Kathir was left confused as he couldn't find her through the breadth and length of the lane.He longed to get a glimpse of the amber color saree in the dark sheaths of space around, but was in vain.

With an aching heart he skimmed around but no luck. At a distance, there was a crowd surrounding someone, he didn't want to miss checking it.

he couldn't walk steady, the commotion in his head drew him back and forth, he had also acquired wounds from the time when people rushed insanely and got him stabbed against a sharp plate, half plastered in the walls of a stall, causing a cut in his torso.

As he neared he was anxious but it was not mullai. He sighed and moved over to scan the other parts.

Mullai felt heavy as scary thoughts surged through her mind, but dismissed them to go search her man.

She looked around and couldn't find him in visinity. She was restless and was quick to get dissapointed. She decided to call out...and as she started yelling "ennanga", later she realized there were people calling their near ones from either sides of the space she stood.

A women yelled "eanga.... Gopi enganga" patheehala...And there were names called out randomly and more eanga, ennangaz...filled the air to reach out to their loved ones.

She shouted twice and realized it will not work, so she resorted to calling his name..

Kathir.........kathir...... Kathiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrr

She cried desperately to find him in good spirits.

She made silent prayers with every step she took and everytime she called.

"Kadavulae avughalukku edum ayiruka koodathu"

"Kadavulae avugha nalla irukanum"

As the power was gone and there were none working on fixing it, the entire fair, the lane and parts surrounding it were pitch dark.

People were using the torch lights in their mobile phones to skim through the darkness. Luckily the smoke settled soon after all the efforts taken to set the fire off.

Mullai was still calling his name out... Kathir...kathir...... As she came into the lane..

Kathir heard her......he turned around to get a quick glimpse and there she was searching him around and calling out to him..

"Mulla..... Mulla" "inga paaru"... She did not hear his voice in the crowd.

The seperation despite over a small time frame,was dreadful and painful over the fear of losing each other.They longed to see the other at the very instance, due to the tribulation of the unprecedented events.

She was looking towards the other side and moved near him...still calling Kathir... Kathir...

He realized she neared him..so kept his cool and heard her calling him...

As she came close by, still calling out... kathir with a sulky face..he called out...Mulla..

She got her life back as she saw him, felt as if the body reunited itz soul,her eyes teared, but this time they were happy tears. Her prayers seemed to have been answered.She thanked God silently for all the benevolent prayers she recited.

She immediately hugged him tight, inadvertently.....and without any delay, he hugged her back.

Their feeling was mutual, after all they went through and the fear that got instilled while they missed each other.It made them stay close. They didn't want to move, kept their loved one as close as possible, leaving no chance for anything to intrude,not even air.

After a few seconds she whimpered to ask

M:Eanga Unagaluku onnum agalayae...

K: onnum illa..Mulla.... Unakku

M: enakum edhum illanga...

K: adi edhum patucha...

M: illanga..ana romba bayandhutean...

K: naanum dhaan...

unna paathapuram dhaan uyirae vandhuchu

He caressed her hair to mellow her down..as she sobbed.

M: enakum dhan nga

K: enga pona nee...evlo thedinean theriyuma

He pulled her before him and cupped her face.

M: andha shamiana vizhumbodhu andha pakkam dhaan irundhean...nalla vela yaaro enna pudichu izhuthutaanga...illana enna ayirukumnae...

He placed his hand over her mouth..

K: onnum agathu....unaku

They looked into each other's eyes....

M: theriyum...enaku onnu dhaan thonichu...

She buried her head again...

ungaloda vazhanum....neraya naal vazhanum...

K: adhuku indha jenmam muzhukka irukku...kandippa serndhu dhaan irupom.. he reassured.

M: ungalukku epdi irundhuchu...

K: bayamadhaan irundhuchu..ana nambikkai irundhuchu...romba...

Nee illama....nenachu kooda pakamudiyadhu...

Dhideernu oru verumayum virakthiyum... athu solla mudiyadhu...apdi irundhuchu...

Indha edam muzhukka thedinean...inga illanadhum enna ennavo thoneerchu....

Ana kandippa unakku onnum ayirukadhu nu thidama nambinean...analum padapadappu...

Ippo...unna patha piragudhaan....oru nilaiku vandhuchu manasu

She was still sobbing....

M: hmm....ean ipdilam thideernu nadakanum....

Ungala koopadalamna...ellarum katharaanga.... Ungalukku nan koopadrathu vizhuma ennanu kooda therila.....

K: ahnnnn ketchuchu.....

M: apdiyaa...enna ketuchu

K: nee kathir kathir nu kooptadhu dhaan, vera enna...

M: Ohooo...... She came out of his embrace and asked....

Neenga dhaan ketutae irundheehalae...

K: ammam dhaan....ana enaku appo kooptadhu dhaan pidichudhu...

He whispered in her ears.

M: edha soldreeya....

K: adhaan..apoo...bike la...

M: appo....ketutudhaan irundhirukeeya...apdithane

K: he nods ..

M: appapaaa.....ambuttayum ketutu.... kekadha madhiriyae....
Seriyana aal dhaan....

K: ahnnn...adhu nalla irundhuchu....ketutae irukalam pola....adhaan....

M:seriyana aal dhan ponga.....she hits him playfully

Their mood got better after this discussion and they slowly made a move from the place.

He held her hand tight and she clasped him. They locked their fingers closely.

The grip of their clasp told those unspoken words of love while they missed each other, those of pain and agony, the fear of their loved one getting hurt, much worse the night mare of losing them, the emptiness of those lone moments, the darkness in their thoughts, the longing of their eyes, the aching of their hearts and the pursuit of their soul.

The mere glimpse of the other brought the heavens down as their pupils captured their favourite colours for the hour, the one their eyes loved to besiege, the only one that their soul seeked in sojourn.

He never knew the amber color could bring in some much joy, seemed so much like the evening flower, seeking the sun post sunset, while Mullai came searching for him.

Nevertheless their shades remained the same albeit sunset, for she had the most powerful sun as her better half and so did he,the most fragrant flower all his!!

They walked past the sand leaving behind their agony and fear.

The evening that was full of fun and magic also showed colors of fear and freight!!

But Kathir and Mullai sailed through both with hope, love and understanding.

Their lives have been a rollercoaster ride as well with ups and downs and their love grew multi fold as they went past. All these circumstances have made them stronger,closer, crazier and have increased their understanding too.

Life may present the toughest challenge while it is least expected, but what matters the most is not just how we face them but also how we grow past.

This is not the tale that says they lived happily ever after.

This is a tale that tells, despite crests and troughs in life, they can fight against all odds and emerge strong each time, with their love growing up for each other.

"A happily ever after" life does not mean, life will be the bed of roses.

Life is about overcoming hurdles, facing challenges, building trust,loving genuinely and more importantly holding on to it.
Being there for each other, every moment, every day, throughout.

In the end, all that matters is how you sailed together and when you look back, every little thing would seem worthy because you were together!!

And....

That's the fairy tale of Kathir and Mullai❤️

€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€The end.€€€€€€€€€€€€€
Really?  An epilogue to follow...