Pallavas & Madurai Nayakars😆
He saw imprint of the curve from the steel chair on her back, her braid was a lil untidy now, but nevertheless heavy and silky😳
He couldnt imagine any of Chachi's bahus lay in a corner and be so unpretentious on their big days
Or any of their Jor Bagh Golf Links friends. Many traveled with an entourage to events like their own baby shower and child's birthday
Most had stylists and nutritionists on their payroll, and even had phony "will manage my time"
like humbug secretarial service employees that trailed them, as if they were Corp CEOS
"My feet hurt so bad" II mumbled
"I could carry u to the car, but it wud scandalize the priest" he chuckled she turned and looked at him
"I know ur only life goal is to shame me" she whispered
He nodded
"Polama?" she asked yawning
"Shud I text Amma?" he asked
She nodded looking for her purse and or phone
Neither in the vicinity
"Amma put a bunch of bags and gifts here" II panicked "I hope they didnt get stolen"
"I am sure they were not" R&B reassured
"Periappa was here too for the longest time" II smiled
"Do u want to go see him once?" he offered
"Appa wont let me leave" she blurted
Then laughed, and looked away and smiled... and shook her head
"Then we better not flirt with danger then" he whispered
she smiled, and swayed getting up
She was much bigger today for some reason, the tiredness pouffing her up?
She saw Appa chatting with Sitaraman...
Amma and Akka were chatting animatedly with Janaki Athai by II's fave florist
Vetri came running to her
"Veetukku poriya ka?" (are u headed home?)
She nodded dazed, the sun hit her eyes as she got down the steps of the south facing convention hall gingerly
"Enga veetuku kootitu variya kutti papa?" (will u bring ur lil one to my house?) he asked smiling toothily
She smiled "Enn da onakku enna 12 varushama teriyum innikki daan koopadreya?" (uve known me 12 years NOW u invite me?)
The boy scratched his head sheepishly
"vaa ka" he smiled "Mama kootitu va" (bring ur hubs)
He began describing a national geographic he watched on the Alps... and asked if he had ever climbed it
R&B nodded and smiled
Amma sprinted to where they were standing "Kelambareya kanna?" (are u ready to go?)
II nodded "I want to go sleep for 6 hours ma... I have to go to work tomorrow"
Amma nodded compassionately "When do u take time off?"
"Not until end of April" II said sadly
And tripped on the next step, Amma and R&B held an elbow each "U are still half asleep raja"
"Let me call Mr Iyer" Amma promised
Appa flew there instantaneously
"Sam is there no?" Appa asked R&B sternly
He nodded
II looked up at him worried "Why?"
"Arti edupaale" Appa reminded they wud do arti
II nodded "The aunts are so sweet" she smiled
"One has promised to stay with you if u want until" Amma swallowed mumbling
"thats not required we are bringing her to D II soon" Appa looked at R&B
He had no retort, he acted like he did not hear it
"How is Nandu ma?" II asked afraid
"Hes fine" Amma nodded sadly
Nandu and Shravu wudnt quit and finally stopped when Nandu fell on top of the hill, outside the sanctum, in the wide open rocky, viewing area with rail
"He got an ATS" Appa nodded "Dr Hegde is very efficient" he declared
He was Appa's friend, not Batra family's doc, Appa was passionate about everyone he loved
"He was part of Dr Kalam's staff docs" Appa told R&B
R&B nodded politely
"Delhi bureaucracy has a lot of talented, ethical people, these politicians are unscrupulous" Appa waved a finger "Not all of them" he nodded
R&B listened politely
"Pochu da, Appa central govt puranam arambichachu" (Ur Dad has begun work politics)
"He should know, I say... they are business people, they deal with politicians too" Appa defended his freedom of speech
Amma rolled her eyes
"Mr Gupta, the Paharganj Councilor that came here today was saying the tariff on"
"Let her go home no?" Amma begged "Ne kalambu raja" Amma hugged her warmly
"I will talk with you in two days" Appa warned his enemy, setting the agenda for the next battle
"Thank you sir!" R&B said politely
They walked over to the Ferrari with the young couple, gawkers surrounded, pan handlers begged for money, started asking questions if it was a godh bharai
Appa shoed them away.."Bala kitta Rs20 bills kuduthachu" (I gave Bala a Rs.20 wad to hand to everyone, so we can seek blessings, we cant be handing more money)
R&B pulled his wallet out and handed a Rs.500 to Vetri
"Come" Vetri said reminding him of the promise R&B made to go to his house in Seelampur
Ii smiled
"Vetri is a good boy" Appa declared "He got good percentage in 10th, I am hoping he can finish the NIIT and apply for Banks" Mr Iyer worried about all those he liked
"I heard he like databases" R&B explained
Appa was startled at first then smiled..."He shud talk less, he talks a lot like our Ishita"
"Enn paa?" II was hurt, in jest ofcourse
Vandu came running
"Enn dee odarey? Cant u wait?" (Why are u running?)
"I am too tired ka" II moaned
"Jhoothi, u want to go be with ur miya... do mahiney baad dekha to man nahi bhara na"
"Umm... no I dont care to compete with books and music tonite" II obliquely mocked him for returning home and going off to the balcony with a book
Vandu hugged him "Lekar aa ghar" she smiled
"Will do" he smiled politely
They watched as the couple pulled away
She got yet another arti and teeka, and one of the aunts gave her chai, and snacks, Sam was over seeing dinner
Tan was helping Nandu build a poster board for school on the ground floor patio
Lasya waddled on the grass
Ranjan trailed her, smiling happily upon seeing her
"Chaliye jee, shehzaade qile ki fateh kar aaye" he said smiling, winking, joking smugly,appreciating his son's victory over Iyer enemies
He half suspected Mr Iyer to kidnap II and hide her in the Malai Mandirs' dungeon
(The author deploys dry humor in asserting Ranjan is a well read widely traveled man that borrows a page from
Trichy's Rockfort temple history with its secret passages and underground
hallways used extensively when the Pallavas fought Madurai Nayakars in the 16th century... Pallavas in this case being the Bhallas)
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