With a head nod and happy hand wave, Kathir mullai took a leave along with many fond kisses, tight hugs, warm byes to everyone to start another beautiful phase of their life...

Mullai's family who were happily waving their hand at them were quickly moving out of her sight as the car sped up...

So its mullai with kathir's family from now on...

The curiosity of visiting his home for first time was high so did the heavyheartedness of not visiting her home...

The exhilaration of staying with kathir was high so did the desolation of missing her family...

She was tickled pink and at the same time drowned in blues...

Her eyes with a strange feeling moved to jeeva and meena in the front seat bantering with kanna who was sitting near her and unknowingly moved closer to kathir...

Kathir, who had his eyes on her all the while could understand her anxiety ,fear, restlessness right from the time they boarded the car...

It did give a little disappointment thinking her moments with him seemed to be a damp squib to her...

Though his righteous mind argued back it was not easy thing she was going through, it was true he was slightly letdown...

Afterall he was a normal man...

He wished her girl to be in cloud nine when she was with him...

When it was not, he felt a little low...

He was selfish in his thoughts unlikely to his usual character...

But everything changed in a flash....

All the lingering thoughts were pushed aside when she clinged to him seeking some comfort and confidence...

Her anxious hand rested on his lap with a deep look at him...

He understood she is trying to get her home back with his nearnesa...

Kathir encircled her within his arms with a warm smile which mirrored in her face...

K : Oi...

M : hmmm...

K : yen de... iruvathi oru varushama athai mama kuda than eh iruntha... na yetha feel panana... illa vanthu sandai potana... illaa vanthu unna thookitu vanthutana... sari pona poguthu... pondatti paavam.. athai mama paavam... irunthutu pogatum nu perunthanmaiya vituten illaa... ithana varusham kalichu kutitu vantha ivalo feel panre... ithelam niyayame illa soliten... paavam illa nan...

M(smiling) : yena logic sir ithu...

K : pinna sari than eh... en pondattiya poranthathume vanthu thookitu vanthurukanum... nan than konjam late paniten...

M : athu sari... vita naan poranthathe ungalukaga than nu soluveya pola...

K : illa nu vera soluveya nee...

M : solitena...

K : hmmm solli paaru... theriyum... aama nu othukara varai vida matten...

M : aiyo saami... na sola matten pa... yethuku vambu...

They held eachother's gaze with a smile understanding that they needed this sweet nothings badly...

K : kashtama iruka...

Naughtiness dropped in his voice all of a sudden and appeared so soft and soothing...

M : kashtama yellam illaanga... konjam vithiyaasama iruku... avalo than... athan neenga irukeyale... ipove normal agiten...

Yes, mullai meant it...

She felt much better with his nearness and his casual talks...

K : nijama ok than eh...

M : double ok nga...

K (grinning) : ok ok...

M(grinning) : athe ok than...

His grip on her tightened and they sat in silence beaming at eachother and listening to others periodically joining the conversation...

As they reached home in few minutes, dhanam and selvi took the harathi to let the newly wed in with right foot first...

They were led to the pooja room to light the lamp and offer prayers...

And next they offered prayers to kathir's father's portrait and got blessings from lakshmi...

The mom and son shared a unspoken emotional minute with kathir kneeling near her and Lakshmi caressing his locks followed by a hug to mullai...

Mo : maaa... adutha yenama paal pazham than eh...

L : aama pa... dhanam... poi paal pazham kondu vaa ma...

D : saringa athai...

They had the usual customs of having paal pazham with stealing glances and funny teasings, sought blessings of other elders and everyone settled in the living room nattering around...

D : mullaa.. variya.. veeta suthi kaamikaren...

Ka : aama ithu periya athangudi aranmanai... suthi vera kaamikanuma... yena anni comedy panrenga... mulla anni... apadiye ninna yedathulaiye oru suthu suthunga... athuve pothum...

Mo : elei... romba vaai athigam agiduchu da unaku...

Ka : mullai anni ku tired ah irukume nu sonen ne... paavam kaalaila nerathula yezhunthirupanga... photo kelam ninnute irunthanga vera... illaa anni... athunala methuva suthi paakatum intha aranmanai ah... ok ah dhanam anni...

D : vaai mattum illana unna antha ethirtha veetu amanji naaye thookitu poidum...

L : vidu dhanam... avan solrathu konjam sari than eh.. mullaa nee poi pudavai maathitu oivvu yedu ma.. un thuni yelam vera eduthu vekanum illaa...

M : saringa atha... aama atha elame pettila irunthi eduthu vekanum...

L : appo nee po ma... pesina pesite irupom...

M : saringa atha...

Mullai twisted her eyebrows at kathir who nodded in return that he will follow... Mullai turned to their room with a smile just to be stopped by a scream from kanna...

Ka : anniiiiiiiiiiiii... yen panrenga...

M : room ku poren... yena... yena achu...

Everyone looked at mullai and kanna without knowing what they are upto...

Ka : yena acha... vanthu arai mani neram than achu... poi saami ku vilaku yethitu inga than eh irunthenga... appuram athu than unga room nu yepadi theriyum... correct ah porenga...

M : athu... vanthu...

She looked at kathir with a "save me" expression..

Ka : ada anga yena look uh... bathil solunga...

K : dei.. video call la veeta kamichuruken... ithu oru periya vishayama...

Ka : parra... dhanam anni... mullai anni yerkanave "house tour in pandian stores home" poirukanga.. neenga athu theriyaama suthi kaamikava nu kekarenga... aanalum ungala nenacha enaku siripu siripa varuthu...

D : varum da nalla siripu varum... unna appuram gavanichukaren....

yenda kathiru... neeya ithu... whatsapp la message anupina rendu naal kalichu paapiye da... ne video call ah...

Me : yenga avaru mobile than alltime "ting ting" nu satham potute irunthuche... itha kudava neenga gavanikala...

D : illaye meena...

Ka : gavanichuruntha than kelvi kettu thalirupengale...

K : dei chumma iru da... anni... konjam konjama use pana arambichuten anni... munnadi alavuku mosam illaa...

D : hmm ipo soli than da theriyuthu... video call elam konjam ah... ne nadathu...

Seeing mullai looking at everyone nervously,kathir flashed a wide smile gesturing its nothing bringing back her smile...

Me to J : dei jeeva, nichayam mudinja rendu maasathula video la veeta yelam kamichurukaaru... nee namma love pana rendu varushathula oru sengallaiyavathu kaamichirupiya...

J : yen de sengala paathu yena pana pore nee... nee yena quality control department la ah velai seiyara...

Me : unkita sonen paaru... thayavu senju namaluthu love marriage nu veliya solidathe...

J : na marriage ah pathiye solrathu ilaa.. ithula love marriage nu vera solranga... pode...

Me : hmmkmmm...

L : ada yellarum poi velaiya paarunga... appurama pesikalam...

mulla.. ne ulla po ma...

dhanam, meena, selvi pasangala thoonga veinga... nerathula yelunthathu vera...

D : saringa atha...

As the family dispersed, kathir and mullai left to the room for the first time...

K : Oi... ulla po...

Mullai paused in the entrance for a second to be pushed by kathir inside the room...

M : yenga ipadi thalariya...

K : yethum disturbance vanthuda kudathu nu than...

M : athu sari...

The room that has been a invisible part of their two months journey has become the visible one now...

Her eyes raked through their room completely as he pulled her into his hold from behind...

The room was filled with her trolleys and bags on floor...

A big cot on one side, two wardrobes of which one was old and one was new and a big mirror with dressing table...

Thats it...

The furniture was minimal and neat...

The color of the bedspread, window screen and all others had a fresh mix of yellow and blue in them giving a pleasant aura as they entered in...

No much luxurious things...

No cramped spaces...

No overly coloured and theatrical decorations...

In short, The room showed the personality of the person living in the room so well letting a smile play on her lips...

K : Oi...

M : hmmm...

K : namma room pidichuruka...

M : romba pidichuruku... ungala madhiriye iruku...

K : simple ah... cute ah... sweet ah... paathathum manasuku pidikara madhiri... athan eh...

M : paravalaiye sir athelam niyabagam vechurukenga...

K : madam sonathu yethum marakaathu enaku...

M : parra...

K : paathuta pochu...

He twirled her to face him in a wink of an eye...

K : amma saree maatha sonanga illaa...

M : aamanga maathanam...

K : na help panava...

M : no thanks sir... nan eh paathukaren...

K : ada nee paakaratha mukiyam ippo...

M : illaye... neenga pakarathu than mukkiyam... aana...

There was a heavy knock at the door making them move apart impatiently...

As kathir opened the door, it was selvi and sruthi who came in...

Sel : mulla... inum saree maathalaiya...

M : tho ipo matharen athachi...

Sel : sari ma... iva unaku thuni aduka help panraalaam... enakum thookam varala... athu than vanthom...

K : yen paapa thoongalaiya nee... tired ah illaa...

Sru : illaa mama... na athaiku help panren... ok ah athai...

M (hugging) : ok de thangam... enaku help panuviyaam...

Sel : sari mulla... ne dress change panitu kupidu... naanga veliya irukom... appuram adukalam...

M : saringa athachi...

Kathir left the room along with selvi and sruthi without any option not before a wink...

The following hours were busy with mullai arranging her things with help of sruthi and selvi with non stop talks while kathir was no where found...

Sel : yellam mudinjuthu than eh mullai... vera yethavathu eduthu vekanuma...

M : yellam mudinjuthu athachi.. intha trolley, bag elam loft la potuta pothum...

Sel : appo sari... na poi ipo matha velaiya paakaren... paapa ne poi kanna mama ah vara sollu... ithelam eduthu vekatum...

Sru : sari maa...

Sel : ne ukaru mullaa... Weight illathan... aanalum iruka asathi la yethuku nee thookitu... avan vanthu panatum... na tho varen...

M : sari athachi...

As selvi and sruthi left, mullai sat in the bed waiting for paapa to turn up with kanna...

As there were no signs of them, she called kathir just to hear the phone ringing in the room...

M mindvoice : cha... phone ah vechutu poitaghala...

The ringtone was the same as before but the picture has changed from her solo picture to their couple picture...

A picture from the mehandhi function...

M mindvoice : hmmm sir photo elam maathi maathi vekka arambichutagha... paravalaiye... paatu mattum athe iruke... hmmm yena smart ah irukaagha... azhaga...

Relishing the memories of those days, mullai decided to carry on the work by herself and climbed on to a stool to arrange the bags on the loft...

And as always to her surpise and shock, kathir seem to appear out of thin air just to hug her tight and nuzzle his beard on her glossy stomach giving her a skipped heartbeat and making her drop the trolley down...

M : yenga yena panreya...

K : .....

M : please nga... konjam vidunga... kadhavu thiranthu iruku...

K : hmmmhmmm....

Kathir nodded as no sharply rubbing his beard more and gnaw at the spot melting her down completely...

The position of mullai on the stool gave him an easy access for what he wanted to do...

Her feeble mind tried to push his head off while desirous heart pulled it closer...

M : yenga... kadhavu...

K : pode...

M : nan than first mutham kudukanum nu soneya.. maranthuducha...

K : na ipo muthamaa kudukaren... hmmm...

M : hmmmhmmm... illaa than...

K : appuram yena...

He continued his sweet plays until she heard the screeching sound of sruthi and she hustled him off her...

Sru : mama neenga sona madhiri kanna mama ah full ah thediten... kaanom... meena athai sonanga... avaru veliya poitaaram...

K : oh apadiya.. enaku theriyala paapa... theriyaama soliten... sari paravala vidu...

Mullai looked at him smirking understanding his train of lies to the little one...

Sru : atha neenga yen mela yeri nikarenga... athan mama vanthutaaru illaa...

M : athu... mama ipo than vanthanga... athan da...

Yenga neenga veinga... na...

K : illa enaku tired ah iruku.. neeye vei...

M : tired ah... (suspiciously ) hmmmm... saringa...

Sru : mama.. paathengala.. atha enoda gift ah inga vechurukaanga...

Ithu kanna mama, atha birthday ku kuduthatham...

Sruthi kept chatting with kathir while mullai continued her work with a suspicion of why is he denying the work though its not a big deal, definitely kathir wouldnt allow her to do without a reason...

She understood the real intention only after she met his gazes moving on her exposed possessions...

The way he ogled at her with a cosy sitting position periodically nodding to the little one aroused her than his touches...

She couldnt speak up with sruthi around but still not able to handle the looks...

M : yenga konjam scanner ah off panreyala... mudiyala...

K (naughtily) : athu full power mode la iruku... off agaathu... vena nee exposure kammi paniko...

M : athu ipadi mela vekkum bothu yepadi mudiyum... therinju than eh tired nu solneya...

K : atha kandupidika unaku ivalo nerama... sari eduthu vei...

M : aiyo... enala mudiyalai nga...

Sru : yena achu athai...

M : athu... enaku konjam thani venum... thaagama iruku... poi eduthutu variya thangam...

Sru : sari atha...

As sruthi left the place...

M : yenga chumma iruka mateyala... paapa iruka... ipadi paakareya... ava unga kita pesitu iruka vera... yena nenaipa...

K : ava paapa de... avaluku yena theriyum...

M : ava paapa sari... veliya hall layum paathute than eh iruntheya...

K : aama... athuku yena...

M : yenava... ipadiye panunga... yaaru irukaanga illa nu kuda paakaama... nalla iruku... yellarum yena nenaipaagha...

K : adi paavi... en pondatti ah than eh paakaren... ithula yena iruku....

M : athu sari... enaku oru madhiri iruku illaa...

K(laughing) : oru madhiri... happada.. success... intha varthai ah ketuten...

M : siripu vera varuthu... enaku neenga panrathelam paatha bayama iruku...

K : ithuke bayama athu sari...

Nalla velai de na unna love pani kalyanam panala... yetho veetulaiye paathu katti vechutanga... illana unna yellam vechutu love pani kalyanam panrathukula padaatha paadu paturupen...

M : oh ho... avanga katti vechathunala katikitiya... love pani illaa... hmm sari than... nalla puriyuthu...

K : naa yena solren... nee yena pesare...

M : neenga sonatha than eh solren... katti vechathala sir kattikitiya... ithe vera yaravatha katti vechuruntha yosikaama avangala kattirupeya...

K : hmmm apadi vare nee... sari than kattirupen...

M : oh ho... appo enna sir pidichu poi kattikala...

K : illaa...

M : romba santhosham... ipadi thallunga... na yeranganum...

K : na yeraki vidaren de...

M : hmmmkmmm onum venam... inime enna thodatheya... vanthutaagha... yenamo asai iruka madhiri...

K : athelam neraya iruku... kaamikatuma...

M : onum venam... ponga... inime en pakathula kuda varatheya...

K : Oi... yosichuko... appuram feel panuva...

M : na onum feel pana matten... ponga...

K : sari poren... poi vera yaaravathu rendavathu kalyanam panikaren...

Mullai looked at him shocked seeing his roguish smile...

This man is impossible she thought...

M : yena soneya... sari ah kekala...

K : yelam sari ah than ketuchu... athan sonen...

He tweaked her hip with a naughty wink as she got down stunned...

M : oh ho... sir ku oru pondatti pathatho...

K : hmmhmmm... pathaathu...

M : kalyanam mudinju panandu mani neram kuda agala... athukula thimir pecha arambichachu... thiruntha matiyala neenga...

K : kalyanam mudinjathum na ipadi pesa matten nu sonena...

M : appo maateya...

K : kandipa matten...

D : mullaa... konjam inga vaaa...

M : (loudly) Varen ka...

K : chhh... oru romance pana vidarangala.. thontharavu panite irukangale... iru de anju nimisham... appuram pogalam...

M : ithu romance ah...

K : pinna illaya...

M : neengalum unga romance um... kovatha kelapitu romance aam... ponga... vera kalyanam panitu poi anga romance panunga...

K : oh unaku ok ah...

M : ....

K : double ok sollu de...

She glowered at him with face full of disapproval...

D : mullaaa...

M : ungala vanthu appuram vechukaren...

K( grinning) : ok ah illaya nu solitu appuram vechuko...

M : poda...

K : yethu...

M : poda nu sonen...

K(amusingly) : parra... appuram vera yetha iruka...

M : na varathukula intha trolley, bag elam eduthu loft la podunga.. thevai illaama pesi tension panikitu irukaatheya...

K : ok madam... utharavu... neenga ponga...

M : hmmmkmmm... romba than...

Off to living room...

Sru : atha inthanga thanni...

M : thanks paapa... sollunga ka... kupiteyala...

D : aama mullaa... iniki naal nalla iruku... nee mudhal mudhala oru sweet seiyanum ma... athai ipo unna pana sonanga...

M : oh sari sari ka... panidaren... yena pananum...

D : hmmm vaa... paapom...

They moved to kitchen to see selvi and meena chatting making preparations for dinner...

Mee : vaa mullaa... yelam eduthu vechacha...

M : achu ka...

Mee : sari yena sweet pana pore...

M : paal paayasam vekava... avughaluku pidikume...

Mee : unga avughaluku pidichathu elam samaika kudathu mulla... periya mama ku pidichathu than samaikanum... yenga... unga rules ah avangaluku solunga... kesari than eh pananum... paarunga ravai elam yeduthu vechaachu...

D : chumma kindal panathe meena... namma veetula kesari neraya per ku pidikum athan athuku yelam eduthu vechen...

M : oh sari ka... vena rendume panava...

D : rendu venuma ma... yerkanave kalyana palakaaram neraya iruku...

Sel : ada neraya iruntha yena dhanam.. sapida aala illaa.. mullaa.. nee rendume panu... pana theriyum than eh...

M (happilly) : oh theriyum athachi... panidaren...

Mullai started preparing the sweets excitedly while the ladies stood chatting about their first time cooking fun amd disaters post marriage..

When they were having a hearty laugh about meena's first kesari, kathir dropped in looking fr mullai...

D : yena kathiru.. yetha venuma...

K : illaa anni... chumma than vanthen... yena panrenga nu pakalaame nu...

Me : yenga nanga panratha paaka vanthengala illa mulla panrathaiya...

Sel : ithuku oru kelvi veraya meena... athan moonjilaye ezhuthi otiruke...

Dei un pondatti first time samaikanum ilaa.. athan sweet panra...

D : athum unaku pidicha paal payasam than panuvaalam...

K : oh ho...

M : kesariyum than eh ka...

Mee : aanalum paal payasam special than eh... athan solranga...

M : rendume special than ka...

Me : oh apadi apadi...

After few minutes of chat...

Me : sari naanga porom... neenga un wife kuda pesa than eh vanthenga... carry on...

D : aama nanga porom... varatha aalu kitchen kula vanthuruka... nee nadathu...

Sel : paathu mullaa.. kathir kuda pesitu kesari ah meena pana kesari madhiri akidaathe...

Me : yenga ipadi...

The ladies left the place with giggles leaving them alone....

K : Oi...

M : hmmm...

K : kovama irukeya...

M : paatha yepadi iruku ungaluku...

K : kovam na kilo yena velai nu kekara madhiri iruku...

M : oh ho...

K : anga second marriage ku ok nu solitu inga vanthu enaku pidicha paal payasam panra paathiya... nee than en tharma pathini de...

M(laughing) : kadavule... enala kovama iruka madhiri nadika kuda mudiyala...

Yenga ungaluku vekkamave illaya...

K : sathiyama illaa... unkita than eh... veliya sola maten eh...

M : yen apadi...

K : sonna sirichuduvanga illa... paithiyam madhiri un pinnadi suthitu ipadi pesina ennna nija loose nu mudive paniduvanga... paapa oruthiye pothum en maanatha vaanga...

M : athan theriyuthu illaa... pesama iruka vendiyathu than eh...

K : athu mudiyathu.. ithana naal un kovathoda audio treat mattum than.. ipo than visual treat... yepadi vidarathu...

M : ithu veraya...

K : aama ithana naal kovam vantha phone paathila vechuduve... inime athu mudiyaathe... so full enjoyment than enaku...

M : athu sari... oru velai nan sirichukitu easy ah eduthukiten na yena panuveya... neenga solrathu elame poi nu enakum theriyum... nan yethuku react pananum...

K : therinjalum nee panuve... unaku kovam varum...

M : varalaina...

K : oru thadavai suthama kovapadama iru intha pechaiye vitudaren...

M : hmmm...

K : bet ah...

M : hmmm athelam venam... en reaction ungaluku yentha alavuku pidichuruko athe alavuku kannula kurumboda, chinna nakkal siripoda neenga pesarathu enakum pidichuruku... atha venam nu sola manasu illaa...

K : adi paavi... ipadi yelam iruka... solave illa...

M : athan ipo solrane... kovam varum than... aanaalum neenga panrathu nalla irukum...

K : hmmm... solita illa... panidaren...

M : neenga panratu irukatum...

ipo na en velaiya panavaa... first time samaikarathu.. nalla varanum... nenga irukarathu enaku distract aguthu... neenga poreyala... please...

K : polachu po... night paathukaren... ipo kelambaren...

M : thank you sir..

K : welcome madam...

Kathir left the place after a tight hug leaving kitchen to mullai...

Post that time flew swiftly with happy family time, yummy dinner and everyone settled to sleep early than normal times to give the newly wed,who were eagerly awaiting their wedding night, a comfortable time ...

TBC.....