Chapter 18 – Oru Mudivu, Oru Puthiya Aarambam

Vidiyarkaalai.

Mazhai nindhirundhadhu.

Veedu muzhuvadhum amaidhiyaga irundhadhu.

Arjun innum netru iravu anindha saree-yileye jannal pakkathil amaidhiyaga nindrirundhaan.

Mudiyil irundha malligai konjam vaadiyirundhadhu.

Mirror-la than mugathai paaththaan.

"Indha unmai veliya vandhuduchu..."

"Ini maraikka mudiyadhu."

Avan medhuvaaga kangalai moodinaan.

---

Kitchen-la Sri thaniyaa coffee prepare pannikkondirundhaal.

Azhudhadhinaal kangal sivandhirundhana.

Arjun medhuvaaga kitchen-kku vandhaan.

"Sri..."

Aval thirumbi paaththaal.

"Innum saree maathala?"

Arjun amaidhiyaga sonnaan.

"Illa."

"Naan bayaththunaala dhaan idhai maraichen."

"Aana idhu naan nadikkaradhu illa."

Sri sila vinaadigal avanai paaththukkondirundhaal.

Aval mugathil kovam kuraindhirundhaalum, valiyin suvadugal innum therindhana.

---

Breakfast table-la rendu perum amaidhiyaga ukkandhaanga.

Sila nimidangalukku piragu Sri dhaan mounathai udaiththaal.

"Arjun..."

"Hmm?"

"Naan unna izhakka virumbala."

Arjun udane avalai paaththaan.

"Aana..."

"Namma life eppadi pogumnu purinjukkanum."

"Namakku pesanum."

"Seekiram mudivu edukka koodaadhu."

Arjun kangal kalangina.

"Nandri, Sri."

---

Sri medhuvaaga sonnaal.

"Enakku innum Aadhi pathi yosikka kashtama irukku."

"Adhu unmai."

"Aana adhukku munnaadi..."

"Nee dhaan en husband."

"Un manasukulla enna nadakkudhu-nu purinjukkanum."

Arjun thalai asaiththaan.

"Inime un kitte edhaiyum maraikka maatten."

---

Adhe neram...

Arjun phone vibrate aanaadhu.

Screen-la:

Aadhi

"Hope you're okay. Unakku space venumna reply panna avasiyam illa. Naan wait panren."

Arjun andha message-ai Sri-kku kaattinaan.

"Idhu dhaan avar anuppirukkaar."

Sri phone-ai amaidhiyaga padiththaal.

Konjam neram kazhiththu...

"Reply pannalaam."

Arjun aachariyathudan avalai paaththaan.

"Enna reply?"

Sri medhuvaaga sonnaal.

"Unmaiya."

"Veetla ellam therinjiduchu."

"Ippo en family-kku time venumnu sollu."

"Adhuku mela edhuvum sollaadha."

Arjun adhe maadhiri message anuppinaan.

Sila nimidangalil Aadhi-yidam irundhu badhil vandhadhu.

«"Purinjiduchu. Naan pressure kudukka maatten. Neevum Sri-yum amaidhiyaga pesunga. Naan prarthikkiren."»

Andha message-ai padiththa Sri oru deep breath vittaal.

"Idhu oru mature reply."

Arjun amaidhiyaga siriththaan.

"Avar eppovume ippadi dhaan."

---

Saayangaalam.

Sri bedroom wardrobe-ai thirandhaal.

Keezha shelf-la irundha brown cover-ai veliye eduththaal.

Adhai Arjun kaiyila koduththaal.

"Idhai inime maraichchu vaikka vendaam."

Arjun adhirchiyudan avalai paaththaan.

"Naan innum ellathaiyum purinjukkala."

"Aana unmaiya maraikkaradhu namma rendu perukkum innum kashtam."

Arjun kangal meendum kalangina.

Cover-ai nenjodu serththukkondaan.

"Sri..."

"Nandri."

Sri siru sirippudan sonnaal.

"Indha journey easy-aa irukkaadhu."

"Aana..."

"Pesikkitte ponaa, vazhi kandippa kidaikkum."

Jannal vazhiya kaatru ulle vandhadhu.

Vaadiya malligaiyin vaasanai innum konjam irundhadhu.

Adhu polaave...

Kaayappatta idhayangalukkullum oru siru nambikkai meendum malara aarambiththadhu.

Thodarum...