Day 15

It was early in morning.DS were still on bed.

D: Hihihihi....hahahahaha....hohohoho

He was laughing in his sleep causing disturbance to S.She pulled the quilt over her head to muffle the noise.He then began banging his legs on the bed,still laughing.

S: Uff! Pupsooo...pupsooo...

Still in a daze,she shook him by his arm.His eyes still closed,he placed a finger on his lips.

D: Shhh...no disturbance I hate disturbance! Zzz....

S: 🙄

There was no sound from him after that.Feeling relieved,S turned to her side to get back to sleep when,

D: Hahahahahahaha.....

The sudden bout of laughter jerked her.She kicked his bum in annoyance but he would not stop.Her sleep gone,she got up and went to the bathroom.When she returned,he was stretched out on her bed like a starfish occupying all the space.

S: How to sleep like this ? 😟

Shaking her head,she went to the other room to get some sleep.After a while he began tossing and turning,

D: Chweetuuu.....chweetuuu....

He called but there was no response from her.When he opened his eyes she was missing.He got up to check the bathroom but door was open.His hair sticking out from all sides,he picked his blanket and dragged his feet to the next room.Seeing her asleep like baby,he smiled.He then crawled on to the bed and snuggled behind her.

***

S was mopping the floor when D crossed over the mop munching choco pops accidentally dropping some on the floor.Instead of picking it up he walked as if he didn't care.S stood with hands bent at her hips.

S: Pupsooo! Can't you see I am mopping the house ? Why don't you just sit quietly at one place until I finish ? Always walking here and there...

D: Krumm...krumm...one minute Sweetuu I will fill my mug and go.

He went to the kitchen and poured himself soya milk then taking his chocos and mug he settled on the couch.He turned on the tv to a telugu channel and they were showing 'Arundathi' movie.He clapped in excitement.

D: Sweetu...they are putting your movie it has just started come you also watch...😃

S: I have watched it countless times besides if I sit for that now who will do housework ? You only watch...

While the reel one was dancing in 'chandamama'song like a queen,the real one was scrubbing the floor like a maid.Picking her bucket,she came to D's side and blocked his view.

D: Sweety move I can't see...

S: For 1-2 minutes if you skip Pasupathi won't take her away.I need to mop under the sofa,lift your legs.

He folded his legs and at that time the scene where Arundathi's beau joins in the dance is shown,he found it funny seeing the petty fella beside her and laughed while tearing open a new pack in force.The whole lot of choco pops went flying in all directions messing up the place.Some fell on his head,he dusted it off and then peeped into his packet.

D: No more...Sweety is there one more pack?

He looked up at her.

S: 😡😡😡

D: Oops...

She gave one hard smack on his shoulder.

D: Aaahhh!!!!

In her fury,she switched off the tv.

D: Don't do that I'm watching...

She glared at him.He kept a puppy face.

S: You think I am playing here ? You know how tideous it is to sweep and mop the floor ?? I did not ask you for any help the least you could do is not trouble me.That simple thing you can't ? You don't let me sleep,I go to another room you come there...I have no peace in my own house because of you...blah blah blah...

She scolded him and he kept a face as if he was going to cry.

S: Such a bad boy you are! See Unni how well behaved he is.

And that hurt his ego.He didn't like to be compared to any petty guy.He got up in a huff and went to their room shutting the door behind him.Dropping on the bed,he buried his face on the pillow and began sobbing.

D: She didn't let me watch Arundathi....I'm a bad boy...she does not love me anymore...I have no one...sob...sob...

***

D had not come out of the room after that.She called him for breakfast but he refused to join her.To pacify the angry eagle,she cooked biriyani for lunch.Piling it on plate along with some of his favourite thokku pachadi and raitaa,she went to the room.

S: Pupsooo pa!

He was lying on his stomach on the bed staring out at the balcony.

He saw her standing with plate in hand and turned his face away from her showing his bum.She sat on the bed.

S: I made biriyani for you,come let's eat.

D: I don't want.😤

S: Fine don't eat atleast taste little and tell how it is.

He sat up and forwarded his palm keeping his head bent.Taking some thokku pachadi,she mixed it with rice, rolled it to a large ball then dipped into raitaa and placed on his palm.He stuffed it greedily into his mouth.

S: How is it ?

D: Chomp...chomp...so yummy...just like how Amma makes...

S: It is her recipe only.Here,have one more.

D: No! I don't want!

He fell back on bed and pulled the quilt over his head licking his hand of the raitaa and masala under the covers.

S: I know you are licking your hand instead of doing that you can eat no ?

D: I am a bad boy,you don't like me anymore why do you want me to eat ?I will starve to death!

S: And then who will answer your family and fans ? Shradhooo will cry,Poo will collapse,Kaju will have to wear white saree...do I need all their curses? Come,have this.

D: No I won't! Tell I am a good boy! Unni is the bad one !

S: Look,if you want you come if not go.I am eating.

He was hungry.There was biriyani.It tasted excellent.No more ego or shame.He sat up and scooted towards her,his gaze on the plate.

She fed him a large mouthful.

S: Nice ?

He showed double thumbs up.She fed him again.

D: Chomp...chomp...chomp...you're only giving rice...put chicken piece and feed me...

S: Err...Sorry baby there is no chicken so I made this with soya chunks and boiled eggs...let lockdown get over I'll make for you with real chicken now you adjust with this.

D: It's ok...

He took two boiled eggs holding it in either hand and munched while she fed him.

***

D: Sweetuuu !!!! 😍

He jumped on the bed.S was using her laptop.He moved to her side and stuck his face on her arm.

D: What are you doing ?

S: Replying to messages.

D: Who sent you ?

S: My friends.

D: Guys or girls ?

S: Both..Hi Unni,wishing you and your family a happy Vishu and stay safe...

That name did not go well with him.He took a closer look and saw the profile.Unni had put a photo of himself and his dog.

D: (mv:The dog looks better than him.)Hey why you are sending him wishes ?

S: You wished your 'Sweetest Amrita'on your FB.Did I ask?

D: Huh...uh...that is different this is different....

S: Pupsooo,what are you...

He backspaced what she had typed for Unni.

D: Send wishes to someone else.Don't want this guy.Somewhat the sight of him is giving me a queasy feeling,might throw up on his face.Your laptop will get dirty now we can't send it for servicing also...

Knowing he wouldn't let her do her work in peace she moved on to send wishes to people in general.She chose a pic and posted her wishes.

D: Nice photo bangaram.This is how they decorate for your New Year ?

She nodded.

S: If I were in my ancestral place we would celebrate it in grandeur.It would have been so much fun with me,my cousins and the little kids in our family...sigh...I would have been there if not for this lockdown.

D: Sweetu,one doubt I have.

S: Ask...

D: Why have they kept your nanna's head in the middle ?

He asked innocently but unfortunately the response he got was not so.

***

Day 20

S was drying the clothes in her balcony.Rubbing his eyes D came there and hugged her from behind resting his head on her shoulder.

D: Sweetu feeling bored sweetu....

S: I know pupsooo but what can we do tell me we have to follow the law no just a few more days...

D: Until then how to kill time ?

S: Here,give me a hand.Let's dry this together.

D: Ladies work I don't want.Next...

S: I'm going to do yoga after this...join me ?

D: Bah...I will sweat besides you use that same dirty old mat you used when you were a yoga instructor...I don't want that...

S: Old is gold and one should never forget his past.The mat is still usable so what's wrong ?

D: Of course you take care of it as if your family heirloom but still don't want.Next...

S: Let's watch a movie together!

D: Daily I've been doing that only...I've finished watching my own movies and all of yours also.

S: All those are regional movies we'll watch an English movie!

D: Sweetuuuu...is this you ? 😍(mv:She wants to watch an english movie with me...those will have lots of scenes...the time has come for me to put raincoats in use...)

S: You want or no ?

D: Who will say no ? You finish this and come I'll keep the room ready.

He made the bed,propped the pillows against the bed frame and drew the curtains to make the room cosy.He spritzed room refreshener all over the room and some on himself.

D: Something is missing...come on think Nandhu you can do it....haan! Popcorn and coke!

He quickly went to the kitchen and made instant popcorn then filled both their mugs with coke.He made it more fancy by fixing lemon slices to the rim of the mugs.Placing it all in a tray,he went to the room.After a while S came in.He was sitting with arms crossed at his chest and large grin on his face like a good boy.

S: Wow! My room is looking so romantic today! 😀

She took the bag which held her DVD collections and leafed through them.

D mv: Maybe I should suggest some good movie...no no don't want it will give me more thrill when she selects...hihihihi...

Indeed there was thrill but not the kind he expected.An hour later,

D: Has she gone ? 😰

S: No....she is there...

There was silence.D spread his fingers that covered his face and tried to watch from the gap.

"Aaaahhhhhh"

D: Aaaahhhhhh!!!! Ammaa!!! 😱

He turned and hugged S clenching his eyes.

S: Uff! Look what you have done! Popcorn is scattered all over...

D: Sniff...sniff...why was she crawling backwards Sweetuu...

S: It's the Exorcist horror film pupsoo pa that's how it will be.It is not a real.

D: It looks so real...Sweetu don't want this let's watch something else pls I'm scared...

He said while his back still was facing the tv.

S: Another one hour it will be over pls pupsooo...

D: Then put it to mute and watch.

S: Any movie you can watch like that these horror ones should only be watched with full sound effects.

Just she had finished saying,another loud and more terrifying scream was heard.He looked at S for comfort but she let her hair down and rolled her eyelids up keeping a scary face which made D get up and bolt out of the room.

S: Hahahaha pupsooo come back! Oh this baby....😆

He scurried to the other room and shut the door never to come out until she finished watching the movie.

***

Later that evening,

S was sitting on the floor in her hall wiping the clay lamps,putting wick and filling it with oil to be placed in her balcony.D joined her with his whiskey filled glass and spicy nuts in a bowl.

D: What are you doing bangaram ? Is it some prayer day today ?

S: No...9pm,9 minutes...

D: Huh ? What is that ?

S: Following our prime minister's appeal to switch off lights for nine minutes and light these lamps instead.

D: Bah...clapping hands,lighting lamps...what absurdity is all this nothing better to do or what ?He tells and you want to follow...

S: Not only me every true patriotic Indian will follow.

D: I'm a patriotic Indian too that is why at 9pm for 9 minutes I want to blow all the flames and do something else...

He bit his lower lip and ran his hand across her waist.

S: Too much whiskey has gone in that is why you are behaving like this...nothing doing...we are lighting lamps that's it.

His phone shrilled.

...to be continued