Mullai tried and tried for a couple of times .

She was commonly considered quiet tall when compared to the average height of South Indian women .

But then Kathir was way taller than her that everytime she had to tip toe hard to garland him .
But everytime she tip toed and tried to garland him ;  Kathirangan skillfully ewaded her garland and playfully pulled up his head even more high that she couldn't garland him , without stumbling over himself .

It was the common play all grooms do whilst the couple are being asked to garland each other for the first time after tying the knot .

The couple had been asked to come down shortly and were now standing below the kalyana mandap , with the whole family , including both elders and all the cousins encircling them and cheering them up .

The post wedding rituals and fun had started off , with the exchange of garlands topping the list .

The young clan screamed aloud and applauded everytime Mullai failed to garland Kathir' and landed up falling on his chest , again and again !!!

She felt very shy ,on getting reminded of the fact that her parents too were in gang around them . Not knowing that her parents were really happy and enjoying the naughtyness of their son in law she bent her head even more down and didn't even look in their direction .

It was Kathir' who started the tease ,

He looked around with ease and causually pulled Murugan' to join his banter ,

Kathir' : Enna mama ,unga ponnu en kaluthulla maalaiya podumnu paatha , yen mela yembi ,yembi vellaiyaadikittu eruka ? 
Inaiku night kullaiyavathu intha maalaiya en kaluthulla potruvaala !
Illa naal kanaka naan ingayae nikkanuma !

His eyes gleamed secretly at his woman emphasizing the hidden hint in his words but outwardly he looked at Murugan' and laughed aloud as if he was just pulling his daughter s legs .

The young gang laughed without reason ,whereas their own long last ever green memories flooded each of the elders who stood there .
They blushed and giggled thinking about their own wedding tales .

Sadha was standing in that typical " Yerimalai yepadi porukum " mode !!He stood with his mouth wide open at the way his nephew interacted with his Father in law !!

Was this the same guy whom he had to beg to tie the knot last year !!

Sadha :  MV : Enathu ?  _ Raathri kulla maalaiya podanumam.
Nakkala paaru _
Maalaiya podaati iwan apadiyae ingayae nikka pora maathri enna oru udaansu .
Rendu tourister eh Musirikunu pack panni vachukittu pecha paaru pecha !!!
Payyapulla _ sontha mamanaaru kittaiyaae enanena pesuthu paaru ,

Murugan' didn't notice Sadha s mindvoice.  He was excited with his SIL s friendly and respectful tease ,
This wasn't the Son in Law whom he encountered last year right !!
He liked this version of his SIL and happily joined him ,

Murugan' : Ada amanga ,maapla .
Yen pappa , onu maapla mela thaduki vilura ...ilaati tharaiya paakura !
Ipadi eruntha ...yepo ma , thambiku maalaiya poduva ?

Kathir : Good question uncle , you continue ,

Murugan' was on the peak of excitement like any other Father in law and joined hands with his son in lwa ,

Mullai slightly raised her eyes to him , immediately blushed on seeing where he openly eyed her amidst this huge crowd and once again lowered her batting eyes down .

Murugan' didn't notice any of this secret looks .

All he saw was his daughter grazing at the ground.

Murugan' : Maaplaiyaae sollitaaru paaru pappa .
Mullai ma,  nee tharaiyavae paakratha paatha , ennavo thanga pothaiyal yeduka pora maathri la eruku !

He laughed as if he said the biggest joke for which Kathir also applauded out of proportion .

Kathir' : Apadi sollunga mama ! Evlo nerama oruthan nikranaae nu yosikama , tharaiya kanaalae thondiruva pola !!

Murugan' : Ha ha ha ...hi hi hi ,

Sadha threw a stare at his friend .

Sadha : MV : Ipo iwan enna periya jokeu sollitaanu ,intha Murugan' vilunthu vilunthu sirikraan .
Mamanukum maapilaikum oru sera paithiyam pidichuruchu pola !!
Pona varsham ...ithuga rendum eruntha erupena ...ipo konji kulaavikrathu enna !
Paavam ,intha chinna ponna poi , athu appanum , purushanumae kalaaikrangalaae !

He was ranting within himself when suddenly his bamboo frame shaked tremendously on encountering a spank from behind .

Uma !

Sadha screamed aloud forgetting the situation ,

Sadha : Aiyo amma . ... purushanu kooda paakama , ivlo peru suthi erukaanganu kooda paakama yendi ipadi pottu ennaiya  adikra ?

Uma : Pinna ! Chinna pullaiya  rendu perum maathi maathi kaala vaaranga , atha ennanu kekkama , enakennanu  kanavu kandukittu erukinga !

Not waiting for Sadha s reply she turned around to Murugan' and defended Mullai ,

Uma : Annaav , enga pullaiyae thangam than ! Athuku yethuku thanga pothaiyala thedura vellai ?
Unga marumagan alumbu pannama eruntha ,enga ponnu inneram maalaiya pottu ,unga marumagana aattu kuttiyaatam illuthutu poirukumaakum !

Saraswati & Narmada : they both came to help Mullai .
Athana .. enga ponnu sutha thangam than ,Murugan' athan .  Unga marumagan than raangiyaakum ! Periya adavadikaran !

Murugan' supported his son in law again ,

Murugan' :  Athu yaaruma enga marumagana paathu " aattu kutty " nu sonathu , Awaru " singa kuttyaakum " !

Sadha : Ada ada ...enna oru paaratu !
Ewanachum iwana manushanu solrana paaru ,
Aadaam ! Singamaam !
Payyapulla iwanum   ....athuku yethaapla meyyura maathriyae antha ponna paathu vaikraan paaru , 

Murugan' :  he turned to Saraswati and Narmada and defended Kathir to them also ,
Endra marumagan raangilaam illama , awaruku alagae antha adavadithanam than !
Unga ponnuku samarthiyam pathathu , illati inneram maalaiya potrukum la ,

Mullai received the shock of her life on seeing her father literally become the mouthpiece of her husband .

Kathir was like a honey dipped bear ,

Kathir : ha ha ..well said mama , thank you .!
Kettukoo baby ...unaku samarthiyam pathathunu en mamavaae sollitaaru !

He wantedly pulled Mullai s legs again and looked eagerly at her blushed face . She couldn't look up to him at all !

Sadha : Adra sakkai ! Sabash ...sariyana potti ! Nee nadathu raasa ,

Uma : Annaov ...enga pullaikelaam samarthiyam jaasthi .
Unga marumagan romba than pawusa kaatraaru ,

Sadha : athana ...he joined his wife fearing her spanks ,

Uma : enna athana ? Yenge ...ninge Kathir pinadi poi ninnu awana yekka vidaama thaangikittu nillunga , 
Mullai maalaiya potrum .
Peragu paarpoom _ yaaruku samarthiyam nu !

Sadha was scared now !

With fear in his eyes he retorted ,

Sadha : adiyaae therinchu than pesuriya ?

Uma : yenaam ?

Sadha : Amma thaayaae,.... nelamai puriyaama order podaatha .
Awan erukaan " Thekku  maramaatam !
Naan eruken "Moongil"  kutchiyaatam !
Iwana thaanga ponna ,naan thandi padaarnu odanchu keela villuven ,
Un purushan paavam di ,
Yembutu naala unaku intha aasai !

He said almost crying , but Uma seemed to be least bothered ,

Uma : Ada summa poi nillunga .....enna than aaguthunu paarpoom ,
.

She  said causually as if she was happy  to withness her pencil stick husband break ,

Whilst the younger clan of cousins were quietly withnessing all of this , the elders were eagerly pulling each other s legs and were giggling like mad kids .

Murugan' again came to defend his son in law ,

Murugan' : Uma thangachi ....yethana peru , yentha vithama vanthu pudichaalum , enoda marumagan summa irumbu maathri nipparu !
Unga ponnu than paavam !

Uma : yen . ..yen ,en ponnuku ennavaam , rajaathi !
Yenge ...she called Sadha , enna inum masa masanu nikkringa .
Kathirku pinnadi poi awana yemba vidaama thaangi pidinga !

Sadha : Aathi , intha rendu loosungalum sernthu en sooliya mudichurunga pola erukaae ,

Whilst they were busy arguing friendly with each other , Mullai slightly raised her head and looked at her naughty and fussy husband .

Immediately Kathir looked down at her with a naughty smile but equally held himself on  high alert mode to escape her garlanding him .
His head was well raised above her arm' s reach .

Mullai looked around with little disappointment when it suddenly striked her .

No one seemed to notice them ,

Mullai ....very brillantly used that situation ,
Her eyes were glued to her husband s eyes .
They looked into each other' s secretly with so much of want .
Whilst he looked deep into hers , she  immediately  winked secretly at Kathir  looking straight into his eyes , without wasting a minute .

Kathir froze for a second .

He hadn't expected this from his child like wife .

The tamed Lion easily fell in for his lady' s trap !!

He forgot to even blink and stood mesmerized at his wife s deed,with an appreciating smile curved in at the edge of his lips , we
when Mullai took advantage , tiptoed causually and immediately garlanded him with a triumph filled smile .

It was Dhayabaran who noticed it first and screamed aloud ,

Baran : Ho hoo ! Guys inga paarunga , Anni won it !
Anna maatikaaru ,

All stopped their banters and looked at the couple now ,who were now sincerely exchanging the garlands as if nothing had happened .

Sadha breathed relief whilst. Uma seemed dissappointed to have missed her husband's stunts.

Murugan' seemed both dissappointed and happy ,

Murugan' : Enna maapla ipadi kavuthutingalaae ,

Kathir : Enna mama panrathu ? Illati ponna unga pappa aluga arambichudava pola pavama eruntha , athan vittu koduthuten !

Vikki : Nalla samaalikringa mama !

Kathir : Enada sonna ?

Vikki : Hi ..hi naanga onum paakala mama , illa Lekha ,he called in his to be soul mate for support .

Baran and Mithra secretly drenched themselves in their own little world .

The atmosphere was filled with fun and frolic .

Once they were done with the three turns , the couple were asked to sit on the Big Age old Teak wood swing that was decorated with strings of jasmine flowers .

Mullai and Kathir' were asked to sit on it , with all the elders giving sweet milk and banana to them .

Except for Murugan'and Parvathy , all the elders present there very well knew about the divorce .
( Ranganathan' and Periyanayagi had gone to their room to take rest )
So the other elders were very particular to conduct all the rituals properly this time .
Kathir' and Mullai were more than willing to perform all the rituals dutifully this time .

Uma : Ellarum ,ponnu maapilaiku , paal palam kuduthachu thana ?  Yaarachum vittu pochuna ipovaae vanthu koduthurunga .
Peragu .... oonjala aatinathuku apuram vanthu kekka koodaathu solliten .

Baran : Athai ...naanga inum paal ,palam kudikala , he said this with all his eyes on Mithra who was hiding behind Parvathy s shoulder .

Uma instantly found out the nuance in his talk .

Uma : Neengala ?

Baran : Haan ... athan ,naan , Vikki , Nandhini , Lekha ...

Sadha : Pothum ...pothum , listu perusa poguthu da maapla .
Ningalaam kodukavum ,kudikavum inum pala varsham kedakutha da .
Theriyaatha maathriyaae pesurathu ...hmm , un annanku thappama eruka . Thalli ninnu ipo oonjala aatu ! Enna Uma naan solrathu ?

Sadha intruded inbetween and earned a good name from his wife ., showing all his teeth .

Uma : Yetho innaiku than periya manushan maathri pesirkinga .
Sari ..sari atha vidunga , she turned to Kathir' and Mullai and started , Kathir' ,intha oonjal la yen ponnum maapilaiyum vachu aada solroomnaa ...

Kathir' cut in between and continued it for Uma ,

Kathir' : Life la neraiya ups and downs varum , pogum !
As a couple we have to face both good times and bad times ,
Yentha maathri soolnilai vanthalum _ ie both high as well low situations vanthalum ;
naanga rendu perum orutharuku oruthar vittu kodukaama , oruthavangala vitutu innoruthavanga pogaama , onna sernthu antha prechanaiya face pannanum !!
Kastamoo ...nastamoo , illa romba periya santhoshamoo ,yethunaalum ,naanga rendu perum onnavaae anupavikanum !
Athana athai ?

He explained in detail and gently asked Uma ,who eyes welled up suddenly in his tone ,

Uma : Amanda thangam ,

Kathir' : Intha vaalkai thathuvatha  ennaiya vida yaarum athigama purinchuka mudiyaathu athai .
Kandippa itha naanga follow pannuvoom athai ,
Vaalvoo ...saavoo ,Inimel onna than athai ,

This time the whole bunch went quiet in his deep voice and true words .

Without her knowledge , leaving aside all her shyness , Mullai slid her hand under his arm and encirled it slightly and seconded him with welled up eyes as well , 

Mullai : Ama chithi . Ini naanga yentha kaaranam kondum piriyavaae matoom !

When the whole bunch turned silent  emotionally shaken on hearing the words of the young couple , it was Sadha who was alert . Mullai was on the edge of blurring out the truth if given some more time _ an alarm rang in Sadha s mind and he diverted the couple ,

Sadha : MV : Yentha kaaranam kondum piriya maatooma !!
Aathadi ....ithuga rendum ' enga kathal ' oda aalatha kaaturoomnu , palaselaam kelari , unmaiya olaridunga pola erukaae !!
Kathirachum samaalipaam , intha papa unmai pottu damaalnu odachudum polaiyaae .
Awa appanuku mattum intha divorce kathai therincha ,yen menniyala thirugi puduvaan !!
Pecha maathiduvoom ,....he causually barged into and diverted ,

Sadha : Ada ..da da , nalla naalu athuvuma ... vaalvu ,saavunu ennada Kathira pechu ithu !
Ennavo innaiku than nijamavae ninge rendu perum kalyanam pannikitta maathri vasanam pesitu erukinga .
Kalyaanam aagi varsham aachu !
Innaiku summa intha sadangelaam pannalaamnu paatha , ipadiya rendu perum pesi vaipinga .
Yov Muruga ....un maapilaikitta peran venuma illa pethi venumaanu kekkama ,nee enna summa nikkura ?

Murugan' : Ada athana maapla , ipo poi yethuku intha pechu .
Adutha pathu maasam kalichu ....enga perapullaingala kannula kaatunga ,

Sadha : MV : Thappichom da saami !
Apuram enna ...dei Dhaya , Vikki , aaluku oru pakkama ninnu oonjala aatungada !

Needless to say more the whole pack divided themselves into two groups and stood on either side of that huge swing and rocked the couple with all their strength .

Mullai screeched aloud and clung tight to Kathir's arm and almost buried her head into his shoulder as the swing went up and down , to and fro , for multiple times .

Mullai : Acho bayama erukunga ,romba vegaama oonjala aatividraanga !
Vila poren,

Kathir' : Ha ha ha ,ipo nee thana onnavaae erupoomnu sonna ?.
Samarthu ponna ennaiya kattitu vakanthukoo .Vilaama naan paathukren ,

Mullai : Tchu ..  Yenge ipo sirikringa ?
Yaaru intha oonjala ivlo vegaama aata sonathaam !

She screamed forgetting everything around .

Kathir : Oonjala vegaama ponaathan , ' thotil ' la seekirama poda mudiyumaam !

It was his turn to wink now , he wrapped his arms around her more securingly than before and pressed his lips secretly over her head without anyone noticing .

After multiple swings , both of them were really tired .

Mullai s head was really spinning .

She openly cursed her siblings ,

Mullai : Pisaasungala , yellarum sernthukittu ipadiya aati vaipinga .
Thalaiyaae suthuthu ,

Mithra : Akka un thalai enga suthuchu , athu than bathirama mama kaikulla erunthuchaae !
Naanga yellarum than paarthomae ,the little bud giggled and pulled her sister' s leg .

Baran : Well said , amanga anni ! Naanga yellarum paarthomaae ,unga thalai suthavae illaiyaae ,
Anna kaikulla thana erunthuchu .

He repeated Mithra s words once again with a sheepish smile .

Mithra bloomed and smiled brightly ,

All signs of newly sprung love was seen in that young , beautiful face .
She was glowing like a young lady with sweet imaginations of herself and her young man .

Mullai looked at her sister with wide open eyes and mouth .

Even in that situation she brought it to the notice of her husband .

Mullai : Yenge , ennaku ennavo ithunga rendaiyum paathalaae enaku bayama eruku .
Awasara padrangaloo ?

Kathir': Shh .. Mullai. , this is our big day . Innaikum  yethaiyachum manasulla pottu kolapikaatha .
They aren't kids but at same time they aren't matured enough also .
Innaiku namma weddingngrathala awangalum excited ah erukaanga .
Apo apo paathukranga , sirichukranga !
Naan notice pannama illa ,

Mullai : Paathu sirichukraangala vera ?
Sirichukratha naan paakalaiyaae !

Kathir' : Nee than ennaiya sight adichutu erunthiyaae baby ! He smiled ,

Mullai : Shu ,she blushed as usual and forgot everything else ,
.he continued ,

Kathir' :  En kannula erunthu yethuvum thappathu ma .
Awanga namma pasanga , we need to believe them first .
Naan than unaku munadiyaae vaaku koduthu erukenaae , yen bayapadra ?
Yethuvum thappa nadaakaathu .
Awan en thambi ,nallavan . Mithra ku yentha thunbamum tharamaatan .
Thara naan vida maaten.
Awa enaku enoda kolanthai maathri di , don't worry .
Its my responsibility . Ok ? Ennaiya nambu !

Mullai : Hmm... ungala iwanga vishyamnu illa , yellathullaiyum naan mulusa namburen Kathir' .
Sathyama nambren 
she nodded convinced in his speech as well as  suprised of fact of how keenly he has noticed everything going on in that household .

She placed her palm within his big flat palm and pressed into it assuringly .

He reciprocated equally when ,Baran came up to them .

Baran : Anni and anna ,vaange , next enga item than ,

Mullai : Aduthu paanai mothiram vilaiyaatu thana da ?

Kathir' : Athulla enada koothu panni vachrukinga ?

Baran : Vantha therinchura poguthu . Rendu perum secret pesinathu pothum ,vaanga anni .

He causually told them and called Mithra straight before them itself and spoke something into her ears , maintaining a reasonable and decent distance between them both .

The whole family was around them only . But Baran seemed to be fearless and guilt free in his behaviour towards Mithra that convinced Mullai all the more .

Happily they left for the next play .

Vikki and Baran brought the huge silver pot filled with tumeric water and rose petals and placed it on the stand .

Once they were done , Mithra and Lekha along with Vaishu , took out small pouches and emptied the contents one by one into the pot .
Lastly ,Hari put a shell into it .

Hari : Mama , ithu naanga  cousins laam sernthu sponsor panna vilaiyaatu . Ullukulla mothiramum , sangum potrukoom .
Vaanga rendu perum .

Vikki : Ama vanthu , rendu perula yaaru periya aalunu adichu kaatunga !

Kathir' : dai ,oru ringku ivlo scene ah da ,

Vikki : hi ...hi , vaanga maams . Yaarku ring , yaarku sangunu seekiram kaatunga .

The youngsters had managed to purchase two diamond rings with the letter M engraved in Kathir's ring and K engraved in Mullai' s one . It was bought from their own pocket money without the help of elders .
They just faked as if there was one ring alone .

So they were excited and happy to see the reactions in the elder couple' s face on knowing about the rings .

As expected , the two hands which were immersed into the coloured water ,took their own sweet time to fish in for the ring and shell .

Kathir' causually caught her fingers within the water not allowing her to proceed further and search the ring .
Unable to hide her blushed face , on feeling his fingers interlock with hers inside the water , Mullai struggled a lot to put up an act as if searching for the ring .

Baran : Anna .. ulla mothiratha theduriya , illa tholanchu ponna Titanic eh theduriya ?
Evlo neram anna ?

Vikki : atha sollu machi , Aana Rose koodavae erukum bothu intha Jack yethukuda Titanic eh Theda poraaru .

Kathir : Dei ring eh engada kedaikuthu ?
Suthi suthi intha sangum ,manchal kilangum than kaila thattu paduthu !

He lied with absolute ease as whilst carresing the slender fingers of his lady under the water , right above the place the ring hit his hand .
One smooth over her slender fingers and then a suddenly clenching them within his fist with the whole family eagerly looking at them , was absolute fun for him . He played it very well enjoying every bit of it .

His lady who hesitated intially tuned up fast and played along with her man with secret smile in her eyes.

She too slid her fingers along his and  interwined it with his strong fingers in a tight fist with both the rings lying pathetically in the watrr beneath  their tight  fist .

Their eyes too locked up together in a never ever ending eye  lock !!!