The quiet Sunday morning, Mullai's phone beeped on the nearby stand. Grumbling, Mullai woke up, nicely wrapped inside the quilt. She stretched her body, tapped her mouth to prevent yawns, and scanned Kathir sleeping peacefully nearby.

"Rasiyana mogham," Mullai blew a soft kiss to her sleeping husband. She then glanced at her mobile, dancing due to vibrations.

"Kalangathala yaaru phone parrudhu," she whined, hesitantly taking the mobile. Her eyes widened on seeing the caller ID.

"Paaru ma!"

"Aathi amma," she cleared her throat and answered the call, teasingly twisting her hair. "Matha ji, yenna kazhailayae phone uh...yenna appa koratta sattam pottu thoonga vida mattikirara...?" Mullai playfully asked.

"Yen di naan onnaku phone pannakudada...?" Parvathi asked.

"Pch, appidi naan sonena yenna..." Mullai replied, getting quite angry.

"Kalyanam panni poita odanae amma va marandutta illa, idhuka naan unna pathu masam..." Parvathi started with the typical lines of an Indian mother, but Mullai stopped her.

"Ayoo ma podhum podhum ethana vaati adhayae solluva needhan yenna pathu masam somandhu petha, adhuku naan yenna senjalum eedu agadhu podhuma, ippo vera vishayatha sollu..." Mullai said, shutting her mom's mouth.

"Ippadiyae solli yen vaaiya adachiru...seri mapilla yepadi irrukaru yellam sowkiyama...sandhoshama dhana irrukinga..." Parvathi asked.

"Ella vidathulayum...mmm yenna amma solla varanga..." Mullai bit her lips and rolled her eyes to understand what her mom was trying to make her understand.

"Ohh andha yella vidathulayum ah...achoo indha amma va..." Mullai hit her head, closing half of her face with her palm, making her face look like a bright half-moon.

"Inga patha oru muthathukae vaazhi ya kanom idhula ivara yella vidathulayum sandhoshama vechikanuma...sandhoshama irrunda maari dhan..." Mullai said to herself, shaking her head at her mom's silliness and her husband's laziness.

"Seri ma..." Mullai said softly. Parvathi understood that her daughter caught the point.

"Seri adhu pogatum mapillai ku nalla kaari meen nu edhuttu samaichu kodukuriya..." her mother asked.

"Edhu kaari meen ah yen ma yennakudhan non-veg samaika varadhunu unnaku theriyum la..." Mullai asked, confused.

"Edho seri, kadaila vangura masala packet ellam vangadha edhayavadhu kazhandurupainga, odambuku ottukadha naan veetla masala araichu vechiruken vandhu vangittu po, aprom manga urugai pottu vechiruken adhum vandhu eduttutu po..." Parvathi said strictly.

"Seri ma..." Mullai agreed, smiling.

After a fifteen-minute talk with her mother, Mullai cut the phone, rolled her hair into a bun, and, with a small prayer for a good day, went to the bathroom with her fuzzy purple towel.

**

"Ennanga naan konjam kadaiku poitu vanduren, appadiyae amma vayum pattutu vandhuren..." Mullai said, adjusting the small bindi on her face.

"Mmm seri...ahn yenadhu kadaiku poriya, unnaku konjam mavadhu arivu irruka..." Kathir said, frowning.

"Yenga titturinga..." Mullai said, pouting her rosy lips.

"Tittama pinna konjuvangala unna..." Kathir pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Ama appadiyae konjitalum..." Mullai mumbled, looking somewhere.

"Yenna sonna..." Kathir asked, seeing her mumble something.

"Ahn onnulayae..." Mullai said, shaking her head, giving out an innocent look.

"Unga akka veetla irrukangalae naanum indhe veetla dhan irruken adhu nyabagam irruka, yennayum unga akka vayum indha veetla thaniya vitutu pona indha flat la irruka mathavanga yenna nenaipanga..." Kathir stated.

Understanding dawned on Mullai; she closed her eyes, biting her tongue for not thinking properly.

"Ayoo sorry nga naan oru makku adha pathi yosikala..." Mullai said, giving a sheepish smile.

"Adhan theriyumae..." Kathir replied, folding his hands behind.

"Seri polambadha unna mapillaiku eppadiya innaiku kaari edhuttu senju tharen podhuma..." Mullai asked rolling her eyes.

"Ahn seri, adiyae kadaila vangura masala packet ellam vangadha edhayavadhu kazhandurupainga, odambuku ottukadha naan veetla masala araichu vechiruken vandhu vangittu po, aprom manga urugai pottu vechiruken adhum vandhu eduttutu po..." Parvathi said strictly.

"Seri ma..." Mullai agreed, smiling.

And then, after a fifteen-minute talk with her mother, Mullai cut the phone, rolled her hair into a bun, and, with a small prayer for a good day, went to the bathroom with her fuzzy purple towel.

**

"Ennanga naan konjam kadaiku poitu vanduren, appadiyae amma vayum pattutu vandhuren..." Mullai said, adjusting the small bindi on her face.

"Mmm seri...ahn yenadhu kadaiku poriya, unnaku konjam mavadhu arivu irruka..." Kathir said, frowning.

"Yenga titturinga..." Mullai said, pouting her rosy lips.

"Tittama pinna konjuvangala unna..." Kathir pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Ama appadiyae konjitalum..." Mullai mumbled, looking somewhere.

"Yenna sonna..." Kathir asked, seeing her mumble something.

"Ahn onnulayae..." Mullai said, shaking her head, giving out an innocent look.

"Unga akka veetla irrukangalae naanum indhe veetla dhan irruken adhu nyabagam irruka, yennayum unga akka vay

Certainly, I can help with that. Here's an edited version of the chapter:

---

"Ennanga naan konjam kadaiku poitu vanduren, appadiyae amma vayum pattutu vandhuren," Mullai said, adjusting the small tiny bindi on her face.

"Mmm, seri... ahn yenadhu kadaiku poriya, unnaku konjam mavadhu arivu irruka," Kathir said, frowning.

"Yenga titturinga," Mullai said, pouting her rosy lips.

"Tittama pinna konjuvangala unna," Kathir pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Ama appadiyae konjitalum," Mullai mumbled, looking somewhere.

"Yenna sonna," Kathir asked, seeing her mumble something.

"Ahn onnulayae," Mullai said, shaking her head, giving out an innocent look.

"Unga akka veetla irrukangalae naanum indhe veetla dhan irruken adhu nyabagam irruka, yennayum unga akka vayum indha veetla thaniya vitutu pona indha flat la irruka mathavanga yenna nenaipanga," Kathir stated.

As understanding dawned on Mullai, she closed her eyes, biting her tongue for not thinking properly.

"Ayoo sorry nga naan oru makku adha pathi yosikala," Mullai said, giving a sheepish smile.

"Adhan theriyumae," Kathir replied, folding his hands behind.

"Yenna theriyum," Mullai asked, confused.

"Nee makku nu," Kathir said, giving a sly smile.

"Yedhuuu... ungalala," Mullai took her comb, which was placed nearby, and threw it at him.

Kathir dodged off the comb with his hand, laughing.

"Hey chumma sonnen di," Kathir said in a flow.

Mullai, who was laughing along, stopped with a shocked look present on her face.

He said what...!

Di...!

Kathir blinked like a toddler having been caught for stealing toffees.

"Adhu... vandhu edho... theriyama... oru flow la... sorry," he said, rubbing his nape.

Mullai's shocked expression turned into an amused smile, and she raised a brow at him.

"Paravala di nu sollikonga, naan unga pondatti dhana," she said in a soft tone, giving a mischievous smirk.

Kathir stood there gaping at her, totally at a loss for words.

"Apadiyae sellai maari nikkama sikiram neengalae poi unga mamanar veetla irru dhu masala vangittu vanga," Mullai said, moving to the kitchen.

Kathir opened his mouth after a long time as he whispered yelled at her retreating figure.

"Edhu....!!"

---

Manju strolled aimlessly in the hall, glancing at the kitchen now and then.

"Rendu mani ayiduchu, innum nee samaikala yennayum kitchen kulla vara vida mattengira yenna dhan di pannura..." Manju shouted from the hall.

"Chickton....!!" Mullai shouted back from the kitchen.

Kathir, engrossed in the twenty twenty match and sipping 7UP, spit out the flavored water upon hearing the name.

"Enadhu chickton ah..." Kathir shrieked.

"Ama, chicken um mutton sendhu onna samaika poren..." Mullai hollered as she came to the hallway with the spatula.

"Innaiku sapta maari dhan..." Manju said, shaking her head.

"Unnakku porama ju, naan ivalo arivalliya irrukenu..." Mullai gloated, raising her invisible collars.

"Adhu seri ennaku un mela poramaiya, kadavulae..." Manju hit her head.

"Edho karungura vasana varudhu..." Kathir said, rubbing his nose.

"Ayoo.." Mullai jumped and ran into the kitchen.

Manju followed her, witnessing her sister's pitiful look at the pot.

"Ennachu..." Manju asked concerned.

"Mutton nalla dhan cook ayiruku..." Mullai trailed.

"Seri..." Manju said.

"Ana mutton cook aguradhukulla chicken paste maari ayiduchu..." Mullai pouted, showing her the pan.

Manju gave the most disbelieving look she could ever muster.

Another kitchen failure.

Kathir, hearing this, started laughing loudly, clutching his stomach.

"Idhuku dhan sapatta vechu experiment panna kudhadhunu solradhu..." Manju said disapprovingly.

"Thallu naan pannuren..." Manju said, pushing her sister aside softly.

"Naan venumna help pannatuma..." Mullai asked.

"Ayyo onnum venam thayae, nee pesama poi sofa la amaidiya ukkandha adhuvae periya help dhan..." Manju folded her hands.

Mullai gave an embarrassed smile and left the kitchen.

Kathir moved aside, scooting some space for her while laughing silently.

"Yenna siripu ungaluku..." she asked irritatingly.

"Illa un moghatha ippo pakkanumae...it's just priceless, you know.." Kathir said, laughing out loudly again.

Mullai's nostrils flared, making her nose look redder than a parrot's.

"Hmph..." she turned aside with grumpiness, folding her hands near her bosom like a kid who lost his favorite cycle.

Kathir's laughter slowly died as he smiled at his wife's childish behavior.

"Hey, naan chumma dhan sonnen..." Kathir said softly, looking at her back.

Mullai, who heard that, let a small, very small smirk escape her lips but closed her mouth immediately.

"Unnaku non-veg samaika varlana yenkitta sollirukalamae naan senjurupen.." he said, crossing his head at the side.

Mullai immediately turned to his side with wide eyes.

"Edhu neengala karuvapillai edhu kothamalli edhunae ungaluku theriyadha neenga non-veg samaika poringala..." she asked sarcastically.

"Oye yenna nakala..adhellama yengaluku samaika theriyum, biryani kuda pannuven theriyuma..." he said proudly.

"Yenna biryani, kaka biryani ya.." Mullai asked mischievously.

"Illa kazhudha biryani.." Kathir retorted back angrily.

"Seri seri oru comedy dhan sonnen, odanae kochukadinga, appo yenaku oru naal unga biryani senju tharuvingala..." Mullai asked, scooting closer to him.

Kathir, who was watching the match, looked at her with a fond smile.

"Kandippa..." he said, changing the channel.

"Sapudura maari irrukum la..." Mullai asked worriedly.

"Naan senju tharen oru naal, nee adha saptutu sandhoshathula yenna..." Kathir said excitedly but stopped in the middle.

Mullai, who was sitting near him, found blush rising to her coy cheeks.

"Sandhoshathula yenna..." she asked with expecting eyes.

"Unna..." Kathir stammered without knowing what to say.

"Sapadu ready..." Manju shouted walking from the kitchen.

Mullai and Kathir, who were near to each other, jumped apart.

"Na...naan.kitchen ku poren..." she said looking down.

Mullai rushed inside the kitchen, and Kathir ran his fingers onto his hair frustratingly.

What was he about to say...?

**
"Yennanga poi dhan aganuma..." Mullai asked worriedly for the nth time, visible concern in her eyes.

"Ethana vaati solradhu mulla...office la irrundhu poga sollirukanga, rendu naal trip dhan sikiram vanduruven..." Kathir said, pulling the zipper of his small luggage.

"Naan..naanum airport varaikum varatuma..." she asked, clutching the ends of her pallu.

Kathir let out a small huff and turned to her with a reassuring smile.

She looked beautiful even in her discomfort, holding her saree and looking around.

"Seri va...!" he said, putting on his coat.

Mullai rushed out, eager to call the taxi. The entire ride to the airport was silent. Mullai stared out the window at the fast-moving trees, lost in thought.

Kathir, absent-mindedly sitting, noticed her moodiness and sadness. He scooted close to her, noticing her hand on the car seat.

After a mental debate, he reached out for her hand, placing his warm hand on her cold palm. Mullai, looking outside, turned and saw his hand holding hers.

She then looked up at him with a nameless expression. He gave her a small smile as he held her hand more tightly, and they remained like that for the rest of the ride.

**

"Luggage water bottle, ellam eduttukittingala..." Mullai asked, examining his backpack.

"Haan ellam edhuttukuten..." Kathir said, staring at her.

"Seri appo pathu bathrama poittu vanga..." Mullai said, standing back, maintaining a safe distance between them.

A dense silence prevailed. She wanted to hug him and kiss him, saying she would miss him, but it would be awkward.

"Bye..." Kathir said in a deep tone.

"Hmm..bye..." Mullai shook her head, looking at the ground.

Before she knew it, she saw him going. Mullai let out a small huff and turned back, starting to walk. She stopped, turned back one last time just to see him.

As she slowly turned, her eyes widened as saucers. He was walking towards her in a fast pace. What was he doing here? Didn't he get into the plane?

Kathir stood before her, catching his breath.

"Pogala..." Mullai's words died as he pulled her into a huge hug. Mullai's body stiffened but loosened immediately as Kathir held her tightly.

He hugged her as though she would vanish into the air. Smiling, Mullai returned the hug gladly. It felt like her deepest fantasy coming true.

Kathir pulled away and stared at her face for a second. Then he did the unexpected – he trailed his head upwards, placing his hand behind her head and gently pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. Mullai melted right on the spot like wax, closing her eyes as she held back her tears. How much she had longed for that, how much she had yearned for it.

Kathir stepped back and looked into her eyes, saying, "Naan unna rombha miss pannuven...!!"

To be continued...