The anguish of returns
"Who were u talking to?" he asked her
"Sam" "She wants me to go home for dinner"
He waited
"Jaoon?" she asked politely
He chuckled
She went off and "did her own thing" for the most inappropriate things but she was asking him if she could go to Sam's for dinner
"Just you?" he teased softly
"I could take Shatabdi with me if Akka will allow it" she deliberately misunderstood him
She seemed shifty eyed and uncomfortable in the presence of her BIL he noticed
Mr Iyer was not around, saved him some heartburn
"Kab tak ho yaha?" her sister asked
He noticed II held her breath and waited
"I am not sure" he said
"He is his own boss di, he can stay in whichever continent however long he wants" Bala explained to his wife
R&B tried to ignore the lil whiff of envy in Bala's statement
"Thats not true actually" R&B said
"Kyon, tumhe kaun poochhega?" Vandu asked smiling wide
"Its still about getting work done... we have other partner/directors" R&B explained
"U dont have to ask for time off no" Vandu sighed
"Yes we do, there is 7 of us, we need to know where everyone is" R&B smiled warmly
"Trekking jaate ho tab bhi kaam karte ho?" Vandu enquired innocently
"Umm no... I dont like to, since thats why I want to get away in the first place"
"Isko bhi lekar jao kabhi" her Akka ordered
"She went yesterday" he said
"how did u like it?" Akka asked eagerly
"Terrain was too rough, he walks too fast, and is holding my hand so I cant wander" II grumbled
R&B laughed, a full throttle one
"Bahar sahi hai nahi for all the outdoor stuff?" Bala asked with a faraway look
"Thats not true" R&B explained
"yaha kidhar hai terk, hike etc" Bala expressed frustration at the lack of good resources
"There are communities online that meet every weekend" R&B explained
"Tu us group mein hain?" Bala asked startled
"Umm no... I grew up here right, so I know the whereabouts, if it was Morocco or Maldives, then maybe" he nodded
"How is Samyukta?" Amma asked walking into the kitchen
"She is great Mrs Iyer" R&B said politely
"she is very warm and affectionate" Amma explained
R&B nodded
"How is Manya?" Amma asked suddenly, a guilty flush covering her face at completely forgetting her
"Shes good too, busy" R&B said
"Is she studying here?" Amma asked
"Not quite, " R&B chuckled "shes busy doing stuff only she knows" he admitted
"She is quiet isnt she?" Amma paused by the kitchen doorway
"No!! Not really" R&B was surprised
"Oh?" Amma looked at her daughter's face
II squirmed
"I only speak more to Sam, Manya se meri baat nahi hoti" she explained to her husband
He smiled disarmingly, not taking offence
"Plus noone can talk as much as my Ishita" Amma declared
The "my" rankled him, but he saw the humor
"That is... quite true" he said mischievously
"I mind my own business dude, like you talk to me, ghar par hotey ho tab bhi baat nahi karte, books office, music, even
in Paris its the same story, I am talking to myself only so after point I thought why cant I be quiet too, so I dont say much. This is the new me quiet and shy"
she spoke breathlessly for 3 minutes to clarify how she was very QUIET
He turned to her, she bit her lower lip when she realized he noticed her tirade
He wished they were in MM, he wanted to bend down and stroke the bruised lower lip (she was biting on to)
"Did she come to see the baby?" Bala enquired
AYYYO! ATHIM
REALLY?
DID U HAVE TO ASK THAT?
AYYO!
SHE DIDNT
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT
THATS MEAN!!
Vandu shook her head
"she is busy avar solrar(he seems to say) she will come, Vandita doesnt have to go to Paris,
she can come whenever" in an attempt to reassure her new son in law, Amma ended up poking the older one
Bala didnt look happy
"If everyone goes off to Paris who will be in India?" Bala began miffed "Ek ghar mein ek Parisian kaafi hai kyon dude" he smiled
R&B nodded, noticing the sting, and the balm
"abhi do Parisians" Akka winked looking at II
"Arey main Dilli waali hoon, no I am a Punjabi now"
Akka looked at her startled
Everyone burst out laughing her rakshasan, nodded smugly
"about time u admit that" look on his face
"I MEANT BECAUSE I LIVE THERE NOW" Ii explained
WHAT IS SAID IS SAID YOU IDIOT
HE KNOWS NOW YOU ARE A PUNJABI
NIIICE
HE WILL TORMENT YOU WHEN HE GETS A CHANCES
THANKS
GBYE
"Tuesday bhoolna mat haan?" Vandita warned him
He nodded
His wife's face paled
"Umm ya.. like you have to tell us" she chuckled
"Do u need a ride to Sam's?" he asked
"Tum nahi ja rahe?" she was disappointed
He half smiled
II attempted to hand the baby to Athim as he sat the closest
He didnt make any attempt to reach out and grab
"akka hold the superfast train" she chuckled
She kissed him nany many times on his sleepy cheeks, peered at his head hard
"I DONT SEE ANY SIGNS" she looked up shocked
"Podi, like it will grow in 5 days"
"Why not? Do we have to send an application?" she felt the bald pate...
"Paavam di" Akka laughed
"Hes cute as a baldie.. I like him this way" II declared
"Tere pati ke dher saare baal hain to mere bete ko ganja mat kar" Akka chuckled
Athim grunted, taking Akka's statement seriously
"I hope you have a baldie" Akka "cursed"
"ayyo I would just lay there with my cheek on the head" she sighed
"chal bhai.. grant kar request... baby and bald" Akka laughed hysterically
R&B nodded, getting up
"Parson aa jaayegi car" Bala said cheerfully
II looked at him confused
"He says parosn but it will be a week" Akka spoke protectively
"No no... its nothing much so he will give it back" Bala was unhappy that his wife was not taking his side
"We can return your car day after tomorrow"Bala said and ended with a "Kanna" as an afterthought
Who would tell him? RETURNING something out of turn hurts so much more than taking...
AYYO!!
I NEVER ASKED FOR THE CAR BACK
YOU DONT HAVE TO DO THAT ATHIM
I WILL NEVER EVER SUGGEST HELPING OUT AGAIN
PLEASE!!!
If she had stayed a minute longer she would have burst into tears but she quickly went down the stairs before her husband
Her cheek bones hurt holding back the tears, and her throat felt like it would close in and choke her
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
II looked up at the balcony many times as she walked around the house to
get to the Ferrari, Amma held the baby, Akka and Bala stood there staring down
II spoke animatedly about something irrelevant
"Saara din aise hi baat karti rehti hai?" Akka called out
R&B looked up and smiled, and nodded, pausing
"Are u listening to what I am saying?" Ii was mock offended
"No I am just sympathizing with him" Akka said cheerfully
"Dont forget Tuesday" Bala reminded
"Wont" R&B nodded, II waved, Akka waved back
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mangal Lakshmi
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Real Estate
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