The cuckoo bird in the clock cooed sweetly bringing kathir back to the present reminding him of his current ache and anguish...
As his eyes went for the chiming bird again, his memories drifted back to the third meet with his flower bouquet...

Wasn't it the same kind of balmy sunday afternoon with the same bird pealing...
Yes it was...
It was the days he was experiencing happiness and pure bliss in missing his flower bouquet...
Even now he is going to miss his flower bouquet but why does it feel like ripping his soul apart...
He closed his eyes again not able to tolerate the pain...

L : dei kathiru... antha kuruviyum kathuthu... naanum kaatharen... un kaathula vizhutha illaya... time aachu da... sikiram vaa... kelambalam...

K : maa... sunday athuma tnagar ku shopping porathu... athum ammavave irunthalum oru ponnoda porathu... atha vida oru periya punishment oru paiyanuku vera yethum illaa... enna vituden maa... had a awesome lunch... apadiye oru nap edutha super ah irukum... please... evening vera match iruku...

L : dei ipadi sonna naan yepadi da porathu... appa ku vera kaal la sulukku... avarala vara mudiyaathu... illaana avara kutitu poirupen...

K : hello lakshmi madam... enakenamo avaru shopping ku escape aga drama panraaru nu thonuthu... yethukum poi check panungalen...

L : poda... enaku theriyum... en purushan onum apadi illaa... aana nee irukiye... ufff... unaku pondati ah vara porava paavam... oru shopping ku yevalo pechu... po naan taxi book pani poikaren...

One mention of the word "pondatti" brought a mesmarizing smile in his face and flashes of his flower bouquet popped up his mind with a beautiful rhythm...
He wanted a immediate private moment and tried to send his mom out...

K : sari sari kochukaathe maa... chumma sonnen... kela poi wait panu... will be there in ten minutes... nee pothum pothum nu solra alavuku shopping panalam... ok...

L : ithu nalla paiyanuku azhagu... sikiram vaa...

As lakshmi left, kathir opened his dresser and pulled out the digital frame looking at his flower bouquet...

K : hey flower bouquet... kettiya...nee paavamam... un maamiyaar solranga...but you dont worry... flower bouquet nu vanthuta kathir will be beyond imagination... will give you everything you wish... antha alavuku love torture panuven...

His mind chided with a face palm about his future thoughts and asked him to work in present first for it making him smile sheepishly...

K : correct than... yetha pananum than... athuku mudhala unnaa paakanum... its been eight months since i saw in pondicherry... athuku appuram ipadi kannula padama kannamoochi aadariye...

nee yenadana next time pakalam... appo nenachatha panunga nu yellam solitu poita... intha jekkama yenana wait panu flower bouquet ah unaku than nu solluthu... en amma athukum mela... yenga start panalum pondatti la vanthu nikaranga... ithula intha varushathukula marumaga veetuku vanthuduva nu vera solitu sutharanga...

Ithu paathathu nu pasanga enna kazhuvi utharanga... avanunga pesaratha sathiyama kekka mudiyala... enna madhiri oru kena paiyan intha ulagathulaiye iruka mataanam... athan ipadi sutharanam...

Ithai yellam ketutum naan loose madhiri than sutharen... what ever happens, how much time it takes, im just sticking to your words... i will wait for the right time...

Still enna ivalo naal wait pana vekariye... enna paatha unaku paavama illaaya...

The frame shifted to a photo of his flower bouquet with a cute pout making him giggle...

K : paaru unake paavama than eh iruku... so soon come to me... ok...

As the picture changed to another with a thumbsup from his flower bouquet, he placed the frame back in its hideout and moved to the door...
Soon then he came back in a flash and took the frame again in hands...

K : hey my dear flower bouquet... varathu mattum illaa... just give me some proper hint... thirumba yetha yekkuthappa soli enna suthalla vitudaathe... though its silly and even painful, i wouldnt go against your words... paathu panu ma... ok...

He pressed his lips on the frame with a feel as if he is kissing her in person and joined his mom merrily...
Somehow his mood got better and better as he started thinking about his flower bouquet as always...
When he was in his own trance, Lakshmi disturbed it as they were about to enter the shop...

L : kathir... pogum bothu niyabagam panu... poo vaangitu pogalam... mullai poo fresh ah iruku... ( pointing to the flower vendor)

K (excited) : yena... yena maa sonne... come again...

L (confused) : pogum bothu poo vaangalam niyabagam panu nu sonnen... yen da...

K : yena poo sonna...

L : mullai poo da... paaru nalla nerukamaa saram kattirukaanga... azhaga iruku la...

Kathir was lost in his thoughts and felt so contended for reason unknown with the mention of those flowers...
Maybe just reminded him of his flower bouquet's house name...
And...

K : maa... mullai poo la bouquet pana yepadi irukum...

L : yethu... mulla poo laya... loose ah da nee...
avalo kutti poo la yepadi bouquet panuvaanga... yengayavathu ullangai size la bouquet paathirukiya nee...

K : illaa maa... aana anjarai adila bouquet paathuruken... beautiful flower bouquet ma...

L (doubtfully) : yenathu... anjarai adi laya... apadi yellam panuvaangala yena... yetha special design ah...

K (smiling) : yes specially designed for kathirvel pandian...

L : yena da solre... avalo periya bouquet yethuku unaku... yaaru kudutha...

K : kudukala kuduka poranga... appuram yethuku nu yellam unkita sola mudiyaathe... amma ah poitiye...(wink)

L : poda kirukku payale... yetha olarikitu... vaa povom...

K : hmmmm...

Kathir took a look at the beautifully threaded flowers with a sniff and left inside with his mom...
Just like every guy's custom, he took a comfortable seat in the shop where he could take a look at his mother, at the sametime, could spend time for himself...
Soon lakshmi plunged into her shopping spree and kathir into his favorite passtime of watching the photos and videos of his flower bouquet...
Soon...

"Hmmm... nalla iruku ithu... Ivalo thooram vanthutu chumma ukanthu mobile paathutu... ithuka inga vanthenga... olunga enaku saree select pana help panunga... neenga select panratha than naan yeduka poren...."

Kathir's heart melted with the symphony that he heard and even without looking up, he knew its her...

His flower bouquet...

The feel of having her in proximity after a longtime was beyond beautiful and he really didnt know to put that feel in perfect words...
It felt divine to breathe the same air she was breathing out...
It felt excited to share the place where she was...
It felt soothing to hear her voice amidst thousands of noises...
He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath inscribing the moment, for which he was waiting with his heart and soul...

With a sheer confidence and more of love, he peeked up to see his flower bouquet standing with hands on hip and a cute baby pout...
A reaction that would make him stumble all the time...
Just like his name for her, she gave a heavy competition to all real flowers in a pastel pink salwar and made him gape at her forgetting all others...

On a quick note, he didnt fail to see that she was talking to a elderly person sitting a few chairs next to him...
Probably its her father and a elderly woman accompanied her which he thought would be her mother...
For a brief moment, he got himself lost happily in her ministrations and finally gave a ear to her talks...

When his flower bouqquet cajoled her father to select saree for her, kathir got ready instantly for the mission as if he was asked for...
He managed somehow to have his mobile for ready too for photos and videos...
Soon the heaven dropped down to earth for kathir showing him all shades of bliss...

His flower bouquet started the real show of trying the sarees she selected on her asking for opinions from her parents in turn mesmarizing kathir...
He didnt know if silk made her beautiful or if its other way around...

After the saree parade was over, though completely dumbstruck, kathir felt she looked a bit more ravishing in a yellow color saree than others and wanted her to get it...
When her parents were asking her to decide as everything looked gorgeous on her, she said in a crystal clear voice...

"No no no... enna kekkave venaam... Neenga rendu perum than ippo decide pananum... unga decision than ennoda decision um... no more talks... ithuku mela yetha pesina appuram kochupen..."

When she said with her jhumkas dangling, as always, Kathir felt it was a word for him and took a look at his flower bouquet and her parents...
So does it means he has to proceed through her parents...
Was it the sign given to him by her...
This is totally different than what he imagined dreamily or planned realistically...
So what should he do now...

Should he approach her parents...
This doesn't sound so good...
Why on earth should he express his love for others and not her...
Or should he skip this as a normal talk...
His stupid heart claimed no and clung to those words...

Poor kathir sat like a rock with thousands of questions popping out of his mind...
And...

His eyes fell on the yellow saree he loved to see her...
Will her parents select it...
Just like a litmus test, his ears waited for her parents decision and eyes rolled to them for signs...
He decided to plan things based on their decision...
After few seconds of waiting...

"Ammadi... appo antha manjal pudavai yeduthukalam... athula mahalakshmi madhiri iruntha... yellathaiyum vida athu than unaku poruthama irunthuchu..."

Kathir heaved a deep sigh and grinned widely as he passed the little test...
He kept smiling like mad as his flower bouquet and family went to the billing section for getting things done..
By the time they left, kathir scrutinised her parents trying to analyse them...
And yes he decided what to do next...
Then...

L : dei... unna anga thedina inga yena panre... vaa... moonu pudavai yeduthu vechuruken... vanthu onnu select panu... (pulling him to her saree counter)

K : maa... moonume yeduthuko... vaa bill podalam... konjam sikiram poganum...

L : dei... moonu yellam venam...

K : moonum vaangiyachu... nee vaa ma...

Kathir paid the bill in lightning speed and come out of the shop with a confused but curious lakshmi...
Even in that hurry, he didnt forget to get the flowers and rushed to the car...
The mind which was idle for all these days started making plans while heart which was working 24/7 took a rest just cherishing the memories...
The excitement and anxiety in her son scared lakshmi a lot...

L : dei kathir... yen ipadi avasarapadare... vandiya konjam methuva ootu...

(Seeing his not giving any heed) dei yena da achu unaku... vera madhiri agita konja nerathula... sollen da... kirukku thanama thaniya sirikare vera...

K : kirukka... pasanga loose nu kena paya nu soluvanga... nee kirukku ngra... hmmm everything will end soon...

L : avanga yen apadi sonanga... nee yena pana... ada sollu da...

K : maa... just chill... will let you know once we get home...

L : dei kathir...

K : just five minutes ma... en chella amma la...

He drove fast infact very fast for chennai traffic terrifying lakshmi and finally came home fine...
As soon as he entered home, he went in search of his father who was resting in his bed...

Pan : hey yena athukula vanthutenga... pona velai nadanthucha illaaya..

L : athu...

K : athelam super ah nadanthuchu paa... un phone ah kudu...

Kathir sat on the bed and started looking for something in his father's mobile...
Pandian gestured as whats happening to lakshmi for which she shooked her head as no idea...

K : paaa... three months back unga palaya school friends get together ku poitu vanthiye... athan kunnakudi la... where are those pictures...

Pan : yen da vayasaana kaalathula intha koothelllam thevaiya nu kindal pana... ippo yethuku athu...

K : ok paa... i will get those words back... olunga sollu...

Pan : athu laptop la transfer...

Before pandian could answer, kathir was quick to switch on the laptop and got what he wanted...

K : paa... ithu than... intha white shirt... murukku meesai... who is this...

Pan : ithuvaa... murugan da... naanum avanum anjaavathu varaikum...

K : stop stop... enough of your history... ivaru contact number theriyuma...

Pan : oh vaanginane... dei yena vishayam nu sollu da...

L : athan eh thalaiyum puriyala... vaalum puriyala....

K : wait wait...

He fished through pandian's mobile again and checked again...

K : intha murugan ah...

Pan : aama da... yen...

K (frustrated sigh) : ufff... intha WhatsApp la saami dp vekkaravangaluku WhatsApp ah ban pananum...

Fine... paa... is he in facebook...

Pan (proudly) : oh... naanga facebook la group la kuda irukom... kunnakudi high school la...

K : paa... unaku kaal la suluku vanthathuku vaaila vanthurukalam.... too much speaking... get me his profile soon...

Pan : thimir pidichavane... tho ithu than...

Pandian gave the mobile to kathir making his smile in satisfaction...
Kathir was right...
It was profile of Murugan Viswanathan with a solo profile picture and cover picture of his family...
Himself with his wife and daughter...
The woman who he saw in shop and his flower bouquet...
With a smile, he revealed his heart to his parents...

K : paaa... maaa.. ithu than naan love panra ponnu...

He turned the laptop to his parents who sat rooted to the bed thinking if they had got any sudden hearing disorder...
They exchanged a look and got back to kathir again...

L : yena da sonne...

K : naan love panra ponnu maa... naan sonna anjarai adi flower bouquet... yepadi iruka...

Pan : ei lakshmi... unaku theriyuma.. yena flower bouquet ngran...

L : ada neenga vera... enakum onum theriyaathu... yetho bouquet bouquet nu sonnan... ippo bouquet ngra per la bomb podaran...

Pan : athu sari... dei yethana naal ah ithu... yepadi palakkam...

K : oru varushama paa...

(shocked) omg... how did i miss this...

Pan, L (panic) : yena achu da...

K (excited) : iniki rajesh wedding anniversary... en flower bouquet ah naan paathu one year achu... beautiful one year...

By then, the initial shock subsided for pandian and lakshmi...
They were happy to see his son who was refusing marriage was completely love smitten..
They were happy to see he had fallen for a gorgeous beauty...
They were happy to know its not someone else who is a stranger, it is someone from a family whom they knew very well from childhood...
They were happy to know they belonged to same community and same status too...

But all these were just added advantages...
Even if there was nothing above, they would have wholeheartedly consented for their dear son's wish...
With a happy smile...

L : athena da... flower bouquet,flower bouquet nu tu... per yena... atha sollu mudhala...

K : thanks for reminding maa...

(Seeing the tag in the facebook picture)

Hmmm... Parvathi murugan...
Hmmm... Mullai murugan...

Parvathi seem to be a old name...

So it should be mullai murugan i guess...

(Thinking) Hmmm... kandipa mullai ah than maa irukanum...

Ava veedu peru mullaiyagam... so it should be named after her name...

Not understanding the heart attacks he was giving his parents, kathir admired his flower bouquet's name...

K : Mullai... azhagana per illaa maa... mullai poo la bouquet pana mudiyaathunu soniye... paaru... antha kadavule mullaipoovala oru anjarai adi bouquet ah special ah design pani enaku anupi vechurukaaru...

L : dei niruthu niruthu... kulapaathe engala...

K : yena kulapam... sollunga... let me clear it for you...

L : oru varushama love panre nu solre... chella per yellam vechuruka... aana per kuda theriyala...

K : naan than eh love panren nu sonnen... ava panra nu solave illaaye...

Pan,L (shocked) : dei...

Kathir laughed out loud seeing his parents reaction...

K : shock ah korainga... shock ah korainga... en flower bouquet ku kathirvel pandian nu oruthan irukarathe theriyaathu... its me and only me loving her...

Pan : dei sirikaathe... vayasaana kaalathula yen engala paduthare... olunga mudhala irunthu sollu...

K : chill chill... solren... athu oru mokkai story than... so kettutu tension agidathenga...

L : ada sollu da... built up panitu...

K : exactly a year back... sonnen la... i met her in rajesh marriage...

just random ah ponnungala sight adichutu irunthapo en flower bouquet ah paathen... she was drop dead gorgeous that day (smiling thinking that moment)

Off course any day she is gorgeous...

Pan : dei dei... ava bayangara azhagu nu photo paathale theriyuthu... vazhiyaama mela sollu...

L : athan eh... antha ponnu yepadi sontham... ponnu veeda illaa mapilla veeda...

K (glaring) : neram... ava ponnoda friend pola maa... rajesh ku matter therinjathum visaarichu sonaan...

Pan : avan per kettu solalaiya...

K : avan kekkaren nu sonnan... but i said not to ask... thaana theriyatum nu...

Pan, L (surprised) : oh...

K : Hmm appuram yenamo avala vida mudiyala... avala follow pannen till chennai and found out her house...

L : oh athan moonu naal kalyanam nu ponavan ore naal la vantha kadhai ah... hmm appuram...

K : hmmm appuram i just noted her house... vera yethume panala... didn't think of any extra details... apadiye vituten... just wanted to see if its something soulful or just time pass...

Pan, L : hmmm... appuram...

K (amused) : paiyanoda kadhal kadhai ah ukanthu hmmm kotti kekarengale... neenga yellam appa amma ah...

L : kadhalichatha antha ponnukita solama appa amma kita solra unna madhiri paiyana petha ipadi than iruka mudiyum... pesama kadhaiya sollu...

K : bangam panitiya... hmmm why did i stop...

Haan soon i found out it was not something normal... yetho special nu purinjuthu... i was going with the flow and waiting to meet her if we were destined to eachother...

(Smiling) and i met her again in pondicherry coincidentally... antha moment i decided she is mine... only mine... then again the waiting game started... athuku appuram avala iniki than shop la paathen... intha special day la...

L : adei... kadai la paathiya... enaku kaamichurukalam la... enaku onume solalaiye da...

K : nee vera ma... avala paatha yellame blur agiduthu enaku... ava appa ah yengayo paatha madhiri irunthuchu... but strike agave illaa till she was there... ava ponathuku appuram than i got him appavoda friend nu... still oru doubt... athu than vanthu confirm panikiten...

Pan : yellam ok... aana murugan veedu theriyume... proceed pana vendiyathu than eh... yethuku wait panitu iruntha... athu unnoda character um illaaye... i have never seen you so patient till date... be it personally or professionally...

K : hmmm paa... athuku neraya reasons iruku... athelam sonna ungaluku puriyuma nu theriyala... even i don't know to explain...

But one thing... in her case i wanted things to happen... i didnt want to make things happen... sounds stupid la (grinning)

Pandian and lakshmi who were listening to kathir was more astounded now as they expected a normal love story but this was quite different from the ones in serials and cinemas...
Most importantly, they felt their son's entire character has changed...
It couldn't be said as changed, it seemed to be moulded to a softer version of him...
Trully they loved this and off course the girl who made it...
How wouldn't they love the one who stole their son's heart...

Pan : athellam sari... aana proposal nee than eh pananum... athum thana nadakathu la... poi antha ponnu kita propose panama yen da yenga kita solre...

L : athan eh...

K : illaa paa... ithu proposal than... but i dont want it to be a love proposal... this is a marriage proposal... so lets proceed with her parents first avanga moolama lets go forward...

Pan : so do you want to frame your love story to be a arrange marriage story...

K : cha cha... why would i paa... naan onum thappu panalaiye... love than eh panren... why should i hide...

Pan ( twisting brows) : then...

K : Just naan move panrathu initially unga moolama, ava parents moolama... but kandipa i would tell them each and everything...

Even en flower bouquet kitayum yellathaiyum solitu than enga kalyanam nadakum... and this is a love marriage arranged by parents... thats it...

Pan (patting his back) : apadi sollu da raja... ippo than nee en paiyan... antha thairiyam irukanum... yenga yethume nadakatha madhiri arrange panunga nu soliduviyo nu oru nimisham kadupaagiten...

K : never paa...

L : aana yen da parents moolama... enaku puriyala...

K ( smirking) : apadi than enaku order vanthuruku...

L : order ah yaaru pota...

K : hmmm un marumaga than...

Pan : yena da solre... ava kita than pesinathe illaaye nee...

K : paaa... this is totally different... ungaluku puriyaathu vidunga... unga paiyan oru ponnu pinnadi poi road la suthi propose panratha vida parents moolama approach panrathu looks dignified right... so typical parents questionaire ah stop panitu next yena nu yosinga...

L : romba than da panre nee...

Pan : sari vidu de... next yena poi murugana paathu pesidalam... avanum ponnuku varan paakanum nu solitu irunthaan... so we will proceed... happy now...

K : thanks a lot paa... thank you maa...

Kathir kissed his parents happily putting them in happy smiles...

L : happada... ithana naal kalyanam venam venam nu solitu irunthathu intha devathai kedaika than ah... aanalum kadaila enaku kaamichurukalam la da... otha photo ah yevalo neram paakarathu...

K : otha photo ah... poor lakshmi... inuma un paiyana pathi theriyala unaku... enkita oru exhibition vekkara alavuku iruku...

Kathir showed his entire collection of his flower bouquet including the ones shot in the shop that day...
Though enjoyed and loved the captures, he did get a earful from his parents for such a cheap act as expected...

L(rigid) : nee sonna yellame sari than da... engaluku paripoorna santhosham... aana oru ponna ipadi photo video yeduthatha engalala yethuka mudiyaathu... follow panatha vida ithu thappu... unna antha madhiri naanga vallakala nu nenaikarom...

K ( feeling guilty) : thappu than maa... enakum therinjuthu... but i couldnt control myself... i swear naan thappa intention la yedukkala... this is unfiltered set of pictures...

Pan : thappana intention la panalaingrathala pana thappu sari agiduma da... thappu thappu than...

K : aagathu than pa... sorry... as i said i was out of control... sari thappu theriyala when it comes to my flower bouquet...

Pan , L : ...

K : ippo yena en pondattiya than eh yeduthen... vera yaravatha iruntha antha pakkam en kannu matum illaa camera lens kuda pogaathu... athunala periya manasu pani manichu vitudungalen...

Pan : poda pokkiri...

L : pesiye sirikka vechuru... aanalum intha rathi ah vithama vithama yedutha ore karanathukaga vidarom... illaana thola urichurupen nee pana velaiku...

K : vidu ma vidu ma... intha video paaren... unaku poruthamana marumaga illaa (wink)

That made his parents laugh and eventually let go all little anger...
The next day they planned to visit murugan in his office to keep the first step...
Then...

A soft hand caressed his forehead bringing him to the present...
Yes it was his lakshmi with pandian both looking at him with care and concern...

L : kathir... yen da achu... yena unna paduthuthu...

Kathir stayed tightlipped not knowing what to speak...
Seeing him being quiet, pandian questioned...

Pan : yellathaiyum vidu... saintharam murugan veetula irunthu varuvaanga da... ippo poi nee ippadi... murugan keta naan yena da solatum...

That question reminded him about the days where he actually started working to make her his own...
The days that was filled only with happiness and excitement..
Just a thought about those days was enough to make his heart ache...
Yes... Post that third meet, everything started happening just like kathir wished...
But why didnt it end as he wished...
Why did he lose in this...
His head started spinning as all the castles he build started crashing down in front of his eyes...

So what should he do now...
What answer should he tell his parents...

TBC...