Strewn under the cot
Appa was taking a nap, he had started taking meds for arthritis, so weekends he usually knocked himself out.
Periappa was asleep too
Amma was writing her book on her laptop
"CHITHIII HOW LONG WILL U SLEEP" "I am so bored" Shravu greeted her, playing on his Wii..
"Chithi do u want to fight me?" he demanded
"Chithi is hungry da" II begged
"I am sorry kanna" she whispered embarrassed
She noticed Amma was trying not to look at her, Akka had been married over 12 years, Amma couldnt recall how it used to be in the first year
"U havent eaten" she said
"Sorry ma" Ii mumbled
"Edukku sorry?" Amma chuckled
"Umm.." she mumbled.. "Amma" II mumbled
"Go turn on the gas, I will make ur roti and his"
"Hes asleep" II was mortified
"Saapdamla toongarara?" (he is asleep before lunch)
"Umm.. I told him" she said softly
Amma noticed her agitation, anger argumentative natured were all gone JUST GONE... like THAT... click of her fingers
she was mellow... and shy... and quiet... just like used to be after meeting him...
"What did u make ma?"
"Bhindi... dal... I went down to get a vegetable for him, Mother Dairy was closed in Sector 12, so I just made aloo matar"
"Why did u go down, he will just eat with dal"
She sat down by Amma
Amma noticed... beard burn all over her neck
"Ask him to get a hair cut kanna" (ASK HIM TO SHAVE) is what she meant
"He wont listen" II mumbled
"Ella vaalum wife kitta aatuva" (they do all their zid with biwi only)
"where is Appa?"
"asleep... vicodin or something they gave" Amma said worried
"Amma he shud try yoga and physical therapy not drugs ma" II begged
"NEE SOLREYA?" Amma challenged
"Amma please...
"AT 28 U FIGHT onakku ivlav pidivadam irukku, avarukky ethana irukkum? at 63" (u have so much stubborness at 28, hes ur DAD)
"amma"
"stop arguing with me, go get up... and heat the food... 4 manikka saapduva" (who eats lunch at 4)
Amma made rotis... she ate as Amma served
Shravu "COME PLAY NO CHITHI"
"I will raja let me go check on Uncle R" she said
It was an hour since she had left the room
The bed was empty, he was washing up
"Polama after u eat?" she asked eagerly
"Do u want to go to Sam's?" he asked
"I am told husbands take wives out for a dinner and a movie and all after biz trips she leaned on the window, as he wiped his face off staring at the mirror on the Godrej door
He half smiled, Selvi came in to do afternoon dishes... Amma aske dher to sweep and mop
II's room as that was left out because of the couple's rendezvous in the morning
"Pesave pesaade" she muttered handing him the phone (just be quiet for everything)
He ate roti with dal and aloo matar... Amma was positively ashamed at feeding him that
"Ishita never told us u were coming" Amma apologized
"This is great Mrs Iyer" he smiled
II helped Amma clean the kitchen
Selvi came in "Kannu" (dear) she whispered
Amma turned... SELVI EYE SIGNALLED AMMA
Amma turned away towards the sink, filling up dirty dishes with water
"psssttt" Selvi muttered
"Edavadu venuma?" (Do u need anything II asked)
"No" Selvi smiled sheepishly
II went back to pouring leftover dal out in a small bowl
"Pssttt" Selvi called out
"Edavadu tedreengala" (are u looking for something?)
"Ayyo ille kannu, onn valai" (no dear YOUR CHOORA)
Selvi handed her a bunch she had knotted up in her pallu as APPA WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN AFTER HIS NAP
And AMMA TURNED TOO
AYYYO!!!!
"Kattil keela kedanduchu" (strewn under the cot) Selvi said with a poker face😆
"
CID
