Mullai ya varen chithappa !

Mrs . Kathir eh nadika mudiyaathu !

She slumped to the ground rewinding her own words .

As usual mind and heart conflicted .

Mrs.Kathir ah nadika mudiyaatha !

Athana ...nee yen nadikanum , madam ,manasulla inum Mrs . Kathir ah thana vaaluringa .

Nenappenalaam awanga mela ,aana intha  pechukum mattum koraivilla !!

Her mind mocked for which her heart pathetically answered ,

Vera enna panna solra ?

Enaala awangala maraka mudilaa _ marak mudiyavaae mudiyaathu !

Vera yaaraiyum antha yedathulla ,nenachu kooda paaka mudiyaathu ;

Aana , athukaaga , en suyamariyathaiya vitutu , thanmaanatha vitutu .... apadiyae unmaiya vilambanuma ?

Athuvum enaala mudiyaathu !!

Naan Kathir eh inamum virumburen _ athu enaku nichaiyam , aana atha Inimel Kathir eh ennaiya thedi vanthalum , ennala othuka mudiyaathu .

Manasu avlo irugi poi eruku !

Apadi erukum bothu ,intha chithappavuku paavam paathukittu , thirumba anga poi nadika mudiyaathu !!!

Iwara vidu _ awanga ,awanga.....she closed her eyes thinking about Kathir , mothala awanga ennaiya pathi enna nenaipaanga ?

Ithoo ...poora maathri poitu , Thaathava saaka vachu thirumba vanthu thalaila vakanthutaanu , kevalama nenaipaanga !!

Yerkanavae ,pecha maathi pesinenu ,en mela nalla abipraayaayam illa _ ipo iwar sonnathukaaga othukitta ,inamum awamanam than minchum .

She wiped her dried eyes , washed her face , combed her hair and got ready .

The Rockfort Uchipillaiyaar Kovil was at a walkable distance from the hostel they stayed.

Leaving a message to Midhulla , Mullai went to the temple.

But instead of climbing up to the top of the  Rockfort complex where theshrine of main deity Shri Ganesha resides  ,she climbed halfway through and entered the base of the complex to the shrine of  Thaayumanavar Sanathi !

The place where Lord Shiva is believed to had taken form of even as a  Mother and had attended to a delivering woman who was in urgent labour .

She sat in that huge Mandapam and closed her eyes with the rhythm of Ohm..ohm..Namasivaya ...alone flowing into her ears .

Somehow she too felt a motherly feeling spreading within herself and calming her wounded heart .

She had felt bad for having refused Sadha ' s proposal.

Though she told him that she will meet the old man as Mullai alone , she very well knew that was highly impossible .

Especially in front of that huge kind family and an elderly sick man .

All she could do now was to pray to the Lord _ Almighty to save the elderly man by some means .

The Ohm ...Ohm...manthra that echoed throughout the Mandapam bestowed her peace .

She got up ,walked slowly looking at the age old paintings on the wall_
Wherein the Lord himself took form and aided the woman in labour .

Her hand involuntarily carressed her lower stomach .

She didn't know whether she was happy or dissapponted when she missed her periods the next month but cracked up a heavy bleed the month next .

She didn't know whether it was a baby or was just the periodical endometrial shedding  .

But she later felt thankful she wasn't pregnant with him .

He would have definitely taken the responsibility if she had been pregnant .

Because that was what he had  declared , by repeatedly asking her whether he had forced her on that night .

If she had said yes she would have continued as his wife _ nope as his unwanted wife or as the mother of his child.

She didn't want it _ didn't want to continue as his wife for his child' s sake .

That was the main reason she firmly refused to take steps to remind him of what happened that night .

She had just plainly said he hadn't forced .

Without  a word more _ she left him to his own imagination but with a hope he might get reminded of something of that night !

Tch...!

Till the last date he didn't seem to recollect anything .

And then ,

The date of departure had arrived !

Mullai came out of that trance and those memories .

Why to get reminded of all that now ?

Well,his grandfather is sick _

But he is admitted in the best hospital with the bestest care awailable .

They have enough money _!

And he will be well ,very soon !

Kathir is not even going to think about her even a second _ Infact currently he must be occupied with his grandfather s ill-health .

A huge family is there for him to provide support .

And

And

More than them ,..

She !

Someone else in his mind !

That person is there to provide him his needed comfort and care ;

So why would he even bother about her nor her presence there near his grandfather .

With a sigh she climbed up to the Uchipillaiyaar shrine ,prayed the lord and returned back to her room

Midhulla was there looking at her with a piercing look .

Mullai didn't react much _ she was silent .

Through Sadha , Midhulla had come to know about the happenings at Chennai .

But was waiting for Mullai to open up herself .

She did after long minutes of silence _ but , instead of telling about the sick person , Midhulla noticed it was more ... about him only .

Mullai : Awanga thaathaku sudden attackam . Severe heart attack pola .

Midhulla : hmm.....she didn't ask whom .

Mullai looked once at her face and clarified as if Midhulla didn't know about whom she was telling ,

Mullai : Awanga ..... awanga ..,athan,

Midhulla : Un Kathir thana ? Nee vera yaara awanga _ awanga nu , vaarthaikae vallikama solluva .
Athelaam awaruku mattum than special quota !
She didn't bother about Mullai bs stare ...ipo yethuku ennaiya moraikra ?
Unmai kasaka than seyyum magalae . What to do ?
Sari mella sollu _

Mullai : Early morning sonna vudanae , pathari adichu poi kelambi poitaangalaam ,

Midhulla : 🙄🙄🙄🙄

Mullai : Paavam , thaathana romba ishtam.
Amma ,appa illama valarnthavangala ....Athunaala ,

Midhulla : oh hoo,

Mullai : Romba kalangi poitaangalaam ...,periyavara paatha odana odanchutaangalaam .
Thaatha kanna thoranthu paakra varai yaarkittayum pesalaiyaam .
Apuram awarae iwangala pera solli koopitathum than nimathiyaam.
Apovum mohamlaam aluthu ....sivanthu ....she stopped abruptly on seeing a small cushion hit her .

It was Midhulla !

Mullai : Tchu ...enna Midhu ithu ? Naan evlo serious ah orutharuku odambu sari illathatha solren.
Nee enadaana , thalaganiya thooki pootu settai panra ? 

Midhulla : Settai ! Yaaru naana ? Neram di !
Ama , apuram enna sonna ....odambu sugam illathavara pathi sollitu erukiya ?
Adiyaae .....ivlo nerama nee antha manushana pathi oru vaarthai kooda pesala di .

Mullai : hm?

Midhulla : Enna hoom ?
Imputu neramum , design design ah un aalu evlo kavala pataaru , yepadi laam vethanai pataaru ,enna maathri thudichaarunu than sollikittu eruka .
Inum evlo neram moochu vitaaru , yethana vaati kanna simitinaaru ....yepolaam yepam vitaarunu villaka urai mattum than nee kodukala.
Antha paava patta thaatha pathi  oru vaarthai kooda un thiruvaaila erunthu varavaae  varala thaayae !!
Sonathelaam "purushan puranam " _ ithulla kovam vera madam ku !

Mullai : Neeya karapanai pannikaatha Midhu !

Midhulla : Karapanai ? Naanu ? Sari erunthutu pogatum .
Nee enna panna pora ?

Mullai blinked now .

Mullai : Naan ? Naan panna enna eruku ?

Midhulla : Enna eruku _ athan unaku kai vantha kalaiyaachae ,
Um purushana madilla pottu thaalaati , konji konji , pinchu ponna antha panchu manasa thethi , aaruthal padutha vendaam ?

Now Mullai got up from her seat ,came up to Midhulla and started smacking her as much as she could .

It was only after Midhulla squealed aloud , Mullai stopped .

Breathing fast she sat down and declared .

Mullai : Naan panrathuku onumae illa Midhu !

Midhu : illadi naan .... Mullai stopped her halfway .

Mullai : Awanga mama enaku call panni ,anga vara sonaaru Midhu .
Thaatha ennaiya visaaricharaam !.Paakanumnu .
Athuku than call panaaru ..... ennaiya ... ennaiya ,..she paused and said awanga wife ah vara sonaaru .

Midhulla knew this _ infact Sadha had persuaded her to convince Mullai .

But she didn't reveal it _ instead played along in a humour tone itself.

Midhulla : Ada ...ithu nalla thana eruku . Pesama poitu vaa di , thaathavukum santhosham ,neeyum un aalla paatha maathri erukum !

She said with true care .

But Mullai stared outside the sky for long .

Mullai : Awangala verumana paakanumna naan yen Midhu divorce varaikum poren .
Kaalam muluka paathukittae eruka than ,awangalae suggest pannangalaae ....she said with bitterness in his tone , we shall remain as life long strangers !!
Athu enna thevaiku ?
Pinnaipillatha vaalkai oru vaalkaiya ?
Athu enaku vendaam Midhu ....vendavaae vendaam !

She broke down suddenly and sobbed .

Midhulla immediately came to her friend' s rescue leaving aside all her banters .

She consolled her level best .

Midhu : Yeei ...Chu,Mullai ...inga paaru _ paaru di .
Naan yetho oru aaravathulla olariten .
Nee alaatha.
Unaku thevai illatha yethuvum unaku vendaam . Vidu .
Naan sonathelaam manasulla vachukaatha ,
Sariya ....alatha , antha chithappa thirumba koopita ,vara mudiyaathunu 'cut and right' ah sollidu _ ok va ?

Mullai hugged Midhu and leaned in her shoulder and continued speaking ,

Mullai : Chithappa illa , Awangalae vanthu koopita kooda naan pooga maaten Midhu !

She declared high not knowing the game of fate _

She didn't know that she herself will decide and go along with him , back to the family _ once again in the disguise of his wife !!!

CHENNAI :

MRS.Periyanayagi _

The elderly woman ,the wife of a successful industrialist , a entrepreneur by herself ,  a mother of four kids and seven grandchildren was sitting all alone .... sobbing ,her eyes not leaving an inch of her husband who was lying in the bed ,just opposite the glass door before her .

She didn't move away from the corridor opposite to the customised ICU room where Ranghanathan was admitted .

Not a morsel of food nor a drop of water slid down her throat since the time she saw her best half fall down in sickness .

She wasn't immune to human loses !!

Infact she had faced the worst _ losing her first born along with her soulmate  together in a matter of few hours was something Ranganayagi couldn't digest easily .

She totally broke down when she lost Lakshmi and Pandian.

But then ,

She had Ranganathan by her side to share the loss and take part in her worry .

Little Kathir was there as a a ray of hope _ as the miniature of both her daughter and son in law , to fill in the vacuum created by her offspring' s loss .

But now ,

The base of her life was shaken for good !

Both of them were ofcourse aged _ still ,

She couldn't bear to see her soulmate suffer like this ,

As well he was anytime  on the verge of departure _ as per the doctor s words .

That had drained the life out of her !!

She looked pathetic .

Kathir who had been on the run , arranging everything for his grandfather , came up to his grandma in the break when Ranghanathan was asleep .

He knew his grandma as a strong yet kind ,level headed lady .

But ,this shattered appearance of hers broke something inside him .

He couldn't bear to see her like this .

Nearing her ,he bent down and gently called ,

Kathir : Paati ...

There was a minute silence followed by huge sobs ,

Periyanayagi : Kathiraa..... Kathiraa ....she cried aloud forgetting her surroundings, enaala mudila da , mudilla da ...ipdilaam paakavae ...

Kathir : Sh ..paati ,

Periyanayagi : Epadi eruntha manushan . Ipadi thuvandu poi kedakaaru .
Paakavae mudiyala Kathira . Moochu vidaa kooada sirama padaraarae da ,

Kathir : Alathinga paati . You are q strong woman.

Periyanayagi : Naana ? Illaiyae da ....enaku aatharamae un thaatha thana , Awara vachu than enaku thairiyam ....thembu yellamae !
Ipo ....ipo yellamae sooniyamaana maathri erukaae .
Aandavan ,mothala ennaiya kondu ponna paravala da .
Enaala thaanga mudila ...

Kathir : tchu paati ....he said in a strict tone , ithu enna word ?
Thaatha nalla padiya recover aaganumnu yosikaama .... ipdilaam solringa ?

Periyanayagi : Nalla padiya varanum than .
Aana ...unmainu onu erukula.
Yethartham veraiya erukaae .
Awanga uyir ku doctorlaam naal kurichutaangalae .

Kathir : C'mon paati , surgery panna he will be better .
Ipothaiku surgery ku fitness vara varaikum , namma wait pannanum .
Athu onu than prechanae ....atha...

Periyanayagi : Atha than solren.
Ipadiyum erukalaam... apdiyum erukalaam nu thana solranga .
Atha kekka kekka .....manasulla bayam varuthu da ,

Kathir : Alathinga ..... ungalku bayam laam varaathu !he wiped off her tears gently and allowed her to vent .

She needed someone to express her sorrow and explain her point of view .

The old woman had taken a firm decision already .

Periyanayagi : Varum thambi ....Bayam varum !
Enoda aatharam .....thunai ....pinaipu ellamaae un thaatha than !
Unga amma ponna pothu , antha yelappa thaanga , atha thaandi vellila vara , koodavae uruthunaiya erunthathu un thaatha !
Sugam _ thukamnu , ambathu varshathukum mela , yellathaiyum pangu pottu vaalnthu palagitoom .
Naan naalu pullaingaluku amma than ,
Athungaluku onuna naan thairiyama ninnu thaanguven !
Yenna enaku pinnadi erunthu ennaiya thaanginathu thaatha _

Kathir : .....;

Periyanayagi : Vaalkai thunai saami _ awaruku naan , enaku Awaru !
Evlo varsham aana enna ?
Vayasu aana noi varum than ....naduvan koopidra neram than ,
Atha unarnthu than naan eruken !
Naan saavuku bayapadala thambi _ un thaatha ennaiya thaniya vitutu poiduvaaroonu than bayapadren !

She sobbed again for a long time and then said in a firm voice ,

Periyanayagi : Chinnapaiyan nee ,ipo than vaalkaiya arambichu eruka !
Vaalkai thunai oda Arumai ipo theriyaathu ....naan solrathelaam artham illatha polambal maathri thonum ,
Naala pinna .... ungalkulla onnuna....unakaaga Mullaiyum , awalukaaga neeyum thudikum bothu than , enoda bayam enna .....kastam enna , Kavala ennanu puriyum !

She continued ranting in a flow not noticing her grandson stiffen instantly and sit straight on hearing her words .

What did she just say ?

Kathir froze at her words _ Awar illama naan illa ,naan illama awar illa !!

Unaku onnuna Mullai thudipa !

Would she have ?

Mullai ?

He didn't know what he would do ....he was suddenly left in a trance ,

When ,

He heard Periyanayagi asking him ,

Periyanayagi : Enaku oru korikai erukuda Kathira !

Kathir : Haan ...Ammachi ?

Periyanayagi : Yentha nerathulla enna venumnaalum nadakalam .Ellam awan kaila eruku .
Aana yethu epadi nadathaalum naan un thaatha koodavae than erupen .
Erunthalum sari ....awar koodavae poonaalum sari than !

Kathir : Shh....not again Ammachi !

Periyanayagi : Nerupunu sonna vaai venthuraathu da .
Oorla erunthu ,chinnavalum, pullaingalum vara solliten !
Thaatha kannu mullikra neramlaam , Mullaiya than kekkuraaru ....she paused and then asked hesitantly , awala vara sonna , nee ennavo thayangi thayangi sollura ...,naan onu ketta thappa yeduka maatiyae ,

Kathir: Cha cha ...enna paati ?

Periyanayagi : Mullai yethum undaairukaala ?
Athan , praayanam panna vendaamnu paakriya ?

It took a whole of 5 minutes for Kathir to understand what the old woman meant .

Instantly he refused , but with a red face and an involuntary imagination of a faint sketch of her with a large baby bump .

He really didn't know why he connected with her pregnancy so easily and why  that image popped up so swiftly within him ! 

Kathir: Illa...la..paati ,Apdilaam ....onum illa !

Why does his throat clog all of a sudden ?

He didn't know !

The old woman continued ,

Periyanayagi : Apo oru nadai Trichy ku poi ,pappava kootitu vaada .
Thaatha kannu munadi rendu perum thambathiya vanthu ninnu aasirvaatham vaangikonga !
Inum konja maasathulla ,thaathavoda sathaabishegam varuthu !
Athu nalla padiya kondadanum erunthen !
Aana ....ipo Aandavan enna nenachu erukaano therila ,
Athunaala....ipovae ninge rendu perum vanthu aasirvaatham vaangikonga da .
Ithu en korikai Kathira !!

Kathir stood with thoughtfully !!!

It was difficult to awoid this voice and tone of his grandma ;

PINNAIPUM _ KORIKAIYUM !