World of babies
Sam cupped II's face in her palms and kissed her parting
"Thank you" she whispered
II nodded like a child
"Abhi yeh tumhe kuch bhi kahe, mujhe batao" she ordered
II nodded again
"Aur TUM" Sam turned to her bro, "door raho is se, samajh mein aayi baat?" she ordered
He half smiled
"Kitna arrogant hai, kaise rehti ho iske saath?" Sam turned towards II and asked
II smiled and chuckled
"U are welcome to come stay with me for 9 months" Sam invited
"I have Amma's invitation too" she lied looking at the dude
He had a "really? do u have to push it now?" look
Akka made the first trip without her baby... she rode an auto to II's left the baby with Janaki Athai, that was visiting for the week.
She didnt even feed Shravu lunch, Akka had her Munirka maid bring Shravu from his Munirka bus stop to D
II most afternoons, as her in laws would be taking a nap at that time
Shravu was even upset why Vandu was abandoning him, he was already feeling some pangs of envy since baldie arrived, but this afternoon it was accentuated as Akka left him for her first kozhandai
When she got off outside MM, teh guards were startled, there was only one news truck outside, media was slowly weaning itself off this circus, as new juicier matters presented itself like
Sheena Bora case.
A labor union strike was tame and not juicy in comparison, what with no blood, gore or infidelity
Mahavir got the door, and smiled with joy
"Sab ooopar hain"
"So to nahi rahe?" Akka was embarrassed at showing up unannounced
"Nahiii nahii, andar to aayen aap" he coaxed
Akka suddenly realized how out of place she was in her old kurta chudidar and braided hair
The house looked like it was polished and prettied up for a photo shoot, expensive furniture and artifacts every where
Centrally airconditioned, it felt like a 5 star hotel to her
smelled like one too, mild floral scented
Akka sat down politely in the lounge
"Oopar nahi jayiyega?" Mahavir asked
"Umm... nahi, aap bulayenge?" she asked
"Chaliye to" he coaxed
Akka made it up in a few...
Sam and II sat on the sun room bed laughing over Lasya's antics
R&B was in his office.. the call went video and he had to be online
Akka came up to the 2nd floor lounge
There were II stamps at many places on the 2nd floor
A tanjore doll on a runner table
A brass Nataraja she bought when she went to Trichy while in IIM
A Tyagaraja framed image stood on a sofa end table
There were enough sofas and couches in the house that could pass off as a high end showroom
Akka gingerly walked into the living room
Magazines and catalogs of hiking and trekking lay strewn, in between those there were Tamil magazines Amma had sent for II
The floor smelled like R&B Akka thought
Akka cleared her throat, there were so many doors and rooms she had no idea where II was
She turned left from the living room towards a corridor, she found the "library" and then the "office"
R&B was surprised to see her, he waved, paused his call took his headset off and and stood up politely
Opening the twin glass doors
"Hi! Vandita" she said warmly walking out to hug her
"I am sorry, galat time par aayi" "Waise TUM ghar par ho?" she asked
He nodded
"Kidhar hai?" she asked
He bought a minute with his index finger went in said something in French and returned
Held her elbow and walked her back the opposite way...
"Waise CONGRATS" Akka squealed
He paused and let her hug him
She held his cheek in her right palm "Cho chweet" she cooed
He smiled at her innocent appreciation
They walked in
II screeched "Akkkaaa" and got off the bed
Sam hugged Vandu and then II
"ETHANA KOZHUPPU DI ONAKKU" akka scolded (how dare u)
II laughed and hugged
"Sam mujhe kya boli maloom Sunday ko D II mein "I HAVE A STOMACH BUG" Vandu tattled
II blushed
"TUMHE BOLI TO, MERE YAHA TO AANA BAND HAI ISKA AAJ KAL" Sam complained
Sam looked gorgeous in a pair of expensive jeans and a designer blouse,
the lipstick matched the pale pink flowers on her blouse, she wore pink diamonds in her ears
"USKO chupke se bula liya, hame alag kar diya" Sam hugged Vandu warmly
"No kaaa"
"Do u need Mahavir" he asked his wife softly
She smiled at his thoughtfulness and nodded
"Nee work pannind irukeya?" (are u working?)
"On a call" he said
He texted Mahavir and and waved at Vandita
"shud I bring Shravu?" he offered Vandita
"Arey nahi usko abhi 15 se ooopar aaya hai unit test mein usko baqsh de" Akka chuckled
Then she was ashamed briefly "He failed two unit tests in a row Sam" she said embarrassed
"When its the only time u feel ashamed, Nandu ke saath bahut hua hai" Sam lied
Akka looked up at Sam gratified...
Akka realized Sam made EVERY attempt to STEP DOWN from her level
"they dont study no?" Akka worried
"No they dont, AND they dont listen to u" Sam lied more
Nandu was rarely a discipline problem
"AUR BATAO JHOOTHI, chupke se ITNA SAB KUCH?" Vandu winked
Mahavir didnt have to be told anything
He came bearing a HUGE tray of sweets and snacks and another help stood bearing a tray of tea things
"I AM SO HAPPY I HAVENT GONE HOME, I have to nurse Lasya" Sam whined
"I should have brought Shubhang, but main auto mein aayi" Akka said
"Main lekar aaoon?" Sam offered
"arey nahi, Janaki Athai is visiting from Janakpuri she is watching him, AND Shravu, I have to go before she runs away" Vandu said
"DEKHO KITNI CHUP HAI SAB KUCH KARKE" Akka mocked
" She is just pretending to be like him so we will go away Vandita" Sam said
"THATS not true" II went on the defensive flushing up
II began sweating and slid off the sun bed and went to the attached bath ro retch
"Poor thing" the women giggled and pitied her
"She should milk it" "I made Bala go down for milk for veggies, I even made him give me the car for work" Akka said smugly
Not even realizing II would not have to lift a finger
II's baby would come into a altogether different world...
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