Nyaabagam Varuthe

Pathattam

Earlier that morning

Mullai had woken up to a slight discomfort..a squeezing feeling in her tummy

She had been a little flippant..Not thinking much of it she had gone about her routine

She had felt the same squeezing sensation next after breakfast ..almost 4 hours later

She wondered what it was...but again had forgotten about it because it had come and gone in a jiffy ..all of 30 to 45 seconds

She had one after lunch..that's when she realised that she could be going into labour ..that what she was experiencing could be contractions

But by then Kathir had left to Trichy..

She didn't want to get admitted without him around..

The doctor had advised her about this ..she realised that her pain was still approximately 4 hours apart..

She went and washed her face and stood in front of the Pooja room..and prayed ..that Kathir should be back before she was taken for delivery..

He was her source of strength..the young lady was scared..

She placed a hand on her tummy

Enna pa..velia varanuma..en thangam ille..appa oorukku poi irukkaaru..ammakku appa paarkkaama hospital poga bhayama irukku..konjam porumaiya variya..appa seekkirame vanthuduvaaruavar.. avar vanthutta ellam paarthukkuvaaru..she whispered

She could go and take solace from her mother she knew but they would take her to the hospital immediately and she didn't want that

But the next pain had come in 2 hours ..that was at 4 pm ..Mullai was beginning to get a little scared

She had had 3 more in 1 hour intervals each at 5, 6 and 7 pm

She knew Kathir would be on his way..she had resisted the urge to call him knowing it would be at least 6 before he got back..calling him now would mean they would drive rash and she didn't want that

But now she knew she didn't have much time

And That's when she got his call

At the highway

The sound of the screeching tyres..the brakes getting applied..the loud thud of 2 vehicles banging..the screams of the people standing around in the vicinity..the cries of pain..the rise of dust that was quickly diminishing visibility

And Kathir heard only one voice

Completely oblivious to everything else

His brain only processed the Maamaa

And then a blank..a complete and utter blank..

His brain reverbrated with her Maamaa

He felt like he was drowning..his nostrils his windpipe his lungs all felt clogged

His only life line was that Maamaa

Which sent shrill waves into his eardrum but the echo he heard of it from deep within him was a softer version..a tad sad..a little tearful even

—Maamaa..enthiringa maamaa..neenga illaama semma bore..naan pesartha ellam neenga mattum thaan korai sollaama keppeenga..ippo kekkutha she would ask..

—Maamaa..yen friend phone panna..ava thaan maamaa..ungala orandai izhuthu enakku thittu vaangi kuduthaale..ava kalyanatha kooda miss pannome..ava oorukku vanthu iruntha..innikku kelambaraalaam..annana paarkka mudilannu ore varutham..

— Maamaa innikku doctor paarthuttu mel kaayam ellam nalla vathidichunnu sonnaaru..kaal adi mattum thaan naalaagumaam...valikkutha maamaa she would ask...