புத்தகம் மூடிய மயில் இறகாய்!

~ Chapter - 7 ~

Mullai stepped onto the first step leading to Kumaresan mama's house, when Kathir's torpid voice awoke her senses to bring her to stand still on the spot, "appadi ellam keta enaku padhil solla theriyala anni... enaku nenavu therinja kaalathula irundhu avala enaku pudikum... yen modha modha avala kaila thookumbothu lerndhu kooda irukalaam...

amma en kalyanam pecha veetla edukum bothu en manasu romba theliva solluchu en vaazhkaila Mullaiya thavira vera ponnuku edam illanu... athuku peru thaan kadhal na appo naan avala love thaan panren...

Aana en kadhal vera maari... enga rendu peru kulla ulla natpu enaku en kadhal ah vida mukkiyam... ava kanavu aasai ellam en kadhal ah vida mukkiyam... idha ellam yosichu thaan ava kitta sollama irundhen...

mamavum Kannavum ippadi plan pottu solluvaanga nu naan kanava kanden... avalum ennana naan avata pesurathuku munnadiye amma ta direct ah pesa vanta... amma kitta idhuku mela ennanu solli maraikurathu... enaku munnadiye theriyum indha vishayam therinja neraiya kolapam varum...

ippa nadantha maari thaan edha onnu nadakum nu... veetta vittu po nu avunga sonna piragu anga irundhu avungala melum kashta padutha virumbula... ippadi ellarukum kashtama en kadhal aayira koodathunu thaan manasukullaiye vechutu irundhen...".

Kumaresan mama spoke back in an impatient voice, earning a stark glare from Kathir throughout, "yelei athuku inga vandhu en veetula okaantha ella prechanaiyum seriya poyiruma enna... poyi Mullai kitta yaavathu pesu da na athellam mudiyathu nu solra... amma kitta yum maru vaarthai pesama veeta vittu velila vanta... ippadiye thenja record maari sonnathaiye varusha kanaka sonna ellam seriya aayiruma da... muyarchinu onnu pannanum la...".

Kathir stared alternatively at Kanna and Kumaresan mama for a few seconds, making them fiddle with their fingers as mischief oozed out of their eyes and Meena stood there chuckling at the three, "ahaan... yen pesa maateenga... unga rendu peru kitta nambi ellathayum sonnenla enna sollanum...

inga paarunga mama... avala inniku poyi paathu pesalaam nu thaan irundhen... aana avala edho kovathula adichuten inniku... ippa endha mogatha vechutu poyi naan unna ithana varushama virumbunen nu solrathu... ennaiyaiye ennala mannika mudiyuma nu theriyala...

neenga thaana avata phone pottu sonnenga... athunaala inni naan unga kooda indha veetla thaan iruka poren... neenga unga rosemary ah nenachutu irunga naan en Mullaiya nenachutu irundhukuren... enaku neenga thaan seri... inni andha saraku bottle ah neenga eppadi thodureenga nu paatharen... ennaiya pottu thareenga avata... inni paarunga ungala eppadi kooda irundhu torture panren nu...".

Fear seeped into Kumaresan mama's eyes as Kathir mentioned not letting him touch liquor and he knew Kathir kept his words no matter what. When he felt despaired to even think that his future would be deprived of the only thing he looked up to at the end of each day, he got a glimpse of Mullai by the door and shouted in relief as she entered with an expression hard to read, "Mulla va pa... ivana vandhu ennanu kelu pa... ellaraiyum padutheetu irukaan...".

Kathir had his heart in his throat as he swiftly turned to look into her fiery eyes at the mention of her name. She just walked calmly across the room, passing Kanna, Meena and Kumaresan mama as they all were beaming at the sight of her and she stopped standing opposite Kathir, her eyes plunged into his.

When his mouth was slightly agape to utter something to her, a shot of pain across his jaw made him aware that she had actually slapped him in a wink of an eye. His eyes had shut in reflex and when he opened it again to gaze at her in shock, she looked calm and innocent like nothing happened a second back, "ippa un kutra unarchi ellam poyirucha... nee enna adichathuku naa thirupi adichuten adhukum idhukum seriya pochu... ippa mattum mavane nee vaaya thorandhu pesala naan manushiya iruka maaten...".