Euphoria..

Kathirin Kovam...

      Kathir steps inside the hall to find Jeeva standing there in the corner, his head down and a dejected look on his face... Maybe it is the look on Jeeva's face, maybe it is the fact that they are all rounding up at him, as though he is some kind of criminal...but Kathir feels this surge of explosive anger...

K: Ippo annae etho periyae thappu pannae mathri ippadi nikkae veichu ivlo neramae kelvi kekkuringe...

Mo: Dei Kathiru...athu eppadi da, avanukku andhae ponnodae appa yaaru nu therinjae athulae poie vizhuthirukkan?

K: Neengae pesarthae kettae sirripu dhan varuthu.. Avungae amma yaaru, appa yaaru athellam paarthu kaadhal varathu...annanukku avangalae pudichirukku...avloh dhan...

He looks around at each one of them...

K: Idhae annae, verae oru ponnae love pannirthae mattum appadiyae avanukku support ah irunthirpingalah? Illae leh, appovum ithae mathri nikkae veichu kelvi ketturpingae...aha mothaellae...indhae kudumbathae poruthae veraikum...love mattum pannae koodathu...

Everyone looks everywhere else but not at Kathir...they know that what he is saying is true..

K: Amma, anniae thailae thooki veichu aadurangaleh... Evangalayae Moorthy annae, love pannuren nu kootitu vanthirtharunah..... ingae irrukure ellarum rudrae thandavom adirpingae...

Jeeva gives him a small smile, Kanna looks at Kathir as if he suddenly sprouted two horns on his head...

K: Neengae ellarum amma ennae Mullai yeh kattikae sonnangae, athu nalae naan otthukitten nu nenaikathingae....Neengae yarum othukalanalum...naan avalae dhan kalyanam pannirupen...

Even if a volanco suddenly erupted outside, nobody in that house would have moved...

K: Aamah...naan avalae virumburen...

He looks at Mullai...she has this expression of love and pride and happiness on her lovely face and he can feel all that too...he smiles at her.

K: Annanukku 26 vayasu avuthu... mothaellae oru nallae naalah paathu poie ponnu kekkurae vazhiae parungae...athukku apporomah ennakum Mullaikum eppo kalyanam nu Mullai mudivu pannuvae... avae mel paddipu padikonomah...illae velae seiyanomah nu enthae mudivu eduthalum ennaku OK...naan avalukkagae wait pannae ready...

Mullai wants so badly to run and jump into his arms... but she can't do that in front of everyone so she ends up shedding happy tears instead. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect Kathir to be so supportive of her... She can't keep still...she almosts bounces off the sofa to go and hug him.. He knows that and he gives a smile of such male pride....

That entire day, Paarvathy was the only one who was so reluctant in agreeing to this match for Mullai..but for the first time in their many years of married life, her husband was very firm and unwavering about the decision he made... She had begged, pleaded and cried, but it was of no use. She had no say in this...but at moment, when Kathir said those words she felt the first stirrings of hope. Maybe things were not so bad after all...maybe Kathir would keep her precious Mullai happy... As a mother, that is all she wants.

**************

It is late at night when the guests finally begin to leave... Kathir stands before the mirror in the spare room, combing his wet hair...when someone jumps into his arms...all he sees is a flash of long black hair...the comb clatters to the floor..

K: Ingae yennae di pannurae?

He asks....his heart beating fast...

K: Mullai....yarachom pathangalah? he asks...

Muffled sobs against his throat are the only reply.

K: Mullai... Ippo ethukku azhuvure?

She sobs harder...

He gets worried...

With some effort, he sets her away from him...

K: Ethukku azhuvure?

M: Therilae...

He gently wipes her tears with the back of his hand.

M: Naan...Ennaku... She can't speak...

K: Shhhh shhh...intha thanni kudi... He gives her a sombu filled with water..

She drinks from it thirstily.

M: Nee mathae ambalaingae maari illae Kathir...

K: Hmmm... Ithu nallae vishayam dhanae?

Mullai nods...

She takes both his hands into hers..

M: Kathir...naan nenaichaen, ennale ithukku mallae ivloh deep ah unnae love pannae mudiyathu nu...aana.. ippo athu, adhae vidae azhamae irrukku...

He hugs her tight...

M: Thanks...

He looks at her questioningly...

M: Ennaiyum oru manushi yah mathichathukku...

K: Mullai...periyae varthai lam use pannathae..

M: Nejamae solluren...ennae petheduthae amma appavae ennakku kudukathae freedom...nee ennakku koduthirkae..

K: Naan unmaiyae dhan sonnae Mullai...unnaku ennae thonutho..athae nee sei...naan un kude irrupen..

She kisses his hands...

K: Aanah onnu Mullai..kalyanam mattum sikiramah venam...konjae naal lovers ah irrukalam...

He has a very wicked look when he says that and she laughs..

She grabs both the ends of the towel that hangs around his neck and pulls him close..

M: Hmmm...inneram kalyanam mudijiruthae, naan ingaiyae unkudevae irrunthirpen leh...

His eyes darken, at the illicit images those words bring up...

He glances outside the half open door to see if anyone is coming..

K: Sikkramae yaarum varathukku munnadi..oru kiss kuduthuttu poh...

M: Chancey illae...

He looks stunned...

K: Ennathu?

Mullai shakes her head..

M: Mathae lovers lam loveh sollittu..oru munu masam kalichu kiss adipangae..nammae dhan erkanavae pannitomae...oru aaru masam pohatum...approm tharen..

K: Ennathu aaru masamah? Ennadi sollure..

She gives him another hug...inhales deeply at his throat and steps outside the room...

He looks at her with longing...

K MV: Kavalae padathae Kathiru...ivae aaru naal kude unnae kiss adikkamae irrukae maatah..

He laughs and for the first time in many many months, is fast asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow.

To be continued....