Dont get too close
Butt naked Ved was climbing the pantry shelf, she went after him sprinting, holding her breath
Her silver anklets and toe rings jingled making him turn from shelf three
"VEDUUU" she screamed
R&B was in the backyard helping Sahana paint with food color all over the concrete, she held a brush as tall as herself
The second Ved let go and slipped II caught him, staggering back, he pulled a tin of rajma and it crashed to the floor raining on James' fur.. he sniffed and tried to eat one spit and gagged
And looked at her sadly
"I didnt ask you to eat... poda!!!" II shouted
R&B entered the kitchen
II smacked Ved's bare butt
James wagged his tail urgently
"He was JUST about to grab some snack... you have horrible timing lady" James yelped
"Onakku venuma?" (do u need a kick in the butt?") II warned, waving a slap hand
He scampered out
Chuck hid under the dining table after Sahana painted him with an orange brush
"WHAT happened to your shorts da?" Ii screamed
"Amma, Siddu and we pussed the chair and the whole bucketh fell dhammm" he described
II handed R&B the naked boy and "Avan velaya adu?" (did he push the flower pots in the front patio?"
"What were you doing as he climbed the pantry?" R&B accused, wrapping him in a towel
II glared at him
"I was upstairs... I JUST came down to fix evening tiffin da... Sunday ORU NAAL they wont let me have pakora with chai or something" she shouted
"Shhh quit yelling, I can hear you" he ordered
"Ofcourse you can... except its worthless" she said
Ranjan came in as he ended the phone call
"Kee hoya betaji... Yeh pantry mein chaddhar, third shelf mein pahunch gaya... the dogs are not allowed inside the pantry.
"dono Nivi ka gussa ek doosre par utaar rahe ho?" Ranjan demanded arms on his hips
"I am NOT... I am NOTTT Dad... HIS pampering has caused her to be stubborn and goongi" II waved a finger
"Enough II" R&B warned
sahana came in dragging the tall cleaning brush turned paint brush
"Maine kal raathi kaha tum dono ko, abhi gayi hai to renn do... waapis laaye jabardasti" Ranjan was FURIOUS
She had spent the night at Macy's without their knowledge Greg had stayed over too
II trusted al of them
R&B had left ready to explode, brought her home at 8 AM on Sunday morning, Nivi had since then been locked up in her room
It was the help's day off
II was incharge and it wasnt easy
"She will be 12 soon"
"EXACTLY..." R&B glared at II
"This is like he doesnt even trust his own daughter" "what a SHAME" Ii was cringing
ranjan squirmed and didnt say much, he picked up a soaked Sahana
II looked at him baffled
Ranjan and R&B knew in high society sleepovers, kids made out... experimented with drugs etc too
"Gudiya usko chinta thi... sahi kiya usne" Ranjan supported his son
"WE KNOW the Zambian attache'... WEVE KNOWN THEM TEN YEARS DAD" Ii was ashamed
"We dont know that twerp" R&B said gruffly
Ranjan eye signaled him to
"Amma cam we have eyekeem?" Sid wandered in sniffling, second day of cold...
"Absolutely not... go up, take a shower and sit down with a book, there are so many rooms in this house, pick a room to sulk just like Mimi ka" II grumbled
"That was a cheap shot II" R&B grit his teeth
"Oh really?" "Ooops" II smiled, without amusement
"Gudiya..." Ranjan coralled her... R&b went up dragging both his boys, via the back staircase
"Main banawan, pakode?" he asked his DIL kindly
Ii began to cry, shaking her head...
Ranjan's phone rang, "ik second" he begged
When he returned Ii had chopped onions, palak and potatoes... and oil was heating in a wok
She sat on a tall bar stool staring into the oil
"How will we see Macy's parents Dad?"
"Pagli, tu us baat ko lekar dukhi haigi?" Ranjan was baffled
II nodded weeping
"Sun...galti Macy di nahi hai, galti Chpre di haigi... Greg nu kis waaste peja seega?" Ranjan was angry too
"Aapko bhi lagta hai Nivi kuch galat karti?" II was deeply hurt
"Oh... puttar jeee" He hugged her
"U dont trust her either?" she asked shocked
"I do... I do... beta... yeh Punjabbi munde hondey ne... yeh... kaafi kameene hondey ne" Ranjan said squirming uncomfortably
II sat down wearily
"I married one... I KNOW" she said
R&B had returned with his boys, and Sahana
They looked shocked their Amma was crying
"Tu dass ya tey main dassaan?" Ranjan ordered angrily
"II" he called
"Yennoda pesa tevaye ille" (dont talk to me)
"there!! she just said it" R&B said cynically
"Wahe guru" Ranjan sighed
"Gudiya... yeh ameer maa baap ke bache" Ranjan swallowed, grunted... and... paused
"You made out at 13 so Greg will too?" II hissed at R&B
He really didnt want to discuss his teen sex life
"Main Nivi ko dekh aata hoon, aajao beta" he took his grandsons, on the way dipping his hand into a cookie jar and handing them one each, Sahana giggled as the dogs chased each other around the slippery
marbled kitchen floor "Orangey Chuck" looked like a soft toy, she sat down under the kitchen table they approached her cautiously
"Dont get too close" Chuck warned James
"Look whos talking" James smirked, laughing at a paint doused Chuck
"I am just protecting her" R&B said unable to meet her gaze
"Did u even know HOW TO KISS?" II asked shocked
He nodded reluctantly
A spiraling fountain of jealousy snaked all over her insides... she sensed slim lakes of fire spread rapidly as she imagined him fondling a gorgeous 13 year old
LIFE SUCKS
DONT ASK HIM DI
IF U DONT WANT THE ANSWER
She furiously mixed chick pea batter with veggies and dropped lumps into the boiling oil
The golden dumplings sizzled and hissed...
"I wasnt even wearing a BRA then" II was pissed.. she wiped her nose with a kleenex
"II" he cooed softly...
"I hate you right now" she said firmly
He gripped her firmly from the back... and buried his face into her bare shoulder