Money woes
Saturday Noon to midnight was a whirlwind, she went to the hospital, drove to Rohini, for the
first time a Merc, since she refused to let Ranjan call a driver from his off duty day
Brought Janaki Athai to the hospital
Lakshmi Venkat didnt accompany, the truckers had left stuff she had to unpack
Drove Janaki Athai to see Periappa at D II
Talked to him about lil baldie
Desribed in detail how his head felt
Cooked pulao and raita for parents.
Called Mahavir and asked them to send dinner to Munirka or make it so she could drop it off
(It was too late to cook for Akka's in laws at D II, since she realized after she was almost done making pulao)
Texted Sam when she could stop by to show her song choices
Sam offered to send lunch and dinner to both homes on Sunday
She wouldnt take no for an answer
Took Shravu to the neighborhood book store to get him Algebra flash cards
Realized around 8 PM she hadnt gone to Saket Mall to shop for the lil guy
Asked Amma what the baby would need
"ask Akka" she said
"DONT go overboard Ishita" Amma warned
"Amma please this ONE time?" she begged
"Be prepared to take money if Athimber hands you" Amma warned
She called the kids stores... they all closed at 9
Shucks!!!
Shravu?
He was THRILLED to have a baby brother
Wanted him to get a cricket bat FIRST
"Ummm... lets wait a year? or atleast six months?"
"Can he go to practice with me at DLTA?" Shravu asked
"Why not? He will even play" II mocked
"CHITHIII" he shouted
"Kozhandaya paatheya?" Paati (Akka's MIL asked) smiling
"Paathen paati gunda, mottaya irukkan" (he is fat and bald)
Paati chuckled
"Bala apdi daan irupaan tala seppu sombu madiri"
(Bala would be that way too, head like a copper pot)
II rolled on the Munirka living room floor
"Seppu somba?" (copper pot?)
"Andu neraivukku mudi erakka mudiye ille" (Paati expressed wonderment)
(There wasnt much hair on mundan day)
Thatha cleaned out a shelf in his room
"Vaal varaane avanoda bottle pacifier vekkalame"
(The lil tyke's bottle pacifier will all go here)
"Adu mookannadi shelf ada yen kaali panninel?)
Thats the eye glass shelf where will I set my eye glasses now?
Paatti complained
"Keep it someplace else" Thaths ordered
Ii helped them arrange their Godrej too, it was messy and cluttered
Paati showed some old B&W photos of Athim...
She showed THATHA'S photos from 70 years ago...
Thatha was skinny and tall.. with a toothy smile
Paati blessed her for helping clean, wishes 16 kids on her
Hugged her and cried
"I was worried when her BP shot up" she whispered
II broke down too
"Azhadengo paati" she whispered (plz dont cry)
"Vandu paavam, she works all year, she takes care of us, she takes care of Shravu, ur parents,
her Periappa. We dont have much money. We only have the Chennai house. Thatha (Bala's Dad) did for everybody in the family, never thought to save for himself.
Good God didnt give him a girl. How will Bala save for a girl's wedding? We are such a huge drain on his resources" Paati vented
"By the time the baldie gets married Paati, BOYS will have to give dowry" Ii chuckled
"No no dont say that, then Bala will have to give for both boys" Paati chuckled
(Author's Note: Please dont go all feminist on me. Ermm... go... I dont care...
I am just essaying thoughts of a 70 year old Iyer woman. Shes fictional so she cant go to jail for thinking daughters are more expensive. They ARE.)
"Paatti tell me ur love story" II urged
Paati smacked her...
Thatha came "Kondey (Mallus address kids as a variation of kozhandai. Thatha has Palghat roots) inga vaayen... help me get a book out of a shelf"
II helped him out... helped Shravu with dinner
Mahavir had sent paneer dal and subzi rice and roti... and upma with no onions for Thatha Paati, and since the baby was born he had sent rasmalai and ice cream
The Bhalla HELP were thoughtful and caring too
II ate at Munirka
Returned to D II to see her parents at 10 PM
Went to Malcha Marg at midnight
Forgot to call Sam or visit
Sunday began pretty much the same way...
she sent breakfast for all.
Manya was somehow going in and out and II never got to see her
She didnt stop by to wish or text either
Well the house was huge over 20k sq ft between three floors so it wasnt surprising
"Sam do u have a minute? I wanted to text the songs?"
"Sure love go ahead"
"A Tamil song called Unn Paarvayil Oraiyam (an old Tamil song from the 1970s?)" she said
"I BET it is lovely" Sam said kindly
"Vellai pura ondru engudu kaiyil varaamale"
They are duets" but I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM"
Sam called!!
"SUNO!!! I BET U WILL SING BEAUTIFULLY
"Hindi mein I thought I will sing Lataji's "Solah baras ki baali umar ko salaam"
"WOWW!" sam was spellbound
"Aur Khilte hain Gul yahan?" Ii spoke hesitantly
"OH MY!! LOVELY II" Sam gushed
"Thanks"
"Chaar is too much" II said sheepishly
"I was hoping we can have a sangeet night and u can sing all night long"Sam laughed hysterically
"samgeet night means SAN gaayenge"
"Hello... U want me to be ur sis in law or not?" Sam warned
Ii smiled
"does he sing?" she asked
"Tumhe nahi maloom?" Sam asked softly
"I never asked" II said
They hung up after general chatter
Sam went again Sunday to check on Akka
II went to both Malls nearby the convertible car seat was "out of stock"
She texted Athim, Sam had Athim's phone at the hospital as he went into Akka's room to check on her
She saw the text pop and called her
"SUNO MERE GHAR MEIN EK UNOPENED HAI" Sam shrieked
"CAR SEAT?" II asked in shock
"Umm u know Tan's family... meri bhi... they go overboard..(ashamed) I used three... I have two" Sam offered
"May I pay u?" Ii asked
"Kis cheez se maar khaogi?"
"I am sorry but I cant take it. They cost Rs.24,879 at the Saket Mall" Ii said in shock
"ISHITA" Sam warned
"I HAVE TO PAY YOU"
II couldnt get two.. it was too expensive, so Amma Appa's car wouldnt get one... she would buy one later for them
Amma would shoot it down if she heard, better kept as a secret for now
Shravu had a old hand me down from Akka's co worker's daughter from the US
Paavam...
Baldie would get the best
"Madam taayar hokar 7 baje tak ghar par pahuncho, Tan will take you, u can pick up the car seat and put it in your car (Malcha Marg car).
"sounds good" II nodded happily
She wore a silver blue Kanjeevaram... wore diamonds in her nose and neck... braided her hair simply
Didnt shore up her pallu, left it down
Held her hair brush and pretended to sing
Walked like Aishwarya Rai, took selfies
Rushed to Akka's at 7:20
Tan greeted her, wearing a BOW TIE and all
"Where is everyone?"
" MAIN hoon yaha" Tan winked
"Lasya Nandu?"
"Sam gayi khana dene Munirka she took the kids" he said
"Ummm ur parents?" she asked
"they are already there" he said
"When will Sam get to Gurgaon?"
"After she drops the food"
"can she please get Shravu and Thatha Paati too?"
"Ofcourse" Tan nodded politely
"Can I go pick up my car seat, and put it in my car. Akka wants it,"
"Koi aur sawaal?" Tan asked
II laughed sheepishly
Tan nodded
She ran up the stairs turned "Paise de doon aapko"
"sorry cant take wife's money" his face contorted
"Oh... um... I will leave it someplace she can find it"
She went up to one of the bedrooms, she said it had sea green walls, walked to the closet, found the car seat, TOO HEAVY!!!
She dragged it out
Huffing and puffing... her cheeks red, her hair beginning to slip out of her braid
ARGHHH!!!!
She opened her silver silk pouch (ya THAT one or like THAT one) and counted money
She had put all her cash in she was sure she had more than Rs.20 k
She counted Rs. 24,078, she was short by 801!!!!!!!!!
"Dont have enough eh??" R&B scoffed letting himself in from the balcony, one hand in pocket, the other holding the frickin balcony door knob
She dropped the entire wad of bills AND CHANGE ALL OVER THE FLOOR
