Thoorigai

Aftermath

Her chest tightens and her palms become clammy. The same disassociation she felt post that dream was returning, and she couldn't stop it. She was going breathless again. Guess this was going to be her new normal now. She looked away, as seeing him caused her more distress. Kathir narrows his eyes studying her face.

"Mullai?", he called again.

His voice triggers her, adding to the continuous loop her mind was stuck on. It makes her feel sick. Mullai places a hand on her chest and tries to steady her breath. His expression changes from puzzlement to concern.

"Thirumba thala suthudha?", he asks furrowing his brows.

She shakes her head frantically without looking at his face. She was even scared to look at his face at this point. The shock was too much, and she didn't know how she was supposed to react or handle this.

"Ulla va. Vandhu okkaru first", he said softly. He opened the door to walk in. She tried to say she could manage but no words came out.

She heard a voice from inside "Yaru Kathiru?"

"Friend ma", Kathir responded turning his back to Mullai.

Mullai feared to face his mother. She was not prepared to see the same face from her dream again. She suddenly started feeling claustrophobic standing in that space and was nauseating. Without bothering about what Kathir thought about her, she took flight and started running down the stairs.

She dashed into someone and immediately heard "Mullai? Nee inga enna panra?". She was not able to lift her head nor apologize or even respond to the voice.

"Enna achu? Edhuku ipadi odi vara? Kathir veetuku vandhiya?", the concerned voice asked. Mullai ignored the voice and ran down two steps at a time until she reached the ground floor. She darted to a near by tree, held on to it and emptied her gut.

After throwing up she lifted her head to see a person standing next to her with a sombu in his hand.

"Indha ma thani", he offered.

After rinsing her mouth and gulping some water, she thanked him "Thanks uncle"

"Ada idhuku edhuku ma thanks elam. En veedu first floor la than iruku. Vandhu 5 nimisham okandhutu po"

"Illa uncle. Ipo paravalla."

She thanked him again and went to her car that was parked next to the building. She just sat there staring at the empty road before her. Her hands were trembling, and she was trying to calm herself.

It's going to be ok Mullai, she silently told herself. Taking multiple deep breath, she tried to calm herself.

Finally, after sitting inside the car for more than half hour, she finally gained some strength and started driving to her home.

*
Bhanu entered Kathir's apartment and noticed him standing in the doorway with a look of bewilderment.

"Mullai un veetuka vandha?", she asked

Kathir nodded his head still trying to process why she ran, after seeing him.

Avala than vandha. Edhuku enna pathadum apadi odanum?

"Kathir", Bhanu shook him. "Ava enna da na peeiya patha mathiri odara. Nee enna da na pei adicha mathiri nikara. Enna da nadakudhu?"

Kathir had the same question. He had no clue, why Mullai chooses to visit him, nor did he understand why she reacted the way she did.

At that time, his mother walked into the living room.

"Va Bhanu. Iva than bell adichala? Yaro friend nu sonna?", she asked as she wiped her wet hand in the saree pallu.