Mithra received a call from Pugazh.
'Anney interview paatheengala?',Mithra asked nervously.
'Paathen papa, namma super ah pannirukom!Naaliku ellaam namaku saarba dha nadakum,seriyaa..!Nee yedhukum bayapadaadha..',Pugazh said.

'Hmm seri ney..Appo naa vekkiren',
'Seri ma..',after hearing Pugazh's response Mithra hung up the call.

Mithra was thinking about the results suddenly she remembered about Vikram.
'Vikram indha interview paathurupaara?Enna enna nenachurupaaru?', she thought and suddenly remembered that she have Sathish's number.She quickly dialed him.

'Hello anne,naa Mithra pesuren.. Interview kooda eduthome aniku unga partner ah..', she said as soon as he picked her call.
'Ahn sollu ma thangachi.. Ippodhan interview paathen vera level pannirukeenga.. Congratulations to your team',Sathish said.
'Thank you na..', she smiled.

'Serii ma,enna thideernu call paniruka?',Sathish asked.
'Adhu vandhu ney..Unga partner oda number kedaikuma?',she asked in a quick.
'Yedhuku?',he imitated her tone.

'Illa ney, interview eduthurukom,avaru yepdi feel panraaru, interview paatharannu oru host ah naan kekanumla..Adhukudhan..',she said him in convincing way.
'Haiyoo ivlo innocent ah nee pesuna yaaru dhan nee solradha keka maatanga, number dhaana ma venum,naan tharen ma..', he gave her Vikram's number.Soon she thanked him and declined the call.

She dialed Vikram.Her heartbeat thudded against her rib cage until the opposite person picked the phone.

'He...Hello Vikram ',
'Avaru veliya poirukaare..Neenga?',Arjun asked.
'Veliya poirukaaraa...(sighs) Yeppo varuvaaru..?',she asked.
'Adhu yaaruku theriyum,kaalaila aayidumnu nenaikire..Neenga yaarunu sollave ilaye?', Arjun asked again.

'Naa Mithra pesuren,CWC channel la irundhu..',she said and he squealed in happiness, 'Thalaiviiii!!'
'Naan unga periya fan uh, unga anchoring enaku romba pudikum..',he listed on.
'Thank you nga..',she replied in a low voice and Arjun understood.

'Enna ipo en anna Vikram yenga poirukaanu theriyanumaa ungaluku?',he asked.
'Aama',he voice sounded good.
'Haannn...Ipoo varudhe sirippu..',he teased her and she chuckled.

'Avaru office ku dhan poirukaaru,aana ipodhaiku vara vaaipilla..', he said.
'Okayy..Thank you for the information..Byee byee',she hung up the call and stood up in her place.

'Paaa..Na veliya poitu vandharen pa..',she shouted.
'Enga chellam pora?Raathiri neram aayiduchu,mazhai vera varra maari iruku...',he said.
'Paa.. Vandhuruven pa seekram,please pa poitu vandharen',she ran and took her scooter without waiting for his reply.

'En sol pecha enniku nee ketruka..',Ramkumar sighed in disbelief.

On the way to Vikram's office,it started raining.
'Ayayoo mazhai peiyudhe..Appa appove sonnaaru..',she sighed and continued driving.Soon she reached his office and parked her scooter.She was completely drenched in rain.
'Enna idhu ivlo periya building uh oru security kooda illa..hnm...',she thought and walked in.

Vikram was alone in his cabin,lost in his thoughts.A sudden door knock made him jerk.His heartbeat stopped for a second hearing the door knock.He knew that he was the only person in the building then whom it might be the thought.

'Yaaru?',he asked.
'Kadhava thoranga...Kulirudhu..',she said shivering.
'Yaarunu sollunga..',Vikram asked again.
'Haiyoo thorangalenn..', she whined.
'Ada, yaarunu sollunga..', Vikram asked which made her to lose her control.

'Yovvv!!Thoraiya modhella..Kulirudhunguren yaaru moru ndra...',she shouted and he was taken aback.
'Yaaru da idhu nammalaye meratturadhu..',he thought opened the door.
'Heyyy...Nee enga inga?',he asked in surprise.

She didn't wait for his words and entered the cabin.She shivered more because of the air conditioner,she wrapped her arms around herself and her teeth were shaking,'Ayoo veliyave paravalla'
He immediately switched off the ac and came back with a towel.

'Indhaa..thovattiko illana cold pudichurun..',he said caringly.
She received the towel from him and made herself comfortable.
'Are you okay?',he asked.
'Yepdi okay aagum?Dress ellaam nenanju poche ',she said.

'Hmm..if you don't mind,en clothes iruku..',he hesitated.
'Deivame please! Kudunga kulir thaanga mudila..', she said and he nodded.

He came back with a pair of t-shirt an tracks.
'Idhenna unga office cabin ah illa veeda? Towel uh dress nu ellame vechurukeenga?',she asked receiving his clothes.
'Inga naan ipdi adikadi varuven,so en neraya things inga dha irukum..',he said.

'Ohh..Ellaam okay..Aama unga height enna?',she asked.
'Yen?',he asked.
'Ada unga height sollunga..',she asked again.
'5'11'
'En height 5'2 dhan,epdi naan ivlo periya pant poduven?',she showed his pants making him laugh so hard.

'Idhu veraya..Iru naan evra edhavadhu irukaanu paakuren..',he checked his wardrobe and found a three by forth track.
'Indhaa..',he threw it and she catched it.
'Yebhaa..Thank youuu',she said.

'Washroom anga right la iruku paaru..',he said .
'Thank you...',she left inside the washroom.

She came out after wearing his t shirt and track pants.She felt more comfortable in his large size tshirt.
'Is that comfortable for you?Naan adhigama use pannadhilla,pudhusu dhan idhu..',Vikram said.
'Adhellam paravalla,solla pona it is so comfortable for me..Nalla perusa iruku..',she said making him chuckle.

'Ayooo..', she held her stomach suddenly which frightened him.
'Heyy ennaachu ma?',he panicked.
She looked up at him and said,'Pasikudhu ma'
He laughed loudly,'Nee yeppavume ipdidhana?'

'Yepdi?',she asked.
'Chutti thanam panneete irupiya?',he asked laughing.
'Nalla illaya enna?',she asked making a thinking pose.
'Nee yepdi irukiyoo adhaan unaku azhagu,ipdiye iru', he said and she smiled.

'Seriii...Ippo enaku pasikudhe..',she whined.
'Hmm iru..'
He made a cup of coffee for both of them in a coffee maker.
'Paahh..peruku dhan office uh aana ellaame iruke..', she said finishing the coffee and he smiled.

'Aama ivlo periya building kuniru security koodava illa?Ipdi ivlo open ah vechurukeenga? Yaarum ulla vandhu thirudeetu poida maatanga?',Mithra asked.
'Iniku leave uh dhana,adhunaala security um leave uh,naan vandha naala open la iruku..',he replied.

'Enna nga ivlo assualt ah solreenga?Naan ulla vandha maari thirudan vandhurundhaa enna aayirukum?',she asked widening her eyes.
'Adhaan naan irukene',he said.

'Mmkumm,neenga room la ipdi lock panni ukaandhurundhaa thirudan varaana poraana nu epdi theriyum ungaluku?',she asked.
'Yemmaa yaarum vara maatanga ma,sensor process la work aagudhu..Ellaam safe dhan',Vikram said and she finally nodded in acceptance.

'Aama,indha mazhai la edhuku nee enna paaka vandha?Naan inga iruken u unaku yepdi theriyum?',he asked.
'Aama iniku interview release aayiruku,neenga paatheengala illayanu keka unga partner kitta number vaangi ungaluku call pannaa unga veetladhan sonnanga neenga office la irukeengannu sonnanga..Adhaan serinnu vandhuten',she casually replied.

'Enna ma ivlo assault ah solra?Un veetla onnum sollala?',he asked.
As he was asking,Mithra's mobile rang.

'Paa sollu pa',she answered the call.
'Chellam enga irukka?Mazhai vera ipdi peiyudhu,seekram vandhuruvenu sonna?',he asked.
'Paa naan inga safe ah dhan pa iruken..',she said.

Vikram was surprised by her answer,it was late night and she was with a man alone that too she met him only thrice.How does she beleive him this much?he wondered.

'Seri chellam,paathu mazhai ninna aprom kaalaila vaa..',Ram Kumar said.
'Serii pa,neeyum safe ah iru..Sapdu enna?',
'Seri chellam'

Soon the call ended.

Vikram was just looking at her and she noticed his gaze on her.
'Yen apdi paakureenga?',she asked.
'Illa nee oru rendu moonu time ena paathuruka,ivlo periya building la oru paiyan kooda late night la thaniya iruka unaku bayama illa?',he asked.

'Bayama?Yedhuku bayam?', she asked and he rolled his eyes.
'Onnum illa vidu'

She smiled at him,'Yennaa naan ungala namburen..',she simply replied.
'Yen?',he asked.
'Naan ivlo neram unga kooda irundhen..Unga kannulayum manasulayum enna harm panradhukaana endha oru ennamum illanu ennaala feel panna mudiyudhu..Adhunaala',she said and he wordlessly smiled.

'Yebhaa..',she sat down the floor and the power cuts.
'Ayoo current poche,inga generator lam edhum illaya?',she asked.
'Appo la irundhu generator la dhan ma odeetu irundhudhu,battery theendhurukum..',he said and started searching for the candles.

'Candle enga nu theduma konjam',he requested.
'Enna?',she asked as he doesn't hear him clearly.
'Candle!Candle! Candle!Candle!Candle',he started repeating making her sigh.

'Aiyaya..Yedhuku ithana dhadava?Anga dhan irukum..',she searched the candles with him.
Soon they founded some candles and he lit it.
'Ahnn..',she settled down on the floor.
'Inga vaanga inga vaanga!',she called him patting the ground.

'Keezhaya?',he asked.
'Aama yen?',she asked frowning
'Illa..Onnum illa..',he went and sat near her with a comfortable distance.
'Aama unga insta id enna?',she asked scrolling her mobile.

'Huh yedhuku?', he asked.
'Summa oru request kudukka dhan..',she said and he furrowed his eyebrows.
'Kashtam kashtam..Romba kashtam..',she murmered rolling her eyes.

'Aama neenga eppavume ipdi dhaanaa?',she asked.
'Yepdi?',he asked.
'Illa pesave maateengala enna?Oru kelvi kettaa rende vaarthai la dha badhil solreenga! Adhaan keten..',she said and he hummed with a smile.

'Idhukum hmm dhaana..',she sighed and opened her mobile gallery.
'Inga paarunga..Idho ivaru dhan en appa...Idhu Pugazh anna aniku kooda interview ku invite panna en kooda vandhaaru la...',she continued her non stop talks while he was admiring all the time.Her innocence yet beautiful face,her way of talking,the comfort zone she gave him,he has never seen a girl like her in his entire life.The vibe and feel she gave him was very new and he liked it.

'Hmmm romba bore adikudhe..Hey unga family photos irundhaa kaatunga..',she asked.
'Naan phone eduthutu varalaye..Hey oru pazhaya photo album iruku..Iru..',he stood up and searched his wardrobe to find the album.

Taking it in his hands,she gave it to him by settling near her,'Indhaa'
She eagerly opened the album and he introduced Lakshmi,Swathi and Arjun too her while she was listening to him like a little kid listening stories.

She turned the page and her eyes fell on the photo which had two men and a little boy.
'Indha kutty paiyan neenga dhana?Aama ivanga rendu perum yaaru?', she asked.
'Ivaru dhan en thatha',he pointed an old man and said.
'Engala paathikitadhu,valathadhu ellaame..Ennoda inspiration',he smiled.

'Appo idhu?',she asked pointing the near by man and he sighed before answering,En appa'
'Ennaachu?',she asked.

'Ellaarukum chinna vayasula kandippa avanga appa dhan oru hero va irupaaru..Apdidhan enakum..Enga family romba happy ah irundhuchu..Aana adhella konja naal dhaanu enaku therila..When I was fourteen,appa amma oda sanda potutu veliya poitaaru...En thatha enga ellaaraiyum paathukitaaru, enaku avaru mela appo vandha kovam dhan..

Arjun appo chinna paiyan,appa enganu avan kekura apolam amma edhavadhu solli samaalipaanga.. Appolam thonum wife, petha pasangala thaniya vittutu pora alavuku avaruku apdi enna kovamnu..Avaru mela romba kovam vandhuchu...

He chuckled sadly,'Nee ketiye yen naan adhigama yaartayum pesuradhilla nu..Avaru engala vittutu pona aprom naan school ku pora apoolam unga appa ungala vittutu poitaara? Ennaachu nu ketute irupaanga adhunaalaye naan ellaartayum pesuradha nirutheeten,adhu apdiye pazhagiruchu..',he gulped the lump that formed in his throat.

'En studies ellaathayu mudichutu naanum thatha oda business la join pannite..Appodhan therinjudhu avaroda vayasuku avaru evlo engalukaaga kashtapadraaru nu..Adhellam paakumbodhu enaku appa mela innum kovam adhigam aayiduchu..Konja naal la thatha ku odambu seri illama erandhutaaru..

Aniku thideernu enga irundho appa vandhaaru,naan thirundheeten nu sonnaaru..ellaarum thatha erandha kavalai la avara yethukiyanga, enaku 14 vayasu irukura apo ponavaru 24 vayasula dhan thirumba vandhaaru..Ennaala avara yethuka mudila..

Appa oru alcoholic,kidney failure aagi thatha erandhu oru varshathula avarum erandhutaaru..

Veetla irundha avara paakanumnu naan veetuke neraya poga maaten..Idhe cabin,ingeye dhan irupen.. Thaniya ukaandhutu,songs ketutu.. Avaru erandhum rendu varsham aachu,still ennaala avara yethukavo mannikavo mudila.. Ippo kooda amma ku naan interview la avaru peru sollalaye nu kovam..Adhaan kelambi vandhuten..Inga dhan varennulam sollala...Aana avangaluke theriyum..',he finished and looked at her who was keenly listening him.

'Yen edhuvum pesa maatra?',he asked and she smiled.
'Enaku en amma illa.. enaku 7 vayasu irukum,naanum amma vum school la irundhu vandhutu irundhom, enga veetuku poga road cross pannanum,naan vegama munnaadi odeeten,pinnadi vandhuta irundha amma va control illaadha lorry vandhu..',she teared up.

'Heyy..',he held her patted her shoulder.
'Amma engala vittutu ponadha ennaala yethukave mudiyala..Appa oru pakkam aluguraaru,naan oru pakkam enna nadakudhune puriyaama iruken..Aprom dhan konjam konjam ah purinjudhu..oru naal ellaarum poi dhan aaganumnu. appo onnu kathukiten..

Nammala oru vishayam kaayapaduthura appo kandippa hurt aagum,azhuvom,kashtapaduvom..Aana adha appove mudicharnum..Ennikum namma past namma present ah affect pannida koodadhu..Neenga unga past ah vittutu, present la unga kooda irukuravanga melayum,unga melayum concentrate pannunga...Vazhkaiya azhaga irukum..',she said and smiled at him.

He smiled along with her.He didn't know why he poured out his heart to her but he needed the vent out and her words.He wondered how matured she was.Eventhough she was happily roaming like a kid but she was matured by her heart.

They talked for a while.
'Ayoo enaku thookam varudhe...',she said yawning.
'Iru.. Pillow blanket..',before he could talk she lied down on his lap.Vikram's heart beat skipped for a second, but he didn't stop her.He smiled and within seconds she slept.

He brought his hand to caress his hair,but he didn't.He just had a content smile on his face and soon slept leaning on the wall.

The bright sun light wake up Vikram.He opened his eyes and found Mithra was gone already.He stood up and his eyes fell on the note that was on his table.
'Thanks for the coffee and hoodie :-)"

A smile crept across his lips reading the note and slowly he started falling for her.

TO BE CONTINUED...