Anbum Aranum Udaiththaayin

Anbu

"Dei enna pesaranu therinju than pesariya? ", Dhanam shrieked in anger.

"Enna manichudunga Anni. Ungala edhirthu pesarenu nenaikadhenga", Jeeva tried to make them understand.

"Pinna enna da idhu? Unnai ipadiya vazhathean? Oru ponna virumbina seri. Aana ipo unaku oru kalyanam ayiduchu da. Mulla pathi konjamavadhu yosichiya nee?"

"Thapu than Anni. Enaku kurta unarchiya than iruku. Kandipa andha pulla sandhosama irukanumnu nanum nenaikarean. Enala than ava vazhkai tholachu nikara. Kandipa en kuda irundha, ava sandhosama iruka matta Anni"

He looked around his brothers to gauge their reactions. Kathir gave him a compassionate look that encouraged Jeeva.

"Naan Meena'va kalyanam panalum, Mulla enaku mama ponnu ilama pogadhu. Kandipa andha ponnuku oru nala vazhkai amaika naan ela muyarchiyum seivean"

"Dei. Enna da pesara? Ava oru pombala pulla da. Istathuku inoru kalyanamnu elam pesara. Purinju than pesariya? Andha ponna pathi enna pesuvanganu konjamavadhu yosichiya?"

"Anni. Puriyudhu. Ella thapum naan than panean. Idhai naan seri seiya pakarean Anni.. Andha pulla peru kedama pathupean"

"Dhanam podhum niruthu. Avan mudivu panitu vandhu than namba kita solrean. Namba karutha kekala. Kekara nelamaiyilum avan illa. Nee ulla va", Moorthy roared before dragging Dhanam out of the place.

Jeeva looked defeated

"Anney, elam seriya nadakum. Romba potu kolapikadha. Namba Aanna, Anni thana. Purinjupanga. Nee edhuvum yosikadha", comforted Kathir.

August 1 – 2019 – Pandian Stores

Kathir was alone in the shop with Kumaresan Mama. It was close to 7 and had few hours before they could close the shop, when he got a call from Kanna.

"Anney Anni killa vilundhutanga. Konjam sikiram veetuku va" and he abruptly cut the call without giving any further update. He told Kumaresan mama to take care of the shop and rushed home, as Moorthy was not in the shop.

As soon as he parked his bike and tried knocking the door, he realized the main door was unlocked. He gently pushed to open it. There was pitch-black darkness inside the house, not a single ray of light was there.

"HAPPPYYYY BIRRTHDAYYYYYY"

Many people screamed at once giving him a mini heart attack. The house immediately lit up and his Anni rushed towards him

"Pirandha naal vazhukal Kathiru" and stuffed a piece of kesari in his mouth.

Kathir was too surprised to respond.

"Adhu...Idhu elam..". It was new to him. He has never had a surprise birthday party before. Actually, he has never had a birthday party before. Nor, has he given any thought about his birthday after his fathers' passing. All this felt so weird to him, wonderfully weird.

"Dei, elam pulla Mulla panna yerpadu than da. Pirandha naal vazhukal Kathiru", hugged his elder brother.

Even before he could recover, Jeeva wished him when he noticed both his elder brothers had dodged him with excuses to come home. His eyes shifted to the decorations made in the house.

"Anney, naan than decorations panean. Anni chumma help than pananga", Kanna retorted. Kathir pulled him into a hug while he wished him.

Though everyone was wishing him, his eyes were in pursuit of a single person. He finally found her leaning towards the pillar with smile on her face. His face automatically smiled and he grinned like a fool. He felt special that his birthday mattered to someone.