Filler chapter ahead . .  No KM scenes....

பகலில் சூரியன்
இரவில் நிலவு இரண்டும்
பிழையா இரண்டும் சரியா
இயற்கை தீர்ப்பு சொல்லுமா

Kathir had settled for a nice nap, the cold weather combined with the fatigue from travel and the warm blanket made him go for a good sleep for more than a couple of hours.

By the time he woke up, he could see that round yellow ring had set paving way for the silver crescent. He was feeling icy cold and was in dire need of a warm liquid to seep through his throat. But, he was sure he wouldn't be lucky enough to get warm drink today.

He will have to wait for the boy, Saravana to come with his supper. Tomorrow, he will have to buy some kitchen utensil for mere survival reason. He did not know A, B, C, D of cooking, yet he had the confidence he will survive.

Next, was the issue about salary. He was sure of the consequence of asking money from home. No doubt, they will give him the money, but for sure his elder brother or his uncle might pass a snide remarks.

He had some 10000 with him. He will be able to go ahead with this month for sure. All he had was hope that the DEO signs his salary processing paper without much delay.

While he was endorsed in his thoughts, he heard the knock on the door. He went and opened it to see it was Saravana..

Sar: anna....amma soda kanji senjanga adha kondu vanden...aana vara vazhila adu chillayitu...

Kathir for a minute was happy hearing about the hot rice porridge, may be this was not in his fate today he concluded..

Kat: adhuku enna pa...soodu aarina enna...naan saptikuren...

Sar: illa....naan varapa nama murugan sir aa pathen...avaru enna edhu nu visaricharu...

Avare soodu pani tharen nu sonaru...

Neengalum vaanga ...

Avara avunga veetla irukura ellarayum patha madiri irukum la...ungaluku edum othasa venum na..avunga dane irukanga...

Kathir though was reluctant did understand that all the young boy had was some good will for him..

Closing the door, both of them hopped down the stairs...

Saravana knocked the door..and the door was opened by an elderly lady whose face made him remember his mom...

The round bindi instantly made his mind go to a flashback down the lane of almost a decade, to the time when his father was there...and just like that his mind became gloomy...

Sar: amma...idhan naan sonna pudhu vaadhiyar..

P: vaanga thambi...vaa saravana...

Kathir nodded his head and came inside...

Kathir took a glance around the room and he was pretty much impressed with the interior and the exterior of the house..

He could see a wooden cupboard stacked neatly with Tamizh books, all it took was a glance to all the name of the book to know the taste and genre of the reader...

Murugan did see the appreciative glance Kathir gave to the book shelf...

Mur: adhu en ponnu Mullai oda puthagam....

Kathir gave attention to the talk only now..

Kat: adhu manichidunga...naan adu putha...

Mur: pathen thambi...apdiye puthagathula muzhugitinga ...

Kathir nodded his head...

Parvathy amma brought some hot tea for both the boys...

Mur: aprom thambi enga ooru pudichiruka,...

P: innaiku dane vandiruku thambi

Kat; illa patha odane pudichidu...pacha pase nu iruku...yaaruku pudikadu...

Mur: ungala madiri city pasanga lan indha iyarkai aa rasikarardhu nala iruku...

Kat: en sondha ooru oru chinna gramam dan....kunnakudi...

Mur: aprom thambi veetla yaar lan iruka...appa enna panraru...

The talk about his dad brought only some tears to his eyes...starting with he had started to miss his family as he had never stayed away from them, added to it the bindi of parvathy and now this man's question made his face waver down and gloom off...

Kat: chinna vayasulaye appa thavaritaru...

He tried telling faking a smile...and Parvathy was considerate enough to reprimand her husband from asking any such questions..

Par: ada summa irunga...thambi nee tea kudi pa...

Kathir had sipped some tea...

Sar: amma...akka illa...

Mur: illa avala kalai la dhan bus ethi vitu vanden...

Sar: akka....veli oorla samuga sevaiku padikidu...

Kathir for a second was confused with what the boy was telling...seeing his confusion, Murugan appa clarified it...

Mur: en ponnu Chennai la Master of Social Work padikidu..avaluku samooga seva na romba pudikum...

Kathir gave an appreciative nod....his mind and heart had started giving respect to the girl for the work she was planning to do and for her love for the language, Tamizh...

He was curious enough to meet this girl, who shared similar taste with him for Tamizh...

Par: thambi neenga innum adupu edum vangala nu saravanan sonna...

Kat: aama...

Par: samaika theriyuma thambi..

Kat: inime dhan kathukanum....

Mur: thambi neenga vena denam inga vandu sapdunga...

Kat: ayyayo...illa adhelam venam..

Mur: ada enna thambi enga ooru pasanga nala iruka padam eduka vandirukinga idu kooda panlati enna...

Kat: ila illa...adhulam venam nga...inaiku kanji soodu panadhe romba nandri...

Mur: edum venum na kelunga thambi...

Kat: adhu vandu...

Kathir knew he wwill be shocking them with his request but then he really needed it..

Kat: illa....adula sila puthagam naan padikanum nu nenachadu undu...adu padika edukalama nu unga ponnu kita ketu solringala..

Mur: ada adhula enna thambi...enna puthagam venumo eduthukonga....

Kathir: nandri...

And he picked a single book...And left thanking him for their hospitality... the next day, Saravana picked him up and they had a small breakfast from Saravana home and later set about to get the essentials for the home...

They accepted for a delivery at home, gas stove with some utensil and a bed as the cold was taking the life out of him with only a night and some toiletries costed him almost half the savings he had...

He also made a call and talked with his family leaving out the details about his salary issue...Owing to the tower issue, he promised a call once in every week and also a visit for the pongal.

Days, weeks and months rolled by. He had visited his native only once that too for Pongal, he had got some small gifts for everyone at home and his balance had almost come about to nil and that made him temporarily stop his travel to Kunnakudi...

His survival instincts had kicked in from the day 2 and he had started using short cuts and jugaads to maintain the money he had...He had started small gardening with onion, tomato, chilly, yam, tapioca. He had shifted to taking a dip in the waterfall instead of bathing at home, all thanks to his athletic skills he could achieve it with ease...And with innumerous current cuts, he could cut down on electricity and he had learned to live with some 4000 a month, which itself had started to become stringent making him pawn his gold chain his mom had got for him for Pongal since he had refused to take his share of money which got him almost some 60k. His self pride had made him tell a no to the share from the stores, a new custom added post JM marriage but he declined as he was no longer working there.

At school, he was much adored teacher, the kids were gems, they lacked the ego and shrewdness the city and town kids had...They were more sweet and nice in nature, and they were abided by nature, truth making him love his job despite his financial trouble. So, were the teachers...most of them were native to this place. And they didn't have much strength in each class, hardly ranging from 20 to 30 and a staff count of not more than 10 including HM, PT and cook.

He had also grown pretty close to the only neighbor, especially while he went to lend books from their daughter's collection. They were sweet enough to let him use their daughter's scooty in case there was any need.. Now, he really had the urge to see this girl, Mullai...Also, there was this constant nudge from his family regarding him not paying a visit to them...Kanna and Dharshan did hint on them joining him, but Kathir outrightly refused telling how there will no means of entertainment for them.

Altogether life was bliss for him when he returned home after his summer vacation in the mid of May.

Tbc...

Thanks for reading....