Anbum Aranum Udaiththaayin

Kudumbam

"Anne. Naan Mullaya virumbarean. Avala kalyanam pannikanumnu nenaikarean"

"Enna??" Moorthy and Dhanam say simultaneously.

Kathir took a deep breath and say looking at his anni "Enaku ponnu elam pakka venam. Naan Mullai'ya kalayanam panikanumnu aasai padarean."

Dhanam stood dumbstruck. Her worst fear has come true, and she stood there helpless and loss of words.

"Enna da solra? Yepadi? Epo?", Moorthy asked Kathir in confusion.

"Naney unga kita solalamnu than irundhean. Amma'vum irukarapo solalamnu pathean. Adhu kula nenga ponnu pakaradha pathi pesa aramichutenga. Nenga edhuvum apadi seiyaradhuku munadi solalamnu ipovey solitean", said Kathir in a single breath.

Moorthy blinked. This was not the response he was expecting.  Dhanam was the first one to recover and said 

"Mama, idha pathi ipo edhuvum pesa venam. Aparama avan kita naan pesikarean. Nenga tireda irukunu sonenga. Poi padunga mama"., Dhanam cooed.

Kathir sighed and looked up at the husband-wife duo.

"Anni, rendu nimisham. Naan solla vandhadha solidarean"

Dhanam looked at Kathir pointedly, she crossed over her hands across her chest.

"Nee solradhuku munadi, naan solradha nee kelu! Edho oru poruluku aasai paatu, venumnu kekaradhu illa Kathiru idhu. Un vazhkai. Mullai nala ponnu than. Idhula endha sandhegamum illa. Ivalavu en, Jeeva Mullai kalyanam munadi un virupatha solli irundha, naaney indha kalyanatha panni vechu irupean. Ipo nee nenaikaradhu romba thappu. En kanavula kuda nee ipadi vandhu nipanu naan nenaikala da. En valarpu thapanu yosika vechuta kathiru!"

Dhanam took a deep breath after yelling all that out and sat in the couch with tears flowing through her cheeks.

Dhanam has always cared for him and his family. She had been his second mother after his father's death. So, he is able to understand why she was venting out her anger and disappointment in the rudest way to him.

Kathir sat down on the table facing her "Anni, unga kolapam puriyudhu enaku. Unga yarayum kaya padutha naan nenaikala", Kathir said softly looking at her apologetically.

When there was no response from Dhanam, he took the opportunity and began

"Anni, Mullai indha veetuku varanumnu nenga than modhala aasai patenga. Ipovum adhu than nadakanumnu naanum aasai padarean. En manaiviya varanumnu"

Moorthy who was loss for words until now, silently stood witnessing his wife's outburst. He shook his head at disbelief on what was unfolding before his eyes. Kathir was trying to tarnish his family reputation.  As impossible as it sounded, he knew Kathir would not take any hasty decision and was getting worked up on what he would do if Kathir stood stubborn regarding this.

"Nee enna pesarenu purinju than pesariya da? Mullai'ko illa Muruga mama ko idhu therinja namala pathi enna da nenaipanga? ", Moorthy asked in bewilderment.

"Ava kita kuda kekamala unga kita vandhu soluvar. Indha veetla epo than arivoda yosipangalo", Meena muttered under her breath but was heard by Kanna. He chuckled without his control only to be stared back by Moorthy.

Moorthy ignored Kanna and turned towards Kathir "Dei Kathiru, idhu varaikum nee onakunu en kita edhuvumey ketadhu illa. Aana, nee ipo solradhu nadakadha oru vishayam da. Nee manasa mathikaradhu than elarukum naladhu"

Kathir's heart dropped at his brothers outright rejection of the proposal "Anne..Nenga edhuku solrenganu puriyudhu. Aana, pazhasu elam edhuku anney yosikanum? Mullai pathi ungaluku theriyadha? Indha kudumbathu mela evlavu pasam vechu irukanu ungalukey theriyum."