I WANT YOU HONEY...

Kathirvel pandian uttered the words softly but firmly to mullai looking into her beautiful orbs... The moist eyes with the pink face painted with pain instantly reminded of the cheerful face flushed with happiness when he met her for thr first time...

SCREECHHHHHH...

Pan : dei dei... yen da ipadi sudden ah vandiya niruthina... bayanthutom...

K : yen niruthunena... paa... naanum paakaren... chennai la arambichu karaikudi varai amma azhuthutu vanthuruku...

amma than ipadina neeyum kuda senthutu violin vaasikare... yena agiduchu ippo... paati is just sick... avalo than eh...

Pan : athilla da...

L : yena... avalo thane ah... yevalo easy ah solraan paarunga... dei en sontha amma da avanga... udambu mudiyaama irukaanga... athum avangala vitu 28 years ah thalli iruken... ore thambi karuveppilai kothu madhiri... akka akka nu uyira viduvaan... avanukum thooramagiten... ippo sontha veetuke anniyama poi moonavathu manushi madhiri nikka poren... ithelam simple ah unaku...

K : maa... apadi solala naan... neenga love marriage panikitenga... veetula othukala... veliya vanthutenga... athula paatiku romba kovam... othuki vechutanga... neenga patch up pana try panenga... but workout agala... overtime neengalum vitutenga... avanga avanga life ah paaka arambichutenga... thats it... athelam mudinju pona vishayam...

Ippo unga thambiye...

L : mama nu mariyaathaiya sollu...

K : fine... mama eh phone pani veetuku vara soli kupidararu... mukkiyama unga amma i mean paati sonanga nu solraaru... you should be happy about it... you are going to reunite with your family... ithula azha yena iruku... athum 28 years back story pathi pesi... too boring feelings maa...

L : paarunga ivana... yena pesaraan nu... ennodathu boring feelings aam...

Pan (curtly) : Kathir... aaruthala pesa mudiyalaina fine... kandapadi pesi nogadikaathe... chumma iru...

K : paa... i didn't want to hurt... thoninatha solren...

Pan : kathir... ithelam normal days la nadanthuruntha nalla irunthurukum... but anga athai is sick... romba high bp and added complications... anytime she might collapse with a stroke nu solranga... appuram yepadi da normal ah irupa...

K : i agree pa... but crying is a not solution for anything and anytime... yes she is sick... but athuku yena pananum nu poi paapom... details keppom... we will bring specialists and get her treated... athuku yena panalam nu yosikalam... atha vitutu azhuthutu iruntha nallava iruku...

Pan : aama lakshmi kathir solrathu sari than... azhathe... paathukalam...

L (wiping her cheeks with saree...) : saringa...

Pan : inga paaru... un mugam azhuthu azhuthu veengi poiruku... athai ipadi paatha naan yenamo unna santhoshama vechukala nu nenachu enna thiti therkka poranga... un thambi uruttukattaila adichalum achariyam illaa... vayasana kalathula ithu ennaku thevaiyama... konjam paathu panu...

L (smiling) : aama aama... ungala adikaranga... ponga vambu panikitu...

K : happada... sirichitiya maa.... good girl... ipadiye varanum soliten... soga geetham vaasika kudaathu... yellam sari agidum... sari panidalam...

L : ne sonna sari than da...

Pan : sari kelambu da... neram achu...

K : right pa...

The car sped through the roads of kunnakudi and reached the destination in no time..
As the car was about to enter the bungalow, kathir read the name of the house with a smile...

K : MULLAIYAGAM... wow... nice namela paa... padikkum bothe sweet ah iruku...

Pan : aama da... romba... aana yena artham nu theriyalaiye...

L : yenga... sonen la... muruganoda ponnu per mullai nu... athu than vechurukanga...

Pan : oh aama aama...

K : mullai ah... nice...  normal name ah ilaama different ah iruku maa...

L : aama da... azhagu per avala madhiriye... photo la paathen...

K : is it... nice ma...

Just then the car stopped in the veranda and they got down, murugan and parvathi sprinted out of the house happilly along with helpers....
There was a typical emotional outbreak as the loved ones were meeting after years and love overflowed...

Mu : akka... mama... vaanga vaanga... mapillaa... vaaya vaaya... unna paaka ithana varusham agiruku enaku...

L : muruga... en thappu than da yellam... naanum apadiye irunthuten paaru... en thappu than...

Mu : illaa akka... amma kovam therinjathu than eh ka... vantha yetha panipen nu sonna atha meeri unnala yena seiya mudiyum... athan ennalaiyum mudiyala... nee palasa vidu... ullaa vaa mudhala... vaanga mama... vaaya mapillaa...

P : yenga irunga... oru nimisham...

A helper came with arathi plate and handed over to parvathi who started the procedure...

L : yen parvathi... yena ithelam...

P : kalyanam mudinju mudhal muraiya ullaa varenga athachi... athan arathi yedukalam nu...

L : athu sari... athu nadanthu 28 varusham achu... paiyanuke kalyana vayasu aachu...

P : yethana naal aana yena athachi... athelam muraipadi pananum... ungaluku venaam na vidunga naan mapillaiku yedukaren... neenga vaanga mapillaa...

K : wow athai... im ready... nalla yedunga... intha extra attention kuda nalla than iruku... oru oru thadavai varum bothum yedupengala...

P (laughing) : ungaluku illathatha mapillaa... yeduthuta pochu...

K : wow... u r so sweet athai... amma soluvaanga paati romba terror nu... mamavum apadi than... athunalaiye inga varala nu... but neenga apadiye opposite... i like you athai...

Kathir instantly put his hand around parvathi's shoulders for a hug with a little kiss making her shy away...
Off course, this was not a practice here and it was new to her...
Seeing her reaction, lakshmi piped in...

L : dei vidu da... parvathiku uncomfortable ah irukumla...

K : yen irukum... naan unna hug panrenla maa... are you uncomfortable...

L : dei... yen da paduthare... athum ithum onna...

K : yen onnu thane... athai... unga ponnu hug pana matala...

P : pana matala... neenga vera mapilla... avalum yeppapaathalum konjikite than irupaa... thalli nillunu sonnalum kekka matta...

K : see... its settled then... apadiye than naanum... palagikonga athai... because i cant change it...

P ( smiling) : neenga ipadiye irunga mapillaa pothum... oru matramum venam...

K : fine then... but neenga maaranum... please dont call vaanga ponga mapillaa ellam... call me kathir... mama... u too... please call me kathir...

Mu : athu yepadi mapilla... murai nu iruke...

Pan : muruga... pesama ivan solratha keturunga... illaana uyira vaangiduvaan...

L : aama da muruga... ivan apadiye amma madhiri... avan solrathuthan nadakanum... avan pecha than namma kekkanum... apadi oru pidivaatham... pesama kettuko...

Mu : apadiya ka... appo mapi... kathir solrathuku maru pechu illaa... vaa kathir ullaa polam... vaa ka... vaanga mama...

They entered the home and proceeded to meet thayammal, the eldest of the family who was bedridden with soul waiting for her family to unite...
As they reached the room, there were teardrops emerging out of every orbs reminded of the time wasted in the past because of all chaos...
All the ego and negative traits disappeared in that fresh pool of tears and a beautiful family reunion happened...
When tearglands took a rest, Thayammal called kathir near her in a soft tone barely audible...

T : thangam... inga... vaa da...

yevalo... valanthute da thangam... ithana... varushama...  unna poi... odhuki vechutane...

yetho... oru ankaaram... athan... avanga kaadhal... kalyanatha... othuka... yethuka... mudiyala... ippo udambula... valu poi... mela poiduvom... ngrapo than... bayam vanthu... yosichen... dhamukita... dhamuku... (clearing throat)

As paati struggled to speak, murugan took over...

Mu : dhamu annanuku ungakuda palakam irukarathu engaluku  theriyum ka... aanalum yethum kekka matom... ungala pathi solla vida matom... veemba irunthutom... ammaku thoninathum than kupitu pesinom... anne vanthu unga photo yellam kamichaaru... kathir ah paathathum amma ore adam...  chennai pogalam... ungala paakanum nu... ammaku vasathi padathu... athan vara sonen... illaana naangale vanthurupom mama...

Pan : periyavangala naanga vanthu pakarathu than mariyaathai... athula yena muruga iruku...

T : illaa mapillaa... ithana... naal...  apadi irunthutame...  nu enaku... enaku...

P : athai... mudinjatha vidunga...  neenga tension aana bp yerum... konjam nithaanama irunga...

T : ini yena aana yena... peranaiyum pethiyaiyum paathachu... ini nimathiya kannu mooduven...

As thayammal wiped her tears in relief, kathir slided into her bed hugging her softly...

K : oh dear patti... peranaiyum pethiyaiyum paatha pothuma... avanga kulanthaigala paaka venama... you should stay strong right... willpower is important than physical power... u have just high bp and few minor hassles... it can be sorted out easily... just mind over matter ok... lets take care of it...

Kathir spoke long while all others had a facepalm and thayammal blinked innocently listening to him with a streak of pride in her face...

T : thasu busununu... pesare... thangam.... mullaiyum... ipadi than... silasamayam... pesuvaa... onum puriyala nu... sonna... athuku than... pesarennu... vera solitu siripaa...

K (grinning) :  so sweet... but sorry paati... i can repeat.. uff... athu yena sonena...

T : athu purinjuthu... peran pethi... kulanthaigala... paaka... themba irukanum nu... solre... irunthudaren thangam... nee solita la...

K : thats my girl... i like you too paati...

Kathir kissed thayammal making her shy too filling the entire room with chuckles...

Mu : akka... amma konjaratha paathiya... nammakita yepadi irupaanga...

L : athan da naanum nenachen... naan yellam amma munnadi nikkave bayapaduven... naan yellam kaadhalichennu nambave mudiyala...

P : neenga vera athachi... naan ipo varai apadi than athaiya paathu nadungitu iruken...

Pan : athelam thatha paati aana maaridanum ngrathu ulaga valakkam aache...

T : apadi sollunga mapilla...

L : aama mullai yenga... aalae kaanom...

Mu : namma kovilla unga moonu per perla poojaiku kuduthurukom mama... anga than poirukaa... mudichutu oru chinna venduthal athaiyum mudichutu vanthuduvaa...

Pan : oh sari sari muruga...

Just like that the time passed with the family speaking nineteen to dozen conversing about everyone and everything compensating for years missing moments...
They had a yummy lunch together and sametime kathir just checked about thayammal's health with the family doctor...
He arranged for few change of treatments speaking to specialists and organized them...
After all, they had to start early to chennai owing to other plans...

T : ipadi... udane...  kelambarengale.. en thangam...

K : im starting tonight to singapore paati... i have a very important business deal to be finished... will be back...

L(facepalm)  : dei... yen da...

K : oh sorry paati... naan iniki rathiri oru velai vishayama singapore i mean veli naadu poren paati... romba romba mukkiyam... vida mudiyaathu... neenga phone panathum udane paakanum nu thoniduchu... vanthutom... so kelambarom... naan illathapo appa office ah pakanum... illana amma appa stay panuvanga...

L : naan poitu intha vara kadaisila varen ma...

T : sari ma... thangam nee...

K :  naan poitu vanthathum varen paati... just 20 days... iruvathu naal than... i will be back...

T : sari thangam... jhakarathaiya poitu vaa...

K : kandipa paati... neengalum jhakarathaiya irunga... see you soon...

T : sari thangam...

Kathir and family was about to leave just to be stopped by a cheerful voice...

ATHAI...

Everyone turned to see mullai standing in the entrance looking gleefully...
She was dressed up in a beautiful yellow color flared anarkali that flew gracefully in sympony with the swirling breeze...
Her thick tresses were having a tough fight with the dupatta as they swayed and finally both made a draw...
As she lept forward to catch her family, her bangles and danglers danced in harmony with her dainty feet...
More than all, the big kohled eyes and the smiling lips well established the happiness of that current moment...

Just one sight...
Kathir felt he was knocked off the ground completely...
Was he a person born and brought up in some magic island with no sign of girls...
Nope... He wasn't...
He had come across loads of girls...
But none did impact him so much just like her...
She did thrash him with merely with her presence...
Was it just her beauty...
He didn't know...
He didn't want to know...
His eyes glued to her everywhere she moved inscribing what ever she did, noting down even a minute reaction of hers...

When she ran to lakshmi hugging her tight placing kisses affectionately, his own body shivered as if those warm hugs and kisses were meant for him...
When she fell in pandian's feet respectfully, he felt his own soul fell in her feet...
When she grinned at him with a friendly headnod, his own body burnt in passion...
When she held out her palm offering kumkum, it felt like he was being blessed with her for whole life...

That moment instantly his heart and soul screamed aloud...

"I WANT THIS GIRL... SHE IS MINE...."

He came out of his trance trying to pause his own thought process hearing to the sweet voice of mullai...
Not the just voice...
He felt every word that came out of her soft lips were dipped in love and affection...

M : yena athai... ithana varusham kalichu vanthurukenga... athukula kelambina yepadi... please irunga athai... mama please...

She looked hesitantly at kathir maybe just thinking what to address him just to get back a warm smile...

K : please kathir... athan eh...

P : yethu per soliya... mama nu kupida...

With one stern but amused look from kathir, parvathi said with a smile...

P : kathir ne sollu...

M : thank god... no mama... gamma... please kathir... irungalen... yellarum senthu iruntha nalla irukum... i expected that u to stay for few days...

With honey melting into ears in the form of words, Kathir wanted to nod his head shamelessly leaving all things aside...
But the trip was not about him...
It was about hundreds of his employees so he had no option than to refuse...

K : illlaa... ithu romba romba important... cancel pana mudiyaathu... thats why i had to go... venumna varum bothu chennai kuda pogama ingaye vanthudaren... is that fine...

M : absolutely fine kathir...

Everyone thought it was fun but only he and fate knew it was the thing going to happen...
As they were getting late, kathir and family couldnt spend more time with mullai and moved out to the car...
As they hopped in the car again honey filled his ears and heart as mullai was speaking with his parents in the rear seat...

M : athai.... i missed cooking for u today... but neenga weekend varen nu sonengala... appo ungaluku yena venum nu solunga... naan pani vekkaren... mama ungalukum...

L : nee yena panalum engaluku pidikum de chellam... nee pani vei... naanga sikiram varom...

Pan : aama mullaa...

M : ok athai... ok mama... poitu call panunga...

Mullai moved to the front passenger seat bending down with a smile at kathir...

M : so kathir... what do you want...

In no time, kathir replied...

K : I want you honey...

Kathir replied sternly and at the sametime there was a loud sound of temple bell making his words trail off...

M (confused) : pardon me kathir... i think i got it wrong... yena sonenga... yena venum ungaluku...

K : yena venuma... hmm... i will come back and say what i want... fine...

M : absolutely fine kathir... bye bye... have a safe flight...

With that mullai took a step backward letting the car forward and kathir started with a wide smile bidding bye to everyone...

And now, The same crew who were smiling were standing startled with things happening and mullai was still looking at kathir who was doing the same...

"I want you honey..."

Yes...
On that particular day, she thought she heard this...
But she did let it go as those words never fit into that situation...
Now she realised...
It didnt fit into the situation but it did fit the way his eyes spoke...
Those fierce eyes which she thought fondness for a cousin was wrong...
It did hold the blazing fire of a passionate man for his woman...
It was the same even now...

What would this fire do to her...
Give her the warmth like sun or burn her into ashes...
Without knowing, Mullai's eyes shifted to the picture in the projector followed by kathir...

TBC...