Tug of War
(Between Appa & R&B)
Part 1 of million
When she changed and stepped out he was in the living room saying good byes to Appa and Amma, Sam cuddled her baby, Tan was holding Nandu...
Mihir had left coz his work had paged him...
Tanmay" Ek hug to banta hai boss" he hugged her warmly
Sam:Is se liya hug kiss and whatever? (winking pointing to R&B)
Appa cleared his throat
Sam:Oops Uncle sorry sorry sorry
Amma: Congrats kanna... Vandu sonna u are hungry
II nodded...
He wore his shoes pausing by the door, expensive black and unpretentious
... just like him... she watched how he tied the bow, just like how she was taught in KG He looked up from tying straight into her eyes...
It was like the world disappeared... Amma Appa and Vandu and Sam and Tan were all these specks... she only saw him
She still wore her jhumkas and her jewelry and her bindi... she shoved her hands in her hoodie pockets
Sam:Dekho ab shaadi ho rahi hai to iski bhi bolti band
Tan: Haan ek saal bad she will be quieter than him
Appa: she should always be energetic and talkative
(I CANNOT BEAR TO SEE HER CHANGE AND BECOME LIKE THE MAN I HATE) Amma: He loves her a lot R&B gave Mr Iyer a "Well shes mine, so GET OVER IT" look as subtly as possible
Tanmay: Uncle she is only kidding (eye scolding his wife, understanding the fact that Appa is not exactly thrilled about R&B)
Ranjan: We are so happy, we would like to thank you so so much... kal se tayyari shuru? Appa nodded weakly, Amma nodded with enthu, Vandu and Sam did a high five joyously
Tanmay: Bus... ab... there will be no designer escaping the wrath
Amma looked startled at being expected to throw a designer wedding
Ultra posh was beyond Iyers' means and outside of their principles too
Appa: When we wear our shoes we usually wash our hands
R&B: oh yes! (walking over to the guest washroom)
Vandu smiled and shook her head "Appa is very religious"
Ranjan:I wish I was beta Ranjan walked over to II and blessed her "Pack karna shuru karo, abhi mahina hai bus... phir yahan aane nahi denge"
Appa: She can visit during weekends
Ranjan: Main mazak kar raha tha, kyon nahi, lekin beti hamari hogi poochhna humse padega
II looked at R&B like "Why do u care da?'
He walked over to her she froze, turning red... "I am going to Taj Palace for a meeting, I have your charger" (tapping his pocket) One of his buttons was still undone... not the thrid from top but fourth...
The tall wiry dude with the finger kangi was going to be her husband in a month
He would not be so polite then... she knew "LETS GO" he would hiss... and stalk her around the house until she said her good byes and left WITH HIM
If they came for dinner, they would leave 10 minutes after it, he wouldnt let her stay an hour
no sleepovers, no hanging out with Amma on the couch watching Sirippoli (comedy channel) at midnight No eat mysore pak at midnight with Shravu Hed probably wake her up after his midnight meeting to make love,
she would beg to be left alone... threaten him with "going to DII tomm evening after office"
But go back to him anyway
She signalled with her eyes about the button, he just stared and didnt do it...
"Unfinished business" he said quietly
If he meant the 1.5 night stand or THEIR unfinished business in bed, only he knew She nodded.. the 1.5 day stand hung like a canopy over their head..
Appa reached out to shake his hand
"THanks Sir" he said "the food was great"
No Uncle, No Papa No Dad there! He wasnt exactly gushy about his own bilogical father either
RAKSHASAN U DID NOT EAT IT FULLY... JUST WAIT I AM GOING TO CALL YOUR BLUFF Amma: Thanks I am glad u enjoyed it
Appa: she is a very good cook
R&B nodded, "Let me know if I need to take care of anything?" Appa looked at him like "How about leaving my daughter alone" "How about returning her to me" "There is usually more time between agreement and weddings in Iyer events" Appa told him "YOU FOR SOME REASON ARE DESPERATE TO BE WITH MY DAUGHTER" tone
"Only when the groom lives oversseas and cannot get vacation everything is arranged so fast" Appa let out a smile cleverly to diminish the sting of his words "We could move to Paris" R&B said softly. (I COULD BE WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO BE MR IYER, AN OVERSEAS GROOM AN INDIAN GROOM, A PRETEND IYER BOY) Beating Appa at his own game "She does not want to move out of Delhi, her career and being close to us PRIORITY for her" Appa had said on Thursday to R&B @ lunch "No her career is here, she cannot move" Appa went back to being dismissive OH! I WILL GO SEE HER AT GURGAON DAILY I WILL TEMPT HER TO COMING TO D II WHENEVER SHE CAN I WONT ABANDON MY DAUGHTER, YOUVE KNOWN HER 8 WEEKS IVE KNOWN HER 27 YEARS Ranjan:She has committed two years to the project, we cannot let her go (warmly)
II did not hear this exchange as she was helping Akka find Shravu's toys and trinkets...
Amma went to check on Periappa and the nurse, Sam and the nanny collected the baby's things from all over... Tan went off to go seat/recline Nandu in the car
This exchange was essentially private fire spitting session between prospective son in law and father in law with Ranjan watching
"In fact she will probably be late for work tomorrow" Appa supplied
R&B did not say anything
"I like girls to be so focussed Mr Iyer" Ranjan said
"Oh MY daughter is a star.. she has a smart head on strong shoulders" looking at R&B ACTING LOVE SICK AND SPEECHLESS IS SOMETHING YOU DID TO HER... SHE IS NOT MY DAUGHTER DURING THOSE TIMES... Vandu: Three bags full" (giggling)
Amma: I will go with you to drop Vandu (to II)
II: ayyo vendaam ma, na poren its only 11:27
Vandu: Amma i dont get to go in the fancy Corolla too many times, so I am going to make her take me to NOIDA first" (giggling)
Sam: Hum chhod dete hain (to Tan who came up just then)
II: No... I can... I usually do
Appa: Yes yes, Ishita returns from work at 1 AM and 2 AM and all its not a big deal for her
Sam REALLY? Dilli mein? Akele raat ko 2 baje? (shocked)
II looked down sheepishly, she did not see R&B's jaw clench... Appa did... it made him FU-RI-OUS that he was making plans to have armed guards escort her
taking away his daughter's independence bit by bit
Tanmay:thats dangerous. Bhallas wont allow that sir... neither will I (to Appa bluntly)
Ranjan: Main to guards ko ISKE saath bhejta hoon sir if he goes someplace after midnight
R&B squirmed..acknowldging it uncomfortably
Things about which HE was being over protective about seemed justified to him, but R&B's
flash of fury at having II wandering around at 2 AM made Appa insanely jealous
Appa: she is a bold girl
R&B had a "OH YA MR IYER I KNOW HOW BOLD SHE IS, AFRIAD OF SCARY MOVIES, AFRAID OF THE DARK BOLD?" look
Amma: We keep telling her not to do that, she never listens. You must not allow it (speaking to R&B)
R&B relaxed instantaneoulsy at Amma's reasonable words"Ofcourse" (I ABSOLUTELY WONT IF I AM OVERSEAS FOR WORK I WILL MAKE
SURE BALDEV ALLOWS HER TO WORK FROM HOME AFTER 6 PM, SHE IS NOT STEPPING OUT AN INCH OUTSIDE MALCHA MARG, AFTER DUSK)
amma breathed deeply, reassured
II had a " THE GAME'S ON... TRY LOCKING ME UP" angry look R&B: i will drop Vandita off (firmly)
Looking at II "TRY MESSING WITH THAT... I INVITE YOU TO START FIGHTING RIGHT NOW" look
Vandita handed him bags and HE TOOK IT
II: Naanum varen? (Let me go too?) Vandu:Edukku di, does R&B need an escort? (giggling)
R&B: she has claws (softly) (chuckling) bas***d!!! SHOULD I TELL HER YOU HAVE SHARP TEETH?
PIGG!! Rakshasan
Vandu laughed uncontrollably...
Amma and Appa hugged and blessed Lasya and said their goodbyes to Ranjan so they missed this lil back and forth between R&B-Vandu anD II
"thanks Mrs Iyer" he said joining hands in prayer, setting the bags down
Amma smiled and nodded
He didnt turn to hug wave or smile at her... she just watched her Akka leave with him,
she walked up to the landing and waited... Akka and him chatted about something as they stepped out from underneath... he waved to show her where the car was
Akka turned to look up at the landing it was a Iyer family tradition... "Agar tum ek second keh do main nahi chhod sakta to bhaagkar aayegi mujhe chhodne"
Akka said fondly about sad baby sister, she waved gently
He turned and met her gaze, and her insides staggered first and nosedived with a "swoosh", as she froze the waving hand
