Mullai stood still in shock, unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before her. She couldn't believe her own eyes, questioning if she was hallucinating. The sound of a fallen water bottle brought her back to reality.
"Kathir...!!" Mullai exclaimed, turning around to find a shocked Kathir. An array of emotions played on his face as he saw Manju.
"Mulla..ad..adhu..." Kathir stammered, pointing with trembling fingers.
"Patha Manju maari theriyudhu..na...Naa..poi pathuttutu varen.." Mullai sprinted towards the bus stop, dashing onto strangers on the way.
At the bus stop, she tapped a woman's shoulder gently, and as Manju turned, her eyes widened with shock. With a gasp, Manju pronounced Mullai's name, leaving Mullai unable to believe her own eyes.
Manju appeared frail and weak, looking like a nomad lost in the desert. While Mullai stood still, unable to redeem from the shock, Kathir came and stood near her.
Manju stood absolutely horrified.
"Kathir..nee..neengala.." she asked, not expecting him there.
Kathir closed his eyes painfully.
He just nodded his head.
Seeing Mullai's kumkum-filled forehead and Kathir standing authoritatively beside her, Manju concluded that both were married.
"Na..naanga nee sethu.." Mullai started to say while Manju stopped her.
"Naan sethu poitenu nu nenachinga la.." she said sadly.
"Ama ana nee epp..." Mullai again started speaking, and this time Kathir stopped her.
"Edhuva irrundalum veetla poi pesikalam..." he said in an emotionless, stony voice.
Mullai gulped.
It was after a long time that he was using this tone with her.
"Neenga rendu perum auto la vanga naan bike la poren..." he said, and she nodded.
Realizing that Mullai must not have cash with her, Kathir pulled out his purse and handed over a hundred rupee note to her.
And without turning, he took his bike and disappeared into the traffic with a million thoughts running through his mind.
***
"Sollu..." Mullai commanded her sister as soon as she slumped onto the wooden chair.
"Enna tha sollanum...?" Manju asked.
"Haan, Chandra Madalatha eppadi kandupidichanga nu sollu...aala paaru...nee sethu poita nu naanga ellam nenaichom..nee thirumbha eppadi uyiroda irruka...tell me that..." Mullai abbreviated.
Manju remained mum.
"Akka, please vaaya thorandhu edhavadhu sollu...Anga hospital la kalyanam madabathula nadhandadu ellamae nadagama...?" Mullai asked.
"A...ama.." Manju said, her head bowed.
Mullai felt as if she was being thrown for miles.
"Yen..." Mullai asks tearfully.
"Yenn..yenna.ennaku indha kalayanathula virupam illa..." Manju said.
That was it.
Mullai felt her anger rise up to her head.
"Kalyanathula virupam illaya..unnaku yenna paithiayama...indha munnadiyae solliruka lam la...unnala nee sonna.oru poi nalla evlo prechana theriyuma..." Mullai seethed.
"Dho indha manushan..." she points to Kathir.
"Ivaru yenna pavam pannaru...unnala avlo masama depression la poi..manasula avlo kasthata sumandhu..." Mullai explained.
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X Crossed Paths X ( Undergoing Editing )
FanfictionIn the delicate dance between love and hate, a husband and wife straddle the fine line of hidden secrets and sorrows. Fate takes an unexpected turn, entwining a grieving groom with his late fiancée's sister in matrimony. Can their shared pain become...