New Beginnings....

Coming together...

That night, as everyone gathers to eat dinner, Kathir and Mullai decide to wait a little, to start their topic... The house is filled to the brim with Jaga and his family, his mother and Kumeresan Appa as well... Dhanam has outdone herself and cooked so many dishes much to everyone's delight... Kanna especially is elated and sits along with Aakash and Iniyan to eat...

There is so much laughter and fun...and Mullai longs for Mahi to experience all this... She steals a glance at Kathir who is busy talking to Jaga...  And there's something reassuring about his gaze... When she goes to help clearing up... He comes after her...

K: Nee bayapudathae Mullai... Naan pathukurren... Engae Amma veh naan manage pannikurren...

M: Ingaiyah idhae pesuvangae? Yaarachom varae porangae...

He washes his hands, and since there's no towel nearby... He wipes his  hands with the pallu of her saree...

"Ithu ennodae favorite saree" she admonishes and pulls it from his hands and he gives her a naughty grin, says sorry and leaves...

That small act, and happiness brims in her heart...

That is when she realizes that in his mind, she is already his wife...

And that even if his family don't agree to this, they are still going to be together...

****

In the usual chaos that follows after dinner... Kathir takes Mullai aside...

K: Naan ippovae sollae poren...

Mullai's pupils dilate in fear...

M: Ellarum irrukangalae....

She says as an excuse...

K: Adhu naalae dhan sollalam nu irruken... Eppadiyum... Ellarukum theriyae varum.. Nammae vaiyaliyae kekkatum...

Mullai nods... Her heart has traveled up to her throat..

He squeezes her hand hard and walks out...

K: Naan ungae ellar kittaiyum pesanom...

He turns to the children and gives them both his mobile phones...

K: Neengae ullae poie veladungae...

Well... They needn't be told twice, they grab his phones and race off inside...

He looks directly at his mother...

K: Naan Mullai yeh kalyanam pannikae poren... Ithukku neengae ungae asirvathae tharuvingalah ma?

There is such a silence in the house, never before has there been a stillness such as this...

You could hear an ant burp...

Mullai looks around the room... Every single person there is in shock...

Except for Kanna... He has a small knowing smile on his face.

No one says anything and the silence continues...

Kathir has eyes only for his mother...

Mo: Kathir... Nejamae dhan solluriyah?

K: Indhae vishyathulae yarumae poie sollae mattangae annae...

D: Ihukku dhan kalyanam venae venae nu sollitu irrunthiyah?

K: Illae Anni... Athu verae...ithu verae... Naan ippo kalyanam venum nu solluren...aanah athu Mullai kude dhan nadakkum...

Ja: Maaplae... Inthae vishayam, Chitthappa ku theriyumah? Avaru ennae sonnaru?