"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just been cleared to land at the Chennai International Airport. Please make sure one last time your seat belt is securely fastened. The flight attendants are currently passing around the cabin to make a final compliance check and pick up any remaining cups and glasses. Thank you."

The loud announcement woke Sivaangi up from her deep slumber. Her doe eyes were wide open as if she almost forgot how she ended up in the airplane. Yawning slowly, she tamed her hair the best she can before turning towards the window.

The sight was breathtaking. Fluffy clouds spread all around the blue canvas in the name of sky as the sun shone brightly. If not anything, the weather certainly made her feel welcomed into her birth land.

To be honest, her mind still hasn't completely processed the fact that she is about to step into India again. There were countless dark, lonely nights back in Melbourne when she thought she'll forever be trapped there. And to a certain extent she was mentally prepared to spend the rest of her life away from her Homeland. But the sudden call from her father on a random evening, followed by a wedding invitation and a flight ticket sent through Whatsapp gave her a new ray of hope. Maybe things were finally changing for the better.

Deep down she knows her hopes will be crushed but at the end of the day, one can never stop hoping. Sometimes a tiny hope will be the only reason to keep going.

Once she landed, she excitedly took out her phone to make a call but she never got to press the dial button as a warm body flung itself on her, engulfing her into the tightest hug. She squealed in delight, she didn't need to look up to know who it was. "Rakshan anna!"

"Thangameyyy!"

To put it simple, the duo took their time with the hug since it's been over a year since they last saw each other. Sivaangi missed Rakshan the most even though he's the family member she has seen the most ever since she left India. He visited her not once but six times in the entire 10 years of her time in Melbourne.

For the rest of them, she hadn't even seen them much to miss them. But overall she missed being with people. She missed being with a family. She missed being home.

To think she's finally getting what she has been craving for the most, she felt thrilled.

...

The cold wind in the terrace blew her hair gently every few seconds. Her fingers busily adjusted them while her mouth was even busier chatting away. Surrounded by cousins that can't be counted with all her fingers even and her sister that she hasn't talked to for a long time, there were endless of stories to exchange. After all they are 10 years worth of stories. A single night wouldn't be enough to share them all.

But Sivaangi told herself that she had at least twenty more nights to do this before she's sent away again. Twenty isn't very generous but a person who spent most of her life in solitude shouldn't complain so Sivaangi was grateful with what was given.

The spicy conversation about a night in the club was abruptly cut when Janani walked over with a displeased face. "Shalini nee poyi thoongu, tomorrow is a big day. Kadhai lam aprom pesikalam."

(Shalini go sleep now, tomorrow is a big day. You can chitchat some other time.)

Sivaangi didn't fail to notice how the woman made sure to not look at her even once, not even accidentally.

Shalini groaned softly. "Amma konjam neram pesitu poren, neenga ponga."

(Amma just a bit longer, I'll go afterwards.)

Janani shook her head at her daughter, disappointment masking her face before she turned to the rest of them. "Neenga lam vandhu dessert sapdunga."

(The rest of you go and have desserts.)

The mention of food was all it took for the crowd to disperse leaving Sivaangi alone with Shalini, the bride to be.

Sivaangi was quick to ask ,"nalaki yenna big day? Kalyanam next week dhana?"

(Why is tomorrow a big day? The wedding is only next week right?)

"Avanga family nalaki varanga."

(His family is coming tomorrow.)

Sivaangi smiled with teasing eyes. "Ohh mapillai also incoming?"

(Ohh is the groom coming along?)

Shalini shrugged with disinterest.  "Apdi thaan nenakiren."

(I guess so.)

Sivaangi frowned. "Nee kekalaya avarta?"

(You didn't ask him?)

"Naa yen kekuren?"

(Why would I ask him?)

Sivaangi didn't know if this was really as ridiculous as she understands. "Yedhavudhu sandaya?"

(Did you guys fight or something?)

Her sister laughed at that as if she just made the greatest joke. "Sanda podrathuku first pesanum."

(We can only fight if we even talk in the first place.)

Sivaangi looked alarmingly. "Pesavey illaya?"

(You've never talked?)

"Orey oru thadava marriage confirm panrathuku munnadi pesunaru."

(Just once before the marriage was confirmed.)

Now she was curious. "Yenna sonnaru?"

(What did he say?)

"Avara kalyanam panrathum oru kenaru la poyi vilarathum onnu thaan apdinu sonnaru. Oru typical marriage life ah avarala provide panna mudiyathunu sonnaru. Ulagathula yellathayum vida avaruku avaru job thaan romba mukkiyamnu sonnaru. Idhu yellathukum okay na proceed panlamnu sonnaru."

(Marrying him is equivalent to falling into a well. He can't provide me a typical marriage life. His job is the most important thing for him the the world. If I'm okay with all of these, he said we can proceed.)

Sivaangi stared at her sister like she grew another head. She couldn't believe what she just heard. What kind of a man is this?

The fact that he only talked to her once ever since the entire marriage proposal happened, that alone threw her off. Why bother marrying if you don't want to live the marriage life?

"Indha madhri oru aalu unaku thevayadi?" Sivaangi genuinely questioned out of concern.

(Do you really need a man like this?)

Shalini shrugged. "Yellarukum pidichurku especially Appa. Dhoorathu sondham, well-settled family apdi ipdinu neraya sonnanga so okay solliten."

(Everyone seems to like him, especially Dad. He's distant relative, from a well-settled family etc, they said a lot so I agreed.)

Sivaangi didn't know how to respond at all. If she lets her mouth run loose she's worried she might end up confusing her sister or worse influence her to stop the wedding and earn the wrath of her family.

"Nalla yosichitiya?" She softly asked, unable to stop herself from being concerned.

(You've thought well?)

"Yosika onnum illa."

(Nothing much to think.)

Sivaangi sighed and threw her arm around her sister, squeezing her lightly. "Seri free ah vidu, nalaki vararu la? Naa correct panren mapillai ah."

(Never mind leave it, tomorrow he's coming right? I'll take care.)

Shalini stared. "Yennadhu?"

(What?)

Sivaangi laughed out loud. "Unaku correct panni kudukuren di! Avara pesa vekkirana illayanu paaru."

(I'll take care of him for you! Just see how I'm gonna make him open up.)

Shalini smiled at her childlike sister, she knows Sivaangi is quite capable of anything if she sets her mind to it. Her vibrant personality and charming attitude can win over anyone literally but would she really be able to break through the standoffish, emotionally unavailable man?

"Paaklam."

(We'll see.)

Sivaangi got up to get her desserts but stopped midway and turned back to her sister to ask, "aama indha vichithra piravi ku peru yenna?"

(By the way, what is the name of this odd creature?)

"Ashwin Kumar."

~~~•••~~~

Experimenting something new. How is it?