Thoorigai

Two to Tango

It was almost a week since Mullai last spoke to Kathir. It was as if she built a wall around her, making her unapproachable. Even though they didn't talk, Kathir highly felt her absence from college that day. Throughout the day, he felt anxious for her. She was not the one to miss college and felt this weird urge to find the reason out.

That evening, he tried to make excuse going home, so he could go check on Mullai.

"Bhanu, enaku project work iruku. Nee veetuku po. Naan aparama varean"

"Project worka? Thaniya panna poriya?", Bhanu inquired.

"Illa. Mullai kuda than", he replied and noticed a questioning look from Bhanu.

"Enna?", he asked hoping she would give away the whereabouts about Mullai and why she was missing from college.

"Mullai en inaiku college varalanu theriyanum. Apadi thana?", Bhanu asked sensing his curiosity.

"Apadi elam illayey. ", he immediately denied, too quickly to his liking.

"Ava kuda nee pesaradhu ilanu than pakareney"

"Inga paaru. Project vishayama pesitu than irukom. Mathapadi pesa onum illa. Avalavu than"

"Oh! Apadina, inaiku veetla iruka maatanu therinju irukanumey. Avala meet panna poranu solra?"

When he looked at her questioningly, she had a big smirk in her face.

"Avala ponnu pakka varanganu solalaya un kita?", she asked with tongue on her cheek and Kathir stopped on his track to turn around to face her. Noticing the smirk on her face, he slapped her hand.

"Edhula velayadaradhunu ilaya?"

"Pakki. Pakki. Adikadhanu ethane vaati solli irukean.

Project mate thana? Aparam avala ponnu patha Enna? Illa Ava poi payan partha than unaku Enna?", she asked challengingly.

When Kathir didn't answer, she continued

"En thalaivar solli irukar : aasai patta vazhkai kedaikalana, kedacha vazhkaiya aasai pattu ethukanumnu. Mullai Ilana enna? Unakunu oru Thenmozhi Kanimozhi kedaipa. Va polam" and started walking towards the bus stop. Taking few steps, she turned around to face him . She noticed his sullen face and said

"Cousin wedding ku poi iruka. Udaney Devdas mathiri sutha venam.

Indha veli vesham Elam stop panitu, accept your true feelings before it's too late"

**

"Why are your eyes so red?", Dee asked Aadhu during their lunch break.

"Vivek and I went out for a movie and slept late . Adhan", she answered and confusion laced his face. He didn't want to throb into it, if she wasn't ready.

"Inaiku evening dance floor polama?"

"Illa Vivek is busy until Weekend", she dragged.

"Vivek ilamalum you can hang out with us. Hope he isn't stopping you to go wherever you want to"

Engrossed in their conversation, they entered the cafetaria and sat down on the only free table available. Soon the friends joined.

"Amma inaiku lunch pack pananaga. Sapidalana ek maar dho thukada than. So enaku order panadhenga", Bhanu said to Harsha and Dee.

"Ennadhu idhu? Idha sapidaradhuku cafetaria lunchey paravala pola", Harsha asked as he peeked into her lunchbox.