M : just because you love me madly, you are forcing me to love you... right...

K : definitely no... just because i love you madly, iam asking you not to hate me...

Eyes locked and the sametime door opened...

Lakshmi and parvathi entered with worried but curious looks trying to read the faces of their children...
The scene of mullai in bed and kathir kneeling before her with hands intertwined gave them a positive hope but the crystal clear faces with no emotions confused them...
Though kathir didnt try to change his posture, mullai took her hands from him and reached for her mom...

L : mullaa... pesitengala... yena ma mudivu panne...

M : athai... athu...

Mullai felt her as if tongue was tied and words never came out of her throat...
Off course, the emotional trauma she was into seemed to drop down seeing her mother and aunt...
The space seemed to cool down as she had a feel that she was not alone in this chaos and she had her entire family with her including her athai and mama who cared more for her than their son...
That gave her a little relief but she couldnt get on her right senses...

Yes...
She had her questions answered...
She knew what has exactly happened...
She understood how much kathir was into her...
She had a clarity of all things happened...
In short, things about past has drawn to a understanding point but not future...
She didnt have any confidence to proceed with decision making...
Firstly, She was not clear headed for now and was more in a state that she couldnt even name...
Not able to think straight, She looked at her mom badly wanting to have a private word with her...
Noticing her looks....

K : maa... let mullai take her time... pressure podathenga... maybe she would want to speak with athai... so lets wait...

L : yen da pesa matte nee... anga kalyanathuku vanthavanga yelam yena achu yen yethum pana matengarenga nu kettu kodaiyaranga... athan kadhalikaranga illaa sikiram kalyanatha mudinga nu padutharanga...

paati athukum mela... naanga yethana peruku than bathil soli samaalikarathu... yellathaiyum arambichutu vechutu nalla vakkanaiya pesu ithukum unakum samantham illaatha madhiri...

K : maa... apadi illaa... i will be the happiest man in the world if mullai says ok... but athukaga avala force pana venaam please... let her decide... avala kashtapadutha venam... it hurts me too...

Though his care soothed mullai a bit, the way he accepted he never thought about her feelings came into her mind in full swing making her mad...

M ( irritated) : hmmmkmmm... aadu nanaiyuthenu oonaai azhuthuchaam...

K (confused) : what... athu yen azhuthuchu...

M : atha antha oonaai kita than kekkanum... aadukita ketta yepadi theriyum...

K : what... (scrunching eyebrows and then arching forehead with a smile)

hey... ennaiya oonaai nu sonna...

M : cha cha... ungala yepadi apadi soluven... yentha oorla oonaai editing apps yellam use panuthu...

K (smirking) : honey... just four wordsla asingapaduthita illaa... never mind... but i like that one...

aadu nanaiyuthu nu oonaai azhuthuchu... hmmm... lots of hidden meaning in it right... unna pathi yosikaama yellam panitu ippo unna unnakaga feel panrenla... athuku intha saying perfect match...

Mullai and parvathi were kind of amused to see him enjoy even if its a insult and even reasoning to that saying while lakshmi had a facepalm with a pissed off look...
Right from the time kathir stepped into the hall, she was not able to face anyone even her own brother burning in guilt for her son but this fellow...
Urghhhh...

L (angrily ): yen da unaku asingamave illaaya... panratha panitu yepadi ipadi pesare...

K : yen ma yepadi pesaren... correctnu thane sonen...

L : nalla sonne... enaku nee pana velaiyala orutharaiyum paaka mudiyala... pesa mudiyala... avalo asingama iruku... aana nee yepadi irukaa paaru...

K : maa... enakum asingama than iruku... kandipa namma dignityku panra velai illaa than... but what to do...

neenga yaarume help panala... it was like do or die... i didnt want to die so i did this... thappu illaanu sola matten... thappu than... kevalam than... infact mullaiya pathi kuda yosikala...

but its over maa... next yenanu paakanum... pana thappa thirumba pana kudaathu nu than ippo avala pressure podathenga nu solren... lets leave it to her choice...

Before lakshmi answered, mullai piped in...

M : so kathir... you mean i have a choice now...

K : off course honey... ippo unaku intha hurryburry marriage venaam nu thonichuna please let me know... lets stop this... chumma yellarum kekaranganu kalyanam panikanumnu avasiyam illaa...

M : apadiya... yepadi marriage stop panuvenga... yena reason soli... athan oorukelam namma love story padam potu kaamichurukengale... ippo vera puthu story kaamipengala... maybe vera aalunga kuda... athuku video ready ah...

P : chh... mullaa...

Mullai's words were purely dipped in sarcasm and even a pinch of sadism that made the moment so thick even parvathi was let down hearing to her daughter...
Lakshmi was no less but she kept quiet thinking her son deserves it...
But kathir was the unaffected one and came back with a calm answer...

K : vera aalunga namma picture laye illaa honey... its always two of us... just two of us forever... vera faceku edit potalum suthama set agathu...

M mindvoice : thimira paaru...

Uff... ok apadi solrenga... but enaku puriyala... you said i have a choice... appo athu poi ah...

K : no... ipovum unaku pidikalaina we will stop the marriage... lets take our time... lets get to know eachother... lets fall in love... and then... maybe after sometime... maybe after three months marriage panikalam... the choice is really yours... i mean it...

M : oh ho... apadiya... sari sari...

appo after three months enaku unga mela suthama love varalaina yena panalam...

K (confidently) : athelam kandipa varum honey... you will fall for me... you will love me madly... enaku confidence iruku...

M (sternly) : you cant say it kathir... all these are mind over matter... yepadi vena twist agalam... athum intha madhiri velai pana unga mela kandipa love vara chance eh illaa... apadi varalaina appo thirumba poi dheena mama ah kalyanam panikatuma... fine right...

That was a low hit...
Kathir's face turned dangerously dark with eyes shining like ball of fire and teeth clenching tight that really scared the other two...

P : mullai... konjam pesama iru ma... nee...

M : maa... kathir naanga pesanum nu than eh sonaaru... athan pesaren... sollunga kathir... is that fine for you... fortunately neengale dheena mamaku unmaiyum solitenga... so he will be happy with that...

Lakshmi and parvathi looked at eachother with mention of the new news....

L : mullaa... dheenaku unmai theriyuma... yeppo nadanthuchu ithu...

M : athelam unga pullai unmaiya sollithan anupi vechaaru athai... maamaku theriyum... athaiku, periya mamaku yellarukum theriyum... so avanga happy ah marriageku accept panipanga...

Mullai was not so shameless to go for the fellow who had zero trust for her...
To be frank, even that name did irritate her much...
But then she knew that name would stab kathir and she didnt want to miss that chance of pricking him down...

K (curtly) : see honey... dheena chapter is over in your life... dont ever take his name again... then you will regret for doing so...

That grave voice sent chills down the spine so mullai disregarded it immediately...

M : okay... avara pathi pesala... but enaku nijama love varalaina yena panalam nu kettene... athuku bathil sollunga...

K : athan sonane... kandipa...

M : kandipa varumngra story ah vidunga kathir... varalaina yena panrathu... i need a answer for that... choice irukunu sona neenga proper answerum sollunga...

K : athu... athu...

(Thinking for sometime) haan... intha movies la yellam varume... familykaga sacrifice pani veetula solravangala kalyanam panipangale... apadi enna kalyanam paniko honey...

M (shocked) : WHAT...

K : yeah honey... lovekaga illaanalum familykaga paniko but i swear you wont regret anytime marrying me...

Mullai was first irritated hearing the answer thinking he was making fun of her even in this situation but his deep voice and stern expressions spoke a different story...
So he really means that...
This guy is completely crazy for sure that made her more mad on him...

M (sarcastic) : so choice is either i have to marry you now or marry you after three months... avalo than la... thats so kind of you kathir...

K : i am sorry honey... but precisely that is it... ivalo kevalamaa oru velai pani kalyanatha niruthina enkita nee vera yena yethir paaka mudiyum...

M : neenga...

P : mullai chumma iru... kathir... pesinathu pothum... konjam neenga veliya irunga... naan mullaikita pesaren... appuram namma kalya... illaa yena panrathunu paakalam... sariya athachi...

Before mullai started something angrily, parvathi shushed her clutching her hands tight...
This argument was getting no where for sure and this needed a full stop...
Lakshmi who was getting more into guilt mode and also pity mode moved away with a generic headnod while kathir stood looking at mullai...
After a couple of seconds, he moved out with a deep sigh...
As the door closed, parvathi caressed mullai's cheeks scrutinizing her from head to toe...

P : azhuthiya chinnakutti...

M : chhh... illaama... azha yena iruku...

That was her daughter mullai...
She was not a cry baby anytime and a very strong and take it easy character...
She wouldnt create nuisances even it costs her tears...
she wouldn't brood over anything that is out of her control...
She would brush anything easily that comes on her way and move forward...
Any girl in her situation would have been thrashed in soul but this girl revived back...
She had cried and the smudged kajal stood testimony to it but she wouldn't admit and make her mom cry...
She had heart break but she wouldnt expose and make it a big issue...

Do person like her deserve all these ordeal...
No, for sure...
But maybe this fate has something sweet buried beneath it...
Parvathi believed so and proceeeded for next trying to make her daughter openup...
She had many things to clear and even mullai wanted the same...
Parvathi made mullai lie on her lap and continued catching all reactions of mullai...

P : ipadi nadakumnu kanavula kuda nenaikala de... yevalo nalla arambicha naal ipadi maariduchu...

M mindvoice : nalla arambichutha... iniki naal start aanathe intha proposalla than eh... appuram yepadi aagum... apove kadavul promo pottu kaamichu kuduthurukaaru... enaku than puriyala...

M : hmmmm....

P : antha dheena ipadi pesuvaan nu nenaikala de... yena pechu pesaran... athuku avan appa amma support vera... avan matum olunga irunthuruntha ipadi...

M : maa... olunga irunthurunthalam ithu than nadanthurukum... kathir chumma vituruka mataaru... infact vera yetha periya drama play panirupaaru.... athuku ithuve better... first dramake total familyum out....

This was definitely cool for the current situation mullai was, parvathi thought...

P : mulla... yena de ipadi alachiyama pesare... appo dheena ah pidichu poi yellam nee kalyanathuku othukalaiya... naanga sonom nu than kadamaiku othukitiya...

M : cha cha... apadi yellam illaa ma... dheena mama ah chinnavayasula irunthu theriyum... avar familyum nalla theriyum... sontham ngranala yeppavum onna irukalam... ungaluku periya support ah irukum... also avarku en mela oru love irunthuchu...

so yellam yosichu ithu practical ah sariya varum nu nenachu ok sonen... pidikaama yellam illaa... athukaga avara mattum than pidichuthunu yellam sola matten... more of a wedding for its benefits than love... neraya arrange marriage apadi than eh nadakuthu...

P : unmai than... aana ippo... athu ippo... paati aasaipadarathu kuda... athu familykaga...

How would she ask her for marriage with kathir knowing what she is going through but do she have a choice...
May or may not...

M : periya aasai... yellam intha paatiyala vanthachu... yaara kalyanam pananum anike theliva soliruntha ippo intha prachanaiye illaa... yellam sariya nadanthurukum... arakoraiya pesitu vitachu... ippo peran vanthu naalu varthai pesinathum apadiye peranuku support... enna pathi yosikutha paaru...

Parvathi started reading between the lines understanding her daughter's mindset...

P : avangaluku peran pethimela romba aasai vechurukaan athan apadi panitaannu...

M : aasaiya... atha sollathe ma... nadanthatha yosicha kovam kovama varuthu... ithelam poi nu prove pananum nu thonuthu...

P : yen mullaa... kekkanumnu nenachen... antha photos yellam poi nu prove pana mudiyuma...

M : thaaralama panalam ma... intha nimishame athelam poi nu prove panalam... yen kathir mela legal ah action kuda yedukalam...

P : action yedukaratha vidu... nee yaaruku prove pana pore... dheenaku... vasantha athachi, mehandran mamaka...

M : chi... avangaluku prove pani yena aga poguthu ippo... apadi yentha avasiyamum enaku illaa...

P : sari appo enaku, appaku, paatika...

M ( angrily) : ungaluku naan prove pananuma... yena ma pesare nee... illana namba matengala... enna pathi theriyaatha ungaluku...

P : nalla theriyum de... athan solren... un kovatha kaamika illaa unna nallavanu solla yaarukum yethum nirubikanum nu avasaiyam illaa... yevalo mosamana nilamaiya irunthalum nambaravanga nambuvaanga... namba kudathunu nenaikaravanga chinna vishayatha kuda namba matanga... ithula nee yena prove pani yena priyojanam...

M : maa...

P : kathir mela action yedukalam than.... aana athula kashtapada porathu namma kudumbamum than... paati, appa, athai, mama yellarum odanju poiduvaanga...

thappu than illanu solala... antha thappuku thappe panatha yellaraiyum yepadi thandikarathu... mukkiyama paatiyala thaanga mudiyuma...

M : chhh... emotional ah enna corner pana try panriya ma....

P : cha illaa de... nadappa solren... intha kalyaanamngra onnu illaana kathir intha vazhi use panirupaan unkita nerunga nu thonutha unaku...

M (nodding as no) : ...

P : avan sona madhiri love pana vechu than eh panirupaan... ippo vera vazhi illaama...

M (angrilly) : vera vazhi illana yena vena panalama ma...

P : thappu than... atha than avane othukitaane... thappa thappunu othukarathukum oru manasu venum...

M : maa... yosika mudiyala ennala...everything is too much for me to handle... ippo nee enna yena pana solre...

P : inga paaru chinnakutti... naan solrathu onnu than... kovathula poi ithelam poi nu solalam... nirubikalam... kathirmela action yedukalam... ithelame namalala mudiyum...

aana yepavume pana mudiyumgra karanathukaga yethaiyum pana kudathu... oru vishayam pana athula namaku yena nallathunu yena ketathunu than yosikanum... nee ithelam poinu nirubichu kathirmela action yedutha yena nallathu varum sollu... thappupanavana thandicha santhosham kedaikum... aana kuda senthu nadaka pora mathathu... atha yosi...

Mullai kept quiet just reeling what would happen next and that was not really giving her happiness nor peace...
So whats her mother want her to do...

M : puriyuthu ma... ippo ennna yena pana solre... kalyanama... frank ah sollu... suthivalachu pesa venam...

P : aama de...

The answer didn't surprise mullai but then was a little disappointed...
Do her mother thinks like typical mothers who think only about situation, family and all other society oriented reasons...
She was not that type but...

P : ne yosikalam... ipadi onnu nadanthanala ooruku bayanthutu ipadi solren nu... aana apadi illa...

ithe innoru thaguthi illatha oruthan ipadi paniruntha naan appa paati yellam chumma paathutu irupom... kandipa mattom... un appa apadi panavana vettiye potuduvaaru... ippo amaidhiya irukom na athuku rendu karanam... onnu lakshmi athachi... innonu kathir...

M : kathir ah...

P : hmmm... engalala purinjuka mudiyuthu avana... avan nilamaiyum puriyuthu... thappu than... aana antha thappa thaandi konjam avan kaadhalaiyum pathi yosikarom... ipadi oru kanmoodithanamana anbu vechurukavan kandipa unna raani madhiri paathupaan...

M : maa... aanalum...

P : athu mattum illaa de.... kathir kudumbatha pathi kavalai illaa... padippu, vasathi, sothu yellam yentha koraiyum illaa... appuram...

M : aanalum character mukkiyam ache maa...

P : kandipa mukkiyam than... yaaru illaanu sonna... dhamu mamakita pesinom... avaru full guarantee kathirku... appuram un senior janakikita pesinom... avanga kathir ah pathi avalo nallatha solranga... sola pona vara thaimaasam avanga ponnuku kathir ah kekkalamnu mudivu panirukaanga pola.. athukula ipadi agiduchu... avanga kathir sokka thangam tharalama pani veinga nu solranga...

Mullai gotup and looked at her mom in surprise...

M : yeppo ma ithelam panenga...

P : nadanthathu nadanthachu... moolaila ukanthu azhuthutu iruntha aacha... athan naanum appavum visarichom... nee dheena ah kalyanam panika yena karanathukaga othukitayo athelam kathirkum porunthom... sola pona nooru sadhaveedham porunthum... nee romba yosikama sarinu sollu...

Mullai's heart relaxed hearing to it...
Even in that worst situation, her parents had taken steps to analyse and make sure things are best for her...
This love is really precious...
Mullai hugged her mom tight kissing her lavishly like always...
Offcourse she wanted a break from the emotional turmoil that she has been through...

M : thanks maa... intha situationla kuda ipadi yosichathuku...

P : un vazhkai aache... yosikaama irupoma... haann... mullaa...

M : sollu maa...

P : ithellam poga oru mukkiyamana karanam iruku de... un appakita kuda naan atha solala...

M : yena ma...

P : ithelam poinu solitu inga irunthu unna kutitu poi dheenako illaa vera yaaruko kalyanam pani vekkanum nu naanga yosichalum kathir atha pana vida mattan... athu enaku theliva puriyuthu... athu unakum puriyum nu nenaikaren...

"itha vida yetha kevalama pana than nee kedaipanu oru situation vanthuruntha athaiyum kuda panirupen... because i wanted you... and i want you always... "

Mullai shivered instantly hearing his stern declaration and nodded her head as yes...

P : hmmm... ithu than yethartham... nitharsanam... engaluku intha kalyanam nadakarathu nallathunu thonuthu... enaku appa paati athai mama yellarukume... aana vazha porathu nee... engaluku sarinu solrathuku ayiram karanam irukalam... aana unaku venam nu sola onnu iruntha kuda intha kalyanam venam... yosichu sollu...

Mullai didnt know what to tell or even what to think...
She could accept and agree to every single word her mom said...
Its good to think practically than thinking emotionally...
She always did that but now she couldn't...
Marriage might end up anguish of all but how could she forget the things happened today...
She cant enter into a namesake marriage relationship...
But is it possible to live flesh and soul with him...
For sure... no...
But he did it out of love and helplessnes...
But doesnt make him good either...
Mullai tried to put a hold to her chain of thoughts and came back to mom...

M: decision yeduka mudiyala ma... kulapama iruku... yetha pathi yosikanum yetha vitudanum nu puriyala...

Parvathi looked at her daughter helplessly not able to see her confused and concerned...
She didnt want to speak more to convince her and make things more worse...

P : yellathaiyum vidu de chinnakutti... naan solratha mattum yosi...

kathir mela veruppa iruntha vitudu... yenna nadanthalum nadakkatum namma paathukalam... naanga irukom unkuda... illaa manasu muzhuka kovam mattum thanna tharalama kalyanam paniko...
veruppoda kasappu yepavum irukum... aana kovam konjam konjama maranjudum... itha matum yosichu sollu... aga vendiyatha paapom... kandatha yosichu varuthikkathe...

"just because i love you madly, iam asking you not to hate me..."

Mullai smiled a little thinking the final conversation...
Yes...
He loves her madly...
Though she accused that its love, she could feel that its love...
But she is not even close to that equation of love...
Instead she has raging anger on him waiting to kill him with words...
But, surprisingly she doesnt hate him as such...

So will this work...
If not now maybe in future...
Who knows....
Enough of brooding, She decided to go with the flow hoping for good...

M : enaku ok ma...

Parvathi smiled out and out after longtime and kissed mullai happilly...

P : romba santhosham de... enaku thonuthu kandipa intha mudivuku nee varutha padamatte... santhosham than paduva... vaa poi athachikita soluvom... naanga adutha velaiya paakarom... nee intha pudavai yellam maathiko... alangaarathuku naan un friends ah anuparen... sariya...

M (a little smile) : sari ma...

Parvathi opened the door just to see lakshmi and kathir waiting eagerly...

P (smiling) : mullai sarinu solita athachi...

L : muruga... ufff... athu pothum... namma poi velaiya paapom... mudhala ammakita solanum... athana thadavai phone panitanga...

K : maa oru nimisham... athai... ava nijama sarinu solitalaa or neenga sola vechutengala...

P : apadi yellam illaa kathir...

K : i couldn't believe... i will have a word with her... please athai... neenga ingaye irunga...

Without expecting her answer, Kathir knocked the room for namesake and entered the room closing it again just to see mullai infront of the mirror...

K : honey... we are running out of time... just be precise... did you accept the marriage wholeheartedly or not...

Mullai wanted to snap him in words but then kept calm...
Off course she has time for all that and not now...

M : yes...

K (with disbelief) : really... enna nijama accept panikitiya..

M : kathir... you got it right... i accept the marriage wholeheartedly.... aana frankly ungala wholehearted ah accept panikala... panika mudiyala... thats the truth... and dont expect me to do that anytime soon...

K : never mind honey... one day you will accept me wholeheartedly... let me wait for that to happen... and thanks a lot for this acceptance...

Kathir flashed a wide relieved smile and moved forward in a gesture of hugging but stopped midway seeing mullai glare...

M (warningly) : kathir...

K : sorry honey... oru kushila vanthuten... ok iam leaving for now... cant wait to make you mine officially... see you...

Kathir left the room jumping out of joy while mullai kept staring at his retreating figure thinking about her future that too with this crazy fellow...

TBC...