The Tea Trail

Ninaivendra Paravai; Virithathu athan siragai; kalanthathu uravai

Things moved at a languid pace after all the high octane drama that happened post their return from Kodaikanal

Lakshmi amma was recuperating well..

One night while looking for some documents pertaining to the shop..they had found old photos and had spent a good time reminiscing..Dhanam had handed over another suitcase that had Kathir's certificates to Mullai

Mullai was looking through that and found his 10th certificate..she was shocked to see he had discontinued despite scoring such high marks

She was rummaging through that suitcase when Kathir came in

He froze..this suitcase..it was his treasure..he was panicking..if she saw there would be unnecessary questions..old wounds would have to be revisited..in one sense they were not really old coz they had never really healed..

Mullai : vanthutteehala..ennanga ivvalavu mark eduthuttu..padippa nirithirikkeha..padichu irukkalaam ille

Kathir : kadaila vela pannannu mudivu pannitten..appuram intha padippu athellam thevai illennu thonichu athaan..

Mullai : kadaila velai pannarthu thappu ille..pathappu varaikkum kooda kadaila velai pannikkitte thaane padicheenga..imbuttu mark eduthu irukkeeya..athe mathiri 12 aavathu varaikkum mudichu irukkalaam ille

Kathir : ennallaamo panni irukkalaam thaan aana pannala..ippo enna unakku

Mullai : hmmkmmm..ithukku onnum koraichal ille

Kathir : ey ippo enna unakku..amaam naan padikkale..athu unakku oru prachanainum enakku theriyum..aana athukkunnu ennaala onnum panna mudiyathu..unakku kevalamaa irukku athaane...athu yerkanave enakku theriyum..

Mullai saw red...she got up and left the room

Kathir let out a sigh..had he wanted this..did he subconsciously spoken a particular way so as to drive her out?

He didn't want to waste time thinking..he quickly went near the suitcase..he pressed the latch hidden amidst the satin folds..a panel at the bottom slid to reveal a secret compartment..

2 photographs sat there..his treasured memories..one was his entire family with dad..taken on Kanna's first bday

The second was..oh the second was a very special picture..taken on Mullai's first birthday...actually a day after..his Murugan Maamaa, Parvathy athai holding Mullai..and him next to her with her arms around his shoulders hugging him close..he must have been 4 then..he only came up to a little above her knee..the brightness of the smiles on all their faces..was enough to blind even the camera flash..

The day was still fresh in his mind..Mullai's first birthday was celebrated in a grand fashion..the family had a gala time at the temple and later at Mullai's home..as night fell Pandian and family started to leave..Kathir was begging to stay back at his athai's house..L amma had relented..Parvathy asked Jeeva also if he wanted to stay back..but he was not interested..

The next day..

Parvathy : naama studio poi oru photo eduthuttu varalaama

Murugan : ahn seri Parvathy..polaam

Kathir : athai naanu..(relishing the poori on his plate)

Parvathy: nee illaamala..nee inga irukkum pothu edukkanumnu thaan naan innikku polaamnu kekkarthe..innoru poori podatta

Kathir : ahn podunga..sooper ah irukku..

Murugan looked at the 2 of them..and smiled..they were actually friends despite their age..

Kathir finished eating and proceeded to wash his hands on the plate

Parvathy : ah haan..athai enna solli irukken..thattu kondu poi pottuttu..kai kenathadila kazhuvanum..thangam poppa..