Leave of Absence & Tara Mausi
Sam had the driver pick up sandwiches for the younger crowd, she called Sitaraman Mama and had a Iyer dinner of sorts sent to Munirka, Bala too his Amma home, Sam sent her car so the NOIDA cousin's wife could return, Sam went back too, to feed Lasya and check on the boys
Tan and II and II's parents stayed over until 11, she stretched on the couch and took a nap, he had texted her at 10:30, she missed it
Amma woke her gently around 11 ish, "Only one person can stay kanna, go home"
"Thats a lie, u will say that and u and Athim and Appa will be here" she grumbled half asleep"
"NO kanna, Chpater 10 is due I have to go home and work" Amma promised
"Nejamma?" II opened her eyes to look (really?)
"I wont lie kanna, she looks fine, they have ordered bed rest, if u can take a day or two off, then you can coordinate her leave with the department"
"Amma why cant Akka quit?" II asked in a sleep drugged voice
"PODI! its a government job the benefits are great" Amma explained sitting by her, gently rubbing II's neck
"what about her ma?" Ii asked panickingðŸ˜
"I dont know we have to ask the DU Chancellor or find out if someone knows the Chancellor and request one year off" Amma sounded worried, she leaned back breathed audibly
"she can quit and take up a corporate job, she is amazing" II reassured
"Thatha Paati (Bala's parents) are there with them Ambala brother's wife wont care for them, Thatha ku kaadu kekarde ille (Thatha's hearing is going too, ) just like his sister Kamakshi Athai...so Akka has to work... she needs the summer vacation, how can she take a corp job like you?" Amma asked
Appa joined them "enna solra vaal?" (what is Ms Naughty saying?😳)
"Vandu velaya vidattume solra" (She shud quit) Amma said softly
Appa had a faraway look in his eyes... he wished Vandita was married to someone wealthy that didnt need her income... he was unable to order Vandita to quit, he liked Bala more, but he knew his daughter was doing more in her relationship and he was a mute spectator
Bala was a gem, but it was what it was... he was middle class, Amma Appa were too... health crisis or financial losses placed huge pressures on middle class families
"Should I talk to him about sending his parents to Ambala?" Appa asked
Amma was horrified "No no... its not in our place to do that"
"Amma I will see who I know at DU and set things in motion for loss of pay"
"Bala othukanume?" (Bala shud agree) Appa pointed out
Amma nodded worried...
"He will pa" II reassured
"R&B doesnt care about money, but Ishita doesnt want any kids" Amma reminded them of the irony😕
II squirmed
"what a good boy, he was talking for long with Bala... he came to me held my hands and send dont worry Mrs Iyer" Amma began to cry "I look at him and Bala and wonder at times like this, "Is this what it must feel like? To have boys?"
Appa took his glasses off and wiped his eyes with the edge of the veshti... II turned away, unwilling to let her parents see her tears...
"He speaks very less, he observes" Amma said sniffling...
"He could have let her stay" Appa began all over again
"CHINNA VAYASU, HOW WILL HE?" (THEY ARE SO YOUNG) Amma raised her voice
II bent down shyly... looked at her phone...
"On ur way?" he had asked
"Not yet da" she texted
"I can come get you" he said
"Ennoda car?" (my car?)
"Let Amma have it for now" he texted
"U just want to see me" she winked
"And do stuff only husbands do to their wives" he responded
Appa stretched in the bed like couch dozing off... Amma and II talked about Periappa's
Janaki Athai's daughter Lakshmi Venkat's Delhi transfer and all the other family stuff
Bala returned, with a big smile
"Her nathanaar has a BIG heart (sis in law)" he praised
Appa looked curiously
"So much food, she said until Vandita is home Shravu will be with her" Bala nodded touched
"I can pick him up too"
"Have a 9 year old apram pesu ni" (Have a 9 year old first) Bala teased
"Oh BTW I am not talking with u I forgot"
He walked over to her, she got up to go, he hugged her "Kochukaade kanna" (dont be angry love)
Amma smiled
R&B walked in, changed into cargos and tee... and flip flops
I have a car downstairs, u can leave both cars (the new Hyundai and II's Toyota)
in the parking until morning and just get a ride home now Mrs Iyer" he offered
"Why are u enduring so much trouble?" Amma asked politely
He just smiled
She had her laptop in her trunk, she picked that up and he took her home...
Ranjan waited anxiously... in the patio swing
"How is she beta?"
"Umm OK... but they will keep her there a couple days" she said
"I will speak with Mr Iyer in the morning" he promised
"Jee" she lingered
"Go eat"
"I ate at the hospital" she argued
"Nope u must eat, he rang the bell"
"Dad I only had him make lamb and (she forgot)"
"Bahu Iyer hai to there must be vegetarian every meal" he said sternly
Minion : Pulao raita hai aur aloo subzi
She smiled... "Meetha bhi hai?"
"Rasmalai" he smiled "aur" "Sir.."
She paused... "Haan?"
"Sir taramaus" he stopped... Ii stared at him for the longest time... wondering WHO TARA MAUSI was
"Tiramisu?" she asked gently
"JEE WOHI" he nodded flashing his sparklers...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She would eat, he would wander with a drink... in the back patio
Ranjan would lean back and relax on the swing... later he would hear Frank Sinatra for a minute then SPB and then Bob Dylan and then Hariharan, and then ZZ Hill
He wandered over to the lawn and looked up...
He heard shrieks... as he chased her across the lounge and the 2nd floor living room she dodged fleeing with the remote
"I HIT PLAY FIRST" she shouted
"I paused to come get you II" he argued
"First one hour is mine" she shouted near the balcony
Ranjan smiled walking slowly... looking up at the skies
"We agreed on days... MWF is urs" he said patiently
"It was for LAST week" she giggled lying, he switched it on the wall console she switched it back with the remote, hitting "Back"
Hariharan was winning... Ranjan thought.. the volume? Enough to wake the Zambian Prime Minister IN ZAMBIA🤣
until Bob Dylan hit a home run😆... II tried to switch back to Hariharan, R&B lunged and reached
for the remote, she flung it on a rose bush, Ranjan ducked avoiding the missile, quickly going on to the patio when they peeked down
"No... "no" "No da" was all he heard, as his son hauled her away, he heard his son curse colorfully
he heard muffled shrieks, and falling vase?
the lights went out on the 2nd floor...
His phone rang as he yawned, suddenly sleepy😳 and content
It was Harish
"Bhaisaab Ive been trying to call you. Did Ishita tell u?" he demanded unhappy
"Yes yes, her sister is the hospital" Ranjan smiled fondly pleased his brother was so involved
"Mainu is gal di koi knowledge nahi" he said flippantly
"Oh?" Ranjan said
"Waha SAMAR phasa hua hai usko maine kaha tha osne aapse dasya nahi?" (did she not even tell u?)
Edited by Nisha0604 - 9 years ago
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