❦︎ Beneath The Crescent ❦︎

cross my fingers, hope to die!

They rode back in pin drop silence and Mullai was close to a heart failure by each second. She rethink about how beautifully the day started and ugh she just had to go mess it up. But then she knows that she really didn't do anything wrong, but of course her super sensitive husband might not think so. Mullai hated the feeling of embarrassment that built up. It seems so silly, that they fight over the smallest things..

They came back to the house they were staying in, Padma had cheerfully told her that they will come back tomorrow evening to give her and Kathir some much needed space with a flirty wink. Mullai had denied them, out of respect but with a sly smile , but now she really did wish they were here so that they could diffuse tension between Kathir and her.

The juggle of the keys, clinking together, made her come back to the present. He opened the wooden door and crossed the threshold, with his shoulders taught. Mullai eyed the threshold with big ambiguity. This is the first time - no second- but the shivaratri night doesn't count- This was the first time they were fully alone. No family about to barge in, No friends teasing them.. Nothing..

She took a deep slow breath and let it out.. 'Innaikum shivarthiri agakudathu kadavule..' She sent a tiny prayer to the heavens, and crossed the hallway. Kathir switched on the lights, but the dimer ones, not that Mullai noticed she was busy trying to sneak her way to the bathroom to freshen up, before anything else and also to get away a little.

She splashed some water on her feet, washing away that feeling of 'I've-touched-sand-and I-still-feel-it in-my-toes' and splashed some water on her face too. She turned around in search of a towel and realised that in her hurry to get away she didn't think to bring one. She glared at herself in the mirror and 'Loosu...' she chided herself. Now she had to go out and face that silent brooding dragon...

She came out of the bathroom of their room, silently and made her way to the balcony. Finding her towel, in the stand, she patted her face dry. She didnt really have to do much as the chill air of that night did the job for her. Padma's night jasmine, glinted from the depth of the darkness..

"Yenn intha nadipu?", came his brick hard voice from behind her, that she almost jumped out of her skin.

She turned around to find him, standing in the doorway of the balcony, he was holding a water bottle, and his eyeline was looking at pot plants on the railing of the balcony. She blinked. What do you say to that? Why was this even an issue... most couples would joke about this by now. but not them no. They had never been a normal couple in any way... To the point that even trivially silly things had to be handled with care..

The back of her eyes burned red, as she looked away. She opened her mouth but her throat closed. It was an effort , trying to pull out the words "Sorry", but she did,

She heard him take a sharp intake of breath, "Ippo na enna soltan nu nee moonja ippadi vetchi iruka?" he asked, the tone was still the same, but softer..

"Na velayatuku than pannan..." she cleared her side. She could see Kathir shifting from one leg to the other, she went on, "Athu ungaluku pudikalana sorry.. ana na-"

"Mullai na kovama kekala...", He stopped her rambling, she looked up at him, his eyes softened, "Achiriyama kekuran.. En nala vara vishayatha theriyatha maari katanum.."

"Theiryatha maari katum nu pannala...", her eyes pleaded with him, "Antha thupakiya correct ah pudikurathu oru second atchu, athukula neengala nenachukitinga ennaku theriyathunu... na.. atha ethum sollala .." She explained, looking away when she said the last part.

"Athan yen..." he dug deeper, 'how petty of you..' his inner conscience mocked him.

Her cheeks burned bright red that she might have resembled a traffic light. The embarrassment of having to admit that, that was her way of making the first move. It humiliated her that he didn't even understand that.. Tears were welcomed this time, as she flashed him a look so sharp that he almost wanted to take a set back "Ungaluku neejamale puriyalana... solliyum puriya vekkam mudiyathu," She ground out her teeth.