Lets decide now...
Appa and Amma arrived before II could return home with Nivi and the boys
Sahana was always looking for a way to flee the house, she urged Amma to walk out the gate
The dogs followed her too.
R&B was trying his best to have a stilted conversation with Appa
Ranjan wasnt home yet
Since II had the day off he chose to work longer
Amma Appa had brought flowers fruit and home made sweets and II's Tamil mags
Amma tried to keep up with Sahana
Though fat, she was a Olympic sprinter
They got out of the gate and the dogs and her were quick, they ran as fast as they could
The dogs were mostly unleashed, they had a good life and they knew it, they stayed close by during R&B's bike rides
The guards had to radio the Zambian attache guards to catch the three escapees
Amma returned nervous and afraid holding a flushed and delighted Sahana
"Onna epdi samalikara?" (how is II managing you?)
The baby made a "O" with her lips
Amma found her adorable
"Auntyjee, inko har dam ghar se bahar bhaagne ka hai, Sir inko cycle ke peeche tokri mein taala karke jaate hain, ek baar to Malcha Marg ki light mein baharee niki hain yein" he laughed
"Ennadeee?" Amma cooed
R&B heard the noise by the gate and ran up
The dogs blamed each other
"I went after ur daughter"
"Actually hes lying, he was hoping to run away" Chuck snitched
"Idu romba vaala irukey?" (this one is too naughty) Amma was shocked
"She must be like him" Appa said boldly
R&B grunted
"Vanduttala?" (is II home?) Amma enquired looking at II's car
"She took the twins so she took the SUV" R&B said
"Oh, why is she so late?" Amma worried
"She had a bunch of things she was going to do" R&B informed
"Oh ho" Amma nodded
She had retired, and was coming to terms with her own failing health
"You must stay for dinner" R&B offered
"Amma wanted to ask if she and... you wanted to come for dinner" Appa countered
"I have calls starting 8" R&B said politely
"You should be used to Iyer food by now, you married my daughter I say" Appa poked his SIL
R&B grunted
II's car pulled in
The world broke loose and danced on a pin head
Dogs, kids and humans spun around like they were thrown into a whirlpool
Nivi looked shocked
"Hey love" R&B called to her
"Amma got me that book" she smiled at him for the first time today and handed him a book with her finger placed inside as bookmark
"thats great" he smiled
"Did u have a good time?" he asked
She showed him her left hand/arm filled with henna pattern
"sam athai had a girl come over to her place" she smiled
"Great" he nodded smiling
"Paati" she called and Amma walked over and wore her glasses and peered into her palm
Sahana was going through all the bags on the patio
The dogs circled her hoping it would yield a jackpot
"4 kozhandel irukku nai edukku kanna?" (u have 4 kids why do u need dogs?) Appa question
"Yenna, aduhala entertain panna ennala mudiyadu pa, talaya tingardu naalum" (They eat my head Appa I need someone to entertain THEM) she rolled her eyes
"Ivan tanankkum veetukkum sambhandame illenu irukaana?" (does he still act like he doesnt belong to the house?) Appa demanded
"Vandadum sanda pottela?" (did u fight with my husband?)
"Pesarava kitta sanda podalaam" (u can only fight with those that talk
Vedu picked up a cookie bag and handed it to R&B "Open it daddee I mant biksit" he said firmly
"they still have trouble saying "Va" sound?" Amma asked worried
R&B was unfazed
"It looks like a boy thing Mrs Iyer" he smiled
Amma took the bag and opened it for him
"Did u have a good time kanna?" Amma asked Nivi
"Yes paati, are u staying tonight?" Nivi asked eagerly
They rarely stayed over
In fact, never...
II had made peace with it
The kids hadnt
Sahana and the dogs ate chocolate chip cookies
she fed them as she ate each one
"Veedu zoo daan" (ur house is a zoo) Appa worried
II chuckled and took the bags inside
Made coffee, Amma asked about Nivi
She wished and congratulated them all
"Amma nee onnum sollade please" (dont say anything to her) II begged
"What will I say di? These days they learn everything from school" Amma nodded
"Amma remember when Mrs Rana gave me a lecture?" II laughed
Amma looked upset
"Ishitaa... paavam dee, she was being friendly"
"By giving me menstruation advice" II laughed further
"My teacher friends still ask about u two, u know?" Amma was proud
She poured Appa and her coffee
R&B grabbed a beer from the frig
"Paati will u THAY? PWEEZ PWEEZ" Siddu begged
"Paati has to go to temple early morning no" Amma begged
"Paati pwwez " he begged
"Iren ma" II said sadly
"I will stay, Appa irukka maatale" ( ur Dad wont)
II sighed
Took their coffee out
Appa sat on the patio floor helping Sahana sort out M&M colors, he was teaching her difference between blue and purple as he handed her and taught her instead of repeating she was eating em
The occasional ones she dropped the dogs lapped it up
"Goggie... thatha goggie?" Sahana pleaded their case and gave a wet handful to James
"Appa coffee" II handed
"Why are u sitting down, get up and sit on the swing. Ur knees will hurt"
"Idu kenjithu" (she begged)
Appa looked at Sahana fondly
"she is an doll I say" he said gruffly
"Doll with a rakshasi inside" II muttered
"Amma goggie mmemmemem" Sahana told her
"Kudu dee paavam, they must be starving... they are born to eat American candy" II chuckled cynically
"Appa stay tonight no?" she asked
Appa grunted
"Avan busy solraane" (he claims to be busy)
"So?" II questioned
He grunted again
"Na sonenono?" Amma was bummed (I told u)
Nivi & R&B had gone up
"Appa Nivi kitta pesinela?" (did u talk to Nivi?)
Appa smiled and nodded
"Good child" he said smugly
"Avana madiri quiet" (quiet like my SIL) Amma said
"Avan veshamam adu sadhoo" (he is wicked, she is a saint)
Ranjan drove up, the dogs and the baby and the twins ran to his car not letting him drive all the way in
"Iyer saab tussi neeche?" he said kindly
"What to do, she makes me sit like that.. thatha thatha" he said proudly
Sahana was perched on Ranjan now
Feeding him a squished red M&M
"cONGRATULATIONS" Amma said
"Aaapko bhi Mrs Iyer" Ranjan said graciously
"Bus ek achha sa Iyer ladka dhoond dein aap, waqt aane par" Ranjan joked
"Yes yes, definitely, but Will ur son agree?" Appa bristled
"Ayyo... pa she is only 13" II admonished
"Wait wait I say, let us decide now" Appa scolded her quickly trying to seal the deal by
hijacking his grand daughter away from her Punjabi roots
While father & daughter sat on the 2nd floor swing chewing on gummi bears and reading their books...
CID
