M : kathiru... oru nimisham...

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

M : unkita konjam pesanum...

K : ....

M : naanum nethu reception ku pogala...

K : ....

M : appa veliya poirunthaaru...

K : ....

M : iniki kaalaila naanum appavum kalyanathuku poitu vanthom... poitu nera inga than varen... unna paaka...

K : ...

M : unkita iruka oota vandi kuda en appa kita illaa... bus la than ponom...

K : ....

M : en appa unna madhiri than...

yepavume pant sattai yellam potathu illaa... verum veshti sattai than...

periya padippu padikala... verum anjaavathu than padichurukaaru...

unnoda phone ah vida aratha palasana phone than avarukita iruku...

avarum periya velaikelam pogala... verum rice mill than vechurukaaru...

Kathir didnt know what all these talks are about and what to react for it...
He just turned sideways with a gesture of listening to her...

M : aana... aana... en appana enaku uyir...
avar kuda neram selavalika enaku romba pidikum... athunala avaru vara thevai illanalum avara chumma kuda kutitu poven... avarkuda irukanum nu...

apadi than... apadi than... neeyum... athu... unnaiyum nethu kupiten.... kupidum bothu unkuda iruka neram than kannuku therinjuthu... nethu naan pesinathu  yellam mukkiyama theriyala...

His already stiffened physique went rigid like a ironrod and in contrast to it, his eyes melted with fondness....

M : enaku aasai iruku... en appa pant sattai potutu getha varanum nu... nalla phonela bandha ah pesanum nu... periya vandila vanthu yeranganum nu yellam... neraya thadavai avarkitayum soliruken... dress vaangi kuduthuruken... english yellam kuda soli kuduka paathuruken... sila samayam maarunga nu sandai kuda poturuken...
( a pause)

UNKITA sona madhiri...

K : ...

M : en appa ku puriyum... theriyum... naan manasara appa mela iruka paasathula, aasaila athelam solrana illaa avara pidikaaama kevalama nenachu ipadi yellam panrana nu...

avarkita iruntha madhiriye unkitayum irunthuten... avaru madhiri neeyum enna purinjukanum nu naan yethir paathachu en thappu than... athum munnadi yellam unna apadi kindal panitu... yepavum pola orandai illuthutu sonna... (clearing throat)

sonna naan unna kevalama pesare madhiri thonirukalam... illaa apadi than thonum... yosicha enake apadi than irunthuchu..  romba thappa... enna manichudu....

Kathir gestured her to stop with a headnod symbolically trying to brush if off but mullai was quick to react and speak...

M : illaa... thappu pana manipu kekanum... naan eh unna kuda vara solitu appuram kandathum pesi unna kashtapaduthi vara  vidama paniten... romba sorry...

Kathir felt as if the tightened veins around his heart loosened...
Was it because of the mere sight of her...
Was it because of the apology asked understanding his thoughts...
Was it because of the anguish in her voice considering his pain...
Was it because of the acceptance that she didnt think low of him...
Was it because of her wishes for him...
Was it because her yearning for their togetherness...
Was it because she put down him and her father in same scale...
Or was it because of all the above...
He really didn't have any idea but all the anguish seemed to be replaced by unknown serenity...

M : appuram... nethu nee sonathu yellame unmai than... naan vera yenathula pesirunthalum athu thappa ne sonna madhiri than irunthuchu... inime atha maathikaren...

K : ....

M : aana... athula onnu mattum  thappu...

K : ....

M : yepadiyavathu intha kathir ah manasuku pidikanum nu valukataayama en manasuku unna pidikka vekka muyarchi panren nu sonne illaa... athu romba thappu...

K : ...

M : athu... mullaiku kathir ah pidikum... kathir ah kathirkagave pidikum... romba romba pidikum...

Mullai confessed what she had inside her fidgeting her fingers with pallu confused if she is putting down her heart out in right words...
Unknowingly a confidence about her words  seeped in as she completed and a little smile bloomed in her crimson face....

And kathir was no less...
When he was soothing the pain from yesterday's evening till that minute, she added more to his peace...
He was dumbstruck for few seconds and as those words hit his heart, his lips started curling for a beautiful blushing smile and  he stood rubbing his beard as if it could halt his smiles...

He wanted to reply her...
He wanted to respond her...
He wanted to receive her...
But his own heart and mind betrayed him and just kept dumb giving him only smiles and much more smiles...
This was new...
Completely new for a unshakeable man like him...
It did shake his insides and made him weak on knees...
Unable to contend the newly evoked emotions, he left the room still smiling...

Mullai who was enjoying how the tension in his physique dropped, how the fist relaxed, how the side muscles of his face relaxed and much more was disappointed a bit as he left..

M : ithana solren... murukikitu poraan paaru... ufff... sari yenga poiduvaan... paathukalam...

Mullai tucked her saree pallu in her hip with a assuring smile and left the room in a relief of opening up to kathir...

June 4, 2019...

It was a leisure evening in pandian stores...
Kathir, kumaresan and saravanna were enjoying their tea with a little chat and by then mullai stormed into the shop with her usual chirpiness...

M : hi paa... hi saravanna...

Kum : vaaa de vaayadi... yena naalu naala aalu kaanom...

M : athu konjam busy paaa... (seeing kathir)

S : yen ka... kathir annanuku hi illaya...

M : avaruku hi yellam thevai illaa da saravanna... daily oru goodmorning, goodafternoon, goodevening, goodnight, sapitiya, thonginiya, nallairukiya la vazhkaiya ootiduvaaru... yena kathir sir... apadi than eh...

Yes...
Its been four days since her friend's wedding fiasco since then that has become a routine for kathir to send greetings even before mullai but he didnt know what chat to continue after that...
It was just about eating, sleeping and some weird conversations...
But it was not his usual way to shift from one mood to another in a short time and get along...
That kept his away from speaking and ofcourse he didnt know what to speak...
Understanding that mullai did leave him in peace, but not any more...

K : intha enna orandai illuka than vanthiya...

M : cha cha... thenmittai yedukalam nu vanthen...

Kum : appovum vaanga varala... athan eh...

M : paaa... enga kadaila naan yena vangarathu... yepavum yedukarathu than...

Kum : apadi podu... athan mullaangrathu... tho inga paila...

K : mama... ulla store room la iruku... athula irunthu yeduthuka solunga... puthu sarakku ippo than vanthuchu...

Kum : dei... nee than eh inga...

K : ada tea ah kudinga maama... valavala nu pesitu... intha poi yeduthuko...

M : hmmm... neenga tea kudinga... naan yeduthukaren...

Mullai went inside the store room just to be tailed by kathir as she expected...

M : mullaa... nalla irukiya... sapitiya... thoonginiya... paathuko... athu than eh...

K(confused) : yena...

M : itha than eh naalu naal ah vera vera vidhama solitu iruka... athan sonnen...

K(smiling) : manichudu... olunga pesa kudaathunu illaa... aana enaku yepavume yetha manasu oru madhiri iruntha udane chattnu maara mudiyaathu... konjam thanimai venum athu than...

M : purinjuthu... athu than naanum thontharavu panala... aana naalu naal achu... ithuku mela mudiyala... athan vanthen...

K : hmmm...

M : inum enmela kovama irukiya...

K : cha cha... annike kovam illaa varutham than... appuram athum illaa... santhosham than...

M : appo sari...

K : manichudu... anniki nee yenamo sola poi naan yenamo purinjukitu apadi paniten... reception ku poga mudiyala... un appaku alaichal vera...

M : athelam oru vishayame illaa vidu... aana anniki naan sonathu oru oru vishayamum unmai... nee konjam maaralam kathiru... enakaga illaa vera yaarukagavum illaa unnakaga... konjam yosiyen...

K (calmly) : yepadi maaranum ngra...

M : mudhala un uduppu... yethuku yepavum oru veshti teeshirt illaana dull ah oru sattai... velaiku nee ipo podara veshti, lungi, tee shirt sari than... aana veliya pogum bothu oru pant nalla sattai podalam la... unaku verum 23 vayasu than kathiru aaguthu... 60 agidala... un vayasu pasanga podara madhiri nalla dress panikalam la... aadambarama venam... aana azhaga panalame... super ah irukume... paakanum nu aasaila than kekaren....

K : hmmm pana kudaathunnu illaa... aana ithu potuka nalla irukum nu...

M : hmmmkmmm... enaku kudathaan padavaiya thooki sorugitu thalaimudi ah kondai potutu suthina nalla irukum... athukunu athe madhiri yepavum iruka mudiyuma... yedathuku yetha madhiri dress mathikanum la... velaiku ipadi... veliya pogum pothu apadinu maathiko... yena apadi paakare...

How would he say he started imagining her in such a dressup so he nodded as nothing with a smile...

K : onum illaa... appuram...

M : hmmm appuram... padippu...

K : amma thaaye... book ah vaangi kaila kuduthu pallikoodathuku anupidathe...

M : cha naan onum avalo loose illaa... unnoda tholil kadai nu agiduchu... athuku padipparivu thevai illaa... pattarivu iruntha pothum... athu iruku unaku... aana athaiyum oru silathula mattum ubhayogapaduthaama yellathulaiyum panalame...

K : puriyala...

M : aniki sonathu than... kadaila ayiram velai iruku... yellathaiyum panu... bank ku po... english pesaravanga kita collection ku po... kolmudhal ku po... kallaala ukkaaru... yellame panu...

K : appo potalam podarathu... mootai thookarathu...

M : thaaralama panu... aana atha mattum panathe... athu mattum than un velai nu solathe...

K : hmm puriyuthu... enakum aasai than bank velai, kadai kanakku... aana oru chinna bayam than athelam pana... yetha thappa paniduvano nu...

M : thappu pana yena ippo... yena kolai ah paniduvanga... chinna chinna thappu senja than adutha thadavai thiruthika mudiyum... antha thappu nadakathu...athuku bayanthutu muyarchi panaama iruntha yepadi...

K : hmmm panren... appuram...

M : appuram mobile... unaku intha mobile than sulabam... pidichuruku intha dialogue ah vidu... paaru naan unaku normal message matum than panren...illaana call... ithe nee naan vechuruka mobile vechurntha nee neraya photo yedukalam... WhatsApp la photos anupalam... naanum than... appuram video call panalam... nalla irukum la...

K : ei... list romba perusa poguthu...

M : hmkmmm... list ah mudichaachu... romba salichukaathe... ithu yellathaiyum vittu thallu... yen kodaikanal tour pogala nee...

K (shocked) : ei unaku yepadi theriyum...

M : yellam theriyum... jeeva mama friend resort arambichurukaaru ungala yellam kupiturukaaru... athai kuda poitu varalam... oru maaruthala irukum nu solranga... aana nee kadai kadai nu ukanthutu iruke... illaa theriyaama than kekaren... apadi yena oru kaadhal kadai mela...

K : ei chummaa pesite pogaatha... yellarum poita kadaiya yaaru paathukuva...

M : yen pandian stores ah rendu naal moodina indhiya pangusandhai sarinjuruma...

K (chuckling) : intha un vaai iruke...

M : athu irukatum... sari kadaiya mooda venam... inga kumaresan appa, saravanan irukanga... vena naan vanthu avangaluku help panren... yen en appa kuda varuvaaru... athunala kadaiya pathi yosikaama nee kelambara vazhiya paaru... manasuku nalla irukum... ipadiyum oru maatram thevai...

kadaiku kathir illaana kashtama irukaathu... aana unna pidichavanagaluku nee illana kashtama irukum... anga poi avanga santhoshama iruka mudiyaathu... purinjutha... athunala nee kandipa pora...

K : intha... vitta neeye potalam katti anupiduva pola...

M : potalam podarathu un velai... ennodathu illaa...

K : intha vaai mattum illanu veiyen...

M : enna nee mathika matte kathiru... sari atha vidu... innoru mukkiyamanatha maranthuten...

K : inuma... sabba sollu...

M : athan un vandiya pathi... athula arambichathuthan eh anniki sandai...

K : hmmm athuku yena...

M : athu nijamave ootai vandi than... ootai vandiya ootaivandi nu than sola mudiyum... athuku unaku kovam vantha kochuko... enaku onum illaa... itha than sola maranthuten...soliten... thenmittai yeduthuten... kelambaren...

K : mavale... antha thenmittai ah kudu... (snatching ) unaku thenmittaiyum illaa onum illaa... kelambu... ootai vandiyaam la...

M : hmmkmmm... pinna athena indhiranoda iyyraavatham ah...

K : enaku athu apadi than...

M : hmmkmmmm... neeye vechuko un thenmittaiya... naan vera nalla kadaila vaaangikaren...

Mullai moved out of the storeroom followed by kathir with a fake grumpy face...

Kum : ei vaayadi... thenmittai yenga...

M : enaku thenmittaium venaam... onum venaam... naan kelambaren...

K (amusingly) : mama... antha pachai coverum venama nu kelunga...

M : yena cover... (getting a green bag from kumaresan)

Mullai got the bag which kumaresan passed to her which had all her favorites as she looked at him surprisingly, he turned to other side with a hidden smile...

Kum : iniki unna paaka vara unaku pidichathellam yeduthu vechaan... paatha neeye vanthuta... aanalum intha storeroom thenmittai vishayam puriyala enaku... (suspiciously)

K : romba nallathu poi velaiya paarunga... dei saravana poi sarakka yeduthu aduku...

Sa : sari ne...

Kum : adei kathirika muthina sandhai ku vanthuthan aganum... appo vechukaren...

K : maama... ithu maligai kadai... kaaikari kadai illaa... ponga...

Kum : romba than da pore nee...

As they left inside leaving a suspicious look, kathir turned to mullai...

K : intha... unaku thaniya solanuma... kelambu...

M : hmmmkmmm varen...

Mullai hit kathir with the bag given and walked out of the shop just to be stopped by a voice...

K : appuram... naalu naal achu... ennalaiyum mudiyala... athan velai mudinjathum unna paaka varatha irunthen...

Mullai turned to see him who was looking at her with hands on hip and there was a still silence with just smiles...

June 14, 2019...

M : hello kathiru enaku nenju valikithu...

K : ei hello... mulla... yena achu... yena solre...

M : pinna ippo than un photo kanna anupinaan... paathutu nenju valiye vanthuduchu...

K : ei thimira...

M (laughing) : chumma... aana enaku yevalo santhoshama iruku theriyuma kathiru... pant sattai unaku avalo nalla iruku... super ah iruke... aama yeppo vaangine...

K : nethu than... chumma unaku oru inbaathirchi kudukalam nu solala...

M : sema po... naan sonathukagava...

K (smiling)  : hmmm... illana maaru maaru nu thirumba vandi vandiya pesuviye... yethuku vambu...

M : yen neeyum than maara matten... ithu than kathir... ivan than kathir... ipadi than kathir nu pakkam pakkama pesuve... athelam naan kekkala...

K : ...

M : ...

Both of them kept quiet for a second as if they were annoyed by the other and next minute laughed out loud...

M : sari vambu panama sollu... nalla dress panikita unaku yepadi iruku... pidichuruka...

K : hmmm nalla iruku... rombave nalla iruku... oru thanambikkai vara madhiri iruku...

M : athu unaku yepavume iruku... ippo konjam koodiruku nu sollu... athu than aal paathi... aadai paathingrathu....

K : hmmm sari... puriyuthu...

M : appuram thanks kathiru... mukkiyama enaku pidicha neela color vaanginathuku... onnu theriyuma naan kuda unaku pidicha manjal color pudavai than kattiruken....

K : apadiya... kannaku photo anupen... naanum paaakaren...

M : thidirnu ipadi en photolam anupina avan yena nenaipaan... ithuku than sonnen neeyum engala madhiri phone vaangu nu... yethum yosikaama anupalam la...

K : sari than... vidu... konja naal pogatum... vaangidalam... udane naan mothama maarina unaku vantha nenju vali enna paakara yellarukum vanthudum...

M (chuckling) : athu sari than... naan vekaren... appuram pesaren...

K : ei iru iru...

M : yena achu...

K : nee kupidarathuku munnadi unaku than phone pana yeduthen... nee kupitute...

M : oh athu than mudhal ring la yeduthiya... sari sollu... yethuku kupite...

K : ippo yeriya suthi cycle oota vanthom... appo onnu thonichu... chinna vayasula cycle oota theriyaama theriyum nu bandha pani doubles yellam adichu kela vizha veppiye... ippovum apadi than irukiya...

M : hello... yaara paathu yena kekkare.. athelam appo... ippo cycle, bike, car yen periya lorry eh ottuven...

K : yepadi vaailaya...

M : yena nakkala...

K : illaa enakenamo naan kelvi ketathum poi sollitu un muttakannu thiru thiru nu muzhikara madhiri iruku... athan ketten...

M : aama solranga... athelam super ah ootuven... yeri yena yeri... naan yellam kadal ah suthiye ootuven...

K : yena pechu da saami... unna kodaikanal kutitu vanthurukanum... unmaiya nu paathurukalam... innoru thadavai ithukagave namma varanum... unnaa cycle oota vechu naan ukanthutu varanum...

M : kanavu kaanama mudhala intha thadavai ah anubhavi... appuram adutha thadavaiku pogalam...

K : sari aana ooruku vanthathum mudhala nee vandi ootaratha paathutu than adutha velai... ready ah iru...

M mindvoice : aaathi... mulla escape agu..

(Loudly) athu appuram paakalam... nee nallaa enjoy panu... neraya photos anupa sollu kannana... yellaraiyum ketatha sollu... vekkaren...

K : hmmm...

Kathir dropped the call imagining a trip with her to the same place and took off in the blue cycle while mullai was inline with the same thoughts...

July 1, 2019...

K : hello...

M : hello kathiru... sorry...

K : nee pesathe... phone ah vei...

M : please kathiru... kovama iruntha thitidu... pesama irukaathu...

K : ippo pesina thevai illaama sandai than varum... nee vei... appuram pesalam... pesi onum aga porathu illaa...

M : yeppapaarum pesathe pesathe nu kadupethathe kathiru... pesina antha nimishathoda antha vishayam mudinjudum... ulla vechukite iruntha perusagite pogum...

K : oh pesina vishayam mudinjuduma... athaiyum paakaren... sari pesu... ippo yethuku kupita... atha sollu...

M : illaa amma yetho kovathula apadi pesiduchu...

K : yethu kovathula pesinangala... avalo kovama iruntha yethuku veetuku vanthanga mudhala...

M : athu athai ku udambu...

K : aama amma ku udambu sari illaa... hospital yellam poi gandam thaandi vanthurukanga... paaka vanthanga sari... athoda nirutha vendiyathu than eh... yethuku anni amma ah olunga pathukala... athan ipadi achu... mamiyaara olunga gavanikala.. athan kulanthai illanu yellam ishtathuku pesaranga...

M : athu akka mela kovam kalyana vishyathula...

K : oh... kalyana vishyathula nadantha thappuku kovamna atha pathi pesi thitanum... yethuku kulanthai pathi pesanum...

M : athu...

K : orutharoda thappa kuthi kaamikalam... valika vekkalam... asinga paduthalam... aana iyyalaamai ah kutha kudaathu... atha vechu kevalapadutha kudaathu... ithu yeppo unga amma ku puriyum nu enaku theriyala...

M : thappu than kathiru... mani...

K : thayavu senju manippu kekkathe... yellathaiyum panitu manippu nu sulabama solidarathu... anubhavikaravangaluku than eh theriyum antha vali...

M : yen neenga kuda than kudumbama yellathaiyum panitu manippu kettenga... naanga manikkalaiya...

In the heat of the moment, both didnt have control over their words and did hurt the other as much as they can...
The pain of insulting and accusing eachother's family was their only concern...

K : aama maa... neengalam theiva piravi... engaluku unga alavuku pakkuvam illaa... engaluku thappu pana matum than theriyum... manika theriyaathu pothuma...

M : chh... amma apadi than yetha pesum... ipadi neeyum purinjukaama kathina naan yena pana...

K : oh pesuvaanga... naanga avanga apadi than nu vitudanuma... vantha kovathuku paiya thooki vesi veeta vittu veliya ponga nu kathanum pola irunthuchu...

M (angrily) : avanga en amma kathiru...

K : antha oru karanathukaga than vaaya mooditu irunthen... illana nadakarathe vera... avalo kadupula iruken... nee pesi perusu panathe...

M : naan perusu panrana... nee than perusu panre... en amma pesichu... avanga apadi than nu vitutu pogaama en appa ah avamaanapaduthina... avaru yena panaaru... avaru thappu than nu manippu ketaaru la... moonjiya kuda paakaama kelambare... avaru yevalo varuthapataaru theriyuma... ippo enna ishtathuku kathare... enaku yevalo kashtama iruku theriyuma...

K : aama avaruku mattum than varutham... unaku mattum than kashtam... enga veetula yaarukum onum illaa... mukkiyama enaku illaa... pothuma... cha... yeppo vettuku vanthalum prachanai... nimathiye poguthu...

M : sari appo inime enga veetula irunthu yaarum unga veetuku varala... ungaluku prachanaiye irukaathu... pothuma...

K : sollathenga seinga...

M : oh... ipadi veetuke vara kudaathu nu ennam irukavangakita manippu kekka kupitathu en thappu than...

K : aama sariya sonne... thayavu senju inime kupidathe...

M : sari vekkaren... inime naanum kupidala... neeyum kupidathe...

K : vei...

TBC...