The Tea Trail

Naanum Manushan Thaane

Things had settled into a comfortable rhythm at the PS household..especially between Kathir and Mullai

They spoke very little..but had their TEA connection...she seemed to know exactly when he was in need of one..even when he came home during the day she offered him only at certain times..the logic was quite simple..he knew that..if the timing he came home was an hour before or after a meal she was not forthcoming with the tea...His anni had once offered him tea when he came home at 2:30 in the afternoon...before he could respond she reacted

Mullai : yen ka...mathiyam saappittu 1 mani neram kooda aayirukkathu athukulla ethukku tea...

Dhanam : ada nee vera avan eppo kuduthalum kudippaan..

Mullai : Avuha kudippaangannu kudukkartha...udambukku nallathannum yosikkanum ille..

She didnt say this rudely...just matter-of-factly

It was a hit to Dhanam nonetheless...

Though Kathir could understand he decided to not have the tea...truth be told he liked her concern

When his anna got married Kathir was a growing boy with a huge and never ending appetite...to add to that he had also started taking on more physical work at the shop which also added to his appetite...at home he was used to doing his own things...He would make himself an omelette or a couple dosas or when he felt really indulgent even pooris..But once his anni came..The kitchen became her fortress..she maintained it her way and was also very critical of mess in the kitchen...she liked that space really clean..also everytime she saw Kathir go to the Kitchen she would go behind him and ask him what he wanted..initially he had blurted out that he was going to make himself a few pooris..His anni had very affectionately offered to make it for him..she not only made pooris but also a fabulous side dish for the same and fed him to the brim..But he also saw how busy his anni always was...so he didn't have the heart to ask her everytime he felt very hungry which was very often...

he started resorting to Tea and biscuits..As he grew up into a man the biscuits had fallen off but his relationship with Tea had continued..He had off late started feeling that he needs to cut back on this habit and to hear his wife share the same concern did feel nice..

At nights in their room, the petty fights continued..She fought with him about the songs he played before going to sleep..he fought with her for not being careful..she stamped him in the middle of the night if she ever woke up wanting to attend nature's call..he would wake up howling and an argument would ensue..

In all this there was also the case of nightmares..Mullai would often gasp and wake up with a start in the dead of the night...She would quickly check to see if he was awake and drink a little water from the sombu..There were days he woke up..On those days he would silently pass the sombu to her...

These were the initial days..right after the marriage..And it really bothered him..he wondered if it was the marriage with him that caused it...but he didn't know how to find out..

And then when the cot was delivered she had gotten up and had rolled off the bed while trying to reach for the sombu..she had controlled the fall or she would have landed on him....

He woke up with a start...her face was mere inches from her...the fear, the confusion, the angst, the sorrow in her face pierced his heart...

Kathir : ntha..enna?

Mullai : (stammered) Th..Tha...Thanninga...

He handed the sombu to her..she drank some water...struggled to find her balance while getting up and went and slept on the cot..

 Kathir was unable to sleep for a long time

The next day in the morning

Moorthy and Jeeva had left to the shop early..Kanna had left for college..Dhanam was in the kitchen and Meena was washing clothes in the backyard..