Chapter 1 – Oru Maraindha Ulagam

Mazhai thooral Chennai nagarathin saalaiyil medhuvaaga vizhundhu kondirundhadhu. Evening 7 mani. Office buses, bikes, cars ellam traffic signal-la nindru kondirundhana. Andha koottathula oru black sedan car-oda steering-ai pidichu amaidhiyaga ukkandhirundhaan Arjun.

Signal green aanadhum car medhuvaaga munnerndhadhu.

FM radio-la melody paadal odikkondirundhadhu. Aana Arjun-oda manasu andha paadalaiyum kekkavillai.

Office-la innikku nadandha meetings, clients, targets... edhuvum avan ninaivula illa.

Avanoda manasukulla orae oru kelvi.

"Indha unarvai naan eppadiyum maraichu vaazha mudiyumaa?"

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Veettin gate-ai thirandhu car-ai parking-la niruthinaan.

Hall-la TV sound kettadhu.

Kitchen-la irundhu masala vaasanai vandhadhu.

"Vandhuttiya?" endru kitchen-lendhu santhoshama kettaal Sri.

"Aama..." endru sirippai varavazhaikka muyarchi seydhaan Arjun.

Sri, Arjun-oda manaivi.

Marriage aagi rendu varusham aagiyirundhadhu.

Aval romba energetic. Chinna chinna vishayathulayum sandhoshathai kandupidippaval. Veettai eppovum sirippaal nirappikkondiruppaal.

"Fresh aagittu vaa... dinner ready."

"Sari."

Arjun room-kulla poi office bag-ai side-la vechaan.

Mirror munnaadi nindhaan.

Tie-ai kazhatti shirt button-ai open pannumbodhu, mirror-la therinja than mugathai sila vinaadigal paathukondirundhaan.

Velila ellarum paakra Arjun.

Aana mirror-kulla avanukku therinjadhu vera yaaro pola irundhadhu.

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Dinner table-la rendu perum serndhu saapittaanga.

Sri office-la nadandha funny incidents ellam sirichu sirichu sonnaal.

Arjun-um sirichaan.

Aana andha sirippu avan kangalai seravillai.

"Enna aachu? Romba tired-aa irukka?"

"Konjam work pressure dhaan."

"Weekend leave eduthukkalaam."

"Hmm..."

Sri adhai nambinaal.

Aana Arjun sonnadhu muzhu unmai illa.

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Raathiri 11 mani.

Sri thoongivittaL.

Bedroom-la dim light mattum erindhukondirundhadhu.

Arjun-kku mattum thookkam varavillai.

Balcony-kku poi nilavai paathukondirundhaan.

Kulir kaatru mugathai thodumbodhu pala varusham pazhaya ninaivugal thirumbi vandhana.

Chinna vayasu...

Amma cupboard-la irundha silk saree...

Adhai kaiyila pudicha andha nimidam...

Adhai thol mela pottu mirror munnaadi nindha andha mudhal dhadavai...

Andha amaidhi...

Andha santhosham...

Appa veettukku vandha satham kettavudane bayandhu saree-ai kazhatti cupboard-kulla maraichadhu...

Andha bayam innum avanai vittu pogavillai.

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Marriage-ku munnaadi Arjun oru mudivu eduthirundhaan.

"Kalyanam aana piragu idhellam mudinjidum."

Aana rendu varusham aagiyum andha unarvu kuraivadharku badhil, innum balamaaga valarndhukondae irundhadhu.

Adhu verum dress mela aasaiya?

Illai...

Adhu avanukku puriyaadha oru amaidhiyin thedal.

Yaarukkum theengillama, yaaraiyum emaathama, sila nimidangal thanakkuthane unmaiyaaga irukka vendum endra aasai.

Aana andha aasaiyai velippaduthinaal enna nadakkum?

Sri enna ninaippaal?

Kudumbam?

Samudhayam?

Kelvigal dhaan.

Badhil ondrum illai.

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Marunaal Saturday.

Sri than amma veettukku madhiyana virundhukku poga ready aanaal.

"Nee varalaiyaa?"

"Konjam office laptop work irukku. Evening vandhuren."

"Seri. Late aagaadhe."

Sri sirithu, handbag eduthu veliya ponaal.

Gate moodiya satham veedu muzhuvadhum amaidhiyaga maariyadhu.

Arjun hall-la sila nimidangal amaidhiyaga ukkandhirundhaan.

Clock tick-tick satham mattum.

Medhuvaaga ezhundhu bedroom-kku nadandhaan.

Cupboard munnaadi nindhaan.

Kai konjam nadungiyadhu.

Cupboard-ai thirandhaan.

Pazhaya blanket-ku keezha, yaarukkum theriyama oru cover.

Andha cover-ai medhuvaaga veliya eduthaan.

Adhai thirandha udane, oru simple light blue cotton saree, rendu glass bangles, oru chinna bindi packet, matrum malligai poo vaasanai innum siridhu irundha oru cloth pouch.

Arjun kangalai moodi oru deep breath eduthaan.

Avan idhayam vegama adithadhu.

"Indha naalum vandhuduchaa..."

Andha room-la, andha amaidhikkulla, pala varushangalaga maraindhu vaazhnthu vandha oru peyar medhuvaaga avan manasukulla olithadhu.

"Maliga..."

Thodarum...