M : Athepadi apdi kekalaam ? Naa nalathukunu sencha kooda , purinchuka maatengranga . .....sollunga ? Naa thappu pannala thana ? .....
Manasu aaravae maatenguthu .

Her voice was shaking and eyes were shedding tears nonstop , she bit her lips to control her anguish ;but in vain .

M : Neenga epo varuvinganu ,wait pannitae erunthen . Solli aluthuta baaram korancha maathri erukum ...

She continued ......

It was almost the third time she ranted .

Having poured out all her agony ....now she felt light hearted .
Now that she had told him , he will somehow bring back her inner peace .

This had become a routine since almost 3 months ...
They had been married since 4 months , a sudden unexpected wedding......!!!

A wedding destined by fate . !!!

A wedding that turned their lives upside down !!!

A wedding that she had to accept due to circumstances ..!!!

A wedding that he accepted with a warm heart and broad mind . !!!

After seeing her crying , that day watching her bleed her heart out .....on knowing she wasn't Jeeva s , bride anymore ; he cudnt leave her just like that .
Jeeva had just abandoned her at the neck of the moment on Meena "s arrival ....,Mullai the desperate soul was weeping like a lost baby .
He didn't know what it was , but it was heart wrenching for him to see her like that .

KATHIR ! ! !

It was he who offered for her hand , in that critical situation when no one could derive a solution.

He soughted it out then itself ; as well, was very clearminded of the decision he took and the consequences he might have to face.

From then till date , he had always been her saviour, friend and supporter .

He was sitting next to her , his eyes on her , a soft feathery look , with a motherly patience .....giving time for the hurt kid to outburst and soothe on .

K : Un mela thappu ella ma. Aana , ellarum nammala maathriyae yerupaanganu , nenaika koodaathu . Nee awanga santhoshathuku than senjanu , nammaku theriyum . Aana , avanga( Meena) ellathaiyumae oru kutharkama paakra type . Prechanae athan .......!!
Nee evlo alugurathukellaam avanga thaguthiyaanavanga kedaiyaathu .
Vitru ma ......

M : Enaku kastama erukae !!! Apdi moonji la adicha maathri pesuraaga .

K _ Ellarukum nallathu nenaikrava , saatharanama oru vaarthai sonnalae thaanga mata _ evala poi , epdi apadipatta vaarthaila .......Cha.....epdi thaanguva ? !!!

Moppa kullaiyum anicha malaram Mullaipoo !!

His fists clenched in anger , on hearing the accusation made by Meena ..

Enna jenmamoo .....Jeeva annaka paaka vendiruku !!!

Mullai had reminded Jeeva of Meena s birthday that he had forgotten for good . The whole family took efforts and celebrated her birthday. But ,as the venomous creature she was as always ,Meena spit venom at Mullai , for having called up Jeeva .
The fragile heart that Mullai possessed broke into innumerable pieces upon her false accusations .
Of all ,Jeeva was the last person , Mullai wud ever think to rejuvenate her relationship !!!
Those words of Meena , were bleeding her heart out .....the only person who could mend her broken heart was Kathir !!!
He had cared for her ... from the day she had entered this house as the DIL.
She looked upon him as her saviour ,the one who could heal her wounds , the only person whom she can open up to , wrt anything in regard.
He had given her that comfort zone since their weddlock .
Being too vulnerable ,an emotional person ,she had always thought , that without his friendship ,she wudnt have been able to over come their wit.
There had been quiet a few times , she had had been pricked in heart.
And now ,

Now !!

K : Mullai , naalaiku na yetha Jeeva ana kita pesiran. Awuga kitayum, than. Silaperukku ,solra vithama sonna than puriyum .Sariya ? Nee yethuvum pesatha ... enkita sollitala ? Naa pathukren. Enimel yetha nenachu ala koodathu .... promise ah ?

He had to treat her as a baby sometimes _ these three to four months had taught him , how his wife will react at times and also the ways of handling her .
He was equally furious inside , but didn't want to burst it out to her _ it ill only increase her agony.
He knew her ....

His words worked out !!

M : Haan .... promise nga . Athan neenga erukingala .....enaku epo avlo kastama ella ....

She smiled and brightened instantly.
Her faith in him !!!
That was the main reason he had fallen in for her !!
Her innocence and her faith in him !!!

K : Thoongalama ??

He smiled back .... only to see her , nodding sideways .

K : Ennachu ma ? Epo enna . Sariya aagitala ?

M : Hmmm....athu...inum ....kai kuduthukalayae .?... apuram epdi ?
Thookam varathu !!!

He would fall in a thousand more times again yet for her innocence !!!

The simple act of pressing her palms reassuringly , which he did on their first conversation continued ,these months , everynight before sleep .

She seemed to slip into a blissful sleep , only after that.

He took her soft palm , between his sturdy hands and pressed in warmly , with an affectionate nod .

As if asking whether she was ok !!!

Or else ,confirming it to her , he wud make everything okay !!!

That was enough !!!!

Enough for her !!!!

She seemed to be satisfied with that simple gesture , snuggled into her bed and slept peacefully !!!

He ....??

Was it enough ?

Enough for him ? !!!

Having settled in his bed ,after confirming she had slept , he stared at the ceiling for sometime .......

Parvathy , his Mil s words echoed in his ears ...

Par : Thambi , yen ponna, Jeevaku than kattikudupenu solli naa than valarthen. Antha aasailayae valarntha pulla athu.....aana athuku mela perusa ,avaluku Jeeva thambi kooda pechho palakamoo kedaiyaathu . Ennaiku , epdi thaali katra nerathulla , idiya thooki podraaru .
Mullai enimel avara kattikavum maata ,manasalla nenachum paaka maata !!
Neenga ,epo , evala kattikrenu sollringa .
Unga annanukaaga than solringanaalum , yen ponnoda vaalkaiyum yethula eruku.
Athan naa yosikren !!!

She pleaded with tears in her eyes . The whole family was shocked .
Murugan ,his uncle was shocked beyond words _ he was sitting in a corner , with hands easing his paining chest .
Moorthy & Dhanam had to bear the brunt of the whole situation .
Mullai , looked a pale flower .....there wasn't an ounce of life in her eyes ......
That lost look !!!
That hopeless yet blissfull face !!!
It was then , he decided to ...marry her !!!
He didn't know what made him decide so !!!
Not even Jeeva s problem, infact he was irritated with his brother"s change of decision at the last moment .

K : Naa...naa... Mullaiya ,Mullai kaaga than kalyaanam pannikrenu sollren ..nga athai. Yetha neenga nambanum . Veetla yaarumae pesara nelamailla ella .....ammavum aluthukitae erukaanga. Neenga ....naa solratha purinchukuvinganu than .pauses ...mama odanchu poirukaaru. Annanaala unga mogatha paaka mudilla .....athan, naanae pesuren.

Par : ...Mullai oru maathri ponnu thambi ....surukunu oru sollu , sonnalum sonangi poidu va. Avaluku pudichavangalukkaaga , evlo venaalum vitu koduppa. Epo , kooda , ella thappayaiyum ava thala mela than pottukra !! ...J mama kita kekaama , yerpaadu pannathu namma thappu , naa than ma karanamnu solli alugura pullaikita enna pesurathunae therila.

Parvathi saw Kathir as the little light at the end of the darkest tunnel but still didn't know how long it would persist .

Par : Epo , oru vegathulla kattikitu , naalaiku , oru vaarthai , yen annana thana virumbunanae.......apdinu yethum sollitingana , sathyama yen ponnu atha thaanga maata.
..she cried thinking about her daughter's sensitive nature ......
.....Ava maaruvaalanum therilayae.......
naa than epdinu solli solli valarthenae... en pullaiya !!
Epdi kedanthu thavikraalae .....paaka mudilla ....thambi.
...she pleaded.......the insecurity regarding her daughter s life made her blurt out , everything to someone so young .

It was then he felt protective of her !!

He wanted to comfort her!!

He wanted possesion of her ....the fragile tender softest flower ...ever he knew till date !!!

K : Varathu ! ! Apdi oru sollu naa solla maaten. Yaaraiyum sollavida maaten. Naa paathukuren ,nambunga. Ava manasu maarura varaikum ennala porukka mudiyum.
Epovum sollren , avala avalukaaga than kattikren !!!

He was fascinated by the purity of love and affection she held for her dear ones , up to the extent of taking the blame upon her ownself !!!
He thought for a second _ his brother was unlucky actually !!!
He cudnt figure out his current thought process _ why he was thinking on these lines , about a girl who was to get married to his brother ,few hours ago !!!
But ,

But he had taken the decision. .

More than for the sake of the family , it was for her !!!

It was for him too !!!

That was it !!!

No more looking back .!!!

Mullai was his wife , his better half in next few minutes ....his assurance... the only base upon which their life had started !!!

He closed his eyes , thinking about the further happenings that took place the further day .....

The changes that followed these few months .....thanks to her mother , she contributed her max ,to cheer her up .

She had become the most important person of his life _ the jewel of his life !!!

There were a lot of changes in both of them .

Sure ,she liked him a lot ...relied upon him ..a lot .

But , beyond it ???

She ???

He .....???!

A delicate barrier woven with affection ,trust , security , love ,friendship ....held them apart , atleast him .

There were a thousand emotions racing in his heart for her ....he shut his eyes....tried to sleep ..... desperately !!