Midhulla : Apadi enna periya kolakuthatha nee pannita ? Intha maathri neeyae unaku nyayam sollikittu , awaruku line eh clear panni koduthutu varathuku !

Midhulla asked in anger and helplessness .

Mullai seemed relatively calm outside .

Mullai : Awanga ,awanga yeduthulla erunthu yosichu paatha , awanga solrathu correct ah than erukum .
Enakum mothala unnaiya maathri than erunthuchu .
Mothal la athirchi , apuram  kovam ....aatramai ...alugai .....nu , yellamae kandanthu vanthuten .
Naan sonna maathri, Naanum oru thappu panniruken.
Nee sonniyaae ....angayaae erunthu mandailla uraika vaikka vendiyathu thana nu ?
Athu maathri sari aagidumnu  nenachen than .
Aana ,mutti moothinaalum odaiya porathu , onum aaga porathilla therincha apuram ......she paused and took deep breaths ,and then continued in an exhausted tone .
Rendu peroda life ...naasama poratha vida , atleast orutharavathu awangalku pidicha vaalkaiya vaalatumaaenu than , Midhu .....naan vilagiten !!!
Husband_ wife kulla ego paaka koodaathu than ,
But wife ah vae consider pannalanu solra aal kitta ?
Koodavae , I have someone else in Mind nu , aani tharama solravarkitta ,
ennaiya kenji , koncha solriya ?
Atha kooda vidu .....yethuvumaae nyabagam illa .......ellamae accidentnu, enoda feelings pathi  konjam kooda yosikaama ....awar ,

She stopped abruptly and bit her tongue .

Her face reddened again , cheeks flushed red  ,her nose flared pink , she nodded her head as if to forget and wipe away and erase out every thing from her memories  _

A faint bluish purple hue surrounded her ,

That voice suddenly echoed within her _

Her memory travelled back the memory lane .

Voice_ His voice !

Cotton candy _

Ha..ha ..ha ...candiesss ...that flirty chuckle that escaped his hungry lips as whilst devouring her .

Cotton candies !

The thick grunt voice and firm hands that held her in place ,

Baby ..!

Delicious ..!

I can't get enough ..!

Need more _. That damn sexy voice that melted her insides .

And ,

En amma kood , photo la ,vachrukrathu   ...intha poo than , mmm...hmmm...sAme one , .smells good , Jasmine thana ?

Illa , Mullapoo ...she corrected him sincerely .

Oh hoo ....tats ...that' s your name la ...hmm  , vaasanaiyana peru !!

Smooch !

Smooch !

Smooches !

And to top it all ,

En Ammava , ipdi hug pannitu than thoonguvenu , en paati solluvanga ...hmm, unkittaiyum _ unnaiyum ipdiyaae hug pannitu thoongava ?

Not expecting her reply he cuddled his whole manly frame , into a big q and squeezed himself into the warmth of her fluffy belly and slept off instantly ; leaving her awake the rest of that night .

It was those final words for which she fell in desperately in for him .

Yep , she knew very well that he wasn't in his full senses .

It might be very well considered as his blabberings .

But at that moment , that precious  second when they were together ,she felt he genuinely spoke his heart out .

That " proud peacock hooded " armour of his had disappeared off very much and all she saw was a vulnerable motherless lad ,who yearned for that pure , unadulterated love and warmth of motherly affection .

She gave in , very well knowing the risk she was taking .

She shouldn't have let it , shouldn't have allowed him cross limits , which they themselves had laid much before itself .

He wasn't in his senses ,

Well _

But she was ....still she gave in to that vulnerable moment .

The consequences of it much anticipated !

And the next day morning , it happened exactly as she expected and  feared .

He said he ain't remember a thing 

He declared it was an accident ....and announced as well that no one  remembers an accident !!

Who was to be blamed nor accused for ?

And how to explain all of this to Midhulla , though she was / is blood thick friend .

Mullai shuddered heavily for once .

She controlled her brimmed tears and brought her shaking frame into control .
Her face seemed to loose all tenderness all of a sudden and she wore a stern look that alerted and scared Midhulla who was brimming with anger then .

Fearing something wrong she neared her friend more ,

But Mullai now  spoke with a clarity .

Mullai : Vendaam Midhu . Itha postmortem panni paaka vendaam . Ennaiya vendaamnu solra yaarum , enakum vendaam than.
En mela thappum eruku ...athae samayam nyayamum eruku .
Awarkum ithu porunthum . Vitralaam .
Ini itha pathi pesa vendaam !
Naan life la maraka virumbura orae per " Kathirangan " !
Naan aduthu enna seyyanum nu mattum than ini yosikanum .
En life la inimel varavaae varatha  oruthara pathi naan yen pesanum ?
Inimel awar mogatha kooda paaka enaku virupam illa .
Vidu !!!

Midhulla didn't expect this stern statement from her .

The Mullai whom she knew all these years possessed the tenderness and gentleness of an early morning bloomed flower.

But this Mullai was totally new to Midhulla .

She had changed a lot .

Even the softness she possessed sometime back was lost now .

It was exactly a day after their divorce .

Mullai hadn't gone to Musiri yet.  Instead she chose to stay at her friend' s room for time being .

Something in Mullai ' s face scared Midhulla .
She was still having a hope that things could be put in place _ what s there in a paper ?
That was Midhu s stand till then.
Somehow she couldn't completely hate Kathir also ., though she was dead angry over him .

But ,

Mullai s stern face implied something else to Midhulla .

Midhulla : Enna than di solla vara ? Inum time eruku ...

Mullai : Yethuku , inum asingapattu, awamanam padava ? She said with a pain on remembering this kiss she shamelessly gave him . How would she even look at him normally after all that .
Illa Midhu , mudivu panniten . Yaar vaalkaiyum naan keduka maaten .

Midhulla : Antha ponna nee paathrukiya ?
Rendu perum contact la than erunthangala ..

Mullai : ...athu ...athu ...naan kannala paakala .
Aana.....aana ,

"See , I have my own principles and rules _ I go by it !
There was a chance for you to escape this stale life .
But you chose it wantedly .
So don't expect anything more from me too .
And , en thaathagaaka naan panna  pannina foolishnesskaaga , I too will have to bear the brunt of it .
Again , thiruthanam panni inoru secret life vaalrethelaam , enoda status ku asingam . I won't do it .
Rather I'll stay single !
Got it ?
Grab yourself some sleep  "

His words spoken in their wedding night voice again echoed ,

Mullai continued ,

Mullai : Thappu valli poravar maathri therila . Aana ,manasukulla vera ponna than nenachurukaar .

Midhulla : Arumai ....athan , saaru ivlo thelliva sollirukaarae ,
Pinna nee mattum yen summa eruntha ?
Intha varashathulla ,neeyum yaaravathu .....

Mullai : Midhuu ....pidikuthoo ...illaoyoo , oru marriage la commited ah erukavaraikum , vera yaar melaiyavathu chinnatha attraction vantha kooda , ennaiya porutha varaikum athu , infidelity _
Athuki per vera .....
Awar athu maathri illa . Athunaala than naanae intha mudiva sonnen .

Midhulla : Unnaiya ..., Nee oru arai loosu , unnaiya kalyaanam panni apuram status paathu ,kalati vitta un purushan innoru loosu , ithelathaiyum vida , ungalku kalyaanam panni vaachaarae oru , Mahamethavi _ Awaru mullu loosu !

She said in a frustrated tone .

But Mullai didn't seem to react to it too .

She said looking somewhere in the ceilings and said ,

Mullai : Vidu Midhu .
Ini , Kathir nu oruthar en vaalkaila illa !
Ithuku mela , awarae vanthaalum ,naan vilagi than poven !

She said with determination ,her insides knowing very well that it would be a Herculian task to forget nor forgive him .

_______________________________________

CHENNAI .

Sadha was still sitting in the same place with the same shocked and fearfull face ,  since the previous day evening .

The couple were breaking their heads as to what to do next with regard to their Nephew's deed .

UMA looked more composed than Sadha .

Somewhere she felt she could pacify her little boy and make him understand , what he did was' nt a joke .

Sadha , didn't have that confidence . He was filled with guilt right now .
As well he was very much answerable to his , dear friend Murugan' .

From the happenings  he came to know that Murugan and family were still unaware of their daughter' s divorce .

Sadha had enquired about it through a known attorney and friend .

Murugan' and family had gone to Kanyakumari for some distant relatives ' wedding .

Mullai had met her family hardly few times in this whole one year .

Though her parents were quite disappointed with it ,they were convinced since they knew their "Son in law "was too busy with work and that it was really difficult for their daughter to meet them frequently .
As well , not wanting to be projected as "greedy parents _",they had never visited their daughter' s huge bungalow , except for two instances . As with any other middle class family , they were scared of their jealous  relatives " unnecessary gossips .

That had paved the way much easier for the young couple to decide their future and separate on their own .

Both had been functioning in harmony in maintaining their secret .

Before starting from Trichy , the previous day , Sadha ,had sought help of a common friend to keep an eye on Mullai and Kathir s  , further moves and decisions .

His ranting continued though ,

Sadha : Naan nallathu thana di pannen .
Iwana pudichu enna paalum kenathukullaiya thalli viten .
Panam ...kaasu ,Namma kitta yetheshatama eruku !
Athuvum awanuku , matha pullaingala vidda , jaasthi .
Un Annan , vittutu ponna sothaae , pathu thalaimuraiku varum .
Kathir s father by himself had left a lot of fortune behind .
Inga akka oda pangu eruku .
Ithu ellama. , awanaae sonthama panra business la sakka podu podran !!
Ithukum mela enna venum ?
Antha ponnu gunathuku , evlo sothu koduthaalum pathathu .

Uma : Hm....endra purushan Thangam onum pondati panathuku alairavan kedaiyaathu !

Sadha : Naanum apadi sollala . Aanalum .....antha maitha mavu dappava , yen kalyaanam pannalaamnu mudivu pannaan ?
Status paathu thana ?
Ellathaiyum correct ah purinchukra paiyyanku , itha yen theriya maatenguthu .
Hmm....awanae summa erunthalum , antha ponnu summa illama , divorce nu kelapi vitruku paaru _ atha thandi ennala thaanga mudiyala !

Uma : Hookoom !

Sadha : Athuku yen kalutha nodikra .
Aana orae oru nimathi than , inum namma Kudumba paasa payirngaluku vishyam theriyaathu !
Athu mattilum santhosham than !

He said with some peace that was too much short lived .

Poor Sadha !!

He had really underestimated his nephew again .

Because  that following night , a Zoom video link ,pinged in the mobile of all their  family members .

Sadha and Uma were at Chennai .

Sadha ' s elder sister Saraswathi and her husband were in Cinnchinati currently along with their parents and children .

His another sister , Naramada , her husband , their kids along with Sadha' s children were at Ohio , currently .

All of them were to return by next week .

Corresponding with the time abroad , it was Kathir who had arranged for a video call meeting .

Sadha ' s heart felt as if it would pump out of his body on seeing the family members joining in one by one .

Sadha : Ummaaa.....he screamed . Thirumbavum mosam poiten di !

Uma : Ada yen ipo intha kathu kathringa ? Ninge Kani ponnu paarunga _ apadiyae mosam poitaalum !
Panrathelaam pannitu , raathri la , "Aanthaiyatam " vakanthu alaarikittu ...she said with irritation not knowing about the seriousness of the issue .

Sadha : Vishyam theriyaama ennaiya thitaatha.
Intha pullaiyaandan adutha thiruvilaiyaadala , arambichutan !
Adutha varam yellarum vantha pinnadi , porumaiya yeduthu sollalaamu nenachen .
Athulla ipo mannu !
Iwan yen ipo video call panni ,ottumotha kudumbathaiyum yelukanum ?
Athuvum anga ipo kaalaila ....neram laam paathu kooptrukaana , intha vishyatha solla thanu nenaikren !

Sadha s fear was true .

Because once the whole family had assembled , Kathir came on line and announced in the video .

Kathir : hi ..guys , hi Chips ...hi chitti ...oru important news eh solla than unga yelaaraiyum call pannen .
Haan ....mukkiyama , Sadha maams ? Erukingala ....

Sadha : adei ....eruken da , enatha solla pora ?

Kathir : theriyaatha maathriyae kekringalae mama .
Chithi , Thaatha. ,paatin,chithapa enga ?
Zoom link eh awanga mattum log in pannala ?

The reply came ...

Saras : Moonu perum vellila poirukanga da . Inga snow athigam a eruku .
Athan , kaalaila mattum amma , appa vellila poitu vanthruvaanga .
Phone eh inga vachutu poitanga .

Kathir was quiet for sometime ..
Then ,

Kathir : Yellarkittayum ipovae sollalaamnu than call pannen .. otherwise next week kulla , intha Sadha mama , vera yethachum tricks panni , thirumba ennaiya vambula maati vitruvaaru .
Thaatha ,paati ipo illathathum oru favourable situation than .

The faces of every member of his extended family that was thousands of miles apart bore the same questioning and thoughtfull look again ,

Apadi enna thalai pora vishyam ?

Sadha ena trick pannaporaan ?

Kathir answered them in a a calm and clear tone .

I ve got divorced from my wife . One year of my wedding life is over .
I didn't actually want to shock you guys ,while you are away on a trip ,but ....
Enoda situation apadi !
Athuvum illama , inga vantha odanae solratha vida ipovae sollita better nu feel pannen .
Because .....he left a deadly pause that scared every one in the video ,they knew what he would say next ,
Because I don't want to repeat the same thing what you guys did to me !!
Avlo than _ bye !

Announcing it simple and briefly he cut the call , leaving everyone in absolute shock and dismair .

Sadha almost fainted .

Uma looked thoughtfull .

_______________________________________

Cutting the Zoom call , Kathir flunked in his bed .

Somehow he was perturbed very much that day since morning .

It had been just a day since he had become a free bird again .

But something was irrking somewhere deep inside .

He couldn't conclude what and why he felt so .

Maybe the reason he still hadn't informed his family members ?

Or maybe he behaved too rude to Pragya the previous day ?

Poor girl ,she and Kailesh had come all the way along just for his sake .

It had been a year since they met .

He felt he had been rude .

So before calling his family itself he called Kailesh .

Kathir : Kailesh , Kathir here man . I ...I was bit rude yesterday da .
Felt a little bad .
That's why I called you ....

Kailesh spoke a few words before which the phone was snatched by Pragya ,

Pragya : Kathirrr ! How are you .

Kathir : Hmm ..fine Prags . Yesterday I wasn't in a good mood.  I was pretty rude .
Athan innaiku call pannen. .

........................Pragya went on and on nonstop again ,

Kathir : See Prags .. I already told you .
Atha apuram discuss pannikalaam ..fine ?
Ipo koopitathu vera reason ku ..he suddenly felt disinterested in speaking to her more and cut the call , diverting her to some business talk .

The disturbance was still there .

Then ,he called his family and made the announcement .

No use !!!

He still felt an itch pricking somewhere in his heart .

It was almost night .

He skipped his dinner .

Instead went in , for two shots of hot drinks and settled in his bed .

Damn !!!

No use !!!

He didn't get sleep nor any peace of mind !!!

Instead , there was an yearning gushing up high , seeking his mother's lap .

He badly needed to cuddle himself in the warmth of his mother's lap and sleep .

Openly he complained ,

Ivlo varsham kallichu , ivlo naal kallichu , Amma va yen thedren ?

What happened to me ?

Kindergarten boy maathri , amma va kattitu thoonganum pola yen thonuthu ?

His drink seemed to do no good !!

He wanted warmth and coy .... which he didn't know whom could offer him !!

Not knowing what to do , he came downstairs , and dismantled a big potrait of his mother , took it up to his bedroom and placing it beside him , and managed to sleep .

A warm hand , seemed to come forward and carress his forelocks slowly ,eased off the wrinkles in his forehead , kissed him gently , and pulled him into the warmth of its soft fluffy flesh .

Kathir slept instantly holding onto that hand firmly !!!

Awanum ....AWALUM !