KNOCK... KNOCK... KNOCK...

The newly wed stirred a little from their deep sleep and closed the eyes tight failing to open it...
Before they slip into slumber again, the knock became loud and urgent pulling them out of sleep...
They opened their eyes to see the other lying in a decent distance but inside the same comforter bringing back sweet and bitter memories of the previous day...
Seeing kathir smile happily, mullai returned a smile not wanting to wake up with a bad start...

K : good morning honey...

M : good morning kathir...

K : door knock panranga polaiye...

M : chhh... aama... open pananum... (yawn)

K : ok honey... carry on... iam feeling damn sleepy... good night...

Just in a wink, kathir pulled him inside the comforter and there was no more noise from him except the sound of the knock...

M mindvoice : yena ipadi minnal vegathula thoonga arambichutaaru... aiyo... intha thatara satham vera... yen ipadi kalangathala kadhava idikaranga... kanna thirakave mudiyalaiye... thoongina madhiriyum iruku... thoongatha madhiriyum iruku... kaalaila than nalla thookam vanthuthu... athukula elunthirikanuma... ivaru mattum thoongaraaru... chhhh...

With a sigh, mullai opened the door with a yawn to see parvathi, a little worried...
She could see her mom scrutinizing her top to bottom trying to analyse her...
The sleepy but bright look of mullai did give a relieved smile to her mom which was quite obvious...

M (hugging) : good morning ma... romba nerama thatariya... sorry nalla thoongiten... kekkave illaa... appuram kettalum elunthurikave mudiyala...

P : haan... paravala de... romba neram aachu nu yelupinen... athu kathir...

M : thoongaraaru ma...

P : oh sari sari... nalla iruka than eh... (caressing her cheeks)

M : ennakena... super ah iruken ma... no worries...

P : athu... nethu... kathir... neenga yethavathu pesi...

M : maa... maa... stop... thayavu senju irritate panathama... please typical cringy questions yellam kekkathe... engaluthu normal marriage illaa... theriyum than eh unaku...

P : hmmmkmmm... ungaluthu normal marriage illaanu therinjum amma normal kelvi ah kepana nu yosika venama nee...

M (apologetically) : sari sollu... yena kekka vanthe...

P : yenamo po... pesaratha kekara porumaiye illaa... hmmm naan kekka vanthathu manasu vitu pesinengalla... konjam purinjuka muyarchi panengala... intha mananilaila than irukenganu rendu perum pesikitengala nu than...

M : sorry ma... naan yethonu nenachuten...

P : nee nenacha yetho pathi yellam naan kekkala... athuku ippo yentha thevaiyum illaa... athum illaama kathirum apadi yosikaravan illaanu enaku theriyum...

M : hmmm mapillaiku bayangarama support panre... avalo nallavara un mapillai... overnightla kalyana galatta maranthu pocha ma unaku...(sarcastic smile)

P : oru thappu panitanga udane antha thappa pidichutu thongitu iruntha matha nallatha kottai vida vendiyathu than...

yen kathir nallavana irukanala than ippo nee yentha uruthalum illaama nalla thoongi elunthu  jolly ah vaayadikitu iruke... athu unakum theriyum thane...

Mullai had to accept but why her parents are supporting kathir inspite of all chaos...
Why are they not angry with him just like her....
Maybe they feel understanding him is sensible for her better life than getting angry...
This notion makes sense...

M : aanalum nee en amma ma... konjam enakum support panu... orediya mapillai pakkam poidathe...

P : unaku support pananumngratha vida un vazhkaiku support pananum de chinnakutti... athan kathiku support panren...

sari... kathir nallavana illaaya... neeye sollu paapom...

M : naan kettavarnu solave illaaye...

P : naan kettathu...

M :  kathir bayangara nallavar... vallavar...  pothuma... santhoshama...

The sarcastic but casual and happy go talk of mullai made parvathi smile wider...

P : romba santhosham... sari sikiram kelambi varengala... 10.30 manikula kuladeivam kovilku poganum... 12manikula pongal vekkanum... namma sonthakaranga yellam vanthuduvaanga vera... neram illaa...

M : aiyo maa... konjam neram thoongitu appurama kelambaren ma... thookama varuthu... please...

P : yethu thoongariya... adi vaanguve... mani yena theriyuma... onbatharai..

M (shocked) : what 9.30 ah... avalo nerama thoongiruken... achacho... sorry ma... give me 15minutes... kulichutu ready agidaren...

P : sari de.. apadiye kathiraiyum...

M (sarcastically) : yena un arumai mapillaiyaiyum kulipaati ready pananuma...

P : pokkiri... pode... poi elupi vidu... ready agi varatum...

M (smiling) : hmmm sari ma...

As parvathi left, mullai rushed to washroom chiding herself for sleeping so long...
In no time, she took bath and got decked up in a pretty silk saree with matching accessories...
Once done, she came to kathir who was peacefully sleeping and tried to wake him up...
Losing patience as he didnt even move a bit even after several calls, mullai tried to shook him but stopped midway taking a comb to touch him...

M mindvoice : too much mullai... kathir yena untouchable ah... comb vechu thodarathu yellam romba over... cheap ah behave panathe...

Calling him loud, Mullai shooked him softly and then forcefully somehow making him open half eyes which immediately closed...

M : kathir... time is going to be ten... ten thirtyku kovilku poganum... konjam sikiram elunthu ready agunga...

K : what kovil ah... intha kovil kulam yellam vayasaana tickets porathu... namma yethuku... avangala anupi vitutu pesama vanthu paduthu thoongu... come honey... (patting the bed near him)

M mindvoice : yethu naanum padukava... yetho happy ah kalyanam panikita normal couple madhiri pecha paaru... ufff ivara vechukitu... mudiyala...

M : kathir... kalyanam mudinjathum kovilku kandipa poganum... please velaiyaadama elunthurunga... kaalangaathala tension pani thittu vangathenga...

K : namakaga avangale pray panipaanga honey... you stay chill... vaa... (again a pat on the bed)

M (curtly) : so neenga kovilku varala...

K : no way honey... i didnt sleep well for past twenty days... athum last 24 hours suthama thoongala... i want to sleep no matter what...

M : oh appo sari naanga kelambarom... vara night agidum... athu varai nalla thoongunga... night meet panalam... bye...

As expected, Kathir's eyes opened in a snap and got up looking at mullai...

K : honey... are you going...

M : offcourse... namakaga kumbidarathu... athum naan than pongal vekkanum... so i have to go... i cant stay... neenga thoongunga... onum problem illaa... night meet panalam...

A day without her or undisturbed peaceful sleep...
What to choose...
Its obvious right...
Kathir tossled his hair and got down from the bed unsteadily...

K : i will be ready in another ten minutes honey... good morning once again...

M : very good morning... i will wait downstairs...

K : done...

As kathir went to prep up, mullai moved out of the room with a triumphant smile...

M mindvoice : mullai... nee nenachatha vida ivaru padu weak pola...nee kelambarennu sonathuke aalu surrender... ivarkita kaariyam saathikarathu romba easy polaiye... hmmm paathukalam...

Mullai reached downstairs with a relaxed smile  to see parvati and lakshmi busy with stuffs to pack for temple while pandian and murugan were having a chat helping them which made her feel guilty...

M : good morning pa... good morning maama... athai... sorry romba neram thoongiten... time aanathe theriyala...

L : ada vanthutiya mulla... cha ithula yena da iruku... ithuku sorry vera... kovil porathu illaana sapitutu poi thoonga solirupom... poga vendiyatha pochu... athan... onum prachanai illaa... poojai mudichutu vanthu nalla thoongu sariya...

Pan : aama da... ippo vanthu sapidu... neram yena achu... vayatha kaaya poda kudaathu... kathir ready agi vanthu sapidatum...

Mullai nodded head wordlessly as in the background of my head she was visualising vasantha and mahendran in place of lakshmi and pandian in same situation...
Even the imagination wasn't appealing and made her thank god for giving her a sweet inlaws though there was a crazy husband she had to handle as a addon...

M : neenga yellam sapitacha pa...

Mu : naanga yellam sapitachu ma... neenga rendu per matum than sapidanum...

P : aama de... neenga sapita kelambidalam.... paatikuda ready agitanga...

M : wow paatiyuma varangala... super... 

P : pothum pothum ukanthu sapidu... yenga vanthu intha vazhaiillai matum vettikudunga...

As parvati and murugan left, Mullai sat happily relishing her breakfast that lakshmi served while kathir joined her soon...

K : hi maa... hi paa... good morning...

Pan : good morning da...

L : yenga sikiram ukanthu sapida sollunga... neram achu... yellarum vanthuduvaanga...

K : yen ma... atha nee enkita direct ah solla matiya...

L : ....

Mullai looked at the mother son duo, one snarling in anger and one trying to soothe while pandian was watching it helplessly...

K : sari sapida than solala... serve aachum panalame... verum thatta yepadi sapidarathu...

L : periya periya velai yellam pana therinjavanuku serve panika theriyaatha... avanaiye potu sapida sollunga... enaku ulla velai iruku...

Lakshmi hurried inside angrily and pandian started serving kathir...

Pan : ammaku konjam kovam da raja... athan ipadi... sari agiduva... nee varuthapadathe... sapidu...

K : no worries pa... iruntha kovathulaiyum amma said to eat right... im happy with that...

Though said casually, mullai did see a hurt in his eyes which he concealed in a matter of second and started conversing with his dad and also her...
But even before mullai finished eating, he winded up his namesake breakfast leaving
the place in the name of phonecalls...
She felt like following him but pandian seemed like he needed help...

M : mama... are you ok...

That one question was enough for pandian to blurt out...

Pan : enakena da... naan nadanthathelam thappa irunthalum kadaisila nallathu nadanthuduchunu samaathanam panikiten...

aana lakshmiku than romba varutham... paiyan ipadi panitaannu oru pakkam... unna nenachu varutham oru pakkam... ithana varusham kalichu onna senthum ava kudumbam munnadi avamaanam agiduchenu oru pakkam... ipadi neraya yosikara... avalala easy ah yethuka mudiyala... atha kovama kaamikara...

M : puriyuthu mama...

Pan : kathir kaamichuka maatan da... aana avaloda kovam ivana affect panuthu... sariyave sapidala paaru... rendu perume kashtapadaranga... ithula lakshmiku paati madhiriye bp iruku... athan bayama iruku...

M : athelam onum illaa mama... romba yosikathenga... athai normal agiduvaanga...

There was a thick silence...

Pan : naan avangala pathi mattum yosikarennu nenaikathe da... unnaiyum nenachu than varuthapadaren... ivan pana oru velaiyala yellame thalaikela maariduchu... yaarukaga feel panrathene theriyala... avalo kulapam...

M(soothingly) : ithuvum ipadiye irukaathu maama... maaridum...

Pan : kandipa maarum... athu varai kashtapadanume... sari padatum... yena panrathu santhosham thokkam yelame sernthathu thane vazhkai...

M (warm smile) : kandipa mama... yellam sari agidum... cheer up...

Pan : ithula romba affect aanathu nee than... aana neenga engalukaga varuthapadare... engala console panre... nalla ponnu da nee... antha paya kuduthu vechavan than... athan kadavula paathu intha kirukkuthanatha pana vechutaaru pola...

M (laughing) : paathengala nice ah unga paiyan nallavannu prove pana avaru pana thappa kadavul mela podarenga...

Pan (laughing) : adada ipadi onnu iruko... ipadi yellam prove pananumnu illaa da... aana avan nijamave nallavan than... konjam adam... konjam veliyatuthanam athigam... mathapadi thapanavan illaa... intha thappu kuda vera vazhi illaama panitaan... vera yetha oru ner vazhi irunthuruntha kuda ipadi oru velai paniruka mattan... unake poga poga puriyum...

M : kathir ah justify panrengala mama...

Pan : kandipa illaa da... thappu na thappu than... athuku yethuku justification... infact kathirke justification pidikaathu... thappu pana thairiyam irukavanuku atha othuka thairiyam venumnu soluvaan... unaku avana understand panika easy ah irukumnu avana pathi sonnen... avalo than...

mathapadi ennakume avan mela sema kovam than... yena rendu perum kovatha kamicha avan thaanga mattannu avanuku aaruthala pesaren... lakshmi oda kovam koraiyatum appuram nee vera pandian oda innoru mogatha paape... (twirling mustache)

M : aiyo mama... bayama iruke... ivalo terror ah neenga...

Mullai laughed out lot making pandian laugh too...
Soon then murugan and parvathi came in and in pretence of washing hands, mullai left the place in search of lakshmi...
Seeing her stare outside the window with little tears...

M : athai...

L : haan... sapitiya da... kelambalama...

M : azhuthukite kovilku vara porengala athai...

L : hey naan yen azha...

Lakshmi stopped speaking seeing mullai's soft smile...

L : yellathaiyum nenachu kashtama iruku mullaa... mukkiyama unnaa nenachu... avana manich...

M : aiyo athai please.. intha manichudungratha vidarengala... enna paatha intha sorry tape ah ooda vidarenga... ennala mudiyala... appuram unga munnadiye vara matten...

L : illaa da... kathir...

M : athai... naan onnu soluven... enna thappa nenachuka kudathu... kalyanam agi adutha naale ipadi pesaralenu...

L : cha yena da nee... unnai yen thappa eduthuka poren... inga paaru nee en paiyanoda wife ngrathelam aduthathu... murugan ponnu enakum ponnu madhiri than... nee parvathikita yepadi irupiyo apadi iru enkita... yenanu openah sollu...

M : thanks athai... you are so sweet... (kissing her cheeks)

L(smiling) : kathirum ipadi than panuvaan... ufff... sollu yena solla vanthe...

M : haaann... see athai... naan solrathu onnunthan... nadanthatha vidunga... kathirkaga neenga sorry kekkarathu ithelam venam... kalyanam pani vechutenga... hereafter its between us... enga problems ah naanga paathukarom... naanga sort out panikarom... inshort athu completely enga vishayam... neenga yaarum ulla vara venam... atha nenachu ungala varuthika venaam... unga health ah spoil panika venaam... atha maranthutu normal ah irunga...

Kathir ah thitanuma... adikanuma.... once for all atha panitu move on agunga athai... atha vitutu feel panikitu  neenga kashtapatu avaraiyum kashtapaduthi athelam venam... ithelam panrathala yethume maara porathu illaa... extra pain mattum than... please...

L : aanalum mulla... enaku manasu kekkala... un mama onume solala avana... murugan parvathi paatium sutham... ithula naanum normal agita avanuku avan thappoda veeriyam puriyaama poidum...

M : thaan senjathu thappunu puriyathavangaluku neenga puriya vekkalam... kathirku yellame puriyuthu... and he regrets too... appuram yena athai... vidunga please...

Lakshmi smiled wholeheartedly caressing mullai's cheeks happily...

L : sari da... inime athelam pathi pesala... unakaga... aanalum nalla than support panre... naan kuda bayanthutu irunthen yepadi irupengalonu...

M : naan than sonane athai... athu enga prachanai... naanga paathukarom... neenga bayamelam pada venam... cool...

L : yenamo enaku ippo nimathiya iruku da... yellam sari agidum nu nambikkai varuthu...

M (smiling) : good athai... ipadiye nimathiya poi kelambunga ponga... time achu... chumma poruppu illaama suthikitu...

L (laughing) : adi paavi... nee maamiyaara... naan maamiyaara... paiyanuku thappama vanthuruke po... yellam en neram...

M : nerama athai... 10.30 aga poguthu... (tongue in cheeks)

L : vaalu de nee... sari neram aachu kelambalam... iru varen... amma ah kutitu varen...

As lakshmi left the place, mullai too moved out to help her mom and get started...
Time flew, things were boarded and they were waiting for paati to join them finally...
Right then, kathir came for mullai who was standing in the garden...

K : thanks a lot honey...

M : yethuku...

K : hmmm... amma, appakita enakaga support pani pesiniyaam... amma bayangara kovama irunthaanga... she is fine now... avangaluku ore perumai vera... athe madhiri athai kitayum positive ah pesiniyaam... she was saying to  mama and i happened to overhear... im feeling so good... athan thanks honey...

M : ithukellam thanks ah...too much kathir...

Mullai started walking looking at the flowers and kathir followed her curiously waiting to get few answers from her in the waiting time...

K : ithukelam karanam enmela iruka akkarainu yeduthukalaama...

M (turning to him) : haaan... yena...

K : purushan mela akkaraiyanu ketten...

He added extra toppings with a cheeky smile making her grin...

M  : ungaluku yena thonuthu...

K : 100 percent akkarai yellam illaanu manasu adichu solluthu... aana atleast oru 1 percent akkarai ah iruntha nalla irukumnu thonuthu...

M ( smiling ): unmaiya apadiye solitengale... mind reading theriyuma yena ungaluku...

K (shooking shoulders) : hmmkmmm... namma kadhai start aana azhaguku nee enna manushana mathikarathe perusu... ithula purushana nenachu akkarai yellam paduvanu yethir paatha enna madhiri muttal yaarum iruka maatan...

M : sorry kathir... konjam neenga sona madhiri... unga mela akkarainu yellam sure ah sola mudiyala... but iam just easing off the atmosphere... atha pathiye pesi yellarum romba kashtapadaranga... paaka kashtama iruku... namma problem nammakula irukatum... let us take care of it... let them be happy...

paatiku avanga nenacha madhiri peranukum pethikum kalyanam... appakum athaikum avangalum onnu senthu nammalum senthutomnu happiness... ammakum mamakum namma life pathina nimathi... athu kudukalamla... thappu illaaye...

K : cha cha...thappu illaa... they deserve all peace after yesterday's pain... but i seriously hope they dont mistake things between us... i mean we are... i mean you are completely ok with me nu nenachuka poranga... it might end up as a inconvenience for you honey... they might increase expectations on you... yenathan familynaalum mathavangala pathi yosikarathuku munnadi unna pathiyum yosikanumla...

That care of kathir thinking about her state  was comforting her disturbed heart...
Yes it was not so easy to console everyone when  she herself was on tenterhooks...
She needed a shoulder to lean for support but didnt want to take her family with her...
She thought she was struggling alone but it seems without her knowledge she has him...
Was he the same who said he never thought about her feelings...
Weird...

M : naan onum yellam sari agiduchu... we are good.. we dont have any problemsnu elam solala kathir... i said we will take care... thats all...

K : still it might give them a positive hope about our realtionship... it might turn awkward to you...

M : let it be kathir... naan mathavangala pathi yosikara madhiri enna pathi yaarachum yosipaangala... avanga paathukatum...

K : haaann... paathukaren...

M (twisting brows) : yenathu...

K (sternly) : naan paathukaren nu sonnen...

While mullai was about to say something to change the thickness of the scene, the elders dropped in calling them to leave...

L : mulla... inga paathiya kootha... maamavum, machaanum thaniya carla varangalam... nammala yethika matangalam... vaa namma kathir kuda periya car la pogalam... nee munnadi yeru... naanga moonu perum pinnadi ukaararom...

M : illaa athai... paati front la ukanthukatum... kaal vekka easy... naan pinnadi unga kuda ukanthukaren...

L : sari da...

As soon as paati got in the passenger seat, mullai got into rear seat with Lakshmi and parvathi in either sides...
With some talks going on, mullai's thoughts were purely around the last chat with kathir which was totally about her...

Not knowing that kathir was also thinking about her how she cared for all others but not about him...
It did pain but then he consoled himself saying this would change...
With a sigh, he took a glance at her in the rear view mirror trying to change the mood of the moment...
It wasnt that tough seeing the gorgeous damsel...
Mullai who came out of her thoughts peeked at him through the mirror catching his eyes...
It prevailed for time unknown and mullai raised her eyebrows in gesture of questioning expecting him to say nothing...
But...

K : bayangara azhaga iruke honey... this peacock blue saree... antha kanmai... those pearl jewels... mukkiyama antha jhumka... antha single stone nose ring... flowers... woww... you look like a angel... unna vitu kannu yeduka mudiyala... athan paathute varen...

What...
Did he say that aloud...
Offcourse...
She could see all three ladies smiling amusingly and happilly but all three seeing in three different directions in shyness...
Mullai's face turned beet red and hot as if blood all over her body rushed to her face...
This fellow... argggg...

M : hello mister... valavalanu pesama konjam road ah paathu vandi otarengala...

K : iam trying but mudiyala honey... you are dropdead  gorgeous... i mean it...

athai... you know what... ivalo azhaga ivalo sweet ah ponna pethu vechathu unga thappu... thappa neenga panitu avala aasaipatta karanathukaga yellarum ennai thitarengale... logic iruka ithula...

This guy is impossible...

T (smiling) : apadi vare nee... sari than da thangam... thappu ivangaluthu than... othukaren..

M (gritting teeth) : paati... nee enkita nalla vaanga pore... pesama vaa...

All mullai could do was just glare at everyone who giggled and throw daggers at him...

K : paarunga paarunga... moraikum bothu kuda yepadi irukaa nu... just look at those eyes... ufff... killer eyes... (punching the steering)

M : aiyo... athai... unga paiyan inime yetha pesinarunaa naan car ah vitu kuthichuduven... pesama vara sollunga...

K  : love panomnu poi sonen athu thappu... unmaiya sonaluma thappu...

M : athai...

L : dei kathir pesama vandi ootuda... inum anju nimishathula kovil vanthudum... neram achu... pongal vekkanum...

K : hmmm fine...

Kathir drove wordlessly but still stealing glances over mullai who knew it by then and returned back a burning stare...
With admiration and annoyance rolling back and forth the car, they reached the temple for good still glancing at eachother...

TBC...