presents him with when, she is away on such work, he never voiced them out.

He thought he deserved this radio silence with just pleasantries, the least for being an ass with her on the call.

Well, luck was being worst or the best on his side and destiny being a jackass both in his love life, personal and professional life.

His brother was tormenting him by being his utterly all time available subordinate and rising his temperament and mood swings to a whole new level.

Even his senior's had started taking a note of his overly anxious self and had questioned him quite a number of time if he is fine or is something major bothering him??

Though he had denied it many a times in a row,
The last threat came from prabhakaran sir, Him being not his usual self and all worked up, did not do good for the team or the senior's was his point and he couldn't deny it.

Had prabhakaran sir started behaving out of his behaviour one fine day, his mind would for sure take him on a worst tour, so he understood their worries and had to come clean with prabhakaran sir it was just his brother, lest he half threatened on sending out to a therapist for his totally not being himself behaviour.

Today he was happy....genuinely happy after long...

His multiple wishes, unwanted questions of do you need anything sir followed by a salute or any of even kanna's antics couldn't irritate him..

The reason was simple..

Mullai, his bestie or even better his anni.

An easy guess for kanna, he was aware mullai had left to cover some issue in her earlier work terrain, her channel hadn't covered their last meeting.

He heard kathir informing prabha sir she wasn't in town..

Though he was a tad bit sad his brother wasn't responding to his antics, it just proved how much or what she meant in his brother's life.

He couldn't wait to rib her with newly added suffix of anni to his heart's content, once he settles score with both of them.

Kathir was feeling at peace, kanna was troubling him but the mere thought of her coming back, her smile when she returns from work, her in his embrace, the warmth that would spread him when he goes off for a sleep...

She was coming back after 2 whole weeks....it was not like he hasn't stayed away from her or anything...

But post their patch up this was their longest....longest gap that existed between them.

He couldn't wait to have her back in his arms for ever and forever.

Currently, he was doing something unethical in his workplace.

He was looking at some exquisite finger ring.

But, he wasn't sure on what ring?? Simple gold band? Or a simple large diamond stone? Or platinum diamond ring??

What would she love the most?? She wasn't a Jewel person. The only jewel she wears is her diamond nose ring, her second stud the earring he had gifted right after breaking up.

And her heart lock and key chain, vetri's gift.

Does Or will she wear ring on a daily basis??

Yea, he was planning on proposing her.

A proper proposal like the one enacted in fairy tales and movies.

Their story wasn't normal, neither were their love proposal anything near to romantic or cheesy, they were told in the spur of a moment.

But, this he wanted her to enjoy it to her hearts content.

And he would make sure they remain that way..

When he was busy making plans for her and deciding, he heard some throat clearing noise.

He looked up to see his brother trying his level best to conceal the smirk and smile that was ascenting on his lips.

Sir, you are being called in the meeting room...

And he spun his wheels and left.

Kathir shook his head, seeing the hardwork his brother was putting in being loggerhead with him.

Quite a task for his brother, yet he was hell bend on doing it.

Till when was the question??

What should he do to make his brother fine ?? He didn't know yet.

Well, the next couple of hours went away in their confidential meeting.

Kanna could almost see his brother wanting to run back to home, his constant shake of his leg once the meeting got over yet when the senior's didn't leave was a clear sign.

It was fun seeing the ever broody brother being a lover boy.

Kathir almost started cussing within himself for uselessly prolonging the meet after the agenda was discussed and sorted out.

He also saw his brother's constant teasy cocky grin.

Shit, was he so obvious??

But he cared less.

Finally, the meeting was dispersed and he rushed to his jeep to meet her.

Why did he want to do all the cheesy things they show in romcom movies?

Like get her a bouquet of rose or Bundle of chocolate??

But he did none of them.

He simply drove fast till he reached their porch and walked happily with a hop on his steps.

He heard her humming come from kitchen...

It was his favorite tune and a perfect blend for their mood.

"மாலை மங்கும் நேரம் ஒரு மோகம் கண்ணின் ஒரம்"

He tiptoed and hugged her to himself, plastering her to him.

A squel left her throat at the sudden unexpected embrace.

His hands rested on her bare skin, visible from her crop top and skirt.

His hold tightened while she leaned onto him....he nuzzled into her shoulder, and rubbed his moustache onto her clavicle, making her elicite a moan sinfully.

"Enna pandra da?"

"Shhhh" he mummed her spinning her around and pecking her lips..

Small tiny pecks turned into long smooches..

His cold fingers were palming her tummy and navel, her fingers were knotted on his uniform collar.

"I missed you so much"...

He uttered with a small smooch to her lips..

" not more than me " were her reply before she latched onto his lips.

After God knew how long, did they get tired of the kisses they were showering each other, with their forehead knocked.

Yet, his fingers hadn't stopped their play.. they were in a dilemma of the deadly direction they had to take upwards or downwards but not back...

He was lazily tracing the sides of her hip and waist, when she pulled him for another couple of hot kiss.....

"Enna madam udesam?" He enquired once his lips were let free, he knew her kisses weren't the usual level innocent.

" Captain sir aa evalo miss panen nu kaatlam nu dan" she winked naughtily playing with his name badge on his uniform button..

"Apdiya??"  He questioned carrying her in his arms,  knowing where this conversation was heading to and where their missing expression session would end.

Tbc...