It was almost around ,2:30 am early morning ,

Inside the lonely waiter s room adjacent to the triage , they were literally glued onto each other _ arm in arm , body clung onto body !!!

Sometime back ,

When he had refreshed and returned back to the hospital , Midhulla was seen almost dozed off in deep sleep , with a silently crying Mullai standing at the entrance of the room itself with her eyes glued on to the ,glass door of the emergency causualty where in Murugan' was admitted .

She looked obviously restless and worried .

Her sad face yet again turned something inside him _ that he neared her and without saying a word , gently touched her shoulder , turning her to his side .

He had no clue of how suddenly he felt , she belonged very much to him .

For a whole year he had deliberately kept her at bay _ except for a day !!

But now , it pained to see her this pathetic and worn out .

The shower had refreshed him .

Mullai ,who came to senses on feeling someone touch her , came out of her melancholic trance ; on inhaling the fresh scent of lime and peppermint .
Even without turning around she knew ,

It was him !!

His very own unique masculine scent _ !

Not thinking much ,she flipped around , flunging her arms around him and burying her head into his chest with a fresh sob !!!

She didn't know why she behaved so and what made her to do so .

She had always cautiously stayed away from him , for the past one year when she was his Mrs in papers .

But now ,

She was seeking solace from the very own person .

Kathir was no less !!

Much to his own suprise ,he too pulled her more into his warm chest ,

This was so unusual of him !!

How come he changed overnight ?

He didn't know _

He behaved as if she had cast a magic spell on him !!!

They didn't speak much ,

In an attempt to ease off her worry he gently carressed her back .

The palm that carressed the bare skin of her back , up and down , suddenly stopped as it encountered the knot of her blouse .

The other hand which was slightly wrapped around her waist in attempt to soothe her , lost it' s decency , as it traced pathway down the dangerous curve of her soft flesh .

She was still sobbing softly into his neck , unaware of her whole being clinging onto his frame .

She didn't seem to realise anything more ,

But Kathir ?

His mind was clogged with thoughts otherwise .

He seemed to forget that her dad was lying sick in the next room and they were standing in the dark corner of some room in a hospital .

The mild jasmine smell that emanated from her head that was resting into his neck , was evoking something else .

He felt deja vu !!

He closed his eyes only to find himself bathed in a purple blue hue , with a soft body melting within his arms .
His fingers traced its path all along the dangerous curves and plunged into the soft flesh .

He knew this ....they had already travelled along the warm body and steep curves ,once before .

He knew all of this ?

But when ?

As he tried hard , the alarming sound of an Ambulance outside , brought him back to his senses .

Gosh !!

Yet again _

He had totally lost himself and had behaved indecently with a woman who just seeked some solace in his hug .

Yet again ashamed of himself as well not knowing why he went beyond his control , as well wondering why he felt that this all of this had happened
already ,he pulled himself away from her .

With head bent down she really didn't realise ,his hands had taken advantage of her vulnerability .

With an anger kicking his own self ,he distanced himself from her and said ,

Kathir : Aluthutaae eruntha ,onum aaga porathilla .
Calm down ,

Mullai : Mudilayaae ,!

Kathir : Shh ...he tried speaking in a curt tone , don't use such words .
Positive ah yosi .
Unga amma inum ten minutes la vantruvaanga .
Surgeon already vanthaachu .
They are preparing him for surgery .
Within half an hour he will be wheeled into the theatre .
Yen bayapadra ?

Mullai : Kaal eh yeduka vendi varuma ?

Kathir : Absolutely not !
Shyam is one of the best vascular surgeons in South .
Awanoda cases fail aanathae illa .
Don't worry ...oka ?

Mullai : sari ...she paused and before she could think twice the words were out from her mouth , Saaptingala ?

Kathir s brow arose sky high in that simple gesture .

When was the last time or who was the last person who cared about his tummy before ?

Vaguely he remembered ,Uma or His Paati ask him so , whenever he went to their places .

But this ,

This concern in her voice and the time she asked ( when her dad was lying sick ) totally uprooted him .

He hadn't had his dinner actually _ he was to dine at Rangan Palace only .

But the true concern in her voice made him lie , causually .

Kathir : Oh yeah ...vara vallilayaae, oru motel la saapten . .

If Mullai was in her full senses she would have easily found the difference .

He wasn't a person who would dine in roadside motel even if he was dead hungry .

But now she didn't realise it in her worry for her dad .

Mullai : Oh Saringa . Ninge venumna thoongunga . Naan amma vara varaikum inga eruken .

Kathir : No no ...no more sleep . I am fine . Nee vakaaru .
Enaku reception la konjam work eruku .
I'll be back !!

He didn't say her that he is going to pay a whole lumpsome of 15 lacs in the counter for her father's surgery .
A corporate hospital never touches a patient without atleast half the amount is paid .
He didn't want her to know it _ already she had starved herself for one whole year and now telling all this will make her feel inferior .
He didn't like her to be sad nor feel inferior .
And he didn't know why he felt so , why he didn't want her to feel low or inferior .

Moving away from her he walked to the cash counter .

By the time , Parvathi had arrived along with the other two children .

Harimithran , Sangamithra _ Mullainayagi " s twin siblings , the young teeny buds .

Parvathi didn't make a fuss or cry aloud stealing the attention of the onseekers as Kathir had expected to be .

She was ofcourse shattered and came in with a bad tearing face .
But there was a quietness in her fear and tears too !!
So were the other children .
They didn't put up a drama _ that was very much surprising and appreciative !!

They silently cried more on seeing their father ,who was being prepared for the surgery through the glass door .

But , all their apprehension and worried cries were allieved in one calm word of Mullai .

Kathir was really surprised at that quality of hers .

The timid , child like girl who seeked comfort and solace in him sometime back was now consoling them quietly as a motherly figure .

Her quiet words imparted a confidence in them that , Parvathi immediately gave in consent for the surgery and the two kids , stooped down beside their elder sister , with each one of them resting their heads on either side of her lap .

The mere sight of them resting on her lap with her soothing their worries off in soft caring talks and carresses was a sight yet again for Kathir to relish .

Sometime back this same girl was within his arms seeking the same comfort from him .

And now the tables had toppled !!!

A prick of possessiveness darted in him _ he couldn't help thinking , what
if only someone , always comforts him this same way whenever he missed his long lost mother !!!

He didn't want to disturb that quiet family that was immersed in sorrow . The boy of the family was infact still a kiddo _ he must be atleast 10 yrs younger than his elder sister .

Not wanting to disturb them he moved away quietly from that place when he heard a young boyish call him ..

Or was it him really because it was Mullai s young brother , Harimithran address him as ,mama !

Harimithran : Mama !

Kathir stood _ this was new to him .

In this one year these people hadn't even turned up at Rangan palace .

He hadn't bothered about it then.

But now he was able to connect the dots .

It must have been her who must have somehow stopped them from coming over there .

Why ?

300 percent it must have been for his sake _ it pained again ,now .

He turned around to see the young boy stand with hesitation ,but with calmness .

His clothes were simple _ not only his , even Parvathi s and the other girl' s too . But they looked neat and genuine even in those simple clothes .

Now , Kathir couldn't show his attitude .

And that mama too in a strange way shook the insides of him .

In a unique way it enforced that Kathir too was part of this family .

Kathir : Sollu ...tha...he didn't even know his brother in law's name ,

HM : Harimithran mama . Naan Harimithran , awa Sangamithra . Ennaiya Hari nu koopiduvaanga , awala , Mithra nu koopiduvaanga .

He gave an ellaborate and detailed innocent explanation even in tht crucial hour .

It just showed how eager the boy was to mingle with his sister's husband .

With a nod , Kathir acknowledged him and asked ,

Kathir : Fine , sollu Hari ..enna vishyam ?

HM : Appa mama ...

Kathir : Oh bayapadaatha . He will be safe . Athan operation start pannitaangalaae. So no worries .

HM: Athu. ....athu illa mama ,

Kathir : then ?

HM : Panam mama ? Neraiya selavu aagumnu Midhu akka solluchu . Mullai akka , atha kettu apadiyae kallu maathri vakanthruchu !! Amma aluthutaae erukaanga . Mithra ku onum theriyaathu .
Athan mama .....,
Mulla ka kitta kekkavae bayama eruku ...paavamavum eruku .
Athu than mama, unga kitta kekka vanthen .
Enga kitta awalavu panam illa mama !

The simple sensible doubts of the small boy ,his hesitance to approach his shocked elder sister , his responsible speech and finally the confidence he held in Kathir ,the way he addressed him "mama " , uprooted every bit of Kathir .

Did any of his younger cousins nor nephews possess even an ounce of this responsibility ?

The young lad s fear of losing his father and the fear of insufficient money !!!

Above all that "mama " !!

Kathir lost his armour of attitude and arrogance to the simple words of that boy .

Kathir : inga va ,

HM : Enna mama ?

Kathir : Unaku akka kitta kekka bayama ?

HM : Bayam akka kitta illa mama . Akka , panam vishyam kettathum athirchiya vakanthruchu !
Awlo panam enga kitta illaila mama illaila .
Athu thaan....he dragged ,

Kathir finished it for him .

Before he could check his mouth the words slipped his lips .

Kathir : Appaku accident aanathulla akka bayanthu , kolambi poiruka . Vera onum illa .
You don't worry about all this .
Ok. ? I'll take care !
Mama ..mama nu alaga call panra _ ennaiya pathi yosikalaiya nee ?

The words instantly brightened the small boy s face .

He smiled immediately,

HM : Nejamava mama ?

Kathir : Ya ...athulla enna doubt ?

HM : illa ...athulla mama , engaluku awaloka theriyaathu la .
Akka engala Trichy pakkamaae vara vittathu illai .
Kalyaanam time la ...ninhe oru vaarthai than pesuninha .
Athuvum unga English laam vera maathri erunthuchu mama .
Unga thambi ,thangachilaam bayangarama dress laam panni ,thassu Bussunu pesitu erunthaangala ....naanga unga pakkamae varaal mama .
Enagalukum pesa bayama erunthucha ...athan !
Ninga ivlo freeya ....ipadi pesuvinganae engaluku theriyaathu mama !
Ammavum ,kandippa Trichy pakkamae thevai illama poga koodaathunu sollu vaangalla _ enagaluku ungala kanda oru bayam than mama .
Athan ....,
Aana ninhe apadiyae illa mama .Nalla pesuringa mama !
He said with happy tears ,
Akka athirchiya vakaraavum ,naan bayanthae poiten mama !
Naan than veetuku paiyyan !
Athan mama !
Thanks mama !

In his happiness he spelled out endless " mama s " that Kathir could only smile at the innocence and rawness of the boy .

He could very well sense the small boy s thought process and his comparison with his cousins .

On top of it , it hit him badly on thinking how hard it must been for her to ask her siblings not to visit her house. ..nope that big palace for good !!!

By right , as his wife , it was her home too _ she had all rights to ask her family to come over there and even stay , whenever they felt too !!!

But she had strictly kept them at bay !!

Why ?

Again for his sake !!

The respect for her and her self respect increased multifold within him .

His heart felt light !!

With a smile he turned to the young boy ,

Kathir : Well ...nee than veetuku periya paiyyan , accept pannikren !
Ipo variya , pharmacy varaikum poi intha medicines laam vaangitu , apadiyae canteen ku poi yelaarkum eateries vaangitu varalaam .
Surgery mudiya inum 3_4 hours aagum .
Am damn hungry !
What you say young man ?

The boy happily nodded .

HM : Polaam mama . Varen .
Aana ....akka yen ipdi bayantha mama. ?
Ninge erukinganu yen athuku yosanaiyaae varala ?

He hit the chord right into Kathir ' s chest .

For which the Master of attitude causually lied and effortlessly put the blame on his ex wife nope wife !!

Kathir. : Athu ....athuva .... Haan , nee evlo smart ah one year kallichu ennaiya paathalum , mama nu call panra .
You know what ?
Un akkaku athu kooda therila ! Ennaiya ippadi , nee solra maathri "mama " nu call pannirukanuma illaiya ? Neeyae sollu ,

HM : Kandippa mama !

Kathir : Good boy ! She is not as intelligent as you know !
She doesn't even knows that .
That is why she is scared unnecessarily ....he lied causually with a dashing smile and a beautiful accent for which the small lad fell in instantly .

Forgetting his sister he applauded his new kind stylish mama !

HM : Ninge supera english pesuringa mama . Ama ...akka ku apo apo yethuvum puriyaathu . Ninge solrathu than mama correctu !!

The young men had developed a sort of friendship unknowingly .

The bond which should have started a year back was now creeping in when the couple weren't in relationship officially .

But ,

Kathir didn't seem even to remember the divorce now !

He acted as the responsible elder most son / son in law of the house .

Hours passed by and the surgery was over .

Murugan s leg was saved .

The surgery had been a complicated one .

It was nt that easy .

Murugan had went in for an unexpected arrest midway between the surgery and was reviewed by the anaesthetists .

So he was immediately shifted to the Post Care ICU ,once the surgery was over .

As per rules this information was passed onto Parvathi .

A dead line of 2 days was fixed for the assurance of Murugan s life .

On hearing it the children literally broke into sobs once again .

Mullai dizzed with a heavy heart and clung onto her siblings with utmost sorrow .

Midhulla was beside taking care of them as per Kathir s order and request .

He didn't near Mullai nor try to console her like the way before after Parvathi and the kids arrival .

Fearing his own loss of control or now wanting to disturb the family he maintained a distance with Harimithran alone heroworshipping him and following him where ever he went .

Parvathi ,who was informed about her husband's instability sat as solid as a statue for sometime .

She sat in deep thoughts for a long time .

Later leaving aside all her three children she went in search of Kathir .

Kathir !

He was resting in one of the rooms alloted for the consultants of the hospital .

Parvathi and kids were given a special suite room near the ICu itself .

Kathir s room was at a distance from theirs .

He didn't go home and had stayed at the hospital room itself .

Information about Murugan s accident and his health was passed onto the family at Chennai .

At Chennai , Ranganathan ' s condition was a little better and his surgery was most likey to be fixed only after few days .

There was a breathing time !!

Kathir felt relieved with that information .

Not having slept a wink of an eye the whole night and after a tiring day of Murugan' s surgery and related work he would have just closed his eyes when Parvathi knocked his door and came in .

He didn't know why she said she wanted to meet all alone ,even without the knowledge of Mullai .

He directly came to the point .

Kathir : Sollunga .....he wasn't used to addressing her as athai nor aunty .

It didn't come with ease to him still ,_ even though he liked Hari calling him mama .

Parvathi : Thambi ....athu vanthu ...

Kathir : Sollunga ,enna vishyam ?

Parvathi : Awanga ....awanga nelamai ...athuku aana sellavu ,

Kathir : oh c' mon , atha pathi neenga worry pannikaathinga .
That s nothing . Naan paathukren .
Awar nalla padiya recover aaganumnu mattum pray pannikonga !

Parvathi didn't speak for sometime ..then wiping her tears she spoke with determination that shocked Kathir once again to the core .

Because she repeated the exact words ,his grandmother had told to him .

Parvathi : Atha pathi pesa than thambi vanthen ..
Awanga usuruku rendu naal kedu vachrukaanga .
En saami Awaru ....en ulagamaae antha manushan than .
Awaruku poi .....she cried ...awaruku poi Aandavan ipadi oru nelamaiya koduthutaan .
Kaasu panam illati kooda , neraiyanavaru .
Neethi ,nermainu vaaltha manushan_ ....she sobbed again and continued ,
Awanga illatha oru vaalkaiya ennala nenachu kooda paaka mudiyaathu !!
Rendu naalula kannu mullichu awaru vantha Naanum uyiroda erupen !!
Illati ....ilaati .....with trembling lips she said firmly , ilati awar koodavae enna vaalkaiyum muduchukuven !!
Suyanalama thonalaam .....aana ennala, awanga thunai illama ....awanga innai illatha oru vaalava yosichu paaka kooda mudilla .
Pullainga eruku ....
Mullai samarthu.....awa unga sontham , awala pathi Kavala pada onum illa !
Chinnathunga rendukum ennaiya vidda , awa than ammava erunthu valartha !
Oorula veedu eruku thambi , thootam ,thoravu eruku ,
Iwanga bank la konjam pannamum , chinnathunga padipuku potta ....kaapeedu schememum eruku .
Ninge perusa athungaluku panam kaaselaam sellavalika vendaam !
Rendaiyuum .....oru ...oru guardian maathri erunthu paathukoonga Thambi .
Ungala kaiyeduthu kumbidren ,intha uthaviya mattum seyuunga !!

Kathir was shocked as hell first ,then was absolutely angry over her for her word which he deliberate said to her itself .

Why do these women always think on this line alone ?

His grandmother too said the same !!

Now this elderly woman also says she is gonna give up her life if her husband doesn't survive !!

Then what about the kids ?

Why should they suffer unnecessarily ?

If money alone is their security , is it enough for them ?

Don't they need parenteral care ?

Suddenly his heart leapt to his own little version _ a flithy rich orphan at age of 3 .

So did his mother also felt the same way when she breathed the last along with her husband ?

That she can't live without her better half and the wealth they left behind would take care of her son ?

What the bloody hell is that love that makes these people this crazy to even forgo their children ,for the sake of their life partner !!!

He couldn't empthathize with her .

He almost scoffed aloud ,

Kathir : This is is absurd . Ithuku peru selfishness nga . Awar poita ,Naanum poiduvenu solrathu ...suyanalam .
Pasangaluku ,panam mattum than security ah ?
Don't they need parents ?
Enna pesuringa ninge !
Nallatha nenaika maatinhala ....ange en paati ,inga ninge ..!
Suthama enaku purila nga !

He didn't bother to hide his agony ,

Parvathi did feel bit guilty at his words but said in a small voice .

Parvathi : Enaku solla therilanga thambi . Enaku thooninatha sonnen . Sathyama awanga illati en usurum poirum .....
Ithu ...itha epadi puriya vaika therila !
Ipo ungalku puriyathu ... naalaiku , awaluku onnuna ninhe thudippinga , ungalku onnuna Mullaiyum uyira koduka thanyagamaata !!
Namma thunaiku onunna , athu nammakum serthu than thambi !
Kadavul ennaiya kai vidda maataaru ....awanga nalla padiya vanthruvaanga ....oru Vella...vera maath.....

Kathir : Sollanthinga !

He screamed aloud not knowing why .

Parvathi left after sometime leaving Kathir flunk back with a throbbing headache , hands holding his aching head and the day of their divorce alone replaying on and on in front of his eyes .

INNAIYUM ...THUNAIYUM !