Premonition
Her flight to Delhi was delayed by a scheduling glitch, making her unusually upset
and she arrived at almost 3 ish on 5th afternoon
Ranjan and Appa both were at the airport. They waved, smiling as she got out, she had 4 Emirates guys surrounding her for assistance
She let them go after much protest, and walked out
"I asked people to help u why are u pushing ur own cart?" Ranjan demanded
"Daddd I am not a politician or a movie star" she giggled
Appa looked pale and worn out...
"Ennachu pa?" (what happened?)
"Nothing... its so hot and muggy" Appa responded unenthusiastically
"Mr Iyer, please come home with us, u shud rest and spend some time with her and then Mrs Iyer can join us for dinner?" Ranjan offered
"Umm... no... I am going to go rest" Appa said
"How is everybody?" II asked looking for clues
"Umm... fine kanna... u shud go take rest" he said
"I am fine pa... I was on vacation" she reminded him
He didnt even respond to that... just tilted his head, and took leave
"Sab theek hai?" II asked Ranjan eagerly
"Jee puttar" "All is great" he said
Ranjan didnt want to tell her her Periappa was not doing well and was in the hospital.
Appa was itching to tell her
Ranjan wanted her to rest and relax a bit
"Dad, can we go to my office for a second if u dont mind?"
"Mind to bahut karanga puttar, but what to do?" he said seriously
"I am sorry I ran from work like I am going to NOIDA" she hung her head ashamed
"Aur woh bhi kis se milne? US SE?" Ranjan piled on
"Umm ya" she nodded, self conscious and shy
"Tujhe ghar bithakar kaam par nikal gaya hona hai" he enquired
"Umm... no... he just took some calls and took me to Venice" she muttered
"He must have had a proposal meeting" Ranjan said pointedly
"Oh! no... no... just for me... matlab vacation" she shot back vehemently
"Chalo jee... changa... biwi ka khayal to aaya" he winked like his son
He called her on his India phone when she turned it on
"Hey?" he said characteristically
"I am home now" she said sulking
"Did u just get in?" R&B asked his wife
Ranjan texted his son "Shes home now"
"Her bags are really heavy" R&B gently pointed out Ranjan, hoping he wont attempt to pick it up to load in the car?
"I see that" Ranjan sent a smile
"Do u have Dhyan?" R&B asked
"Yes puttar I do" he texted his son
"Ya some glitch in Dubai, they didnt take off for an hour after" II responded to him on the phone
"Who came to get u?"
"Appa" she lied
"Are u staying over (at DII)?" he asked
"Ofcourse" she lied
NO CLUE HE WAS TEXTING HIS RANJAN AS HE SPOKE WITH HER!!!!!!!!!!!
"Did u delete all your pictures (from my India phone)?" he asked softly
"No... only yours" she hissed
He laughed out loud...
"Call me when u get home"
"I am going to be too busy cuddling up to Amma and Appa" she told him
"please tell them I said Hi!" he said politely playing along
"Zaroor" she said smugly
Dhyanjee waited took her stuff and loaded the car, they went to her work, she picked up her laptop
II felt a strange sense of anxiety and worry unsure why she felt that or for what
The feeling wouldnt leave her even after they got home at after 6 PM
She forgot to call Paattu Mami about missing class, until she called, she apologized, took a shower
Helped with dinner, in the most preoccupied way, chalked it down as "jetlag"
Declined the chef dinner offer Ranjan made
Manya was not home, Vik's things were gone too, his ipad, his sun glasses and random things he left in the ground floor lounge
She dreaded opening up her email... but did eventually.
There were over 300 unread ones...
She yawned curling up on the bed... her eyes frequently darting to the balcony and back to her monitor
Unable to concentrate...
Called Amma...
She had texted her on the way home, her Akka and Sam
Manya didnt expect such things so she didnt...
Amma answered like she was stuck in traffic
"Where are u Ma? Book meeting?" she asked curiously
"No kanna... how are u?" Amma evaded
"WHERE are u?" "Sounds like INA traffic" she declared all knowingly
"No da, I am at Malviya Nagar intersection" Amma said
"Anga enna pannindrike? (what are u doing there?)
"Umm... Periappa is sick kanna" Amma said somberly
II sat up in shock
"WHEN? AFTER I RETURNED?"
"No kanna hes been in the hospital for a week now" Amma said
"Ayyyoyo! Why didnt any one tell me?" II woke completely trying to place every conversation from Paris and Venice with Akka and Amma
"I told Appa not to tell u"
"WHYYY?" II shouted, getting off the bed as she began to cry
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