முதல் நீ முடிவும் நீ

~ Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee ~

The checked faded mud tile of the hall zoomed in and out of his vision while his mind neither registered nor gulped in any word his sister-in-law uttered. His eardrum seemed to reflect off anything and everything as soon as the sound waves hit on it, until the following words from her instantly made his senses awaken from a deep slumber, "unna nenacha enaku kavalaiyavum iruku varuthamavum iruku kovamavum iruku... porandhanaal annaiku andha pulla manasaara kooda sirikula... ellam nee...", he jumped in not letting her finish, "yaaru... Mullaiya pathi solreengala anni...". She stared at him like she would hit him straight on his head if that's possible, "appada Mullai ku thaan porandhanaal nu aavathu therinjuruke unaku... periya athisayam thaan...", and suddenly her eyes grew darker as she pounced back at him, "appo ellam therinju thaan nee veetuku varaama irundhuruka... cake vettumbothu ava vaasal kadhava mattum thaan paathutu irundha... kadaisi nerathula yaavathu nee vandhura maatiya nu...".

Kathir had his heart in his mouth while he exclaimed out of disbelief, "edhu cake vettuneegala... eppo... enga... ava avunga amma veetula thaana...", realization seemed to sink in him slowly and a small smile peeked its way into his otherwise gloomy face as he said stretching to run into their room to check if she was there already, "Mulla veetuku vantaala anni... na poyi...". Dhanam held her hand out fixing him on the spot and one look at her, he knew things were not that simple at all right now, "vandha da... aana marupadi poita angaiye... ava porandha naal nu therinjone mama avala inga vara sonnaanga... avalum potti ellam eduthutu vanta... apram cake vetturaku nee varala phone pannalum edukala... mama vum kadaiku neram aachu nu sikiram vetta sollitaanga... ellam mudichutu dhideernu innum konja naal amma kooda irundhutu varen nu kelambita... avunga appa ve venaam nu sonnalum kekala... enna thaan da unga rendu perukum prechana... onnum illa nu mattum sollatha... rendu peru mogathulaiyum poster adichu ottuna maari theriyuthu neenga sandhoshama illa nu...".

His eyes swayed around the hall aimlessly, what had happened was like his wildest dreams had come true but he had slept through it- he couldn't believe they had both gone in search of each other and returned back equally disappointed. A call from his mother for Dhanam made him heave in a deep breath as she walked in stomping her feet warning him of the worst from his elder brother in the morning. He held onto the pillar and settled down with his mind clogging with all that's swirling around their life the past week, things he had thought to be the reality and that which actually is- were in two completely different tracks now and he didn't know where he went wrong to birth this whole fiasco that's currently surrounding his life. An impromptu song sung in the most dumb voice one could pull out for a romantic number made him aware of his younger brother's arrival and he stilled on his tracks stunned looking into Kathir, "anne... enga ne pona nee evening poora...", he took quick steps covering the distance in between them within seconds asking, "phone ah switch off...", Kathir gave him a careless look rubbing his palms over his head saying, "dei neeyum aarambikaatha da... anni ippa thaan thitti mudichutu ponaanga...".

He sat near Kathir shaking him out of his disinterest with the concern his voice had in it while he spoke, "anne... anni ku birthday nu avalo aasaiya gift ellam kooda vaanguna... etho kovathula vandhu adha thookiyum potta... apram engaiyo poita yaaru kittayum sollama... ivunga ellarum unaku anni ku porandhanaal nu kooda theriyaathu nu nenachutu irukaanga... ennala sollavum mudiyala therinjite nee varala nu aayirumo nu oru bayathula... enga ne pona nee...", Kathir looked at his feet speaking in the most subtle voice that Kanna could barely make out his words, "avala paaka ava veetuku ponen da... avunga amma thaan etho pesi... ava ulla irundhute enna paaka varala nu nenachuten... andha kovathula thaan ivalo neram... ava veetulaiye illa pola appo... inga vandhuruka...", he hit his head in frustration, "naan thaan thappa nenachu... dei Kanna... Mullai ku enna innamum pidikaama poyirukum la...". Kanna's eyes popped out of his sockets as he retorted immediately, "innamum pidikaama poyirukuma na enna artham... enna ne olarra nee...".