The entire group is just in the process of getting acquainted with each other...they are still in that bit of an awkward phase as people who meet for the first time usually are..
Kathir and Mullai join the bunch, Mullai still trying hard to get over her melancholy.
When one of Pradeep's friends says "Yennae Mullai...rombae neramae unnae kanom...engae irrundhae?"
It was not what he asked that angers Kathir, but the way he asked it..
With a sly smirk on his face, as if, Mullai and Kathir were doing something illicit.
The muscles of his arms go as taut as a bow string as he clenches his fist in anger.
He almost swings his arm but before he could do that, Anandhi comes to her defense..
An: Hello...excuse me...avae engae venae irrukettum...ungalukku ennae vanthuchu...
She glares at Pradeep and he asks his friend to keep quite.
Of course, Mullai doesn't find anything odd with that question, she is too trusting, always looks only at the good of others.
In her world, not one person has anything bad in their heart.
M: Vidu..Anandhi...chummae dhanae kettan....
Kathir knows that he said this wantedly..he wanted to make sure that everyone else noticed their absence.
Ka: Seri, Innum evalavu neram eppadiyae nikkae poringae? Naan poi pori vangittu varen...antha side oru periyae tank irruku vangae poie meenukku pori podalam..
Vangae sis (he calls Gayatri), appadiye nammalukkum oru packet vangikellam..
The unspoken tension in the atmosphere breaks and some join Kanna to do what he suggested.
*********
On the other side of Chettinad Palace, a long stairway leads down to an enormous tank filled with fresh water and lots of pretty koi fish...the side of the walls are filled with flowering vines and creepers and it joins on top in a man made dome to give the stairs a cool shade, it is a favorite spot for lovers to sit, take selfies, chat and throw food for the gleaming fish below.
On it sit Jeeva and Meena...they are both holding hands and she is resting her head on his shoulders..
Je: Yellai...Meena...etho mukkiyamae pesanom nu sonnae..sollu di..nee ohnbattukku sohusa paduthuttu irruke...
Me: Naan chumma poi sonnen Jeeva..ippadi sonna dhan nee enkudae time spend pannuvae...illanah nee eppovume unnodae first wife koodae dhan irrupae...
She gets up to stand in front of him..
Je: Hmmfff...nah Kathir eh dhan appadi kindal pannuven...aven kalyanam paanah aven pondatti pavom...avanukku modhae pondatti Pandian Stores dhan nu...nee ennaiyae cholluriyah? Neram di...
Me: Dei Jeeva...Kathir da...
Je: Adhae dhan di naanum solluren...avanukku first wife eppovume...
Me: Dei loosu....angae parru da... Kathir...koodevey Kannavum irrukan...
Je: Aiyo...pochu pochu...ellamae pochu...En vazhakkey thodangurathukku munnadiyae mudiyae pothae.. yennae pannae poren..indhae Kathireh koodae samalichiralam...aana Kaana...CBCID rangeukku kelvi keppanae...
He starts pacing the steps.
Me: Athu dhan nee sonney hostelae irrunthu vanthae maama ponnah? Ivlo azhagae irrupah nu sollae vellae?
She looks at him accusingly.
Je: Ippo athu va di mukkiyam? Ingaeirunthu eppadi avungae kannula padamae pohae porom nu yosi...
Meena continues to look at Mullai and her friends.
Je: Ithuku dhan di, unkitte thalae parah adichukitten...engaiyum veliyae povenam nu. Inniku ivangae ingae dhan varuvangae nu theriyamae poiduchae..
Meena cooly removes her dupatta and deftly ties it around her face.
"Avalugalae sight adichae...konnuduven" she warns.
And then just as the group climb down the stairs, she ducks below the railings, gets to the other side and disappears into the crowd..
Jeeva sits down with a huge sigh of relief.
Ka: Thoparrah...yaaru vandhurukkae nu?
Jeeva turns around trying hard to smile..
Ka: Yennae nae...mukkiyamanae velaiyirruku nu scene pottae...ippo ingae ukkanthurukkae..
Je: Illae ethanae naal dhan Kathireh vandi ottuvan..adhan velae mudinjathum vanthutten...
Ka: Seri...unnaku eppadi theriyum nangae ingae irrukom nu...nee nethu night late ah vanthae...ippo phoneum pannalae?
Je MV: Andavah....ippadi kelvi kekurranae...ivandhan nammae veetukku junior anni.
Je: Ahaan...adhu vanthu...anni sonnahae....
K: Nee va nae...ivvanukku ethukku pathil sollettu irrukkae.
They all climb down the stairs...
And throw pori for the fishes..
Flashes of gold and orange appear as the fish fight for the food and disappear beneath the surface.
Kanna is stingy with his pori... He eats more than the fishes..
Jeeva notices this and teases him and everyone laughs.
Kathir is the only one who doesn't smile...even now, his gaze is on that person, he doesn't even know his name..
And that person is looking at Mullai...
His entire body bristles in rage..
Someone pulls him to the side...
Anandhi: Unnaku yennae aachu Kathiru?
K: Avan peiyr ennae?
An: Rakesh nu nenaikkuren..
K: Avan seri kadaiyathu...
An: Eppadi sollure?
K: Avan Mullai yeh pakkuraen..
Anandhi laughs..
An: Mullai azhagane ponnu...neraiyae ambulaingae avalae pakkae dhan seivangae..
K: Illae...andhae paarvai...serikadaiyathu..
Anandhi laughs once again, and it irritates Kathir.
An: Appo nee avalae pakkure paarvai..adhu mattum seriya?
He looks at her, his mouth agape...a shocked look on his face.
K: Athu vanthu... Naa verae...avan verae..
Anandhi folds her arms and stares at him.
An: Nee avalae...oru pasi vanthae manushan sappadae pakkurae mari pakkurae..
He has the grace to blush.
K: Athukkune...ennaiyum avanaiyum samam paduthi pesathae..
Before she could respond, his phone rings and he hurries away to attend it.
Anandhi MV: Ithungae rendu perumae seriyanae makkungae...ippadi manasu la asaiyae veichikittu sollameh irrukangae...therinjo theriyamalo naan dhan arambichuvechen...naanae setthum vechiduren..
She rubs her hands in excitement..
To be continued..
