CHENNAI

IT WAS THE NIGHT AFTER THE RECEPTION WAS OVER

Kathir was standing in the dark starring at the deep blue ; star studded sky .

Well ,

It had been 3_4 days since his unwanted , unecessary marriage .

Except for the first night there was no interaction between him and her .

After explaining his stand that night he had just left his room to spend the night in solace .

Finding it congested in his spacious room ,  he went to the balcony to get some peace of mind .

Alas ....he was totally blank that night .

The jetlag and the sudden turn of events since he landed in Trichy had tired him as hell .

Kathir wasn't getting an ounce of peace of mind that night .

An unknown security had engulfed him since things went out of his hand in that marriage .

For the very first time in his life he felt his parents should have been alive _ they for sure  would have asked him, atleast once,  his opinion about his wedding !!

With such thoughts surging through and through , not wanting to speak more with her ,he lay in the swing that was fitted in the open balcony amongst the bushes .

Looking at the dark sky above he slowly dozzed but only to enter a disturbed slumber .

To be honest to heart he yearned for some comfort .

The peace sleep wasn't within his reach .

As he was half asleep only he felt it _ a soft touch , a motherly carress ... running through his hair !

He could feel the warmth even in that sleepy state .

Who was it ?

His mother !!!

Who else could it be ?

He thought in that half sleep itself .,as he couldn't even open his heavy hooded lids .

He felt as if she had descended down from the sky on looking at her son loathing alone in such agony .

The  soft palm reached out to his forehead in soft carresses that eased his disturbed heart .

With the turbulence inside him settling down quietly he slept in peace .

Not only that night ,

Kathir felt a sense of calmness filling him inside the day next too .

He didn't possess that bad temper nor  the bitterness he experienced the previous day .

Surprising his insides quitened the day next though he was still unhappy and angry with his wedding .

He didn't get to see much of his supposed wife .

He didn't bother either .

With the whole household treating her as the princess ,she would be happy to be in their company .

Once or twice even when he got a glimpse of her ,he didn't speak much .

Surprisingly she too stayed away from him .

He was much happy with that _ atleast she wasn't fussy .

She had tried to pacify him the previous night but on finding out he wasn't yielding to her antics she must have decided to play it low intially and then come back to him .

Or else who knows ?

She might not even be bothered with him at all .

Now that she had the family ' s support and his approval as his wife right royally , she must have felt there was no need for her to pacify him thereafter .

He thought with bitterness .

To be honest to his heart he did have a good opinion about her intially .

But once he got to witness her double face he threw away that opinion of his .

He wasn't going to be bothered about her anymore .

He will have to bear her presence for the whole of his life .

That s it !!

After having decided so for good he had  stopped even thinking about her .

As well in the most superior' manner he didn't get mad at her like the previous night .

She is going to be there always throughout his life but as someone .

He concluded for good .He took this decision in Trichy itself before they started for the reception at Chennai.

Maybe because of that inner calmness and final decision taken he was able to keep himself undercool for all the rituals that took place in Chennai for them as a couple .

As well he didn't budge when Sadha came up with  customized matching outfits  for them and a wide grin on his face .

The family had by now concluded that the couple had come to good terms between them and everything was fine between them .

He noticed even she was quiet and did not disturb him much in these two days .

The Reception !!!

That was kind of hell for him .

He couldn't shove away from his business associates nor his employees who were dependant on him .

He had to stay composed and enact accordingly to each one of the guests ' queries , teasings and interogations with regard to his sudden marriage ,though it was planned a month before itself .

Again he felt that sense of betrayal by hjs dear family in the name of doing him good ,that added to the bitterness on the girl who stood next to him as his wife all decked and glittering in diamonds .

He did notice that she looked nothing short of a damsel in all those intricately worked outfits and rows of diamonds

Maybe she accepted everything in this marriage for all this ? ?

Even after knowing the person whom she is to marry isn't going to like her for the whole of her life ??

He shrugged with bitterness and turned away from her direction and stood for namesake in the reception when he caught sight of Kailesh' and Pragya waiting in the queue before him .

Damn !!

He didn't really expect Pragyya to attend this reception .

It was just few months back when Kailesh had expressed her liking for him and had sought his answer .

Kathir too had said a Yes !

But now ,

In his own agony about this unwanted wedding , Kathir had really forgotten Pragya .

It was only after reaching Chennai and making personal calls to close business profiles , Kathir had Ind Kailesh about his  sudden marriage  .

Being friends since childhood , Kathir had opened up to Kailesh about his dissatisfaction in his marriage. .

As well he genuinely felt bad for his friend and his sister.

He apologized to him for the first time ever in his life ( and he blamed his new wife only for having put him in such a situation _ till date he never ever was in an answerable situation to any one )

Though it wasn't his fault he explained his stand and asked Kailesh to look in for a befitting groom for her .

Yeah ,

He ofcourse did feel bad for not having had a life partner of his choice .

It didn't hurt him that much whilst explaining it to Kailesh over the phone .

But

When he saw them in person at the reception hall he felt really bad both for his friend who looked dull as well his sister who though we'll dressed for the reception , was obviously upset on seeing him standing beside his new wife .

Kathir was able to see the pain in her eyes .

Not that they courted in depth .

But he really felt bad on seeing Pragya .

The guiltiness of giving them false hopes made his face turn red .

That streak of guilt made him stiffen instantly on seeing them and he wore a pale emotionless mask as whilst receiving them .

But deep inside his heart blamed all of this on the girl standing next to him .

If only she had accepted his offer ,he wouldn't have had to cut a sorry face to so many people .

As that thought struck him again he moved away from her more and more .

Kailesh didn't express anything in words . He wished them plain and simple .

Pragya too wished them but the dissapppointment in her eyes was evident . Kathir noticed it as well .
It was too late . Feeling bad for her he once again called up Kailesh and emphasized to look in for a suitable groom for her at the earliest .
But what Kailesh said made him sad . She had been weeping continuously since they had returned from the reception it seems .
Kathir had nothing to do about it but he felt bad for her _ a very brilliant , brave , sucessful entrepreneur and a good friend of his , breaking down and crying for his sake made him feel very bad .

It was when he was in these thoughts , Vignesh aka Vikki , Sadha s elder son came in searching for Kathir .

Vikki : Anna ...inga ninnu ena panringa ?

Kathir : Heei ,Viks ....wats up man . Naan nikrathu erukatum ....am really sorry , I forgot . Nee ketta gadgets laam vaangitu vanthuten . But I forgot to give it to you . En tourister la ....

Vikki : Tchu ...vidunga anna.  I am not interested . I know ... everything .

Kathir : You know what ?

Vikki : You are sad na . You aren't happy . Unga kannula theriyuthu . You aren't even laughing like before .
Enaku ellam theriyum .
You don't like this wedding know ? So do I . Ungalku pidikaatha yethhvum enakum pidikaathu.

Kathir : Vikki ....

He was just a mad fan of Kathir .

Though he was the nephew he was used to calling Kathir as Anna .

He always held a craze for him ,to the extent of telling that he would have married Kathir if he had been a girl .

Now that observing Kathir wasn't happy with this wedding he was dead angry against his own father and mother .

He didn't like Mullai too for the same reason .

Vikki : I hate dad anna .

Kathir : Deei ..

Vikki : Awara la than ungalku intha problem . We all didn't know it until the last confirmation na .
What he did is cruel ,

Kathir : Stop it Vikki . Don't blame him .Leave it ...

Vikki : Ninge ipo kooda appa mela kovapada maatengrinha !
But he ? Awar ku unga mela paasamae illa na.
Ithae enakuna ipdi pannirupaara na ?

It was exactly when he uttered those words , Mullai had come up searching for Kathir to tell her decision .

Hearing the cousins speak among themselves she paused not wanting to barge into them .

She as well wanted to know his answer .

Kathir : Oh that s too much for him Vikki !
It's not like that .
You know what ? Sadha mama ku naan than first child . Athaikum apadi than .
I know them ....Athunaala than , antha paasathulla than , enaku ennavo nallathu panrenu nenachittu intha maathri behave pannitaanga .
I still like him . Appa va laam apdi thitaatha Vikki !!

Vikki : Oh anna ....how can you even think like this now .
Naan ah eruntha awangala blast pannirupen !

The cousins embraced each other and co axed leaving Mullai vexed .

Mullai : MV : So kovam , aathiram laam en kitta mattum than .
Awanha mama va purinchukuvaanga , awanga athaiya thappu solla maatanga , awanga thaatha _ paati na uyir !!
Aana ennaiya mattum yetho kolai kutravaali maathri nikka vachu kelvi kepaanga !
Illati ....paakathulla oruthi nikkuraalaanu kooda mathika maatanga !
Vera oruthiya paathu soga geetham vaasipaanga !
Ellathukum ellachava , Mullai mattum than !
Awanga veetu aalungala oru vaarthai kooda thappu sollala !
Nethi ,intha manushanuku than naan paavam paathen _ cha , yennaiya sollanum.

She wasn't a saint or emotionless robot .

The agony of being rejected was too high .

Now that hearing him aiding his family members even in a mess her decision was concrete .

Once Vikki left the place she went in front of Kathir much to his suprise .

Kathir :Enna vishyam ?

Mullai :
Unga kitta onu sollanum .
Naan pannathu thappu than .
Othukren ...
Naan ....naan ...ungala ....vanthu _
, naama divorce pannikalaam .
Mutual ah pirinchu poidalaam .

He didn't immediately answer nor react to her words .

She couldn't read his immediate expressions in the dark .

But ,..when he turned around to face her well in the light he looked and cool and composed .

Was there sarcasm in his face ?

He said ,

. Kathir : Three days back I asked you a favour .
Suggested you something else !
Apo nee sonathu vera ...senchathu vera !
Ipo enna ?

What will she answer of asked in such a cut throat tone .

Just minutes back his voice flowed like ice cream when he spoke to his cousin ...

Why does he behave so rude to her alone ?

Mullai : Illa ....athu vanthu ....

Kathir : Athan vanthutiyaae ! Vanthathum illama ,rendae naala la yelaar manasullaiyum simmasanam pootu vakanthachu !
Apuram enna drama ?

He asked curtly .

Actually these two days he wasn't this rude with her .

Even until the reception evening ,

But ...

Whether her pleasant appearance decked with grand jewels for the evening

Or

The dissappointed faces of Kailesh' and Pragya that made him apologize to them

Or

The angry words of his cousin against his own dad'

Or

That lonely feeling that he suddenly got to experience since the wedding

Made him mad again at her !!!

Mullai : Enna solringanu purila ! She too gave back in an equally curt tone now .
MV : Kunniya Kunniya kuttikitaae than erupaanga pola .
Awala paatha odana mogham laa chinnatha pochula ...hapadi ,enna oru sogama mogam maaruchu ?
Apuram antha chinna paiyan kitta enna samaathanam_ unga appa mela thappu illa da nu dialogue vera !
Apo naan enna yelakaarama !
Naan yentha simaasanathukum aasaiyum padala , yethuvum kedaikalaiyaanu mogatha thonga pottukittum suthala ....she said angrily ,then noticing his face redden she wantingly added ....sila per maathrinu ,solla vanthen . She meant Pragya ....

But ironically Kathir didn't get it .

His thoughts were focused only on her backlash !

Kathir : wow .. wow ....Purila ?
Chinna pappa ....unaku than onum puriyaathae .
Atha vidu ....

Mullai : Yethaiyum vida mudiyaathu ....she said and bit her tongue .

Kathir : What ?

Mullai : On...onum illa . Yetho summa solliten ...

Kathir : Summava ?
Mothala onna sollitu pinna atha summanu oothi thallurathu than ungaluku kai vantha kalaiyaachae madam !

The sarcasm hurted her ...that she screamed his name aloud for the first time in these three days of married life .

Mullai : Kathirrrr !

Screaming his name involuntarily she bit her tongue trying to control her temper .

She had lost patience after seeing his face turn sore on the sight of Pragya .

Kathir : Wo..hoo ... sollunga Mrs.Kathir !
Athan patta pottu yeluthi koduthaachae !
Kudumbamae unnaiya thooki vachu aaduthae ,inum enna ?
Naalaiku en lawyer eh vara solriuken _ by right en properties la unoda shares unaku transfer panniduven .
Ellam smooth ah poitu eruku !
Naan kodutha vaaka meera maaten ...now he paused and repeated her words , sila per maathrinu solla vanthen !

Mullai : Enaku vendaam !
Naan porenu than solla vanthen

Kathir : By law ...it will come to you , my wife .
Vera enna ?
Ipo enna new drama podra .

Mullai: Dramavum illa oru mangagattiyum illa !

Kathir : Managatti ?

Mullai : Claypott !

Kathir : Naan athuku aal illai !

Mullai : Tchu .....

Kathir : Yen ma ivlo sallichu kra ? Inga paaru ,summa yethachum pesanumnu pesitu erukaatha .
I asked for a favour before this damn wedding .
Atha nee accept panniruntha ,enaku un mela thannala mathipu vanthrukum .
U deceived me !
So Inimel naan unnaiya nambuvenu expect pannatha .
I have accepted this wedding for good .
Enoda terms eh than thelliva sollitenaae ..then what ?

Mullai : Illainga .... please konja neram naan solratha amaithiya kelunga .
Naan anaiku ungala yemathanumnu seyyala ,

Kathir : then ?

Mullai : Oru maasama ..ung.....vera maathri nenachu vacha kalyaanam .
Takkunu , ishtam illanu poi amma appa kitta sonna , mothala awangalae atha namba maatanga .
Rendavathu ,Trichy la enga side la than neraiya sontham vanthruthaanga .
Ipadi kadaisi nimishathulla maapillaiya pidikalainu naan maathitenu therincha , enga family eh kevalama pesuvaanga ....ennaiya asingama solluvanga , enoda amma valarpu sari illai ....athu ithunu ,aayiram sollunvaanga ....she stopped inbtwn to see whether he was listening ....he was quiet .

She continued taking it as a positive signal ,

Mullai : Unga alavuku engalku panam kedaiyaathu .
Middle class family na ....naakulla narambillama pechu kekka vendi varum .
Ninge nenaikra maathri avlo easy ah atha thodachu potutu poida maatanga .
Enaku oru kutty thangachi eruka ....awa kalyaanam varaikum intha pechu varum !
Panam eruntha yetha venumnaalum moodi maraikalaam ....she said with absolute hate in her voice .
Engalku apdi illa .
Athuvum illama ....

Kathir : illama ?his voice was bit low now ,

Mullai : she looked at him once ....how could she open up her heart . She covered it up in a round about way , ninge solra friend ipo onum sollama kalyaanam pannikitaalum pinnadi enna pesuvaaroo , awanga amma ,appalaam epdi maaruvaangaloo ?
Enaku antha bayam erukum thana ....

Kathir : Hmm.....he looked thoughtfull now .

Mullai : Athu naala ....

Kathir : Athu naala ?

Mullai: She hesitated for a second ...then Pragya and her the way she looked at Kathir sprang up in her mind ...she said in absolute jealousy , theriyaatha devathaiya vidda therincha pei ye paravalanu _ periyavanga munadi maathi pesiten !

Saying so she was waiting for him to yell at her for mentioning him so .

But

Instead a twinkle appeared in his eyes .

He said in a light hearted tone as well a small smile too ,

Kathir : So ..enkittaiyaae ,ennaiyaae "devil" nu solra ! A faint chuckle escaped his throat .
Hmm.... apadi thana ?

His tone didn't possess any anger now .

For a minute , Mullai couldn't help thinking how it would be if he was to always speak to her in this jovial tone .

Well ,

That is never going to happen .

Pragya will be  the lucky one to experience all his lighter side .

She let a sigh and came back to her point ,

Mullai : Apo apdi sonathu thappu than .
Yosikaama maathi pesiten .
Annaiku raathri ninge sonna pinnadi than ..... pinnadi than .....enaku ,enaku ....

Kathir : Hmm...he asked her normally 

But Mullai couldn't frame it in sentences .

She simply said , 

Mullai : Vera oruthavanga vaalkaiya vaala enaku nejam ishtam illai . He was about to interuppt her ,but she didn't allow him ...and continued ,
Enaku athu munadi theriyaathunga . Atha ninhe nambi than aaganum ,
Inga vanthu intha rendu naal la enaku konjam purinchuruku .
Athuvum innaiku paatha pinnadi ....she meant Pragya !

Ironically Kathir thought she meant the huge crowd and his business circle ,

Mullai : Naan poren .
Promise . Yaar kittaiyumn solla vendaam .
Naan mutual ah yeluthi koduthren .
Nijama !

He didn't speak for long .

Then he asked slowly ,

Kathir : Are you serious ?
Ipo ipadi sollitu ....pinnadi she cut off ,

Mullai : Pinnadi maathi pesa maaten !
Oru vaati than vaaku thavarinen !
But intha time ninhe ennaiya nambalaam !
Ithu naan nalla yosichu yedutha mudivu .
Ningalae ketta kooda naan pin vaanga maaten !.
Sathyam panni tharen _ intha vaalkaiya oru mudivuku kondu vanthrulaam .

She said with determination .

Kathir didn't speak much after that.

They all returned back to Trichy .

Somehow Kathir couldn't interact that causually with his family as before .

The sense of being blinded was still there .

Not that he hated them _ but he wanted them to be at a distance .

Strictly he asked them to stay away from Trichy .

They accepted knowing his bad temper .

He and Mullai alone stayed in Trichy house .

He used the first floor.

She chose to stay in the ground floor .

Ramesh was the driver at Trichy . His dumb wife was the helper at The RANGAN PALACE .

NONE OF THEM TRIED TO SPEAK TO EACH OTHER NOR GOT TO KNOW ABOUT ONE ANOTHER .

LIKE HE SAID THEY LIVED AS STRANGERS .

HE USED THE LIFT .

SHE NEVER CAME OUT OF HER ROOM WHENEVER HE WAS AROUND .

Ramesh and his wife came to work at 7:00 am and left the house at 5:00 pm .

They didn't know about the couple s style of living .

Very very rarely they encountered each other .

And most of the time it ended in a banter or argument .

6 months rolled up just like that.

Mullai managed to keep her family away from THE RANGAN PALACE !

JUST 6 MORE MONTHS WAS LEFT FOR THE END _ MUDIVU !

WAS IT REALLY THE ENDING ?

WERE THEY REALLY DESTINED TO SEPARATE FOR ETERNITY ?

FATE SEEMED TO HAVE OTHER PLANS !

IN THE FORM OF A RAINY MIDNIGHT WHEN KATHIR LANDED UP DRUNK AT HIS HOME ,

IT WAS HIS PARENTS ' DEATH ANIVERSARY THAT DAY !!!

A DAY THAT MULLAI WILL NEVER FORGET !

A DAY THAT WAS THE STARTING POINTING OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING TO BIND THEM AGAIN IN ANOTHER INNINGS .

IT WAS JUSR A BEGINNING!

MUDIVUM .....MUDHALUM !!!