Kathir was still sitting in the same place with the headache splitting his head into two along with the statements of both his grandmother and Parvathi still echoeing in his ears .

Awar illaina naan illa !!

Awanga illama ponna ,Naanum eruka maaten !!

He just  couldn't digest the words of both elderly women .

Because both of them putforth their Life partner as the first prority ,even before their own children !!!

How was that even possible ?

Life partners aren't blood related !!

They enter one another s life only after a solid of atleast 25 yrs , until which each one had lived another life with their own blood related family .

But no one claims to end their own life if they happen to loose their own akin siblings ; or even their own parents .

Though the departure of a loved one , splits the heart ,they still continue with their own destined life !!!

Why _ he himself is a living example , he didn't end his life after knowing that his parents have joined the heavenly abode .

Of course the scar and loneliness is still there inside him !!

Just that he has never expressed it to anyone _ the mask he wore always had never allowed anyone to even smell a pinch of it !!

Uff !!

But to declare to end one' s life for the sake of another ?

He shook his head and thought deep .

Ithu enna vithamana  affection ?

Oruthar illati , innorutharum uyiroda eruka maatenu solranga !!

Pasangala pathi nenaikala !

Thanakunu oru life erukunum yosikala !

Athu yellathaiyum vitutu .....awang a koodavae naanum poiduvenu solrathuku ,evlo aalamana paasam venum ?

What is that feeling even called ?

He couldn't name it as just Love _ he believed it was something more than it .

Apo ,enoda ammavum ,awanga kadaisi nodilla ,intha maathri than yosichu erupaangala ?

Appa koodavae , nammalum poroomnu , nimathiya erunthu erupaangala ?

Ennaiya pathi yosichruka maatanga ?

Damn !!

He stomped the floor ,

Another statement pricked in him ,

Naalaiku unaku onnuna Mullaiyum ipdi than yosipa !!

Both his grandmother and her mom told the same words !!

Awa apadi pannuvaala ?

Antha alavuku aalama yosika ,mothala awaluku en mela paasam _ kathal laam erukanumaae ?

Maathi pesi ,thappu panniten nu othukittu ,thaana othungi ponava kitta epadi itha naan yethirpaaka mudiyum ?

One year ah antha veetla , strangers maathri than erunthom !!!

He remained her words once again ,

" Ninge sonna maathri kalyanatha niruthina , enoda appa _ ammaku than awamanam .

Enga sonthakaaranga ennaiya than thappa pesuvaanga !

Athoda ,neenga sonna antha Ashok , kalyaanathuku apuram ennaiya kuthi kaata maataarunu enna nichayam ?

Athunaala than naan maathi pesinen !

Naan poidren _ ungalku divorce kudukren

Namma  divorce panni ,mutual ah pirichuralaam _ ninge ennaiya nambalaam !!

Naan yentha vitha advantageum yeduka maaten !!!

Papers la sign panni kondu vanthruken !!

Naan sonna vaaka meera maatenga !!

Namma divorce pannikrathu uruthi !!

Her note _ ithulla unga amma nagailaam list pottu vachruken , yella nagaiyum vachuten _ thaaliku panamum eruku !!

He let out a sigh !

Iwa enkitta maximum pesinathu intha vaarthainga than,

Ithulla enga en mela kadthal theriyuthu ?

Undoubtedly she is a good girl _ suyamariyathai ulla nermaiyana ponnu !

But atha thaandi ,en mela awalukum paasam erukunu epadi nenaikrathu ?

The drunken rainy night came in memory !!

Hmm...ipo varaikum atha pathi oru vaarthai awa sollala_ naan force pannena illaiyanum vaaya thorakala awa ,

Aana ....

He shut his eyes , reminded of how shamelessly he was aroused the previous morning ,when she was within his hands .

She didn't budge at all !!

Instead she fit in as if she was used to this .

It was so natural then .

But ,

He shuddered at another thought !

Out of blue , Pragya and her hug barged in .

Immediately he felt disgusted .

His consience reminded him of how he stood as emotionless as a robot when Pragya flung her arms around him .

But it wasn't the case with her _ Mullai !!

He had to admit the flushed vein that pulsated high along his groin and greedy fingers that plunged into the abundance of her flesh .

He was hell aroused even in that  pathetic situation !!

With Pragya ,he didn't feel an ounce of it .

He came clear in that point !!!

Pragya va enaku romba varshama theriyum .

Infact , honestly ,  intha divorce ku apuram ,innoru marriage ku Pragya va thana consider pannirunthen !!!

I didn't ask her to wait for me _ but by all means , when Kailesh asked me , I was ok to marry her !!

Aana ...

Aana ...?

Anaiku awala vanthu hug pannabothu yen enaku athu pidikala ....oru maathri aruveruppa erunthuchu ???

Awala keela thalli vidra alavuku veruppu vanthuchu apo !!

But innaiku antha hospital room la vachu ,iwala naan _ he feared to think more .

He gobbled down a painkiller and thought again ,

Innaiku ...no no ,nethi night la erunthu , awa ...en kailkulla than eruntha .

Why did I feel so much in place when she was within my arms ?

Enala wife ah nenachu paaka mudilanu sonna oru ponnu kita , official ah en wife illatha ponnu mela ,epadi intha yeedu paadu vanthuchu ?

I just couldn't let go of her _

Unmaiya othukanumna ....I just went out of control in the morning !

Cha ...

Hospital nu kooda paakama , awa appaku accident aagirukunu kooda  nenaivillaama  ....awa kitta asingama nadanthu kitten !!!

What a shame !!

But why I did felt so with her ?

Pragya kitta varatha ....eerpu , iwa kitta ,iwa mela ....yepadi vanthuchu ?

Athuvum .... after all this divorce shit !!

He got reminded of her kiss in the court room .

Iwaluku en mela athae eerpu eruka ?

Does she like me ?

Apo yen awalvae divorce pathi pesina ?

Ithu enna vithamana thavippu !

Damn. _ I couldn't decode her !

Nalla ponnu ,

Nermaiyana ponnu than !

Aana , Paatiyum awa ammavum  solra alavuku en mela paasam erukura ponna awa ?

Iruntha .....yen thaanavae pirinchu poganum ?

He closed his eyes for sometime ,with so much confusion and clogged thoughts ..

Somewhere from deep Ramesh s words flowed in ,

Ungalkaaga , ungalku pidichatha paathu samaipaaga !

Dabba neraiya palam kodupaanga _ thirumba vantha odanae yellam gaaliyaachaanu check pannuvaanga !

Pathinoru maniku soup kuduka solli phone call varum !

Vadakathi samayal na ,porul laam naal kadai thedi pudichu vaangi kodupen .

Ninge saapdra varaikum enaiya nagara vida maatanga !!

He remembered her question the previous morning in the causualty when her dad was lying sick , Saaptingala ?

Ithu ...intha akkarai awaluku summa road la pora yaar melaiyavathu varuma ?

Paasam illati intha akkarai than varuma enna ?

Apo summa onum awa kadamaikunu enaku cook pannala !!

Anaiku ...ama_apa aniversary night kooda enakaaga than kan mullichu wait pannitu erunthruka !!

Athu puriyama ...naan vera , che !

Nope ...wait ,he sat back straight again ,

Awaluku pidikaama , annaiku  yethuvum nadanthruka vaaipaae illa !!

But then ,

Why did she immediately sign the papers the next day itself ?

His mind and heart once again conflicted .

Suddenly  he remembered his words to her on the wedding night
_
I have someone else in mind !!

Unnaiya ennala en wife ah  paaka mudila !!

Iwangalam sernthu ennaiya yemathitanga !!

Mathapadi enaku pidikaatha kalyaanam ithu _

Athukaaga enala thirututhanama oru life vaala mudiyaathu _ I have my own principles !

I' d rather stay single !

Neeyum _ naanum life long strangers ah erunthutu poiralaam !! 

He sprang up and stiffened instantly remembering his own words dipped in the deadliest of venoms !!

F**k !

F**k !

His mind mocked him hard at his very own question ,

Muttalaae _ inuma unaku purila ?

You are the who has screwed up everything Kathir !

Awa onum unaku bayanthukitto ,illa veembukoo, illa aasaipatto unaku divorce kodukala _

Unakaaga than ,unnaiyavae  awa vittu koduthu eruka !!

Inuma purila unaku ?

He flung to the wash and splashed up cool water onto his face again and again ,

His headache seemed to increase more as he thought about this more and more ,

Yosi Kathir !

Awa un paati select panna ponnu !

Awa amma ipo enna sollitu ponaanga ,ketila ? _ Iwa awanga valartha ponnu !

Iwa mattum vera epadi erupa ?

Iwanga rendu perum , unakaaga paatha ponnu Mullai !!

Iwa mattum vera epadi erupa ?

Unakaaga ....awa uyir eh illada , awa life eh thooki koduthuruka_ awaloda place la ;  unaku pidicha ponnoda nee vaalrathuku , unaku valli vitruka _
Unaku athu purilayada madaiya ?

Oh nooo !!!

That s horrible !!

Pavaam awa ....he said it aloud and broke down literally with all the missing parts falling in place .

Still ,he didn't know what exactly he felt about her ; he couldn't name the feeling that  had started  growing gigantically and rapidly  inside him .

Is  he in love with her ?

It was yet another confusion _ he couldn't say an immediate YES ,
but he knew very well he cared for her now .

Not to refuse the physical attraction that had creeped in somehow !!

At any point of time  from yesterday , when she came sobbing  into his hands ,he very well knew that along with the respect he held for her ,he cared for her well wish .

But he still couldn't frame it as love !!

He didn't know what it was ,

But he was clear in one point ,

He will not be able to marry Pragya or anyone else for that sake !!!

And ,

One thing more pricked his heart ,

Now that very well  knowing about her self-respect and the blunderous mistake he has committed he was sure ,she will not be able to forgive him for whatever he had done to her .

Shattered by the clarity of the raw truth , Kathir frozed as ever and steeled up as hard as rock !!

For the first time ever he didn't know what to do to reverse the complicated situation he himself had created !!!

The next two days passed by in a jiffy .

Murugan had made it out and was out of danger .

Parvathi and kids were happy .

Kathir had taken the kids to Rangan palace itself .

They had developed a rapport between them .

The trio blended with each other as causually as ever .

If Hari , presented with a calm , serene mature nature just like his elder sister ,the young teeny girl was completely the opposite .
In simple an extreme chatter box ,in that she wasn't afraid nor distanced her Kathir like her other siblings .

She was damn happy on seeing the  vast Palace , the interior of the house and the stylish handsomeness of her mama .

Though merely 14_15 yrs , Hari behaved like a boy still whilst Mithra projected herself as young budding woman,

Parvathi refused to leave sight of her husband .

And , Mullai too stayed along with her ,mommy not wanting to enter the house again .

Things had changed in Chennai as well .

Mr .Ranganathan had refused surgery at Chennai .

He wanted to get operated at the his hometown only .

He had to be in bed for the next 2 weeks under observation and was then to be transferred to Trichy for further treatment .

In the meantime , Murugan' s news was conveyed and Sadha ,Skandhan and Uma flew to Trichy to have a look at him .

As well they came with the request _ Ranganathan wanted to see Kathir and Mullai togather atleast once .

Inspite of them asking openly to Kathir he deferred it now .

None of them knew why !!

He had suddenly become so rigid and steel like in these 2_3 days .

None of them could even near him !

Even Uma couldn't causually speak to him.

He was infact much approachable when he left from Chennai .

But now , an invisible fort surrounded him .

Whilst Kathir was stuck with  confusion regarding his decisions and a guilt of having spoiled Mullai s life in someway and was totally clueless of what to do next , Mullai was bit composed and sort of clear in a decision she had made .

From the indirect talks of Uma and Midhulla she knew that Kathir had originally started from Chennai to persuade her to visit his grandfather for once as a couple .

Then , Mullai s decision was different . She had no idea of going along with him nor enacting as his wife .

But now ,with the tables having toppled suddenly and with him having taken up all the responsibilities of her father's surgery she couldn't afford to say a NO to him .

She was hell shocked on knowing that the surgery alone costed a lumpsome of 25+ lacs .

The medicines and other drugs , along with the stay in the hospital was more than their affordability and imagination .

But even after knowing that his grandfather had asked him to bring her along , and even knowing that he would be coming here for surgery , Kathir hadn't asked her even once to accompany ( enact)  him as his wife.

She didn't know why !!

As well there was an obvious change in his behaviour towards her now .

He didn't even near her after that first day .

He had become a man of few words now .

But she noticed he was all happy and jubliant conversing with Hari and Mithra . Both of them had become good friends of Kathir .

Mullai didn't know what he was going through _ his eyes bore a pain always .

Why ?

She couldn't connect dots .

That day , Uma , Sadha and Skandan left back to Chennai with an indirect hint to the couple .

Kathir behaved as if he was stone hard of hearing .

Mullai looked at his tired ,dull face and made a decision .

She asked him straight away ,

Mullai : Ninge inga vanthathae ,ennaiya Chennai ku thaathava paaka kootitu porathuku thanu , Midhulla sonna .

Kathir : Hm

Mullai : Naduvulla enna ennavo nadanthu pochu ...

Kathir : hm..

Mullai : Inaiku Chithi , Chithappa kooda atha  sonangala ....

Kathir : Apadiya ?

Mullai : .......! She bit her lips ,in a hurt tone .

Kathir : Go ahead ..she said not able to face her .

Mullai : Rendu varaam anga irunthutu thaatha inga than varanganu ,chithi sonaanga .

Kathir : Ama ! He said with a heavy heart . He had to somehow disclose it to his grandparents.

He can't afford to hurt her anymore .

How much painful it must have been for her ,this whole year as well as to take that decision .

Now he didn't even possess the rights to ask her .

She had somewhat accepted the reality and had started living for herself ,with a clarity .

Maybe she has come of out everything related to him .

He didn't want to confuse her and pain her more .

Mullai : Hmm....vanthu ...vanthu , ninhe yen ennaiya koopidala ?

She asked directly on face without any sugary words .

He too gave a true , raw answer !

Kathir : Well ...unnaiya oru naal mattum Chennai ku kootitu pora plan la than vanthen.
Nee varuviya illaiyanu apo therila ...!
Then ...inga ..inga accident happened .
Athulla ...Athunaala , I mean atha vachu ( he meant the expenses ) un kaluthulla kathi vacha maathri , unnaiya kootitu poga manasu varala .
I don't want to hurt you more !!!
You needn't compromise for our sake !!

Simple words !!!

It filled in with  a beautiful fragrance within all the four chambers of her heart and warmed her .

Does he think and considers her feelings and emotions too ?

Well ...she had already decided to accompany him for the sake of the elders and now these words of his were like the sweetest toppings on an ice cold sugary cake .

With all the heart when she opened her mouth to acknowledge her consent ,when his mobile rang .

His face changed on seeing the display board .

Kathir cut it off multiple times but it still rang ,

Mullai : Paravala ... phone eh attend pannitu vaange.
Naan kaathu eruken !

He couldn't help wondering how much this girl always prioritizes him first .

What a fool he had been to let go of this kind girl !!!

He said in a tender voice ,

Kathir : Gimme a sec alone . I'll be back . Namma pesa vendiyathu neraiya eruku !

Having said so , not noticing her slightly blushed cheeks he attended the call ,

Kathir : Ya tell me Prags ! What's up dude !
Yethuku ivlo calls ?

.........

Whilst Kathir s face lost colour on hearing the information Pragya told him , Mullai s face too lost its blush and sheen on merely hear him address the other girl as dude and speak in a friendly tone .

Possessiveness and Jealousy creeped in her .

She couldn't bear it .

Isn't this supposed to be the reality ?

He didn't belong to her anymore !!

She had made a decision ofcourse _ but now ,

Well ,

She never let down her promises .

She decided to go by it _ but with an alteration !!!

So when Kathir came back after a long time ,with a fiery red tensed face she immediately declared her decision and left the place not noticing nor bothering about why he looked tensed !!!

THAVIPUM ...THELLIVUM !!!