"Do u like trekking and scuba diving and surfing?" Jacque asked smiling
"Ummm... no I watch other people do it but cant even swim," II giggled
"Well I am thinking he will take you on trips for those" he said
II nodded squirming... "I guess"
"You should teach him to sing" Romain said
II blushed crimson "How do?"
"He sent us many videos?" ya many" he laughed
She looked at him quizzically...
"From Sam's baby shower" he said
YOU DONT COMPLIMENT ME YOU DONT CLAP U DONT SMILE BUT SEND MY VIDEOS ALL OVER? WHO GAVE YOU THE PREMISSION DA, RAKSHASAN
"U are a good singer... u train? U learn?" Alex asked unsure of the words to use
"Yes, once a month with a teacher in my neighborhood"
"How long? u have sang?" Romain asked
"Umm.. too long... if I say the number then you will know how old I am I am older than u all, 22 Years... I think... from the time I was 6?" she giggled shyly
"Oh! we are old" Alex said making a face "R&B is the baby in the group"
II looked at him "BABY? AND HIM?" "U GUYS MUST BE BLIND... HES THE MOST ERMMM... OVER GROWN BABY EVER... RAKSHASAN
She fidgeted uncomfortably... unable to speak out of shyness
"Well we are happy to be here, for R&B's wedding" Julien spoke breaking the silence
"We are happy u choose him, if not he can be only single forever" Alex joked in broken English
"HE MIGHT HAVE LIKED THAT." II's eyes told him NO NAGGING IYER, NO ANNOYING BATTLES NO ONE UPMANSHIP GAMES, READ HIS BOOKS TWIRL HIS LOCKS, AND ERMMM... FIND S-- WHENEVER AND WHEREVER. HE TRICKED ME AND I HAVE LOST MY WAY AND DONT KNOW HOW TO TURN BACK... ERMMM.. DONT WANT TO...
She felt color rise in her face at that thought
"Did he like being single?" she asked softly looking into the dude's eyes
"We know he likes to be married" (he meant the fact that II was dating him)
II blushed
YOUR FRIENDS ARE LIARS... JUST LIKE YOU ARE.
Sam walked in "May I have my sister in law please, she needs to be fed and then glued to a chair for some rituals.."
The men looked at her confused unable to understand the fast fluent English
R&B translated, pointing to his fire cracker
they smiled, Alex "Ready for magnifique celebration? jouir?"
"Enjoy" R&B translated for her
She wondered WHOSE sister Marliese was... she looked at all their faces she couldn't tell, she wondered if she was here too, back in the hotel room or went directly there from the airport
What would the dude say if he saw her? Did he invite her?
Her expression was somber...
"Nous vous assurons qu'il ne est pas aussi sombre comme il regarde" Romain said chuckling
(We can assure you he is not as serious as he looks)
"Il jette la partie amusante" Alex chimed in nodding animatedly
(He throws a fun party) R&B muttered smiling at Alex
"Il ne dort pas beaucoup" Alex informed her
R&B did not translate, Romain gesticulated "Sleep" he said miming the sleep gesture with his head resting on his hands... shook his thumb pointing to R&B
Her insides hurtled at that statement...
"Thanks" she said through dry lips
U doit chanter" Jacque said laughing "U must sing like nourisson?" he swung his joined arms like rocking a baby
"Sing him lullabies?" she asked huskily
YES" said R&B
"What else should I do?" she asked her eyes fixated on the dude
Que dois-je faire?" R&B translated
"Faut-il lui dire?" (Should we tell her?) Alex conspired
"Non, laissez-la savoir" Jacque winked
"No...Let her find out" R&B said softly
Sam reappeared
"Lets go love"
II slithered between them, paused by R&B...
"Ummm... they should eat" she invited
He nodded politely
"Good to meet you all, some time soon?"
"Oui Oui Paris" Alex said cheerfully
They exchanged one last look she stood in the doorway, a couple of giggling friends flanked her..
"this is not over" her eyes told him
"How can be?" he looked at her
The men began talking about work in French, her family and his family stared open mouthed...
She walked away with her friends
Akka: Hey ASK him if he ate.
II:why? I want to eat here only after they leave
Akka:DONT BE SILLY Come down
II:there are 100s of people here..
Akka:WHEN DID YOU BECOME SO SHY DI?
II:Like from RIGHT NOW Ka AYYO TOO MANY PEOPLE
Akka:ishita, this is not the occasion to fight kanna (in her ear)
II: tell that to HIM
Fareeda: Di we ate, We are going to go grab some good seats for the show
Vandu:I am going to ask him to join you, so don't you dare sit by anyone... her don't leave her alone... go with her
Fareeda nodded, Evelyn "HOW can we leave her... four French guys will be around her.. and ME LOVE FRANCE
She did a theatrical heart over chest...
Vandu:evelyn is as usual a drama queen like YOU
Evelyn:She TAUGHT us how to be this way Di
Vandu:I don't doubt it, achha go now let her eat and those chooras and stuff, before we know it it will be 6 and she has to ready for the baraat
The girls giggled others joined, Aishwarya Anusha, Lakshmi and Uma...
the dining hall was in the basement... all eyes followed her as she walked daintily...
She was getting used to the oohs and aahs
Naina: hey where is that cute guy that was with your cute guy
ERMMM... OK... HES NOT A "CUTE" GUY, HES A EVIL MEAN... INGRACIOUS LOUT NOT CUTE...
II sat down at the end of a row... Amma was talking to Bala Mami and Moorthy mami in the row across
Iyer wedding people are seated on rows of table chairs facing each other with room in between so the caterers can serve the food, people are fed on GIANT banana leaf... with cups on the side for fruit salads, desserts and kheer...
The entire serving community descended on her, much to her embarrassment... AND VANDU BROUGHT R&B
AYYYO
I CANT EAT IN PEACE. IVANA YAAR KOOPTA, I HAVENT SLEPT IN 6 DAYS STARTING THIS MOMENT I CANT EAT'
AYYO KRISHNA...He sauntered in lazily hands in pocket, one hand holding a WATER BOTTLE
Thankfully like the kind placed by the leaf not some San Pellegrino Sparkling Mineral water or anything
SHOW OFF... SAALA
He smiled at something Vandu said and walked over to where she was seated AND SAT ON THE EDGE SEAT...
Vandu:I told you not to start
II: I am hungry
Vandu:OK let me find Sitaraman Mama
She waved towards the huge kitchen
the guy came sprinting
"Vaango vaango" (he grinned joyously greeting the couple) (Please come)
AYYYO NOW I HAVE TO HAVE HIM STARE AT US
The Mama summoned his best serving helpers, a troop of 6 stood in front of II holding buckets of rasam pachadi (yogurt sauce) sambar, and a set of four bowls suspended on a hook with 4 kinds of curry
Vandu: R&B there is BOTH kinds of food... BUT ALL VEGETARIAN DA Sorry... sorry!
She bit her tongue at that so called mistake
R&B: Vandita its OK she says Da all the time
II:REALLY? Eppo? (WHEN?)
He arched an eyebrow
"SHUT UP" she hissed
Vandita: Ivarukku North Indian podungo (just serve North Indian to him)
Sitaraman: yes yes... fresh phulkas, or naan...
He yelled for a help to bring the North Indian curries
II: helooo Akkaaa me? Akkaa? (muttering)
Akka was busy sucking up to Sitaraman for the GROOM'S sake
II emptied her desserts first... she pulled her leaf closer, tipping that horribly weak (wedding!!!!!) water cups over... it rained all over her saree and pallu, he lifted her pallu and handed it to her
"Gimme that" she snatched
It had sprayed over his jeans..
She handed him paper towels from the leaf setting next to her, HE SAT THERE EXPECTING HER TO WIPE IT OFF
She threw it on him...
Akka:What do u want kanna?
II:thanks... so I do exist... I thought I was invisible
Vandu:Ayyo, don't complain
Her friends giggled... watching R&B eat...
II:u shud take pictures (smiling) (pointing to the amazing sight of the dude eat)
"Don't push it II" he warned softly
two batteries of staff served both, by the time II began eating rice around 50 people crowded arounded them a handful of photographers
Sam:HOW MEAN VANDITA WHY DIDNT U CALL ME?'
pushing thru the crowd...
II: I eat every day... don't know about HIM (sarcastic)
NOTHING TO SEE HERE PEOPLE MOVE ALONG... GO ON... PLEASE
AYYO AKKA I INSISTED I WILL EAT IN THE ROOM
IT WAS YOUR IDEA TO DO THIS DRAMA
Sam:Chal feed karne ko kehte hain (let them feed)
Vandu giggled "amma will kill me, not until the wedding I think... but OK"
Vandu: R&B please usko khila na (feed her)
II: AKKKA VENDAAM, NA SOLLITTEN U ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE (hissing)
Sam:She is angry, I thought she will jump up and say please please please
II:really Sam?
Sam: mujhe Didi bolo I am NOT SAM U know
II: Funny... Umm... PLEASE DIDI
there were 6 bowls on his yelai/leaf, dal raita three kinds of subzis
He peered at one bowl "Is this bhindi?"
Sitaraman: yes yes... in whole baby tomatoes
LIKE HE WORKED AT SOME FIVE STAR HOTEL
R&B:I dont like bhindi I am sorry...
"DO U WANT IT?' HE ASKED
"Nooo!!!" she looked at him like he asked her if she has Rs.1,000
(As they say in Tamizh "Kaimaatha oru aayirum kudungalen please")
Sam:OMG OMG! HE ASKED HER OMG!!
the girls screeched the women howled
II:U ARE SO DEAD AKKA, I WORRY FOR THE BABY (hissing)
R&B moved his bowl of bhindi out
Sam:USKO DE DE NA (give it to her)
II: I HATE Bhindi
Sam:OMG! THEY BOTH ARE SO SIMILAR
II:I LOVE BHINDI... I LOVE IT
She ate from the bowl he took a bite out of
Vandu:QUICK feed him, feed her Amma is hovering she might kill us, kill ME YOU she wont
The crowd HID THEM
II: U feed him and he'll feed you
Vandu picked up a vada and fed him
He smiled biting into it with a "thanks"
Sam:ISHITAAA PLEASE YAAR
II: I am eating sambar rice WITH HAND... he is eating roti
Sam:So HE SHOULD FEED YOU FIRST?
II: Ayyoo!! No, I wnat to eat I am hungry
II broke papad all over her sambar rice in typical iyer style bit into some aloo curry and just focussed on decimating the food
Vandu:Please da U do it
R&B soaked a piece of roti in paneer, scooped a long sliver of it on his roti, and OFFERED it to her
II: IDA VIDA JAASTI JUVENILE PRANK TONALEYA ONAKKU (U cudnt come up with anything more juvenile?)
Vandu pretended to think "Ummm No, I have MANY in stock, will pull it out slowly" SMUG!!!
She bent over his hand, and gently pulled the roti off his hand, a drop of syrupy paneer gravy dropped on his finger,
he went back to his food and scooped another scrap of roti with dal and ate it with her drop, unmindful of squeals shrieks and stares
R&B U ARE A SPORT!!
akka clapped like R&B recited "ringa ringa roses"
She scooped a handful of sambar rice and picked up one cube of potato curry with her four fingers and thumb
Her heart hammered in her chest at the very thought of coming in contact with those lips, while an audience of 100 now swollen to 150 watched
GET YOUR CHEAP THRILLS PEOPLE!!!
I WILL MAKE SURE I SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE STALKING EACH ONE OF YOU TO GATHER INCRIMATING EVIDENCE TO DESTROY YOUR LIVES
II: Akka I need a spoon (begging softly)
Vandu: Dont be a prude (in her ear)
II lifted the handful of grains and, took it to his mouth, sending her insides into a tizzy...
She felt his teeth briefly and his tongue, warm and succulent
Her face turned red at the memories of how the organ tasted...
A sob escaped her, only he heard...
People watched with hawk eyes if she was going to eat with the same "jhootha fingers"
She did slowly with trembling fingers
Vandu whispered "good job" in her ear
people LEFT THEM LIKE they were a flop movie
"Is she here?" Ii asked
"Who?' he asked
she ate..
"If I answer that will u apologize for sending me the money?' he asked bluntly
"No" she said defiantly
He ate quietly, waved for water...
Sam walked up smiling, "Jaldi khao Nani is asking for you"
The caterers served furiously
R&B was done 5 mins before she was...
He turned to look at her once before leaving "I am going to meet my coworkers upstairs for a bit" he told Sam
Or her?
"Ilove being married.Its so great to find that one special person to annoy the rest of your life" Rita Rudner
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