Chapter 7 – Nambikkaiyin Thodakkam

Rendu naatkal kazhindhana.

Office, veedu, vazhakkamaana vaazhkai...

Aana Arjun-oda iravugal mattum maarivittana.

Sri thoongiya piragu, balcony-la konjam neram ukkandhu kaatru vaangivittu, room-kku vandhu laptop-ai thirappaan.

Mudhalil office mail.

Adharku piragu...

Maliga account.

Inbox-la Aadhi-oda message already wait pannikkondirundhadhu.

«Aadhi: "Hi Maliga... Innikku epdi pochu day?"»

Arjun siru sirippudan type panninaan.

«Maliga: "Normal office. Konjam tired."»

Reply udane vandhadhu.

«Aadhi: "Rest eduththuko. Nee unnai overthink pannaadha."»

Andha oru message-kooda Arjun manasai ilagavaiththadhu.

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Naatkal poga poga...

Avanga conversations konjam neelamaana.

Childhood.

School.

Long hair.

Bayam.

Loneliness.

Ella vishayathayum konjam konjama share panna aarambichaan Arjun.

Aana...

Oru vishayathai mattum innum sollavillai.

"Naan married."

Adhai solla bayam.

Sollama irukka kutra unarvu.

Rendum avanai ulla irundhu izhuththana.

---

Oru iravu...

Aadhi oru voice note anuppinaan.

"Un kural eppadi irukkumnu theriyala. Aana nee ezhudra ovvoru message-layum romba nallavana theriyura."

Arjun adhai moonu murai kettan.

Yaaravadhu...

Avanai purinjukka muyarchi pannina maadhiri avanukku mudhal murai thonichadhu.

---

Adhe nerathula...

Hall-la sofa-la ukkandhu TV paaththukkondirundha Sri, bedroom light innum off aagala-nu gavanichaal.

Clock 11:45.

"Arjun..."

"Hmm?"

"Innum work-aa?"

"Laptop close pannittu varen."

"Daily late aagudhe."

"Project konjam busy."

Sri thalai aattinaal.

"Sari... Seekiram vaa."

Arjun laptop-ai moodinaalum...

Manasu innum chat window-laye irundhadhu.

---

Marunaal madhiyam.

Office canteen.

Rahul sirichu sonnaan.

"Machan... Ippo phone-la dhaan irukka."

"Love-aa?"

Arjun sirichu samaaliththaan.

"Onnum illa da."

"Appo secret friend."

"Nee over imagine panra."

Aana Rahul sonna vaarthai...

"Secret."

Adhu Arjun manasula edho kuththinadhu.

---

Iravu.

Maliga account open panninaan.

Aadhi online.

Sila nimidangal yosiththaan.

Piragu type panninaan.

«Maliga: "Un kitte naan oru mukkiyamaana unmai sollanum."»

Message send panna munnaadiye...

Avan viral stop aayiduchu.

Screen-ai paaththukkondirundhaan.

"Ippo sollalama?"

"Innum konjam wait pannalama?"

Andha oru unmai...

Avan vaazhkaiyai maatrum sakthi kondadhu.

Message innum send aagavillai.

Thodarum...