Cracks
I dont think ur FIL should buy any more gifts" Amma said deeply pained
II looked on dazed
Akka had left II's bedroom the baby still slept on her bed
The new cradle was massive, with a mattress, mattress pad, padding on the side and nice sheets etc, two bags of extra sheets sat on the sides and a bunch of pillows (for when baldie gets older)It was in light and dark blue, The cradle looked out of place in the senior government housing, like a Ferrari parked under the Sector 12 tree, almost occupying the entire space
"HOW many things?" Amma was still in shock
"I mean oru limit vendama?" she prodded
"He did not ask me" II mumbled
"Amma dont yell at her" Akka admonished
"WHERE did I do that?" Amma was upset
"You can return it" II mumbled
Akka turned towards her in shock
Amma looked at her strangely
"I mean... I dont want to upset Athim" she explained
"Did Bala say something to you?" Akka asked getting up again
The baby stirred II left the room and walked to the living room
"Umm no... I havent met Athim" "Wed I think he was home" she mumbled
"Ishita I am sorry kanna" Akka said
II began to cry...
Amma was startled
"ennachu?" (what happened)
"Amma, YOU KNOW Bala didnt want her to book the hall"
"But he only said "I told her its beyond our means" Amma was shocked
Akka squirmed
She knew her husband's temper... Amma knew hers, II knew hers
We all know our spouse's...
"What is this?" "He doesnt have the courage to tell Anna to watch his parents, but" Amma paused
"I told him I am sorry" Ii nodded
"I didnt know how it all happened" Akka mumbled
"Its OK ka u shudnt stress, u have just delivered, its nothing actually"
"Bala was paying for teh hall no?" Amma asked
Akka squirmed
"Amma Bhavna said we "can talk about it later" II explained
"So he thought it was your gift?" Amma asked cynically
"i dont know what he thought" II dismissed "i shudnt have offered, after the ipad fiasco"
Akka hung her head in shame
"its not your fault
"Amma if you think this will cause trouble I can bring help and they can load the stuff up into the car" II offered
Akka was FURIOUS
"NO I wont allow that" she was tearful
Amma was helpless, on the one hand she wanted her daughters to have "everything" so what if one was "gifting" the other, on the other hand she didnt want her daughters to get into a soup with their husband or husband's family either, afterall Iyer women are taught to be "conciliatory"
"See Dad didnt tell me he was going to come by Wed" II said
Amma went to get coffee for II
"I cant run away from their wealth Akka" Ii whispered
Akak looked on in shock...
"I act like it doesnt bother me, but it does... I didnt think this was going to be such a big deal when I married him"
II carefully concealed her own prenup situation
"Dont be silly, how can u run away from money?" Akka scoffed
"I know Athim is unhappy with me, I dont do this to show I have the money, I dont think Dad does it either" II explained, crying again
Akka was helpless, on the one hand she was beginning to suspect Bala was developing jealousy for her sister's wealth, and on the other hand she trusted and believed II's motives
"where is he now?" She asked
"I told u, went to work for a few hours.. should be back for lunch" akka said
"is everything OK?" Akka gently hugged her shoulder
II leaned and nodded
"Sanda potteya rakshasanoda?" (did u fight with your rakshasan?)
"NO, hes cute" she immediately defended him
Akka smiled knowingly "I told you. You were adamant he is not the marrying kind"
"He always wakes me up to eat"
"What?" Akka was confused
AYYYO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOW SHE WILL ASK WHY DO U SLEEP BEFORE LUNCH OR DINNER
II TEVAYA DI IDU?
IS THIS IMPORTANT NOW?
TO TELL HER YOU TAKE NAPS AFTER
UMM... NEVER MIND
AYYO!
MOTOR MOUTH
"I mean... sometimes when I go to bed early" "Because I am tired" she mumbled
Akka pushed her away
" Epdi epdi? tiruppi sollu? TIRED?" Akka laughed hysterically
(What? repeat it will u?)
"Shut up" II ordered
"So cute, u are so lucky, illenna they take what they want and just go watch cricket" Akka spoke cynically
II elbowed her
"No I am serious, if its afternoon its cricket, if its night, then rolls over and sleeps" Akka was suddenly upset
"dont say that ka" Ii begged
I AM ALREADY NOT FEELING TOO WARM AND FIZZY ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND
DONT TRASH HIM
PLEASE
"We were all worrying, well Appa was mostly, he will be uncaring sonna (he said)"
II shook her head defiantly
"they are good people" Akka said firmly
"We have other demons to deal with but the demons we thought there would be have vanished" she spoke philosophically
"Athimber is right" II hinted
"Why?" Akka challenged
"U know if U had married into the Bhalla family I guess I would be like him" II spoke generously
Amma brought coffee finishing up a call with a teacher friend
"Dont take things to the extreme Ishita" Amma scolded
II sulked
"What will Mr Ranjan think if we packed up the crib?" she asked
"innikki crib tomorrow at the baby's birthday if he gifts something else?" II asked
"Apdiye bayandunde irukka mudiyuma?" (we cant live in fear) Amma declared
"I want to know what Bala said to you"
"NOTHING ka, I am not lying" II lied
Akka looked relieved
"After the ipad issue I know he is apologetic, he wont talk like that again" Akka smiled all knowingly
II fought a lump in her throat
There was a knock on the door
It was Athimber...
He nodded on seeing II, not hug or smile
"Its so hot kanna can u bring me something cold?" he asked his wife
Amma was inside, he knew Akka had a "resting period" until the 11th the day of the ceremony
Akka waited for II to jump up and offer, II was nervous, she didnt want Akka to figure out anything while at the same time she didnt want to be rejected again
"Chinna payal enna panraan?" (whats the lil guy doing?) he asked smiling
"Hes asleep, what took u so long?' Akka asked
"Solren" Athim said (shall tell u)
II got up immediately, went to the kitchen, the baby cried, Akka went in, he followed, she made him mango shake, Ranjan had brought snacks (like "100 lbs"... arghhh!!)
WHY IS DAD DOING THIS?
LIKE ATHIM SAID
ITS NOT A A BHALLA CHILD
AYYO!
WHO WILL TELL DAD
PAAVAM
There was boxes and boxes of sweets in the frig and containers of namkeen in the kitchen
She picked up a laddoo it cracked as she set it on the plate so many dry fruit bits in it, she picked up a burfi the edge fell off, she warmed up a bowl of gulab jamun and took it to her room pausing by the shut door
Returned and placed it on the dining table, dialed Sam
"HEY LOVE, Yaad hai main kaun hoon" she demanded
"haan shaayad, ek cute si golu ki Ma" II giggled
"BAS?"
"Umm.. Nandu ki Ma?"
"BAS?"
"OK fine husband's sister?" Ii asked huskily
"Mujhe laga USKO bhi bhool gayi"
" I cant forget him" she retracted
"kYON?" she asked mock seriously
"Main rakh rahi hoon phone" she said
Walked into Amma's room "Amma please Athim ku kudukareya, I put stuff out, I am on a call" she pointed to her phone
amma smiled and nodded
II sighed in relief, and went to the balcony... a million things running through her mind, at what she just did... running away from ATHIM?😭
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