Hoodlum's wife
Sam took charge... coralled the shrieking girl gang from room to room, feet washing, prayers, handing prashad
II texted intermittently with Amma and Mr Sitaraman advising about menu and if dinner should come first or later
II suggested there shud be a snack first followed by singing or chanting of Devi scriptures and then dinner
She wasnt sure if MM folks were going to be OK with 50 Southie & Kendriya Vidyalaya women from Andrews Ganj and Munirka and RK Puram and Janakpuri and Rohini and Naraina ambush the house
What was done was done, there was no going back now
Nivi refused to step away from the girls content on watching from a corner but fighting her nap as best as she could
II strung fresh flowers between her pig tails
She finally just slumped by a wall she was sitting on
R&B noticed it with a chuckled and picked her up
"Addie addie" she pleaded pointing her fat fist towards Lasya
"Babies" Lasya spread her hands helplessly as she shrugged in an afected way
ROMBA KOZHUPPU DEE ONAKKU (What a brat)
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
20?
RAKSHASI
II went and grabbed Lasya
She screamed at first but then sat in her lap as II sat on the rug
"Mami madila toongareya?" (do u want to take a nap in Mami's godee?)
There was a face painting girl, a mehandi girl and pedicure girl, the young ones were all about beauty
Nandu peeked chuckled made a face and left
Returing to wave to R&B who sat on a over stuffed chair reading a book and now holding Nivi in his arms
"Uncle R can we go driving please?" he whispered
He chuckled and looked at his wife "U might want to lower that volume bud" he whispered
AYYYOYO
TEACHING A 14 YEAR OLD?
NO
I AM GOING TO TELL SAM
"But u were driving at 13 werent u?" Nandu said smugly
"Umm" R&B "I was doing way more than driving" he whispered
Nandu turned red
Lasya began to rock herself on II's lap, II gently hummed
"How about I set her down for a nap and we go for a drive?"
"Ma said weve got to eat" Nandu made a face
"About that..." "Umm" R&B looked at II
"NO" she hissed
"Well there... she just rained on ur party" he exhaled
"Mamijiii" Nandu begged
The girls chattered and squealed unmindful, the few 12 ish year olds became self conscious, they all checked each other out
Nandu like his Mamaji was dressed like a slob
Blue jeans and a gray marbled tee, tucked in places, extremely good looking but in a careless way
"OK, how about I set her down and go talk to Mamiji"
"I am not YOUR Mamiji and I will absolutely not encourage under age drinking, driving or slobber ex(change)" II bit back the words
"Hang on" R&B said
He went out and returned in 20 minutes
"Khana kha le puttar, chalen ghar" Ranjan peeked in
He grinned at the army of girls
"Dad... ek second, isko pakdenge, main uthoon?" II requested
R&B was setting his phone on the baby monitor camera channel
He tucked his phone in his pocket and bend down to pick a sleeping Lasya up
And boldly let his lips linger on her cheek and neck, bristly, familiar...
She put her open palm on his face... hoping Dad was on seeing
"there is only 34 kids here" she warned
A couple of teens saw it and whispered and giggled like teens do
"Usko kaha usne jawab nahi diya, ab yeh bhi pata nahi" Ranjan complained to Sam...
"Suno... dono" Sam called out
R&B picked up Lasya and II got up
"Saree ko crush kar liya? Ooopar jaakar iron karke pehan lo" Sam said hassled
"Nooo... Its after 3 we better go home"
"WE?" Sam smiled
"Mera matlab Dad se hai... ur brother is taking ur son someplace" II caused trouble
R&B was walking out, if he had heard that... then...
WHATEVER
LIKE I AM SCARED OF HIM
"Kidhar ja raha hai?"
Nandu was in R&B's chair now surreptiously eyeing the 12 and 13 year olds with "semi interest"
He pretended to text when Sam hollered
"Ma can I eat at 5, well be back at 5"
"KIDHAR ja raha hai bache?" Sam begged
"Umm... not where Mami thinks"
"Eat first" Sam ordered
II helped the mehandi girl wrap up
R&B returned and found her somehow in the chaos
The help were seating the girls in a row so they could eat
Mrs Batra was ignoring II, Mr Batra was talking with Ranjan
II helped out as much as she could feeding the kids
Some parents showed up picked up teh kids and left some lingered
Manya was talking to a couple of Moms
The crowd thinned out after the 4 hour onsluaght
Sam had already sent picnic basket like packages to Rohini and Munirka
"I love the way you look" one Mom commented
II was intro-ed
"I love ur necklace" Manya gushed
II felt it and nodded a weak thanks
"Sam has one EXACTLY like that I think or maybe it has rubies in the middle row" Manya peered at II's
"OMG U have a great memory, mera beech mein platinum rope pattern hai" Sam said in awe
"I KNEW it" Manya nodded smugly
"Oh wow, that must be pretty when u wear with grey and green" II said thoughtfully creating a fantasy combination in her mind
Her husband ogled her as she did
"Or even silver... I have a Satya Paul saree" Sam smiled "I bought it for that basically, then Dad said" Sam stopped
Avoiding insinuating that II's necklace was a wedding gift
The women departed
"I am going to wear it for one of my wedding events" Manya said
"Dad will order one for u" Sam hugged her
"Or u can wear mine" II offered politely "I mean this one" II corrected herself
"Its YOURS" Sam said sternly scolding her with her gaze
"Did u help her buy it?" Manya asked trading looks with II and Sam
II nodded... Sam didnt
Manya finally understood II's was a Bhalla gift
"its gorgeous and am sure Sam is happy u love it" she said cheerfully
"AND WEARS it" Sam screeched "isko kuch do to mandir mein pada rehta hai" she took a dig
II briskly walked towards the dining table
AYYYO
STOP IT
They al sat down to eat
Mrs Batra was "going to eat later"
"Aur kya kya pada hai mandir mein, I heard Chennai flat papers padey hai" Manya laughed
"Isko kuch do to wahin rakh deti hain madam" Sam gently mocked
"Padey ren de puttar, kadi kaam aana hai" Ranjan nodded
R&B just ate quietly
Nandu sulked and tried to get Sam's attention to ask if he could go
"U are already making up for the lost hour you missed today" sam scolded
"Koi gall nahi beta he will be fine" Ranjan urged
"Dad, he is the first in line for doing anything other than studying. If he wants to go overseas for college yeh nahi chalega"
"Dad did u give her something for Navaratri? U shud, I want to see if it goes to the mandir heap" Manya joked
II colored Ranjan nodded "Gift shammi danga puttar" he nodded in affirmative
II tried to change the topic
Tried to chat with Mr Batra
"When lunch was over she flew out of the formal dining
"Its hard to convince her chhod" Sam urged her sister
"Oh come on" Manya "pffttt" in disbelief
Ranjan went to take a call, R&B returned after finishing up a call to ask Nandu to wash up so they could go
"Bata isko, she wont believe me when I say II hates the trappings of wealth" Sam begged
"Are u guys still on that topic?" R&B rolled his eyes
"Seriously dimpal" Manya pressed
"She insisted on a pre-nup" he muttered
"She did whattt?" Manya asked in disbelief
Sam began clearing the table
"Yep, she had a contract written up prohibiting me from disclosing my wealth and signing away any claims to mine or the family's. Giving up rights to alimony, child support, the works"
In one sentence he explained to Manya how the marriage is of zero financial incentive to II, going on to the next topic... sneaking off with Nandu, as he moved his afternoon appointments around on his phone
II walked over to him and poked him repeatedly with her long slender index finger as she rattled off a bunch of warnings
"Main aur Dad ghar ja rahe hain, u are watching the kids. Dont u DARE let Nandu drive"
"Nor will u urge him to have his first sip of beer, or umm...(Teach him to fondle or undress a girl or share ur sexual prowess tips, or to cup her breast)"
"Chinna kozhandai avan.(Nandu is a child) Dont corrupt him u thug...umm.. HOODLUM" "He doesnt need tips from YOU" "Onnoda sishyana ana he will become like YOU (Dont make him ur student) she cursed breathlessly
"I didnt get the "umm?" he whispered pretending not to know
Manya turned to stare at Dimpal's wife... still reeling from what she heard seconds ago from him
CID
