Deepa is in front of the mirror draped in a normal but exotic red saree.
She is ready, only her hair has to be dried.
She has put all her hair on one side in the front and drying it with a baby pick turkey towelš³.
There are water droplets on her shoulders.
The AC is on and the room is cool. Praba comes out of the bathroom and looks here and there, then looks towards the mirror.
He sees Deepa and stares dumbstruck.
He walks towards her slowlyš³.
Deepa busy drying her hair looks up in the mirror to find Praba walking towards her.
He reaches her and both of them look at each other in the mirror.
Praba clears his throat, "Konjam..."š
Deepa raises her eyebrow, "Hun?"
Praba clears his throat again, "Illa. Konjam towel venum. En towel a washing la poturukein."
Deepa removes the towel from her hair and gives it to him.
He takes it.
Praba moves even forward now, both their shoulders touching.
He leans forward making Deepa also lean forward, "Ahm..Sorry.."and takes his mobile from the dressing table and turns to go.
He stops abruptly and turns again to face her, "Deepa!š³"Deepa turns and looks at him. Praba is about to say something but then he looks at her eyes and stops.
Deepa, "Ena?"
Praba comes back to earthš, "Illa intha Saturday night konjam velila pogalama? Project work Friday mudithunu sonna la, summa oru treat mathiri."Deepa, "Pogalam. Ana..š"
Praba raises his eyebrows queringly. Deepa looks down, "College la ellarum tour poranga. Unga kita munadiya sollanum nu nenaichein ana ippo than time kadaichuthu." Deepa looks up with enthusiasm to see he is expression.
Praba gives a normal expression concealing his disappointment, "Oh! That's cool. Good. Enga poreinga? Evalo nallu? Fees pay panitala?"
Deepa, "Bangalore. Mysore..3 days..fees enum pay pannala, unga gita ketutu..š³"
Praba, "Cha. Ithu elam en ta kekanuma?š Delay pannama fees a pay paniruš."
Just then their patti comes in, "Ena da? Bangalore Mysore nu sound ketuchu?"
(Holy crap! Don't follow TT's policy. Keep your doors closed!š”)
Praba, "Athu onum illa patti...Deepa college la irunthu tour pora"
Patti, "College tour a? Ethira nalaiku?"
Praba, "Moonu nallu."
Patti, "Apdina antha 3 nallum college kadaithu apdi thana! Ithuku ethuku avala tourku annupira. Nenga rendu perum thaniya poita vanga. Oru honey moon mathiri achu laš"
Praba and Deepa are shocked and look at each otherš³.
Patti, "Ena da? Nenga onum sollavendam. Nan mudivu pannitein. Neenga porienga. Arrangements ellam nan pannurein." (Arre va! Open doors work best for themš!) and leaves.
There is an uneasy silence between them.
Both of them begin to speak together and stop...They do it again...š³
Deepa looks away. Praba leaves the room. Both of them smilingš.
Thodarum!
Ganesh Kartikeya
Current Affairs
