It was a scarily raining friday evening...
The dark clouds were bucketing down heavily just that even the road on the front was not clearly visible...
Dismissing the bad weather, Kathir's entire gang who were all available together at chennai surprisingly for that weekend had a quick plan and packed up to their most favourite place, pondichery, both in terms of refreshment and entertainment...

As the car sped up through the east coast road, Kathir who was driving saw a blurred image of XUV in the front and couldnt help thinking about the day where he followed the similar one to chennai...
An instant smile bloomed in his lips thinking the time since then...

It has been more than four months...
Four long months...
Post that he left the fragrance of mullaiyagam, he didnt get a sitch to meet his flower bouquet...
But not a single day passed without seeing her pictures and videos...
He knew day by day he was going crazy for her...
He was addicted to her enchanting smile...
He was attracted to those big bewitching eyes...
He was allured to her minsicle merry actions...
He was becoming a freak of those pictures and videos of hers...
On the whole, she became an intricate and inseparable part of him virtually...

Whenever he stayed in chennai with his parents, his heart would flutter to go her house atleast to the neighborhood...
His mind would start plotting plans to get to know about her...
His heart would start imagining passionate times with her...
Day by day, his wish to see her increased exponentially but something made him wait...

He wanted to know the depth of the feeling he has for her...
He wanted to see how this instinct thing works...
Though decided to wait, he was not able to contain the urge of seeing her...
He would roam around the places in chennai like mall, theatres, restaurants and lot more where there were chances of meeting her again casually...
But there was no luck...

Off all things happening inside him, his instinct never failed to console him saying he is going to see her and she is going to be his...
That soothed in a silly way and excited him, at the sametime made him laugh too...

K mindvoice : ithena ishtathuku athu nadakum ithu nadakum nu thonikitu iruke...
namma manasu yeppo kudukudupakaarana maaruchu... jekkamaa solra jekkamma solrangara madhiri ishtathuku adichu viduthu...

avala paapom nu solluthu... ava mela paithiyam aavom nu solluthu... ava enaku than nu solluthu... ithelam thanna nadakum nu vera solluthu... how is it possible...

athu yepadi oruthan oru effort um podama athuva yellam nadakum... anniki naan avalo thooram velaiya vittutu flower bouquet pinnadi vanthathu naala than ava veeta kandupidichen... iniyum naan yetha pana than matha details kandupidika mudiyum... where we stand in our relationship nu yosicha than relationship develop agum... next step yena nu think pana than progress aagum... onume panama chumma instinct solluthu nu ukantha yepadi nadakum... yena nenachutu intha loosethanama waiting vela panitu irukom... kathir when did you become a theatrical fool...

He would literally scold him for being a insane piece of crap at the sametime he wanted to enjoy this waiting phase too...

K mindvoice : vadikatina fool than... illaanu sola mudiyaathu.... but still this is good... feels so good... to be a fool... to wait for something silly to happen... to check how well this instinct thing works... to enjoy the pain this waiting time gives... to be mad of someone whom i have seen just for a day...

paapom yethana naal ipadi poguthu nu... mudiyalaina lets take the next step...

The one who always believed in his own self along with his hardwork and never believed in all fantasies like instincts stuff was confused with things happening inside him and his real character...
The first time when he decided to leave after knowing her house was the first he started getting such weird thoughts saying she is yours...
But he didnt step back just for that thought but then he wanted to understand where this leads too and how far he is dragged to his flower bouquet...

Over time, he clearly understood that his flower bouquet is something very special and holds a special place in his life...
All these 28 years, no girl could hold his attention or admiration just like she did...
He was so sure even after this no one could do it...

Even before he understood what she meant to him and decided what to do, a sense of belonging slushed his insides...
Still he didn't try to approach her and patiently waited for the right time to see eagerly how things unfold in his heart...
But the waiting time was not as easy as he thought...

The one who said time heals should be a wacko...
Time only aggravated the curiosity, anxiousness, expectations, attraction, admiration and everything he held for her...
Now just the sight of a car could increase the fire in him to the core...

K mindvoice  : dei kathir.. bayangara stupid ah iruku da nee panrathu... chumma manasu solumaam... udane apadi yellam nadakumaam... yepadi than ipadi muttaalthanama yosichutu irunthiyo... athelam efforts podaama kandipa oru mannum nadakaathu... athu solluthu ithu solluthu nu wait panni panni than four months totally wasted...

meanwhile yetha step yeduthuruntha ineram flower bouquet ah right royal ah unnodatha aakkirukalam... ok... no regrets about past... should think about what next... atleast ini yetha pananum...

waste fellow...Intha arivu chennai la irukum bothu vanthurukanum... anga vitutu pondicherry varai vanthutu feeling vera... muttal muttal...

Cursing the ample amount of time in last four months he spent doing nothing, he drove the car lost in thoughts...
Inspite of inner turmoil, he didn't fail to enjoy with his friends on the way...
They reached pondicherry by nightfall and took rooms in their usual resort...
They spent the night in a typical guys way by cracking the bottles, nonstop chats, carefree fun, dim-witted jokes and finally had a very minimal sleep...

Soon in the morning...

Kathir got up hearing to the loud buzz of the room bell and seeing senthil still in deep sleep, he opened the door with a yawn...
To his surprise, there was a pretty girl, probably the receptionist of the resort, with a beautiful flower bouquet in her hand...

Girl : Good morning sir... Kathirvel pandian...

K : yes...

Girl : today is our resort's tenth anniversary sir... we are celebrating the special day in our club house tonight... we have arranged a small party and a complimentary dinner also for the guests...

This is for you sir... (handing over the bouquet)
We have passes inside for all your friends... you are most welcome sir...

K : oh... thank you... and congrats...

Girl : thank you sir... have a nice day...

K : you too...

Kathir came inside the room latching the door with a fond smile lingering in his lips looking at the flower bouquet in his hand...

K mindvoice : intha naaloda arambame azhaga iruke... eluntha udane kaiku azhagaana oru flower bouquet vanthuduchu... apadiye namma flower bouquet um vanthuta yevalo nalla irukum...

Kathir... its been more than four months and you are missing her terribly... enough of all stupid waiting ideas... yethana naal ipadi photo um, video um paathutu kaalatha otarathu... high time you do something man...

With his mind nagging him from yesterday, kathir was occupied in his own thoughts about her...
Just like this flower bouquet, He wanted his flower bouquet in his hands immediately...
It felt like all his patience are lost and his impatience to meet her started burning like hell...
He might be few hours away to reach her now but then he decided to proceed with meeting her as soon as he reach chennai...
Only after deciding on it, his breath leveled and he came back to the present...
kathir kept smiling at the flower bouquet with his usual gesture of rubbing his beard thinking how a simple bouquet impacts him to the core...
Then...

Sen : dei yenada yetha ponnu bouquet oda propose panucha... ipadi bouquet ah paathu  sirichikitu iruke...

K (smiling) : bouquet oda proposal yellam venaam da... bouquet oda proposal than venum...

Sen : yenathu...

K : bouquet da bouquet... flower bouquet... ennoda flower bouquet...

Sen (confused) : yen da ipadi puriyutha madhiriye olarikitu iruke... yenada aachu unaku... athena unnoda flower bouquet... apadi yena special ithula... normal madhiriye than eh iruku... ( looking at the bouquet)

K : cha cha... ithu ennoda flower bouquet illaa... ithu special um illaa... but mine is special... very very special...

Senthil sat up instantly and clutched his head tight looking at kathir with confusion...

Sen : dei adicha sarakkoda bothai kuda suthama yerangiduchu da... yen da ipadi oru mokkai bouquet ah vechu kaalangaathala en uyir ah vaangare...

K : mokkai ah... kazhuthaiku theriyuma flower bouquet oda vasanai...

Sen : kazhuthaikum theriyaathu... enakum theriyaathu... aala vidu...  nee yepadiyo po... ithena bouquet atha mudhala sollu... un per vera poturuku... yetha figure kuduthucha illaa nee yetha figure ku kudukka poriya...

K : enakum bouquet ku bouquet kudukanum nu aasai than... aana...

Sen : dei pothum naan unna intha nimishathoda divorce paniten... naan vera room poren... aala vidu...

Senthil tried to shove off the quilt and move out just too pushed back to bed by kathir...

K : enna thavira unna yevanum sagichuka mattan... pesama padu...

Sen : en neram... atha naan solanum... nee solre... sari solli thola... yethuku bouquet...

K : onumm illaa da... iniki resort oda tenth anniversary aam... yetho night party, complimentary dinner arrange panirukanga pola... athuku passes kuduthurukaanga... en per la than eh rooms book panom... maybe thats why my name in the card...

Sen : hmmmkmmm dei... bouquet vechutu yena da pana... athuku aaluku oru sarakku bottle kuduthurukalam...

K : senthil shall i say you one thing... sarakkula varra kick ah vida flower bouquet la kick athigama varum... trust me...

Sen : adei unkuda room share pana vanthathu en thappu than da... athuku pinja serupaala kuda adi... aana ipadi thathupithu nu olarathe... yeppo nee rajesh kalyanathula flower decoration ah rasika arambichiyo appo la irunthu muzhu loose ah ve agita...

K : poda... yen da senthil... ithana per irukom... aana en per la vanthuruku paaren... flower bouquet na athu kathir ku than nu symbolic ah solra madhiri illaa...

Sen : dei ippo than eh da sonna room book panninavan nee athunala vanthuruku nu...

K : still enaku than eh first pondy plan thonichu... intha resort book pananum nu thonichu... athunala...

Sen : antha bouquet eh neeye vechuko da... athula oru kutti ela kuda enaku venam... aala vidu enna...

K : ketalum thara mudiyaathu... po poi pasangala ready aga solu... nammalum kelambalam... its time already...

Sen : happada... escape...

Kathir reluctantly placed the bouquet aside and prepared to get ready for the day...

Just in few minutes, the guys got ready and started for their outing excitedly finishing their breakfast...
They took their way to the chunnambar boat house and had a great fun with all water sports over there and finally took a boat to reach their favorite place...

Just a twenty minutes ride in boat...
They were in the spot...

The paradise beach...

A beach which would make anyone feel that they are purely in paradise...
Such a clean and pristine place, definitely a picturesque one with the clear sand, beautiful coconut trees and palm garden...

The sandy beach, the serene waves and the shallow waters were kathir's all time favorite...
After a high spirited sporting time, he always preferred having a silent space all alone...
He would stride down to the best part of the beach where the beach would cram down to the meeting point of river chunnambar and bay of bengal...
Its confluence is another beautiful feather to the crown of paradise beach...

With all cheers, they passed the coconut garden and the guys who were tired settled under the thatched roof shades with all energy drained...

Kathir was equally tired but then his heart ached to be alone for sometime and badly wanted to see his flower bouquet...
So he escaped from his friends and started walking forgetting the harsh sun...

As his legs trudged forward, his hands reflexively reached for his mobile to enjoy the dance of his flower bouquet...
He didnt know how far and how long he walked admiring her over phone, unknowingly he reached the best loved place of him, the meeting point of the river and the ocean...

He stood looking at the water current of the river clubbing in the ocean enjoying the convergence of two...

The fresh water clubbing with the salt water...
The mild ripples joining the ebbing waves...
The clean river mixing the clumsy ocean...

In short, the blend of extremely opposite poles into one...
It did remind his flower bouquet instantly...

She always had a wide smile and infectious laugh adorning her lips in contrast to his measured and concealed grin...

She seem to be a chatterbox to everyone who ever come across where as he was reticent to everyone except his closed circle...

She was on her toes chirping around all the time with full of merry with a big gang while he was the one who prefer to be silent and tight lipped even in a huge gang...

She seem to hate the emotion anger which he understood the way she consoled her irritated and angry friends in the marriage while he was a bundle of rage if mistakenly blown ...

Just with a day's knowledge, he could feel they have the most extreme qualities...
But then his mind guaranteed they will make a awesome pair...
Maybe they dont match up by character but definitely will complement eachother by heart and make a ideal couple...

The thought did eventually make his insides laugh and secretly adore the content...

K mindvoice : tho... jakkkamma solitangala... yena da inum yethum varalaiye nu paathen... words for the day has come... ideal couple nu solluthu... athuku mudhala couple aganum... athuku flower bouquet ah mudhala  paakanum...

Intha instinct ah nambi vettiya four months wait panitu iruken... athukula ideal couple pattam vera kudukuthu... utter stupidity...

By the time he sighed impatiently with a sulky mindvoice, a euphonic voice melted in his ears giving him a palpitating heart and a shivering body...

"Hello... anga yena paarvai... konjam inga enna paarunga..."

Kathir turned in a jiffy to see his flower bouquet standing just few meters away from him with a gang of girls...
For a second, it felt like the waves on the beach stoodstill, the breeze held back,  the environ froze just like him...

He always had a immense pride that he was a strong-willed and stiff-necked which was hit terribly with the little uninvited tears in his orbs...
Off all emotions, those tear drops spoke how he missed her, how much he wanted her and how much she means to him...
This was even a shocker about him that he cried for a girl who he had met only once in his life...
Be it happy tears or sad tears it said it all...

The instincts which he was mocking all these days gave a proud smile at him and he obliged to it completely...
He expected to meet her some where in chennai but then he is meeting her hundreds of miles away that too in his favorite spot...
That really meant a lot...
He started believing wholeheartedly  whatever the instincts said with no doubt...

With heart slushed with serenity, he gazed at her who was busy in clicking pictures of her friends...
A wide smile stalled his lips seeing her dress which perfectly matched her name...

A pure white maxi dress with beautiful tulip floral design all over the dress with all frills and flares which tenderly made its dance
for the air around along with her bubbly moves...
His girl in white sneakers, a white sling bag and all white jewellery along with her floral dress looked very much like a beautiful bouquet of spring blooming tulip flowers...

FLOWER BOUQUET!!!!

Kathir's lips uttered softly and reflexively he saw his flower bouquet turning to him giving him a skipped heart beat...
She looked at him for a second dashing their gazes as if she heard him or know her name by him and got back to her gang after a brief second...
Kathir felt like that one look stabbed him hard on heart and made him flabbergasted...
In the open space and the flush of air, he was suffocating like hell...

He got back to senses after few minutes and slipped a little away not to get caught and started capturing her this time in his loved professional camera eyes...
The girls had a extreme gala with playing in the water, clicking more pics, some interesting beach games and many more...
He didnt know how long he kept clicking her pictures and videos, it came to a stop as the girls packed up for the day...

He wished the time not to end and he wanted to go behind her just like the other day...
He wanted to proceed to reach for her this time, speak to her, take all steps to make her his own...
He clearly understood he couldnt wait anymore...
But then...

"Adada... yena avasaram ippo... konjam porumai ah than irungalen... athan iniki paathachu illaa... ithe madhiri innoru naal paakalam... appo neenga nenaikaratha panunga.... ok..."

His flower bouquet's words hit him again tying his hands crazily...

K mindvoice : adi paavi flower bouquet... naan eh four months ah waste pani ippo than yetha fruitful ah pananum nu oru strong aana mudivuku vanthen... ipadi solli atha stop panitiye...

Dei silly paiya... ava yenamo context la ava friends kita yetho pesitu pora... yenamo ava unaku than sonna madhiri scene podara... pesama mudivu panatha panu... go and speak to her... get things done soon...

His mind urged him to proceed next but then his heart reminded her words again...
Kathir always felt her words had a sign or communication to him...
He very well know those words belonged to someone else but the message was to him which happened so magically...
It did choose his way and this time too he would follow it...
He decided out-and-out and kept looking at  her retreating figure through his camera...
As soon as the balminess of his flower bouquet faded, he came back out of the stupor just to see a bunch of baddies staring at him...

K : neenga... athu... inga yenga da vanthenga... ungaluku than intha meeting point yellam pidikathe...

There was no reply from his gang and they were busy in glaring at him...

K : yena da moraikarenga... time aachu namma... (seeing watch)

K mindvoice : aiyayo nearly two hours ingaye irunthurukoma... ivanunga yeppo vanthanga... yetha therinjurukuma...

Sen : camera ah kodu...

K mindvoice  : right uh... therinjuduchu...

K : athu yethuku unaku... athu...

Before he could answer, kathir was knocked to the ground by raj and camera was seized by others...
They started seeing the recent ones captured with a extreme shock about the actions of their friend...
They dropped to floor near him mazed and sametime maddened...
Understanding nothing more to hide, kathir lied on the beach looking at them...

Surya : yena da panitu iruka... yaaru antha ponnu... ipadi valachu valachu vitha vithama ithana video ithana photo yeduthu vechuruka...

Sen : yena da ponavana aala kanoom nu paaka vantha engala kandukkave illaa... naanga vanthathu kuda theriyala... kannu muzhuka antha ponnu mela... ithula photo video vera... yaaravathu kandupidichuruntha yena da agarathu... criminal offence da ithu... theriyaatha unaku...

K : naan thappa...

Raj : nee thappana intention la edukala nu intha photos eh solluthu... each and every photo is classy... but ippo athu matter illaa... avalo periya gang la antha ponna mattum yethuku edutha... yaar athu...

Kathir stayed quiet for sometime and gave his mobile to them opening the bangalore memories...
After they were done with it...

K : avala naan un kalyanathula than first paathen... trust me... avala paathathuku appuram yentha ponnaiyum paaka thonala... avala mattume paakanum nu thonichu... avala follow panrathuku than anga irunthu avasarama kelambinen...

The anger in those eyes dissipated and a curiosity mounted in...

Raj : right right... cinema la yellam vara madhiri kanda udan kaadhala...

Surya : ippo puriyuthu da ivan yentha flower decoration ah rasichaan nu...

Sarath : dei appo nethu kudichutu yetho flower bouquet, flower bouquet ku loose madhiri penathiniye... athu intha ponnu than ah...

K (smiling) : hmmm...

Sen : avan kudikaamaiyum atha than da pesaraan... namaku than ithana naal puriyala... ippo than puriyuthu...

Sarath : aama da ivan loose illaa namma than loosee...

Sen : sari unmaiya veliya sollathe... dei kathir... athellam ok... appuram yen thoorama ukanthu photo eduthutu iruka... kuda poi enjoy pana vendiyathu than eh...

K : dei muzhusa kelunga da... follow pani vanthen... veedu kandupidichuten... avalo than... nothing more... after that im seeing her only today...

Chorus : whaaaaaatttttt...

K : trust me... i dont even know her name...

Raj : yen da appo naalu maasama yena poochi pidichutu irunthiya... unna paatha avala marantha madhiriyum theriyala... appo adutha next stage ku poga vendiyathu than eh...

K : marakaratha... silly(laughing) i was waiting... waiting for things to happen on its own... i wanted to see how she is weaved into my life... and understood she is everything for me...

Sen : dei ungaluku yetha puriyutha...

Chorus : onum puriyala...

K : chhh... simple da... avala meet panathu purely destiny... athe destiny thirumba avala meet pana vekkutha nu wait pani paathen... meanwhile i wanted to know how much im into her...

Sen : sari ippo thirumba paathuta... she is everything nu mudivu panita... appo adutha velaiya paaru... ippove poi pesu... pona pidichudalam... boat ku time iruku... wait panitu than irupaanga...

K : hmmm no no... not this time... next time avala meet panathum i will take the next step... and then she will be mine...

Surya : dei loose ah nee... athena next time... appo panratha ippo pana vendiyathu than eh...

kedacha vennai la nei ah pannama puthusa paal vaangi thayir aki atha kadanju nei edupengara madhiri pesare...

Raj : athan eh... loose agitiya nee...

K : ungaluku ithelam puriyaathu da... and even i dont know how to explain my stand... it feels so good inside aana i dont know how to express it...

Sen : yena yenamo pesare da... you are so much involved nu puriyuthu... we are happy with your decision about her... aana intha timing than sariya padala...

Sarath : aama da... delay pani yetha thappa agida poguthu... attu piece kellam aalu iruka kaalam ithu... intha ponnu vera super ah iruku... mosam poidatha... mudhala poi correct panra vazhiya paaru...

K : athellam onum aagathu... she is mine... ithula no second thoughts... neenga vena paarunga... i ll meet her soon... i ll make her mine very soon... thirumba solren... she is mine... only mine...

Kathir declared with confidence and closed his eyes with a smile with her words resonating inside him...

"ithe madhiri innoru naal paakalam... appo neenga nenaikaratha panunga.... ok..."

Kathir opened and closed his eyes tight arresting the tears that came rushing out of her words...

"I have someone else in my life... i want his presence throughout my life... I should have told this before but I couldn't... Iam very sorry... lets drop this marriage idea... please..."

"She is mine... only mine...."

"I have someone else in my life... i want his presence throughout my life..."

"She is mine... only mine...."

"I have someone else in my life... i want his presence throughout my life..."

The screaming voices in his mind went muted as the digital frame displayed the next picture of his flower bouquet putting him to trance...

TBC...