Joy & Fear
He went back to his book, his Dad lay back eyes closed, meetings and appointments forgotten, fantasizing about what the future held
He left his phone in the lounge so he didnt know who called
STill weak and convelescing from his own illnes he dozed, R&B turned on the giant coolers on both sides and went back to reading
II came out in 45 or so minutes around Noon, and said "I cant stop throwing up" she complained
Ranjan woke with a start
II immediately jumped behind the curtains, only wearing her nightshirt she was bit shaken up
she walked to her closet and wore a darker cotton kaftan after donning her under clothing again all the bending caused her to be more nauseous
Ranjan walked into the master bedroom and waited
"I am sorry" she apologized extremely ashamed "i didnt see u"
R&B shut the coolers off and shut the leading door and and looked something up on his phone
"Aithey aa puttar" Ranjan called out
II took slow unsure steps
"Umm... I didnt see u in the balcony" she whsipered "I am sorry"
"Aaja mere bache" he invited she went over he pressed his lips on her parting, and inhaled
"Jiyonda reh puttar, shabash" he congratualted her on her "straight As"
She smiled shyly
"Isko pehle bata toone?" he asked his gudiya's modus operandi
She nodded
She sent me a forune cookie he said, fishing it out from the box from his hiker backpack
Ranjan examined the paper in awestruck "Usko nikaalkar isko daala?" he asked
She nodded... squirming
"Waah jee" he nodded
"Kya den aapko batao" he asked
"Nothing" she said slinking back to her hubs... "Nothing... kuch bhi nahi" she said nervously
"Aise kaise puttarjee... kuch to lena padega.."
"OK I will take a dress" she said innocently
He guffawed, his son chuckled, he asked an outfit from a man that could give her the world
II squirmed tucking an imaginary lock behind her ear
"DO dress?" she asked
"Idhar aaja bache" he invited
She hugged him gently...
"Kuch bhi maang puttar" he said smiling
She nodded
"Aaram karan de" he ordered his son, "Ghar par 10 kamre hain kahin aur so jaayega" he said
"Like thats going to happen" R&B thought
"Teri koi baat na maaney mujhe bata" Ranjan said...
"Jee" II nodded.
"Daftar mein chhutthi keh dena, seediyan nahi karni" he listed
II chuckled
"Arey mazaak nahi... Na Ma ne na Sam ne, everyone stayed home" he reminded
"Dad" II complained
"Amma ko kaha?" he asked
"No not yet" she said
"Toone to mujhe vi nahi kaha" he smiled
"umm.. I" II squirmed
"Ja beta ja araam kar" he tapped her head
She went and lay down in the sun room...
R&B came down and lay by her, leaning half way on the on the sun room's wrought iron bed
"Ive asked Mahavir to bring cocnut water" he said, she opened her eyes and hugged him
"Poi kuli da, u havent eaten anything" she ordered
"I dont trust you" he said firmly
"Like I am going to do a yoga video when u are downstairs?" she asked chuckling
"More like kick boxing " he smiled
He brought her phone, Mahavir brought her cocnut water and lingered with a sheepish smile
"Aap nahi na uthiyega, hum laayenge sab kuch" he vowed
She smiled "main theek hoon"
"Hum abhi bataye Badey sir ko, kal raat khaana waise ka waise rakh diyen hain aap" he tattled
"Aaj khaaoongi"
"Jee behtar... aaj sir bhi hain ghar par... DONO sir" "Aaj to" he mumbled unable to come up with words
She dialed Amma
"Busy a irukeya ma?" she asked
"Enna kelvi di idu? Its Wed afternoon at 1, 20 minutes before school ends, I am grading unit tests" Amma whispered
"Akka enge?" (where is Akka?)
"ISHITA" Amma scolded
II squirmed
"amma... call me when u get home?" she begged
"Enna panniney, avanoda sandaya?"(did u fight with dude?) Amma asked warningly
"ille ma, ma" II whined
"Ishita please kanna grow up... they are good people dont listen to Appa" Amma coached
"Amma.. are u sitting down?" Ii asked cutting her off
"ENNADI?" Amma yelled in loud TAMIL
"Ma, I am late by 5 days 6 days?" she whispered her voice quivered like her insides
Amma cried softly so she didnt say a word
"amma" II whispered
"WHERE ARE U?" Amma asked
"I havent been able to go today... I am quite sick"
"Varen na school lendu" Amma promised (on my way home)
"Amma" II whispered, relaxing
"Dont be afriad kanna... we are all here for you, nothing to be afraid"
II nodded, her turn to cry, Amma had just felt her fear immediately.
"Just take care of your self... dont fight with him" Amma listed
"thats impossible" II chuckled, sniffling
"He will be so happy when u tell him, paavam what sort of a job it is keeps away from such happiness"Amma lamented
II bit her lower lip not telling her how she informed the dude and how he came flying in 10 hours and 14 minutes
theirs was a intense love story, they were inseparable
Amma had texted Akka WHILE TALKING TO HER, the WILY GOAT SHE WAS
Akka TEXTED IN ALL CAPS
ADI PAAVI CALL ME" "ISHITA CALL ME"
"amma" Ii whined
"Vandu pannitala?" Amma asked proudly
"Yes ma"
"Tell her tell her" Amma smiled hanging up as she mentally rearranged her evening chores, between grinding for dal dosa,
and going to Bala Mami's to pick up a shruti box for Lakshmi Venkat's daughter, Lakhsmi Venkat had found a paattu teacher but forgot to bring a
Shruti box with her when she moved from chennai, Bala Mmai's husband went to Chennai, Amma orderedone through him.
Periappa had no nurse in the evening today, and Selvi had the evening off too, Amma wanted to come see her daughter
She shored up all her middle class tasks and shoved them off the cliff
"Namba Ishita ku naal talli poi irukku" (II is delayed by 5 days) she texted her husband
Appa was placing Amma's thenga burfi in his mouth, his heart skipped a beat as he read it
He panicked the next second as he imagined a lil creature like the tall man, giving him censuring looks, clad in a
lil pattu pavadai, quiet like the enemy and sharp like him, refusing to let go of his kozhandai.
"the battle's getting tougher"..."the enemy's hold is getting tighter" Appa sighed as he leaned back staring out the North Block window.
He imagined his kozhandai's face.. eager and innocent, and the tall man's smiling smugly holding her hand tight...
Just when he waved at his coworker to share the news, his wife's scolding text slid in
"Ippo yaar kitteyum solladengo, we can tell after three months" (dont share it yet) "Nallabadiya pottum moonu maasam" (let three months pass by)
Mr. Gangwani, an Under Secretary walked over "yes Mr Iyer, aaj kya bheja bhabhiji ne?"
appa offered the thenga burfi cryptically
