'Na ungla nambaren'
Srishti took fragile steps,her small palms clutching her satchel as she walked towards her front porch. Her small palms aimlessly touched the door when it opened on its own!
' Thangam!' Barath engulfed his baby sister in his arms completely,
'Anne! ' Srishti laughed slowly, clutching her brother's shoulder, 'Vanthutiya?' her tone came out rather surprised,not expecting him to come home that early.
'Iniku enaku half day dha work! Atha vanthuten!' Barath let go of his sister as he beamed at her, ' Unna drop pannangla?'
Srishti simply nodded, forging assertion.
'Sari vaa..nee sikram vanthatha celebrate pannalam!' Srishti told him momentarily,as she took off her book bag before softly placing it on the chair beside her,
'Sari vaa..pizza order panitu cook with comali pakalam!' Barath chuckled seeing his nerdy sister getting excited to watch a reality show with him, simply because it brought her comfort.
It was surprising that she felt at home watching a show, a show that felt like a warm hug from a family member on a cold winter night.
'Chandru varlaya?' Srishti asked him after he finished ordering the pizza,
'avana en kekara? Ellam nalla dhaana poitruku?' he asked her with crooked eyebrows and a nonchalant smile,
Srishti smiled at her brother, feeling better now as she saw him laugh. But her relief was short lived since he had sobered up almost immediately.
'papa..athu.. na sikram veetuku vanthathuku reason… he bit his lips before continuing, enaku promotion kedachirku.. but athula oru chinna prachana -
'Promotion ahh?? Wow! I'm so happy for you thangamae! ' Srishti clapped her little palms together as she cheered for her brother,
'Thanks papa… neetha ennoda support system.. but prachana enana , na intha vela vishayama oru vaaram veli oor poren..
Athum nallaike kelambanum..nallaiku enna naal nu therinjum unna Inga vitutu porathu enaku kashtama-
'Anne.. she stopped him from saying anything else enna pathi kavala pattu unnoda opportunity ah lose pannatha..I'm a big girl now.. Chandru kooda irupan la..' she explained patiently,
'Chandru kooda irukarthum thaniya irukarthum onnu dha' Barath sulked and rubbed his temples in frustration,
'oru vaaram dhaane..odidum' Srishti held on to his shoulders from behind, leaning on his back, ' Amma appa avlo sandhosha paduvanga anna' she whispered with a soft smile,
'correct dha Thangam.. he held her hand and brought her to stand in front of him,' better position, better salary..
But Chandru ah warn panitu dha poven.. vayasu ponnu irukura veetuku pasangla kootitu varatha nu solli vekaren avankita..
Unaku Inga iruka safe ah illana Priyanka veetuku poitu da.. Anna ku phone pannu..
Anne iruken ' he told her, his palms caressing his forehead as his tired eyes looked at her with worry.
Srishti smiled brightly at him, shaking her head.
'Sari nae'
'sari..unaku assignments laam iruka enna?' he asked her. Srishti nooded negatively.
