AN : The title of this chap is also change .
As well it is edited,
Kindly comment your views on this new edited chap !!
I couldn't recall exactly what was written in the original chap .
I ve kept the awailable content as it is , and fabricated ...for the lost part !

Flashback continues ...

Mullai : Ninga manushana ? Yen ipadi paninga ?
Though knowing she was repeatedly asking the same question she asked it again ,
Illa .... thirumba oru napasaila kekren .,ithelam summa vellaiyaatuku panenu sollungalen !

He had turned around to look at her on hearing her voice tremble with anger ,

She looked at his eyes  to search in for answers., with new found the hope that his deep kiss had bestowed !!

His expressionless plain sight told it all.

Nothing of this was for fun.

The answer was written all over his face.

Thedum kangalae

Thembum nenjamae

Veedum poiyadi

Vaalvum poiyadi !

But why had it to be so?

And why should it be she?

The blunt truth hit her hard again ,

As well the question of why was she the chosen one ?

Why does she need to bear the cross ?

Just coz of her dad' s some unknown deed ?

Even till that moment,she felt that she didnt do anything too big to provoke a man to turn this cold and beasty towards her .

He had played with her feelings !!

Why ?

She didn't bother to ask him straight.

By now the shock had started diffusing and she wanted to know what's all this double
crossing about.

Mullai: Karthi, wait . Don't go !!

Kathir: I said am not Karthi anymore !!!

Mullai : Enaku intha peru than satunu nyabagam varuthu .
Enala athuku onum panna mudiyaathu !

His face fumed more than red now !

Kathir : Apo enakum , Kathira unkitta pesa onum illa _ enalayum onum panna mudiyaathu !
Get lost !

She blinked now ...at his cut throat reply ,

On seeing him walk away , realising that he is leaving really , she almost ran behind and blocked his way .

He didnt try to walk past nor tried to remove her from his path .

With a steel face he stood waiting for her to speak ,

She started as if to explain why she addressed so ,

Mullai :
Enaku 3 months ah ungala Karthiya thana theriyum ?
Ipo oru ten minutes munadi vanthu, en per Kathir nu sonna , enala odanae epadi atha adapt panna mudiyum ?

She thought he will understand but he came up with someother accusation ,

Kathir : Oh ho apo annaiku , ..iwan than unnaiya kalyanam pannika poravanu room kulla anupina maru nimisham"  iillika"  mattum mudinchathoo !
Apo easy ah adapt panna mudinchathoo ?

Mullai :  Gosh !
MV : ipadi pattunu vettivitta maathri sonna naan enna bathil solla ? Ipdilaam kooda iwanuku pesa theriyuma ?
Annaiku, neeyum thana enna paathu siricha ...Hmpt ..illicha !
Ennaiya mattum thappu solra ?
She ranted all of this within her not having the courage to openly ask this insane beast !
Outwardly she just said ,
Yethaiyum Yethaiyum mudichu podringa .
Naan enna solla varenu  konjam purin....

He raised his hand and stopped her midway .

Kathir : Look ...
He himself took a deep look at her anxious face and said ,
Yetho yetho pesi ennaiya convince pannalaamnu nenaikatha !!
I was very clear in what in what i did !
Intha naal ,intha nodi ipadithan kadakumnum enaku theriyum .
Nee sign panni kodutha nimishathulla erunthu naan " Karthi " veshatha kalachachu !
So none of your tricks will work with me again ,
He too suddenly paused as if he let out an extra word  _
Did he stammer ? 
His face turned stern and he repeated...i mean with Kathir !
Move ..!
he causally touched her shoulder and moved her away from his path ,

She froze in his touch ...

And then came back to normal on seeing him walk past ,

Mullai : What ? Nilunga ... He started walking away when she yelled again ,
Nilunga  Kathir !

She ebbed forward and pulled him and called him by his real name without her knowledge .

When he has the right to causually touch and move her why not she catch his arm ?

With ease she pulled his arm _

To her suprise he didnt budge and stood , and just told her ..

Kathir : Sollu !

She felt relieved in that one word and tried explaining her stand ,

Mullai : Listen 3 months ah naan unnaiya en hubby ah nenachen Karthi !
She stopped suddenly on seeing his blood shot face .
She was instantly scared and changed to respect mode ..
Sorry ungala ...en ..enoda ...
with him looking at her like this she couldn't openly say that she considered him as her hubby ,

He now crossed his arms and stood at ease concentrating on her face ...moreso the word she was to utter , which miserably failed to slip out of her lips .

She stood quiet for sometime not able to speak to him causually as before ,

She cooked up something that came to her mind ,

Mullai :
Naan venumnae ipdilaam senchen,
athu ithunu sonna, paaka epadi eruku
theriyuma?

He stopped.

There was a point in her
question.

Kathir :  Epadi eruku ?

Mullai :  Anniyan Vikram maathri eruku !!

She blurted innocently like before and then bit her tongue on remembering the man befor her wasn't her Karthi anymore _ he was somewhat else !

And she expected him to yell at her for having let loose words ,

But ,

He didn't get angry in contrast to what she expected.

Not did he smile warm and coy as Karthi !

Instead his face displayed a sheet
of amusement.

One eyebrow of his arose , there was a twinkle seen in his eyes ...with a small smile curving in at the corner of his firm pressed lips !!

Mullai ' s eyes widened in suprise !

Definitely this wasn't Karthi s antics !

They would be plain and simple not this arrogant yet attractive !

Yup !

Honestly she found that simple gesture of his to be attractive !

He snapped his fingers in front of her and continued in that amused tone ,

Kathir : Doctor amma Tamil padam laam paapinga pola!

Mullai : Yen unaku theriyaatha ....she again let words and then bit her lips _ bit her lips a bit too hard that it plunged in deep into its sponginess .
Having been already sore from his loong kiss , her lips gave way easily... cracking in a linear pattern with a pin drop of blood popping up ,

His eyes seemed to divert to her lips and settled in there for good !

Not knowing what or how will he react next she just stood biting harder into her lips ,not aware of the pain nor the blood that oozed out .

Was it a minute or a second ?

She didnt know ,

As she stood waiting for him to give back something for her sarcastic words ,he walked a step towards her ... and before she could realise what he was about to do , his hand reached out to her lips and freed it off her teeth !!!
With ease ,his fingers traced her plump lips once , as if soothening the abrasion and wiped off the blood drop off her lips with a firm press !!

Open mouthed Mullai stared once again in awe at that gesture !!

Karthi had never been this physical nor took rights over her body without her permission .

Even if to hold her hand friendly , Karthi had always been the gentleman to sought her permit .

And the same guy ...who claimed a new name was just like that ruling and bending her as per his wish !!

As she stood not  knowing what to tell him for touching her without her permission his mouth spit acid once again .

Kathir : Anniyan ! ...he let that wicked smile again and continued ,
Fine...nee epadi venumnaalum imagine pannikoo !
Now ,that everything is over  I have no say !!
He let a sigh and continued ,
Whatever it was ,now everything is over !
So good bye !

With the magical touch of his fingers over her lips still lingering  ,he was biding her adieu !

Whilst fingers had soothed off her lips with peacock feathery touches , his lips dropped pearls that broke her heart once again into multiple pieces .

She didnt know how could a man do both of this to her at the same time !!

Sila neram maayam seithaai

Sila neram kaayam seithaai

Madi meethu thoonga vaithaai

Maru naalil yenga vaithaai

Valiya ?

Sugama ?

Yethu nee ?

In that ' Good bye ' of his,  Mullai came out of the trance this new version of his had weaved in around her !

How foolish of her to fall in for the antics of a wicked man !

Anger piped in her as well ,

She inched forward and grabbed his shirt in both her hands.

Mullai :  Everything is over ah ? Athepadi ?
She screamed at the top of her voice ,
How could you say this?
Apo ipo pannathu ...en..
she stopped , what if he says that he did it as a help !! She didnt want to open that topic .,
And continued ,
Inga, ithae veetla vachu thana namaku engagement aachu ?
Atha epadi illainu solluvinga?
And, we have been seeing each
other for a couple of times..
Athelaam ..poi.....,,

He again cut with a mocking slang ,

Kathir :  C" mon ... Athelaam poiyya Gopal' nu, dramatic aarambikaatha.
Well!!
I I'll clear few things for you.
See baby !

He stopped suddenly !!

What did he just call her ?

He himself seemed to  realise it only then ,
He froze this time ,not knowing
why he was addressing her so , after
exposing himself.

He hadn't addressed her whilst wearing Karthiban mask.

Mullai s face instantly lit in that one word of his !!

That single word gave her tons of Hope ! 

When she looked up at him with a new found hope ,he poured acid from his mouth.

He had recupperd by now .

That steel face was back with no traces of smile or tenderness.

He spoke like a Robot !

Kathir : : Look!!
First&foremost ,namakku engagement eh nadakala.
You remember?
Betrothal ku ella yerpaadum senchu , last minute la ,unga appa oda work la prechanae naala, cancel aachae?
Athu enoda vellai than !!

Mullai : What ? Ningala ?

She collapsed into the nearby cushion with a thud.

He did all those under
cover stuff?

Kathir : Naanae than ! .I didn't want a crowd.
Nor a truthful commitment with you !
lyervachu, morai padi ,unoda engage
aagratha naan virumbala.
Yenna ...he didnt complete his sentence ,
He again shook his head with a thoughtfull nod ,
Nadakaatha kalyaanathuku yethuku oru nichaiyam ?
And you know what !
Atha vachu ,neeyo ,unga appavo, en mela case ,athu ithunu podavum mudiyaathu.

Mullai : No words came out of her shocked mouth ,
Nichyathartha niruthinathae ninga thana ?
Her heart bled ...that she yelled .. unga  manasu enna Kalla ?

He spat back immediately ,

Kathir : Enaiya pethavangaluku throgam panna un appavukum ......,  ennaiya sernthavana kaaya paduthina unakum ...en manasu karungal than !!
Pothuma ?

Her body shivered , drenched off all the energy in that statement of his.

Un tholil thanae

Poomalai naanae

Soodamal ponaal

Vaadatho intha maanaae !

She pressed her chest ,

Mullai : Kadavullae ,naan enna pannen ?
Enaku ithelaam kekka romba kastama erukaae !

He stood still like an Iron Statue looking at her with piercing eyes ,

What did they convey ?

She didnt know _

It wasn't plain and clear as Karthiban s !!

These eyes of Kathir expressed more than a hundred emotions none of which she could decipher .

Somewhere a horn honked outside,

He jerked and spoke again ...in a rather plain voice as if , all what he said had happened to someone else ,

Kathir :  Inga unga
veetla nadanthathu ..antha ....Uruthi , athu ,namma naalae perukuthan theriyum.
Nee ,un appa, Raji ma and me !!!
No other witness you see !!

Mullai s brain worked now , she came up with a question ,

Mullai : Oru nimisham ...Neenga awanga thangachi paiyyan ellanu, Raji maa ku epadi theriyaama pochu !!

He laughed sarcastically now ,

Kathir : Ha...ha.ha...Naan than awanga thangachi paiyyanae illaiyae.
Naan Lakshmi amma oda
paiyyan ,athavathu, unga appa oda sontha akka paiyyanu awankalluku theriyum !!

Another shocker for Mullai

Mullai :  Ennathu?

Kathir :  Pinna? Ennathan, detective
agency moolama unga appa kannula
manna thoovinaalum , solravanga sonna than ,unmai manasulla oraikum.

Mullai : Purila.

Kathir: Oru simple psychology and
calculation than.
Yaar epadiyao  ....he threw an accusing look at her and continued , unga Raji athaiku, unnaiya ,Lakshmi amma paiyyan ku kalyaanam panni kodukanumnu aasai.
Unga appa kitta solli paarthum ,awar
othukala.
Intha vishyam enaku, arasal purasala
therinchuthu.
Enoda naadakathuku use pannikithen!!
Lak.amma paiyyana unga appa kitta
poogama, awangaloda thangachi
paiyyana vanthu unnaiya ponnu kekren !!
Help pannunganu keten !!
Awanga, odanae santhoshama help
panninaanga.
5 yrs la, accident la sethu ponnatha
nenacha Karthiban, marupadiyum uyiroda vanthutaanu ,awanga sonnathukuapuram
than un appa ,100.percent .convince aanaaru !!

She caught her heart which was trying to jump out of her body ,

Mullai :  Chee...ipdi solla ungalkku koosala ?
Anniyayama, iwala yemaathromae nu kooda va ungalku  thonala?

He was instantly furious the minute she yelled at him ,

Kathir: Eyy...throgam pathi neelam pesa koodathu di .  Throghatha senchathu unga appa di .
En appa _ ammanu rendu perumae affect aahirkaanga .
Unaku antha valli ... konjamavathu theriyuma ?
Illa sonna than puriyuma ? 
Naa yethuku asingapadanum?
Ithoo ....ipo ninnu pona intha kalayanatha pathi therincha , un appa unaku ipadi aachaenu varutha paduvaarunu nenaikriya ?
Kandippa , ponnoda life eh vida , intha LakshmiVanam  pochae nu than un appa kavala paduvaaru paaru !!

Mullai : Cha ... Lakshmivanam .... Lakshmivanam ..nu ...antha pera kettala erichala eruku ipo .
Apadi enna than iruku ithulla?

Kathir :  LakshmiVanam pera ketalae erichal varuthooo!
Apuram enna ****** ku un perla eruka vitta ?

He causally uttered a cuss word in their mother tongue that once again shocked her ,

She asked ,

Mullai : Ipadi kochaiya pesuvingala ?

Kathir : Ithu enna ... Ithuku melaiyum pesuven !
Enna paakura ...Karthi ipadilaam pesa maaten ! Athana solla vara ?
Karthi  than Mullai ku pidikaatha Yethaiyum seyya maatenae !
Kathir ku antha siramam illa paaru .
Ithu than Naan !
Kekka pidikaati kaatha moodiko.
Naan ipadi than pesuven.

Mullai : MV : Ithu enna ...ipadi adavadiya pesuraan .
Aalukum pechukum sambanthamae illa .Bad word laam iwanuku theriyuthuae ?
Ithuku mela vaai kodutha inamum asingama pesuvaanoo ? Vitralaam .
Sa ..sari ,naan onum kekala . Lakshmivanam pathi sollunga ,
Yen ivlo vanmam nu

Mullai : Athuku nee Avinashi ku than
varanum.
Vanthu paaru !
Un appanoda suyaroobam mulusa
theriyum.

Mullai : Sari.... Karthi..

Kathir : Kathir!!!

Mullai :  Mannangatti !! Sari ... Kathir ...pothuma ,

She too yelled equally at him and in attempts to avoid him walking away ,she once again stood in his path . Whilst moving forward the mat below tripped her and she tumbled down,

In an instant ,he caught hold of her waist , in a grip and balanced her back on the ground .

Her hands had encircled his neck involuntarily .

She didnt seem to realise it and once again was caught in awe and a electrification his " too close proximity"  instilled her in .

Never once in these 3 months ,he had touched her like this .

And this was almost the third time he was touching her causually ,  since the minute he declared his original identity !!!

For sure ... something happened within her even in that tensed situation .

What about him ?

She looked at him ...there was a change in his face but before she could take another look ,he was back to " Steel emotionless mode " ,

The hand that encircled her waist took its good own sweet time to release her .

In seconds he stood like a soldier in Warfield .

Plucking out her hand from his neck he spoke to her ,

Kathir :  Sollu ! Enna solla vantha ?

Mullai :  Va..vanthu ...vaa ..she had really forgotten what she was to ask and blinked twice that he had to shake her shoulder and bring her back to the current world .
En appa thana ithelaam pannarunu solringa?. Ennaku yen intha thandanai?
Ennaiyae yen ipdi yemaathinga ? Naa enna thappu .....

before she could finish her
sentence he uttered a name .

Just a name !

Kathir : Jeeva !!

Mullai :Jeeva va ! Athu yaaru ?

He got all the more furious but she really didnt know the person , or atleast didnt remember him ,

Kathir :Oh.. madam ku nyabagam varalayo?
Un oda baashai la solren.
Oorkaara paiyan ! Padikaatha ...

Without her knowledge she finished his line.

Mullai : Patti katan ! She continued as if remembering something... remembering someone ,
Antha, village boy maathri oruthan inga vanthan !
Maybe a  couple of months back .....i think ,
she tapped her forehead to remember more ,
Awanaiya solringa?

Her simple words without respect for that particular person made Kathir angry ,

He roared again ,

Kathir :  Awan ..lwan nu sonna, palla kalati kailla koduthruven !!

That statement irritated Mullai now that she bounced back ,

Mullai :  Yen solla koodaathu ? He is one.
You know what. ?
He stalked me !!

His face changed blood red on her accusation ,

Kathir : Mullai !
He caught her shoulders on either side in a fierce grip and looked deep into her eyes and snarled ,
Don't ever dare to tell that word !
Yaara paathu enna vaarthai di solra ?
Kondruven unna !
Stalking ku artham theriyuma di ,unaku?
Oruthan vegulliya, innocent ah ,
oorvittu ooruku vanthayedathulla ,namaku neruginavangalaachae nenachu , oru courtesy kaaga  paaka vantha , athuku peru stalking ?
Akkarai la oruthan vanthu unnaiya visaricha ...nee awan stalk panraanu solluviyoo ?
Apadi ennama unaku irrumaapu !
Alaga erukoomnu thimir ! Vera onum illa !
F**k  !

He cursed himself and scolded her as well ,

Mullai could now remember whatever happened when that person came to meet her ,

She recollected the whole face off with that person and then spoke to Karthir trying to explain to him what really happened ,

Mullai : Naan onum peralaginu laam ennaiya sollikala !
Enaku apdi oru yennamum illa ..

Kathir : Oh hoo ...apo aduthuvangaluku antha yenama ?

Another tease for sure ...she had to brush it aside ,

Mullai :  See ...i ...i do accept i was rude to that guy !
...but awar behaviour apadi than
erunthuchu .
Naan enna _

Kathir : Vaaya moodu!!

Mullai: Why are you getting so angry ?
Awar apadi than behave pannaaru !

Didnt he ? She asked herself and looked at Kathir with confidence ,

But Kathir yelled something that was a totally new information to her ,

Kathir ::Vegulliya paasama  pesina ,oruthana ipdi than
label pannivinga ,apdi thana ?
Yendi ...oruthan vellai alaichala konjam aluka , veshti sattaila vantha odanae awana " padikaatha pattikatanu " neeya mudivu pannuviya ?
Nee awana unga appa kitta koorthu vitta.
Apuram ,un appa awana enna senchaaru theriyuma ?
Antha aalu evlo thooram ponaarunu unaku theriyuma ?
Awan patta valliyum ..vethanaiyum ennanu theriyuma ?
Yethukaaga ivlo vallinu theriyaimaiyae thandanaiya anupavikrathu evlo periya kodumai !
Atha pathi konjamachum nee nenachu paathiya ?
Yen ...yen ...yen ... ennaiya yemathinanu , enkitta ivlo neram koochal pottila ?
Ithuku ... ithukaaga than unaku thandanai .
Neeyum valliya anupavi !
Naanum ... He said in a flow , started to tell something about him and then abruptly stopped , which she definitely didnt notice ,

She was more than shocked on her hearing her dad had had his hands in this and was anxious to know what had he did ,

Mullai :  En...en...enoda appa
....appa ...yennna..senchaaru ?

His face was changing into shades of dark red implying he was more than serious with respect to that illiterate man !!

She tried recollecting her conversation with that man , and had no idea of , in what way he was related to Kathir !!

Right from his dressing , attitude and slang everything was different !!

Wasn't it ?

He did look like an illiterate !

And was just like that barging into her private affair !

So she was rude !

But ...

Her dad ?

What did he do ?

And in what way that man was related to Karthi ...nope ...Karthi ?

He bluntly said ,

Kathir :  Atha un appa kitta kellu !!
Incase you really don't know about it !!
But ... Muruganuku ponna poranthutu nee unmai pesuvenu yethirpaaka mudiyaathu !!

He took a deep look at her once again , let a high sigh , and said ,

Kathir : Well ...as far as am concerned, everything is over !
We break up from now !

Mullai : Noo ....she screamed again. Yaaro orutharukaaga namma yen piriyanum ?
Please ...konjam yosichu paarunga .
Oru nodi koodava ninga ennaiya virumbala ?

Kathir :  He threw an arrogant stare without replying ,
His look deepened and seemed to graze all over her trembling face ,
Slowly his face seemed to melt from rock hardness a little bit when she declared loudly ,

Mullai : enaku en Karthiban venum ,!
En kadhal illama ennala vaala mudiyaathu . 
Naan uyira virumburathu Karthi ya
than..,

His frame stiffened instantly ,

Did the name Karthiban hurt him , as she implied that she liked the fake soft version of Kathir or her stand about Jeeva hurt him?

She didn't realise it.

He looked rooted up the ground and stared at her ,with folded hands.

Kathir : Aarambichutiya ?Well....,  Karthiban
unaku kedaikavae kedaika maatan.
He is a gone person !
I have ended him for good !

Another phrase struck her mind crsytal clear when she heard him say this ,

Nobody else can end me Dear !!

Yentha Balvalthevanum vellila illa !!

The real meaning of those words now sank in her ,

She couldn't bear it and asked him pathetically ,

Mullai : Illa ...enaku purila ...naan apadi enna thappu senchen?
Why are you giving me this heart break ?

This time he neared her ....and looked into her eyes.

His eyes had darkened deep as coal ,

Kathi : Because i very much intended to !

And ..there was a pause. He closed his eyes once, fists clenched for moment.
Then he opened his orbs and spoke ,

Kathir : In these months , i haven't ...i mean as Karthi i haven't  crossed my limits with you .
And you know it !!!
Karthi ya ... unnaiya thappana yenthathulla naan yepovumae thottathilla !
Un friend oda engagement ku nu  oru yedathuku , ennaiya yeluthutu poniyaae ;
Nyabagam eruka ?
Annaiku naan enna pannirunthalum nee summa than erunthurupa !!
Aana ...naan _
He paused and looked outside the window ,
Karthi unnaiya yethuvumae seyyala !!
Oru apaviku solla mudiyaatha valliya nee kodutha ...naan antha valliya unaku thirupi kodukanumnu nenachen !
Nenacha maathriyae senjchuten !
Un appan vanthu .... "LakshmiVanam"  pochanu nonthu ,,pulungi poovaaru .
Tholvi na ennanu theriyum !
Aana kaiyoda unaku innoru maapilaiyum paarpaaru !
Apo unaku ...unaku .......unakae manasu maarum !
he shrugged his shoulders ,
Moonu maasa palakathulla periya kadhal kottaiya yaarum inga kattala ! 
Athunaala ...itha...intha kadhala  ithoda vitru  !!
Infact ithu kadhalae illa ...oru kanal neer !
Itha vitru ..

He took decisions on behalf of her itself and declared it also ,,not knowing the erupting determination within her .

Who was he to tell her love was a Mirage ?

And who told him that she will accept to marry another man ,just because her dignity was saved ?

What about her heart which was filled in by  Karthi s image all over ?

Mullai : Naan vida maaten ! En kadhal kanal neer illa .
It's true !
I want my love back !  I want Karthi !
And all the answers about this whole
thing .. about this whole drama !!

She didn't mention Kathir.s name !

But she wasn't to be blamed for that.

She was in love with the person standing before her ,who had
claimed to be her fiancee in the name  of Karthiban for three long months.

She knew him as Kathir.just before an hour or so.

She didn't know what was going through inside his mind.

But she was determined in getting back her lost love.

It was quiet a complicated situation.

He replied in a steel toned ,emotionless voice.

Kathir Answers? Athu theriyanum na nee intha Hyderabad ah vitutu, Avinashi ku vaa
ammani.
Apo kooda answer mattum than unaku kedaikum
Again he paused...
Karthiban oru bimbam !
Enoda oru irunda nizhal !
Karthikum ...Kathirkum yentha sambanthamum illa !!
Awan nallavan ...,Aana naan illa !
Karthingra bimbathuku kathal la nambikai undu ....Kathirku illa !
Infact ...enaku kadhal ... kalyanathulla laam suthama nambikaiyaae illa !!
Oruthara uyira nenachu vaalrathelaam kathaila than nadakum.
Nijathulla ....suyanalam than prathanam .
Athunaala naan, sonna maathiri Karthiya ....enkitta thedaatha !  Karthiban unaku awan kedaikavae maatan !
Naanae kedaika vidda maaten !
Enoda nilal kooda unaku sontham illa ma !!!
Yosichu paatha ... ithu than unaku nallathu !!
Vitru !

In attempts not to leave him , she rushed forward , inclining onto his shoulder and hooked her palm into his _

An moment of silence prevailed there !

None of them spoke ,

He closed his eyes once and then opened with a sort determination;

He deliberately separated her fingers off his hand and walked away with one word ,

Kathir : Vitru ! Ithan unaku nallathu !

Saying so he walked off leaving a petrified Mullai crumble down on the mattress below with a broken heart and confused mind.

Kadhal keerthanam !

Kaanum Mangalam !

Premai Nadagam !

Penmai aadidum !

காதல் கீர்த்தனம்

காணும் மங்களம்

பிரேமை நாடகம்

பெண்மை ஆடிடும் !

That was the last they both spoke to each other .

************************************At Present ,

Coimbatore

Kovai Medical Centre !

As Mullai was basked in thoughts of that dreadfulday, she was interuppted with the beep of monitors in the next room.

She rushed in.

He was lying amidst the innumerable tubes and IV lines running in_ out, all over him.

The central venous line in his neck
had,kinked & had to be reconnected.

Noticing the night duty staff had gone for her tea break, Mullai herself changed it.

Her eyes ran over the monitor.

And then to his face !!

Even in that state, his face looked clear and chisilled as perfect as an Italian Iron Statue , eyes closed in sleep & lips curved firmly along the sharp jaw line.

His condition had required a emergency debulking neurosurgery and a closed reduction surgery for his fractured arm.

A very very tough condition !

But, he was more than fast in recovering from it, much to the astonishment of the medical team.

Of all ,she remembered the way he opened his eyes yesterday and showed thumbs up to Sadha uncle.

That was so incredible !

Guts !!

Spirit!!

Confidence!!

For sure he must be sure a mixture of all this_she thought.

Another voice popped out _not to forget his arrogance.

But now she couldn't think of anything else.

His arrogance and treachery!!!

As by human nature,she should have been furious at him for having cheated upon her and her dad.

If she had been the old Mullai , things would have been different.

Even then as a doctor,she definitely wouldn't have been happy on seeing him suffer this accident.

But for sure,she would have  filed a case,if she had been the old Mullai.

But now ?

These three months had changed her a lot !

She couldn't get angry at the man in  front of her even after knowing that he had cheated upon her.

Why?

She didn't know !!

Nope., she knows ...she is in love with this man !

With this beast !!

For sure he was one!!

But just that ,she was so sure that he too loved her truly.

However he had started his play, she
thought somewhere along the lines ,he too had fallen for her.

Somewhere along the line he had fallen in love with her ,

She knew it very well !!

She pulled a chair and sat beside him ,

Her eyes closed involuntarily ,

The charming smiling Karthiban popped in !!

His tender looks and warm smile & his caring gestures during their visit at Salar Jung Museum crashed in .

She remembered it as if it was happening right in front of her.

******************************"""

Hyderabad unfolded before her ,

It was her birthday that day.

He hadn't wished her since morning .

Instead he had requested her dad and had taken her to the famous Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad .

As the world famous English Brackish
clockstruck 11.00 am.forenoon ( the museum closes at night) and whilst the toy man came out of his hideout and was banging the gong, 11 times, whilst the whole crowd around them in the museum were busy counting the number of bangs, Karthi ( Kathir )
whispered her into her ears.

Happy Birthday Dear !!

It was just a brush in the softest tone of a masculine voice she had ever heard.

As she looked at him in suprise with a
question in her eyes,he replied.

Karthiban: Unnoda birth time: 11.00 am...nu horoscope la potrunchu !!! So that's why took you here and wished you now.

Mullai: she smiled jubilantly with a fullfilled heart .

Karthiban: Happy Birthday once again dear !
I will cherish your memories till my last !!

Now she knew why and what his words meant !!

But then way back ,

The last word hurt her badly.

Without realising she neared him and shut his mouth with her palm .

Mullai: Oh please Karthi. Thanks for your wishes.
Aana, ipadi achaaniyama yen yethavathu adikadi solra?
Athu enna vaarthai . 
' Will cherish your memories till my last ' ah !!
Yen ....enoda memories venum unaku ?
Naan than un koodavae , vaalkai poora travel panna porenaae ?
Unnaiya vitutu naan enga poven Karthi ?
Adikadi intha maathiri solra ,
Annaiku Ramoji city layum ipdi thana yetho sonna?
Yen da ?

Instead of replying her he looked to the other side .

As she tried to catch hold of his cheek and turn his face towards her , he carefully awoided her and stepped a bit away from her .

Mullai could now very well realise that he had wantedly awoided their physical intimacy .

But then , she thought he was shy to be touched in public _ with a crowd of 100 + assembled in that hall .

( Author : Awanuku SHY ah ! Yenma nee vera ... Miruthankum Vekkathukum ...kaatha thooram ma !!
Poles apart rendum ! 🤦)

Karthiban:....he didn't speak. Instead he stared loonnng at the clock itself.

The toy man (of the clock) had gone inside his small cabin by now.

She called him again ...,

Mullai: Karthi... Karthibannn..!

Karthiban: Haan..ya tell me.Naan than anaikae sonnanae... No one else, can end me dear!!!

Mullai: Hmm.
Apo namakulla  yentha Balvaldevanum illathana ! 
Promise ?

Karthiban: Hmm.ha...ha..ha..nee enna
chinna pappa va ?
Promise kekra ? Thats just a story.

Mullai: Athelaam enaku theriyaathu.
Today's is my birthday.
Poi sollama , enaku
answer pannu.

Karthiban: Hmm...Well...Entha
Balvaldevanum vellila illa pothuma !!!
That's the truth and that's a promise from me !!

Mullai: Happa...athana paathen.
Chumma chumma intha maathiri yethachum sollikittu .
Vaa polaam !

She failed to realise the hidden truth and underlying meaning in his words then !!

Instead she bubbled up with energy and happiness of him having wished her in a different way ,

The assembled crowd started to dissipate after the toy man returned back to his mini room .

As well the too started towards the other part of the museum ,

He was trying to  walk with a feet's  distance between them in that crowd ,that really irritated her

Mullai : Karthhiiii .....she shrilled in a baby voice ,

The reply came softly ,

Karthiban : Yup dear ...tell me , he smiled beautifully ,

Mullai : Tchu ...she expressed her disappointment .

Karthi : What happened ? He looked around and enquired her ,
Did anyone misbehave with you ?

He asked in a very soft voice that she laughed ,

Karthiban : Why are you laughing ?

Mullai : Illa ...ipadi poochi pidikra voice la kekriyaae , oru vellai yaarachum nijama misbehave panna enna pannuviyaam ?

Karthiban : Yen kekura ?

Mullai : Solen please ...cinema la vara maathiri fight pannuviya ?

Karthiban :What ?  Fight panratha ? His face expressed an astonishment  !!
Fight in such a big crowd ?
That ' s what rogues will do !!
We are cultured & educated people ma ....we shouldn't stoop low to the level of these rogues .
I will just move away from this place .
Ofcourse I will protect you but ...., and  for sure , i would file a Police complaint  !
Sorry ma ...ennaku , ne sonna maathiri fight laam poda varathu !
Athuvum ...ipadi public place laam poi namma respect eh keduthukalama ?
Sorry to disappoint you ma , but you i was brought up like that you see ....and ....

He stopped as if , he wasn't sure of how she will receive his opinion .

She laughed at his face and consoled him ,

Mullai  : Acho Karthi ...c' mon , i know you .
Unga status ku ninga poi sandai podanumnulaam naan expect panna maaten .
I too agree .... . othungi podrathu better .
Namma dignity eh save panna nenaikrathu thappu illaiyae .
Infact enaku unnaiya pidikrathuku ithuvum oru reason ,
Actually i didnt want you to say ...' I'll fight "
Because ....now she stopped suddenly not able to continue ,
She didnt want to speak low of her dad .

He asked ,

Karthiban : What happened ? Because ....nu sonniyaae ,

Mullai : Athu ...athu ...Karthi , naan ipadi solrathukaaga en appa VA korachu nenaika maatiyaae !

Karthiban : Me ? Mamavaiya ? Why should I ?

Mullai : Illa ... ithuvae inga appa eruntha  ....nee sonna maathiri police kelaam poga maatar.
Inneram awanga mela panchu, adichu ..othachu .....oru scene create pannirupaar .
Takkunu kaiyya oongiduvaar !
Enaku embarrassing ah erukum !
Athan ....neeyum apadiyoo nu konjam bayanthen .
Nalla vella nee apadi illa !

How innocently she told all of this to him !

She recollected that conversation now and wondered at her own stupidity .

He had clearly fooled her .

Because though she didnt know whether he will be her saviour or not , but for sure he now seemed to be raw man ... He would have smashed anyone for sure ,just like her dad !!

But then , way back ,she was happy about it , strangely ,

She did want a cultured man with a poise !

And what was wrong in it ?

She didnt know till date ...her memories walked down the lane back to that same day ,

With a smile she tried to make him feel comfortable ,

Mullai : Enaku ipadi eruntha than pidikum da !!
Aana , unmaiya ipo yaarum misbehave laam pannla .

Karthiban : Then ? Un face eh maariduchae ?

Mullai : Athuva ? She said with a chuckle looking at who was walking with a decent gap between them ,
En kaiyya mattumachum pidichukoo da , illati namma couples nu sathyam panna kooda yaarukum theriyaathu .
Anga paaru .... antha jodi laam epadi gum potta maathiri ottikittu suthunga .
Naan athu maathiri lama kekren , En summa kaiya pidichutu porathuku ivlo shy aah unaku !!

She said with a crimsoned face , that he reduced their gap and very gently took her hand .

Their eyes met again and they lost
themselves in the huge crowd of the
museum.

It was exactly one month after they started seeing eachother .

That evening well after sunset he took her for a boat ride in the famous Hussain Sagar Lake that literally glittered like diamonds with the
tall Buddha statue glowing calm and serene in that night.

He had hired a whole boat ride,just for the two of them, paying for all the ticket s in bulk except ,the driver.

In the middle of the river as they neared the glowing Buddha statue, the birthday cake was displayed in front of her ....a two tire one, with a lady doc sitting on the top surrounded by numerous opened books.

It immediately reminded of her own self.

As she smiled at him ,he wished her again in a calm tone and handed over the knife.

With the cake cutting done ,they stepped to take a walk around the statue.

With the cake being distributed around and after receiving
the wishes from the tourists around ,they got back into the boat and drove back along with
candle lit dinner .

Too too romantic,she thought then !!

But now?

She came out of those memories !!!

*****************""***************

Now,its crystal clear,that he had purposely played it along.

Now it appeared very dramatic, rather than being romantic.

So was each and everything planned and enacted by him ??

To get her trust and then ditch her?

She thought!

How could that gesture and smile be false?

He claims it as acting!!!

As he had claimed he hadn't taken
advantage of her vulnerability ,at any
time when he presented himself as
Karthiban towards her.

He was always the decent yet smitten
fiancee !!!

Or was he always?

She shook her head!!

His fierce,wild kiss on the last day they met popped into her mind, all of a sudden.

That Kiss !!

What was in it ?

Udhadugal kuvithen.
En manava...
Un uthaviku thavithen.
Pen allava!
Nee mutual murai ..
Puthithaai un muthamae ..
Naan mayakathil vilunthen,
Kadhala!

உதடுகள் குவித்தேன்

என் மன்னவா !

உன் உதவிக்கு தவித்தேன்

பெண் அல்லவா ?

நீ முதல் முறை

புதித்தாய் உன் முத்தமே !

நான் மயக்கத்தில் விழுந்தேன்

காதலா ..... என் காதலா !

She  looked at him once again , and placed her hand into his palm that was devoid of any injuries and pressed into it.

Acho Acho ....!
Yennai unidam thanthenaae .
Valiyinil tholaithayaae !!!

அச்சோ அச்சோ

என்னை உன்னிடம் தந்தேனே ;

வழியினில் தொலைத்தாயே !

For a moment everything dazed.

She seemed to lose hope,when it struck her  ;

He hadn't even neared her as Karthiban.

But he had kissed her without the slightes inhibitions after revealing his original face ....,

He had kissed her as Kathir !

So maybe , not everything was fake.,

She recollected his exact words ,

Karthiku kadhal la nambikai undu ,

Kathir ku illa !

Karthibanoda kadhala Kathirkitta thedatha !

Karthiya .... Kathirkitta thedatha !

Awan nallavan _ Naan illa !

Awana maathiri naan menmaiyanavan illa !

Naan vera !

Nilalukum....Nijathukum yentha sambanthamum illa !

Nilal ini varathu !

Nijam mattumae erukum !

Nee than Nijatha virumbalaiyaae ?

Apuram enna unaku ?

Kathir eh unaku theriyuma ?

Kathir eh pathi therinchukoo  _ the exact words he said just before kissing her !!

" Kathir pathi kandippa therinchukoo !"

She asked herself ,

Kathir yaaru ?

Awana pathi naan yen mulusa therinchukanum ?

Annaiku ....Kadaisiya yen apadi sonnaru ?

Apadi sonnathuku yethachum karanam erukuma ?

Kadhal eh pidikaathu nu sonaaru ....aana... Kathir eh thana enaiyya kiss panaaru ?

Athu yen _ ?

Suddenly she was interested in knowing more his real side !!

Suddenly she felt a change in her palm that she looked down ,

Her soft palm  which she had just rested in his , seemed to be gripped tightly within his fist !!!

His fingers had almost hooked hers in a very protective tight fist !!

She turned around in suprise !!

VALLIYA ? SUGAMA ? YETHU NEE ?