Prayer for peace
"I will stop by" seriya"? she asked in a fake normal tone
"Hmm" akka responded confused
"whats going on?" he asked looking at her curiously
"Woh umm.. Mrs Khan downstairs, she wasnt home... akka left the keys with her because athim was going to return, thatha paati sleep in the afternoon,
Mrs Khan took off when akka returned from DPS Akka sat in the landing until she returned"
II channeled a real life incident from a year ago when Akka was not pregnant
"She sat in the heat?" R&B asked incredulous
II looked at him somberly
IF ANY BHALLA OR BATRA GOT PREGNANT THERE WOULD BE A MAN HOLDING AN AC FOLLOWING HER
AYYOO!! SO LUCKY... PAAVAM AKKA WHY COULDNT SHE HAVE MARRIED TAN?
SHE WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT HEAT IS
She lowered her gaze in despair
Despair for so many things in her life at this moment
"Its OK we are used to sitting in stairs, when Amma returns late, or Appa doesnt return when he promises" II muttered
He stared dumbfounded
He did not know of a time when he got off his Dad's Merc and not take two steps and walk into the centrally air conditioned mansion
"We lost two keys, the government housing people get very mad when they have to change the front door keys" II half smiled
He wanted to give her a hug
"How is she now" he asked instead
"Umm OK... na poren seriya?" she said
He handed her the muffin and brownie..
"I will take this for Shravu" she said tearing up
"Whats going on II?" he asked
"Nothing" "Umm.. nothing kanna" she smiled
He knew she was faking it
"Here hang on" he said went in and bought a few diff kinds... for Rs.800 or Rs. 1000 the coffee shops usually charged a hand for a pastry
He took hers and placed it in the box and returned it
"If this is a ploy to buy his adulation, I am telling him I got it"
He glared... not amused...
"I" she said
"I have to take a call" he said and left her at the Perk
She ran up taking the stairs, tucking her phone in her pocket, holding the box in one and coffee in the other hand
Crying all the way up two floors
Sat on the top step drank her coffee
"what is he doing now?" she texted Akka
Akka called immediately
"Avana Bala adichutta di" (Bala hit him)
(Author's Note: NO bhashans please on child abuse)
II:Ayyyoyo!
akka: onney onnu kannathula (one time on his cheek)
Ii got up walked to her desk set everything and went to find Bally
It was close to 5
His laptop was gone
His admin said he was in his meeting with Mr Bansal
"that was two hours long?" she said
"U always do a times 2 or a times 3 when its Mr B" she giggled
Ii nodded
"ishita are u OK?" she asked
"Ya" she nodded...
The admin kept staring as she walked away
When she reached Akka's house it was close to 7
Athim opened the door and the first thing he said... not sure why he said it... his son had shattered the middle class dream he nurtured
he began fearing for his son the very first time? he was just having a bad day?
His baby was due in two months and he was neck deep in debt TO HIS OWN FIL?
"Ivala yaar koopta ippo?" he snapped "Who invited her now?"
Akka was not facing the door, she was sitting on the dining table chopping bhindi
She turned... "wHAT ARE U SAYING BALA?"
"Avan panra ella attahasathukkum ival daan karanam" (saare fasad ki jar yeh hai")
"I didnt ask him to do anything bad" II pleaded
Akka got up in a strained manner and wobbled to where she stood frozen
"Nee vaa ulle" (YOU come in) pulling II
"Thatha paati enge?" (Where are they?)
"Adu teriyada? Pidivadam pudichu they got another small TV on the wall" (they were adamant and got a new TV)
"Oh?" said II
"Aval kitta sollu yellam ippo. How much hardship u are in... she cant share her notes tho" Bala sniggered "she married a rich guy" he said
"ENNAACHU ONAKKU? (WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?) Akka shouted
Thatha paatti's room was thankfully shut
"Do they know?" II signalled
"NO" "Adu onnu daan baaki (thats the only thing left now) Amma (MIL) will call Kamakshi Athai tomorrow, Ambala Anna day after"
"Porum di neruthu, avlav akkara irunda pullaya ozhunga vala" (if u care so much instead of accusing my parents, raise ur boy properly)
"Athim PLEASEEE I AM BEGGING YOU... STOP IT. Shes pregnant"
"Oh APDIYA?" (Oh really?") Bala sniggered
He pulled a sweaty grimy tee shirt he had thrown on a dining table chair moments ago, wore it over his sweaty grimy banian... and SLAMMMED the door and left
Paati stepped out "Appa dosa porum solra" (FIL only wants dosa)
Akka nodded without looking
"Pudu ponnu eppo vandey?" (New bride when did u come?)
"Ippo paati" (now)
She made akka sit down... opened her frig there was nothing cold to drink... she went down without saying a word, bought ice cream, and some juices, and other things
she thought might help
Brought it up
Made vanilla shake for akka
Gently peeked into shravu's room
The curtains were drawn the room was like a furnace... the poor kid slept like a wilted flower..
"WHY IS HE SLEEPING NOW?" II panicked
"He hit him no... he cried and cried and cried and slept"
She steered Akka to the bedroom..
"Why cant we turn the new AC on in his room?
"Anda kadai kekade (dont ask), The AC wiring has to be redone...Bala was supposed to be at work... he saw the new awning in your place and asked me if we
shut get one outside the glass covered balcony and every other balcony. I told him it will cost Rs.10 or 20k, he said lets get it we cant spend much after August
He said if we put Shravu's study desk in the new covered balcony the awning will keep it cool
The upstairs young couple u know right, they water their plants like crazy the water drips all day, awning is canvas... the plumber was supposed to extend THEIR water pipe at our cost so it will stick out in the opp direction, THAT IDIOT didnt come until TWO
Bala went to work and came back when he did, he must have called Bala, IF bala had returned at 5 or 7, i would have spoken to that kozhandai and asked him NICELY. Bala just slapped him"
Since it was the first day, new uniform, new books etc, Bala wanted to see what home work he got, he opened AND FOUND IT"
Akka began to sob
"WHY did u say it was Nandu's?" II's belly churned
"I have seen one at Shanti Niketan, it doesnt have a case, Nandu has carved with a paper clip NB.. its faded this one looks like VB or NB in the EXACT SPOT di"
'"Ayyo"
"IKR" "what are the odds"
"There could be other kids ka"
"I dont have the 5th standard class list... Nandu was in his class in 3rd, Shravu said "ITS THE EXACT SAME SECTION AMMA"
The sisters cried silently
"WHY SHUD HE STEAL SOLLU?" akka asked
"I dont know..." II shook her head
"I am sorry da... I called u from work"
"No no... I was free all day" II lied
II forced Akka to drink her milk shake
she checked on Shravu again... he slept on his other side and II saw in the night light she saw Athim's finger imprint on his cheek, he had light skin like II it was bruised badly
She cried uncontrollably as she imagined how it must have hurt the child
"What shud I make for dinner?" II asked
Akka was beginning to doze
"Hey kanna" she murmured
"Nee toongu, I will do the diya and make dinner"
"Bala is saying he is no longer seeing Nandu no longer going there"
Akka sat up again and began to cry
"Hmmm" II sat down again
"I dont know if its his.. I dont know if its some other kid's"
"Thats too drastic... I thought he hated seeing me today"
Vandu did not disagree
"Sam is the only (one that is even nice to me) II swallowed... "umm Sam is a rare combination of rich and kind"
"I know... she will hurt when she hears Bala"
"Nimmadiye ille di... edukku daan pregnant aaneno" Akka wept bitterly
(there is no peace, why did I even get pregnant)
II hugged her stunned... soothing her "Shhh shhh" she cooed
Edited by Nisha0604 - 8 years ago
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