Mullaikaaga Kathirin Thedal

~ Love me like you do ~

Stepping into their house, the change in the ambience was immediately felt in their hearts. They had left for Kodaikanal with sounds of laughter and teasing from everyone in their family echoing in the walls of their home. The shrouding silence that engulfed them now, even when they could see the whole family along with Mullai's parents seated in the hall, made their insides shiver in fear of the worst. As they walked in, Kanna's voice loomed, gaining everyone's attention, "Kathir anne... anni...", and he ran into Kathir's arms. 

The afternoon sun glistened bright but the family felt to have been blinded from seeing anything close to even a sliver of light at the brightest hour of the day. Kanna didn't cry nor uttered a word but stayed there hugging onto Kathir's shoulders for many long minutes. Mullai's parents were also present and like everyone else they stared blankly not reacting to anything happening around. Kathir whispered to Kanna, pulling him away to stand on his feet facing him, "onnumilla da Kanna... ethuva irundhalum paathukalaam..." and he caressed his hair. Kathir spoke those words of comfort even though he knew things seemed quite out of hand for now.

Mullai asked out loud to no one in particular, she couldn't think straight without getting this out of her, "athai... athai enga irukaanga... onnumilla la avungaluku... kannu mulichutaanga la...", Meena's mundane voice spoke like it had very little life left in it, "Kannu mulichaanga Mulla konja neram munna... kanji kudichaanga konjam... ippa marupadiyum asathila thoongitaanga...". Kathir and Mullai let out a huff of relief and both excused themselves from the hall to have a look at her. Kathir caressed Lakshmi amma's hand lovingly and leaned his head on it, while Mullai held his shoulders, "athai ku onnum illa nga... seri aayiruvaanga... namma thaan vandhutom la... enga... velila ellaru mogamum vaadi poyi iruku... Moorthy mama thalaiya nimindhu kooda paakala... amma appa vera vandhurukaanga... etho ullukulla uruthalave iruku...", Kathir held his mother's hand for a few more seconds and moved into the hall along with Mullai. They both settled down on the floor near Kanna and Mullai could see everyone looking at everything else except each other's face. When she was about to ask about the absence of Dhanam, Meena's helpless voice hit her deeply.

Meena: Mulla... yaarume kaalaila irundhu saapadala... enaku... ennala samaika mudiyala... nethiku prechana aarambikum pothe Dhanam akka va avenge veetuku etho saaku solli anupitom... athai ku ippadi aanathu kooda avungaluku theriyaathu... indha tension la ennala seriya... yosika kooda mudiyala... Kamatchi akka avunga sondakaaranga kalyanathuku poyirukaanga rendu naalaiku... inniku night thaan varuvaanga... tea kooda yaarukum naan pottu tharala... saapaadu kadaila vaangitaanga aanalum yaarum saapadala... naan inga yen thaan iruken nu enake puriyala... yaarukum oru preyojanamum illama... aana kastatha mattum ellarukum koduthutu...

Mullai: Meena... yenga ippadiyellam pesureenga... athellam onnumilla... akka vum illa naanum illa... uthaviku Kamatchi akka kooda illaama thaniya neenga mattum indha soolnilai la enna panna mudiyum... ellarum varuthama irukum bothu saapada mudiyaama irukaanga... athuku neenga enna pannuveenga... Mama... amma... appa... vaanga ellarum saapadalaam... neenga periyavanga saapta thaan ellarum saapaduvaanga... neengale odanju poyi okaanthuta naanga enna pannuvom... ethu naalum saaptu pesikalaam... evlo kashtam irundhalum namma ellarum onna irukom la... athuve oru periya varam illaya... kasu panam kashtam laam indha kudumbam paakathatha... athellam thaandi thaana inniku oore perumaiya pesura nilaiku ellarum vandhurukeenga...

Moorthy: nee solrathum seri thaan pa... athu... idhu varaikum naan prechanaiya paathu bayandhathu illa... yenna... Dhanam irupa en kooda... ava mogatha paatha podhum... evalo periya kadala irundhalum thaandiralaam nu thonum... inniku ava en kooda illama... onnume mudiyala... ava vayithula enga kolandhai valaruthu... andha sandhoshatha engalaala mulusa kooda anupavika mudiyala... ava enakaaga eppavum irundhuruka... inniku ava kooda naan irukanumndra po ippadi ellam nadakuthu.... pch... seriyayirum... neengellam irukum bothu ennaku enna kavala... Mulla... saapadu eduthu vai pa... Kanna vaa da nee pasi thaanga matta... athai mama Jeeva Kathir Meena... ellarum vaanga...