ULLUM ..PURAMUM

Ungalku ishtam illaina , athaiyum sollidunga !

Her words were still echoing in his ears even after a couple of days had passed by .

"Enaakaa ishtam illaama pogum? _" this was his exact thought when he heard her utter it , but he didn't express in words .

Murugan s health showed amazing improvement and he was getting onto the recovery ladder , slowly .

But still he was hospitalized only.

By now , Mithra , Hari and even Parvathi amma had developed a good bonding with Kathir .

He too mingled well with them , without an ounce of attitude or arrogance .

He himself didn't know how causually he had changed this much .

But ,

She !

Mullai !

She was totally unapproachable .

Kathir sensed the change in her the next day only .

Not that she didnt speak to him or stayed away from him like those days in Rangan palace .

But , Kathir for sure felt a difference .

She wasn't the same girl who was within his hands on that night at hostel nor the one who sought comfort in burying herself in his hug .

Those two days had really been different _ infact they were an eye opener for Kathir !

They had developed a sort of kindness between them during those intial days after the accident .

But ,

Once after declaring that she was prepared to accompany him to Chennai and reside in Rangan s palace till his grandfather surgery ,she had somewhat changed .

He didn't notice her change after Pragya s call nor did connect her with Pragya !

But he sensed that she wasn't her usual self.

She ofcourse did speak to him ....but looking at everything around except his eyes .

She replied his questions sincerely but in a slate voice .

She didn't refuse whatever he said nor suggested wrt Murugan s treatment plan .

But she was kind of rigid _ he didn't know why !!

The ever persisting softness in her had suddenly disappeared .

And here words ,

To repay for Murugan s surgery _

It did hurt him deep !!

But now the changed kinda mature Kathir was able to put himself in her shoes and think on her lines .

He understood she said so , because they weren't a couple any more .

She didn't have the rights !!

But ,why does she stay so cocooned within herself .

He found it really difficult to decode what was running in her mind .

To be honest ,now he really didn't bother about their divorce .

It was just a crap of paper !!!

He realised his mistake _ but didn't know ways of nearing her ,

And most importantly he was confused whether now she likes him the way before or not !!!

Her behaviour nowadays was so !!

You reap what you sow !

Kathir' s mind ofcourse had mocked him .

And Kathir did accept his fault gracefully .

Now he was very much willing to set right everything and put the pieces in place !!

But ,

For that he needed to know whether she still liked him .

He was still doubtfull wrt that point _ coz he had committed a grave mistake and had hurt an innocent girl too too badly .

He didn't want to do it more .

He decided to play it low !!!

With her words giving him a mini attack now and then ,he played along her lines itself as if nothing had bothered him .

He knew he had to let the string loose to let the cat out of the bag !!!

Was she angry with him for his behaviour and had decided to only repay only for Murugan' s treatment ,

Or is he still residing in that soft heart of hers .

Above all , what was his stand with regard to her hereafter ?

What does he mean by setting things right ?

How far does he like her ?

What is that feeling he exactly holds for her ?

That feeling nor emotion which wasn't present in him for one solid year when she was right royally his wife _ but had now creeped in a couple of days !!!

How far is her presence essential for him or else what does she mean to him ?

He for sure liked her now !!

He for sure was physically attracted towards her the other day !!

But ...

Something else ,..there was a missing piece !!

That was much needed for him to take a solid and concrete decision !!!

By now he was sure that he won't be able to accept another woman.

But , he had to come very very clear before taking any step wrt Mullai .

He can't afford her to hurt more _ even if she is dead angry against him .

He was in such a confused state of mind not aware of the fact that his woman dwelled every second in his thoughts and memories .

Poor girl !!

She was tormented whenever he attended Pragya' s calls .

After that intial call , Pragya did call him on and off but it was strictly with regard to the conspiracy of his business enemies .

Even Kailesh did call him frequently _ but just that Mullai failed to notice it .

She blindly believed that it was Pragya alone .

That weekend they both were all geared up to start to Chennai .

These few days , Mullai and Kathir had really conversed very very little compared to Hari and Mithra.

Mullai had conveyed whatever she wanted to say only through these kids .

It had been mostly Kathir who had to pull her into a conversation .

But ,now ...

In the Airport ,

And within the plane , having seated side by side in close proximity and with no mediators between them , Mullai found it very difficult to stay away from him .
Her shield was off !

He was mere at an inch distance away from him .

Dressed in a causual tee and jeans with cool shades , his Fossils giving a majestic appearance , his very own masculine scent hitting her nostrils , toned abbs that brushed too frequently over her shoulders , Mullai found it very very difficult to take her eyes off him ...

Kathir !

He was in another trance !

He was bestowed with the much needed privacy with her .

One whole year she was right under his nose and he hadn't even bothered a damn about it .

But now , the mere 30_40 minutes travel from Trichy to Chennai was like heaven to him .

She was dressed in a deep majenta pink salwar with quiet a deep V neck that was carefully sheltered with a shiffon golden sheen dupatta ( that literally was stripped off by his eyes )

Her hair was let half clipped with a bunch of it brushing aside his cheeks on and off .

She had shoved her shawl on one side alone ,that everytime she turned around , the deep V cut displayed a lavish view of her supple twin girls to him who was sitting on the other side .

The persons on the other sides wouldn't be able to view her .

But for Kathir !

Damn !

For sure the mere sight of her cleavage was tearing him apart .

He was losing his control once again .

Very much knowingly his eyes roamed secretly drinking in his woman s abundance .

Kathir :
MV : F**k ! She is hot even in a salwar ! Kanna yeduka mudila . Intha V neck vachu than dress podanuma ?
Kastam da saami !

He turned away for the nth time from her as the airhostess presented the small snack of a simple flight .

Kathir viewed the airhostess as if she was a bundle of cement and clay .

Not an ounce of arousal was felt on seeing the half clad lady .

But the one who was covered top to toe was giving him pain along his groin.

Mullai : Ithu first time ...illaithan , aanulum _

The first Pearls that dropped from her lips after long days .

. Kathir looked in shock !

What does she even mean ?

Has she noticed him ?

Kathir ::What ? anaiku hostel la night la naan paath....he stopped suddenly .
MV : Naan paathatha iwa paathutaalo , but anaiku night iwaluke athuu theriyaathae .
Come again ...enaku purila , he said with an indrawn breath .
MV : Iwala yaaru deep neck poda sonathu ? Atleast antha dupatta va rendu pakkamuma potrukalaam .
He had his own worries when Mullai said again ,

Mullai : Illai , flight la chinna vaayasulla school la oru trip kootitu poirukaanga .
Aana awalo sariya nyabagam illai !
Athaan .....ithu than en first air trip ! She said with a mix of excitement and thrill combined .
Her eyes showed it all though she tried to remain composed .

Oh my _ his heart fell !!!

Kathir : Oh ! ...his voice went sudden low and something melted inside his heart .

How many times a day he used to fly as a routine ?
And here is a girl who is claiming the same thing as a life time special .

He said softly ,

Kathir ::Inimel neraiya poga vendi erukum !

But he got a curt reply ,

Mullai ::Neraiya ? Thirumba Tiruchy ku varathu . Avlo thana .
Athuku apuram than naan Ker......she stopped midway .
Why should she say all her life plans to him ?

Kathir : Apuram ? He enforced noticing the change in her voice and face .

Mullai : Onum illa ...she turned to the opposite side , alongst which her thin shimmering dupatta too flipped aside , totally distracting and diverting his attention .

He forgot her stern attitude and dutifully drank her beauty .

Kathir : MV : Unaku enna achu da Kathir . Romba bad boy aagita . Awa kadupulla pesura _ nee kankottama paakura ?
His mind mocked for which heart replied , En mela thana kaduppa eruka !
Paravala .... athukaaga paakama eruka mudilayaae !
Intha ponnu pesama saree yae wear pannitu vanthrukalaam !
Manushana sothikra !!!

As if pricked by intuition she suddenly to his side , when he still continued his bird watching sincerely without bothering about her stare .

When she was about to speak the airhostess asked everyone to fasten the belts .

Hers ; being stuck up beneath her seat she was searching and struggling to reach it .

Kathir : Enna search pannitu eruka ?

Mullai : Ungalku enna ? She said curtly and bent even more down to pull it up not knowing that she was more revealing than before and that the man beside her had turned exactly like a honey dipped bear .

Kathir : MV : Enaku enna va ! Sariya pochu ....kuniyaatha di , yellam theriyuthu ,enala mudila ! Gosh !
This girl ....she is damn sexy , but she doesn't even know it !
Ithuku mela kunicha ,namaka thaangathu ....Heei ,wait one minute. Let me help you !

He stooped down ,and released the straps , unbuckled them and brought it on both sides of her waist to buckled it up in front .

All this time ,with his head lowered down , the perfume of his hair gel mixed with his cologne , the thick waves of his hair and the slightest brushes of his forearms against her breasts were purely torturing the woman inside Mullai .

She ain't a saint ! And the man beside was the one whom she loves with all heart .

As he fastestened it around her waist , she held her breath , stopping for sometime .

Once done she let a huge sigh that her small little belly fat popped out below the belt .

Kathir who was about to take his hands off , suddenly and unexpectedly ping ponged his fore finger into her belly fat with a chuckle .

She squealed ..

Mullai : enna panringa ?

Kathir : Haan ... nothing , unaku thoppai erukanu check pannen !
Periya thoppai than poo ....he said with a chuckle .

Mullai : Manaangatti ! Ungalku athan vellaiya . Enaku onum thoppai illa .
Naan gundu laam illa ...!

Kathir : ha ha ha ...you know what ? Bussy Bussunu teady bear maathri eruntthukittu , gundu illainu solra .

Mullai : Vevavavae !

She did it as causually as ever and then bit her tongue .

When did they start conversing this causually alongside banters ?

She bent her head immediately not noticing his brows arise in suprise and amusement .

Her antics were too cute to watch .

Her cheeks blushed naturally without the aid of cosmetics .

She swiped her tongue around her plump lips in attempt to wet them and ease off her tension not knowing it was hell arousing the hunk nearby .

He now comfortably turned around to her side without hesitation .

An itch to know more about her scratched inside him .

Kathir : Then what ?

Mullai : Haan enanga ? She impulsively answered him and then bit her lower lip .

He noticed it in awe !

Kathir : Paavam athu ,vitru !

Mullai : Yethu ? Purila ....naan enna pannen .

He stooped forward and brought one finger near her face and touched the tip of her lip , tracing it a little , leaving her in absolute shock .

They were in a public transport and he was least bothered .

Kathir : This one , your lips . Atha pottu intha kadi ,kadikra !

AN : Athulla unaku ennada prechanae ? Oru varshatha waste pannitu ipo polambura 🤷🤦

With crimsoned cheeks she turned away leaving butterflies flutter in his stomach .

All of this was new to Kathir .

He hadn't been this excited _it was a mere local flight that would hardly last for half hour .

His usual routine after getting on board was either to take a nap or bury his head in his LP and work on his business .

Now he wasn't doing either of the two !

Instead he was deeply engrossed in scanning her from top to toe , and observing her little little antics that were funny as well as childlike .

She was busy looking out of the window with wide opened eyes .

Kathir : Wow ...evlo perusu ! He tapped his neck for having blurted out .

She immediate turned to him and asked ,

Mullai : Ninhe ipo yethachum soningala ?

Kathir : hmm..he accepted with a puppy face and a flashing smile with that trademark twinkle in his eyes ,that Mullai couldn't keep up her strict tone .

She instantly got reminded of that day he turned up drunk .

And now why does he grin the same way ?

Mullai : ipo enna soninga ?

Kathir : illa ...ipo than notice pannen . Un Kannu evlo perusa eruku .
They are so big and wide you know ?
Ama ...vellila enna erukunu ipadi kannu viriya ,viriya paakra ?

Mullai : Athu ....she again bit her lips timidly .oru oru megamum enna enna shape la eruku paathu yosanai pannitu varen !

For sure she felt he is gonna mock at her .

He didn't ... Instead he asked with enthusiasm ,

Kathir: Is it ? Seems interesting ...enana shape sollu paakalaam ,

Mullai : Hm... first vantha Megan paaka , snow man maathri erunthucha !

Kathir : hmm ....he acknowledge with a tender smile on her her .

Mullai : Athuku aduthu vanthathu vaathu maathri erunthuchu !

Kathir : What ?

Mullai : What illa Vaathu ! Duck ! She corrected ..

Kathir : Oh ok ok ...swan !

Mullai : Ithoo ...ipo pochaae , athu periya ' Vellai yaanai " maathri erukula .
Airavathamnu solluvaangala !

Kathir : Vellai yaanaiya naan paathathu illaiyaae ,

Mullai : Sghu....naan mattum paathrukena enna ? Summa karapanai pannikonga ...she causual tapped on his thighs in her excitement and continued unaware of what she just did .

That was it _ that simple touch triggered electric impulses all along his being .

Her hand was still on his thigh _ she hadn't realised it yet . And he liked it very much .

Why does he grin like a smitten teenager ?

He wantedly inched close to her and pretended as if to search for that particular cloud outside the window _ breathing in her warm feminine scent , pressing in against her soft baubles .

Kathir : MV : Iwalaae panchu megam maathri than eruka .
Matured aana ponnu maathri evlo naal eruntha but iwalukulla ivlo kulanthaithanam eruku. Babe girl .. nope , Hot babe girl !!
He spoke within himself shamelessly , and then outwardly asked her in a innocent voice ,
Enga pochu unoda vellai yaanai megam ? Enaku onumaae therilaya ... konjam thallu , window valliya sariya therila !
Nalla yetti paathutu ,solren ...athu epadi erukunu !

That was absolute flirt which the innocent girl couldn't comprehend .

He towered over her more than needed and searched for the unavailable cloud .

She smelled of sandalwood and fresh tumeric _ what s this unique scent that emanated from this woman alone .

He inhaled her to the fullest _'man she was arousing him as hell !

He had to fight him back to control .

Moving a little away ; suddenly he made a discovery and exclaimed he saw it .

Kathir ::Yeah ...anga eruku . Unmai than nee sonathu .

Mullai : hm..epadi eruku ?

Kathir : Soft ah eruku ....cotton candy !

He said it in a flow and then froze all of a sudden _ he had said this before , isn't it ?

When ?

He turned around only to see her face change beet red with trembling lips .

She wasn't excited now _ instead a pain was seen in her eyes .

Why ?

Kathir sensed he had screwed up something for sure .

Not wanting to disturb her he sat quietly for sometime .

She didn't turn yet _

Not wanting to waste the previous private moment with he tried speaking but in vain .

She was still staring at the clouds .

Suddenly he said ,

Kathir : Intha maathri flight la porapoo , clouds laam paatha unnaiya maathri alagalaam imagine panna theriyaathu !

Mullai : ......

She didn't answer nor turn .

He didn't bother .... something urged him to open up ,what he really felt he traveled in a flight .

He always had an ache whenever he boarded flights that he had never ever opened up to anyone .

He didn't know why he desperately wanted to share it with her now .

The lust inside him had gone .

Kathir : En parents ,intha maathri oru flight journey la ..... poitanga !

He said in a thick voice .

She immediately turned to see him _ his face was emotional now and he looked past her ,into the passing clouds outside the window .

Mullai : ...!

Kathir : Flight yerina odanae onu kanna eruka moodiduven ...illati enoda work eh paapen !
Thaapi thavari kooda window velliya paaka maaten !

Mullai : Yen ? She too asked in pained voice knowing the reason almost .

Kathir : Intha maathri clouds kulla poi than vedichuchaam antha flight !
I don't even remember . Athai ...paati kitta kettu therinchu kittathu than ,
Aanalum enaku , mehatha paatha nethi varaikum ithan thonnum !

Mullai : Nethi varaikuma ?

Kathir : ama ...he said with a pleasant smile ...that didn't reach his eyes ,

Mullai : Yen ..inaila la erunthu enna thonum ?

He didn't immediately reply . Instead his arms reached above his seat encircling hers , as if wrapping her .

Bending to her ears he almost whispered in a husky voice ,

Kathir : Vellai yaanai ! Snow man ! Swan ! Hmmm....... apuram .. apuram , cotton candy !

He winked attractively that was totally unexpected by Mullai .

Only when she felt a jerking motion and a sense of falling down again' she came to her senses .

By then ,his hands had once again wrapped around her waist , buckling the belt .

The flight had landed !!!

They came out of the exit _ something had happened within both their insides .

Both of them felt light hearted and a sort of happiness had creeped in ,as they walked side by side , their hands and palms brushing one another _ unknowingly , sometimes very much knowingly !!!

Mullai couldn't keep up her sternness .

Her insides were burning and craving for every inch of him whereas on the outside she maintained a strict ,displined body language !!!

ULLUM .. PURAMUM !

Straight away they drove to the hospital where Ranghanathan was admitted.