Quarantined together

Nodding off

Kathir and mullai were sitting next to each other watching a movie together. It was their usual routine but today was a little different mullai usually sat on the sofa and kathir on the floor. Mullai always told him to sit up but he refused. She forced him to sit next to her today. He sat with a good distance between them. Mullai looked at the gap and laughed

M- En Kathiru epavume nee ipidi thana? Na onum neika maten oyunga okaru..

He moves in a little closer. Somehow her presence so close unsettles him.

Mullai has an awkward request which is why she wanted him nearer. She wanted sanitary pads. And it seemed almost impossible to ask him without embarrassing herself. In her mind it would be easier to ask him if he sat nearer. Which is why she insisted he come sit next to her now.

M- Nalaiku kadaiku ponum. Kai thinthurchu.

K- Ah seri.

M- Apidiye.. medical shop kum ponum.. enaku.. onu.. vanganum..

Kathir somehow understood her hesitation. He had gone to the medical shop many times for his Anni. He did not want her to feel strange

K- Eyuthi kudu na vangitu vanthuren.

M releived- Thank you

Shw did not know why it was so difficult to ask for such a simple thing. She could have written it in a piece of paper and told him to go get it from the shop. Why this whole charade of making him sit closer she did not understand.

M- Poitu seekaram vanthru. Pona vaati..

K- Udane vanthurven..

M-Intha area la aal nadamatame ila. Athan konjam bayama iruku.. Chinna koyatha mathri ipidi kekarennnu..

K- Na apidi neikala. Puriyuthu. Na iruken bayapadatha..

One of the many things she admired about him. He never questioned her too much when she said she wanted something. He just did it without thinking. He understood her even better than she gave him credit for. She watched the movie not really concentrating.

Lately she had developed a bad habit. She often kept comparing Kathir to Rajesh in her mind. She knew it was stupid and unfair but she could not help it. Kathir just handled all situations with ease never getting too rattled, sure he had a temper but he rarely lost it. The care he showed towards her was unexpected. Rajesh did care about her. He often said it. But there was always an underlying expectation from him for everything he did. He also had to question everything she did. If she did not listen to something he said threats and blackmail followed. How much easier it was to talk to Kathir about everything. She supposed it was because she had known him all her life. And they had similar upbringings. Rajesh often made fun of villages and its backwardness. But he could never understand its charms the special feelings her hometown held for her.

No it was not healthy to compare them. It put weird ideas into her head. Why would she even compare them? It was wrong.

Kathir on the other hand could not help thinking how happy he felt just to sit in silence with her. What was it about her that made him feel so good?

Mullai slowly nodded off . Her head rested on his shoulders and kathir sat there awkwardly for a few minutes. He knew it was just tiredness and he had to wake her few minutes. But those few minutes he could admit that he liked to be this close to her.

He could not resist the temptation to look at her though. She looked lovely even in her sleep. Her skin was so soft it seemed to glow from within. She had beautiful long lashes that curved naturally. Her eyes were always attractive when they were open but even when it was closed they had this sort of serene beauty. And those lips were they always this inviting? He had a sudden desire to lean in and kiss her. He turned to the other side immidately.

What was he thinking? She was sleeping and here he was thinking of kissing her then. Not to mention the fact that she already had a boyfriend. He felt ashamed of himself. He needed to move away quickly. He called her name and she jerked up awake. She is flustered that she had fallen asleep on his shoulders..

M- Sorry.. Padam sema moka.. Athan.. Theriyama..

K- Ila.. Ah.. ama moka. Poi padukalam. Good night.