Ajay

The last thing I wanted was to deal with a person in death bed.

Why would something like this happen to me every single time? I dont know whom to blame. Radha paati or the fate? Since the day we kissed, I have been waiting for this day, and when it finally came, fate played over it. I banged on the steering wheel driving towards Apollo Hospital.

I am upset about missing our first night but more than that I am worried of Sreedevi who might have expected and got disappointed. My parents are also on their way and I have no idea when they are gonna leave. I hope radha paati would survive.

It would be hard for mom. I have heard that mom was closer to radha paati as her own mother died when she was very young and it was radha paati who brought her up. I picked up my phone and searched for Renjini chithi's (her daughter) number. She picked up in a few rings. Her voice was hoarse. I asked her at which block she was admitted.

Parking the car in the lot, I walked to the block. Renjini chithi was sitting there wiping her tears while her husband sat beside her comforting her. As soon as they saw me, her husband came forward and held my hands. He explained to me how critical her condition was. There was only very less minute chance for her to survive.

I waited there with them outside the ICU. I called Sreedevi but she didn't pick up the call. She might have fell asleep. I leaned back to the seat and closed my eyes. I didn't realize I fell asleep until somebody shook my shoulders to wake me up. I woke up in a jerk and saw my mother sitting beside me along with chithi and crying. She informed me that paati has passed away. I saw my dad and chithappa talking to the doctor, maybe about the formalities. I assume chithappa might have picked them from railway station. I checked the time, it was 5:45 am already. I was hell tired I guess, I slept really long. I hugged my mom and comforted her. Once she calmed a little, I walked to dad. He patted my shoulders and moved to my mom.

"Ajay nee appa amma va kootit veetuk po.. En thambi ipo varuvaan naa paathukuren" Chithappa said.

"Illa chithappa athu..." I hesitated.

"Naa pathukren ajay.. Anni romba tired ah irukanga.. Poyi rest edukatum"

He was right. Mom and dad were tired. I should take them home.

"Chithappa what about the formalities?"

"Naa pathukren.. I'll let you know ajay.. Relatives ku ellam inform pannanum.. I'll take care about it.. You carry on.. Naa call pandren unak" he said.

"Okay chithappa" I said and walked to my parents. Mom has stopped crying now but dad was rubbing her arms and consoling her.

"Appa veetuk polaama?" I asked my dad.

Mom looked up at me and then Renjini chithi.

"Poyit rest edunga ka... Tired ah iruppinga" Chithi said.

My mom nodded and they stood up. I told chithi to take care and walked down the block along with my parents. It was almost 6:30 in the morning. My apartment was far away from the hospital. It took more than an hour to reach home. I was getting late for office also. I rang the calling bell. Sreedevi opened the door a min later. She just woke up.

"Vaanga aunty.. Vaanga uncle" she immediately welcomed my parents.

Mom patted her cheeks smiling weakly. She smiled back. Dad touched her head. Mom sat on the couch while dad pulled the luggage inside. My mom looked around the house. Its been one and a half year since they came here.

"Appa antha room la vachurunga" I said pointing the guest room. He nodded and dragged the luggages to that room. I walked to our bedroom and devi followed me.

"Paati ku epdi irukku jay?" Devi asked.

"Eranthutanga di" I said in a low voice keeping the keys and phone on the table.

"Ayyoo" her face changed feeling pity.

"Konjo coffee matum podriya di.. Naa poyi brush pannit varen" I said to which she nodded and left the room.

I brushed my teeth and washed my face. Its 8 am already. I should rush to office but I wanted to drink coffee first. Chithappa called, he said chithi has went home with their son. The body would be brought home by evening. He also requested if i could send mom to their house to accompany chithi. I walked to the hall. Dad and mom were drinking coffee.

"Devi.." I walked to the kitchen.

"Hmm?" She hummed pouring the coffee to the cup.

"Naa cab book panni tharen.. Nee appa amma kootit anga poriya?"

"Yen? Nee enga pora?" She questioned me back.

"Naa office poren devi" I picked the mug.

"Seriously jay?" She asked turning to me dramatically.

"What?"

"Jay paati eranthukranga jay.. Nee enna na office pora nu solra? Leave edu"

"Leave lam kuduka matanga devi..nethu kooda kudukala" I said.

"Athu un birthday ku keta jay nee.. Ithu emergency la.. Ithula enna irukku?"

"Ama nethu thaa keten.. Ipo thirumbavum poyi keta avunga epdi nambuvanga?"

"Athukunu? Death certificate ah kaata mudiyum? Konjo logic ah pesu jay"

"Hey naa enna di logic illama pesren? Avan kitta poyi leave keta avan enna thaa asingama kepaan.. Unak enna theriya poguthu?" 

"Ajay oorla yaarume emergency leave kekrath illaya?" She raised her voice a little getting irritated.

"Ipo ethuk kathura?" I raised my voice too.

"Naa enga kathuren? Ipo nee thaa kathura"

"Ipo unak enna prechana?" I kept the mug down.

"Enak anga yaarayume theriyathu ajay.. Neeyum vantha thaa correct ah irukum" she said.

"Naa unna thaniya poga sollalaye devi.. Appa amma varaanga.. Unna thonaik poga sonnen" I said a little calmly.

"Irunthalum un paati jay.. Innaik leave edutha thaa enna unak? Apdi enna adam unak office ponuk nu??" 

"Hey sonna purinjika matiya???" I raised my voice "Summa summa leave keka mudiyathu dii.. Unak poga pudikalana athu sollu devi" I walked out of the kitchen.

My parents were looking at me.

"Poga pudikala nu naa sonnena unkitta?" She walked out of the kitchen.

"Pinna enna di prechana unak?" I shouted.

"Intha kathura vela ellam enkitta vachukatha Ajay" she shouted at me.

"Devi devi enna ma prechana? Yen sanda podringa?" Dad asked her.

"Appa onum illa pa... Chithi veetuk poga sonna keka matingra" I said.

"What?? Naa epo poga maten nu sonnen??? Unnayum kooda vara thane sonnen? Ipo enna maathi pesit irukka??????" She shouted again.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Nee thane anga yaarayume therila nu sonna?"

"Naa varamaten nu sonnena? Unnayum kooda vaa nu thane sonnen? And oru paati eranthukranga ethuk office poyit irukka nu thane keten???"

"Office poriya jay?" Amma asked.

I sighed "aama"

"Yen da??" Dad asked.

"Appa nalaik thane body edukranga? So nalaik leave kekalam nu yosichen pa.." I said.

"Ithu nee enkitta sonniya jay???" She asked me.

"Nee enga di enna solla vitta?"

"Enak purila nee enak enna prechana nu thaa ketut iruntha jay.. Nee yen leave poda matingra nu nee enga sonna??" She shouted again.

"Devi konjam porumaya pesu ma" My mom said.

Devi moved her angry gaze from my face and looked at my mom "Aunty naa porumaya thaa aunty pesit irunthen.. Ivuru thaa katha arambicharu"

"Unkitta sanda potut irukka enak time illa Devi... Naa poyi kelambren" I walked to my room and angrily shut the door.

"Ennamo pannu" I heard her voice.

I walked to the restroom and quickly bathed. How can she shout at me like that? Why is she so adamant that I should take leave? Why cant she just go with my parents? I was so mad at her. I wrapped a towel around my waist and stepped out of the restroom. I started pulling out my ironed shirt and pant from the table angrily and got dressed up. I walked out and saw my dad and mom eating breakfast and sreedevi serving them.

"Devi? En belt enga?"

She didn't even look at my face but walked back inside the kitchen. My parents looked at each other. I sighed controlling myself.

"Devi unna thaan.. En belt enga?"

She walked out of the kitchen with a dosa and served it to my dad. "Innonu venuma uncle?"

"Devi naa unkitta thaa ketut iruken" I walked a little closer to her.

"Enak theriyathu" she said in a cold tone and walked inside.

"Un things ellam enga irukku nu unake theriyatha jay? Athu yen da ellarum intha pontati-galaye thaanguringa??" My mom asked.

I stomped my foot angrily and went to the other room. I found my belt there. I immediately put it on. I buttoned my cuffs and put my watch. I inserted my mobile in my pocket and sat on the couch to put my shoes.

"Appa neenga rest eduthut poga ready aagumbothu sollunga.. Naa cab book pandren.. Ava vara na kootit ponga illa na vitrunga" I said.

Devi shook her head and sighed as she ate.

I walked to the door picking up my office bag.

"Sapdalaya da?" Mom asked.

I looked at Devi who was looking at me with a cold face. I looked back at my mom and shook my head before walking out. I didn't know why but I am angry at every people today. I would have atleast cursed 30 people all the way to office. It was an unnecessary fight we had today. I guess it was the very first time we fought like this. She was right I should have took a leave as my granny is dead but to be honest I didn't want to. I wanted to go to office today. I was kinda mad at that paati too for her wrong timing. I just didn't know how to make her understand and ended up having a fight with her. 

I couldn't concentrate on the work. My mind kept going back to her angry face. She was cute though. I took my phone and opened her chat, she was online. I thought of sending her a text but I stopped myself. I clicked on her profile picture and a smile appeared on my face. She was cute. It was an old picture of her with her hand on her chin staring at the camera, warm light hitting her face, wearing a sleeveless top. Her straight hair was left free. She had a black thread on her wrist and a beautiful smile. She looked beautiful. I zoomed in to her button nose and chuckled. Her eyes were round and big. 

"Muttakanni" I whispered and chuckled.

"Pontati ah sight adichit irukama velaya paarunga Mr Team leader" I heard Sneha's voice from behind.

I turned back to glare her. She grinned at me holding a chips packet in her hand.

"Ungaloda intha vela" I actioned like eating "mudinjiruch na.. Neengalum poyi unga velaya paarunga" 

"Paarrah chitti pesuthu" she said walking to her chair.

I shook my head and looked back at my phone. I should apologize for shouting at her.

I opened her chat again. She was still online.

Me : Sorry devi

She saw the message almost immediately and started typing.

Sreedevi : For what???

Me : I shouldn't have shouted at you like that.

Sreedevi : I don't understand what wrong I did Ajay. Leave podu nu sonnath oru kuthama?

I closed my eyes defeated. I feel bad for making her feel like that.

Me : illa ma.. Its not your fault. Naa thaa etho kovathula unkitta apdi pesiten.. Im sorry devi ma.

Sreedevi : illa ajay naa onume solla porath illa inime..leave edu edukatha un ishtam.

Me : apdilam sollatha devi.. Nee sollama vera yaar solluva? Im sorry devi. Nethe leave ketu kudukala and innaik leave kekrath unnecessary.

Sreedevi : atleast nalaik thaa body edukranga nu sollirkalam la?

Me : Im sorry ma.. Mannichidu kannu

Sreedevi : poda

Then she went offline.

Me : seri naa unna nerla vanthu samadhanam pandren.

She didn't see that message. I kept my phone aside and started working. I was much relieved now and I could concentrate now.

My dad called me and said that they were ready to go. I called chithappa and asked for the address and booked a cab for them. I sent the details about the driver and address to Devi.

Sreedevi : enak thaa poga pudikala la? Apro ethuk enak anupra?

I chuckled at that message. How can someone be this cute? She was shouting and made me angry in the morning and now I can only laugh at her cuteness.

God make it easy for me to patch up.

-

Hey guys,

How was the chapter?