Nyaabagam Varuthe

Enna Kaayam aana Pothum

As Kathir slept like a baby.. snuggled up to her..his arm flung over her...

She lay looking at him..a fond smile playing on her lips..her hands combing his hair...occasionally leaving it to gently massage his forehead..

And slowly her mind wandered to those early days after his release from the hospital..the first time he suffered this headache...

12th Dec 2019

Meena and Mullai were in the hall talking..

Mullai : thirumana naal vaazhthukkal Meena..

Meena looked at Mullai for a moment..saying nothing she walked away..

Mullai wondered what was wrong with her...

But Meena re-emerged a few moments later with a bowl

Meena : feeding Mullai a spoonful of Kesari..Thirumana naal vaazhthukkal Mullai she said in a choked voice...

Mullai : smiled and fed her some Kesari as well..enakku thonalai paartheengala...sweet kuduthu sollanumnu..she tried to lighten the mood..

Meena just stood looking forlorn..

Mullai : enna aachu Meena..romba dull ah irukkeenga

Meena : sorry Mullai..neraiya naal yosichu irukken..oru vaatti unga kitta pesi irukkanum..kalyanathukku munnadi..appudi kadasi nimishathula vanthu ninnu...romba sorry...eppayo solli irukkanum...

Kathir who was about to step out of the bedroom stood rooted to the spot..

Mullai looked at her with a smile...

Mullai : ithe munnadiye solli iruntha naan enna solli iruppen theriyathu...aanaa ippo neenga senjathukku ivvalavu naalaa thanks sollaama vittuttomennu thonuthu..romba yosikkatheenga..

Meena : smiled...Mullaikku Kathirvelan mela ambuttu Kaadhal..hmm

Mullai smiled looking radiant...

Meena : naan munname kooda yosippen..2 perum veruppu nnu soldraanga...aanaa sandai podarthu illennu..athu chinna chinna velayaattu sandai ille..serious aana sandai pottathu ille..etho paasam irunthu irukku..ennava irunthalum neenga happy na seri..

They smiled at each other and sat in a comfortable silence not aware that they were being watched..

Kathir stood in the room listening to this convo...he loved what he heard...there was no doubt about that...but the thud in his heart..why did this eavesdropping make him feel anxious..uncomfortable..he couldn't understand...

Thinking he went back into the room..and called Jeeva..

Later that afternoon

Jeeva came home for lunch..

Kathir : anne naan un kooda varen ne..

Dhanam : enga da

Kathir : kadaikku anni..

Mullai looked up..

Kathir : summa oru ara mani neram..veettukkullaye irukka bore adikkuthu..

Mullai: veyyil thaazha koil ku polaame...

Kathir: ille naan annanoda poittu varen..

Dhanam : kathiru adam pidikkathe da..rest edu

Mullai: illenga...veyyilla vendaamennu thaan

Kathir : oru 30 nimisham thaan nu soldren ille..naan enna chinna kozhanthai ya...ellathukkum permission vaanga..yen udambu eppudi irukkunnu enakku theriyatha..ethu onnunnaalum venaamnu kittu..