Battle Scars
Shravu talked breathlessly challenging to surpass Nandu's score in the game
II wondered how she will face Akka back home
Her keys were up there. Akka clearly looked upset
She wasnt trying to pity Shravu
She knew that
akka was upset or overly sensitive or both
A bunch of Moms smiled and tried to make convo
"Tum Vandita ki sister ho na?"
"How is Vandita's baby?"
"Vandita'sbaby is so cute"
"U are so pretty. Wow!!"
"U married a Punjabi no?"
"Ur husband is so handsome usne hamey pic dikhaye"
Some Moms she recognized, at Akka's Haldi Kumkum events many she didnt
Some Dads looked at her curiously
A slow winter drizzle started
II had an umbrella thankfully
Nandu wanted it all to himself, to twirl ofcourse
"can I come to ur house until Paati comes home?" he asked sadly
She nodded eagerly
"Do u have Bournvita?" he asked
CHOOO CHWEEET
"Lots raja"II lied
I WILL GET SOME TONIGHT
"Nandu had Nutella in his house will u buy that too?
Paati only gives me Kissan jam" he said somberly
AYYYO!!!
I WILL SEND U A CRATE OF IT MY LOVE
SIGH!!!
"Can I come tonite?" "Will u pack my clothes?" Shravu was insistent
II nodded smiling
"can we take Shubhang?" he asked
"achooo!! "Cho chweet" she whispered kissing his cheek
"Athai doesnt pick him up when he cries, I HAVE to tell her" he said smugly
II felt horrible
AYYYO!!!
POOR BALDIE
"she is old no raja?" II pacified
"SHE IS 100 Chitheee, she is always sleeping, or watching TV" Shravu said
II felt bad for Kamakshi Athai too
She wanted to be of help
But her body and mind were not allowing her
She worried for old people every where they werent up to that job but yet were expected to
she suddenly felt a sharp twinge of anger for Athim
"Did Veni stay the whole night?" II asked tentatively
"NO AMMA SENT HER. amma said YOU were coming and u never came" Shravu was really upset
"sorry da" II begged
"so can I come to ur house tonight?" he asked
HE WAS LIKE HER
SHE NEVER GAVE UP
SHE PESTERED RAKSHASAN UNTIL SHE GOT HER WAY
WONDER WHERE SHRAVU GOT THAT TRAIT FROM
Rakshasan's face appeared
"Really II?"
II blushed & squirmed
The DPS bus stopped 30 feet from the bus stop
AYYO!!!
II tried to stepon to the side walk, an auto wala tried to dodge Shravu's friend Soham running to the bus stop in a tearing hurry, and veered towards II, II avoided the oncoming bus
Nobody followed the concept of lanes in Delhi in side roads
This one was no different
II's elbow scraped on the concrete lamp post, tearing her skin
Through her shirt...
"where do u buy ur maternity clothes?" A Mom asked
II's arm was on fire, her heart raced, at the thought of escaping being crushed by the DPS bus
"Chithiii are u OK?" shravu looked terrified
He saw her arm, there was an ugly gash
"I cant remember, mostly Saket Mall" II nodded
Sss... sss sss" II blew on the wound
SHRAVU TOOK A PICTURE AND TEXTED R&B without II's knowledge
They boarded the bus, Shravu forgot to return her phone, he flung it from the window and she caught it
He had hugged her tight... and kissed both cheeks
"Chitheee my bagsss" Shravu spoke in code language
II was in a lot of pain
She walked slowly in the rain, the spray hitting her peeled skin, and licking the flames
Her Navy cashmeere sweater and the pearl colored shirt all ruined
APPA WAS HOME
He had taken the morning off and he was going to take brunch for Athai, it was some special Iyer fasting day and Paati refused to eat hospital food
Akka was making Pongal
Baldie cried, softly
II picked him up
Appa saw her arm
And panicked
"Onna bus stop la vidu nu sonna what did u do?" Akka asked angrily (I only wanted u to drop him)
"Soham was late he ran in front of an auto, I was on the road I stepped on the sidewalk, and scraped my hand" II excplained
"My FIL is 75 HE GOES EVERYDAY" Akka was unhappy
"Akka I am sorry about last night
Appa was inside talking with Akka's FIL
He came out
"Thangaya kootindu sutharan, avanukku enna kavale" (He seems to be roaming with his sister) Appa mocked
"How did u know Manya is here?" II asked wrapping the bandage on her arm
"I SAW HIM in Malai Mandir light" Appa mumbled unhappily
"He doesnt know Pa" II explained
"even if he knows he will either be in Paris or not with u" Appa said
"Go to the Doc" Appa ordered
"He DOESNT KNOW PA. PLEASE" II hissed angrily
Bala walked in, they all looked at each other uncomfortably
II followedAkka into the kitchen
Akka began serving pongal and chutney
"U go to work, u dont have to take time off, Appa is" she said kind COLDLY
"Akka I am sorry..."
II wanted to eat, but she didnt
She decided to go home and grab a bite and head out
"Onn tapp ille di, I am overly helpless" Akka said philosophically
"dont say that ka, please" II said
"I have an infant, an aging deaf Athai, and in laws, and hospital visits and and a 11 year old" "AND A JOB" Akka dropped the cooker lid in the sink
Bala peeked
"Are u OK Vandu?" he asked
"How are u da?" Bala asked II
Ii smiled weakly
"I am fine kanna, its soo hottt, Will u serve? I will go feed the baby" Akka CHOSE BALA over II
II let herself out, and went home
When she entered, she encountered R&B in the lounge
"Hey what happened to ur arm?" he asked
She shook her head unable to speak, her lips trembling, her voice quivering
She wrapped herself around him and leaned on the wall by the Monet and cried
He held her warmly, in a secure grip
"Battle scars?" he teased, cooing softly... since she was an "Iyer warrior" according to him😳
Couldnt have been more appropriate today...
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