May 3, 2019...

K : ei... elani ah kudikaama vaanathula yena paathutu iruke...

M : illaa mazhai varutha nu paakaren...

K : intha... chithirai veyil kodurama koluthikitu iruku mazhai yepadi varum...

M : illaa neeye kadaiya vitutu enga veetuku vanthu, en ammakita enna hospital kutitu poren nu soli, anga kutitu poitu ippo elani vaangi kuduthu... appapa... ithana nadanthuruku... mazhai varaama irukuma yena...

K : oh kindal ah... ennala than eh unaku adi pattuchu... appuram panama yepadi...

M : appo unnala intha accident agalaina ithelam pana maatiya...

K : miga sirappu... ipadi than purinjukanum...

M : bathil sollu...

K : ennala agalainalum akkaraila panirupen... ippo akkaraiyoda oru kutraunarchiyum sernthuduchu...

His eyes brushed her bandages in forehead and her hand with a sense of guilt and anger which seem to increase by day and no signs of reducing...

M : aiyo atha vida mattiya nee... verum siraaipu than...

K (angrily) : verum siraaipoda pochu... athunala paravala... illaana... thalaila patta adi balaama paturuntha... kaiyo kaalo udanjuruntha... nenachale bayama iruku...

M : athan nadakalala viden... yen yosichu yosichu varuthapadare...

K (irritatedly)  : chhh vidu...

M : aanalum unaku ivalo kovam aagathu kathiru... ithula avana police la vera pidichu kuduthuruka...

K : policela pidichu kudukaama yena pana solre... onume panama kandukaana vituda solriya... illaa muttu sandhula yaarukum theriyaama avanuke theriyaama naalu thattu thattina pothumgariya...

M : apadi illaa meena appa mela iruntha visuvaasathula apadi panitaan... thappu namma mela...

K : vayasula periyavara, samuthaayathula oru anthasthula irukavara adichathu thappu than... naan marukkala... aana panathu naan... avanuku avalo kovam iruntha atha enkita kaamichurukanum... ithe kalyanathila irunthu thirumbi vanthapo avan idikama kalyanathuku nan mattum thaniya vanthane... appo idichirunthaan na kandukaama viturupen... itha oru vishayama kuda mathichuruka matten...

Aana kuda veetu ponnu iruka nu therinjum apadi panraan na avanuku yevalo vanmam irukum... apadi irukavan nalaiki vera yetha mosama pana maatan nu yena nichayam...

M : kathiru ithena cinema ah... ivalo yosikara...

K : cinema oh drama ah... namma than jakarathaiya irukanum... ambalainga sandai la yeppo avan oru ponna kondu vanthano avana chumma vidarathu aabathu... athan apadi panen... ini namma chumma kela vizhuntha kuda police avana than pidikum... anubhavikatum... avanum avan mudhalaaliyum...

M (smirking) : aniki meena appava adichapo jeeva anne love panre ponnoda appa, avangalukula prachanai agidum athu ithu nu feel pane...

K : nee than eh sonna ithaiyum, anna mela iruka kovathaiyum kulapaikara aalu avugha illaa nu... apadiye avugha thappa nenachalum nenachukitum... intha vishayathula naan panathu than sari...

M (curiously) : parra... aama ippo en yedathula anniki akka irunthurunthalum ipadi than kovapaturupiya...

K : un amma yen un athachi irunthalum ipadi than kovapaturupen...

M : oh...

Mullai didnt know why did it hurt her inside to know all are same to him but the ache was replaced by a sweetness soon...

K (clearing throat) : aana... aana... intha kannu mannu theriyaatha veri puthusa iruku... ithu varai naan eh enkita paakatha onnu... athu yellarukum irukuma nu theriyala...

His voice was so soft and at the sametime stern with a intense look at her filling her insides with serenity...
The one who openly pounces in rage stumbles when it comes to showing love...

Not all understand the tenderness behind his tenacity...
Not all understand the affection behind his arrogance...
Not all understand the soft heart behind his scornful stares...
Nor did mullai till date and now she started understanding every bit of him...
Just a start of everything and she did liked it so did he...
Not knowing what to speak, they sipped the drink with a hidden smile...

M : kathiru onnu theriyuma... enaku ipadi yellam vanthu elani kudikanum nu romba aasai... appa kita sonna veetuku po vaangitu varen nu soluvaaru... ippo en aasai nadanthuduchu...

K : ipadi yellam aasaiya...

M : hmmm enaku yepavum chinna chinna aasai than periya santhoshatha kudukum...

K (fondly) : sari vidu inime adikadi ipadi elanikadaiku vanthu perusa santhoshapadalam...

M : illaa illaa... elani eh venaam.. bore adikum... oru naal elani... oru naal pani puri...oru naal tea... oru naal milaga bajji... oru...

K : intha pothum pothum... adikikite pore... enna paatha unaku yepadi iruku... velai vetti illama oor suthara vetti paiya madhiriya iruku...

M : cha cha... yenathan unmaiya irunthalum
en vaaiyaala atha soluvena kathiru...

Mullai said in a calm tone just rolling her eyes making kathir chuckle and splutter the drink soon joined by laughing mullai...
It was a blissful scene to be witnessed by murugan who stood at a distance and watched them with a smile...
He didnt know whats between them and how all hatred equations changed...
But he was relieved to see the beautiful smile lingering in their lips both as a father and uncle...
His heart made a soulful prayer to have those smiles freezed in their lips...

May 16, 2019...

K : hello...

M : hello kathiru... naan than...

K : sollu mullaa... yena kadai number ku kupituruka...

M : hmmmkmmm... mudhala cellphonengra perla oru dabba vechurukiye... atha eduthu paaru... oru mani nerama kupidaren... switched off ne varuthu...

K (seeing mobile) : adada charge illaa...

M : athu sari kupitu kupitu paathutu veruthu poi kadaiku phone potten... kalutha ketta kutti sevaru than eh nu... (giggles)

K : intha nerla illaangra thairiyathula vaayadaathe...

M : aama nerla iruntha mattum naanga bayanthuduvoma...

K : athan eh... naanga than eh bayapadanum... sari yethuku athana thadavai kupita...

M : onum ilaa kathiru... iniki meena birthday aam...

K : hmmm anne solichu... call paniruku... yedukala... msg paniruku... paathurukanga... yetho pesi anupiruku... keturukaanga... aana yethukume bathil illaa pola...

M : hmmm... enna than mama senjathu manikka mudiyaatha thappunaalum paavama than iruku la...

K : hmmm.... iruku than aana uppu thinna thanni kudichu than eh aganum...

M : apadi vida mudiyaathe... meena per la iniki murugan kovil la poojai ku kuduthurukaaangalam... sainthiram kovilku varuva pola... mama ah yetha gift vaangitu poi paaka sollu...

There was a different set of emotions oozing out of kathir's heart on hearing to it...
He didnt know if its shock seeing her strong will, surprise seeing her care of thinking about others, happy seeing her concern or empathy knowing how far she has come through...
Of all, his heart sweared she is a precious soul...

M : kathiru... linela irukiya...

K : haan iruken iruken...

M (giggling) : hmmm pottalam poda poittiyo nu nenachen...

K : pesi mudichutu poi poiduvomla...

M : athu sari... mudhala jeeva mama kita idea ah sollu...

K : annekita solrathu irukatum... unkita onnu solava...

M : sollu...

K : aniki soniye... mandapaathula engaluku thandanai kuduthen nu... athu thappu... sathiyama thandanai athu illaa mulla... ippo ipadi iruke paaru... annanuku nallathu nenachutu... athu than irukarathulaiye periya thandanai...

M : cha... naan apadi nenachu...

K : nee apadi nenaika matta... enaku thonichu sonnen... sari vidu... vishayathuku varuvom... aama anne poi parisu yellam kudutha vaangipaaghala... phone laye suthama mathikarathu illaa...

M : kandipa vaangikka matta... moonjilaiye veesinaalum veesiduvaa... vaaippu iruku...

K : adi paavi... ithuku than plan panriya nee... unna poi oru nimisham perumaiya pesitane... kathiru thappu panitiye da...

M(laughing) : po kathiru... mama pana velaiku athu than yaara irunthaalum panuvaagha... ithuku naan plan vera panranaakum...

K : sari sari... appuram yethuku vettiya poga solre... yena palan iruka poguthu...

M : meena gift ah vaangikita than palan irukaratha artham ah... paaru munnadi block pani vechuruntha appuram call ah cut pani vitta... message ah padikama delete pana... ippo call ah cut panrathu illaa... messsge ah padikara... intha madhiri chinna chinnatha maaruthu illaa.. so intha time la nerla paatha nallatha kuda irukalam... pona rendu varushathula kondadina piranthanaal niyabagam varalam... kovam koraiyalam...

K : oh... ipadi yellam iruka...

M : hmmm ava appa ammave pesama kalyanam pani vechudalam ngra nilamaiku vanthutangalam... ithanaiku appuram yenga veliya mapillai pakarathu nu... so avanga support um irukum... konjam muyarchi pana sikirame meena ah samathika vechudalam...

K : aanalum nadantha thappu yellam maranthuduma mulla...

M : marakkaathu... aana manichudalam...  thirumba solren... thappe panalum pidichavangala manasu verukaathu... kovam yellam konjam konjama manasoda moolaiki poi apadiye veliya oodidum... aana atha veliya anupa namma konjam poraadanum... odhungi pona thappagidum... athunala avara avaluku pidicha madhiri dress panitu pidichatha yetha vaangitu poga sollu...

K : hmmm...

M : hmmkmmm ipadi thonda thanni vatha pesiruken... verum hmmm aam... unaku yellam yethuku than vaai ah aandavan padaichaano...

K : athelam thevai ku ubayogapaduthuvom... nee niruthu...

M : athaiyum paakaren... sari naan vekaren...

K : mullaa...

M : yena kathiru...

K : nee romba nalla ponnu mullaa... hmmm nalla ponnu nu yepavume theriyum... aana romba romba inimaiyana ponnu... nee iruka yedathula nimathiyum, santhoshamum neranju irukum...

M : ei.. yena yenamo pesare...

K : ithe yedathula ninnu yosichuruken... nee iruka veetula iruka mudiyaathu... nee veetuku vantha naan veeta vittu veliya poiduven nu... aana ithe yedathula ninnu ippo varuthapadaren nee enga veetuku varalainu...

M : kathiru...

K : vekkaren mulla...

M : hmmm...

After the call, they stood rooted in the same place looking at the phone with a smile with their conversation running in the mind...

29 May, 2019...

M : hello... kathiru... yena panre... ready ah...

K : ippo than kulichutu vanthen... oru pathu nimisham vanthudaren...

M : aiyo yena kathiru late panre... mani anju aaga poguthu... reception karaikudi la vera... en friends yellam vanthuduvaanga...

K : ada anjarai ku kelambinakuda aaru kula poidalam... yen avasarapadare...

M : aama un oota vaandi ah namma urutitu poga venaama... athan sikiram kelamba solren... kathiru... pesama jeeva mama bike ah yeduthutu variya... thoorama poganum la...

K (a little prick) : sari...

M : appuram yena dress poda pore...

K : veshti satta than... pinna lungi ah potutu varuven...

M : aiyayo thayavu senju veshti satta venam kathiru... kalyanathukuna kuda ok... ithu reception... nalla pant sattai ah potutu va... aama unkita iruka illaaya... cha naan munnadi yosikave ilaa... irunthuruntha nallatha onnu vaangirukalam...

K : un friend kalyanathuku ava than puthusu vaanganum  naan yen vaanganum...

M : thevai illaathan... aana unkita than urupadiya onum illaaye... athan...

K (feeling heavy) : oh jeeva anne pant sattai pottukava...

M (thinking) : sattai avaruthu venam... pant vena potuko... pant la onum theriyaathu...

K : haan... naan... naan.. naan pathu nimishathula vanthuduven... nee veliya vanthudu... en phone la charge illaa... kupida mudiyaathu...

M : happada... appo un dabba mobile la anga reception la vanthu sarakku vanthuducha, mottai thookanuma nu pesa matte...nalla velai...
K : yen pesina yena...

M : acho... yellarum bayangarama ootuvaanga kathiru... antha viji vera iruka... avaluku chummave unna paatha agathu... naan avakita...

K (interrupting in a stern voice) : athu than eh en velai... athula oota yena iruku... apadiye ootinalum namaku yena...

M : athu sari... athu onum un velai illaa... aana nee atha mattum than panre... rendukum vithiyasam iruku...

K (heavy voice) : enaku puriyala...

M : kadaila ayiram velai iruku... merpaarvai paakarathu, bank porathu, kanakku paakarathu, collection porathu nu aana atha vitutu nee intha mottai thookarathu, potalam podarathu nu panre nu solren...

K : athu onum thappaana velai illaaiye...

M : thappu illaathan aana yellarukum nee atha than panre nu oliparapiye aaganuma yenna... yellarum yena nenaipaanga...

K : hmmm yena nenaipanga... mathavanga munnadi kashtama irukum la... athavathu unaku... sari than...  unaku pidikalaina appo anga vanthu unmaiya marachi en velaiya maathi solatuma... jeeva anne madhiri bank ku poven... collection ku poven nu...

M : ithu super ah iruke... sollen... aana kanakku vazhakku pathi kelvi ketta thiru thiru nu muzhikanume...

K : aama appuram unaku inum kevalamagidum la...

M : kathiru...

If the conversation did take place in person, mullai would have easily guessed the change in tone of kathir and would have understood something is wrong somewhere in the start...
But poor girl she was half listening to him leaving the phone on speaker and her concentration fully on her makeup just to look ravishing...
She wanted to see the instant shine in kathir's eyes on seeing her...
When she realised the flow of chat is going worse, it was late...
So late...

K : vandiya maathanum... uduppa maathanum... phone ah veliya yeduka kudathu... velaiya pathi pesa kudaathu... vera yena iruku...haan padippu... athu yena pana... pathan class nu sonna kevalam la... degree nu soliduvoma...

M (anxiously) : naan apadi solala kathiru...

K : ini aduthu athu than eh sola pore...

M : illaa kathiru... naan...

K : athavathu mothama kathir ngratha maathi vera oruthana vantha than un kuda varra thaguthi irukum nu solama solite illaa... kathir kathira vantha unaku pidikaathu la...

M : yena pesare neee... apadi yellam...

K : pothum mullaa... nee yethum sola venaam... nee un friend kalyanathuku kuda vaa nu sonapave itha than naan mudhala yosichurukanum... unkuda naan yellam vara mudiyuma nu... vantha unaku gauravama irukuma nu yosikala... yetho thoni sari nu soliten...

M : kathiru... konjam enna pesa vidu... naan...

K : neraya pesite mullaa... pothum... naan than romba yethir paathuten pola... en thappu than... appuram yellathaiyum maathi vera oruthana vara en manasu oppala... athu unkudavave irunthaalum... enna vitudu... naan varala... nee un appa kuda poitu vanthudu... vekkaren...

M : kathiru... naan solratha...

K (calmly) : venam mullaa... unna neeye kashtapaduthikaathe... yepadiyavathu intha kathir ah manasuku pidikanum nu valukataayama un manasuku enna pidikka vekka muyarchi panathe... vitudu... vekaren...

M : ...

The call was disconnected while mullai was trying to explain...
When she called up again, his mobile was switched off...
She tried a couple of times and called up dhanam to know kathir has left the house in regular work clothes...
Mullai didnt have any answer when she asked about them attending her friend's marriage...
She just dropped the phone on bed with tears flowing nonstop..
The first that hit her the shattered wish of spending time with him...
The declined wish gave her immense anger on him and never allowed her to think straight...
The tears of anger and disappointment took a toll on her the whole evening and extended the complete night...
Over time she realised what went wrong and where it went wrong...
She understood how her simple words got twisted and how much it would have affected him...
Not knowing what to do, she embraced the company of tears and spent the entire night...

Sametime kathir was lying down in his room looking aimlessly at the roof...
Mullai's words kept thrumming in his ears again and again giving him a unbearable ache...
Yes, he has been ridiculed by many for his work, attire and lot more...
Even by mullai...
He had in turn hurt her with words in anger and next moment he would forget it continuing his work...
But this time he wasn't angry, he felt as if he lost something in life...
He felt useless, unworthy and as if there is nothing more for him...
He didnt know any ways to come out of it...
His shop, favorite work or even his family couldnt bring him out of it...
He kept him drowning in the ache her words gave him...
His eyes never failed to look at his mobile that kept vibrating for her calls and messages all the night...

30 May, 2019...

The day dawned brightly trying to spread peace and positivity in the sombre faces and starless hearts...
Kathir who was getting ready to his work turned to see someone entering the room swiftly...

It was mullai...
Her yellow and pink silk saree along with flowers and jewels stood witness that she had attended her friend's marriage in the morning...
Maybe she would have taken company of her father or someone else who deserves to be with her...
And its not him...
It pained like hell and he could feel his orbs getting moist...
Not to show his vulnerability, he avoided her and tried to get out of the room just to be stopped by a soft voice...

M : kathiru... oru nimisham...

He freeezed in his place facing the door while she stood behind him registering his stiffened shoulders...

TBC...