Stars in the sky...
A neighbor from 4th floor showed up unexpectedly as they more often do in housing societies
Amma was sweaty and tired, II pitched in in the kitchen and, made sure things were "set up" right
Amma teased her incessantly "Onnoda nathanaar" (ur SIL) irritating II in the process
"I love Sam, I dont think this one likes me much" II said
"If I turn off the kitchen exhaust, velila nanna kekum" (she can hear) Amma was livid
"Umm... I sense it"II insisted
"Stop it" "Go check if Appa poured out all the mango juice, go down and get it from the Arora Store outside the society" Amma instructed
"Appa sees me going he will jump up" II said
"Thats why I am whispering in Tamil" Amma squeezed her hand. She gave her Rs.500 from the kitchen stash
II went down, she saw Ranjan in the balcony
He shouted "where are u off to beta?"
"Ek second Dad... bar car taq" she lied effortlessly
She got a bunch of stuff, ice cream and frooti and leechi sorbet and such
And she she was entering the society at the gate, she stepped back to let a gleaming SUV pass
The 8 PM traffic outside was noisy
People honked and yelled
He paused, as she stumbled
Not realizing it was the MM SUV
He rolled his window down
"TUM?" she asked
"I have to take a call" he said quietly
"Did u eat?" she panicked
"Umm.. Ill grab something on the way" he said
"Mahavir and the crew are off this evening, there is only fruit and veggies in all the three 3 frig" she explained
"I can fix myself a sandwich" he said quietly
"If you wait TEN minutes, Amma said sambar will be ready" II was distraught
"Not really hungry" he said
II watched as he rolled his window back up and slid out
Urchins gawked at the tricked up SUV, he had had extra rails and lights put on it since Nivi was driven around on it
II walked in dazed wondering if Bala or Appa pissed him off
She had no idea
"Did someone say something?" she texted walking towards the building
He didnt respond
Went up and went to the kitchen, Amma was on the phone with Janaki Athai
She looked for Appa he was on the divan with Ranjan and the 4th floor neighbor chatting away about some newspaper article
Makarand and Bala chatted in the balcony
Manya sat on the rug playing with Nivi, the neighbor's teenager, and wife.
The lady smiled at her and said she loved the baby
II smiled back and put everything in the frig
Went back to the kitchen
"Amma... Ammma phone a vei nee" she shouted
"What is it?" Amma asked miffed
"R&B took off, did u know?"
"Vekaren ka phone" (let me hang up) Amma said and did
"What?" she asked
"He took off" Ii said
She was in tears suddenly
"Appa summave iruka maatale" II began to weep
(Appa said something)
Amma looked ashamed
Amma eye signaled Appa he came into the kitchen
"Madhu is everything ready?" Appa asked
"enna sonnel avana?" Amma hissed (What did u say to him?)
Appa looked startled
Appa saw II sniffling
"What happened da?" he enquired
"R&B took off" Ii said shocked
"I never spoke with him II say, I was busy talking with Parashuraman from 4th floor, he said something to your FIL and left" Appa said
Then Appa had a subterranean explosion, accusing Amma of blaming him unnecessarily
He walked out unhappily
Everyone ate well unaware
II stewed over it, texted him again he didnt respond
When they returned home with a sleeping Nivi, Ranjan asked Dhyanji to show up to pick him up
She went up to change Nivi and set her down for sleep
She went into his office he was busy working
"Umm.. I dont even have my period anymore" she informed him
He looked up somberly
Amma texted her to say Moorthy Mami is very very happy she agreed to sing at the Janakpuri event
"I am not done yet" he said
It felt like a knife twisting inside, to her
He NEVER refused sex
They fought like dogs, but sex always brought them together
"Baad mein kar lo kaam, I am so tired" she complained going over to his PC
He had many financial apps up with pie charts and such
"Did u eat?" he asked politely
"I LOVE idlis" she smiled and nodded "Nivi had TWO" she waved a hand in front, bend down and kissed his hair
"Vaa da" she begged rubbing herself on his body
"Did YOU eat?" she asked
"thanks I did" he said "U shud go to bed" he said
Something about that caring yet aloof line caused her to step back
~~~~
the next morning as she braided her hair her phone rang "Is it Ishita Bhalla?" the female voice asked
"yeah"
"Tamizhla pesalaame" the woman giggled (lets speak in tamil)
"Yeah?" Ii was confused
"I am Sumati from calling from Nakshatra Digital in Adyar" she said somehow not confident II could actually speak in Tamil
"yeah?" Ii was confused
"We wanted to talk to you before we brought u in for a recording" she said
II dropped the phone in shock into the wet bath sink
"
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