"Avana kanoma?" Rakshan asked confused. "Aama night lirndhu avara kanom." Shalini told panicking. Rakshan just chuckled, "Thangam Avan enkooda dhan irrukan, nee worry panniklama Inga kelambi va." He told and Shalini could finally breathe. "Aahn varen na." She told and cut the call letting a sigh of relief. "Anna vandi edunga." She told the driver and left to Rakshan's house.
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She shared a hug with her brother and walked in, "Avaru enga Thangam?" She asked. "Aama unga avaru yen ma varam varam kudichutu en veetuku vararu?" He questioned back. "Illa na, naa nethu avara konjam kathiten." She told and walked in to find him ready to leave. "Seri Machan naa secretariot kelambren." He told. "Avinash!!" She called and held his hand when he pulled it back with a jerk. "Miss PA, konjam distance maintain pannunga, naa romba mosamanavan edhachu pannida poren." He told. "Avinash naa nethu--" She began. "Illa ma, nee nethu pesnadhe podhum. Ennaku nalla biriyani sapta Mari irrunchu, idhuku mela vendam." He told smiling sarcastically as he left.
"Apdi enna dhan ma pesna? Avanum nethu night kudichutu 'ava epdi apdi peslam?' 'enna pathi enna nenachitrika?' nu kathitu irrundhan?" Rakshan asked. Shalini then began explaining what she talked and Rakshan was glued to his seat. "Thangam?" She asked while Rakshan pressed his forehead. "Arrivu irruka?" He asked. "Enna na ipdi pesra?" She asked. "Ipdi pesama? Avana pathi enna teriyum nu ipdi pesirka?" "Idhuve nee Avan eduthala irrundhu Avan ipdi ketrundha summa irrundhirpiya?" He asked. "Unkooda ivalo naal irrundhum unnaku puriyalaya? Unna Avan anniku drink pannitu edho pantan nu evalo guilty ah feel pannan nu marandhutiya enna?" He asked and Shalini's eyes blurred.
"Aana avaruku thapana affairs ella irrundhudhu dhana?" She asked. "Apdinu yevan sonnan?" He asked. "Avan panna orey thappana vishyam andha Aruna va love pannadhu mattum dhan." Rakshan told. "Puriyala." Shalini confessed.
ITS TIME FOR THE FLASHBACK
"Machan unnaku medical padikanum nee padikra, enna yenda naduvula kothu vidra?" Rakshan asked. "Ada ennakaga padika maatiya?" Avi asked. "Nee yenna da en girlfriend ah unnakaga pudikadha group ah eduthu padika??" Rakshan questioned. "Appo girlfriend kaga dhan sir commerce group ah vitutu First group eduthinglo?" Avi questioned and Rakshan smiled sheepishly. "Unnakaga naa doctor aaguren da!!" Rakshan told. "Aana enga appan ta mattum indha matter ah sollidadha machi!!" Rakshan whined and Avi chuckled nodding.
"Indha vazhka romba unpredictable la?" Avi asked and Rakshan raised his brow. "Unakellam aal set aagudhu aana naa dhan innum single aave suthren." He whined earning Rakshan's glare. "Seri seri morraikadha vaa." He told tugging Rakshan.
"Machan." Rakshan told, seated in class. "Enna?" Avi responded looking at something dreamily. "Indha college la Indians Ellam jasthi aahm da." He told. "Teriyum, adhuku dhana Inga sendhom?" He questioned back still looking. "Adhan Machan, nee vera single ah irruka nu feel panna la, Tamil oh, Malayalam oh yedhachu oru ponnu ah nee yen paaka kudadhu?" Rakshan asked while Avi still dreamily looked at something and told, "Adha dhana pathutu irruken."
"Yedha da?" Rakshan questioned. "Onnum illa, class ah gavani!!" Avi changed the topic.
######
(Two months later)
"Machan naa unkitta oru vishayam solluven aana sirrika koodadhu." Avi told. "Seri sollu." Rakshan told getting a drink from the vending machine and popping it open. "Naa oru ponnu ah paathen da." He told. "Kannu irrundha paathu thanda aaganum." Rakshan told and Avi pinched him. "Yenda killuna?" Rakshan whined. "Nee dhana da sonna Tamil oh Malayalam oh yedhachu oru ponnu ah paaru nu.... Adhan paathen." He told.
"Oho!! Seri yaaru andha ponnu?" Rakshan teased. "Adhan da andha ponnuku periya rendu---" Avi began when Rakshan shut Avi's mouth. Avi pulled it away and told, "Kannu nu solla vandhen da!!". "Periya kannu uh, semma style ah cute ah...." He dragged. "Apdi yaaru machan Namma college la?" Rakshan asked.
"Dei ponnu nu dhan sonnen, indha college nu sonnen ah?" He questioned. "Aprom?" Rakshan questioned. "Meera...." He told dreamily. "Yaaru andha bike racer ponnu ah?" Rakshan asked and Avi nodded blushing. "Thambi andha ponnu India la irruku, neenga London la irrukinga... " Rakshan reminded. "Dei Naa enna avala love ah panren? just avala pathukute irrukanum nu oru feel." He told. "Nee paaru Machan." Rakshan teased.
They walked continuously when Rakshan asked, "Machan naanum andha ponnu ah oru maasam ah pathukutu irruken--" Rakshan began when Avi exclaimed, "Dei!! Appo Saranya??" "Ada chi!! Muzhusa kelu!!" Rakshan told and Avi pouted. "Andha ponnu ah romba naal ah paakren, ava unnave follow panra, class layum unnave pathutruka... Nee notice panniya nu keka vandhen." Rakshan told. "Yenna yaaru machan follow panra?" Avi asked confused looking here and there. "Adhan da andha malayala ponnu oda suthume..." Rakshan dragged. "Yaaru?" Avi questioned still unaware. "Andha thayirsadham da!!" Rakshan told. "Adhu yaaru da London la thayirsadham?" Avi questioned chuckling. "Psch.... Peru dhan da ennaku marandhu marandhu pogudhu." Rakshan told.
"Unnaku face nyabagam irruka?" Avi asked. "Definitely." Rakshan told. "Appo yaarunu kaatu." Avi told and Rakshan looked around and along with Avi. "Machan!!" He called smiling. "Yaaru?" Avi asked and looked to where Rakshan was pointing to find a pretty woman. He had slight butterflies seeing her. "Ava dhan." Rakshan told and Avi fluttered smiling. "Dei ponnu nalla Iyer aathu jaw arisi vadagam maari irruka, ivalo poi thayir sadham ndra?" Avi questioned. "Ada London Avan Avan ennenamo sapdran, iva innum thayir sadham katti eduthutu vandhutruka, seriyana--" Rakshan began when Avi covered his mouth. "Un sister pathi thappa pesadha Machan." Avi told looking at Aruna who looked back, with a lowered blushing gaze.
"Sist--?? Oho!!" Rakshan teased. Avi then actioned her to come closer. She was flustered, she widened her eyes and pointed at herself, rechecking whether the college hearthrob is really asking for her. He blinked in assurance and she walked to him shyly with her friend. "Hey unna yevanachu kooptan ah? Kelambu di!!" Avi told and the girl asked, "Endha?". "niṅṅaḷēāṭ pēākān paṟayunnu" Aruna muttered under her breath. "Aahn aahn pogam pogam." Rakshan told. "Nee mathram ivada endha cheyunu? Evadengil poiko!!" The girl exclaimed. "Ungla kelamba solra." Aruna again muttered in a low voice. "Machan ENNA (stresses on it) poga soldra da!! Silly girl!! Naa yedhuku poga--" Rakshan began when Avi told, "Po da."
"Edhey?!!" Rakshan asked. "Po da!!" Avi told louder making Rakshan hold his chest. "Naa poren da, India ke poren ..... Saran naa varen!!" He told looking at the sky wiping his nonexistent tears as he walked away. "Avaru kochitu poraru." She again exclaimed softly. "Adhellam onnum illa, night ah seri aayiruvan." Avi told carelessly. "Yen?" She asked. "Boys matter ulla varadha." He told. "Seri edhuku kooptinga?" She asked. "Nee enna edhuku sight adicha nu keka." He told. "Naa sight ellam adikala." She told. "Appo classes ku naduvulla paakradhu, library la ennaku pinnadi olinju irruka nu nenachu paakradhu, naa boys dorm la irrukambodhu cousin ah paakra maari varadhu, en favourite coffee shop ku naa Sunday evenings poven nu terinju Anga friends oda vandha maari scene potute paakradhu Ellam enna?" He questioned and she widened her eyes gasping.
"Neenga enna paakla nu nenachen?!" She asked. He just ruffled her hair in response, "Politician paiyan Aruna naa, I have to stay vigilant always." He told and she nodded with a 'oh' expression. "Wait a minute!!" She exclaimed. "Appo neenga naa pakurena nu pathukute enna sight adichirkingla?" She asked. "Romba late uh ma nee." He told and she gasped. "Seri shock aanadhu Ellam podhum, box la enna?" He asked. "Sirrika koodadhu." She warned. "Seri sollu enna?" He asked. "Thayirsadham." She answered causing him to chuckle. "Pathela sirrikrel!!" She exclaimed. "Cha cha illa." He lied. "Neeya senja?" He asked grabbing it from her and opening it. "Illa Amma dhan senjanga." She told pouting.
"Amma va? Apo family oda Inga settled ah?" He asked. "Aama." She told. "Aprom yen ma ipdi thayirsadham?" He questioned. "Appa ku Namma yenga ponalum culture maara kudadhu. Avaru aathula eppovum India la irrukura maari dhan irrukanum nu soluvaru, naanga Brahmin assosiation la London la kooda avanga kooda serndhu Kovil povom. Yen? London Tamil Sangha Thalaivar eh enga thoppanar dhan teriyuma?" She asked. "Idhu enna periya varuthapadadha valibar sangam ah ellarkum teriya?" He teased and she pouted. "Seri seri un thoppanar ah onnum sollala." He told chuckling.
Avi then tasted the curd rice, it was the first time he had home cooked food. It almost brought tears to his eyes. "Milaga kadichitela?" She asked. "Illa." He told wiping his tears. "Inime daily ennakum serthu eduthutu vara okay va?" He asked. "Life full um eduthutu varen, Mudinja kooda irrundhu samache tharen." She told boldly and he blushed walking away grinning to it not knowing that the day she would cook for him would never arrive.
