waiting to exhale
The Dubai Paris flight was delayed by more than 4 hours due to some technical snag
Ranjan and Nivi slept in the First Class lounge, Nivi curled up on Ranjan's chest
II snoozed periodically lifting her head up to see if it was time.
He lounged in a corner listening to music, drinking bottles of water and typing on his ipad
Lasya played in the corner with a baby sitter
Sofia couldnt go to Paris so Sam was bringing Lasya by herself
To a high society Delhi wife that was blasphemous.
She was out shopping the duty free even though R&B assured her she could do that on her return
Sam flew out of the country once a year or even less these days.
Tan did, but he wasnt a shopper
R&B got up and walked over to II and sat down by her on the plush sofa.
"Hey" "Looks like we might board in an hour" he muttered
"I just wish we could just stay here for a day or two" she grumbled
"Just live in Dubai airport?" he asked gently smoothing her hair back from her forehead
The women returned from Mumbai after a whirlwind two day trip.
Nandu had returned from London with his ear pierced and Shravu had been caught smoking the first week of 8th grade.
Munirka had descended into pandemonium of sorts. Mr Iyer had to stay over a couple nights with Vandu just so Bala wouldnt go off the cliff
Bala's Dad's health was deteriorating and and so Kamakshi Athai had abandoned her own husband briefly to care for her brother aka Bala's Dad
II almost didnt want to leave Akka behind
She invited her to stay over at MM for a week. But Athim was too embarrassed that Bhallas would find out about Shravu's kartoot.
Amma had a new principal who wasnt exactly supportive or encouraging.
She got written up for how her CBSE book was still unfinished.
With one of R&B's partners threatening to quit, II did the wifely thing and set out to support her husband by being with him
Sam was struggling with her SIL's divorce and Nandu's teen angst
"U think Dad knows about Nandu" she sat up, groggily
"Does it matter?" he asked gruffly
"Yeah" II muttered with a faraway look... "it does"
She could still tear up, weeks after the trauma
He claimed he was experimenting. But nobody knew for sure.
"Bache badey hokar kya kya karte hain" she exclaimed philosophically
He nodded, playing with his ear buds
"Sometimes I feel its a good thing we didnt have a boy" she said
"U think girls dont smoke" he smirked
There was a loongish silence
"I dont know. I must be pretty backward. No Iyer I know of smokes" she said cringing
"Except Nandu" she said
"Its good he did it al now" he said
"Yahi baat tum mujhse teen hafte se keh rahe ho. It wont hurt Akka any less if she found him smoking at 20 or 30 or 40" II ranted
They looked at each other deeply
"U think Sam would like to go to Spain or Versailles?" he asked chaging the topic
"Kitne din rukengi?" II asked yawning and leaning back
"We could do a quick 4 day trip or something"
"Well dont u have to do paperwork for the departing partner?" she asked
"Umm.. yeah... but I could get away" he sighed
"HOW many bottles of water did u drink?" she asked
"Just 3?... this is my fourth" he said bending to pick one half filled one up from the floor"
The Emirates lounge crew walked over with coffee and a smile
"Did u have a good nap?" she asked politely
II nodded.. and smiled "is it filter coffee?" she joked
"Are u a Tamilian?" the girl of Indian origin asked
II nodded, tapping her red ruby on her right nostril...
ii sipped slowly...he took her hand and gently played with her fingers
"U need to calm down" he suggested
"I mean I wanted everything to be frozen in time... Nandu 9, Amma Appa at DII... and lasya a 6 month old..."
Lasya turned to look and came charging towards R&B
"MY POT" she said for my spot
Climbing on to R&B's lap
"See" II laughed derisively
"Manny's not going to be too happy because at that point she was divorced and single" he chuckled
II nodded wearily "Haan... u are right" she agreed
"Atleast ghar pe ek shaadi to hogi ab" she sighed
He couldnt for the life of him understand how upset teh Iyers at both places were over Nandu's antic
II tried to explain that they all suspected it was part of a larger pattern of him just not fitting in with the Iyer family rules
talks were on for arranging a janeu ceremony for him soon before his grandpa's health sunk further
Sam returned with atleast 15 bags
And a huge smile
From Cartier to Louis Vuitton to Birkenstock to Prada
She sat on II 's other side on the sofa
II waved her hand at the employee
She brought more coffee
'Abhi kaisa lag raha hai?" Sam asked caringly
II nodded
"U must think... see how these Punjabis are, her son got his ear pierced and she went shopping" Sam smiled self deprecatingly
II didnt say anything
Nandu and Shravu were in completely divergent homes
There was no comparison
R&B chuckled at that comment
"thanks Sam" he muttered
Ranjan woke and smiled shifting the baby positioning her arms correctly before going back to sleep
II didnt have the heart to leave him alone
Manny and Makarand were at his posting city
Manny would live "outside the cantt" for now she said so she wouldnt get him into trouble
Ranjan didnt say much, he was just like R&B but Manny worried him the most
If Sam's in laws were to leave then Sam's emotional health would bounce back for sure he was certain
Their refusla to watch Lasya was heart breaking but he knew Sam had Tan's love and support
"Weve led a crazy like II" Sam chuckled
II nodded...
"Once Dad walked in on him having sex in his dorm room" Sam said...
In an attempt to reassure her SIL Sam had committed the cardinal sin... shared some 12 year old trivia about her baby brother's voracious sexual appetite
"Sammm!!!!!!!!" r&b's breath caught in his throat, as II inhaled audibly, as her breath choked her
