Mithra : Awe ...Vishali , Ithuku peru choppu jamaan .
Mannula pannathu than . Kutty kutty ah alaga erukulla ?
Ipo akka ,mamavum nijama Pongal vaika porangae illa , namma athe maathri ithulla vaipoom ,
Kutty ah erunthalum , intha chinna paanailaiyum Pongal nalla varum. Nammalum saami kitta vendikalaam ?
Sariya Vishali !

She displayed the miniature cooking clay pot set in the open area near by to the place where Mullai was preparing for the main Pongal .
KathiRangan _ the sincere and loving husband was helping his wife dutifully to get it done .

Mithra had chosen a similar shady area and started her work .

Nearby stood her young man _ the guy who stole her innocence just in a flick of second .

Vaishali was still looking at Mithra ' s face !

Mithra explained all this once again and asked the final question looking at Baran .
Vishali was sitting near Mithra looked exactly in the opposite direction.

The information was for Baran _ not Vishali .

Mithra was no more a child .

However much innocent is the heart once love breeches through it , shrewdness and craftiness peeps in along !!

Mithra tried her level best to speak in the normal tone in contrast to the pinkish hues her cheeks wore.

She had taken special efforts to dress herself .

She outrightly had denied the pattu pavadai , which Parvathi had asked to wear .

Instead she was roaming unnecessarily until Baran came out dressed in an Olive blue shirt and silk dhoti ( ofcourse with the velcro !)

In a moment she decided and pulled out a canary yellow silk skirt that was paired with the same olive blue half saree , Baran was seen wearing. This one was bought by her dad . She emotionally connected that , and felt happy they were twinning up their attires for their first visit to the temple .
Mullai wasn't used to applying loads and loads of make up over her face . But Nandhini had two huge boxes _ and much to her suprise , she herself helped Mithra with her make over .
Mithra happily allowed her to be decked up but perfectly and neatly .
Her two pleats were replaced with a French tie braid and a matching mang tikka .
A small gold necklace and earrings with matching yellow golden colour glass bangles along with gold bangles completed her look with the fresh pinned flowers turning her into the finest of women Baran ever had seen !!!

She looked like a young woman rather than a grown up child .

From the second they boarded their car until they reached the temple and even further , Baran would have seen her more than a lakh' s time !!

Secret eye conversations , appreciating looks , shy smiles and indirect talks filled in the air .

The newly wed elder couple being the show stealer _ none of the family members seemed to notice this junior pair , except for KathiRangan himself !!!

He had an eagle' s eye and was watching each and every move of his family members for reasons of his own .

A phone call from the police officer Vendhan had turned him into alert mode .

And now ,

Back to Mithra ,

Mithra : Naan sonathu puritha Vishali . Ithu kutty kutty ya erunthalum ...ithulaiyum .... Vishali had by now byhearted what all Mithra had told her till then .

Vishali : Pongal vachu saamiku padaikalaam ..illa saapidalaam.
Athana ka , Inga vanthuthulla erunthu pathu vaati sollita .
Antha pakkam , sooda bajji / bonda / jigarthanda laam podrange .
Murugan uncle yerpaadaam . Enaku padikuthu ka ...naan anga pogava ?

Mithra : Aiyayoo ...Haan athulla Vishali ,intha choppu jaamaan erukulla ...atha vac...

Vishali : Aiyo ...akka .. ithelaam miniature thana.
Yellamae online kedaikuthu .
Nee yen ka thirumba thirumba ithaiya sollitu eruka ?
Menakettu yethuku ithellathaiyum thookitu intha kovilku vantha ?

She got the answer but from her brother .

Baran : Antha akka venduthal vachrukaam da chinna kutty .

Vishali : Venduthal Anna ?

Baran : Ama da . Sonathaiyaae thirumba thirumba solrathunu ,puthu type aana venduthal !
Intha oor special aam .
Athan .... repeat mode layae poitu eruku !

He blurted out as usual pulling her legs forgetting the simple fact that she was now his girlfriend and not merely his cousin alone !!

He forgot about his mini love ' s mouth too !!

Mithra gave back forgetting all her Laila _ Majnu love ,

Mithra : Hmpt ! Her neck took a sharp turn from right to left .
Naan onum venduthal
vaikala . Chennai la eruntha vanthavala aachae . Unaku culture laam puriyumo ennavo nu ,onuku rendu vaati sonnen !
Odanae...un Annaku venduthala theriyuthaakum .
Un Annaku than vaai erukunu nenachutu pesa vendaamnu sollu Vishali .
Chu...she threw a stare at him .Then turned to Vishali and continued ,
Naan intha choppu set la Pongal vachu saami ku padaikalaamnu paathen.
Ipo ipadi sollitila Vishali kutty ,un kooda ' doo _ kaa " !
Nee poo _

She didn't mean Vishali actually but both the others screamed in different emotions .

Whilst Vishali really jumped in joy on getting freed from this repetitive explanation of her cousin , the young man understood he had unnecessarily earnt the anger of his little lady love !!
Only last night they had confessed _ that too in the most unexpected way .

He immediately tried to patch up !

Baran : hi ...hu ...he immediately sat beside Mithra , cursing his own tongue and spoke in the finest of tones , Athu onum illa Mithra ...hi ..hi ..he said with a pacifying grin ,

She spat back !

Mithra : Onum illa ...rendum illa , yedatha gaali pannunga ! she answered as whilst trying to pack all the miniature clay pots back into her dumpbag ! How much happily she had taken this set with her to this temple as a positive note of starting they freshly bloomed love and here this idiotic fellow is mocking her itself .

Baran : Enathu .....mv : Yedatha gaali pannanuma ? Achachoo ! ..Athilla Mithra papa ...

Mithra : Yethu illa ?

Baran : Illama ! Athu ...

Mithra : Ennaiya paatha ungalku amma maathri eruka ? She again turned her neck in full swing . Hmpt !

Baran : his mouth opened into a big O ! mv : God ..ithu enna iwa ipadi veduku vedukunu pesura . Munadi laam mama mama nu kolaiva . Ipo enna aachu ?
Aal paaka mattum than Anni maathriyae eruka ..
Vaaya ithu ....athupaatuku , Chennai varaikum neelum polayaae .
Aana ...iwala than pudichu tholaikuthaae !
Rombavae pidikuthaae . Evlo alaga eruka . Iwakitta poyaada vaaya kodupa Dhayabara ?
Enna pannalaam ?

Mithra : Ninga inum Inga erunthu pogala ?

She managed to ask in a curt tone though her eyes had already started to brim with tears .
She managed to hide it from him .

Baran didn't notice that _ her kajal clad eyes didn't let down a drop of tear !

Baran : Haan ...nee than inum kutty Pongal vaikalaiyaae !

Mithra : Naan oru ' kalliyum ' vaikratha illa ! She said with sarcasm

He turned a deaf ear to her and openly oogled now ,

Baran : Cha. .cha...nee sencha " kalli" kooda sakarai Pongal maathri la erukum ! He tried his level best ,
Pannuvooma ?

She didn't notice the hidden hint in his question .

Rather answered innocently ,

Mithra : Kalli epadi Sakarai Pongal maathiri erukum .Athelaam erukaathu ,

Baran :
Ada ...nee sencha erukum baby kutty ! In his field of vision , Kathir was seen carrying with absolute ease ; two huge brass vessels filled with water and walking towards his wife with a romantic grin . His Anni s face was all painted crimson on seeing him causually carry those huge weighing vessels . He was a true hero _ Baran told to himself and asked his little lady ' s suggestion ,
Naan venumna , Annana maathriyae unakum antha kullathulla erunthu , thanii thookitu vanthu tharava ?

He pointed to the river near by from which the groom had to fetch water for preparing the Pongal !

Mithra could but only laugh _ but didn't show an ounce of her melting heart .

She continued in her curt tone !

Mithra : Hmpt .... naan pongala panna nenachathu choppu jaamaanla .
Athuku oru tumbler thanni pothum .
Ithuku intha koluthu kulla erangi yeduka poringalakum ?
Oru cup thanniya anga erunthu thookitu vanthu saathanai panna poringalakum .
Onum vendaam. ....! Ninge ponga nu sonnen !

She kept a gloomy face and bit her teeth .

The beautiful curve of her lips and plump cheeks were too inviting for him .

He let out a sigh ... and looked at her itself for sometime.

She was radiating with natural beauty !!

Baran : Mv : She is so beautiful . Aana ,
vetti vidrathullaae erukalaae . Posukunu kovam vera varuthu intha pappaku ..inum antha ' Baran mama ' vaai la vantha paadilai.
Summa thevai illathathuku kooda , aayiram thadava ' Baran mama ' nu koopiduvalaae .
Innaikunu paartha naan iwala kindal panni tholaipen !
Verati vidrathulla eruka .
Inum ,choppu set vachu play panravala love panna , ipadilaama kastam vanthu serum ?
Hmm....
Ipadiyaae vitutu pona ,en love ah , naan ICU la than admit pannanum !
Hmm ....he scratched his chin thoughtfully and looked around .
An idea struck him .
U see Mithra ...naan unaku actually help panna than vanthen ma ,

Mithra : Athan ,Vishali kitta ennaiya kindal panni siruchu ,hifi adikum bothae enaku therinchuruchae ,evlo thooram enaku ninge help panna vanthinganu .
Cha ...intha kolusu vera ....paavadai la sikkitu ,
....her nose was like red chilli fruit !

Baran : Yentha kolusu ....kaatu naan sari panren !

Mithra : Athelaam onum vendam ....he had bent down to her feet not bothering about her screams .
She involuntarily opened her mouth to address him and then shut tight at the last minute ,
Aiyayoo ..... yaarachum paathura poranga ., vendaam ...vidunga ...Bara n m a...! She closed her palm over her mouth itself .

Baran really helped her and freed the jewel off her skirt .

Baran : Avlo than ...mudinchuruchu . Athuku yen intha satham potta .
Aama ...ipo enna solla vantha ?

Mithra : Ama solranga ...she said this with a pink face looking exactly in the opposite direction ,

Baran : MV : Minchi ponna 5 feet erupa . Aana aluthatha paaru !
.Athila di ...his voice melted like fine ice ,

Mithra : Ennaiya yaarum ' di ' podalaam vendaam ! She threw a tantrum like a baby which attracted him more now !

Baran : Saringa ' pappa ' ....he volunteerily addressed her so .
MV : Iwanga periya madam . Di solla koodatham la . Intha Di eh vachu than , Annanae ,pala thadava Anniya correct pannuvaaru!
Intha podichii emmathiram .

Mithra : Naan onum pappa illa ! She answered him again .

Baran : Ama ....papa illa ..peepa ! He blurted out before he could check his tongue and rolled his eyes in shock .

Mithra looked like a mini Kali goddess !

Mithra : Enathu ...ipo ...ipo ninga enna soninga ?

Baran :...Haan ..enna sonnen ...enna solla vathen na ...
MV : Aiyayoo ...mindvoice nu nenachu sathama pesitenae ..ipo enna solli iwa vaaya adaikrathu ?
Madaiya !
he again scratched his head and looked around .
His face brightened . His guess was correct only .
This time he tried his Luck .
Atha vidu Mithu , antha pink thavani ponnu yaaru ?
Naanum morning inga vanthathulla erunthu paakren , ennaiya morachu morachu paakuthu !

He was used to such type of looks from girls _ ofcourse he himself had swooned looks at many girls many times before he met this tiny lady !!

Now he used it for shielding him !

Mithra fell in his trap !..

That young girl was Mithra s relative ...she was her own age and in terms of relationship she was Mullai , Mithra s cousin sister .

It implied Baran was mama for her too !!

And obviously she was oogling at Baran and not staring at him like he had mentioned .

Mithra instantly noticed the way that girl s eyes scanned Baran .

It was flirty !!

Baran looked dashing and handsome for his age !!

Plus he was the one who drew one of their luxury cars.

An alarm rang inside innocent Mithra !!

She opened her mouth in a hurry not to let him go ,.

Baran : Nee vera poo. ...poo ngra . Naan venumna poi antha ponnu kitta , yen ma ennaiya morachu paakuranu kettutu vanthura va !

He almost got up from his place and was shoving away the dust from his dhothi ,that scared Mithra now .

Is he really going to talk to her ?

Her possessive heart warned her .

She screamed again ,

Mithra : aiyaayoo ... vendaam !

Baran : Ennama ?

Mithra : Sonna kelunga ...awa oru " Athu " Sariyana Arathu !
Awakittalaam pechu vachukathinge.

Baran : Ada enna ma ne ...ingayum eruka vendaam nu , poo _ poo nu solra , Intha pakkam intha pink thavani kittaiyum pesa vendaam nu solra. .
Naan enna tha panrathu ?

Mithra : Awa kitta ninge onum pesa vendam .

Baran : Pesama , awa yethuku paakranu epadi therinchukrathu ?

Mithra : Awala paakrathae sari illa ! Itha ninge poi vera kettu therinchukanumakum . Vendamngren la !

Baran : Ada po baby kutty ! Unnaiya maathiri paarvai ya vachae awanga enna nenaikranganu therinchukra , talent laam enaku kedaiyaathu ma .
Naan oru nadai poi awa kitta yen ennaiya kalaila erunthu paakrenu ,kettutaae vanthuren !

He almost started walking !

That was it !

The little bud left aside her ego and screeched , addressing him the way he wanted to be called by her !

Mithra: Baran mama ! Baran mama ! Pogathinha .....
She screehed. .

He stopped immediately and turned to he ,
.
Baran : mv : Podichi ! Maatikita .oru valliya koopita !
Vanthiya valliku , .Haan enama sonna kekkala ,.......konjam sathama sollu !

This time she didn't throw any tantrum and obeyed him dutifully .

Mithra : Baran mama,!

Baran : hmm athu ! Ipo awala pathi enna solla vanthiyo atha sollu.
Naan ketukren.

Mithra : Ninge engayum poga vendaam Baran mama . Ingayaae erunga .
Awa en classmate than . Aana ...rendu varshama , eleventh standard layae than benche theikra.
Sariyana rowdy .Arathu .
Intha oorla erunthukittae ,naalu boy friends eh maintain panra .
Ninge awa kittalaam pechu vachukaathinha .

Baran : Oh ithulla ivlo eruka ..he really didn't know that such girls existed even in villages / small towns . He had thought so of such girls only in metro cities. Sari paaps , mama nee enna solriyoo atha apadiyae ketukren.
Fine ?
Ipo enna pannanum ?

She too settled for peace with him .

Mithra : Naan veetla erunthu intha choppu set ah ungalkaaga than aasaiya yeduthutu vanthen theriyuma ?

Baran s heart melted more in those words .

Baran : MV : Ada che ...Sariyana madaiyan da nee . Anna...Anni maathiri , nammalum seiyanum aasaiya yeduthutu vanthavala pudikchu geli pannirukenaae .
Sariyana loosu da nee !!
Very sorry pappa ... sathyama naan itha expect pannala.
Nee yetho vilaiyaada than yeduthutu vanthenu nenachen .
Sorry baby kutty. Ennai mannichru !

He truthfully said in a boyish tone of having hurted his love .

Mithra : Chu ..Athelaam paravala mama .
Vakarunga. ..inthanga ,news paper !
Ilati ,white veshti aluka aagidum !
Antha water bottle thanni namaku pothum . Kodunga ,
Nammalum , chinnatha Pongal vaipoom .

She waved the white flag announcing peace.

Baran : Tats my girl . So sweet of you pappa !
Intha water bottle ....he passed it on and did odd jobs as instructed by her .
By and by he said ,
Ipoo reel pongal vaipoom _ next 5 _6yrs la real Pongalaae vachrulaam .
Ok va.

.
Mithra' : Done mama ! Aana ...athukulla ,gym kelaam ,poi Kathir mama maathiri ,fit aagitu vange.
Evlo periya periya ,pithalai anda velaam asaalta thookitu vanthaaru paathingala ?

Baran : Ada po di ! He wasn't willing to loose to his elder brother even though he knew it . The words came from his lady love _ how can he afford to accept his defeat to her .
He was thin and skinny now _ not muscular nor masculine like Kathir .
But during his own college days , Kathir looked exactly like Baran now .
So he twisted his words to her ..

Mithra : Yen sallichukringa mama . Naan solrathu unmai thana .

Baran : Haan ,oru alavuku unmai than .
Anna college days laam ennaiya maathriyae olliya than erupanga .
Ipo ...age erukulla .. perfect exercise ...nalla diet vera _ athuvum Anni awarukaaga paathu paathulla cook panrangae !

Mithra : Naan nalla samaipen mama ! She herself declared before he could finish .

Baran caught his chest involuntarily !

Baran : MV : Omg ... Nalla samaipiya ? Atha saapita naan Sadha Maams maarila transform aagiduven .
Not wanting to upset her more he smiled and causually lied to please her ,.
Athu enaku theriyatha baby .
Nee Anniya vida oru padi mela than cook pannuviyaae.
But you see ...naan solla vanthathu vera .

Mithra : Ennathu ?

Baran : Annan , Bahubali range ku antha Andava thookitu vantha secret ,verum exercise naala vantha strength illa !

Mithra : Pinna ?

Baran : Hookoom ....Nee ennatha than note panniyoo poo !
Anni , intha pakkam , aduppu mootitu ,vakanthu ....Annana apadi oru paarvai paathanga paaru !

Mithra : Akkava ? Ivlo peru erukum botha ?

Baran : Yeei vaandu ...kaalaila erunthu namma rendu perum evlo times thirututhanama paathukitoom !
Theriyatha maathriyae kekra paaru .

Mithra s face instantly crimsoned with shyness and new bloomed love for him .

She beautifully curved her lips with a cute pout .

Mithra : Ponge mama !

Baran : Wow ....you look so beautiful baby ! He said truthfully in an appreciating tone alone.

He wasn't KathiRangan to convert a normal conversation into a flirty one and make his woman fall in more and more for him . He was still naive to all those tactics .
He praised her in a happy tone .

Mithra : Mama....yaarachum paaka porange ... please ,
She said with the shyness of a young woman and happiness of a teenage girl that her beauty was being appreciated by a young man .

Baran : Athelaam yaarum nammala paaka maatanga .
Innaiku vanthavanga kannu poora , Kathira Anna , Mullai Anni mela than .
Atha than solla vanthen .
Ivlo peru erunthalum , Anni salaikaama , orae kaathal paarvaiyaa Annana paathu veesi vacha , Annanuku enna aagum ?

Mithra : Enna aagum !

Baran : MV : Un thalai ! Veeram summa pothukittu varum .
Inum pathu erumbu Andava thookura strength vanthu serum .
Manushan epadi asaalta Thaniyoda antha Andava thookitu ponaaru paathila ?
Chennai la ...Annan ku ,Crore kanakulla business eruku !
Young CEO award vaanginavaru .
Causual ah foreign countries la suthuravaru .
Awar keela , thousand staffs erukanga .
Ellam erunthum .....Annikitta epadi adangi erukaaru paathila ?

Mithra : Ama mama ! Mama ku , Akka ma romba ishtam .
Enaku ithu appa hospital la admit aana timelayae purinchathu .
Akka kaaga than engala kooda awar koodavae thanga vachaar .
Awa siricha ...iwarum siripaar !
Awa alutha ....atha niruthitu than maru vellai paapaaru !

Baran : Yei Podichi ....aaga ithai yellathaiyum than nee note panniruka .
Padikra palakam laam eruka illaiya ?

Mithra' : Halo mama ...

Baran : Pakathulla thana nikren ! Uganda laya vaalren . Halo ..Halo nu kathura ,

Mithra : Yen solla maatinga . Padipunu vanthuta ...naan pulliyaakum !

Baran : Paanchruviyoo ?

Mithra : Illaiya pinna . Naan than yepovum first .
Theriyum la ...
Athuvum....nethi ,ninge love panrenu sonathuku apuram....inum pathu varshathuku , padippa thavira vera yethuvum yosika koodathunu eruken.
Athu theriyaama....ninge paatuku ennaiya ....she blurted out and then stopped looking at his wide grinned proud face.
She blushed beautifully and bit her tongue .

Baran : awe ...pappa ,nee nammal pathi ivlo yosichiya ?

Her head was lowered . She faintly nodded.

Mithra : Hmm....ninge medicine padikra aalu .
Ennaiyum athana padika soninga ?
Panam koduthu padikra alavuku enga appaku sakthi illa .
Naana merit la seat vaangina than undu .
Athan mama , apadi yosichen !

She proved she was the sister of Mullai !!

She had the same honesty and morality like her sister .

Baran hailed from a wealthy family !

He was truthfully in love with her !

Her sister was married to one of the richest men in the metro city !

Either of them could easily afford her a medical seat if they wanted her to become one !

She wasn't that naive not to think about that possibility .

Both Kathir and Baran would make that possible just for the sake of her alone .

But the honest heart she possessed and the virtues her parents taught her made her think straight forwardly .

Baran was baffled at her confession !!

A happiness and satisfaction of having selected the right partner for his life crept inside him .

He cleared his throat and spoke maturedly now ,

Baran : It's not a bed of roses !
Kastam neraiya eruka life . Vellila paakura alavuku athu attractive illa .

Mithra : Oru alavuku theriyum mama.
Appa accident ,Thaatha operation nu paathutu thana erunthen .

Baran : Athu mattum illa . Namakunu thaniya time spend panrathu kastam .
Stress ulla life .
Unnaiya paatha ipo than bloom aana fresh bud maathiri eruka .
Unnaiya thevai illama naan pressurise panrenoonu kooda eruku .
Unala mudiyaati ...

Mithra : Cha cha ..Ila mama , naan samalipen.
Nalla padipen . Ungala vidavum .
Apuram.... hospital layae time spend pannikalaam !

Baran : Vevaram thandi paapa .

Mithra : Hmpt ,Ipo mama mattum olaikamaiya erukange.
24 hrs ku melaiyum work panrange !
Namalaiyum mudiyum la !ungalkaaga ennalaiyum mudiyum !

That was the difference between Mithra and Nandini .
Whilst Nandini backed off from Baran, mainly coz of the difficulty in his profession , Mithra was willing to take up the risk just for his sake alone ..that too at the tender age of sixteen !

Baran was thankful to her and tried to explain the reality .

Baran : Aana ...ithelaam nadaka pala varsham aagum .
Onum easy ah vanthurathu !

Mithra : Athelaam paathukalaam mama .
Enala mudiyum .

Baran : Hmm... thanks papa .
Ithaae maathri nammalum Pongal vaipoom .
Aana enna .... varsham aagum .
Wait pannuvilla pappa ?
5_6yrs kallichu naalum , en earningsum kammiya than erukum . Naan panakaara veetu paiyyan than. But I won't be able to totally stand on my own legs .
Naan stabilise aaga konjam varsham aagum .
Appa nilal la vaal enaku ishtam illai !
Aana unkaaga ...she cut him off inbetween and stood tall for her five feet !!

She looked up and firmly said

Mithra : anju varsham illa , Ambathu varsham naalum naan ungalkaaga wait pannuven.
Kaasu pathi laam naan yosipenu ninge kavala patta ipovae ninga nadaiya katunga ....mama !

She said truthfully in a baby voice that he felt like smacking his own self .

He lightened the mood a little ,

Baran : Aiyayoo baby kutty i love you pappa . Theriyama mama solliten . Thoppu Karanam poda va ,
Onna ...patha ?

Suddenly a voice sprang up behind them

Podrathu than podra ...oru aayiram thoppu Karanam poduda maapilai !

Paaka aasaiya eruku !

It was Vicki !

Baran : Adei ....karadi !nee yepoda vantha ? Evlo thooram ottu ketta

Vikki : Periya kaaviya kathala pesirupinha . Ottu kekranga .
Anga akka Pongal ah vachuruchu.
Saami kumbida poranga .
Ella thadi maadaiyum ,illuthutu vaadaanu ,ennaiya petha maharaasan utharavu potutaaru !
Athan....un thangachi ya amboonu vitutu naan yellaraiyum kelapitu poga vanthen !
Nee enandaana ....vanakaiya vakanthu , Pongal kindikittu eruka !

He stooped down and looked at the Pongal made by Mithra !!

Baran : Dei ..dei ..antha Pongal la kaiyaa vacha ,maaplanu kooda paaka maaten!

Vikki : Aye...kathalu ! Senchu vachrukrathu oru spoon Pongal .
Ithuku ivlo scene !
Aanalum ...nee ivlo tharalama eruka vendiyathu illa thangachi .
Unakum awanukum oorugaai maathiri thottuka Pongal senchiya ?

Before Mithra could open her mouth to answer , Kathir s call came and all three turned to alert mode and ran towards the temple !