Anbum Aranum Udaiththaayin

Vidhi

December 11, 2018

"Anna, ippo enna panna pora?"

Jeeva was grieving in guilt. He did not want to hurt his family nor the girl who believed in him, that she was ready to elope leaving behind the family she loves, just for him. The mere thought of a girl willing to leave behind everything should bring a pride and happiness, but he was going through a whirlwind of emotions ranging from anger, guilt and pity. He was not a man who could stand up for himself and take decisions. He has always listened to his family especially what his Anna says. He was still the same person, debating if he has to choose his family or his love, when Kathir broke the silence and took decision for him.

"Unna nambi oru ponu veeta vitu varanu solranga. Avangala ematha venam. Naan poi avangala kutitu varean inga. Anna, Anni kita pesina, avanga purinjupanga. Anni unaku pudikadha kalyanam panida kudadhunu than avalavu ayamanatha thangikitanga. Kandipa idhuku othupanga."

Jeeva knew his elder brother might accept this just for him. However, will his Athai family accept it? That too after dragging an innocent girl until the wedding hall?

"Mullai kita enna da solradhu? Pavam andha ponna vera ivalavu dhoram kutitu vandhutean. Elam en thapu than. Andha pulla moonja pakka kuda enaku dhayiriyam illa da. Idhu elam venam da, naan Mullai'ayey kalyanam pannikarean."

"Naan pesarean na, ava kita."

Kathir stood outside manna penn room. He has hated her family and never wanted her to step into their house. Never in his dreams he thought, he would be talking to her, forget in person, that too alone! He made a resolve in his head to be calm while he speaks. He knows, she might throw a tantrum and would even cry. He would have laughed if someone told him; he would be even thinking about Mullai and her feelings. But, deep down, he knew she is innocent. He just wished everything happened smoothly and without hurting his family. Now, that he is waiting to talk to her, he truly wished her happiness in life, when his phone rang.

"Naan Janarthanan pesarean. Periya hero'nu nenappa? Enga veetu ponna thukitu poi kalyanam panradhuku? Indha orula irundha thana ponna thukuvenga? Ippo enna panrenganu naanum pakarean.Nee thalageela thedinalum, en ponnu enga irukanu ungala kandu pidika mudiyadhu. Olunga unga annava avanuku patha ponna katika sollu."

He cuts the call in shock and reality sets in when he heard a confused, feeble voice call him.

"Kathiru en kita pesanumnu soniya? Enna vishayam?"

Kathir stayed silent for a whole minute trying to process all the happening within last few hours. Maybe all this happened for a reason and this girl's heart need not be broken after all. He looked at her all happy and was unable to say anything, anymore.

Finally the wedding day dawned bright & clear and Kathir was waiting for all this chaos to end so his family can be finally at peace. The wedding hall was filled with happy vibes. Amidst all seriousness, the young kids were having fun and elders were beaming in happiness. And it was mugurtha neram and Jeeva was handed the Thali. Mullai was sitting all shy and Jeeva looked at Kathir for a second before he tied the knot. He saw Jeeva tear a little. Mullai teared too, but out of happiness. Kathir felt little uneasy seeing it actually unfold. He tried to brush it off and faked a smile hoping it will all end well for his family.

Present, One year later 

K comes back from shop to find Jeeva and Mullai not home yet. A sudden animosity spread in his heart that he could not fathom.

"Anni, anna inum varala?"

"Illa da. Kovil ponavanga inum varala. Seri kalyana naal achey. Apadiyey engayavadhu poi irupanga. Nee poi kai kaal kalivitu va, tea tharean"

K was becoming restless as time passes. Shouldn't he be happy for his brother? The unsettling feeling of uneasiness is creeping him. To settle the battling heart, he goes to the backyard. Maybe fresh air will calm his mind. He wasn't sure if mind or his heart that needs to calm. He was staring at the overcast gloomy sky over him. He gave a pessimistic smile thinking how everything around him looked dull and gray today. Then, it suddenly worried him more. What if its starts to rain and she gets caught in it. His gut feel kept telling him, she was not all right and he wanted to be with her. Ok, we cannot be with her; he just wanted to see her, his mind corrected. He went to the living room, called out to his Anni that he is going out and before she could respond, he stormed out of the house in search of her.

His first stop was to the temple and did not see his brother's vehicle. He started driving aimlessly when he found his brother's bike near the theppakulam. He slowly parked the vehicle and neared the pond expecting the unexpected. His heart started racing as he was not prepared to see them together happy. Didn't he wish them both happiness when they got married a year back? Didn't he wish everything would eventually settle down?

What he saw before him was something he never imagined in his wildest dream. He saw his brother talking with Meena. Meena! The girl who had left Kunnakudi a year back. How did she even come back here now? A sadistic smile crept his lips that later turned into a ghastly fear. He did not waste another second standing there. He had to find her, now!

Kathir started the bike hoping to find her in the temple when it started to drizzle. As minutes passed, his anxiety increased and he was losing his control on the bike. He had to park his bike on side on the road to get his emotions under control. He had to be calm to think clearly. Then suddenly something struck him. He self-palmed him and cursed that he didn't think of it before. That should have been the first place he looked for her. He started the bike and turned towards the mandapam at outskirt of the city. As he neared it, he would hear his thudding heartbeat in his ears.

As he parked and literally ran towards the backside of the abandoned mandapam, he already felt her presence but his eyes searched for her. He breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he saw her. She was sitting at one end of the mandapam with her knees tucked to her heart and heads sinking in it. His eyes automatically teared seeing her plight.

He went near her and reached out to her shoulder. He stopped midway instead and called out her name which was barely audible

"Mulla..."