Innocence & "Crime"
Appa and Athai came to pick Periappa up, Ranjan offered to go with them, he had arranged for a van where Periappa could lay down, he sent Mahavir and Tejpal another help
II was distraught she stayed up in the sun room
She was used to seeing him in the morning and after work everyday
She made coffee for Appa and Athai and went up with a "Just a minute" and didnt go down
"Is she OK?" "What happened" Appa pestered R&B
"A little upset I believe" he said
"She wanted him to stay for a week I let him be here for a month?"
"I guess she is not counting" responded a ticked of R&B
Appa caught that and glared at him
The men checked each other out in a confrontational way
Appa thought "Ivanoda rendu naal epdi poha porado" (wonder how I am going to hold myself back from punching him the two days)
"If it werent for her I wouldnt even be talking to you" R&B thought
Athai returned from Periappa's room
"Room perisa kottai madiri irukku, veede, edo aranmanai madiri irukku" (Periappa's room is huge, the house looks like a palace)
She turned to R&B and said "biggg" he smiled gently, nodding
He stood up politely so Athai could sit by Mr Iyer
Appa wanted to go up and pacify his daughter, he was afraid his SIL would lock him up in a dungeon and pretend to the world he never came
He gazed at the balcony longingly to catch a glimpse of his kozhandai
II packed for DII quietly... taking breaks and staring out her bougainvillea balcony
He returned and watched her deal with pain and solitude
Amma had called to tell her she had made badam halwa, gulab jamun and balushahi at home, with Athai's help balushahi was her fave, mostest... fave actually
She wondered if Amma was done with her text book writing. What an amazing lady, juggling, home, career and authoring
Amma wouldnt tell her what Appa and her had bought for II for Deepavali, Akka got a grand saree too she said
They struggled to buy dude clothes, he was always in cargos and a tee, Banana Republic or J Crew did not deliver in India
she tried getting in touch with a couple of Desi batchmates in Atlanta to have them ship it to India (reimbursed ofcourse)
But they were all "too busy" to do it
And finally on calling J Crew she discovered they now ship to India, she picked out some clothes online and had them ship to D II
Appa transferred the money over to her Account
she hadnt bought anything for Amma and Appa this year
It was too late to buy now
She went down to check on Ranjan
"Amma said we can go anytime after 6, aap chal paayenge tab?" she asked politely
"Zaroor puttar" he smiled looking up from his monitor
She lingered... he invited her in
He took his glasses off as she sat down on the office sofa
He sat across from her
"You can bring him back" he said
She nodded with tear filled eyes
"Aise insaano ki kami zyada mehsoos hoti hai, he never harmed anybody" Ranjan said choking up
II sobbed weakly
"He is a noble soul betaji" Ranjan smiled wiping his tears
"I was getting used to him being here" II explained
"Ofcourse" "warna is ghar mein sannata hai" he sighed
"Where is R&B?" he asked
"Upstairs working and listening to music" she smiled disarmingly
"Bas!!" Ranjan chuckled
She got up and smiled and left him, went up to her husband's room
"Can u go after 6?" she asked
He reached out and offered his hand, she sprinted up cryin
"I am thinking of going to Nalli in South Ex I never bought him anything for Deepavali" "I tried to give him the sweet, he only ate little"
He nodded agreeably
He held her close
They had spent Saturday evening rushing from one place to another handing out Diwali gifts to key friends
They were unable to go to Chachu's they would tonight or tomorrow
By the time they were done with the 9 of the 17 people Ranjan had assigned for them II was exhausted
She canceled Chef night for Sat evening, and had Mahavir just make them ghar ka khana
and went to be around midnight...
He left her alone, as she was knocked out
"when did u come to bed?" she asked
"I didnt" he chuckled
She sat up horrified
"apdeena?" "Nee toongave illeya?" (U didnt sleep at all?)
"I woke at 2PM yesterday (Saturday)" he chuckled "remember?"
He gently fondled her curves, she arched letting him roam free
They kissed
"Lets go to bed" he whispered, picking her up "U better watch out" she whispered, he looked curiously
"I am afraid all this heavy lifting might cause you to grow abs and pecs" she teased, he burst out laughing..
He extracted a erotic revenge for every word, and watched her writhe... with satisfaction
Around 3ish she went to South Ex and he took a nap.., after that went to paattu class, she knew Amma would troll her otherwise
When they got to D II from Chachu's house, it was almost 9 PM
Amma and Athai rotated the plate of red dye with a lit lamp in the center, Amma urged her to sing... she refused,
Amma and Athai sang the Iyer "blessing/greeting" hymn Gauri Kalyanam
And teekas were done, II wore a navy and red printed silk saree with ruby jhumkas and nose ring, he wore khakhi cargo pants and a fire red cotton check shirt
Appa had played nadaswaram, the house smelled like cardamom, and cooking camphor, and oil, a big ball of jasmine waited on the dining table to be cut and wornđĽł
Bags and bags of clothes bearing names like Nalli and Kumaran and RMKV lay heaped in front of the shrine
Lakshmi's husband Venkat gawked, Lakshmi peeked from the kitchen
"happy deepavali" she said warmly
Lakshmi's 9 year old and 7 year old, Brinda, Vasudha... "Ishita Chithi, keezha polama" (lets go down to do fire works) they begged holding her handđł
Appa and R&B packed their six shooters and rifles like a pair of ole Wild West Cowboys... ready to mete out vigilante justice.đ¤Ł
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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