melancholy

Eyelocks.....

The following morning, Kathir and Mullai came out of Karaikudi Railway Station and walked outside to book a cab home and were surprised to see Jeeva, Kanna and Aishu waiting for them near the car park... Kanna came rushing forward to exuberantly hug his brother while Jeeva exchanged pleasantries with Mullai... "Friend vandi eduthuttu vanthirkken da.. Athula polam" said Jeeva after hugging Kathir in welcome. The three men carried the luggage while Aishu fell into step beside Mullai and began chatting...

"Approm Anni... Aalae marittinga" said Kanna, walking slowly with the heavy bag.. "Eppadi sollurae?" Asked Mullai thinking that maybe she had gained some weight... "Kerala ponnunga maari minnuringa" he smiled... "Thanks da" said Mullai genuinely happy... "Eppadi dhan avunga thaga thaga nu irrukrangalo?" He wondered out aloud and Aishu coughed loudy... "Nee eppovumae minnuvae Aishu" he said quickly and Mullai turned away to hide her laughter....

Dhanam was waiting to take the aarthi outside the door along with Meena and Kayal came running to jump into Mullai's arms... It was a joyous reunion.... Was it only three months? Kayal seemed to have grown taller by a few inches and baby Lakshana was so chubby now... Dhanam gaze was on Mullai, there was a slightest bit of worry on her face, and it faded when she saw Mullai smiling brightly at her. The differences between them was long forgotten. They began talking normally with each other.. "Chitthi... Ungalukku theriyuma.. Engae Miss ippo phone le vanthu ennakku ABCD solli kudukkuranga" said Kayal tugging at her Chitthi's hand for attention..."Nee Chitthikku solli kudu...seriya?" She lifted Kayal onto her hips while Kathir stretched out his hands to hold Lakshana..

After the rituals were over, they went straight inside to see Lakshmi Amma... Kathir tugged up his pants and sat near his mother's feet as always... She held her son's chin in her hands as if he were a small boy, to her, he always was... Mullai sat beside her Athai and spoke for a while and got up to go to their room and unpack their luggage...

The room was spick and span and devoid of any dust.. There were fresh smelling sheets on the bed and new curtains... She was sure that either Dhanam or Aishu had done this and certainly not Meena... After having her bath, she began unpacking while Kathir went to freshen up.. Together they went out to distribute what all they bought from Kerala. Kanna was the happiest with the tender coconut halwa while Meena remarked that she had never seen kodam puli, the tamarind that was used there, before. Coconuts from Kaani Nilam were stored properly to be taken to the Temple..

Mullai was pulling out the bag of clothes for laundry when Kathir stepped inside... "Ready avaliya Mullai?" He asked... "Engae porom?" The question ended in a yawn... "Ungae veetukku" was the answer.. She was so tired... "Evening vanga nu Amma ippo dhan sonnanga" she said yawning again... "Nee tired ah irrukke.. Padu.. Adahe yehn kitte kudu" He took it from her and went behind the house to switch on the washing machine.. When he came back in, she was fast asleep, curled up in one corner of the bed... He pulled the curtains close and it darkened the room...

Kathir took his pillow from the shelf and after almost a year, joined her on the bed...

****

When Mullai woke up an hour or so later, she was surprised to see Kathir fast asleep beside her... Previously, he would have rushed to the shop as soon as he entered Kunnakudi, but today he had made it a point to be with her and it meant a lot.... She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and got out of the bed noiselessly... She went outside and joined the ladies to chitchat about her stay while eating lunch and then took a plate for Kathir... He ate heartily and with great gusto.. She smiled at his enthusiasm, she knew that he missed home cooked meals...

Mullai ended up feeling a bit claustrophobic, she didn't voice it out but found herself missing the wide, open places back in Munnar.. Kathir informed her that he was leaving to the store and asked her to be ready in the evening, and surprised her by giving her a passionate kiss before stepping out that left her breathless and longing...