CHAPTER-17

KETU

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Mom wake us all by 4p.m. And now everyone of us were sitting in the hall waiting for my mom's coffee or tea.

Me-" papa why haven't you never mentioned that you are mr. Ram, chairman of ADZI groups?" He gave me a look of confusion

Papa-"you don't know?"

Me-" no papa. Only yesterday yash I came to know. I just thought you were someone rich and not this rich."

Yash-" when I said her, she said I am kidding papa!" And they both laughing

Me-" how am I supposed to know?"

Dad-"by reading something called newspaper"

Me-" who reads that mokka(bore)"

Papa-"ketu and yash, you both were occupied this weekend. Don't give appointments to anybody."

Me-" what appoinments do we have papa?"

Papa-" this weekends lunch and dinner are booked by my sisters. And breakfast in our house.

And there is a party to welcome you ketu and congratulate you ketu and yash on your marriage by bussiness people."

Yash-" what ?"

Papa-" yes. Get prepared and explain ketu. " both exchanged something in their eyes. Mom brought our coffes and snacks and we are having those.

Varun-" when do you plan on having your reception ketu?"

Me-" not this weekend and I want it to be in a Saturday night so all can come and take rest on next day. But, if we can't have then it's okay. What are the days available.?"

Dad-" Lakshmi, see the panchagam and say the available dates." Mom asked Nadan to take it and she was seeing the indian calendar panchagam.

Mom-"there is no dates available in weekend ketu. Feb 9, 10, 17, 24, 26. Or else march 2nd Sunday."

Yash-" hmm. I have a meeting on February 24, 26. But, I can manage."feb 17 is Wednesday. Can all my friends can be able to come? My friends have also not been there for me in my marriage. I thought I can have them in the reception at least? Would they come on Wednesday. Ninth and ten is not feasible as this is this weekend.

Varun-" don't worry as the reception is going to take place here. I hope all your friends will come. " he is right, but my school friends? Hope for the best ketu.. They will come

Me-" fine. feb 17th " everyone cheered

Mom-" listen carefully as we are right now ten in number with two bathrooms. Sevens gens go get ready in an hour we won't disturb you and we except the same from u all. Help each other and we ladies want you all to get out of the house by 6p.m sharp"

Sesh-" why do we need to get ready first and not u ladies?"

Mom-" because we need to prepare some dishes for dinner"

Jai-" why are you preparing dinner? We are going to the party right?"me, varun, Nadan, mom, dad laughed.

Mom-"it's not actually a grand party. It's a get together in our flats we have one for every few months or during festivals. Everyone will cook some of their best dishes and we all share and eat together."

Sesh-" what's are you going to prepare aunty?"

Mom-"chappathi and peace masala."

Varun -" what's your contribution ketu?"

Nadan-" As usual?" I nodded my head.

Jai-" what's her usual contribution?"

Varun-" kesari no one I know can beat her even her guru, my mother. And preparing juices, and other dessert and coming and commanding us in arrangements."

Papa-" yes. Kesari Prepared by her on her first day was really tasty and yummy."

Me-" thank you.."

Deepu-" can I prepare something too?"

Mom-" sure.. What's that u are planning to do?"

Deepu-"can I do payasam or cake jai?"

Jai-"whatever u feel like."

Me-" cake.."

Deepu-" okay.. "

Mom-" come on girls. Let's go and prepare." Mom and deepu went to start preparing.. I on the other hand still not finished my coffee.. While everyone completed theirs. It's not my fault, coffee was too hot back then still it's warm.

Yash-" when are you planning to finish your cup of coffee?"

Me-"in a minute or so"

Nadan-" Aaa minute or so..?"

Me-" yes..(sarcastically). Varun book for 6" varun saw me for a second and got the point.

Yash-" book for six?"

Varun-" I am booking for the sixth place to have bath."and now dad, Nadan got the information.

Nadan-" I am booking for the fifth place"

Dad-" I am booking for the fourth

Sesh-"But why are you guys booking?"

Me-"to get ready on time and not too early"

Sesh-" ohh.. Then I am booking for the. Third place."and yash was about to book for the second place and I pulled him towards me to say him to book lastly for the last place in the ear and to which he smiled at me.

Jai-" I am booking for the second place."

Papa-"then I am to the first place."

Yash-" then I book for the seventh place."

Varun-" what?"

Me-" you guys are seven in number stupid. I know you are weak in maths varun so I told six. As I thought you missed counting you and said six." I laughed and went to the kitchen before being attacked by them.

Varun-" heyyyyy.. Supporting your hubby .... And pulling your brothers leg... ?"

Me-" May be" I shouted.

Nadan-" we are from way back your brothers... He is just a new entry.. You helping him ketu.. Is not good?" I laughed

Me-"he is not my brother, brothers... to be a new entry brother."and I didn't listened to them later. As papa and jai went to have bath. Deepu called me to help her.

Except me everyone in the home got ready. Boys have went out and now arranging the terrace. We finished our dishes. Deepu and mom are decorating or icing the cake.

While I am getting ready here. I am now selecting the saree to wear. I saw yash getting out with a white jean and light blue shirt with a wet hair looking handsome in casuals. Now I am having a dilemma on what to wear.

Picked a simple periwinkle blue silk saree with silver border and a matching blouse. And wore the diamond set given by jai's mom as it has a blue diamond and it's simple and stylish. With the help of mom, I kept fleets. And dint put makeup. Just had powder, bindi and sindoor.

We locked the house. And took our dishes and went to the terrace. On the way other aunties to joined us. And everyone said I am looking gorgeous and I replied a thanks.

I entered the terrace. It was beautifully arranged. And I saw everyone were present. (Manoj, deepak, senthil, Bharath, Saran are my neighbourhood brothers. Along with them their parents, madhesh And my family)

Everyone greeted each other. Fathers made a group, mothers made a group, and we made a group. And we all started eating the foods. Its arranged in a buffet style.

Manoj-"ketu... Looking beautiful in saree."

Me-" thanks anna."

Senthil-" I was first shocked to see you in saree girl. I thought it is someone else."

Me-" really?"

Madhesh-" really... Even I was shocked. We have never seen you before in saree or anything other than a causal wear."

Me-"I am a new bride..."

Then everyone asked about my marriage and we showed them photos. And called everyone to the reception. And all the Anna's said ok that they will come without fail. And we all had some fun and now full.

YASH

~~~~

It was nice speaking with all. And them teasing each other. We all had fun.

Jai-" you have selected one gem. Take care of her well yash."

Me-" that's what I am worried.. Will I be able to take care well like this?"

Jai-" you will yash. I was even worried like you when I married deepu.. Will I take care like you all take care of her.. I thinking I am doing right?"

Me-"hum.."

Deepu-"jai come here a minute."deepu called jai and he went to help deepu to give everyone her cake. Jai is different he loves deepu and she loves him back. Both make each other happy. They are a cute couple and great couple. But me?. I am leaning against the wall. And in my own thoughts.. While everyone are eating deepu's cake and appreciating her. Ketu is enjoying the cake and a smile is creeping on her face. Will I give you forever this smile ketu.

Varun is trying to take a piece of cake from ketu. And she is hiding it from him. But Nadan took the cake from her. And passed to madhesh and she is running at their back to have hers back. A smile crept on my lips on its own.

Manoj-"smiling on seeing ketu?"

Me-"hmmm."

Manoj-"you know she is a gem. We love my brother madhesh too much. We accepted him as one in our family. We were close. But even I can't get him out of his depression when his family died. He left his funny mischievous ways and went to a silent mode. Then one night he was depressed and silent and came up here. I don't know what happened that day but from next day he started coming out of the shell and become to his normal ways. But I asked him later, he said me: it's because of ketu."

Me-" what? .. Sorry How?"

Manoj-" I was also shocked when I heard that. When we were children's we use to come in turns to water the plants. That day it was ketu's turn. When she was watering, she fall down loosing the balance on a water shallow due to rain. Her father came up that time to get her down. On seeing that ketu was crying. Her dad asked him on why she is crying. He said him what happened. He asked him why didn't he say her sister to keep watch with her steps. She said her father not to scold her brother as it was her mistake and carelessness and not his. And madhesh even hitted and scolded the land for giving me scratches." We laughed at her childishness

Me-"how is that made him change.?"

Manoj-" he thought that his family death is because of him. Because that day there was a fight between him nd her sister. So, he didn't went with them to buy her birthday dress. And asked them to get lost in anger. And he thought it was his mistake, I don't know what's the fight is about. When she said it was not his mistake, he was relived and calling him brother gave back his sister. He and his twin sister were too close. And he started seeing her sister in ketu. He then started taking care ketu now."

Me-" oh.."

Then Manoj went saying me to take care of her. And the dinner was over. After dinner all aunties started cleaning the area. Uncles helping aunties to take the items down to their house. And the boys said their byes and started to leave to bus stop. They used to walk to bus stop it seems. We joined them.

It was fun walking to the bus stop in during 11.00p.m the town is silent. All the shops were closed. Can see only one or two vehicles in the road. It took us 30 minutes to walk there.

Ketu said me they celebrated her b'day once in the middle of the bridge on the way one time when they were causally walking to the bus stop. Which was also may be the inauguration to the bridge because, it was a time a week before the real inauguration of the bridge.

We send them off and me, ketu, jai, deepu, sesh, varun, Nadan started returning back.