Thoorigai

Bereavement

Trigger warning: This chapter talks about death. Nothing in detail though.

"Come on Mullai, you don't need to sweat over it..We will find a way out..", Deeraj assured and noticed Mullai's paled face. He followed her eyes and found her staring at a guy with dark unruly hair, standing near the door and looking at Mullai with tear filled eyes.

"Adhu yaru?", Deeraj asked looking at the guy though he had a guess who it might be.

"Kathir", Mullai stammered awkwardly. By now, everyone's attention was on Kathir trying to gauge his reaction.

"Mullai nee sonadha kettu irupano?", Mary muttered under her breath.

Mullai noticed Kathir take a deep breath and walk inside the class. Her eyes followed him. He stopped in front of Mullai and cast a cold glance at her with his brown eyes.

"Kathir..adhu vandhu...", Mary started.

"Kavalai padadhenga. Book marandhu vititu poitean. Adha eduka than vandhean. Naan ponadhum ennai pathi pesaradha nenga continue panalam", he replied in a smooth voice, a hint of taunt was apparent in his tone.

Mullai's face scrunched badly at it ,realizing he had heard the conversation.

The room fell silent as everyone stood still while Kathir walked to his desk to pick his book. He picked it up and walked out of the class, not giving a glance at any of them. Once he left,

"Phew! Yepadi react panuvanu bayandhean.", Mullai let out the breath she was holding.

"Is that what you were worried about? Avan yepadi feel panni irupanu yosika matiya?", Mary asked irritated.

"Enough. She didn't say anything wrong. Ava feara ava sonna. that's all. Vanga lets go somewhere before we head home", Deeraj offered.

"Nothing matters ungaluku. Just you and your feelings. Sorry, I don't have mood to join you guys. Naan veetuku kelambarean", she exasperated and walked out.

*

"Mulla", Mary shook her shoulders.

She raised her head from her desk and looked at Mary.

"Are you alright?", Mary asked again and Mullai shook her head while she was still wiping her sweating hands in her white salwar. "Its all so unbelievable. Enna nadakudhunu puriyala"

"Enakum. Seri inga okara venam. Come let's go out first", Mary said while she turned around to look at Kathir's empty desk.

Harsha, Mullai and Mary sat in the car shed not talking a word to each other, just checking their phones, though none of them could concentrate. They were trying to avoid talking about Kathir as if that could bring back normalcy. Their hopes did not last long when they heard,

"Oh my god. Did you guys hear the news? Unga class'a andha payan?", Aadhya asked as she sat beside Mullai.

"Amam. Nanga inum andha shock la than irukom", Harsha replied to her while Deeraj, Mounika joined them.

"This is crazy. Apadi avanuku enna prachaniyo", Aadhya commented.

"Enna prachanai venna irukatum. This is not a solution. This is plain stupidity", Deeraj commented as he asked Harsha to move away so he could sit next to Mullai.

He put her arms around her protectively "Eii, nethu pathi edhuyum yosichu kolapikadha. Seriya?"

"Netha? What happened?", Harsha and Aadhya asked simultaneously