Part 131
Diplomacy
She smiled "I was dreaming about another good looking Punjabi guy actually, Sid Malhotra😃
"thanks" he said😳
"I mean to say another Punjabi guy WHO happens to be good looking" II corrected😈
He smiled his half smile
"How are ur parents now?"😲
"I dont know Akka fed me half hour ago..." Ii said gruffly
they both went to being quiet
She could hear him breathe
"What if they just dont agree"
"U could invite me to your wedding" he said softly😃
"U would just love that wouldnt you?" deeply hurt😭
"II"
"U cannot take a nomad out of a man, especially this one" she ranted deep and husky in her sleep drugged voice😭
"How much time can you take off work?" he asked😳
"If we arent getting married why do I need any?" she asked😈
"Quit provoking me"😡
"Does your family know" she asked😭
"I stopped by @ Sam's on my way home"
She was wide awake, she went up and shut her door and bolted it, leaning on it
"Did she hate it?" she asked "the idea"😭
"Well she didnt love it" he said softly😃
"So I was right... nobody wants us to get married" II said defeated😭
"We could still have an affair" he offered😃
"You would love that wouldnt you" she asked fuming😡
"I would" he said softly☺️
"U are only marrying me because you cannot take an Iyer to bed otherwise" 😡
"Or the couch" R&B said😆
"If we didnt get married will you go back to Ma.. Marliese?"😭
"Whatt?" he asked😲
"Manny said at Sam's party, she wanted you to go back to Marliese, or just date, u didnt have to marry as long as you were in India"
He didnt speak for a few minutes
"Hellooo" she said after what was like a good three minutes
"Is that why you were so upset?" he asked, shocked😲
"She is pretty" II said😭
"Is this call going to be about her?" he asked😡
"Ummm"
"I dated her for 3 years, may be 4?" he said vaguely, "OK u want detail, HERE is detail" type tone😡
"I dont want to hear anymore" she said stopping him immediately😭
"did u tell your Dad?" she asked😭
"No I did not, Sam may have" he said shortly😡
"shouldnt you?" she asked worried😭
"I "shouldnt"" he said acerbically... "Someone else can"😡
She DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO SAY😲
She wanted to ask something, she want him to say something but he didnt😭
"Can I sing?" she asked😳
"Now?" he asked😆
"Ummm... after the marriage, I dont want to give up singing, Amma makes sure I learn even now" choking up😭
"Twenty years" she said softly😭
"they would be sad if I gave it up" II said, suddenly very sympathetic to her parents' POV😭👏
"Were u hoping I would say U cant sing?" he asked quietly😡
"Ummm... ummm... no... but... U know... I cant imagine... not" II defended herself😭
"Wud u actually listen to me if I said u cudnt?" he asked baffled😡
"I probably would not..." she said furiously😡
He didnt say "I rest my case" but she sensed it
"I wont cook or eat meat" she said..👏
"I was actually planning to terminate the chef at home starting March" he said with sadness😲
"Mazaak nahi... please" she begged😭
"II, what are you afraid of?" He asked taking a deep audible breath😕😲
"YOU!" she said☺️
They was a longish pause...
"Thats a good fear" he said softly☺️
She groaned..
"May I resume Shravu's driving lessons?" he asked😉
"NOO!" she said😡
"Why are you so jealous of me?" he asked softly😳
"U are everything I AM to HIM, and that is unacceptable to me" she said fiercely😃
He smiled and let it go...😃
"I dont want to be pregnant any time soon"😳
"Define "anytime soon" he said😃
"2-3" she began, before she said "years"
"Sure! months works" he said huskily☺️
~~~~~~~~
Appa and Amma lay awake all night wondering how the heck they are going to get rid of this new monster in their lives.
"How can she marry a Punjabi?" Appa sounded troubled😡
"There is NOT ONE out of culture marriage in the family" Amma chimed in😡
"Your parents are live, your two brothers and my two sisters, and that selfish brother" Appa complained
Mr Iyer's younger brother lived in Tanjore and did nothing for the family, Periappa was not cared for by him even for a DAY.
Amma's brothers were OK, just like any other relatives... Amma's parents were extremely
orthodox that didnt let anyone touch their clothes drying on lines 10 feet up...😡
They never visited Delhi unless it was totally necessary...
Athais misused Appa also
They stayed up all night worrying about and caring for a group of people that hadnt done much to them
"How can she visit temples for prarthanai/mannat etc, if she enters with a Punjabi?" Amma worried
"I mean HOW will we introduce her FIL? to all of them? Saying WHAT?" " Oh! Ivar tannoda secretary
kitta veshamam panni maatindaar, but they live in Chankaya Puri? "Oh he was caught with his pants down, but he is wealthy" Appa asked hissing
"I never in my wildest nightmare ever thought Ishita would spring this on us" Amma said very sadly
"Do u think if we dont allow her, she will get married anyway?"Amma asked fearfully😲😭
Appa was very quiet
"HOW WILL SHE?" HOW DARE SHE?" Appa asked😡😡
"She is not removing the ring, Vandu is not as angry as we want her to be. So think about it Vishwa" Amma said logically
"So Vandu will decide things for this family?" "As long as I am alive she cannot marry him"
"Ayyo dont talk like that" Amma was irritated
"Such an educated girl... can u imagine living in that house with that old man? I mean this boy will go off to Paris, that old man and our daughter in that house?" Appa was furious, he was very loud🤢
"Dont think like that PLEASE" Amma begged😭
"With my eyes open do u want me to agree to everything Vandita and Ishita ask me to do?" Appa asked angrily Appa said Vandita only when he was REALLY ANGRY
"Ayyo Krishna..." amma prayed😭
"Do you really think we can consider this alliance?" Appa asked incredulous😡😲
"NOOO" Amma went on the defensive😭
"Well then ACT LIKE IT, because, Samyukta has left a message inviting us to come over for lunch tomorrow" Appa said disgusted... checking his texts☺️
"Wonder WHY we bumped into this family on that Cutcheri night, they are the worst misfortune for us" Appa declared
"Please dont say that, She lov... LIKES HIM nenaikkaren" Amma broke down finally
Appa froze in shock... his wife never cried... rarely...
"Please dont say that... I looked at her face when he was talking to her,
she looked like a little child... TRUSTING... HOPING...GULLIBLE, INNOCENT, edo chinna kozhandai madiri, like she is a little 5 year old"☺️👏
"Do u think he must have fed her something toxic?" Appa asked like a investigator🤣
"Chhheee why do u think like that?"
"Well because he is not a good boy"😡
"But our daughter is good... how can we let go of her?" Amma cried again
"Go ahead go to Sam's house for lunch tomorrow, get her married, let him go to Paris on 22nd" Appa said bitterly😡
"HOW do u know?" Asked Amma shocked
"I was in the balcony, not DEAD" Appa said angrily
Amma shut her eyes and leaned on the headboard weakly
"I want to see her as a bride, more than anything else"
"then this good for nothing Punjabi lad is it" Appa said
"Will Mr Ranjan be there tomorrow?" Amma asked
SHE HAD MADE UP HER MIND TO GO?
"Let me ask Sam, if he is, otherwise will ask her to invite him for you?" Appa said gleefully
Amma squirmed "To end it OR" she stopped and froze
"To end it we have to meet" Amma said feebly
"Since u did such a great job of convincing that boy today,
he probably has changed his mind, sure go ahead and convince or dissuade his sister tomorrow" Appa mocked
"We have to get her married (to someone fast)" Amma said firmly
"Not to him" Appa said firmly
~~~~~~~~~
Sunday morning dawned beautifully
II didnt wake until 10, nobody woke her,... she went to the kitchen to get coffee, Appa was chanting Selvi joked about Amma letting her sleep in, Amma did not smile
Selvi looked at their faces II's was glowing, Amma's was pale and drained...
Selvi saw the ring "Modaram sooper aa irukku kannu" "The ring looks lovely my love"
II smiled feebly
"Where did u get it?" she asked in Tamil
Amma dropped a cup...
II picked it Amma quickly snatched it from her and poured her coffee in her mug using the grip
"Vasant Vihar?" Ii said
"Nalla velai irukkum ille? (Must be expensive)
"Konjam" (a little) II said slowly
Selvi kept looking at it...
Ii took her coffee to her room, did everything obediently... was ready by 11 AM, cleaned the study... and rearranged the books
Selvi tried to ask her more about the ring as she swept the room and mopped it
Amma didnt say a word to her until she changed into a pretty kanjeevaram in marroon and mustard...
Appa sulked on the couch, II sat in her divan and worked...
Amma walked by at 12:30 and said "Periappa has eaten. Lunch is on the dining table. Suda vechukko (heat it)"
"Book meeting-aa Ma?" she asked softly
"Ille Appa and I are going to Samyukta's" she said
II blushed...
Amma SAW THAT
Amma: change pannikongo😡
appa:Why an Iyer cannot go in veshti or what?"😛
Amma: well then wear a shirt😛
Appa: they dont deserve it😡
Amma: i wont argue again Ive stayed up all night (shouting)
Appa wore a shirt and readied himself in his veshti... just to prove a point...did NOT take her car
They left with no enthusiasm
Ii watched from her window... somberly😭
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