X Crossed Paths X ( Undergoing Editing )

Tantalize

Padaiyappa, Gilli, Visvasam, Annatha, Darbar, Bigil... the titles echoed in Mullai's mind like a nostalgic melody. Frustrated, she tossed the cassette aside.

"Idha thavira vera yenda padamum illaya, yella yerkanavae pathadhu... chai velai vera illa ellathayum mudichutten... yenna dhan seiradhu..." She slumped on the sofa, remote in hand.

"Pushpa papom..." Mullai thought, downloading the movie and casting it on the huge television. In her solitude, Mullai transformed into a child, whistling during fight scenes, attempting to imitate Allu Arjun's swagger, and playing peekaboo during sizzling item songs.

"Amma irrundhirukanum indha pattu varapo..." she chuckled, imagining Parvathi's mortified face. "Puspha na yenna flower nenachingala... puspa na fire uh da...." Mullai repeated the dialogues, acting out the scenes.

Her heart ached during the hugging scene, imagining how it would feel if Kathir embraced her. Would his chest be too hard? Would he hug her back? Why did he make her yearn for him? Shaking off the thoughts, she turned off the television.

"Avaravadhu yenna kattipudikiradhavadhu... naan senja sapada yae sapida mattikiraru..." she smirked. Despite her efforts to stave off depression, a sense of dissatisfaction lingered, with Kathir persistently infiltrating her thoughts.

"Avlo verupu yen..." she spoke to herself. He wished to marry her sister, not her. Kathir liked her sister, not her. Kathir lov...

Wait...

Did Kathir love her sister?

Maybe... But...

Her sister was dead... but... would he fall in love with her again?

"Uzhagam azhinchudum...." she thought. Mullai had seen many movies showcasing second chances in life, but this was real life, not a film. He is married to her, and nothing can change that.

But what if he divorces her?

Mullai's body trembled at that thought. "No... no... no... noo... Rombha yosikadha, Mullai... odambuku nalladhu illa...." she told herself, rushing to the bathroom.

She turned on the tap, but it didn't work. "Pch..." she hit the tap in frustration. "Avanga bathroom la dhan kulikanom pola..." she huffed, scratching her back. Wearing a saree in the house was uncomfortable; she yearned for the ease of tops and skirts or bermudas.

"Naan oru paiyana porandhirukalam..." she sighed. Boys could remove their T-shirts and sleep at night, even come out of the bathroom with only boxers. But women...

No chance... running out of the bathroom with only a towel wrapped around her body...

Damn...

Mullai chuckled at the thought, stepping into Kathir's bathroom, which boasted an attached jacuzzi, a spacious shower area, and a geyser.

Turning on the hot water, she added a citrus bath bomb, prepared at home, and tried to lock the door. "Suthom... lock aga mattingidhae..." she whimpered, frustrated that the latch wasn't working.

Looking at the wall clock, it read 3:10. "Eppadiyo avaru aaru maniku dhan varuvaru... adhukula kulichuttu vandhuruvom...." she mused. If Kathir found her bathing in his room, he would surely reprimand her for the whole week.

Removing her saree, she stepped into the hot water, relishing the warmth during the cold season. Giggling like a child, she played with the foam, recreating childhood memories.

Meanwhile...

"Yevalo nerama bell adikirom iva therakavae matengira... oruvella thungitalo.... somberi...." Kathir tapped his foot impatiently, having returned early due to a workers' strike.

His urgent need to use the bathroom escalated. "Indha maari avasaramana nerathula dhan iva kadhava theraka matta..." he groaned, hopping from one leg to the other.

A minute more...

The front porch would turn into a public toilet. "Thambi, current poiruchu pa..." the next-door lady told him.

"Ohh..." his mouth formed a circle, inviting lazy flies. "Call pannuvom..." he thought, realizing he didn't have Mullai's number. "Ennadhan avala pudikala, nalum ava number ah yadhu vangi vekka kudada... oru emergency ku..." he scolded himself, rolling his mobile between his fingers.

Pushing the door slightly, he found it unlocked. "Happada kandippa extra key veliya dhan vechirupa..." he huffed, searching for it.

"Podhuva ladies yenga key ah veipanga..." he mused, finding it in a shoe. "Ellarum ippadi dhan pola..." he sighed, opening the door, hanging the key, and rushing to the bathroom.

As he entered, he froze...

Mullai, in all her natural beauty, lay in the bathtub, her slender legs stretched, covered in foam. His gaze lingered on her, captivated by the sight. Cleopatra would pale in comparison.

She looked like a nymph descended from heaven, and Kathir couldn't help but be entranced. Mullai, oblivious, continued her blissful .

His groin, which was paining still now with uncontrollable bladder, now popped out harder on seeing her..

This feeling felt so new..

This sexual tension..

Kathir's throat felt parched, as though he had spent ages in the Sahara desert.

Mullai scratches her neck...

Kathir becomes aware of that..

Immediately he runs away from the bathroom, slipping in between..

He pulls out his tie out of his neck, all sweat and bothered in the cold season..

His heart thuds against his rib cage as though he had run a marathon.

"Kadavulae..." he sighs and rubs his forehead..

Dangerous...

Just then the door opens, and his wife emerges out in a dark blue bathrobe..

"Neenga eppo vandinga..." she asks.

Kathir jumps as though a dinosaur peeped his head in front of him..

"Ad...adhu...ip..ippo dhan..." he stammers.

Mullai looks at him strangely..

Sweat beads on his neck..

"Kuzhuru kalathula ivaruki mattum dhan ippidi verkum.." she murmurs.

"Edhavadhu sonniya..." Kathir asks.

"Onnum illa pa.." she immediately lies..

"Seri fresh ayittu vanga naan poi tea poduren..." she says and trails off to the kitchen.

And once again Kathir looks at her form.

The dark blue bathrobe shone on her dusky body..

And his mind was revolving with the fact that she managed to look more tempting than in the long robe than any other actress dancing with short skirts.

Mullai, rubbing her hair, placed milk on the stove, and as she opened Kathir's tiffin box, she discovered a yellow sticky note.

"Nice lunch :-)" The words, written in black ink, bore Kathir's handwriting. A surge of happiness overcame her, tears of joy falling on the note.

Not the usual sad tears...

These were happy tears, a testament to the brightness her life had found, as evening rays shone on her face...

TBC...