It was half past six...

Kathir and mullai were in deep slumber when mullai's phone started screaming...

Though mullai woke up with her familiar ringtone, it was a mere disturbance for kathir who just crushed him more to mullai and moved back to sleep...

It took few seconds for mullai to realise where and how she was...
His strong arms around her didnt feel like real as the scene comes often in her dreams...
But then it was not...
He was there with her...
She was in his embrace all night...
Can just cuddling give so much contentment...
She never knew it could...

She was brought back to reality with the phone sound and it didnt seem to affect him....
She pulled herself out of his hold somehow and attended the call...

Mu : ammadi mullaa...

M : paaa...

Mu : ammadi... pirantha naal vazhthukal ma...

M : paa... thanks paa... elunthuteyala... tea sapitacha...

Mu : yellam achu ma... ne elunthacha..

M : illaa pa.. thoongitu than iruken... amma kita solidatheya...

Mu(laughing) : ava ketutu than ma iruke... speakerla poten...

M mindvoice : aiyayo...birthday anniki suprabaathama...

P : adiye... pirantha naal nu vidaren... ne panrathuku un appa ah vera kootu sekariya...

M : acho illaa ma.. elunthuten.. chumma paduth...

P : pothum pothum... nee ingaye yethana maniku ipo elam elunthurikarare nu enaku theriyaathaakum...anga poi nerathula elunthurika poriya... atha vidu... sari pirantha naal vazhthukal...

M : thanks ma...

P : thirumba paduthu thoongathe de.. poi thalaiku kuli..

M : thalaiki kulichitu saami kumbitutu puthu thuni potukanum... appuram konjam sakkarai eduthu vaila potukanum.. pirantha naal ah kasapa coffee oda arambika kudathu... iniki non veg sapida kudathu... kovil ku poganum... archanai pananum... avalo than eh...

She couldnt hear parvathi's mild laugh and murugan's loud laugh making her yearn for them.... Though past three years she was in trichy, he parents used to visit her the day before her birthday and stay for her birthday... she would spend her complete time with them other than college hours and they would leave the next day...
But this time, she is away from them that too she had planned it herself...

Though the lover girl in her wanted to spend time with kathir, the daughter in her longed for her parents nearness...

Human desires are really complicated...

She sighed...

P : vaayadi.. athe than.. appuram.. kovil ku yellam poga venam.. inga vanthu namma moonu perum poipom sari ah... un per la poojai ku kuduthuruken....

M : sari ma... na mathiyam sapitutu kelambiduven....

P : sari de.. appuram college ku thaniya friends kuda yelam poga venam... suji sankar rendu peraiyum kutitu poitu vanthidu... romba neram anga yelam iruka venam...

Mullai instantly got her mother's fear and regretted for saying this certificate lie as a reason to stay back in trichy... She knew her mom was nervous even for swarna engagement but as she was with kathir she didnt budge more on it..... But she heard from swarna that her mom checked if arjun would be coming and relieved only after she said she didnt invite him... Kathir too said her parents had a word with him about the same...
Their care, protectiveness and love made her eyes welled up unknowingly...

M : illa ma.. ponathum vanthudaren...

She couldnt continue more of that and diverted her mom to her favorite topic...

M : amma.. enaku sapida enna pani vechuruka...

P : hmmkmmm... panragha..m diet ngra per la patni irukavaluku yena panrathu...athelam onum panala...

Mu : ammadi... unga amma poi solra... rava laadu, nei murukku, mundhri pakoda yellam pani vechuruka... na ipo than paaluku poren... paal vanthathum konja nerathula therattu paal ready agidum...

P : neenga irukeyale...

M : parra da.. ithana pani vechutu than intha built up ah.. sari sari ma... vanthu oru pidi pidkaren...

P : aama pidichutalum...

She could feel the disappointment in her mother's voice...

M : inime diet illama.. nalla weight koranjuten illaa.... sari ah...

P : paapom paapom...

Mu : ammadi.. aama mapilla vazhthukal sonnara ma...

Mullai instantly turned to kathir just to see him sleeping like a baby... She couldnt stop her caressing his hair and stroke his beard playfully...

Mu : ammadi...

M : haaan.. paa.. 12 manike wish panaaru pa... appuram enaku oru mothiram vangi kudutharu theriyuma... romba azhaga iruku paa...

She blurted out with pride...

Mu : apadiya ma.. kekave yevalo nalla iruku theriyuma...

M : aama pa.. maaa.... antha mothirathula K nu poturuke..

She turned to a child and couldnt stop her excitement of sharing with her parents...

P (laughing) : athu sari... ithu veraya... na than yepavo sonane...

M : aama aama.. ne soli than vaangitu vanthagha paaru...

P : pode.. aama nethe yen solala mapilla vangi kuduthatha...

M : enake night than eh theri...

Mullai stopped abruptly.. she understood that her parents were thinking that he had given the gift during engagement as per them he has come back to kunnakudi leaving her in trichy...

Mu : yenama night uh...

M : illa pa.. unga kita solala nu night than niyabagam vanthuchu.. kovil poojai, avugha veetula yelaraiyum pathi pesitu itha sola maranthuten....

P : sari paravala vidu... yellam nerla paathukalam... sari kalailaiye vaayaadama poi kuli...

M : romba than... po ma... na vekaren...

Mu : sari ma.. jhakarathai... college poitu vanthutu kupiduma...

After few conversations with love, her parents dropped the phone leaving mullai with regret again...

M mindvoice : sathiyama mudiyala... poi mela poi solitu iruken... ivugha yen arjun vishayama inga vanthapo enkita pesave illaa nu ipo puriyuthu... pidichavanga kita poi solratha vida kodumai vera yethum illaa...

Athum ivugha kudayum irukanum nu iruku, amma appa kudayum irukanum nu iruku.. appo poi soli than aaganum... solaamalum iruka mudiyala...
Chhhh....

Intha kalyana naal sikiram vanthuta nimathiya irukum... yethaiyum maraichu pana venam... athuku inum 16 naal iruke... ufff...

She sat raving about something and found it to be utterly stupid in sometime...
As always, she controlled her guilt, got down from the bed without waking kathir, had her morning routines completed and moved out of the room only after a peck on her sleeping baby's forehead....

She found suji in kitchen preparing her morning tea and helped herself with a coffee after having a spoonful of sugar as told by her mom....

Su : vaa de birthday baby... sikiram elunthute... night late ah than eh paduthom..

M : amma appa call pananga ka... athan...

Suj : atha yen de oru sorathe illaama solre...

M : kashtama iruku ka.. avughala emaathara madhiri...athan...

Suj : hmmm...

M : yena ka onume sola matengare...

Suj : yena solrathu... athuku onume pana mudiyaathu de.. ipadi vaarama anga avanga kuda irunthurunthalum kathir kuda iruka mudiyala nu kashtama than irunthurukum... nimathiya irunthurukaathu... ipo inga vanthu avangala nenachu kashtama iruku.. itha than manushanga manasu oru korangu nu soluvanga...

M : parra....experience pesuthu...

Suj : hmmm... yenamo santhoshama love panra madhiri irukum... namma anubhavikarathu namaku than eh theriyum...

Vidu... intha feel elam yethaiyum avoid pana mudiyaathu... un mindset ah maathiko... free ah iru... romba yosichu confuse panikaathe... avalo than soluven....

M : hmm puriyuthu ka...

Yes she has a half day to enjoy with kathir and post that her day is with her parents...
What is the point in feeling bad and spoiling the day...
She decided to go with the flow and enjoy the moment...
After all, its her birthday...

Su : sari athelam vidu.. iniki yena plan ungaluthu... atha sollu...

Mullai briefed her plan for the day making suji giggle...

Su : pode neeyum un planum... itha kathir kita sollu...yen da trichy vanthom nu tension agiduvaaru... sariyana loose ne...

M : po ka.... enaku pidichatha na panren....

Suj : yenamo panu...

After some sister moments, suji left for bath leaving mullai alone....

Meanwhile, Kathir woke up rejoicing the moments spent with mullai and looking up for her only to see her missing...
He got ready in few minutes and came out of the room in search of her...

There was a scene in kitchen which he literally fell for....
For the first time ever, she was in nighty with wet hair tied up with a towel...
She was busy cutting some vegetables humming some song...
May be a scene that he might see daily in another few days...
As a reflex action, he went for a hug from behind kissing her cheeks...

K : Oi...

M : hmmm...

She turned immediately...

K : good morning...

M : good morning nga..
eluthuteyala...

K : lollu than eh unaku... elupi vidama inga vanthu ena panitu iruka...

M : tired ah irupeya nu than elupala... akka than iniki breakfast panuvaalam... na panna kudatham... athan chumma ava kulichitu varathukula kai cut pani vekkalam nu...

K : oh... sari late agalaiya.. ready kuda agala.. malaikottai ponum nu sone... veyil vantha kashtam illa...

M : illanga namma yengayum pogala...

K : yengayum na...

M : plan pana madhiri malaikottai, movie, lunch ipadi yengayum poga porathu illaa...

K : appuram...

M : veetula than iruka porom... iniki lunch na samaikaren.. sapitutu veetuku kelambalam...

K : Oi... velaiyadariya... ithuku than trichy vanthiya...

M : illaye... ungakuda irukanum nu than vanthen... atha than eh panalam nu solren...

K : romba asaiya ah irunthiye... anga yellam poganum nu...

M : ipo atha vida ipadi veetula irukanum... ungaluku samaikkanum nu asaiya irukunga...pls... birthday girl aasai patta seiyanum illaa...

K : unaku birthday illanalum ne aasaipatta na seiven.. aana oru rendu thadavai kunnakudi kum, trichy kum vandi ah ottina nan onum weak agida matten... na avalo noonjan illa... athukaga ne sollathe...

M : neenga yevalo strong nu enaku theriyum... athukaga yellam illaanga...nijamave aasaiya iruku veetula irukanum nu...

K : hmmm sari un ishtam... enakena unkudaiye irunthu una jolly ah sight adichitu, ne samaichu podaratha sapitutu anne anni kuda time spend panren...

M : hmmm ithu nalla paiyanuku azhagu...

She playfully pinched his cheeks...

M : sari tea kudikareyala...

K : hmmm... aama na yevalo strong nu theriyum nu soneye...
Yepadi theriyum.. na yethum pana kuda illaaye..

M : athuva...

She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him closer...

M : yetha pananum nu illaa... chumma thotta kuda theriyum...

K : apadi...

San : kathiru...

Sankar entered the kitchen along with suji with a loud call ,just as a alarm that they are coming making them move away from each other...

San : yena da kulichu ready agitiya... na ipo than thoongi elunthen...

K : aama ne...

San : yena mullai nijama veliya pogalaiya...

M : illa mama... veetulaiye irukalaam nu decide panitom...

San : athena panitom... paniten nu sollu... avan vishayame theriyama ready agi vanthu nikaran... ithulaiye theriyala.. ne plan paniruke...avan mandai ah aatirukan nu...

All three chuckled while mullai threw a angry look at kathir and sankar...

M : yepadi ka intha mama ah poi pidichuthu unaku... over vaai...

Suj : yetho emanthuten de...

San : kaalam kadanthan nyiyaanam... onum pana mudiyathu..

K : aama romba vaai ah iruntha pidika kudatha... ithu theriyaama poche enaku...

M (frowning) : ipo neenga yena sola vareya...

K( with a hidden smile) : onum illaye... chumma sonnen...

Suj : sari atha vidunga.. mama appo namma poitu vanthudalam... ivanga ingaye irukatum...

San : hmmm... kathiru... inga pakathula oru orphanage iruku... kitathata oru nooru per irupanga.. 30, 40 ponunga irupanga... intha poo yelam eduthutu poi anga kuduthutu vanthudarom...

K : anga kudutha anne?? Puriyala...

Suj : avanga vechupanga kathir... pona maasam en friend valaikaapu appo ipadi than neraya valaiyal, poo elam irunthuchu.. anga than kondu poi kuduthanga... avangaluku athelam oru santhosham than eh...

K : oh sari sari anni... nala vishayam than...

San : apadiye sweet, kaaram kuda vaangi kuduthudarom... birthday ku kuduthatha irukatum...

K : appo naangalum varava ne... mullaiku than eh....

San : illaa da venam... sari na ready agaren...

kathiru oru nimisham vaa... visitors parking laya car niruthina...

Sankar walked away with kathir and stopped in the living room...

San : illaa da kathiru... mullai anga vantha yepavum upset agiduva... ivangallam ipadi irukanga namma matum ipadi dress panrom, nalla sapidarom athu ithu nu pesuva... athai ku avala anga kootitu pona pidikaathu.. athan venam nu sonen...

K(with a fond smile) : puriyuthu ne... aana vena nu sonna na kettutu poren.. yethuku explanation elam kudarenga...

San : cha cha.. avala pathi theriyanum nu sonen... ne thapa nenaika matten nu theriyatha...

K : sari ne.. appuram oru vishayam...

San : sollu da...

K : illa antha sweet, kaarathuku nan kaasu kudukava ne...

Neenga kudakaratha pathi yethum illaa enaku... chumma enaku thonichu ava birthday ku na pananum nu...

San (smiling) : tharalama kudu... athuku yen ipadi thayangara... ne eduthu vei... na pogum bothu vangikaren...

K : sari ne...

San : Sari da na poi kulichitu varen...

Kathir who was left alone, as a usual habit wanted to speak with his mom, searched for his mobile and found it no where...
After few minutes of searching, he went to kitchen...

K : Oi...

M : hmmm...

K : en mobile ah paathiya... kaanom...

Suj : kathir... romba palaya plan ah iruke... nijama eh kaanoma... illa ivala thaniya kupida plan ah...

K : aiyo anni... serious ah kaanom...

M : yen ka ne vera... yenga... veetukula than irukum... irunga call panren...

Mullai called him up but they could hear it nowhere...

Suj : irukarathu naalu room.. saathame keka mattenguthu.. silent la iruko...

K : illaa anni... normal mode la than irukum...

Oi.. ne cut panu.. anni unga phone la irunthu kupidunga...

M : yen en phone ku yena..

K : illaa unaku vara ringtone satham kamiya irukum.. athan kekala pola...

M : oh...

As suji called him, there was a basic telephone bell in a low sound from the bedroom and the phone was found in the balcony...

K : ada paavaame... night full ah inga than irunthucha... ipadi edukama ulla vanthuruken...

Suj(naughtily) : ok ok....

To M : appo night balcony romance ah...

M : aiyo akka.. pesama vaaa...

Mullai pulled suji out to kitchen with a blushing smile looking at kathir...

After sometime, they had their breakfast together teasing eachother and most importantly teasing suji's cooking...

All four together finished cleaning the vessels, table, etc and came back to the living room...

As they started removing the flower decors,

Suj : adiye... poi pothu dress potutu vaa.. chithi illaanathum ipadiye nighty la suthara paaru...

M : aiyo maranthe poiten ka...

Suj : nalla maranthe po...

San : ithuku than atha venumgrathu...

M : sari sari... vita neengale phone pani soluduvenga pola... neenga remove panunga... na varen...

Mullai left with a nod at kathir, got changed to a new dress with minimal make over and opened the door only to hear a call in her mobile...

It was a conference call with her friends... They shared their birthday wishes and was very eager to know about kathir's surprise as they heard from her that he was there at night... She somehow convinced them that she would give details the next day as she is kinda busy today and dropped the call...

When she was about to move out, she saw kathir's mobile on the bed and was curious to know what he has as a ringtone for her...

M mindvoice : ivugha paatu yellam vepaaghala... nambave mudiyalaiye... apadi yena paata irukum... sari kupitu paapom...

She called him just to hear the song

பூப்போல்
பூப்போல் என்
நெஞ்சை கொய்தவள்
மின்னலை மின்னலை
என் பார்வை பறித்தவள்

A song from the movie minnale

With a picture of her from their engagement with a flower bouquet...

She felt like butterflies were flapping inside her...

M mindvoice : paaren... ithelam panathu illaa nu solitu panirukaagha... oru varathai kuda solaama... athan ipo elam adikadi ena call pana sonatha...
Sariyana aalu than..

The call had cut and mullai glanced through his mobile...

To be frank, his mobile was dame boring to her...
No much photos or videos...
Just basic apps...
Added to it was whatsapp...
No other extra apps...
Not even fb or insta...
Nothing else...

M mindvoice : mokkai ah phone vechurukagha...

"Patikaadu"..

Her regular comment at him and the reactions he used to give if said so made her smile...

When she opened the WhatsApp, just to stopped by kathir who entered the room at that moment...

K : Oi... yethuku ithelam paakare...

There was a slight irritation in his voice as he snatched the phone from her...

M : yen nan paatha yena ipo... yethuku ipo ipadi pidingineya...

K : athu... anga yelam eduthu vechutu irukom ilaa.. vanthu help panu.. vaa... appuram paathukalam...

M : varen.. appuram romba sorry... inime unga personal vishayatha paakala..

K : Oi... loose ah ne... enamo en phone ah nee paathathe ilaatha madhiri...

M : atha ipo paathene.. avalo avasarama avalo yerichaloda phone ah pidinginatha...

K : Oi... sorry... athu...

M : neenga yethuku sorry solreya... aduthavanga phone ah eduthathu en thappu than... sorry... na poren...

Mullai strode to the living room
and started helping them without looking at kathir who followed her... They arranged the flowers with five flowers in a bunch making a small bouquet just in a way easy to distribute....

Sankar had already got information about the head count from the orphanage... So it was easy for them to pack accordingly...

As they got things ready, suji and sankar started to the orphanage...

So
It was just

His Mullai...
Her Kathir...
His irritation...
Her anger...

K : Oi...

M : poda...

K : poga mudiyaathu de...

TBC....