Pride Element
She spent the next 20 minutes avoiding eye contact with Amma explaining how hurt she was and how she was always begging in the relationship
What was Amma's Q?
"We saw you at the temple this morning, how come you are here again?"
Amma was more shocked when she learned R&B was back...
"You seem to be trying to change things you are unable to accept" Amma said
Shravu was long gone playing downstairs with that boy
Amma and II sat in the balcony with a squirming crawling stumbling Shubhang talking about II's situation
"I dont Amma"
"I am OK with him continuing to flit between Paris and Delhi"
"I am OK with him not talking to his Dad
"Not helping Ranjan out"
LIAR!!!
OH U ARE SUCH A LIAR!!
"You know everything abt it before u married him I cant give u any credit for it" Amma said bluntly
"I just asked him to come back for 3 days for Pongal" II felt choked up
"She will have 100s of Pongals, he will be here next time" Amma felt bad for her daughter
"Hes back now for God knows how long, and I am unable to act like all is well" II said somberly
"We want Vandu and you BOTH to be happy, Vandu has been sad and upset the last couple weeks, we were her "out of jail" card for the 13 years of her married life, she wud run away and come here" Amma said softly
II nodded Akka had spoken to her abt it
Akka lived in a joint family too, it was actually JOINT, they shared 1500 sq ft of living space unlike II
"Anything with Bala or in laws or Ambala Anna she wud come here directly from work, rant, have tiffin in the evening and go back to deal with it" Amma said softly
II nodded
"Now she has to spend two hours coming to Rohini first
"We tried looking in Munirka no?" II said sadly
"Who has that kind of money? 5 crores for a three bedroom?" Amma sighed
"Atleast Vandu's apartment will be worth that much" II smiled
"Adu enna prayojanam, that asset is where they live in, it cant be counted no?" Amma said
"Thatha patti are nice amma" II said
"They are nice, but Ambala anna and manni keep winding their screws no?" Amma became angry "They dont care for them but interfere in everything"
Shubhang slept in II's arms clutching the edge of her blouse tight, below her neck
"He is CHOOO CHWEET, I might exchange her for him" II said softly kissing his skinny cheeks
"Bala tries to get away from it all too, thats why he seeks Appa out so much" Amma whispered
II looked on
"I am not saying he is doing it with a evil motive, Appa and I are not wealthy, we cant "give" him stuff, but he reaches out to Appa so he can get away from all that nonsense"
II nodded
"Appa thinks its a matter of pride to be a mentor for Bala, it is, but its not so simple as it looks"
"He will be here to help you guys move?" II asked hesitantly and held her breath
"Yes yes... he has taken 4 days off to help us move and settle down in Rohini" Amma said kindly
II cringed... she knew R&B would never spend that kind of time with her parents
"I can send R&B too" she claimed with non existent pride
"He JUST came back Ishita, dont bother him kanna" Amma said politely realizing her daughter hadnt run the idea by her husband
"He can help out too" II insisted
Amma nodded but not enthusiastically
"I wud have liked him to go with Appa to figure out the loan stuff, the EMI etc" II finally expressed another grudge
"Its OK I am an Economics teacher, YOU have a CPA we figed it all out no?" Amma smiled
"There is a diff in MY doing stuff and him doing stuff for you guys, there is a pride element for Appa no?" II asked
"U make us proud too" Amma squirmed
"Athim works at a bank.. he is a pro, I agree, but r&b LENDS MONEY to people Amma" II said valiantly
"Its OK KANNA" Amma stressed
"Now Athim seems to be the only one helping" II said
'So what... between the two of you we are well taken care of" Amma said
"Did Appa express disappointment at not being helped by R&B?" II asked
"NOOO What are u talking... Appa is happy that you lead a good life" Amma smiled
It hurt and rankled and nagged II that R&B and Athim were not the proverbial "Ram Lakshman" duo
Amma knew exactly what II was asking
Appa had expressed sadness over R&B not "being there" for them through this process
Amma was a great diplomat though...
Appa came in from the store found his wife and his daughter soaking in balcony sunshine in the balmy January afternoon
His face lit up on seeing II
"Engey dee kozhandey?" he asked
"she is with her Dad" II said looking away
"Vanduttana?" (is he back?)
II nodded
"He didnt come?" Appa asked
Amma shot him a poison arrow
II noticed...
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Indian Mythology
Chakravarti Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan
