"Cakes and Candles- Part 1"

May 25, 2019. 

 Ajay 

What should I do now?

I clearly don't have any idea. It's her birthday today. I have to do something right? I wanna surprise her like how she surprised me on my birthday. I should do something bigger than that so that it would actually be a surprise. I don't have office today which is another problem that I'm facing now. I don't have leave on sundays like before instead they give me leave on a week day which differs every week. This week it's Saturday. Next week it might be Friday or Thursday or who knows. The problem is Devi has leave only on Sundays, not even Saturdays. It's been hectic for her too. I tried to convince her to take leave today but she didn't, she has an important meeting today with the management. This life we live now is not fair at all. I mean, when we finally started a life together, this is the situation. 

I should plan something before she comes back from school. I told I will pick her up today. Can I take her somewhere? A candle light dinner? Oh no Devi hates attention. If I'm planning for a candle light dinner, I should book the whole rooftop restaurant but I'm obviously not a billionaire to do that. Oh wait maybe I can set up a candle light dinner at my balcony, that would be fun. So what should I cook now? I stood up from the couch and walked to the kitchen when my phone rang. I picked it up and saw it was a video call from my sister from Canada. I attended the call with a frown. 

"Appu?" I said. 

"Jayyyy..." She yelled excitedly "enga enga devi enga?" 

(Where is devi?) 

It was close to midnight there now. 

"Yen di oru thambi irukaan avanuk call panniye oru 6 maasam irukume avan epdi irukaan nu kepom.. athellam illa la? avala thaa kekura" 

(It's been 6 months since you last called me and the first thing you ask about is her?)

"Ey poda nee epdi iruka nu ellam amma sollit thaa irukka.. ava enga I wanna wish her before I go to sleep" 

(Mom keeps me updated on how you're doing.. Where is devi, I wanna wish her before I go to sleep) 

Oh yes. She called to wish her for her birthday.  She might have seen the status I put for her birthday. It was a picture that Prabhakaran sir took of us at Devadarshini maam's wedding anniversary. How gorgeous she looked that day, I don't think I can ever forget that day, the night we had our first kiss.

"Ava enga nu keta ethuk da ilichut irukka?" Appu's voice snapped me out. 

(Why are you blushing instead of responding to my question)

"Ava inga illa ka.. school poyirka..innaik class iruku" I said. 

(She is not here...she is at school) 

"Ohhh no.. I don't have her number" she said sadly. 

"Naa anupren" I said. 

(I will send it) 

"Mamaaa..." I heard my 6 year old nephew's voice from behind Aparna.

"Ivaaannnn" I yelped excitedly. Its been so long since I talked to him. 

(Pronounced as 'e-v-a-a-n') 

"Where is athai.. I heard its her birthday today" he said. 

I glared at them. 

"Yen di inuma nee ivanuk Tamil solli tharala?" 

(Haven't you taught him tamil yet?)

"Hey nalla thaan da Tamil pesuvaan ipo ellam.. " Appu said. "Ivaan speak in tamil" 

(He speaks tamil well these days.. Ivaan speak in tamil)

'Velangidum' I thought. 

(Great!) (sarcastically)

We spoke for sometime until they all felt sleepy and hung up. 

I shared Devi's number with her to which she replied with a thumbs up. She said there might be a chance that she might come to India next month. Wait what was I about to do? Yeah! Cook! I got up from the couch again and walked to the kitchen. I had almost every groceries to cook but I am confused. Should I try something continental? I took out my phone and searched in youtube for ideas. I wasn't satisfied with any of the results. Suddenly I got an idea. I can bake the birthday cake instead of buying one. That will make her feel special. I will make the dinner later. I will bake the cake now. I checked if there were all the ingredients to bake the cake. Luckily, I had everything except for few for which I had alternative ingredients. 

When I was mixing the batter, I heard the doorbill ringing. 

Confused, I walked to the door and opened it with a frown. 

"Surpriseeeee" I saw Rakesh, Pragan, Sarath and Garki in the doorstep. 

(I hope you guys remember who they are, if not they are jay and devi's family friends) 

Shocked would be an understatement seeing them here. Its the first time they are coming to my house and I wasn't expecting them at all. 

"Devi.. devi" Pragan pushed me aside and walked inside my house yelling for her followed by the others with bags and presents in their hand. Garki had a college bag which she threw on the couch and ran to the kitchen. 

I shook my head and rubbed my eyes to make sure that I wasn't hallucinating or anything. I closed the door and went behind them. 

"Macha Devi enga da?" Rakesh asked walking out of my bedroom. 

(Where is devi buddy?)

"Dei inga enna da pandreenga?"

(What are you guys doing here?) 

Pragan removed the sunglasses he was wearing dramatically to my question. I sighed. 

"Partner" Sarath walked to me "Enakum Rakesh kum oru business meeting iruku nalanaik. Innaik kalaila thaa chennai vanthom"  

(Rakesh and I have a business meeting the day after tomorrow. We arrived chennai this morning) 

"Flight la" Pragan said. 

"Ivan vettiya thane irukaan nu ivanayum kootit vanthom" Rakesh said pointing Pragan who glared at him. 

(We brought him along as he was just lounging around)

"Nalaik sunday thane.. so nalaik vanthu unna paathut.. nalanaik meeting attend pannit kelambalam nu nenachom"  Sarath said. 

(As it is Sunday tomorrow, we thought we would visit you tomorrow, attend the meeting day after tomorrow and leave)

"Aana kalaila unnoda whatsapp status pathapo thaa theriyuth innaik chitti ku birthday nu" Pragan said "athaan innaike inga vanthurlam nu un appa kitta unnoda address ketom avuru thaa sonnaru unak innaik office illa nu"

(But morning when I saw your WhatsApp status, I realized that today is chitti's birthday. That's why we decided to come here today. I asked your dad for your address, and he told us that you don't have work today)

I saw Garki coming out of the kitchen with a plate of rice, fish fry and sambar that I cooked this morning for Devi. She sat on the dining table and started eating like she havent seen food for weeks. I grimaced at it. 

"Ivala enga da pudichinga?" I asked them. 

(Where did you guys find her)

"Athuva Chennai ku varom nu therinj ivaloda appa enga kitta ivaluk kuduka solli sila thinngs kuduthu vitaanga.. atha kuduka Sathyabama college ponom" Rakesh said "Ivalum hostel la vettiya thaa irunthurpa pola.. enga na poringa nu keta.. jay veetuk porom nu sonom odane naanum varen nu bag oda kelambita" 

(When we said we were coming to Chennai, her dad asked us to give her some things and handed them over to us. To deliver them, we went to Sathyabama College. She must've been idle in the hostel anyway. When she asked where we were going, we said we were going to Jay's house. Immediately, she said, 'I'm coming too!' and left with her bag)

I sighed shaking my head with a smile on my lips. 

"Anney Devi akka samayal super.." Garki said "aaha veetu saapadu saptu evlo naal aachu" she shook her head.

(Brother, Devi akka's cooking is amazing, Ah, it's been so long since I had homemade food) 

"Hello athu naa samachath" I said.

(Excuse me, I cooked it) 

Garki made an O face. 

"Seri devi enga da?" Sarath asked. 

(Hey where is Devi?)

"School poyirka da" I said. 

(She is at school)

"Chaa" They said in unison.

(A sigh in disappoinment) 

"Hey namma ethavuth surprise panlama?" Rakesh said.

(Shall we plan some kind of surprise?)

"Candle light dinner plan pannen aana neenga vanthu athayum keduthutinga" 

(I planned a candlelight dinner, but you all came and ruined it) 

"Ayya athellam unnoda wedding anniversary ku panniko.. ithu birthday.. party thaa veikanum" Pragan said. 

(Oh no, save all of that for your wedding anniversary! This is a birthday, there should be a party)

"Aama" the others said.

(Yes) 

I suddenly remembered that I was actually mixing the batter for the cake. I walked to the kitchen while the others followed me. 

"Cake pandreengala?" Garki asked seeing the batter. 

(Are you making a cake?)

I nodded. "Saptingala da" I asked them. 

(Did you guys eat?) 

"Saptom da" Pragan who was sniffing the olive oil bottle from the refrigerator said. 

(Yeah we did)

Garki helped me with the batter and finally we kept it inside the oven and set the temperature accordingly. I came back to hall to see no one. I heard some noise from the other room that used to be my bedroom. I looked at Garki who shrugged at me. I opened the door and saw Rakesh playing using my joystick and the other two fighting using a pillow. 

"Olunga antha joystick kudu adutha game nee velayidiko" Sarath said. 

(Give the joystick to me, you can play the next game) 

"Haa nee adutha game velayadu.. naa ethuk tharanum" Pragan argued. 

(Why cant you play the next game? why should I give you?) 

I sighed. These people were not even in my plan, they came out of nowhere and are being a pain in my ass. I rubbed my temple. Garki went over to stop them and now the three of them are fighting. I looked at Rakesh who was playing unbothered of the drama happening here showing all the teeth. 

"Dei niruthunga da dei" I shouted at them.

(Hey, stop it, hey) 

"Partner neeye kelu..avan already oru game velaaditaan ipo enak thara sollu"

(Partner, listen. He has already played one game, now tell him to give me that) 

"Aana athula naa jeyichiten maapla jeyichavanga thaa next game aadanum"

(But I won in that game, buddy. The winner should play the next game)

"Nee enak kudutha thane da naa jeyikka mudiyum.. " 

(Only if you give me that, I can win) 

"Athuk naa thokkanum la" 

(For that, I should lose) 

"Mch...kudunga da atha" I pulled the joystick from Pragan. "Naa inga enna tension la iruken neenga vera yen da enna ipdi saavadikuringa?" 

"Podu podu" Rakesh said beating the wrestler. 

I yanked the Joystick from him "Inum 3 maasathula oru pullaik appa aaga pora konjam aachum poruppu irukka unak?" 

(In just three months, you're going to become a father. Don't you feel any sense of responsibility?)

He just blinked at me. 

"Okay okay ellarum niruthunga" Garki stepped forward "Innaik Devi ka birthday.. namma elaarum ethavuth surprise pannanum"

(Okay okay stop you guys.. It's Devi akka's birthday today.. we should surprise her)

"Naan vanthathe avaluk oru surprise aah thaa irukum" Pragan said leaning on to the ironing table.

(My very arrival will be a surprise for her)

I sighed. 

"Illa athu oru kandravi surprise ney.. namma konjam better ah super ah oru surprise panlam" Garki said in a serious tone and rushed out of the room. 

(That would be a lame surprise, bro. Let’s plan a better and more awesome surprise)

I snickered while he glared at me. 

Garki walked in with her laptop and sat on the bed searching for surprise ideas. 

I sat on the bean bag. "Devi ku veliya porathu pudikathu, people iruntha pudikathu, romba aadambarama iruntha pudikathu, expensive gifts pudikathu, flowers pudikathu, chocolate cake pudikathu" I listed looking at the ceiling. 

(Devi doesn't like going out, doesn't like people around, doesn't like too much show-off, doesn't like expensive gifts, doesn't like flowers, doesn't like chocolate cake)

"Macha avaluk enna pudikum nu list podrath thaan easy nu nenaikren" Rakesh said. 

(Bro, I think making a list of what she likes would be easy)

I shook my head. 

Garki closed her laptop disappointed "ethume velaik aagathu" 

(Nothing works) 

"Last year enna da panninga?" Sarath asked. 

(What did you do last year?)

I choked on air. "Dha bha dha.. athu... athu vanthu" I started stammering not knowing what to tell them. 

(stammering) 

"Anna thaa bangalore poyitarey" Garki said casually and I frowned. 

(Bro went to Bangalore)

Garki noticed us staring at her waiting for her to explain what she just said. 

"Athaan anney nee pona varsham akka birthday ku etho meeting nu bangalore ponath nala kochukitu pesama thane irunthinga oru vaaram? thaatha oda death ku varumbothu kooda rend perum pesikave illaye.. shobha aunty thaan sonnanga" 

(Bro don't you remember? last year you went to Bangalore for some meeting on Akka's birthday, then you guys got upset with each other and didn't speak for a whole week, right? Even when you came for Grandpa's death, neither of you spoke. It was Shobha aunty who told me)

Even I have no idea about this but I figure that's how Sreedevi might have decieved her mom when she enquired why we didn't talk to each other. 

I just stared the ceiling trying to bring up with some ideas. 

"Anneyyyy" Garki called me "Unga kitta devi akka oda candid videos antha maari ethavuth irukum la... athellaam anupunga naa super ah oru video edit pandren.. athu tv la potu surprise panlaam" 

(Broo, You must have some candid videos of Devi akka, right? Send those, and I'll edit a super video. We can surprise her by putting it on TV)

Rakesh, Sarath and Pragan were not visibly impressed with the idea but I liked that idea. Devi might love it. As I said, Devi doesn't like expensive gifts, she wants everything simple. She is someone who appreciates efforts than gifts but also she doesn't have any expectation. A video edit might be normal for everyone but I know how much it might mean to Devi.    

"Apro ath eduth whatsapp status podava?" Rakesh said sarcastically. 

(And what? should we take that and put it as WhatsApp status)

"Hello ithu onum 30 secs video illa anna kitta neraya clips iruntha 5 mins video kooda panlam.. athuk intro video kooda plan panni ipove shoot panlaam" she said. 

(Hello, this is not just a 30-second video. If we have enough clips, we can make a 5-minute video. We can even plan an intro video and shoot it right now)

That is when I realized something. I dont have any video clips of her. Its been only a month since we started dating and I only have some selfies we took and most of them are inappropriate. 

Shit! Shit! Shit!  

Wait a minute!! I smirked. 

"Maapla neraya clips irukka da unkitta?" 

(Buddy do you have a lot of clips?) 

"Clips irukku" I said, leaning back to the bean bag, 

(I have the clips)

"Aana athu ipo ullath illa" 

(but those are not recent)

-

Continued in part 2 which I will be updating by tonight❤️

Tell me how this one was.