Thoorigai

Distress

Mary for a second, thought she heard it wrong.

"Enna solra?", Mary asked a slightly elevated tone.

Mullai felt the ground shake below her. Her hands were sweating, and she wiped it in her white kurta, not bothering about the stain it was leaving. She held on to the dupatta as if her life was dependent on it.

"Same dress, same scenarios. Elamey adhey", Mullai spoke to no one in particular and quickly turned around to look at the empty desk of Kathir.

"Anaiku mathir desk is empty too. Bhanu kuda illa", she said in almost a whisper.

Mary opened and closed her mouth like a fish, unable to let out any word. After several tries, she finally gained her voice and muttered in shaky voice.

"Va. Poi avan veetla pathutu vandudalam. Avanuku onum irukadhu. The dream can't be true..."

They both woke up from the desk and walked out completely forgetting that Tips mam was standing in front of the podium.

"Girls, where are you going in middle of the class?", her voice echoed through the class.

"She got a call from her dad. Emergency mam", Mary muttered, while Mullai dragged her out not waiting for the mam's reply.

**

They were running towards the car park when they noticed Dee and Aadhya sitting near a bench and chatting.

"Eii. Rendu perum class time la enga porenga?", Aadhu asked noticing them.

Mary and Mullai exchanged a glance and Mary said "Kathir amma ku stroke. Hospitala irukanga. Pakka porom", not wanting to reveal about the dream and scare Aadhya too.

"Achooo..How is she now?", Aadhya asked in a worried tone.

"Nalaiku surgery schedule panni irukanga", Mullai said wanting to answer the questions quick and head to his home.

"Kathir yepadi irukan? How is he holding up?", she asked with concern again.

Dee noticed Mullai's eyes tear up hearing his name and he rose from his seat.

"You seem to be stressed out. Don't drive. I'll take you to the hospital", Dee said when he saw Harsha run towards them.

"Eiii. Enna da, neeum class vitu vandhu iruka?"

"Class la than irundhom. Suddena Mullai and Mary walked out. Tips mam ketaduku , Mullai appa ku edho emergency nu Mary sonna. Adhan mam kita solitu I too came out"

"Mullai dad'a? Kathir amma than hospitala irukanganu sonanga", Aadhya asked confused.

Dee looked at Mullai and Mary alternatively. He figured the girls were hiding something but couldn't put a finger on it. He turned to Aadhu and noticed she was looking at them in confusion too.

"Seri, we can talk about it later. Lets go to hospital first. I'll take you", Dee said.

"Dei, how can you drive da?", Harsha asked.

"Adhu adjust panni otiduvean. I don't want Mullai driving now", he said in a stern voice.

"Adhu elam venam. Not with this leg. Fulla inum heal agala. I'll go with them", Harsha offered.

Suddenly remembering something, Mullai turned toward Harsha and asked in a hurry "Harsh, did Tips mam announce anything? Avanga class kula varapo she looked distressed?"

Dee heard a gasp from Mary and he turned around to look at Aadhya who's eyes widened in some realization.

"HOD is not well pola. He is taking a month leave nu sonanga. Details solala. Why?"? Harsha asked looking at the girls who was behaving weirdly.