Posted:
Kargil War & Kamakshi Athai
(Author's Note: Since she is so adorable Kamakshi Athai gets her own title now and then)
From the moment they entered the tiny government housing the family almost overpowered everyone by just their presence
People gawked openly, Bala's Anna and Manni came down from upstairs, Manni stared at Samyukta's saree and almost invisible jewelry. đ¤
But yet there was "something about Samyukta" Gayatri Manni thoughtđĄ.
There was a few rented chairs folded in one corner
amma quickly kicked them open
"No no aunty, we will sit down" Samyukta hissed
"No... the men can sit no?" Amma enquired
"they have come to a Iyer home, things will be different" Appa smiled politely
"Different nahi Mr Iyer, fantastic, I was smelling the sambar and the incense and the shehnai all the way to the street" Ranjan declared
"Yes yes, u must have tiffin" Appa ordered
The cook had a help, he brought out a roll of banana leaves, and placed it along the wall by the balcony door
"Please have breakfast first" Amma requested
R&B dragged his feet
HE NEEDED help... his wife!!! He was tongue tied and anxious
"aunty he is very shy, ghar par khaakar aaya hoga" Sam protected her baby bro
"No, there is nothing to be shy, this is his house too" Amma included him cheerily
The bhajan mandli ladies exchanged looks and giggled secretly
Amma said out loud to them
"Aval illena ivanukku swarasya padadu, enna panradu... ava Amristar la poi okkandu irukka"
(he doesnt like it if shes not around, what to do shes in Amristsar)
"Pesave maatano?" one mami asked (doesnt he talk)
"My friend wants to know if he ever talks"
Sam laughed "aunty usually he would but itne saare log hain to baat nahi karega" she smiled knowingly
"Aunty MUJHSE baat kariye" Tan offered
Amma patted his shoulder "yes yes... u are like our son too"
"How is Ishita" Appa asked her husband
"Good" R&B said
"did u talk to her this morning?"
He nodded
"She should have been here" Appa accused R&B
R&B nodded
"avana modalla saapda sollungo" (let him eat first)
Kamakshi Janaki Athai Amma, the cook the helper they all hovered around Bhallas serving pouring water out etc
"Can I get Nandu?" Amma offered
"aunty he loves vadas, pehle main kha loon?" she smiled
Amma laughed and served more, Lasya leaped from Appa's arms back to Sam's
Sofia was eating on the other side..."Main pakdoon bhabhi"
"nahi tu kha le" Sam slowed down as Lasya aimed for the idlis
Amma gave her one whole one... she coooed "OMG!! MY VERY OWN FLYING SAUCER?" she said to Amma
"Eduthukko kanna" Amma begged
She cooed drooled and grabbed it AND DROPPED IT, PLOPPP all over Sam's banana leaf
the sambar splattered.
"aunty hold her please Sam ko khaane nahi degi" Tan ordered
Amma gladly picked her up, handing her a spoon instead...
R&B sat down cross legged near Tan, the helper placed the pumpkin halwa first followed by idlis and sambar
And chutney, he ate sparingly
"Ishita has never missed a family function" Appa declared
"I KNOW Uncle, I spoke to her last night.. she was feeling terrible. Ive never had a job or career so I cant even imagine" Sam spoke in awe
"where is Manya?" Appa asked
Amma squirmed
"She is a student, chhutthi par hai, she will come when she wakes up, she has promised" Ranjan spoke confidently
"Do u need a fork?" Amma asked R&B
"No.. Mrs Iyer" (I NEED MY WIFE, he thought)
"In some gorgeous flowing Kanjeevaram, with those huge kohl lined eyes, and
powdered vermilion on her parting, her jhumkas bobbing as she spoke breathlessly.
She would sit on the bed bending down to wear her anklet, he would tap her elbow everytime when she was close to hooking the S clip
"Yenn da" she would yell looking up
Once, twice... and finally "rakshasanney" she would shriek
But she would always wear it where he was
He would pin her down and kiss her... "We are late" she would beg
"I know" he would nod, kissing her again
bala walked out wearing a new veshti and the wrap tied around his waist
Smiling and greeting the Bhallas
"hey sorry about the keys man" he said to R&B
"thats fine" R&B nodded
The priests were chanting loudly now, the Ganpati homam
"Ennachu?" Appa asked defensively, unable to bear his fave son in law, apologize to his arch enemy
"Mama (Iyer son in laws address FIL as Mama) Ishita keys tolachuten nethikki Munirka Mraket la) (I lost II's key)
Appa squirmed, he was a very disciplined man, he still had his Premier Padmini key and the 1984 Maruti 800 keys
"He said its OK, I thought we might have to get it towed" Bala's eyes reflected his gratitude
"She is very careless she misplaced the other key, u lost the only remaining one?" Appa was unhappy
"It was just a key" R&B reassured
"Ya to YOU it was just a key, you scored a point with my daughter. My fave son in law now feels embarrassed" Appa was unexplainably disappointed
"where is the baby?" R&B asked
"Athai was readying for a ceremonial bath yaar" Bala responded
"Vandu enge ma" Bala turned and asked his mother
"She is getting ready" his Mom told him,
He didnt go into II's room, they had been avoiding each other, last night Amma and Janaki Athai slept by Akka
Bala slept in Appa's room
Ambala Anna introduced himself all over again to R&B, quoting the rank and tenure and the honors he has received
"He was in the Kargil War" Bala exclaimed proudly
Tan and him spoke more to Ambala Anna
Manni admired Sam's saree and slowly began questioning her, after having met them briefly on March 7th & 8th
as a "a punjabi family, Bala's sister in law was marrying", she was slowly expressing curiosity...
Sam was a darling she was only too happy to answer
Ranjan joined in on the talks of geo political tensions on the border
R&B was done after two idlis... he ate one vada.. that is it, no pongal he said
He got up, folding up his leaf
Amma was overjoyed "paiyyan is becoming an Iyer" (boy)
The helper grabbed the leaf, Bala showed him a bathroom, he washed up
Amma ordered the cook to hand him coffee in a mug, he wanted it in davara tumbler
"Mukund my son is also in the army now, he is waiting for his posting he went to NDA" Anna bragged
"U have two boys?" R&B asked
"Yep dono sher hain dono forces mein jaayenge" Anna was all heroic today
He could serve the country, but not care for his parents.
For soome love public glory, people like Akka and Athimber sought private rewards in smiles of Thatha and Paati
The priest called Appa and asked him to bring Akka and the baby
Amma was gone along with Janaki Athai in readying the baby, Ambala Anna's wife, Gayatri Manni didnt bother even asking if any help was needed
Her family served the "country" the home be damned
Bala squirmed darting looks at II's room... the doors were shut
Akka walked out with the baby in 15 minutes...
Appa increased the volume of the shehnai
Sam and Tan and Amma's friends all stood up
Amma's friends sang Gauri Kalyanam (a traditional Iyer greeting) Appa's eyes filled up with tears watching his oldest holding her newborn
Periappa was propped up in a easy chair by Bala's Dad. Bala's Dad was quizzing R&B agaian,
in the cacophony... all the same questions he asked 6 months ago
that night when he brought Shravu and his soon to be wife II home to Munirka, when Kamakshi Athai grated coconut on sheets of newspaper on the living room floor
the cooker whistled in the kitchen, Akka sat down on the wooden plank bearing the baby
Sam cooed from where she was... Lasya stretched, curious about the lil wiggling object on Vandu's lap
Baldie? Baldie wore a TINY silk veshti... and a chandan ka teeka his belly button all healed, was now a crusty brown spot
akka wrapped him in his silk zari scarf... Akka didnt look at Athim's face or smiled at him, Amma and Appa both noticed it
The tiny living and dining was quickly filling up with new people
Kamakshi Athai walked over to R&B and tapped him, he bend down to five feet "I thought I will have grand daughter" she complained
R&B chuckled and half smiled, accepting her grievance application
"All grandsons, no pethi (grand daughters in Tamil) for Srini" (Bala's Dad)" she accused
Kamakshi Athai lamented in broken English the "plight" of her brother
"understood" R&B repeated no knowing what to say
"You must have daughters" Athai shouted through the din...
"Sure" R&B smiled
"Eppo?" (when) Athai demanded, SHE HAD TO KNOW YOU SEE...
He squirmed, not knowing what to say
"Epoo na, Tamizhla? WHEN?" Athai transalated for the man who was already making it his biz to master
the language, because his wife cursed and cooed in it
He had erotica and curses mastered already...
"Jee sure" he muttered.. sincerely
The nadaswarm quietned...the chanting continued
Athai hard of hearing declared to the world "THIS YEAR SOLRAAN dee Pankaja" she told Bala's mother...
They all turned towards her, and she repeated it loudly
"Ishita ku inda varusham seemandam solran" (Ishita's god bharai will be this year)
R&B didnt quite get the gist of that...
He smiled
Amma's eyes glistened with hope
Appa stiffened at the possibility of having to deal with more creatures like the tall man
The room broke into a thunderous laugh and clapped, when Bala translated/explained his Kamakshi Athai's fortune telling stunt
His wife texted him "shave pannindeya?" she asked (u shaved didnt u?)
"No" he lied with a half smile...
(Author's Note: Since she is so adorable Kamakshi Athai gets her own title now and then)
From the moment they entered the tiny government housing the family almost overpowered everyone by just their presence
People gawked openly, Bala's Anna and Manni came down from upstairs, Manni stared at Samyukta's saree and almost invisible jewelry. đ¤
But yet there was "something about Samyukta" Gayatri Manni thoughtđĄ.
There was a few rented chairs folded in one corner
amma quickly kicked them open
"No no aunty, we will sit down" Samyukta hissed
"No... the men can sit no?" Amma enquired
"they have come to a Iyer home, things will be different" Appa smiled politely
"Different nahi Mr Iyer, fantastic, I was smelling the sambar and the incense and the shehnai all the way to the street" Ranjan declared
"Yes yes, u must have tiffin" Appa ordered
The cook had a help, he brought out a roll of banana leaves, and placed it along the wall by the balcony door
"Please have breakfast first" Amma requested
R&B dragged his feet
HE NEEDED help... his wife!!! He was tongue tied and anxious
"aunty he is very shy, ghar par khaakar aaya hoga" Sam protected her baby bro
"No, there is nothing to be shy, this is his house too" Amma included him cheerily
The bhajan mandli ladies exchanged looks and giggled secretly
Amma said out loud to them
"Aval illena ivanukku swarasya padadu, enna panradu... ava Amristar la poi okkandu irukka"
(he doesnt like it if shes not around, what to do shes in Amristsar)
"Pesave maatano?" one mami asked (doesnt he talk)
"My friend wants to know if he ever talks"
Sam laughed "aunty usually he would but itne saare log hain to baat nahi karega" she smiled knowingly
"Aunty MUJHSE baat kariye" Tan offered
Amma patted his shoulder "yes yes... u are like our son too"
"How is Ishita" Appa asked her husband
"Good" R&B said
"did u talk to her this morning?"
He nodded
"She should have been here" Appa accused R&B
R&B nodded
"avana modalla saapda sollungo" (let him eat first)
Kamakshi Janaki Athai Amma, the cook the helper they all hovered around Bhallas serving pouring water out etc
"Can I get Nandu?" Amma offered
"aunty he loves vadas, pehle main kha loon?" she smiled
Amma laughed and served more, Lasya leaped from Appa's arms back to Sam's
Sofia was eating on the other side..."Main pakdoon bhabhi"
"nahi tu kha le" Sam slowed down as Lasya aimed for the idlis
Amma gave her one whole one... she coooed "OMG!! MY VERY OWN FLYING SAUCER?" she said to Amma
"Eduthukko kanna" Amma begged
She cooed drooled and grabbed it AND DROPPED IT, PLOPPP all over Sam's banana leaf
the sambar splattered.
"aunty hold her please Sam ko khaane nahi degi" Tan ordered
Amma gladly picked her up, handing her a spoon instead...
R&B sat down cross legged near Tan, the helper placed the pumpkin halwa first followed by idlis and sambar
And chutney, he ate sparingly
"Ishita has never missed a family function" Appa declared
"I KNOW Uncle, I spoke to her last night.. she was feeling terrible. Ive never had a job or career so I cant even imagine" Sam spoke in awe
"where is Manya?" Appa asked
Amma squirmed
"She is a student, chhutthi par hai, she will come when she wakes up, she has promised" Ranjan spoke confidently
"Do u need a fork?" Amma asked R&B
"No.. Mrs Iyer" (I NEED MY WIFE, he thought)
"In some gorgeous flowing Kanjeevaram, with those huge kohl lined eyes, and
powdered vermilion on her parting, her jhumkas bobbing as she spoke breathlessly.
She would sit on the bed bending down to wear her anklet, he would tap her elbow everytime when she was close to hooking the S clip
"Yenn da" she would yell looking up
Once, twice... and finally "rakshasanney" she would shriek
But she would always wear it where he was
He would pin her down and kiss her... "We are late" she would beg
"I know" he would nod, kissing her again
bala walked out wearing a new veshti and the wrap tied around his waist
Smiling and greeting the Bhallas
"hey sorry about the keys man" he said to R&B
"thats fine" R&B nodded
The priests were chanting loudly now, the Ganpati homam
"Ennachu?" Appa asked defensively, unable to bear his fave son in law, apologize to his arch enemy
"Mama (Iyer son in laws address FIL as Mama) Ishita keys tolachuten nethikki Munirka Mraket la) (I lost II's key)
Appa squirmed, he was a very disciplined man, he still had his Premier Padmini key and the 1984 Maruti 800 keys
"He said its OK, I thought we might have to get it towed" Bala's eyes reflected his gratitude
"She is very careless she misplaced the other key, u lost the only remaining one?" Appa was unhappy
"It was just a key" R&B reassured
"Ya to YOU it was just a key, you scored a point with my daughter. My fave son in law now feels embarrassed" Appa was unexplainably disappointed
"where is the baby?" R&B asked
"Athai was readying for a ceremonial bath yaar" Bala responded
"Vandu enge ma" Bala turned and asked his mother
"She is getting ready" his Mom told him,
He didnt go into II's room, they had been avoiding each other, last night Amma and Janaki Athai slept by Akka
Bala slept in Appa's room
Ambala Anna introduced himself all over again to R&B, quoting the rank and tenure and the honors he has received
"He was in the Kargil War" Bala exclaimed proudly
Tan and him spoke more to Ambala Anna
Manni admired Sam's saree and slowly began questioning her, after having met them briefly on March 7th & 8th
as a "a punjabi family, Bala's sister in law was marrying", she was slowly expressing curiosity...
Sam was a darling she was only too happy to answer
Ranjan joined in on the talks of geo political tensions on the border
R&B was done after two idlis... he ate one vada.. that is it, no pongal he said
He got up, folding up his leaf
Amma was overjoyed "paiyyan is becoming an Iyer" (boy)
The helper grabbed the leaf, Bala showed him a bathroom, he washed up
Amma ordered the cook to hand him coffee in a mug, he wanted it in davara tumbler
"Mukund my son is also in the army now, he is waiting for his posting he went to NDA" Anna bragged
"U have two boys?" R&B asked
"Yep dono sher hain dono forces mein jaayenge" Anna was all heroic today
He could serve the country, but not care for his parents.
For soome love public glory, people like Akka and Athimber sought private rewards in smiles of Thatha and Paati
The priest called Appa and asked him to bring Akka and the baby
Amma was gone along with Janaki Athai in readying the baby, Ambala Anna's wife, Gayatri Manni didnt bother even asking if any help was needed
Her family served the "country" the home be damned
Bala squirmed darting looks at II's room... the doors were shut
Akka walked out with the baby in 15 minutes...
Appa increased the volume of the shehnai
Sam and Tan and Amma's friends all stood up
Amma's friends sang Gauri Kalyanam (a traditional Iyer greeting) Appa's eyes filled up with tears watching his oldest holding her newborn
Periappa was propped up in a easy chair by Bala's Dad. Bala's Dad was quizzing R&B agaian,
in the cacophony... all the same questions he asked 6 months ago
that night when he brought Shravu and his soon to be wife II home to Munirka, when Kamakshi Athai grated coconut on sheets of newspaper on the living room floor
the cooker whistled in the kitchen, Akka sat down on the wooden plank bearing the baby
Sam cooed from where she was... Lasya stretched, curious about the lil wiggling object on Vandu's lap
Baldie? Baldie wore a TINY silk veshti... and a chandan ka teeka his belly button all healed, was now a crusty brown spot
akka wrapped him in his silk zari scarf... Akka didnt look at Athim's face or smiled at him, Amma and Appa both noticed it
The tiny living and dining was quickly filling up with new people
Kamakshi Athai walked over to R&B and tapped him, he bend down to five feet "I thought I will have grand daughter" she complained
R&B chuckled and half smiled, accepting her grievance application
"All grandsons, no pethi (grand daughters in Tamil) for Srini" (Bala's Dad)" she accused
Kamakshi Athai lamented in broken English the "plight" of her brother
"understood" R&B repeated no knowing what to say
"You must have daughters" Athai shouted through the din...
"Sure" R&B smiled
"Eppo?" (when) Athai demanded, SHE HAD TO KNOW YOU SEE...
He squirmed, not knowing what to say
"Epoo na, Tamizhla? WHEN?" Athai transalated for the man who was already making it his biz to master
the language, because his wife cursed and cooed in it
He had erotica and curses mastered already...
"Jee sure" he muttered.. sincerely
The nadaswarm quietned...the chanting continued
Athai hard of hearing declared to the world "THIS YEAR SOLRAAN dee Pankaja" she told Bala's mother...
They all turned towards her, and she repeated it loudly
"Ishita ku inda varusham seemandam solran" (Ishita's god bharai will be this year)
R&B didnt quite get the gist of that...
He smiled
Amma's eyes glistened with hope
Appa stiffened at the possibility of having to deal with more creatures like the tall man
The room broke into a thunderous laugh and clapped, when Bala translated/explained his Kamakshi Athai's fortune telling stunt
His wife texted him "shave pannindeya?" she asked (u shaved didnt u?)
"No" he lied with a half smile...
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