Anbum Aranum Udaiththaayin

Arivuruthal

The room fell silent that no one dared to move nor make any sound. Dhanam was the first to recover and walked towards her athai.

"Enna solrenga athai nenga? Kathir Mullaiya kalyanam panna evalavu prachanai irukunu ungaluku theriyadha? Ava yepadi inga vandhu vazha mudiyum?"

"Vazha mudiyadhunu than avan Karaikudi poi irukenu solran", Lakshmi replied matter of fact.

Kanna who was standing near Lakshmi, walked near to Kathir. He was so nervous, that he held onto Kathir hand for support. Jeeva too came and stood onto other side of Kathir. He leans closer and whispers

"Elei. Nanga elam unaku support ku irukom da. Anna, anni'ya pathukalam. Bayapadadha"

Kathir nods his head. He looks at Moorthy and Dhanam and they looked far from pleased. Moorthy's lips were twisted in disgust and Dhanam looked in verge of crying. They both were intimidating.

"Athai...", Dhanam started not understanding why she was trying to cover Kathir up.

"Iru Dhanam. Naan pesi mudichudarean", Lakshmi amma stopped her.

"Kathir en kita idha pathi pesitan. Adhu matum illa. Avana Karaikudi kadai pathutu Mullai oda anga iruka solli naan than sonean", Laskhmi added

Kathir immediately turned towards his mother in shock. Even before he could comprehend what was happening, Moorthy chimed in with his question

"Enna ma solrenga? Nenga yepadi ma ipadi our mudivu yedukalam?"

Kathir noticed his mother's posture stiffen a tiny bit but her cold facial expression did not change.

"En da, indha veetla mudivu yedukara urimai enaku ilanu solriya?"

"Apadi solalama naan. Kathir than theriyama pesarana, nenga yepadi ipadi oru mudivu yeduthenga?", Moorthy was genuinely confused on how his mother was so cool about the whole situation.

Dhanam could sense there was some lie going around the room. She looked alternatively between Kathir and her athai. Then, she cut to the chase and asked Kathir

"Nee epo da Athai kita pesina indha pathi? Unmaiya athai idhuku samadhichangala, illa nee edhavadhu solli othuka vechiya?", Dhanam confronted hoping Kathir would not be able to lie on her face.

"Yen, en payan en kita pesa kuda unga kita kettu than pesanuma?", Laskhmi voice booms across the room.

This time Dhanam cringes. The disappointment in her voice alarmed Dhanam.

"Indha vishayam Kathir en kita solradhuku munadi unaku theriyum thana? Yen en kita solala Dhanam?", Lakshmi continues her voice becoming stronger.

"Nenga indha therinja manasu vedhanai paduvenga. Adhan solla venamnu nenachean athai", Dhanam answered her voice softening in guilt.

"En payan vishyatha en kita sollama marachu iruka. Aparam enaku samadhama ilayanu kekama, neeya mudivu yedthuta. Apadi thana?", Lakshmi signs, pinching her nose.

"Amma, enna ma pesarenga? Dhanam edhukaga panni irupanu ungaluku theriyadha enna?", Moorthy asks raising his voice a little.

"Udaney edhuku da kovam varudhu unaku? Un pondatiya naan onum solla kudadha? Illa indha veetla mudivu yedukara urimai Enaku illanu solla vara mathiri, kekara urimaiyum ilanu solriya?"

Before Moorthy could respond, Dhanam barged in "Enna athai? Unga kita solama mama edha panni irukar?

"Jeeva Meena'va virumbinadha en kita marachu, Mullai ku kalyanam yerpadu panrapo en kita sonengala?