"Coconut in Gobi Masala"🤣
(Hopefully a fun part)
He showed up around 7 ish, Amma stalked her from room to room and finally ambushed her in Periappa's room "Go sing"
"Why dont you sit down and practice" "Go sing kanna" "Ishita please sing" "U must practice"
"I dont want to" she sulked
II was chopping cauliflower Amma was thawing Mother Dairy frozen peas, for subzi.
On one of her stoves Periappa's kanji was simmering, the nurse wanted chai, Amma turned to ack
"Amma I will make"
"He told u to go to Sam's inga vandu ragala pannittu ippo kelambu na" (U come here create a racket and now)
Amma held herself back, from saying words sending away "Lakshmi" after the evening diya
"I will go, dont worry, I have to work tomorrow, I didnt even bring my laptop" II chopped
"Amma u were out of ginger garlic paste, did u buy?"
"No dee, it just sits in the frig and dries up, Appa and I dont eat garlic or onion 9 out of 10 days, u or Vandu come over and want everything like Sanjeev Kapoor" Amma sulked
"Irukarda vechu mudinja pannu" (Make what u can with what we have)
"Amma when a recipe says, use A or B or C or D" I Cant arbitrarily replace it with something else, ellathlayum coconut poda mudiyadu" II ranted
(I cant throw coconut into everything and turn it into a Iyer dish"
"Enna di nakkala" Amma chuckled "Are u trying to mock our cuisine?"
"Umm yaa... I can only do that... Punjabi I cant, Rakshasan vanduduvaan" she cursed (hell be here)
Amma smiled "Sayangala velai la avana edukku sabikare?" (Why are u scolding him in the twilight hour?)
Ii didnt respond
Appa continued to mumble in the living room, albeit politely.
"CPA, MBA, MS, Carnatic recital... so much she has done... padi padiya velaila munnkku vara" (she is growing step by step at work)
II didnt respond, just rubbed her eyes, the red onion began to sting her tear ducts
She wore a dark pink leaf patterned Anthropologie dress, with spaghetti strap, it was like a maxi
Her hair was braided, her yellow mangal sootra cord clashing with the dress
"Yenna dress ma" Amma mumbled
"Its called Anthro" II said
"thanks for the sarcasm, but ur father in law is there no?"
"He wasnt home, Raksh, I mean avanum ille, he was on a call I think when I showered and changed" II supplied
"U are wearing it for him" Amma pointed out, amused
"Not that he cares" II said
"Porum Appa ku doobam podaade" (Dont fan appa's flames)
"Amma where is the paneer?""
"Appa set it in the frig, go get it, dont say adu illeya idu illeya? (dont ask for unreasonable things)
"Ille adu enn purushan keppaan" (my hubsa will demand that) she mumbled
"Iyer paiyan paakama vittadu tappa pochu" (I shud have insisted on a Iyer boy" Now the whole family will know he is doing this
He rang once politely, Appa was watching Sankara Channel, he did not open it,
II did... she bent her head self consciously, blushing as his eyes scanned her smooth shoulders and neckline
He wore tan cargos and a orange check shirt full sleeve folded on the fore arm, just below the elbow
"Yenna venum?" she asked huskily (What do u want?)
NOT OPENING THE DOOR FULLY
He placed a hand over hers on the knob and pushed "I can tell u inside" he said
She held paneer in one hand
He held her other
Appa looked up startled at first stiffening later, letting his veshti down
"Please come" he said sulking
"Thanks Mr Iyer" he said in his usual baritone... soft yet deep
ARGHHH!!
RAKSHASAN!!
Amma peeked from the kitchen
"Welcome" "I thought it was the press wala he took my bowl with leftovers" Amma chuckled
He had brought ice cream and flowers
"WHY do u bring something all the time?" Amma scolded, finding a vase for the flowers
"Its nothing Mrs Iyer" He held his wife's hand
She pulled
"I am cooking" she informed
She smelled like cloves and cinnamon to him, he felt something stir inside
"Please sit" Appa mumbled
"Ishita, make him a mango shake or something"
"No" SHE SAID
"YENNADI?" Amma scolded
"I am cooking
"I just had a beer Mrs Iyer" he said boldly
"Then u must sit" Amma insisted
"I am cooking"
"30 minutes II" he whispered leaning into her ear
"Are u flying out tonight?" she asked
APPA HEARD IT
Is that so?" Appa asked
"Excuse me?" R&B asked
"Are u leaving tonight?"
"No" he said coldly
"But you ARE right"
"I am hoping we can" he said nodding
"What do you mean WE?" Appa demanded
"My wife and I" R&B said
"HOW can she go, she has a job I say" Appa scolded
"Avan IPPO daan vandrikkan, avan sitha okara vidungo PLEASE" Amma hissed
(He just arroved let the kid sit)
II pulled "cook pannindu iruken" she said softly
"I heard, I said 30" he whispered
"I have my car" she said walking to the balcony with the paneer
"shut the door and turn on the AC" amma ordered
"I texted the driver to come get it" he said bluntly
"I am going to Sam's" she sulked
"Cook, we can fight when u get in the car" he ordered
"Yedukku vandey?" she asked (Why did u come?)
"really?" he said, hands on his hips
She was so overjoyed he came, she wanted to jump up and hug him and then kill him
She bent her head pulling threads of polythene off the paneer bag...
She went in quietly, he shut the balcony door behind him, Amma brought water
"thanks" he smiled
"why cant u work from Malcha Marg?"
"I dont have to" he said shrugging
"she loves Delhi, I told u before marriage" Appa said sternly
"I know" he said coldly
"Why cant u wind up Paris and return?" Appa asked
"I have a home there" he said
Amma brought mango shake
II cooked turning to meet his eyes every now and then
Reminded of how he leaned on the wall and drank the coffee she made, the Saturday day he followed her around
"She has been married only THREE months" Appa declared
"I think I am too" he said with a straight face
Amma had a face palm moment "Ayyo!! Appaku enna pesardu ney teriyadu" (he doesnt know what to say)
"She got a lot of US alliances, she was very adamant" Appa informed gloating
R&B clenched his jaw, his wife turned as she stir fried
"MANY" DID U HEAR THAT DA?
RAKSHASAN!!!
YET... I HAD TO CHASE U AND RETURN THAT GODDAM 98 RUPEES OR WHATEVER
U KISSED ME FOR FIVE BUCKS
U PIGGG!!
I CAME RUNNING TO SEE U WHEN UR GUARD SAID U WERE SICK
U COULD HAVE CALLED SONNEY NEE
RAKSHASAN!!!
I HAVE TO LOOK AT YOU
THATS ALL
ALL MY RESOLVE FLIES OUT THE WINDOW.
I DONT EVEN WANT TO MAKE THE SUBZI NOW
I WANT YOU TO PICK ME UP AND GO INSIDE AND...
Afflicted with a severe case of basorexia (thanks Envee)
"She is serious about her career and her music, how can she live in Paris" Appa questioned
"People have jobs, and some do sing" he said sarcastically
"Madhavi yettiki pooti pesaran paar" (he is giving me back answers)
Amma scarmbled fighter jets to the rescue to escort the commercial plane off the skies
"He loves her too much and fears u two will fight over this"Amma pleaded
OH WE WILL!!! his eyes told his wife
She turned back to the stove as her wok sizzled
"Mrs Iyer, I want her to go with me"
"If she wont, u will just go" Appa finished his sentence
She turned to glare at Rakshasan again, "12 minutes II" he hissed looking at his watch and at her
"Inga vaango oru nimisham" (Can u come in please?) Amma summoned Appa
Appa glared at his son in law and left reluctantly
He walked over to the kitchen doorway
"Teriyum 11 minutes " she said sarcastically (I know)
He didnt say anything... tucking his hands in his pockets, watched her cook...
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