Mullai was still within his hands .

With an already exhausted mind and body he was now worried for the girl in his arms .

But instead of increasing his agony more a wave of comfort and calmness surged in him .

Though he didn't know why ! !

Ironical !!

He didn't waste time in thinking about his emotions anymore .

With her almost fainted within his clutch he scooted himself to the waiting sofa beside him , with her still resting on his shoulder .

Mullai was in a half dizzy state _ except the iron rustic smell of raw blood she couldn't sense anything more .

Having sat down he patted on her cheeks more than twice after which she slowly got back to her senses .

Once awake she sprang up straight with both embarrassment and shyness .

Still within his arms , she didn't have the guts to look up at him in his eyes .

As well the blood drenched shirt scared her .

Is something wrong ?

Before she could think more , Kathir asked her .

Kathir : Are you ok ?

Mullai : Hmm..

Kathir ' Sure ? Water ? He pointed to the water can that was kept in the desk near by .

She nodded sideways and hesitantly asked ,

Mullai : Enachu ... ungalku ... unga..unga shirt laam ...

He looked unhurt now . But she was still scared ,

He was able to read her mind .

Is she scared or worried that something has happened to him ? 

Did she faint on thinking on that something had happened to him ?

Somewhere deep inside his heart a bubble bloomed inside without his knowledge !

( Author unaku athu purincha ,naan kadaiya saathitu kelambanum thambi _ Athunaala unaku athu late ah than puriyum  _ kikiikkikkiii )

He looked at the scared face and shivering frame of her once and felt really bad of how ,she is going to receive the news of her father's ill-health .

Well , he can't afford to say quiet .

Already he had taken a decision on his own since he didn't have any of their contact numbers .

And her mother still is unaware of the accident . She needs to know it .

But ,

Not alarming Mullai , Kathir got up and fetched her a tumbler of water .

Sitting beside her again with a decent distance between them ,he handed over the water to her .

She looked clueless _ what was to come ?

Mullai :Enanga ...enna aachu ?

She had never seen him this kind to her nor had he presented this raggled and blood drenched to her .

There was always an aura of sophistication surrounding him , but it wasn't now.  

Even on that drunken night ,he wasn't this worn out nor tired as dead meat .

It scared her all the more .

Mullai : Adi patruka ? Sattailaam rathama eruku , yen ivlo rath .....she stiffened suddenly as whilst noticing his eyes look her with a sort of mercy .
Yaarukaachum..? Yaarukavathu .....she stopped unable to continue .

Her body seemed to tremble again .

Kathir : Kudi ! He ordered her and handed over the water to her , waiting for her to relax .

She obeyed immediately like a child and again looked at him pathetically .

It was too too hard for him to look at that innocent face .

With a sigh he opened up short and to the point as much as possible .

Kathir :  See ma , bayapatha _
In the first place there is nothing to worry ,ok !
Keep it in mind .
Un appa ...un appaku oru accident....., near Perambalur pakkathulla , two wheeler la varum bothu .......heeei , he swiftly paced close to her ,

Mullai was shocked to the core .

Her face went pale white instantly and heart thudded as hell .

She didn't even notice him saying her dad was safe .

Shock with a sorrow engulfed her , and

She had started shivering and trembling as hell.

He knew she will be shocked but didn't expect this .

She was shabbily shaking that he feared that she might throw a fit .

Impulsively he moved closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulder , sheltering her within his clutch .

Her teeth was stammering though she tried to keep herself in control .

As whilst carresing her arms he continued to speak ,

Kathir : He is fine.  Naa than mothaliyae sonnen la. Awar uyirku yentha aabathum illai .
By God's grace ,I happened to see him .
Anga erunthu odanae hospital ku shift panniyaachu .
Awara stabilise pannitu , uyirku yentha prechanaiyum illainu , doctors sonna apuram than ,naan inga vanthen
Heei ....see, look at me ; naan solrathu puritha ?
He s is safe girl !

He said patiently as if explaining to a toddler but in vain .

With all her mature ,composed nature dissappearing just like that ,she asked him again and looked at him with wide opened , frightened eyes like a , small deer caught in a trap.

Not aware of what he was doing ,he rubbed her back and carressed her hair and repeated the whole happenings once again .

Not wanting to leave her alone ,he was holding her tight within his clutch _ none of them realised their proximity .

Mullai was shattered inside .

Mullai : Appa ...appa ....her voice broke in tears .

How many days she had wantedly awoided her parents and family .

How deliberate she had been at times , and had taken a decision on her own .

She had even planned to just ping them before starting to Kerala .

And now ,

All .... everything seemed to be doomed .

In misery she ranted to him itself .

Mullai : Appa ...awara paathae maasama aaguthu . Naanae than venumnaae paakala .
Anga vara koodaathunum sonnenaae !
Appa ....ppa ..,
Naan than ,naanu than ....
Aiyyo amma _ she screamed,  then as if reminded of her mother ,she shook again ,
Amma ....acho amma paavam ,
awanga.... awangalku ... therincha ?
She spoke to her self and then started crying like a kid . Awanga enna pannuvaanga ?
Acho ...aiyyo !

Kathir : Shh ... Mullai ! He tried in a strict voice but failed miserably this time . She looked too pathetic .
Yet ,he had to ... and continued in a strict tone , I said he is out of danger !

Mullai : Nijama ? Summa enakaaga sollala thana ?
Promise pannunga ? She pulled a little and brought her palm to face him and asked again like a kid .

With an innocent chubby baby face , wide big eyes filled with fright and doubt , plump lips trembling over clattering teeth , along with a running nose and pink tinged cheeks ......with one palm raised up to him and with a trembling body that was still within his arm , Kathir wouldn't forget that sight of hers until his end .

That image imprinted itself deep and dark somewhere inside him .

This side of hers was totally new to him .

He had almost always seen her somewhat composed and always with a caution in her eyes .

Not this raw ,

A monstrous urge to console her and wipe away her sorrow arose sky high within him .

He hadn't felt this way for anyone else _ not even for any of his family members .

A lump stuck up his throat .

It was difficult to promise ,to that angelic face and truthful eyes of hers .

What if something untoward happens ?

Ofcourse the doctora did asure Murugan' a good prognosis but with a backlog and a complication .
Murugan had to undergo another crucial  surgery which could end either way . The final decision and consent was to be taken by his family members ,his wife and children .
That was the main reason Kathir had reached out to Mullai at that odd hour of the night .

If otherwise he had planned to take care of Murugan s status all alone that night and inform the family the next morning only .

But now ,..

Unable to answer her , without promising her ,he  entwined his fingers with hers and pressed her palm in assurance .
His other hand that was around her shoulder pulled her more close towards him and carressed the side of her chest , ensuring her confidence and strength.

It must have been a minute !

Mullai seemed to relax and absolutely believe his word in that gesture of his .

She breathed out relief _ as if his word is final .

Her stiffened body started losening its grip and she reclined slightly to rest her back on his shoulder ,

When ,.

Gosh !

What did his fingers just brush across _ accidentally ?

Kathir immediately took away his arm that was encircling the side of her chest .

Damn !

He felt a streak of lightening pass through him !

The gentle most brush of his hand across the side of her breast ,seemed electrifying !!

How on earth will he know that the thin  cotton night dress of hers won't be any use to  shield the abundance of her twin girls,  from his manly palm ?
And how will he know that apart from that thin fabric outside ; there won't be any other barrier safeguarding her softness from his wild fingers ?

She wasn't the slim zero sized elite model like figurine .

She was blessed abundantly with rich nourishments and dangerous curves !!

Too dangerous for any man to resist himself .

Kathir suddenly felt the difference !

He had never ever felt this way with any woman , before !!

And that too , when she was in such a sorrow .

His man pride hit him hard and his ego hurt him as hell.

He was somewhat aroused with the gentle touch of a woman who wasn't his own anymore _ he felt ashamed of himself .

Not startling her he drew himself away from her and sat at a reasonable distance from her .

Their hands were still locked ofcourse _

Palm in palm !

They don't didn't speak for sometime .

Both of them dwelled in shock of their own .

Minutes passed by qhen Kathir noticed she was sobbing silently .

If only he can just console her _ without any other thoughts .

He was shocked at his own thought process .

He wasn't that type of man till now ,

Till date he never knew this side of him _ he couldn't connect his ownself .

Her face was pale .

She was wearing a pure white cotton night dress with baby pink tulips printed all over it .

She must have rushed from the room without thinking about her dress .

He hadn't seen her in this type of clothing ever before this one year .

She was always dressed _  saree or salwar ,either of the apparrel draped neatly not exposing an inch of her skin .

But now ,

Kathir came out of that trance in a second .

He wasn't a teeny smitten young boy nor a cassanova who jumps at any woman who comes his way !!

His inborn pride along with the truth of their relationship now made him shed his instant lust just like that !!

He was back to form as Kathirangan !!!

But for sure the arrogance in him towards her had dissapeared long back .

He cleared his throat and called her ,

Kathir : See don't worry. He is in safe zone . But there is lot more to be done .
Infact athukaaga than naanae ipo vanthen ,

She looked up with sore eyes .

Mullai : ipo thana nalla erukaarunu promise panninga ?
Ipo ipdi solringa !

Kathir : Danger zone la illa .

Mullai :Apo ?

Kathir : He is still in ICU . Golden time kulla kondu poi admit panniten. .
But ...inum eruku .
Nee odanae kelambu !

She immediately obeyed him and stood up as if accompanying him then itself .

She had no idea about her clothing nor anything else around her .

Mullai : Sari polanga !

It was he who screamed in shock now ,

Kathir : What ? Like this . Ipadiyaae va ...

Is she going to come along with him in this flimsy fabric that is highlighting her curves at its best .

And on the top of it ,he was damn sure there wasn't a thread more , beyond that damn cloth of hers .

And she is happily accepting to display it to the whole world ?

He screamed _ but she was cool ,it didn't strike her tbh

Mullai : Yenge . Polaam . Ninge thana soninga .
Neraiya vella eruku soninga.

Kathir : Ya ofcourse ,but not like this .
Not for sure he nodded his head sideways .
Cry panni panni un face eh aluka eruku , face full ah evlo dirt paaru , kaneerlaam kaanchu poi ,kajalaam karanchu poi _ he lied that effortlessly that she accepted it immediately happily forgetting the fact that she didn't even  apply a pinch of Kajal on eyes .
He continued ,Poi fresh up aagitu , dress eh change pannitu vaa !
We need to move soon .
Haan ...one minute , mudincha unoda friendaiyum thunaiku kootitu vaa !

He ordered her in a unrefusable tone.

Mullai who obeyed him asked once again in doubt ,

Mullai : Appaku ...appa , awarku nijamavae uyirku aabathu illai thana nga ?

Her feeble voice it made more emotional ,

Kathir : C"mon ma . Naan than solren la . U have my word . But ipo atha mattum nenachu santhosha pada mudiyaathu .
He looked at her face with a tenderness and slowly said , his leg is damaged severely .
Atha amputate pannama save panna mudiyumaanu docs check pannitu erukanga ,
And they do need the patient 's spouse / children 's approval for the surgery .
So unga amma than athuku sign panna varanum !

They were conversing comfortably as any other normal couple .

They seemed to forget that they weren't a couple anymore .

Mullai : Naanu ? Naan sign panren !

He didn't say anything for a long time .

She didn't know why he went quiet all of a sudden .

Then it hit her hard !

Mullai : Naan panna mudiyaathu la !
She said in a small voice .

The two souls who had spent a whole year as strangers under the same roof when they were officially a couple , were now feeling as belonging to each other ,when they actually weren't as per laws !

ATHIRCHIYUM ...SALANAMUM !!!