Chapter 14 – Mudhal Sandhippu

Sunday kaalai.

Arjun balcony-la nindru kaapi kudiththukkondirundhaan.

Netru mudhal irundhu oru ninaivu mattum avan manasula odikkondae irundhadhu.

"Aadhi-ai nerla paakkanum..."

Phone-ai eduththu message type panninaan.

«Maliga: "Aadhi... unakku time irundhaa innikku en veettukku varuviyaa?"»

Message send pannittu avan amaidhiyaga kaaththirundhaan.

Sila nimidangal kazhiththu reply vandhadhu.

«Aadhi: "Nee comfortable-aa irundhaa kandippa varen."»

Arjun mugathil thaanaaga sirippu malarndhadhu.

---

Madhiyam 1 mani.

Doorbell oliththadhu.

Arjun idhayam vegamaaga adikka aarambichadhu.

Door-ai thirandhaan.

Veliyila Aadhi nindrirundhaan.

Kaiyil sila shopping bags.

Mugathil adhe amaidhiyana sirippu.

"Hi... Maliga."

"Vaanga..."

Mudhal murai...

Rendu perum nerla sandhiththaanga.

Oru sila vinaadigal yaarum pesa villai.

Aana andha mounathula kooda oru nimmadhi irundhadhu.

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Hall-la ukkandha piragu...

Aadhi kondu vandha bags-ai table mela vaiththaan.

"Idhellam enna?"

"Chinna gifts."

"Edhukku ivlo?"

"Unnai ninaichchu vaanginen."

Arjun medhuvaaga bag-ai thirandhaan.

Ullae...

Pudhu malligai poo sarangal.

Simple glass bangles.

Oru azhagaana hair clip.

Oru silk ribbon.

Sila skin-care products.

Rendu perukkum pidicha saapadu.

"Nee sonna biryani kadai vazhila dhaan irundhudhu."

Endru Aadhi siriththaan.

Arjun kangalil santhosham therindhadhu.

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"Idhellam romba adhigam..."

Endru Arjun sonnaan.

Aadhi amaidhiyaga badhil sonnaan.

"Gift-oda value porul-la illa."

"Adhai vaangumbodhu ninaicha manasula irukku."

Andha vaarthai Arjunai aazhamaga thottadhu.

---

Saapadu mudindha piragu...

Aadhi malligai poo saraththai kaiyil eduththaan.

"Va..."

Arjun amaidhiyaga avan munnaadi nindraan.

Aadhi medhuvaaga Arjun-oda neelamaana mudiyai serthu, malligai poo-vai azhagaaga sutri vaiththaan.

"Ready."

Mirror pakkam thiruppinaan.

Arjun reflection-ai paaththaan.

Malligai vaasanai...

Neelamaana mudi...

Mugathil amaidhiyana sirippu...

Avan kangal eeramaana.

"Yaarum enakku ippadi poo vaichchadhe illa..."

Endru medhuvaaga sonnaan.

Aadhi siriththaan.

"Innikku mudhal murai."

---

Arjun dressing table drawer-ai thirandhu oru chinna kumkum dabba-ai eduththaan.

Adhai kaiyil pidiththukkondae sila vinaadigal mounamaaga nindraan.

"Aadhi..."

"Hmm?"

"Enakku oru aasai."

"Sollu."

"Kumkum konjam en netriyila nee vaichchu tharuviyaa?"

Aadhi avan mugathai sila vinaadigal paaththaan.

"Unakku idhu comfortable-aa irundhaa..."

"Santhoshamaa."

Arjun medhuvaaga thalai asaiththaan.

Aadhi kumkumathai migavum mariyaadhaiyudan viralil eduththu, Arjun netriyil oru siru pottu vaiththaan.

Yaarum pesa villai.

Andha nimidam amaidhiyaga kadandhadhu.

Arjun kangalil kannneer thulirththadhu.

"Nandri..."

Aadhi siriththaan.

"Nandri sollaadha."

"Nee unmaiya sirikkira maadhiri irundhaa podhum."

Hall muzhuvadhum malligai vaasanai paraviyadhu.

Andha mudhal sandhippu...

Rendu perukkum marakka mudiyadha ninaivaaga maarivittadhu.

Thodarum...