"Matters of the heart"
Akka was done with her nap when II was done serving for everyone, she took naps in short bursts all day long the sight of her made II wish she could do something about her going back to work
II had bought square bowls with Chinese lettering from Saket Mall with chopsticks and all the "essentials" to enjoy a Chinese meal Amma "inaugurated" it today as it was a "fitting occasion"
Otherwise she would only serve on regular Iyer thalis
She couldnt imagine being pregnant and caring for a 9 year old almost 10 year old and three in-laws, and a husband
She was done with half her stack of 12th Eco answer sheets, she had another stack to go, Amma had to turn them in first week of May for tabulation and compilation etc
for results in the 4th week of May.
She wondered if Amma was going to send food everyday, she made a note to talk to Minion about it.
I WISH I COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND CGANGE ATHIM'S MIND
I CANT
Amma gave the exact look to Akka that II did
Appa was a coward, he DIDNT
Akka looked dishevelled but dignified, her cotton dupatta wrapped fully over her belly
"I am sorry I am in my worst behavior da, sleeping, bad hair day, and clothes look so ratty" she said sitting down in a sleep drugged voice across R&B
He was embarrassed to hear her say such a thing
"Umm.. if I carried a child I wud probably lay in bed 9 months and expect to be fed" he chuckled
Amma served...
Appa: Can she leave on Sunday?
AYYYOOO!!! NO I CANT
I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO STAY
HE WILL GO AND WONT COME BACK TO GET ME
I KNOW
His tousled hand combed hair, his flip flops are all mine
I am going home with him
Amma: No Mr Ranjan is missing her (smiling )
Vandu: HE cant be missing her... only his Dad might (teasing)
R&B nodded with a half smile
Vandu:Tabhi tumne plan kiya hoga nahi u have it all worked out I bet, every week get your break by fighting over something or the other curtains... windows
Akka laughed heartily
R&B: There is always work
Appa cleared his throat clearly jealous of not being included in the conversation
Appa: she is very focussed... I am not surprised she wants things a certain way (sternly, appriving)
II squirmed
R&B just looked at his father in law
R&B noticed Amma struggling with the long strings of noodles,
she would usually do a better job of breaking them up before or chopping them up after boiling, but hadnt today...
Amma was embarrassed "we dont eat noodles every day"
R&B: its very easy Mrs Iyer, takes some getting used to (he gently twirled a syrupy bunch of strings deftly, like Anchor thread on a bobbin, not even one mm hanging loose)
And gently inserted in his mouth
Amma tried and failed...
"Or u can always chop it up" he said gently... slicing his with his fork
He offered extending a hand with a smile, Amma nodded happily "Yes yes... thank you"
R&B politely chopped it all up with Amma's fork, and handed her a spoon, "u could probably just eat with that now"
Amma smiled in gratitude
Vandu: Chamathu da nee (u are such a good boy)
He looked at his wife "Umm... good boy" II muttered fumbling
"Ive never heard THAT one before" HE SAID WITHOUT A SMILE, A GODDAMN SINCERE EXPRESSION
Vandu literally rolled on the table... choking, Amma handed her water...
RAKSHASAN!!!
NEE VAA VEETTUKKU IRUKKU ONAKKU
ARGHHH!!!
Amma served everyone more, R&B again chopped hers up for her.
"Innikki raatri tangu kanna (stay tonight)
"No Pa... paavam... she cant be here pampering me" Vandu said
"No no, she is enjoying her Akka's company"
"Bala wouldnt have let me stay more than 6 hours the first 6 months, he allowed her to stay two nights in a row" Vandu said bluntly
Appa shot an arrow at his daughter...
II picked up, R&B had brought chocolate truffle and fudge bars with walnuts on them
She brought the entire assortment to the living room, four huge boxes
It had Taj on it
"I am sending some for Shravu" Akka said inhaling one deeply "ayyo ma... so addicting"
She ate one, two three
R&B:U can send the whole thing... or I can have some delivered tomorrow
Appa:No no you must not too much sweet is not good
R&B nodded politely
II: Amma, the gold blouse this morning check if Selvi washed it, the one I wore today...
ada thoyka sollaade ma I will take it to dry cleaners when I come by next" (ask her not to throw in the washer)
R&B There are many in Malcha Marg market (mockingly)
Appa: No no we can do it, it will give her a reason to come here often (gleeful)
R&B gave him a "I'd be damned if I am going to let her come by for that" look
II & R&B peeked into Periappa's room, II kissed his forehead and whispered in his ear for a minute
"Sorry I will see u soon" she said aloud The nurse gave her a dirty look for interupting his snore
Amma pinned flowers in her hair gave her "blessings" and Rs.201 for both
"I couldnt buy anything" she said sheepishly
"U shudnt be giving us anything" r&B said bending down politely at both their feet
She grabbed her stuff... purse laptop and bags of "transfers and exchanges"
"I was clenaing the kutchen I didnt try the fudge", she grabbed one
"Vandu bring a ziploc we shud send some for her" Appa suggested
"Umm no... no pa" "There is one shelf of junk in the frig just for me" embarrassed II mumbled
"I am going to bring the car around" he muttered softly in her ears "U leave urs here, Vandu can use it?" he suggested,
She nodded
"No... no I will go too" she mumbled
He chuckled
Amma: i wont say send her more, u already send her more than enough
II:HOW MEAN MA.
Amma:thanks kanna
Appa: U can come stay in the weekend... Vandita is here, we can call Bala also (a lonely man spoke with deep love)
II hugged him with a lump in her throat "Varen pa" (See u)
Akka hugged her warmly slowly walking down to the landing... "Sanda podaade" "TWO WORDS"
Tell him also she urged...
"Dont let her bully you" "ayyo thats FIVE" Akka giggled hugging R&B warmly
"Take care Vandita"
"Aaj ka tumhara 10th sentence hoga nahi?" she teased
He smiled fully
"Do u have to go to work next week?" My 11th" he said
"Umm I dont know.." Akka said sadly
"COME STAY WITH ME"
"HOW can I when u are here all the time?" Akka mocked
"I wont come ever if u come stay with me" II asked earnestly
"I will kanna... maybe a weekend in May?" Akka smiled
II didnt want to leave... Amma and Appa waved... so did Akka
They walked together to the car... and headed home
Ranjan was on the swing, he literally jumped... "BETAJI AAP?"
"I came sooner" embarrassed
"TWO DAYS LATE" he hugged her
"I didnt bring anything from Amma's house" she was sad
"Koi gal nahi puttar... u can make idli on Saturday" he said
R&B hung on...
When they went up it was close to 10:30
She walked over to the swing.. and sat down the slightly cooler temps made the jasmine scent waft all over
When he came she stood up, leaning on the rail
Her arms stretched both sides
she looked at his pearly feet... bare...
"I was thinking if I can send dinner to Akka every night... a Punjabi dinner?" "Umm will u be OK?"
"I mean is it OK to ask?"
"(Want)Me to cook?" he was being deliberately dense...
"oh! no... no no.. I mean... I want to ask Mahavir" she mumbled nervously
"Shud I page him?" he asked being "dense-er"
"Um... no I meant is it OK to send food?" she asked
"do u want me to ask Bala?" he asked clenching his jaw
"No..." she shook her head sending her jhumkas into a tizzy... "I meant yahan se bhejoon?"
He just stared like DID U JUST ASK ME THAT? SERIOUSLY?
I BRING YOU HOME AND YOU ANGLE FOR ANOTHER FIGHT? IN THE BALCONY? RIGHT OFF THE BAT?
"Umm... I dont know how to do the right thing" she said "I try.. but only screw up"
"Maybe I shudnt have asked" she said conciliatorily
ABOUT RANJAN?
ABOUT THE FOOD OFFER?
"I am sorry... umm... I ve never scored anything short of an A in every class I ever took, but when
it comes to matters of love... (turned CRIMSON)
(AYYYOYO!!! SHUT UP SHUT UP DONT SAY ANY MORE II STOP IT DI)😡
"I meant matters of the heart "😳
NIICE "THIS WORD" IS EVEN BETTER
AYYO!!! MORON!!🤣
"I mean in matters of people and emotions I probably will only score an F I totally suck at it" ☺️she said hoarsely, with the most absolutely innocent expression
Her fingers were tangled and her cheeks were flaming her voice soft in apology
He picked her up and walked inside... without saying a word😳
Edited by Nisha0604 - 9 years ago
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