Mullaiyagam was silent and soundless with faint light filling the insides...
The relatives and friends took a leave after the dinner conveying wishes to the newly wed once again and the helpers too were gone after settling down things...
Hence the house got stifled with just the family and everyone got back to their respective rooms soon...
Offcourse, they didnt want to stay awake discussing and kindling the bitter happenings of the day again...

Mullai who had a long day both physically and mentally couldnt rest like others...
She just spent sometime in her favorite garden relaxing herself and moved to her room with a steady gait...

Her room...
Nope...
It was their room now...
Yeah... she know her room is going to be shared by her man after marriage and she didnt have complaints on it...
Thats quiet natural one...
But now it was not the same...
Equations have flipped...
She couldnt think kathir as her man still...

Yes they are into a soulful relationship... but not intensely related...
Yes this is a marriage... but not normal one...
Yes there is love... but not complementary...
In short, Yes they are husband and wife... but not typical one...
That makes even minute things like sharing room appear bigger...

Thanks to her decent family including paati...
Though they made kathir stay in her room, they didnt give her any awkwardness mentioning about wedding night and all other stuff...
They just let the couple be them and get set on their own...
So its just them hereafter...
Just kathir mullai and their life...
Its in their hands after this...

Mullai reached her room and paused before  opening the door as her heart started palpitating badly and mind understood her panic...

M mindvoice : chill mullai... yethuku ivalo tension... you had enough today... ithukumela tension venam... let everything go...

Yeah its true...
But its not a normal night...
Its their wedding night...

M mindvoice : let it be... athuku yena ippo... you accepted this is a real marriage... definitely this is not a namesake marriage... and kathir is your husband... yes... you are terribly angry with him... pesinale hurt pananum nu than thonuthu... but he loves you madly... and you dont love him... and you dont hate him either... this is the reality and you have to get along and move on slowly... dont give importance to this night... this is just a normal night...

Mullai accepted everything about her thought process but will kathir give her the time she needs...
Will he force her to move further soon to meet his expectations...
A man who is madly in love will definitely have high expectations and wishes...
How can he take it slow...
She was skeptical but...

M mindvoice : marriageke wait panalam nu sona aalu yethuku ippo rush up pana poraaru... he himself said he will wait for you to accept him wholeheartedly...

Also practically now he will be confident that you are his wife... thats what he wished for... so he would try to get into your heart... not just other bodily pleasures or any other wishes...

Yes... it was a theory but still nobody can guarantee...
Mind is a mad monkey that too for a crazily in love person like him nothing can be predicted...

M mindvoice : yes its true... but antha crazy love than unnoda trump card... and his weakness... leave these marriage things apart... after this he wont hurt you... to be frank he cant hurt you... hurting you is hurting himself... so relax...

A little chat with mind and heart gave her a clarity and strength to proceed...
She also decided to have a open chat with kathir about their future and make things certain things clear...
With a positive affirmtion after a knock, mullai opened the door just to see kathir sitting on the bed leaning on the headboard watching tv...
He had already changed to casuals and seemed to be like he was waiting for her that gave her a shudder...
But more than that how he switched off the tv and moved forward to her with the brightened face caught her mind first...

K (wide smile) : hi honey... welcome... welcome...

M : unga varaverppa yaaru ketta... ithu ennoda room... neenga iniki puthusa vanthutu yetho naan guest madhiri enna welcome vera panrenga... over ah illaa ungaluku...

K : over than... but yena panrathu... athai ennai intha roomku poga sonapo nee kudutha reaction ah paatha enaku nee enna welcome panuvenu nambikkai yellam suthama illaa... nee enna veliya adichu thoratha vena chances irukunu thonichu... athan vekkatha vittu enna naane welcome panitu ippo unnaiyum welcome panren...

M (crossing hands) : ipadi ungala neengale asingapaduthikita naan yena kathir panrathu...

K : enna love panu honey... vera yethum venaam...

M (a sarcastic wide smile) : aama aama... ungala love pana than wait panitu iruken paarunga...

K : oh is it honey... solave illaa... you are really sweet...

M (gritted teeth) : off course... naan yevalo sweetnu inime thane paaka porenga...

K : unna paakarathukuthane naanum badly and madly waiting...

That was an absolute flirt...
His tongue in cheeks and wink said it all irritating mullai to the core...

M (angrilly) : hello mister... ungala...

K : intha mister kuda nalla than iruku honey... i like it... 

Before she could snap him there was a call for him...
Seeing him cut the call and answer her...

M : paravala pesunga... yen cut panrenga...

K : illaa honey... no problem... nee pesu... aasaiya misternu yellam kupitiye...

M : what... aasaiya kupitena... aama mudhala ungaluku aasaina yennanu theriyuma...

That was just a sarcastic question...
But kathir got up from the bed and came near mullai clutching her hands firmly in a wink even before she reacted...

K : honey... aasaina yenanu theriyumanu kette illaa...

Hmmm... theriyaathu honey... oru twenty daysku munnadi varai aasaina yena nu suthama theriyaathu... yetho car, bike, trips, movies, parties ithelam mela varathu than aasai nu nenachutu irunthen...

unmaiyana aasai yepadi irukumnu theriyaathu... aasai vantha yena aagumnu theriyaathu... aasai yena yena pana vekkumnu theriyaathu... aasai yentha ellai vara poga vekkumnu theriyaathu...

unna paathen... nijamaana aasai vanthuchu... yellame theriya arambichuduchu... yellam thalaikela agiduchu... thappu sari... nallathu ketathu... ithelam yethuvum theriyaatha alavuku unmela iruka aasai kanna maraikuthu... enaku unmaiyaana aasaina yenna nu solikuduthathu neethan... intha nimisham yaarvathu unmela yevalo aasainu ketta santhegam illaama soluven... intha ulagathula iruka motha aasaiyum unmela than vechuruken nu...

Kathir uttered in a fathomless voice looking deep into her eyes with a press in her hands which made her forget even to bat her lids...
The clang of their breath and beats of their hearts were the only source of sound there...
Clueless of how much time they were in the reverie, mullai removed her hands from his hold and moved a little aside...

M (clearing throat) : hmmm... kathir... what is your qualification... and also profession...

K : what...

M : qualification... profession... enaku theriyaathu... athan...

Though happy with the intense understanding moment of eyelock, he was annoyed and disappointed with the sudden change of topic but dutifully replied her...

K : hmmm sorry honey... i forgot to tell you... btw i did my BE in textile engineering in chennai and MS in same domain in Dresden university, germany... and now i look after my dad's textile factory and other business... i also invest in trading... hope u know... options and other stuff...

M : oh yeah... hmmm... textile business... trading... thats really nice kathir...

but kathir... neenga yena panrenga... pesama intha factory, trading yellathukum oru periya kumbidu potutu cinemaku dialogue elutha poidunga... semaya click agum ungaluku...

K (confused) : what honey... puriyala...

M : cinema... pa... cinema... happaa... yenama kavithaiya urutarenga... yepadi yepadi... ulagathula iruka motha aasaiyum enmela vechurukengala...

cha vera level kathir... chance eh illaa... ithelam cinemakaga dialogue ah eluthinenganu veinga cinema chance pichukitu varum... sikirame namma suryavamsam moviela vara madhiri ore paatula inum periya panakaranga agidalam... yena solrenga...

( hymming) nakshathitra jannalil vaanam yetti paakuthu... lalalalala...

Kathir had seen her eyes popping up on hearing his words and face turning soft giving him idea of little acknowledgement from her side...
In contrast, he never expected a sarcasm for those and it did throb him in heart...
But then he understood its really too early to expect all that from her after all he had done...
So he brushed it off and took it in his usual funny and positive way...

K : nee soli panama irupena honey... athum namma panakaaran agalamnu unnaiyum ennaiyum sethu soliruka... ithukagave kandipa panidalam...

Athu mattum illaa honey... antha padathula oru paatula panakaaran mattum aaga matanga... amma appavum agiduvaanga... theriyum illaa... (wink)

M mindvoice : sariyana thimiru... aarathu... pesaratha paaru... feel pani pesinatha kindal panraale nu oru feelingum illaa... bathilku counter vera... yena aalo... muruga... ipadi enna sikka vechutiye...

M  : adiyenu kupida pondatti illaayam... onbathavthu kulanthaiku yena per vekkalamnu yosichaanaam oruthan... antha oruthan neenga thannu ippo than theriyuthu kathir... chhhh you are so innocent...(fake pity)

K (grinning) : athelam azhaga amsama devathai madhiri pondatti iruka honey... yennaa enaku cooperate than pana matengra...

M (a wide smile) : kathir... neenga kalyanam pana lakshanathuku unga pondatti ungala kolai panalaiyenu santhoshapadunga... atha vitutu cooperate panalanu feeling yellam too much...

K : too much than... still you know what... un vaaiyala unna en pondattinu kekkaa yevalo happy ah iruku theriyuma honey... i love these loose talks really... wish to hear more...

M mindvoice : mullai pesum bothu jakarathaiya pesu... yethuku loose talks vidare ipadi...

M : uff... naan onum rj illaa... pesi pesi ungala entertain panitu iruka... can you give me a break... chumma pesikite iruntha yepadi... naan poi freshup aga venama...

K : yeah honey... yethuku pesikite irukanum... nee poi freshup agitu vaa... appuram mathathelam...

Seeing him trail off with a playful smile, mullai was bit scared but then bounced back to normal...

M : athellam enaku theriyum... neenga mudhala unga phone ah eduthu pesunga... naan vanthathula irunthu kathikite iruku... thalaiye valikithu...

Mullai took his phone which was screeching on and off right from the time she came into the room and her forehead creased seeing the name on it with sudden line of thoughts...
Without a word, she handed over to him and entered the dressing room hearing his hello...
Back then she had a hot and relaxed shower, she came back to dresser and took a salwar set...
But...

M mindvoice : ippo yethuku salwar yedukare... avar casual ah sleeveless tee and shorts podalam... nee salwar ah... ithu over ah illaa...

Illaa but kathir... his talks... kathir than... pechum over ah pesaraaru than... athuku yena pana... inime kathir yepavum un room than... ithe pechu than...you have to accept it... alltime ipadi than formal ah iruka poriya... nee yena serial heroine ah... full makeup full dressing oda thoongi madippu kalaiyaama elunthurika... please don't complicate mullai... try to be normal...

True that...
She cant be someone else inside her own room and off course to her own husband...
She accept or not its kind of true now...
She had to get used...
So just let it go...

She wore her favorite lemon yellow color capri and a same color oversized shirt...
Then adjusted her mangal sutra and her signature chain with heart pendant removing all other jewels...
Just brushed off the half wet hair tossing it to grace like waterfalls...
One look at mirror and she felt so cheerful...
Getting into her comfort zone gave her a feeling of serenity and made her feel better...

With a smile she came looking for kathir who was occupied in his laptop asking for five minutes...
Shooking shoulders, Mullai started arranging things in her room which was messed up right since yesterday mentally preparing what to speak...
And...

Sametime kathir closed his laptop and looked at mullai agape...
He had seen her in person only in salwar and saree...
Off course, few pictures of hers in modern dress but definitely not a complete casual dress...
More than that, the pant that stopped well before ankle showed off the pretty anklets and the toe rings which he wore in the morning...
The thaali was playing hide and seek as she was working...
She didnt have a bindi instead there were traces of kumkum even after her shower...

In short she looked fresh like a daisey and most importantly she looked like his wife with all traces of their marriage...
A wave of pride flushed his insides making him fly...
Then...

M : kathir... i have arranged this wardrobe for you... unga things inga vechukonga... where are your dresses...

Ofcourse, she didnt accept him as her husband but that care and control was pretty much obvious in her talks and her attitude that intoxicated him like hell...
That moment he felt its damn worthy to do anything to get hold of her...

Not getting any answer, mullai turned to him just to see him looking at her mouth open...
That admiration in eyes reminded her of their first meet...
She knew he was gaping at her right from the moment they met, just that she didnt know the intensity...
And today fully he was kind of screwed up , there was no admiration in his eyes inspite of her looking gorgeous in her marriage outfits and post marriage outfits...
But now she could get his looks but...

M : ungakita than solren... intha wardrobe use panikonga nu... kaathula vizhutha...

K (coming out of trance) : haann... yes honey... but ivalo space enaku venam... enkita avalo dresses illaa... anga singapore kondu ponathu than... that too yellame azhukku... wash pananum...

M : oh ho... kalyanatha niruthina kaiyoda inga vanthu thovachukalamnu kondu vanthutengalo... thats so nice of you kathir... (chuckle)

She was mimicking a joke...
Really...
How it was possible...
Sometimes she is angry...
Sometimes she is irritated...
Sometimes she is very normal...
Sometimes she is caring...
Sometimes she even have a admiration in her eyes for reasons unknown...
What is really her mindset now...
What does she exactly think about him...
In a sudden impulse, He wanted to know everything out of her heart...
It might even make her feel better also might ease up their relationship...
Kathir moved close to her with a intense look and made her sit in the couch with him aside surprising and scaring mullai...

M : yena... yena achu...

K : yen ipadi iruke honey...

M (confused) : yepadi iruken... puriyala...

K : ivalo nadanthathuku appuramum you dont seem to brood over it much... you take things so easily... you dont seem to hate me nor my character... off course you are grumpy at times... but kandipa arrogant ah illaa... prick pani pesara but i would say its absolutely soft... unnaku yepadi ivalo composure possible nu theriyala... naan un placela irunthuruntha kandipa intha alavuku irunthuruka matten... how are you managing honey...

M : kathir... thats a big list of questions... but then naanum itha ungakita pesanumnu nenachen... even i wanted some clarity...

K : sollu honey... waiting to hear from you and about you...

M : general ah ennoda character is carefree type than kathir... i dont brood over the past anytime and get stuck up there... i just try to forget and move on... infact intha character nala than en amma appa intha kalayanathuku accept pananga... they knew i will pass through this phase... i dont have the habit of carrying negative emotions anytime...

K : you have such a unique character... love this... but still yevalo positive personnalum avalo nadanthapo oru chinna hatred varumla...

M : neenga kekarathu puriyuthu... ungala hate panrenanu kekarenga... but oruthar oda oru thappa vechu avanga character ah assassinate pani avangala hate panra alavuku iam not immature... i dont hate you... i dont love you either... infact i dont know if i like you... thats the truth...

unga mela sema kovam iruku... paathale pesi pesi kotharanum nu thonuthu... ungala hurt pananum nu thonuthu but thats not my character too... athunala naan apadi wanted ah pesinalum ungaluku perusa hurt agarathu illaanu nenaikaren... maybe iam really not good at hurting...

That did really kindle a positive hope in kathir and his face lightened up...
Though he didnt dare to disturb her flow, he wanted to clarify...

K : appo sikirame enna... enna...

Isnt it too early to ask...
Yes it is...
She reaffirmed it...

M : accept panipiyanu ketta enaku theriyaathu kathir... naan immature illathan... aana ipadi neenga onnu panathum enmela iruka kaadhal, aasai ithelamnala panitenga nu purinjukitu yellathaiyum udane yethukara alavuku naan  matured um illaa... it still hurts inside...

Just to know she is hurt did hurt kathir which was obvious in his eyes well noticed by mullai...

K (dejected) : sorry honey...

M : chh kathir... unga sorrykaga solala... even i wanted to clarify certain things with you...  thanks you started the topic... ungakita enaku pidicha oru vishayam... thappo sariyo you are honest with what you do... you dont have any inhibitions...you are open in your talks... so athe madhiri open ah naanum solren...

Kathir nu sonna... kathir nu nenacha en manasula vara mudhal vishayam antha photos play aanathu apadiye neenga ithuku mela intha kalyaanam yepadi nadakum ngra thimir oda nadanthu vanthathu... ithu mattum than enaku niyabagam varuthu... manasula aazhama pathinjuduchu... yeppo intha picture azhinju vera yethavathu nallatha ungala pathi en manasula pathiyutho aniki than ennala ungala accept panika mudiyum... only after acceptance i can think of anything... anything means LITERALLY EVERYTHING... hope iam clear...

K : yes honey... ithuku mela theliva explain pana mudiyaathu... i got every point of yours... i too said this early... i will wait till you accept me wholeheartedly... you needn't worry about anything... ANYTHING MEANS EVERYTHING... kalyanam than unna hurt pani panikiten... ithuku appuram therinjum theriyama kuda athu nadakathu... i swear...

M : thanks kathir... intha thoughts yellam enaku maara yethana naal agumnu theriyaathu... illaa maaraama poidumanum theriyaathu... but this is my mindset...

K : no honey... you will accept me soon... not just acceptance... you will love me as much as i do... trust me... just three months ithelam nadakkum...

M : naanum paakaren... enake sure illatha en mindsetku neenga assurance kudukarenga... athum intha moonu maasam deadline... kaalailaiyum marriageku three months time kuduthenga... whats up...

K (sheepishly) : athuva... actually unaku inum three months practice iruku... athu varai chennaila irupa athukula unna love pana vekkanumnu mind la strong ah vizhunthuduchu... ippovum athe than iruku mindla... nee vena paaru you will propose me in three months time...

M : achacho... night yellam thoongala illaa... athan paithiyam madhiri olaritu irukenga... paavam kathir neenga... ponga poi thoongunga... kaalaila thelinjudum...

Mullai replied sarcatically and got up from the couch just to be clutched by kathir...
As she turned to him...

K : intha paithiyam kaalaila illaa... kaalathukum theliyaathu honey...

Though taken aback, mullai replied curtly and just like that they were off to normal mode...

M : intha dialogue kuda super kathir... namma cinemaku use panikalam... ok... ippo poi padukalam...

K : padukalam padukalam...

M : hello mister... naan thoongalamnu sonnen...

K : naanum athe than sonnen honey... (wink)

M(murmuring) : onnu bayangarama love dialogues pesa vendiyathu... illaana araatha pesa vendiyathu... yena aalo...

K : yetha soniya honey...

M : hmmm nothing kathir... enaku left side of the bedla padutha than thookam varum... so naan intha pakkam paduthukaren... hope you are ok with right side...

K : as long as im in bed with you, iam ok with anything honey... (seeing her glare)

Hey honey... enna kela floorku thorathatha varai fine nu sonen... really no hidden meaning honey...

M : nambitten... pesama thoongunga... good night...

K : good night honey...

Both of them settled on the bed with mild AC on and comforters pulled onto them...
Both had to accept after a long day they were kind of feeling good and better...
There was a still silence engulfing the room then...

K : honey... intha roomla palli iruka...

M : what palli ah... you mean lizard...

K : yeah honey...

M : athelam irukaathe... yen kekarenga...

K : nee vera suryavamsam padam niyabagam pani vituta... anga firstnightla palli varume... athu madhiri inga varumanu paathen...

Even in the dim light, kathir's eyes shone in amusement with a cheeky smile while mullai's  eyes were throwing daggers of fire...

M : ungaluku bedla edam kuduthathe thappunu nenaikaren... ithuku mela neenga pesina kandipa floorku illaa... apadiye veliya balconyku than poganum... yepadi vasadhi...

K : hey cool honey... palli varum bothu varatum... no hurry... i will sleep now...  ok... happy...

M : very happy...

Time passed and Soon then there was a tight whack on kathir with a pillow hearing him humm the "chalakku chalakku song" for which he laughed out loud with a string of apologies...

M : ungala ippo kolla poren kathir... over ah porenga...

K (laughing) : sorry sorry honey... just kidding... was really worried about tonight... but now everything is going in smooth pace... so antha kushi than... mathapadi nothing anymore... good night and sleep tight...

M : hmmm good night...

Somehow the duo made the emotional day a manageable one with equal mix of all emotions...
Soon they drifted into a sweet slumber with a smile adorning their lips and they called it a day...

TBC...