Kathir was lost in his own thoughts when Moorthy's voice brought him back to the present. "Yeppa Mullai, inga va pa! Selvi line la iruka paaru!" his voiced echoed as if someone dropped a sombu on the floor and it was vibrating against the ground before settling still.

Mullai rushed out with Kathir following her!
"Ahn solunga athachi!! Ayooo!! Ipo onum prechana ilaye?! Anga aalunga edhaa panitaangala.. Oh.. adhu.. appaaaadi! Nallavela.. flight eridalaam la?! Ahnn.... adhu..... hehe.. adhu vandhu athaachi.. sorry! Na solirukanum. Edho marandhuten. Hehe.. adhu... hmmm.. aama athaachi! Sorry! Seri athaachi neenga veetuku poitu solunga. Ivuhalum papa kuda pesanum nu solitu irukaha..." she hastily ended the conversation and dropped off the call shoving the phone back to Moorthy as if she was holding a very hot sombu all this while!

After the phone call, Mullai looked uneasy and walks into the room while Kathir was confused.. "Akka en iva kita pesaraga! Enkita kuda pesama iva kita ena iruku pesa?! Oru vela Papa azhudhurpaalo! Apo enkita dhaane pesirkanum?! Enna da idhu... Thanneer sombu la Paneer vasanai varamadhiri orey kozhappama idukke?!"

Mullai looks at his expression, doesnt say anything and lies down on the bed turning to the other side. Kathir, while being confused, involuntarily takes his Paai, thalagani, lays both down and reaches out to the wardrobe to pick his non-existant sombu, that breaks his trance! "Pch.... Somba dhaan kaanume!!Naa irken paaru oru loosu..." he hits his forehead and sits on the paai with a grim expression.

"En sombu kedaikave ila la?!" he asked Mullai. She turned to look at him and just hummed a "ummhmmm" sadly. "Hmm.. adhuseri, enakum kedaikala, unaku matum enga kedachurka pogudhu! En vaazhkaila naa asapata edhume enaku kedachadhilla! Adhunala kedachadhu mela naane aasapattu ethupen! Tirisaa illanaa Diviyaaa.. Sombu ilana... sombu ilana....kooja.. ulla engaya irukum, naaliku eduthukaren!" he was always such a positive person who even takes a comedy dialogue from Naai Sekar and uses it to his advantage.

"Naa onu sollava?! enakennamo andha sombu inga irukara mari therila nga. Ilana nama kannula patrukume! Paravaala vidunga, ipo unga adutha porandhanaaluku ena vaangi tharanum nu plan paniten. Vaazhkaila edhuvaa irundhaalum PLAAAN pani pananum" she tried the same positive approach as him. He just let out a strained smile at her and blanked out.Hours pass and both of them laid sleepless!

Meanwhile our MK got too emotional and decided to take it to the next level to recite a சொம்பு செய்யுள்(sombu seyyul)

<Dedicated to Jeyavj  who asked me if Kathir would actually recite a Seyyul>

தாகத்தில் நீர் தந்து, தலைமாட்டில் தானமர்ந்து,
ஓயாமல் உழைத்திட்ட சொம்பே! -உனை
காணாமல் தவித்திட்டு, தூக்கத்தை நான் மறந்து,
உடலிலே இனியில்லை தெம்பே!

Dhaagathil Neer thandhu, Thalaimaatil Thaan Amarndhu,
Oyaamal uzhaiththitta Sombe!- Unai
Kaanaamal Thaviththittu, Thookathai Naan Marandhu,
Udalile iniyillai Thembe!

Mullai is more than upset to see her beloved in such a sad state.She checked the time, she knew talking to Papa would help him feel better.
"Yenga, Papa kita pesureehala. Ungalkum paravaalaama irukum!"
"Hey, avangala en thondhuravu panikitu! Ipo angayum rathiri dhaane!" his lips said that but his heart knew that was a great idea. Mullai realized Kathir is like a sombu himself. He might have a lot of thoughts inside but it isnt visible on the outside unless you peep in- just like his eversilver sombu!

"Adhulaam 9:30 dhaan agudhu, naama pesuvom.. ungaluku ulla ena thonudhu nu unga mugatha uthu paarthale theriyudhu!" she already opened her whatsapp and dialled a videocall to Selvi akka.
"Ada Mullai! Indha athachi mela ivalavu paasama, nalla airport la maata vechutu veetuku vandhadhum varadhadhuma odane phone panita?!"  she answered the call sarcastically!

"Akka! Airport la maatineengala?! Enna ka aachu?" Kathir jumped into the conversation. "Adei, adha en da kekara! Un aruma pondati irukaale! Vasama maativituta ena.. Andha metal detector la irundhu thapichu ula vardhukula apapapapa! En ponnuku Papa nu per vekardhuku badhil un pondati ku dhaan Papa nu per vekanum! Valarave illa.. iru da na Papa va kupadren. Mama kita pesanum solite irundha"

Kathir narrowed his eyebrows and turned towards Mullai who was showing all her teeth out of embarrasement. Hey just raises one eyebrow as if asking "What?!"... "Adhu.. athachi oru rendu nimishathula koopdava?!" she cut the call without waiting for her reply.

"Yenga, naa ipo solaporadhu kovapadama kekanum. 4 naal munna, naa kanavu la kathitu ezhundhu sombu la thanni kudichene! Adhuku adutha naal, madhiyam room la thoongalaam nu paduthena..." she dragged

"Hey.. ipo idhulaam edhuku enkita solikitu iruka?! Akka va epdi maati vita nu solu!" he was getting impatient.

"Solren irunga! Aana neenga kovapadamaten nu unga kaanamapona sombu mela sathiyam panunga modhalla!" she asked timidly.

"Yei enna nee epo paar sombu melaye sathiyam kekara! Podhuva elaam thann mela dhaane kepaanga!"

"Hmmkmmm.. en mela irukra akaraya vida sombu mela dhaan paasam pongi vazhiyudhu..adhan elaaathukume karanam" she muttered within herself.

"Enna sonna?!"

"Aama solraaha.. enakonjam pesa vidreeyala!?"

"Seri sollu! Kovapadamaaten"

"Haan.. madhiyam thoongalam nu vandhen.. apo unga paai thalagaani aprom andha Sombu elaam irundhuchu nu adhulaam eduthu potu paduthupaakalam nu panena... appo road lendhu oru kural
'Pathirathula per podardhu.. Pathirathula per podardhu" apdinu!! Apo ungalku nalla surprise aa irukatume nu unga sombu la unga per aa potu kudukalam nu adha avaru kita kuduthu vechen." she stated that in one go and paused to take a breath.

"Hey.. apo en sombu anga dhaan pocha.. mariyadhaya andha aal kitendhu vaangi kudu.. ilaaaaa... ayooo avan tholachutaana.. ayo pochu.. avana... dho poren.. adikara adi la avan moonji nasungi pona sombaa marapogudhu" he flexes his forearms as if getting ready for a fight.

"Ayo inum kadha mudiyala... avarkita kuduthu vecha gap la, neenga somba kaanum nu oora kooti opaari vechuteenga. Seri surprise waste aaga kudadhu nu naanum summa irundhuten, sombu varumpodhu solipom nu. Adhukula Papa Athaachi laam vandhadhula idhulaam unga kita solave marandhuten. Enna manichudunga!!" she pleaded with a pout.

"Apo?! En sombu thirumba vandhuducha?! Enge en sombu.. enga en sombu?!" he started looking around the room.

"Adhu.. vandhuchu.... aana poiduchu..." she uttered softly.

"Yei.. enna solra nee.."

"Illanga.. vandhuchu.... aana unga kita iniku night surprise aa kudukalam nu vechurundhena.... apo....."
as she was hesitating her phone ringtone chimed like a Sombu hitting other dishes while getting washed in the kitchen sink.

"Kathir mamaaaaaaaaaaa!!" it was Papa!
"Indha pechu mudiyala.. anga pesitu una vechukaren iru" threatened Kathir and smiled at the camera while turning away "Hey Papaaaa!! Dubai poi serndhaacha... epdi irukeengaaa?!"

"Naa supera iruken mama..Anga elaarum epdi irkeenga?neenga ena romba miss panrengala?! Adhaan odanae call paneengala?! Naa vardhukula en cut paniteenga? Mullai athai pakathla irunkaangala?! Avanga dhaan call potu kuduthaangala?!" It felt like Papa somehow got mildly inspired by her Dhanam athai!

"Ama da kutti, Mama ungala romba miss panren. Neenga?! Ennaya miss panreengala?!" Kathir couldnt stop smiling at her cuteness.

"Illaye, naa miss panalaye?!" she said casually with a shrug.

"Apdiya?! Epdi apdi?!"

"Adhu.. elaam Athai naala dhaan!" she smiled back.

"Athai naalaya.. apdi ena pananga unga athai?!" he looked at her through the corner of his eye and could see Mullai cover her face and slowly inch away from him.

"Naa kelambumpodhu azhudhena.. athai dhaan ungala miss panama iruka idea kuduthaanga!Ipo naa ungala miss eh panalayeeee!" Papa said in a sing-song voice.

"Apdiyaaa?! Super idea va irukum polaye! Epdi ena miss pannama irukeenga?! Sonna naanum seiven la?!" he eyed at Mullai with a doubtful look.

"Adhu.. mama.. naa epdi ungala miss panuven.. enkita dhaan idhu iruke..." she replied happily and showed him her Mullai athai's parting gift...lifting it like a world cup
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...
...
...
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There it was, beamingly curvy, effulgent,with its well-rounded figure reflecting the light from the video call...calling out his name inscribed on top...

HIS BELOVED SOMBU!!!!!

The End