He replied with a wink nearing her and it was the time for calling bell to scream loud making them giggle...

M : vanthutagha polanga...

K : ada cha... sariyana time la than iniki yellam nadakuthu...

M : nadakatum... nadakatum... apo than sariyana timela yellam nadakum...

K : nee ah de ithu....

M : nan eh than...

neenga kathava thirakareyala... illaa na pogava...

K : naan eh poren..

Kathir got up not before a peck on her lips with another wink and opened the door...

As expected, it was suji and sankar...

San : sorry da kathiru... ithuku mela late pana mudiyala...

K : paravala ne... late pana varai pothum...

M : chhh... mama... rendu perum anna thambi madhiriya pesikareya...

Suj : athan eh...

San : anna thambi ngranala than ipadi pesikarom... yena da kathiru...

K : athe than ne...

Suj : athu sari...

M : ka... avangala vidu... yellam kuduthutengala.. yellarum santhoshama vaangitangala....

Suj : romba de... nalla irunthuchu avanga santhoshapadaratha paaka... un saakula oru nalla vishayam panirukom...

M : idea unnodathu ache ka... nee pana madhiri than...

K : aama anni...nalla idea athu... ungaluku than thanks solanum...

San : thanks ah appuram sollu.. intha receipt... appuram micha kaasu...

K : anne.. yenathu micha kaasu yelam...

Suj : athelam vangikonga kathir... kaasu vishayathula correct ah irukanum... appo than relationship correct ah irukum... viyabaaram panrenga ungaluku theriyaatha...

Kathir got it without any further objection... Mullai was clueless about whats happening there...

M : yena kaasu.. yethuku mama ithu....

Suj : un aalu than kaasu kuduthaaru sweet karathuku yellam... theriyaatha unaku..

M : illaa ka...

San : un birthday ku panrathu yellame avan than pananumam... vera yaarum pana kudaatham...

K : anne na yeppo apadi sonen... chumma otathenga... sari yethana maniku kelambalam ne... oru rendu ok ah...

Her eyes were on kathir who skipped the particular discussion and moved on to next....

San : aama da.. sapitutu kelambina sari ah irukum....

Suj : sari ivalo neram neenga yena panenga....

Kathir and mullai looked at eachother startled...

K mindvoice : yena panom ah... athan onum panalaiye... aana yena anni ivalo open ah kekaranga...

M mindvoice : thappu thappa ve kekuthe yellam... intha akka nijama yena kekara...

San(giggling) : dei kathiru... ava samayal yena panenga nu than antha azhagula kekare.... udane shock aga venam...

K : anne... hehe... shock yelam onum illaa ne...

San : nambitten nambitten... sari yena mulla.. sema vasanai ah iruku... virunthu balama senjuruke polaiye...

M : ada romba yellam ila mama... yepavum pola than...

Suj : athelam perusu than... athum yelame kathir ku pidichatham... kalaila yelunthu vanthathume plan panitu than adutha velai paatha...

San : super...

M : sari fresh up agitu vaanga mama... sapidalam...

They got freshed up and sat for lunch...

M : na serve panren.. neenga moonu perum sapidunga...

San : ei mulla... yena pathu per ah irukom...naalu per than eh.. namma potukalam... neeyum ukaru...

M : illaa mama.. neenga sapidunga..

K : sapitute kuda venungaratha paathu paathu parimaaralam... ukaru...

Suj : apadi solunga kathir.... ukaru de...

As they started serving and began to eat,

K to M : oi... anniki na enna gavanikala nu sonathuku ipo saapidama gavanikanum nu illaa... guest ah than gavanipanga.. veetukarangala illa.. athu anniki puriyaka... iniki purinjuduchu.. sapidu...

M : hmmm... saringa...

Mullai loved the way he got why she wanted to serve and how he refused the same accepting whole heartedly what she said that day...
Off course, these small gestures are making her fall for him more than the huge surprises... She grinned at him and started eating not before filling his plate with love...

On the other hand, Kathir was moved with her gestures too... It was nearly twenty days since he had prattled about his childish concerns on that particular diwali day... Still she remembers and tries to make it out for the day...

She had been pestering him to come for a proper meal right from that day so that she could prepare him a treat but he always ended up in visiting her in odd meal times when his work permitted... But somehow she compensated it today... It might look like a simple thing but for a person like kathir it meant a lot...

He could see her eyes were scanning him eat, trying to get how he likes it, filling the plate once it gets empty and in short her full attention was on him...

What else he need more...

It felt serene...

He thanked his stars for not going out and missing this food full of love...

San : kathiru...

K : anne...

San : kalyanam mudinju konjam free aanathum inga vanthu oru moonu, naalu naal thanganum... sari ah...

Suj : aama kalyana virunthu ku... ipove invite panitom... kandipa vanthudanum... appuram yetha saaku sola kudathu..

Kathir and mullai looked at eachother with a smile...

K : kandipa ne...

San : adiye.. appavum mullai ah samaika sollathe... nee samachu pazhagu...

Suj : hmmmkmmm... inike na seiyaren nu than sonen... ava than kathir ku ava kaila seiyanum nu sonna.. illana nan eh super ah senjurupen....

Kathir looked at mullai fondly...

San : yaaru nee... athu sari... kaalaila senjatha than paathene...

Suj : athellam nalla than irunthuchu...

San : atha naanga solanum...

Suj : ipadiye pesitu irunga.. naalaiki thirumba inga varave maaten.. anga en amma veetulaiye irunthuduven...

M : aiyo... pothum unga sandai... akka kaalaila samayal super..pothuma.. mama kedakararu vidu...

Suj : apadi sollu de...

M : aama nethe kekanum nu irunthen... diwali ku vanthapo thirumba kalyanathuku than eh ooruku varuve nu sonne.. ipo yena thidirnu visit... athum 20 days la...

Suj : yethu 20 days kammi ah unaku... yen de enakelam amma appa paakanum nu irukaatha... 20 days than eh nu solre... unna yelam maasa kanakula amma veetuku anupaama irukanum... appo theriyum...

M : ada 20 days than eh achu nu ketten ka..

Suj : kathir... intha varthai ah note pani vechukonga.. kalyanathuku appuram amma paakanum appa paakanum nu sonna vidathenga... soliten...

Kathir smiled at their banters...

San : athuku mullai ku kathir ah vitu poganum nu thonanum..
Thonina paakalam.. yena da kathiru...

Suj : yaaru iva than eh.. kalyana naal ah nenachu ipove ore azhugai... appa amma ah vitu irukanum nu... neenga vera...

Kathir's eyes screwed up mullai hearing to it and pretended as if he didnt hear any...

M : ore oru kelvi than ketten... yethuku vara nu... athuku vita enaku kalyaanathula ishtame illaa, ithu kataaya kalyanam nu soliduve pola...

K(with a concealed smile) : ipo puriyutha pesara oru oru varthai kum mallu katinna yepadi irukum nu...

M : neenga pesaama sapidunga...

K : oknga madam...

Sankar started coughing with hearty laugh making him choke...

Suj : mama.. thani kudinga.. porai eruthu...

He returned back to normal after drinking water and couple of strokes in his back...

M : yethuku mama ipadi oru siripu sapidum bothu...

San : ilaa kathiru munnadi elam yepadi irunthan, ipo yepadi irukan nu nenachu sirichen... ivan kita pesave neraya per bayanthupanga... ipo yena da na unna paathu ivan bayapadaran....

K : yena ne panrathu.. nilamai apadi iruku...

San : poga poga inum nilamai kavalaikidamagum...

K : athuku than ne manasa thidapaduthikitu iruken..

Seeing mullai frown,

K to M : enna appuram vechukalam.. sapidu...

M : hmmmkmmm....

With their usual chit chats and bants, they finished their lunch and started to get ready...

Kathir entered the room just to see mullai packing things...

K : Oi...

M : hmm...

K : ennodathu na vechuka mattena...

M : yen na pana kudatha...

K : panu...

He fell on the bed lazily dazing at her...

M : yenanga apadi paakareya...

K : paaka than eh seiyaren... athu kuda kudatha..

M : paarunga paarunga...

K : paakaren paakaren...

Complete silence reigned in the room...

Kathir was looking at her without moving his eyes ..

K : Oi...

M : hmmm...

K : saapadu romba nalla irunthuchu... super ah samaikara...

M : nijama pidichuthaanga..

K : romba romba... samayal pidichuthu... samaikanum nu nenachu pidichuthu... atha paathu paathu parimaarinathu pidichuthu...

Appuram...

M : Appuram....

K : ithelam panavangalaiyum pidichuthu...

Before realising his tug on her hand, she was in his arms...

M : yenga kathavu..

She moved to see the door which was already closed...

K : kathava close panitu than vanthen...

M : kedi...

K : inum oru anju nimisham than eh.. appuram kelambanum.. athan...

M : hmmm... two hours than... ooruku poiduvom... namma naal mudinjuthu ilaa...

K : hmmm.. paravala... atha mama kuda enjoy panu...

M(with a pout) : enaku avanga kudavum irukanum... unga kudavum irukanum...

K : sari night veetuku varavaa...

M : sevuru yeri kuthicha...

K : ok ah illaya... atha sollu...

M : venam nu soluvena... vaanga...

K : appo sari... night kandipa varen....

M : neenga varatha nanum paakaren...

K : paaru...

M : yenga... onnu kekatta....

K : kelunga madam...

M : yethuku ipadi kaasu selavu panreya... enaku romba kashtama iruku... veetula therinja yena nenaipagha... thidirnu enakaga ivalo selavu pana...

K : yena selavu panren...

M : mudhala college fees, appuram athana dress, ipo birthday ku selvavu, ring, intha orphanage ku kuduthathu... konjam kammi panikalam illa...

K : appuram honeymoon ku pay panatha vituta... athum selavu than eh...

M : kochukaatheya...pls... thevai illama selavu panreyale nu sonen....

K : cha kovam yelam illaa... ne solrathu correct tham eh... thevai illaama inime ipadi panala... sari ah....

His voice was totally different and she couldnt guess what is he thinking... But words came out as a reflex action....

M : illanga athu...

K : appuram honeymoon ku yena panrathu.. pogaama irunthudalama... illaa vena mama ah katta vendiya micha panatha katta soluvoma...

Ilaa college fees ku kudutha panam vechuruken nu soniye.. atha use panipoma...

M : yenga.. neenga yetho kovama pesareya...

K : cha cha... illa de.. enaku yena kovam... honeymoon ku agara selava na renda divide panidaren... un share ah mama kita vangi kuduthudu... sari ah... na yethuku thevai illama unaku selavu panitu...

M : sorry nga...

By now, she got his tone completely and tried to cajole him with kisses and hugs but he pulled him off from her and got up from the bed....

M : yenga...

K : chh...vidu.. thodathe.. nanum paakaren.. nethula irunthu thevai illaa thevai illa nu solite than eh iruke...

M : illanga....athu... enaku kashtama...

K : aama na yetha pana unaku kashtama than irukum... santhoshama irukaathu... ivan yethuku namaku pananum nu thonum... apadi than eh...

M : chhh... aiyo illanga... thidirnu ivalo selavu pana veetula yetha soluvangalo nu thonichu...

K : athuku yerkanave bathil soliten... athu en velaiki vaangara sambalam... en kaasu... atha yepadi vena na selavu panuven... enaku therinju ithana varushathula na oru ruba kuda anaavishayama selavu panathu ilaa... yen avasiyama kuda panathu illa... ipo than en thevai ku nan panren... ithuku yarum ena kelvi kekka mattanga... kekkavum mudiyaathu...

M : pls kovapadatheya... inime ipadi thevai illa nu yellam sola matten... sorry...

K : ithan kadaisi... en kaasu en pondatti na selavu panuven.. ne pesaaama irunthu than aganum... mudiyaathuna...

M : mudiyaathuna...

K : mudiyaathuna yaaru mudiyum nu solrangalo avangala kalyanam panikaren...

The naughty kathir was back making her smile and scowl at the sametime...

K : yenna solre...

M : ungaluku romba thimir nu solren...

K : athu therinjathu than eh...

M : kovam illaya...

K : kovam vanthuchu.. aana kovatha vida kashtama iruku.. ne ipadi yelam pesina...

Sari nalaiki ne padichu mudichutu velai ku poi sambalam vaangina enaku yethum pana maatiya...

M : kandipa panuven...

K : apadi than eh ithum... na kashtapatu sambaathikaren... unaku panren... itha perusu panathe.. pls... inoru thadavai ipadi pesina nijama ne enna oru moonavathu manushana paakare nu artham...

M : inime illanga.. kandipa maatten... sor...

K : sorry venam...

M : appuram...

He gestured his hands wide open welcoming her for a hug...

K : konjam strong ah vera yetha venum...

By then, there was a knock at the door followed by sankar's call...

San : kathiru..

K (loudly) : varen ne...

To M : ingaye iru varen...

As he opened the door,

San : polama da.. neram achu illa.. ippo kelambina than oru naalu mani pola poga mudiyum...

K : anju nimisham ne.. polam..

M : polam mama...

Mullai came out with a naughty smile...

K mindvoice : adi paavi... athukula veliya vanthuta... pocha...

Suji too joined them...

Suj : polama...

M : polam ka... polamaanga...

She asked him with a wicked smile...

K mindvoice : mavale...

K : athu en bag...

M : tho eduthuten... inthanga unga mobile... room la check paniten... ungaluthu vera yethum illaa...

K (in a irritated tone) : romba thanks madam...

M : welcome sir...

Without any option, kathir moved out... Mullai got into kathir's car while the other two in separate car and departed to kunnakudi...

M : yenanga pesama vareya...

K : .....

M : pesa mateyala...

K : .....

M : Oi...

K(smirking) : yethu.. Oi ah....

M : yenga.. ipo Oi ah nu kekka kudathu... hmmm nu solanum... ithu kudava theriyaathu...

K : Elam neram de.. room la ye iru na venum ne veliya vanthutu nakkal ah panre...

M : time achu illaa... yena panrathu... kelambanume...

K : ne onum time agiduchu nu vantha madhiri enaku theriyala... venum nu than eh vanthe...

M : aama...

K : theriyum de unna pathi...

M : aama nethula irunthu yethana thadavai soniya vera yaaravathu kattikaren nu... ivugha soluvaaghalam... athaiyum ketutu nanga mattum ivughaluku strong yetha kudukanuma... mudiyaathu...

K : mudiyaathu...

M : mudiyaave mudiyathu...

K : romba santhosham...

M : intha varthaikaagave onum thara kudaathu ungaluku...

K : athaiyum paapom...

M : paapom... paapom...

The two hour journey seemed to be running fast...

Time melted like mist in the presence of sun just like she melted in his nearness...

He looked so normal with his chats and looks but she started missing him already as they were near to the place he would drop her to the other car...

She tried to think about her parents who were waiting for her arrival and made up her mind somehow...

Still her yearnings were obvious in her dull face, her teary eyes, her fidgeting fingers, exhausted body language and low voice...

K : Oi...

M : hmmm...

K : sirichutu than poganum... ipadi moonji ah thooki vechutu pona enaku kashtama irukum illa...

M : yenamo kashtama irukunga... paathilaiye mudiyara madhiri...

K : athu na ketathu kudukala illa.. athan... nalla anubhavi...

M : neenga irukeyale...

K : nijama athan de... ipovum onnum kettu pogala... na than night varren illaa... appo kudu ok ah... yellam sari agidum...

M : ungala thirutha mudiyaathu... feeling ah pesitu iruken...comedy panikitu...

K : comedy pana sirikanu....ne yenga sirikare...

M : unga joke aapdi iruku...

K : sari po... poi atha mama kuda nalla time spend panu... happy ah iru sari ah...

Her words stuck in her throat...
Before she could speak anything, he stopped the car as the other car was waiting for them...

K : vaa.. polam...

M : hmmm...

He placed his arm around her shoulders gripping tight...

K : i love you...

She smiled contentedly with all love as if it completed everything...

K : erangu... wait panranga...

M : hmmm...

She got into the other car along with suji and sankar bidding good bye to kathir with tear pricking eyes...
Suji and sankar pretended as if they didnt know it and dropped her home as per the plan...

Mullai didnt know what they spoke with her parents and just nodded her head for everything...

Slowly after suji and sankar left, she came back to normal with her parents nearness..

Mu : ammadi.. asathiya iruka.. illa kovil ku polaama ma...

M : nalla iruken pa... polam...
Na poi ready agitu varen...

P : antha kanchipurathula edutha pattu chudithar potuko de.. yeduthu vechuruken paaru...

M : sari ma... pathu nimisham....

Mullai got ready in ten minutes in her mom's selection and they left to temple after parvathi made her eat quite a heavy snack she prepared...
As they finished the special pooja and archanai that was arranged for her birthday, they settled in the temple steps which is their usual habit...

After few casual talks,

M : maaa.. ithan ma avugha vaangi kuduthathu... paa paarunga...

P : romba azhaga iruku de...

Mu : aama ma... amsama iruku.. un kai ku romba nalla iruku...

M : aama pa... enakum romba pidichuruku...

P : alavu kuda sari ah iruku paaru... yepadi de vangirupaaru..

M : theriyala ma.. enake ipo ne soli than thonuthu... yepadi sari ah iruku nu...

P : athu sari... nalla aalu ne....

Mu : yen parvathi adutha varusham pulla anga than pirantha naal kondaadum illaa...

P : hmmm aamanga... aana..

M (hastilly) : athelam inga vanthuduven pa... avughalaiyum kootitu... en poranthanaal ungakuda than...

Mu(giggling) : nalla pulla me.. rendume un kudumbam nu nenaikanum...sari ah...

M : sari pa...

P : adiye.. pirantha naal ku varathu yelam aduthathu... adutha varusham ineram prasavathuku varanum... niyabagam vechuko...

M (shocked) : yethu...
Maa.. enaku kalyaname december la than.. adutha November 26 la prasavama...

P : yen de.. naduvula 11 maasam iruku ila ..

M : velaiyaadariya ne... na ipo than MBA apply paniruken... athu vera iruku... yellam oru moonu varusham pogatum... nee chumma aasaiya valathukathe...

Mu : ammadi... neenga pesitu irunga.. na poi yetha prasaadham sapida vangitu varen...

Murugan left the place glancing at parvathi...

M : paaru... ne pesinathu pidikaama appa elunthu poitaaru..

P : pidikaama pogala.. intha loose pullaiku puriyara madhiri sollu nu poitaaru...

M : maaa...

P : pinna.. padipukum kolainthaikum yena de samantham... yen velai ku poikite pulla pethukarathu illaya... athu madhiri than ithuvum... athum ne colege kuda poga porathu illa... thabaal la than eh padikare... appuram yena.. yelam manasuruntha mudiyum...

Engalukum aasai irukum illa...
Nee anga ponathuku appuram engaluku kashtama irukaatha... athuku than eh kekarom....

M : aanalum ithu romba over ma...

P : yethum over illa.. yelam sari than... ne yosi... moonu varusham naalu varusham nu yerichal mootathe...

M : atha sonathu un mapillai...

Mullai bit her lips instantly...

M mindvoice : aiyayo olarathe mullaa.. amma ithelama pesuvanga nu nenachuka poguthu...

P : mapillai ah sonnaru...

M : atha vidu ma...
athelam appuram paakalam... ne vera yetha pesu..

P : pecha maathathe... mapilla venam na ne than sari kattanum...

M : aiyo amma.. viden.. paathukalam... athuku inum naal iruku...

P : inum 16 naal than iruku...

M mindvoice : ithena amma ivalo fast ah iruku... muruga intha pechula irunthu ena kaapathu...

To her luck, Murugan returned back, they had some family time together and left home after a while...

Back home...
She wanted to do her alltime most favourite thing...
She lied down on her mom's lap with legs on her dad and started teasing and pulling her mom's legs along with her dad...
A second dosage of mom's savories were fast filing her stomach...
Her mom caressing her hair while murugan was busy in pressing her foot..

Mullai was falling to heaven literally and was fizzled out by a calling bell...

P : podi.. poi kathava thora...

Parvathi adjusted her slightly dishelved hair...

M : maaaa.. ne po...

P : po de.. sapitathu serikanum ilaa....

M : chh..... poren ma...

And...

Ka : Happy birthday anni...

M : kanna...

Her eyes popped out...
Nope it was not only him...
His entire family...
Haan...
Her entire family...

Her eyes searched for the one who gave this family to her...

There he was with his little smile and a naughty wink....

TBC....