Kathir, in his relief and excitement got ready in matter of few minutes and started pacing the room waiting to be called...
Dressed up in a pure silk dhoti and shirt with accessories and streak of thiruneer, he looked like a typical bridegroom choking with happiness...
Thanks to paati for arranging everything right from dresses to thaali in a go even before they accepted for marriage...
Adding to all, his wide smile and loud laughs with his friends made him look like the happiest man in the world...
It looked like entire world was under his feet...

But is it true...
Nope...
Appearances are always deceptive...
Off course he was happy...
He was in cloud nine...
A whole day's mental grapple finally came to a closure...
No doubt in that...
But there was a oozing feeling of guilt for his mistake and also fear for future that was trying to pop out which he suppressed now and then...

He was always adamant but not arrogant anytime...
He had a carefree attitude but never been cruel to anyone...
He had never had love episodes in his life and this is the first...
He didnt imagine anytime that even love would turn him upside down...
There were moments he himself had made fun of people who go longway for love...
But now he became one among them...
Infact much ahead of all that too heading in a atrocious way...

All of a sudden, he felt all his goodness have been washed away and filled only with grossness...

He knew thousands of good things about him will be dusted out in a wink before this single blunder...
He didnt want to justify...
But did he really had any other option...
Never...

His parents could have helped but they were not in situation...
His uncle could have tried but definitely as a father excepting him is ridiculous...
Mullai she was not even in picture...
Only option left was him and he did...

He was happy and peaceful in a way that all the blame would be on him and all others can stay good as always...
Let all negativity just wind up with him and not his family...
Now that marriage is gonna happen, he started thinking about next step...

When will mullai accept him wholeheartedly...
Yes she would...
He would make her fall for him...
Confidently he shook the shoulders  looking at his image on the mirror wishing for good and best going forward...

Meanwhile...
Mullai glanced at her from top to toe with a subtle grin...
She was decked up in a beautiful cream color silk saree with thick zari tomato red border and a same color kemp worked blouse...
This was the saree she wished to be her muhurtham saree but vasantha felt it was too simple and it wouldnt speak the value of money and prestidge...
Inspite of being so classy and costly than her choice, she suggested to take a grand tissue saree which would look rich and mullai too accepted...

Even jewels, mullai was a ardent lover of pure gold antiques and kemp...
That wish also was denied saying diamonds would look more richer than mere gold...
Though accepting to vasantha, mullai did purchase this cream saree infact did more work in the blouse than her so called marriage saree blouse planning to wear one special day with all her favorite kemp jewels...
Did she expect that wish would come true today that too for her wedding...

Is this called destiny...
Is this saree teaching her life lessons...
Is that why kathir came into her life out of blue...
Something that destined to happen would happen passing all odds...
Her train of thoughts were interuppted by her friends bringing her out of dwam...

Karthiga : yena vena solatum de... enaku iva mela bayangara kovam... namma yellam yevalo close... namakitaye itha marachutaa paaru... yen love panranu sona namma venanu soliduvoma... nethu saintharam azhutha de... yenanu ketathuku amma appa paati vitu poganum nu kashtama iruku nu sonna.. atha poi unmainu nambinen paaru... enna solanum...

Swarna : hey nee than viden de... avale ippo than thappi polachu iruka... avala nimathiya iruka vidu... iniki ava kalyanaa naal... iniki vitudu... methuva oru naal sandai podalam... ava love story ah muzhusa kekkalam...

Tamil : correct de... ippothaiki ava love success agi aasaipatta paiyana kalyanam panikara... athu pothum namaku... palasa yethuku pesi avala tension panrenga...

Mullai sat wondering how tables got turned entirely...
She was upset of leaving her home and those tears were now framed that it was for her love...
Love...
Love story....
She felt like banging her head somewhere...

M mindvoice : yellarum love, love storynu soli padutharanga... oru rendu mani nerathuku munnadi ipadi onnu irunthathu kuda theriyaathunu sonna yepadi irukum... apadiye freeze agiduvaanga yellarum...

Aana yen ennala unmaiya veliya sola mudiyala... friends than eh... solidalama...yen mudiyala... yetho thadukuthe... yena athu...

She thought multiple times to let the truth out but she didnt utter any word...
Surprisingly she didnt feel like letting that secret out for reasons unknown...

Devi : sari namma puthusa pesuvom... hey anna yepadi de... yentha madhiri aalu...

M mindvoice : hmmmkmmm yaaruku theriyum...

Swar : aala bayangara fierce ah theriyaraaru... correct ah mullaa...

M ( sigh) : hmmm... correct than...

Kar : cha paaka than apadi de... but romba soft de... romba nallavar kuda... mathavangalukaga avalo yosikaraaru...

M (stunned) : WHAT THE HELL...

Kar : yen de kathare...

M : kathama yena pana... nee patha konjanerathula kathir soft, nallavaru, aduthavangaalukaga yosikararu nu romba arivaalithanama kandupdichurukiye... athan romba romba santhosham enaku... santhoshathula kathiten... (sarcastically)

Kar : hehe thanks de... ithu kuda theriyaatha yena... nee vitutu poi inoruthara kalyanam panika poiyum unna onume solala than eh... un situation ah purinjukitu unkita nalla than eh irukaaru... naanga than paathome... avalo aasaiya paakararu...

Devi : aama aama naan kuda mulla mela kovam varumo nu nenachen... aana yevalo aasaiya irukaaru...

Hey appuram paathingala de... antha dheena annakita kuda poi mullai saarba sorry ketaare...

M : WHAT... WAIT... HEY PUTHUSU PUTHUSA YENGA IRUNTHU DE CONTENT YEDUKARENGA... SATHIYAMA MUDIYALA ENNALA... ITHUKU KATHIR EH THEVALAM POLA... AAMA UNGALUKU YAARU SONA KATHIR DHEENA MAAMAKITA SORRY KETTARNU...

Swar : naanga than paathome... dheena anna unna mosama pesinathum anna poi avaraiyum, avar familyaiyum unnakaga convince panare... kai yeduthu kumbitaare sorry solli... appuram than eh avanga kelambinaanga... naanga yellam paaathutu than irunthom... romba sweet de anna...

Chorus : aaama aama naangalum paathom...

M : what...

"you know this is called ripping the soul... powerful than ripping the head...

Intha unmaiya ah kaalam muzhuka manasula nenachu nenachu saavu... appo than avala pathi nee pesinaa oru oru pechum unna thinamum kollum..."

As mullai remembered what kathir spoke to dheena forgetting the situation she was tied up, she laughed out loud confusing all others...

Swar : hey yen de ipadi sirikara...

M (laughing) : haan... athu...

Tamil : solitu siri dee...

M : onum illaa...

Devi : kolla porom unna... solitu siri...

M : illaa unga anna yevalo nallavar nu nenachana... athan apadi oru nallavara kalyanam panikka porom ngra poorippula sirippu vanthuduchu... athum dheena mama kita yevalo soft ah sorry ketatha nenachathum apadi oru santhosha sirippu...

Kar : athuku yen ivalo sirikanum... yena de olarara... onum puriyala engaluku...

M ( wiping tears out of laugh) : onum illaa de... onume illaa... atha vidunga...

sari naan than ready agitane.. neenga veliya irunga... anga kupita sollunga... varen...

Tamil : oh annakuda phonela romance ah... right right... nadathu...

M mindvoice : phone number eh ini than save pananum... ithula phone pesarathuu onnu than korachal... padutharaalugale...

M : ufff...  please ponga de... i really need sometime alone...

Even after agreeing only after few round of teasings, her friends cleared the place giving some breathing space for mullai...
It was surprising to see them being cool and  they didn't even have a slightest doubt about the framed love...
If they had seen the pictures keenly they would have understood something was amiss...
But mullai knew kathir had cleverly played off...

He had displayed the pictures and even before people start analysing it was stopped...
Soon he declared his love so people forgot all others and started looking at him...
Mullai's shock and silence was a proof to them to make things true...
Very clever and well planned...
Pretty much perfect execution...
Her heart fumed in anger but then  immediately something that her friends said  stuck her mind...

Even after planning and executing everything, why did he let dheena know the truth...
There maybe chances of dheena saying it to all and even mullai accepting dheena if he had apologised for speaking bad...
Even the picture of it was irritating, but there were chances...
After doing all from his side, why did kathir do this...
Off course it didnt do any good for him....
He could have stood still and let them go...
Infact dheena and family were on worst side and letting out words...
It will be hated by mullai and a another advantage to kathir...
But he had put a full stop by telling the truth not caring all that...

Thought only about wrong usage of words on her...
Thought only about stopping those accusations on her...
Thought only about giving back to them from her side...
Maybe that moment he thought only about her...

Even after that when her family decided about marriage, he was the one who put forward to speak with her...
Even the choices given by him were funny and adamant, but he did give to her...

Those little things did really soothe her...
Not that she started falling for him or forgot the damage done...
But like a little light in a dark tunnel, these minute things gave a little hope for her future life...
Her pressing pain in her heart was getting released slowly...
Leaving all aside, she got prepared for the marriage physically and mentally...

With kathir and mullai in their own thoughts, Time ticked mercilessly...
It was just five minutes to muhurtham...
Both kathir and mullai were brought to manavarai and started doing the rituals...
The previous manavarai decorations were totally removed and changed to new one infact a classy one than before...

Still mullai felt embarassed to do the same rituals again...
It felt disgusting to remember dheena's face and also his family...
All those irritations turned to the person near her and kathir got that point by her accused looks...

K : honey... are you ok...

M (snapping)  : ok illaana kalyanam venaamnu vituduvengala...

K : apadi illaa... i think these rituals are disturbing you... i will ask them to stop... maaa...

As he turned to his mom, mullai stopped him...

M (irritated) : athelam onnum venam... ithelam illama kalyanam kalyanam madhiriye irukaathu... yetho bommai kalyanam madhiri irukum... so neenga pesama irunga... athu pothum... naan than solitenla aadu nenaiyuthunu oonaai onum azha venam...

K (grin) : thanks honey... itha bommai kalyanama nenaikalanu sonathuku... you are really sweet... honey ache...

Mullai bit her lips for loose talks while Kathir grinned widely enjoying its sweetness...

M : konjam vazhiyaratha stop panrengala... ithu manavarai... athu niyabagam irukatum...

K : oh honey... unaku place than problem... vazhiyarathu illaa... got it honey...

M : ungala...

Mullai let a angry stare and bend down in pretence of shyness not wanting to show her irriation to the guests leaving kathir grinning...
They didnt know that simple gesture made their family and others smile at then...

Soon the rituals were done and the moment has arrived...
The mangal sutra was ready with all blessings of the loved ones...
The hands were ready with flowers and akshathai to grace the couple...
The lips were ready to bestow with wishes...
The eyes were ready to witness the union of two souls...
The ears were ready to hear the mangala vaadhayam...
And...
Finally...

KETTIMELAM... KETTIMELAM...

The mangala vadhyam reverberated the hall along with priest's voice...

Kathir tied the mangalsutra in mullai's neck looking deep into her moist eyes which out of instinct caught his orbs...
With mangalyam falling on her chest, saradu smearing on her neck,  kumkum from his hand gliding her forehead and akshathai falling on their head kathir felt emotional...
He could feel a drop of tear rolling down which was noticed by mullai who was dumbfounded by those tears...
Do rocks tear up...
It did stun her...

M : kathir...

K : LOVE YOU HONEY...

In no time, kathir hugged mullai out of control pressing his lips on her forehead...
The swift movement made mullai clutch his arm for balance and looked at him...
It happened in a fraction of a second and only after hearing happy hullabaloo, kathir moved aside and mullai realised what happened...

It was definitely not a scene seeing in kunnakudi marriages so there was loud cheers...
Lol...
Another proof that it is a love marriage...
Knowing the chaos, their family didnt know what to react but enjoyed it deep inside...

K : sorry honey... i didnt mean too... athuva vanthuduchu... please dont mind... sorry again...

Mullai couldnt reply as the priest called for other customs and just presented him with a cute stare...
They finished all the rituals devotedly giving all others a rest..
After blessing the couple and a hearty lunch, the guests were off one by one...
Soon the family finished all formalities in the hall and started to home with the newly wed couple...

Mullaiyagam...

Kathir and mullai were standing in the entrance while parvathi came with the harathi...
As the harathi was done, kathir couldn't control his laugh at parvathi who understood it...

P (smiling) : kathir... anniki therinju ketiyo theriyama ketiyo thirumbavum harathi yeduka vendiyatha pochu paaru...

K : anniki theriyama than ketten athai... mullai than unga ponnunu therinjuruntha also intha prachanai yellam agum nu therinjuruntha annike enna marumagan akikonga nu unga kaalla vizhunthurupane...

M (glare) : ....

K : unmai honey... kandipa vizhinthurupen...

Mu (grinning) : athukelam avasiyame illaa kathir... naangale katti vechurupom...

Helper : katti vekkalainalum mapilla chumma viduvaara iyya... athan ponna yepadiyo thookitaare...

K : neenga vera atha punch panikite irukathenga ka... crime rate vera increase agite poguthu... athelam yellarum mudhala maranthudunga...

Helper : athu yepadi thambi marakarathu...

M : athan eh... yena apadi solitenga kathir... marakara vishayama athu... kaalathukum niyabagam irukum... apadi oru touching love story... you know i get goosebumps hearing  OUR LOVE STORY...

Helper : apadina yena paapa...

K : athu enna pathi perumaiya pesara ka... vera onum illaa...  thanks honey... romba praise pana venam... enaku pughalchi pidikaathu...

M (mental face palm) : ungaluku vekkama...

P : hey mulla... pothum de... vaasalla ninnu yethuku vala valanu pesitu... valathu kaal yeduthu vechu ulla vaanga...

Helper : kai pidichu kootitu vaanga thambi...

K : kandipa kandipa... honey...

As all relatives looked at them, Kathir amusingly held his hand out for mullai who took it only after a angry pinch and gritted teeth...
The couple entered the house and finished the basic customs of lighting the lamp, praying god and all others...
The house was filled with all relatives and friends in every nook and corner speaking only about their love story and its success...
Mullai was in verge of bursting out to hear all that and also to see kathir tailing wherever she go...
Irritated more, mullai went to balcony expecting him to follow and she wasnt wrong...

M : hello mister... neenga yena than nenachutu irukenga...

K : yethu mister ah... honey we are married now... husband ah ipadiya solluve...

M : romba mukkiyam ippo... aama athan yellam mudinjuthu illaa... yethuku ipadi en pinnadiye suthitu irukenga... yellarum ootu ootunu ootaranga...

K : yethu mudinjutha... ippo than yellam arambikuthu honey... athukula nee yena endcard podare...

Not knowing what to reply...

M : ungala naan honeynu kupida venaamnu sonnen... do you remember...

K : yeah but mullai romba lengthy ah iruku... honey than short ah iruku...

M : tamil la just 3 letters... athu lengthy ah...

K : but honey is just 2 letters in tamil honey... athum illama mullainu kupida varala... honey than varuthu...

M (curtly)  : enough of your reasons... inime kupidathenga... avalo than...

K : sari kupidala...

Mullai eyed him suspiciously thinking this is not so kathir and immediately he proved she is right...

K : i mean naan kupidala... inime nee enna honeynu kupidu...

M : what... yena velaiyadarengala... athelam enaku varathu...

K : athelam varam try panu mullai... sweet ah konjara madhiri irukum...

M : kandipa varathu... dont ever have such ideas...

K : paathiya... unaku varathunu nee kupidama irukalam... atha naan accept panikanum... aana enaku mullainu kupida varalanu sonna nee accept panika matengare... why this partiality... actually gender equality romba mukkiyam...

M (signing) : aiyo kathir... thayavu senju niruthunga... mudiyala ennala... mokkai podarenga...

K ( smiling) : sari niruthiten... appo honeynu kupidalam la honey...

How would she say him she got used to him calling honey and even her own name sounds detached when he addresses so...
For sure it will make him take advantage...
So....

M (curtly)  : yenamo pani tholainga... naan pidicha muyaluku moonu kaalngra aalu neenga... sonna kekkava porenga...

K : thanks honey... you are so sweet...

M : hmmmkmmm... (turning around and again back to him)

Appuram chumma en pinnadiye vanthutu iruntha kadupu agiduven solliten... poi vera velaiya iruntha paarunga... enna vitudunga...

K : unna paakaratha thavira vera velai illaa...

He started of in a flirting tone and then seeing her pissed off, he let it go...

K : sorry honey... chumma flirt pana sonen... but that was not my intention... veedu full ah friends and relatives.. yellarum love pathiye kekaranga... it will embarass you... athan i thought i could cover up to make things easy for you... nothing more... unaku pidikalaina varala... you carry on...

Mullai could now relate how he was there for all questions fired and gave a fitting reply without putting her in that place to answer...
Another caring gesture in unexpected way...
Mullai silently moved away just to be called by him...

K : honey...

M : haan...

K : btw enna vitudunganu sonniye... athu mattum kandipa mudiyaathu honey...

Nee ippo sonathu than... dont ever have such ideas...

Kathir smiled charmingly saying this and mullai rushed out not knowing what to react...
The day went on in same pace and after a long push of the day, finally the hours of darkness dropped in for everyone to call it a day...

Even for the newly wed couple...

Kathir and mullai...

TBC...