Commerce & Lord Kartikeya
Lasya shook in happiness on seeing R&B, she was so fat she couldnt even be propped up she had to either lay on her back or be held securely
Now she was being held securely by II in a yellow ghaghra and a navy halter neck blouse, Sam's conspiracy to reveal the lil mite's chunky arms so II could devour it
She had hair thicker than II, secured in a high tail... clips all over holding her silky curls off her face, she scratched her face turning into a tomato, with a beginning of a cold
Yet she wanted to be picked up by her Uncle
II held her close..
HE SAT ON HER PALLU... she yanked it furiously... rocking the lil one in her arms quietly
"Kozhandaikki cold vandudutha? My baby has a cold?... achocho my love...
Manni seri aakaren onna seriya Mann can do magic (I will make u better)
Can we go see what Amma is doing?" she asked in her ear
The baby laughed as II's breath tickled her, forgot to scratch her face, just sucked on both hands at the same time
II's saree was soaked in the front
To him she had looked like an Iyer wife, until he saw her dark red Punjabi bangles...
she could be that man's wife... the man with the mustache in her screen saver pictures.
Sam returned when they were scoping each other out to begin the next argument
"Arey biwi saamne baithi hai, paas baithi hai AB to baat karo" she giggled bearing a tray of food
"News Flash Sam! He only talks to make a point or win an argument, at other times hes usually quiet and wordless
Sam reached for the baby "Main pakdoon? Tum khao... shes teething and is getting a cold... nights are a horror around here"
"I dont know how u do it" II muttered
"I dont know either.. what was I think... excuse me... but I wasnt" she laughed hard, flashing a perfect set of teeth like her brother... "I should go off to work and ask Tan to be with her
HE wanted her so he needs to care for her"
II squirmed as it seemed like an extension of the WW7? 8? from last night...
"BUT BUTT BUTTT, I cant be without her even for second, she is my heart beat" Sam rubbed her cheek with one finger, the thing cooed
"MMM... UMMM" like she got everything her Mom said
"We'll just let u sleep by Daddy tonight Ma and Nandu sleep in his room OK" Sam continued to talk to with her
"Yes we will... do not butter me up u scented ball of fluff!!" Sam scolded her or tried to
II ate quietly
Sam:TUJHE kya doon?'
"I ate poha" he said
"Arey wah... VEGETARIAN? U spared a chicken today?" Sam giggled
He smiled a wide humorless one for her...
"Sam I better go mujhe mandir jaana hai" Ii began
"What does mujhe mean... is he not going with you?" Sam asked
Ii didnt respond... but her brother did..."After the temple, I am meeting Alex and Romaine at Noon"
"So u are going na? Good"
II sipped her chai quietly... he reached for half the slice of her banana bread and chewed on it... "This has walnuts in it?" he asked Sam
"U know Nandu loves those" Sam complained
He put the 1/4th back on her plate... she grabbed it with a KIND smile "I LOVE walnuts" she ate his leftover inadvertently
The baby began to doze in II's arms...
"Shes crushed and ruined your saree, do u want to change I can ask the help to iron it for you?
II shook her head... "I can fold it into half" she said "wear it like Vidya Balan" giggling
The sis in laws discussed Bollywood, Sam shared juicy Bolyywood gossip about the community they interacted with,
she also told her Chachu's DIL may be signing a movie soon"
"Can we go to the sets?" II asked eagerly
"REALLY ISHITA?" sam asked shocked
"Umm... main kabhi gayi nahi, Ive never seen a movie being made... I want to" II muttered
"U are a silly girl, sometimes I dont believe the things u say and do" Sam said thoughtfully
Sam: R&B KHAO... Ur black coffee is here too... I cant believe she lets u listen to music all day like that...
I would bite Tan's ears off shaadi ke shuru mein I just talked day and night"
R&B took the other ear phone off... He poured himself a cup of black and had a veggie puff...
Sam:Get up II, that saree needs ironing, jao oopar main aati hoon
II protested, Sam insisted finally II agreed, when II got down the stairs... he was by the front door to the side of the house, leading to the loong drive way
"why are u taking ur keys? yahi chhod do, I will send ur car home in the evening"
"I have to go to the temple" II muttered
"HES HERE NO? WHATS GOING ON BETWEEN YOU TWO?" Sam suddenly realized why they werent talking
II sat by the door on a ornamental stool of sorts to wear her stylish heels
He wandered a few feet around her...
"Ishita?" "will u answer?" Sam threatened
"Its nothing I am talking... we are talking... I mean in fact I told him to get here so we can go to gether... KUCH KAHO PLEASE" she smiled weakly at her husband
"Vandita said the temple closes at Noon" he said
Sam: BEHAVE YOURSELF WITH HER... mujhe tumhara koi tamasha nahi chahiye samajh gaye... u guys complete ONE WEEK ON SUNDAY. U two are officially insane.
I am not sending her with you to Paris if you are not going to be nice to her. Ishita isko jaane do u come on over tonight
Sam:Are u packed?
II nodded
Sam:To phir theek hai, come on over... we can do girlie stuff together... maybe another show (giggling)
II: I will do that (smiling)
Sam: We can even go to Mumbai over the weekend and go watch some shoots, Dad knows someone at UTV... U can meet Vidya Balan
Sam hugged her brother "I am begging you, be nice"
"Will do" he nodded
He started his car, she lingered near hers... and finally got in beside him...
He turned towards Malai Mandir Marg... "Do you want to get something for Akka" he asked
She looked out the window...
He gassed she turned to look at him...she gave him a "Karo kuch bhi, mujhe kya" look and went back to peek out the window
He parked outside the temple they got off, 10s of little kids surrounded the car... she was used to men ogling at her but not kids swarming her like that
They asked him all sorts of questions about the car, he opened and closed the door, turned the key, showed them the dash... lifted and concealed the headlights
the cool things the steering did, the famous Manettino switch, the satellite tuner... the defogger... she checked her email on the phone as he gave the kids a visual tour
When he was done he locked up and handed her the keys to put in her purse. he had his phone in one of his pockets he didnt want the keys in the other
She wandered on the road with her phone zig zagging, he grabbed her elbow and dragged her with him
"I know how to cross the road" she hissed
"Tell me that after u get run over" he hissed back
He let go of her elbow only when they got to the shoe deposit guy...
she sat on the guy's stool to take her fancy shmancy heels off, he was done in a second since he always wore flip flops...
They washed their feet and hands, he watched how she did it, toes first heels next... then she did something with her hands,
after washing them... she had lifted the folds of the saree high over her ankles
The rows of taps, some leaking... the kind where you push up for water, sprayed everywhere...
she couldnt do it all, he held the lever up, she held her saree, pallu and the folds and washed
He folded his jeans up and washed... rolled them back down after...
She walked as if she knew what she was doing... bought a tray with flowers coconut and camphor they all knew her...
"Hindi karara katti kitte pola kannu (u married a Northie?)
She nodded uncomfortably...
"Yaaru IVARA? nettaya irukaar? Summa hero kanakka irukaar!" (He is so tall he looks like a movie star)
"Tell me something new" she muttered, R&B heard that...
"good singer... very good" the pooja thali guy endorsed II "thai poosam, Pongal Navaratri, sing" he pointed to the hall downstairs the huge one
R&B smiled
"Evlav aachu?" II asked (How much shud I pay?)
II got a huge rose garland for Lord Karthik and for Meenakshi, a lil boy held the hanging creation and stood by her
"Rs.840 kudu kannu" (give me Rs.840 dearie)
Before she could delve into her purse for change, he whipped his wallet out
"I got it" she said to him
"I can stomach a scene II, can u? They all seem to know you" he was furious
He asked the lil kid if he can hold the garlands...
The boy said "neeche lagna nahi chahiye"
R&B gave the kid a dry smile
"Really? at 4.5 feet tall u can do it at 6'3" I CANT?"
II hid a smile
"Didi ko dekha nahi ek mahiney se" the boy said sheepishly wanting to trail his fave singer
"Epdi irukke da? Vetri?"
Everyone associated with a South Indian temple is usually named after the presiding deiety
"Nalla irukken ka, adutha varusam na 10th" (I am good next year 10th)
"Nanna padi da... Science or Commerce in 11th
He watched as she made small talk with the pint sized boy coaching him on how he should take only Commerce in 11th and not Science
She was getting back at him by talking to the boy...
She went on and on and on, he held the cane tray with the offering, she held her own clothing and walked up
The moist sandy steps...
"iVaru pesa maatara?" (Does ur husband talk?)
"Jaasti maatar" (not much)
"Nee epdi irukke ka? nee pesikitte irupiye? (HOW DO U LIVE WITH HIM? U KEEP TALKING )
"I dont know da... na ipavum pesaren ivar keppaar" (he just listens)
"Didi baat karti rehti hai, aap chup rehte ho? Didi to bahut baat karti hai?"
The boy couldnt contain the horrific feeling of his Didi being with a quiet man
"Achha?" he asked
"Aapko nahi maloom?" the boy asked
"Mmm... mmm" RAKSHASAN SHOOK HIS HEAD
They got up to the altar the preist on duty recognized her and smiled big and wide
The crowd was heavy being the Tamil month of Panguni (phalguni) is especially auspicious for Lord Kartikeya
People jostled and shoved, II had paid for the biggest service Rs.1500 for some "bathing services", honey, milk, water yogurt etc...
They were invited to move upfront to watch they did religiously Vetri stood by them
II prayed eyes closed hands joined
"Paadreya?" the priest asked smiling
"Ippova? (NOW?)
"Pinne sayngalam va, Panguni maasam dino kacheri irukku" (come by in the evening then there is a concert every night)
she softly began singing a prayer for Lord Kartik the 100 or so in there stood still
listening Moms with young girls pointed to her and asaid "Paathukko nee practice panna maatengre anda akka epdi paadra"
(u dont practice but look at her how she sings)
Natesan Mami stood amongst the people staring at her and him... when the song was over she walked over to II
"Epdi irukke?" (how are u?)
"I am good Mami" II said shyly
"So u married the boy u came with to your Akka's house that night?" Mami asked accusingly looking at R&B
He did a namaste...
II nodded
The bells began to ring... as the camphor was lit...
The priest came out with his offering, chanted in front of them, and handed her flowers half a coconut and vemilion
He handed R&B the holy ash
and continuing to chant gesticulated it needed to be worn horizontally...
She reached for his palm and picked up some and smeared it like Appa would.. a slim strip of grey
As if on cue he reached for her palm and tapped a vermilion dipped finger on her forehead
🤗 ❤️
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