Nyaabagam Varuthe

Puthaintha Aasaigal

The group of men danced to the heady mix of music and some alcohol in their system

Of all the men only Jeeva and Kathir were sober

Ashok was increasingly becoming emotional

And somehow Kathir felt that he shouldn't be spilling his heart out in this milieu..he silently indicated to Jeeva that he was taking him away..for a walk..just to clear his head a bit

Jeeva nodded his acknowledgment

Kathir steered Ashok to go with him

They started walking in silence

There was an unusual restlessness about him that  Kathir found very unsettling

Ashok was a very sorted guy..always in good cheer..quick to have some fun..a very easygoing guy..

But now he was humming a tune and clicking his fingers and trying to act very upbeat but not fooling Kathir one bit

Chaarukku kalyanam mudinjuthu..unakkum enna oru 26-27 vayasu irukkuma..nee kalyanam kattarthu pathi enna yosichu irukka machi..his voice was soft enough but there was an edge to his tone that was unmistakable

Ashok stopped his humming and walked along but did not offer an answer

Kathir gave him a good 2 minutes and then deciding to take the bull by its horns

Ponnu yaaru he asked

Ashok looked up at him and smiled

Sollu machi.. love pandriya

Ashok gave a dry laugh

Love ellam ille machi..

College la junior..oru 3 maasam thaan pazhakkam..

Seri

Pere vithiyaasam..Iravati..

Kathir simply smiled

First notice pannathu athunaala thaan

Naan final year appo ava first year..fresher ..final semester la oru project pannanum..athulla juniors namakku konjam data entry analysis la ellam help pannuvaanga..oru 2 per antha mathiri..appudi thaan arimugam..nalla sharp ah na ponnu..trichy thaan..antha project appo nalla pesippom neraiya oor suthuvom..project la nallaave help panna

Ashok trailed off obviously thinking about those days..details that might be boring from a sharing point of view but as memories bring a smile

Kathir waited a decent minute or two before prodding him again

Appuram enna aachu

Ashok snapping out of his reverie turned to him

Appuram enna project mudinjuthu..I did really well..We..we did really well..campusla place aanen..then Singapore..project success ku vecha treat la last ah paarthathu..athukkappuram we lost touch

Kathir was still unable to understand how this all linked to now

But he patiently waited for Ashok to continue

Ippo Chaaru Kalyanathukku College friends koopidum pothu..I was reminded of her..Number thedi kandupudichu pesi nerla invite pannalaamnu paarthen

2 year old angel machi..kalyanam aagi 3 years..kalyanam aagi 6 months la husband oru aacidentla sethuttaaraam..she was 3 or 4 months pregnant appo..invitation kudutha kalyanamellam attend pandrathu illayaam..

Kathir looked at Ashok able to understand

Amma purushan illaama..anni romba varusham kozhanthai illaama..nee sollarthu puriyuthu..othungi nikkanum..romba dress panna athaiyum kutham solluvaanga..athukku pogaamale irukkalaamnu thonidum pola