"I should have gone with her ... I should not have let her insist on going there by herself ... " he sighs impatiently ...
"Clang" suddenly he hears the sound of the front gate opening ... he rushes to the front door and sees Thulasi entering with an thrilled smile ...
Tamil grumbles "You are late!" ... Thuls smile becomes wider and standing on her toes ... she pinches his cheeks "I'm sorry that I'm late but I got held up by Sundari ma as she wanted me to have lunch with them."...
Tamil takes Thulasi's hand in his and while ushering her into the house ... he heaves a sigh of relief and smiles back "So kuttima ... looks like you had a nice time at my "Athai's" house."
Thulasi giggles and nods her head and then narrates how TPS mom was constantly ragging Bhuvana ... Tamil roars with laughter and regrets that he was not there in person to witness Bhuvana squirming ...
Thulasi adds smugly "Sundari ma is holding a party in a star hotel to celebrate her wedding anniversary ... so come on let's get ready ... "
Tamil's mouth gapes open "What! Star Hotel! Wow! They are really doing it in full style... "
Thulasi nods her head excitedly "Yes come on ... come on hurry up ... let's get ready and join the fun!" ... She pushes Tamil into the bedroom ... Tamil frees himself laughing out loudly ... "Wait ... wait Kuttima ... let me lock up the front door ..."
Thulasi runs to her wardrobe ... so many beautiful saris that she has not worn at all ... she pushes through the hangers until her hand pulls out a lovely bottle green chiffon sari which was given to her by Tamil a long time ago ... she places it carefully on the bed ... takes a towel and enters the bathroom to have a quick shower and a hair wash...
After locking the front door Tamil enters the bedroom and his eyes fall on the sari draped on the bed ... he quickly goes out of the room again ... picks up his bike keys and the house key ... and locking the front door from outside ... he rides out ...
By the time Thulasi finishes her bath Tamil reenters the house with some parcels in his hand which he places on the table ... Thuls steps out of the bathroom wearing a nightgown and her hair gathered up in a towel ... She sits on the bed and loosens her hair and slowly wipes it dry ...
Tamil cannot take his eyes from Thulasi ... she makes such a pretty picture ... small beads of water hanging from the tips of her hair ... her twinkling black eyes peeping out through the strands of her wet hair ...
All of a sudden the clock chimes ... Thulasi looks at the time ... four o'clock ... and regretfully pulls down his hand ... Tamil looks disappointedly at her ... she smiles ruefully and hands him his towel ... "Please shower quickly and get dressed ... it's getting late..."
Tamil halfheartedly enters the bathroom and Thulasi starts dressing herself in her sari ...
When Tamil finishes his shower and enters the bedroom with a towel around his waist ... he finds Thulasi sitting on the edge of the bed with a frustrated expression ... her hands clutching the middle portion of her sari in front of her ...
Tamil grins impishly and offers his help "What happened Kuttima? ... Why are you pouting? Do you want any help?"
Thulasi cries out "I think I have overworked my injured hand ... it is aching ... and I am not able to make the pleats ... I have been struggling so much with this slippery sari."
Tamil pulls the sari from her hands and neatly pleats it and brings it to her waist to tuck it in ... Thulasi breath catches ... "No! No! I can manage to do that on my own!" she cries out in a soft breathless voice ... She turns her back to him and tucks the pleats and pins it ...
Tamil puts his hands around her slim waist and pulls her against his broad chest and whispers huskily in her ears "Why Kuttima? Don't you want me to help you now to pleat and drape the front end of your sari over your shoulder?"
Thulasi unfastens his hands and pushes him away and smiles shyly "Ala parunga! I know where all this will lead to ... now leave me alone and quickly dress up ... see I have laid out the light green shirt and the black trousers for you to wear ... please hurry up!"
While Tamil is dressing up ... Thulasi goes over to her dressing table mirror ... sits on the low stool and starts brushing out her hair ... then she braids it and secures it with a clasp ... and looks at herself in the mirror ... suddenly her eyes meet Tamil's eyes and draw her attention to him as by a magnetic pull ... her eyes widen as he steps closer ...
Tamil kneels down behind her ... and gently pushes her braid to one side ... and gently encircles her neck with a lovely silver necklace encrusted with emerald stones ... Thulasi gasps in surprise ... Tamil slowly traces his fingers around her neck and around her necklace ... then he helps her to put on the earrings ... and then steps back to see the effect ... his Kuttima really looks like a princess ... he bends down to kiss her on the curve of her slender neck ...
"Okay kuttima I'm ready ... let's go and have fun ... " Quickly Thulasi slips on her heels ... gives herself one last look in the mirror ... grabs her purse off the dressing table ... and follows Tamil out ...
Tamil slams the door shut ... locking it behind him ... they get into their bike and make their way to the hotel ...