Author's Note :

Hi sweeties...

First of all, Sorry if the part is too slow, draggy, sentimental or boring... We are nearly reaching the end of the story with just few more tracks so after this inum romba cheesy and positive ah than pogum... It might even look like fillers... But thats PMN for you...
Again Its a narration and not story...
Just a reminder..😉😉😉😉

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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....

After a moment of shock, mullai withdrew herself from her trance and welcomed them...
By the same time, murugan and parvathi came out receiving the family inside...

As they got settled inside, everyone including the kids wished for her special day...

P : ei mulla... pentha pentha muzhichikitu nikkaama poi athaachi kita aseervaatham vaangu... unnakaga vanthurukanga illaa..

M : sari ma...

Mullai moved near lakshmi with a happy and satisfied smile...
Apart from all other things, lakshmi with such a health condition turning up for just a simple reason like birthday seemed to be a very sweet gesture...

M : atha...

L : vaa ma... pirantha naal vazhthukal...

M : thanks atha...

She got her blessings touching her feet and lakshmi blessed her happilly caressing her cheeks....

L : nalla irukanum... ipadi ukaru vaa...

M : paravala atha...

She kneeled down near lakshmi just to have some MIL-DIL time...

L : kovil ku poitu vanthutiya mulla...

M : achu atha... amma appa kovil la poojai ku kuduthurunthanga.. poitu ipo than vanthom....

L : sari ma... intha dress romba nalla iruku unaku... azhaga iruke...

M : thanks atha... neenga vanthathu enaku romba santhosham... enaku theriyaathu ipadi oru plan iruku nu...

L(with a smile) : chumma unna paakanum pola irunthuchu.. nenechute irunthen varanum nu... un porantha naal sari ah vanthuduchu... vanthuten...

athenamo unaku theriyaa kudaathu nu sonanga.. athan na kalaila pesum bothum onum solikala...

M (beaming): thanks atha...

L : athu sari... ennakellam thanks ah...

Dhanam... antha pai la poo veche ilaaa...eduthu mullaku vechi vidu...

D : saringa atha...

When dhanam was helping mullai with flowers, there was a voice again...

MULLA....

Topping up her surprise, there was suji, sankar, kasthuri, jega and akash over the doorstep...

M : akka, athachi.... neengaluma...

Kas : yen de un puguntha veetu aalunga vantha pothuma... naanga vara venama...

Suj : athana.... vita yen vanthenga nu kepa polaiye

M : santhoshama ketta arambikaathenga rendu perum...

Kas : hmmmkmmm... sari vidu... happy birthday de...

M : thanks athachi...

She received wishes from jega and kisses from akash who sat with kathir, moorthy, jeeva and sankar.....

Kas : iru na athaiku othasai panitu varen...

M : sari athachi...

So mullai got now why did suji and sankar came all of a sudden to kunnakudi that too in a weekday...

As kasthuri left, mullai started her questionaire with suji...

M : akka... neeyum mamavum ithuku than vanthengala... amma ah paakanum nu poi than eh sonne...

Suj : aama.... ne thidirnu keppe nu enaku yepadi theriyum... athan adichu viten...

M : athu sari... aama yaaru vara sona...

Suj : yaaru solirupa nu kuda theriyalaiya...

M : avughala....

Suj : hmmm....

M : yepo sonagha... enkita yen yethume solave illaa...

Suj : loose uh... surprise ah unaku surprise panrom nu solitu than panuvanga paaru...

Appuram inum oru surprise iruku...

M : inum yena...

Suj : iru iru...

By now, parvathi and kasthuri called mullai to give
refreshments for everyone...

As she took the tray of juice tumblers and moved on to serve everyone, kathir was reminded of the bride look day...

The same kind of atmosphere...
The same people around...
Surprisingly he was sitting in the same place he sat that day...
The same kathir...
The same mullai...

Just a change...

The attraction or admiration or some deep interest or whatever it was in their eyes on that day has changed to love in less than two months...

As she came near to give him the juice, the flowers fell in front just like that day making him mesmarizingly feel that day...

K : Oi...

M : hmmm...

Her eyes rolled to others who were busily chatting....

K : saapida vera yethum illaya...

His voice was completely dipped with naughtiness and smitten with love...

It was not only kathir who was living that moment...
Even mullai remembered each and every word that he spoke that day...

M : neenga intha juice ah ye sapidunga pothum...

K : pothuma...

M : hmmm pothum...

Ipothaiku...

They both shared a private moment transporting them back to their special day....

Mullai sat with dhanam and meena for some little talk joined by kanna....

D : yena mulla bayangara surprise ah... yethir paakave illa than eh...

M : suthama illa ka... nenachu kuda paakala neenga yellarum varuveya nu... romba santhoshama iruku....

Me : irukanume... athuku than eh ithelam panrom....

Ka : aama anni... intha planning yelam yaaru nu solunga paapom...

Somehow she had a intuition that it was not completely planned by kathir though suji said they were called by kathir... She didnt want to disappoint the one who cheerfully questioned her.... Off course, She thought more chances of kanna planning this...

M : nee than ah...

Ka : correct... yenga kathir anne nu soliduvengalo nu bayanthuten... naanu than full plan... dhanam anni , meena anni than help uh...

M : romba thanks da kanna... thanks ka...

Ka : thanks yellam venam... cake cut paninathuku appuram enaku than yellaraiyum vida periya piece kudukanum...

Me : dei... olaru vaai... unna vechutu oru kolai kuda panna mudiyaathu...

D : athan eh ipo ava cake vetaroma illaya nu ketaala...

Ka : aiyayo... cake cutting pathi solitana... mulla anni...atha maranthudunga neenga...

M(laughing) : sari vidu maranthuten...

Chorus : birthday babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy....

That was her favorite chorus anytime by her favorite bunch of people...

She was hugged by all four next second and in no time mullai's eyes turned moist...

Not only mullai, all four were a bit emotional...
As in every girl's life, they had started getting a feel that their friendship has taken a different turn post college days...
In their gang of five with mullai and swarna getting married, karthiga joining higher studies, devi going for job and Tamil expecting to get engaged anytime to her cousin, they had taken different paths leading to different destination...

They starting getting a feel if they would be in touch or not...
If they would maintain their friendship forever or will it fade over years...
If they could atleast meet some day and have a time for themselves...

They wished they could be together forever...
Practically it might not be possible...
Even the last birthday they celebrated in hostel was a emotional one for everyone thinking they wont be together for next...

M : ei neenga...

She stammered for words so did the others for sometime...
They just moved away from the room where everyone were seated not to be heard by anyone....

Kar : cake sapida vanthutom....

Swa : vera yethukum illaa...

They all tried to smile...

M : thirumba oru birthday namma yelarum senthu nenachu kuda paakaala de...

Her eyes gleamed with thanks for kathir as she was sure it would be him who made them come and instantly all teared up again...

Ta : last ah devi birthday ku onna irunthom hostel la... ipadi than azhuthom ini onna iruka mattom nu... aana thirumba onnagitom... namma than over ah react panrom pola...

Kar : aama de... intha madhiri than yepavum irupom... cha loose madhiri azhuthitu irukom vera...

Swar : yenamo azhugai varuthu de...

De : enakum...

They cried like kids for no reason..
They didnt know if its happiness of being together or pain that they might miss eachother...

They had a strong feel they would go apart as life moves...
They were worried about the future..

They understood even friendship can give equal happiness and pain just like love...
They could feel it...

But now here they are...
They are together...
It is the present...

Somehow they made the mind to enjoy the moment with tears rolling, they tried to comeback to normal with their witty remarks...

De : mullai um swarnavum yepadi yum touch la irupanga... nanum kalyanam panikitu ithe kunnakudi than... athe madhiri neenga rendu perum irukanum...avalo than simple..ithuku poi scene potutu irukom...

Everyone agreed for what she said and tried to make the sitch lighter....

Kar : enaku oru super idea de...

Chorus : yena...

Kar : de devi... pesama swarna senthil annana correct pana madhiri namma rendu perum kathir anna oda matha rendu friends ah correct paniduvom....

kandipa pasanga touch la irupanga... apadiye namma anju perum irukaalam... yepadi idea...

Chorus : semmaaaaaaaa....

De : enaku ok... unaku yaaru nu solu...

Kar : hmmmm... na surya ah vechukaren... ne rajesh ah vechuko...

Ta : adi paavigala.. appo kattikka illaya... vechuka than ah...

Chorus : ohhhhhhhhhhh.....

Swa : adiye.. ithellam avangaluku therinja yena agum... namala pathi yena nenaipanga.... romba nalla pasanga vera... konjam pazham gang madhiri than...

M : nalla pasanga...pazham gang ah... nee than mechikanum... iniki than avanga group chat ah padichen.. yepadi theriyuma irunthuchu... yelame double meaning... namala apadi otaragha.... paathi puriyala... athuve ennala padikka mudiyala.. mobile ah kuduthuten...

Kar : yen de loose.. antha chat ah anna ku theriyaama unaku anupichuruka vendiyathu than eh... namma padichurukalam.... nalla scene ah miss panitu vanthuruke...

Ta : athan eh...

M : aama de.. yerkanave neenga antha shed romance nu avugha munnadi olarinatha nenachu enaku bakknu bakknu iruku.. yepa kepaghalo nu... yetho porantha naal nu viturukagha pola...

Ipo ithaiyum anupi athu therinju poi na maatava...

De : unaku kathu kuduka than eh de sonom... engaluku enna vanthuchu...

M : pothum pothum... na avugha kitaye kathukaren...

Chorus : ohhhhhhhhhhhh....

Ka : annis... may i come in...

Kar (low voice) : annis ah... namma correct panatha pathi pesinathu ivanuku yepadi theriyum...

M (low voice again) : chumma iru de... avan pothuva solran...

Yena da kanna... annis ngra...

Ka : thappa eduthukathenga anni... na ungalaiyum, swarna anniyum sonnen... senthil anne enaku anna madhiri than...

Swa (smiling) : ne yepavume sweet kanna..

Ka : aama aama...yenna... enga veetula than athu yaarukum puriyaathu...

Everyone laughed at his reaction...

Ka : sari swarna anni neenga vaanga.. amma ungala paakanum nu sonanga... kathir anne engagement la paathathu niyabagam illaayam... anne unga engagement photo kamicharu.. aanalum ammaku nerla paakanumam...

They came back to the living room again... Knowing senthil since childhood, they wanted to get to know about swarna too...

The ladies spoke with swarna for sometime about her engagement, marriage and senthil...

D : senthil romba nalla paiyan... nalla pesuvan swarna... kathir madhiri illaa... intha kathir than...

She paused and called kathir...

D : kathiru inga vaaa...

K : yena anni...

D : yen da vanthu ivalo neram achu... mullai ku wish paniya da..

The girls , suji, mullai and kathir tried hard to control their laughter keeping a straight face...

K : athu... kaalailaiye paniten anni...

Kar (low voice) : kaalailaya pannaru... solatuma de mulla... yeppo panaaru nu...

Swar : pode loose.. yepa panaru ngratha mukkiyam... yepadi paanaru nu sollu... athan mukkiyam...

M : vaaaya moodunga de please...

Me : yen kathir.. phone la wish panrathum, nerla wish panrathum onna... vantha udane wish pana venama... naangalum than kaalaila wish panom... aanalum vanthathum yelarum panom illa..
Athu yepadi anna, thambi elame ipadi makka irukenga...

She didnt fail to punch jeeva though she was speaking with kathir...

J : adiye... ennai ah sonne...

Me : santhegame venam... unnaiya than sonnen...

J : ok you continue....

Me : thanks....

Swar (low voice) : anne yentha vishayathula de makku... romance laya... apadi theriyalaiye...

M : yen de... chumma than irungalen...

K : athu...

D : yena da athu ithu nu... wish panu mudhala...

Ta (low voice) : mulla enaku ivangala paatha romba parithaabama iruku de...

De : enakum de... pesama unmaiya soliduvoma...

Kar : yethuku avangaluku heart attack varava...

M : athan eh.. pesama irunga de konjam neram...enaku siripum varuthu... romba kashtamavum iruku...

Swar : adiye nallavale...ithelam trichy trip plan panum bothu irunthurukanum... illaa nethula irunthu romance panrathuku munnadi irunthurukanum...

Ta : athan eh... panrathelam panitu ipo feeling vera...

M : aiyo vidunga de.. inime feel panala..

De : apadi vaa vazhiki...

D : yena neenga yetho kusu kusu nu pesite irukenga...

Kar : athu... onum illaa ka.. ipo than enga kita mulla feel panitu iruntha anna wish eh panala nu....athan neenga correct ah kandupidichutengale nu pesitu irunthom...

Again a expressionless face by everyone seeing dhanam who was feeling proud of herself...

D : enaku theriyatha ma... enakum antha aasai elam irunthuruke... mama vum kathir madhiri than... athan sonen...

Kar (low voice) : acho ivanga nijamave paavam than de...

Chorus : hmmmmmmmmmm....

D : kathiru...

K : tho panidaren anni...

He turned to mulla with his default blank face and eyes glistening with mischief...

K To M : Sorry wish panama irunthathuku...

Mullai bit her lips to control her laugh and lifted her face to see him just to know his eyes were on her lips... She composed herself and replied with a smile...

M : paravalainga...

Chorus : ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh......

K : appuram happy birthday...

M : thanks nga...

He brought his hand for hand shake and kneaded it in the act of shooking...

Chorus : ohhhhhhhhhhh......

D : yena achu....

Kar : chumma ka.. background music pottom...

De : anne hand shake kuduthacha...

Ta : anne wish paniyacha...

K (with a smile) : oh yellam achu ma...

pothuma anni... wish paniten...

D : yena da aalu ne... soli soli yellam than panuviya...

K (naughtily) : enaka yethum pana theriyalaiye anni... yena panrathu...

M mindvoice : ithana per munnadi kuda ipadi than pesanuma.. aala paaru...

Chorus : apadiiiiiiiiiiii....

Mullai dropped her face unable to hold on for long...

D : sonaalum than panrathu illaye...

Mulla... nethe ivan kita unna kaalailaiye vanthu paathutu vara sonen... aana ivan friends kuda oor sutha karaikudi poitan...

Athena meena athu...

Me : senthiloda bachelor party...

Swarna choked with laughter...

M : chumma iren de...

Ka : enaku oru santhegam...

K mindvoice : ivan yena pana poran nu theriyalaiye...

Me : yena da santhegam unaku...

Ka : kalyanathuku than eh bachelor party tharanum... yethuku engagement ku bachelor party...

K : ufff... nalla velai intha santhegam nethu varala...

Ka : yena ne..

K : onum illa da...

Ka : yenamo sari illaa...

Me : hmmmkmmm unga annanunga yeppo sari ah irunthurukanga... ippo iruka...

Mulla paathuko.. ipadi than irupanga... namma than adjust panikanum...

Suji : athelam ava siripaa adjust panipa ma... neenga yaarum kavalai padathenga... yena de mulla....

M : yen ka.... neeyum ah...

aama aama ka.... panikaren....

K to M : pannithan agaanum... vera vazhi ilaa..

Chorus : ohhhhhhhhhhhh.....

Kar : aana ithula paarunga de.. senthil anne yelam bachelor party yellam kuduthurukaaru... intha swarna than namaku yethume tharala....

Chorus : aama... aama....

Swa (wickedly) : athan namma college ku certificate vaanga poitame de... athan tharala... adutha thadavai kandipa party than....

Chorus : ohhhhhhhhh okkkkkkkk....

Ka : yenamo sari illaa.. neenga pesarathu... yengayo idikara madhiri iruku...

K : idicha thalli nillu...

Ka : adada nagaichuvai... sari pesite irukengale... poi cake vetuvoma...

Me : kadavule.. vita poi mulla ah ve cake eduthutu vara soluvan pola... ivanum ivan surprise um....

Ka : hehehe... oru aarvam than anni... irunga cake eduthutu varen...

Kanna went out to the car and came back with a big cake box while others arranged a table for it and placed the cake on it assembling everyone around......

L : vaa ma vanthu vettu.... muruga.. parvathi... neengalum vaanga...

Mullai stood with her parents and her family at one side and lakshmi , kanna and ps family at the other side...

The chorus gang took the privilege of capturing the moment while kathir stood a little away from her just witnessing her happiness...

Mullai's face beamed with a grin seeing the name on the cake.... It clearly said it was not her kathir who planned for this cake....

It was written as

HAPPY BIRTHDAY K.MULLAI...

Reminding the cake she cut in the midnight which had the words...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY M.MULLAI...

Yes...
Though everything was done by him , he wrote the name as she liked always...
He didnt skip the initial nor add his...
Another sweet gesture from him...

She looked at kathir with a fond smile which was noticed by kanna...

Ka : yena anni.. pidichuruka peru... sirikarenga...

M : hmmm nallaaruku kanna...

Ka : en velai ache... sari vetunga...

They sang the birthday song, cut the cake off course after blowing candles and started feeding the cake to everyone...

First of all, her hands went to murugan and parvathi without her knowledge as she really missed them the whole day and deep within emotional about the next birthday...
Then her eyes shifted to kathir for a nanosecond who nodded as no and gestured at their family...
Mullai got the hint right and fed lakshmi, kanna, kutties, dhanam, meena, kasthuri, suji, her friends and also gave to moorthy, jega, sankar and jeeva finally to kathir with a smile...

D : yena mulla ithu.. kathir ku tha eh mudhala kuduthurukanum...

K : ithula yena anni iruku... yeppo kudutha enna...

San : athan eh....yethana thadavai kudutha enna...

Chorus : ohhhhhhhhh.....

Kas : yena da olarare ne...

San : athu yethanavatha kudutha yena nu solla vanthen...

Suj : mama... pesama irunga...

vidunga athachi avaru kedakararu... neenga sapidunga...

As they had a mini snacky time with cake and savories prepared by parvathi, finished taking pictures and came to a pause for teasing eachother, Lakshmi called mullai and handed over a cover...

L : intha mulla... itha vechuko.. unaku pidichatha yetha vaangikko...

M : thanks atha...

Kas : paravalaiye... amma yena than suthi ragalai nadanthalum neenga correct ah kudukarenga paarunga.. kaariyathula karutha irukenga... nanga yelam gift ah maranthutom...

Ka : aama kathir anne kuda apadi than... suthi yena nadanthalum anni ah sight adikarathula karutha irukum... illa ne...

They ROFLd....

Chorus : hoooooooooo....

K : peh da...

San : yena da kathiru.. ipadi theriyara madhiri ah paape...

Je : aama sankaru madhiri theriyaama paakanum...

There was a another burst of loud laughter...

Mo : ada paavam pa vidunga.. chumma ootikitu...

mulla inthapa... ithaiyum vechuko...

M : thanks mama...

It was money from moorthy and a saree from dhanam and meena...

Me : kalyanam mudinju inga first varum bothu itha than mulla katanum... ipove solitom...

M : kandipa ka... romba azhaga iruku... thanks...

Me : iru innonu iruku...

She asked the kids to give something which seriously took her heart...

It was a hand written greeting card made by them with their beautiful writings and perfect drawings with a note "Happy birthday chithi"...

D : avangale pananga mulla...

M : romba nalla iruku ka... azhagu...

She kissed the kids fondly beaming in happiness who returned the same...

Me : jeeva stock yedu da... yen chumma nikare...

J : unnaa... veetuku vanthu paathukaren... mulla intha pa... pirantha naal vazhthukal...

He gave a big cover of chocolates and her favorite eatables making her giggle...

M : ai... super mama.. romba thanks...

Me : adi paavi... pudavai ku kuda ivalo reaction illaye... intha pandian stores stock ku ivalo happy agare....

K(laughing) : na than sonen illa anni... avaluku chocolates pidikum nu..

J : ithukum than pidichatha vaangi kudukanum nu solrathu... ne atha pandian store stock nu kindal panre...

M : illa ka.. pudavaiyum pidichuthu...chocolate um than...

Me : sari than po...

Kas : athu sari neengale kuduthutu iruntha naanga kuduka venama... ei mulla konjam engalaiyum gavani de...

M : kudunga athachi... athuku yethuku vaai pechu....

Kas : ei suji kudu de...

They handed her a really big box of full pretty and colorful bangles mostly in all colors and different designs...

M : ithanai ah... super ah iruke...

Kas : nanum sujiyum than vaanginom... nalla iruka...

M : super ah iruku...

She hugged both of them happilly....

Ka : anni pothum pothum.. konjam thalunga...inthanga enoda gift... paathutu ennaiyum nalla paaraatunga...

He had framed the picture of kathir, mullai and kanna taken in the icecream parlour...

Ka : yepadi...

M : super da... itha expect panave ilaa...

Ka : athan kanna.. namma veetuku vanthathuku appuram itha unga room la vechukanum...

M : kandipa...

Mullai was completely thrashed with surprises and jumping with joy but she didnt fail to lock her eyes with kathir once in a while who did nothing but watch her enjoying her day....

Ka : aduthu yaaraichum irukengala... .

Chorus : nanga irukom...

Ka : vaanga vaanga chorus paadite gift kudunga...

As they gave the gift, mullai opened it curiously as she got to know its a photo frame what would be inside...

It was the best gift she should accept...

It was a collage of picture of them taken on last day of their 10th standard and a recreation picture of the same taken in college farewell.... It made her tear up a little and so did the other four...

Kar : itha anju frame potutom de.. yellaru veetulaiyum itha than maata porom... yepavum senthu iruka madhiri...

M : hmmm...

Mullai was speechless not even a thanks escaped her mouth...
They kept looking at the picture reminiscing the old days while there was a shout out from kanna..

Ka : sari sari... no feelings... yellarum kuduthachu.. ipo kathir anne turn...

Kathir anne anniki gift kudu...

Mullai's eyes went for him instantly and her fingers caressed the ring he gifted her...
She could see others looking at him expectantly...
The ones who knew about the already given gift were waiting for him to say that he has already gifted her...
Mullai was waiting to show her ring to them with pride...

But then...

K : kanna gift car back seat la iruku... poi eduthutu vaa...

Mullai was stupefied knowing the surprises are still not done...

TBC....