Aug 1st - Midnight
Right after Mullai wished him and laid down on the cot
Kathir lay still the tears freely falling now
He waited for her to go to sleep
And then opened his eyes
This was all for him he thought incredulously
He had not considered that possibility at all
Like if he were asked to guess all the possible reasons why she had a need for money and make a list of it..this wouldn't have made that list..something for him ..for his birthday
He felt choked
He pondered
She did get him those shirts and on Meena anni's birthday night she had asked him when his birthday was
So she knew it was his birthday
But the fact was Kathir had forgotten
He didn't attach too much importance to all this..neither did the family..so the day would come and go like all the other 364 days
Sometimes his anni would go to the temple and pray for him..and he would know then or rather be reminded
So he didn't expect Mullai to be any different
But he should have ..he kicked himself
Going to nearby towns overnight and considering procuring options was not something new in this family..one or the other brother would do this at least once in a month
But what was new was her care and concern..she had wanted him to take some water with him..she had offered to pack something for him to eat if he felt hungry in the night..he remembered her standing with so much of doubts ..her mind full of care and concern but not feeling close enough to openly show it to him
Oh he had so enjoyed that look of concern..entirely for him
As usual he had felt shy..didn't know how to handle it ..had walked out
But he couldn't bring himself to ignore completely
He had walked back in and eaten the bananas and drank some water
He had felt full that day
A different kind of full
In his heart he felt full
But even in his dreams he wouldn't have imagined that she would go to the extent of selling her jewellery to buy him a gift..
And now he knew why she couldn't tell him why she needed the money or why she couldn't ask him for it
She had had no issues asking him to buy her dinner
Even in the hotel she had been very comfortable
The way she said icecream without batting an eyelid
His heart leapt in joy..she was not uncomfortable with him
That was another painpoint gone
And he hot it.. you cant ask the person you want to buy something for to give you money for the same..which was precisely why it was his responsibility in the first place to ensure she had money she could spend as she pleased
He looked at her
He felt a little small..to begin with he might not be able to give her much ..will she think less of him for that..
He brooded
But he decided to start ..baby steps at a time he decided..
He would give her money to keep with her and spend to start with
