Fathers (in law) & Daughters (in law)
(This is a tribute to Sonal's FIL. Sonal, may you cherish every happy moment you have had the good fortune of sharing with the man. I have known hundreds of father in laws, its very rare to find man so good.
Good people are far and few, you lucked out Sonal!! Hope u are able to narrate as much as possible about him to the kids so they never forget him)
Monday evening after work, was relaxed, the aunts visited Chachu, so Mahavir didnt have to cook up a storm
II worked sitting on a comfy formal living room couch, wrapped in a blanket. No one was home, she was home early at 6, there were signs of Manya in the house
Her expensive LV leather bracelets, her watch, her wallet lay strewn in places
II let them be
She called Akka as she booted her computer
Akka hadnt said much about her feelings of envy to II
She appeared normal and cheerful through the event
"Come over for dinner ka" II begged
"Enna velayadreya? Ur SIL is there" Akka said
"shes not even home"
"Well thats because she must be out with Makarand" Akka mocked
"Who will guard the border if he wanders with her, he went back this morning I think"
"How is Mukund?" II asked
"Avanukku enna dee, hes like his parents blessed with the "comfy chair" life" Akka lamented
"You wont let me help with Shubhang" II grieved
"U want to hire someone like Sofia for him at Rs.50,000? a month?" "Naanga rendu perum bondi ayiduvom" (we will go bankrupt)
DONT SAY THAT
LET ME PAY
OR ATLEAST LET ME PAY HALF
IT CAN BE BALDIE'S "TENNIS LESSON"
"Its not like a simple tennis lesson no? Tennis costs Rs.5000 a month, nanny costs 10 times that much" Akka caught II's train of thought
"Is Athai leaving?" II asked
"shubh shubh bol" Akka scolded
"I am sorry"
"Her son and DIL arent too happy in NOIDA, Bala knows that, but we are in a bind" Akka said
"I am supposed to not even talk with u" II reminded
"Yenn dee?"" Akka asked
"U never came to stay over at D II" II mumbled
AYYYO!!
WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO
JUSTTT
SHUT UP?
FOR ONCE?
I AM BEGGING YOU
Dont talk, its not like u dont have people on ur side, there are TWO sisters in law" Akka reminded bluntly, but gently
"How mean"
"Its the truth, they have u covered, ur FIL is a friend too, u can not talk for weeks and not miss me"
"Dont say that ka" II begged
They both exchanged silence
"Did your family like the event?" Akka asked slowly
"I dont know... the two aunts speak thick Punjabi I dont understand much, they smile and hug me so I think they like me, but I didnt ask how much they liked. Sam loves everything"
"Half of Delhi had turned up no" Akka pointed
"I told Amma and Appa they shudnt do such a big function, they didnt listen"
"they are so affluent, Amma Appa must be feeling like they need to maintain their position too" Akka said
"I dont think these people worry about all that"
"Thats noble of u to say kanna" Akka cut her off
"R&B has never suggested anything" II defended him
"He doenst have to, in our circles his presence alone is enough for people to speculate he is way out of our league" Akka said
"They are good people" II insisted
"I know... but people that dont know them will see the scandal and their wealth, the only two things the world sees" Akka spoke softly
"My FIL is so sweet he sat by me last night at dinner and told me, he will take time off and baby sit" II chuckled
"Cho chweet. Inge kozhandai 10 nimisham azhuda kooda they cant hear it" (the baby cries for 10 minutes also they cant hear it)
Akka sighed
"But they are adorable, Thatha (Bala's Dad) told me yesterday, he wakes up with his pera kozhandai (grand baby) and goes to bed with him" II gushed
"Ya he meant to say he takes that many naps during the day" Akka joked half cynically
"He TOLD me that ka" II's tone was compassionate "He said we compete with each other as to who can take longer
naps, and thus far, HE (thatha) is winning he claimed" II giggled
"They love him di" Akka stretched..
II did not say "Learn to be happy with what u have akka"
Akka did not say "I wish I had ur life"
"He used to knock on the door the first year after marriage, because Bala and I would sleep through the alarm, after early morning"Akka mumbled
"I knowww you told me" II smiled "Hes too sweet no?"
"He had a private company job at Nehru Place, my horoscope name is Subhashree no, he will knock repeatedly and say "Shuba college ku time achu" (time for u to go to work)" Akka chuckled
"I remember u saying Athim wud say "Tu ja bahar aur jo bhi hai Shuba usko bhej andar" II alughed heartily
"He will bring samosa from Nehru Place, when I was pregnant" Akka's tone softened
"Amma said when Sam had visited you once when u were pregnant, they both cried asking Sam to pray for a safe delivery for u" II choked up
"Vandu saaptala" he will ask every meal (did my bahu eat?) Akka said smugly
"In this house if I dont eat nobody will ever know" II gently mocked her sasural in jest in order to make Akka feel proud
"They are good di, I just feel we could afford more then we dont have to trouble them" Akka admitted softly
"they love you more than they will ever love Ambala Manni" 😳II said smugly
"Amma taaye, u will get me into trouble" Akka whispered conspiratorially, albeit enjoying that praise😳
"Thatha always says "engathu Vandu" (OUR Vandu") II gushed
"I know it pisses Appa off he says "U shud have had ur own daughter, why are u stealing mine" Akka laughed hysterically😳
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