Holiday One Shots

2019

December 31st, 2018
11:30pm

The club was alive with excitement. The last year of the decade. Alcohol and music led them intoxicated to 2019. Yet amidst all the laughter, was one girl sitting alone at the club. She was wearing a silver sweater dress, with a black overcoat, and adorned simply with a thin silver necklace and big silver hoop earrings.

It wasn't the girl's beauty that caught his attention, but the disappointment in her eyes. What could have happened? It took him 5 minutes to gain courage to near her and start talking.

"Hey."

The girl looks at him surprised.

"Oh hi."

"What happened? How come you are alone?"

"I actually I came with my friends. They are DD'ing."

"DD'ing?"

"Dancing and Drinking."

"Ahhh... the utter intoxication."

"Hahaha I suppose."

"So why aren't you with them?"

"Clubs are not usually my scene. What about you? How come your here instead of over there DD'ing?"

"You're tamil right?"

"Aama." (Yes)

"Ok flirt panra ninaikaathinga, but azhuga oru ponnu New Years anniki thanniya iruka, yen nu keka vanthen." (Ok dont think I'm flirting, but I was curious why a beautiful girl was sitting alone on New Years, so I came to ask.)

"Kavala paadaathinga. Flirt panringa nu ninaikala, flirt than panringa nu theriyuthu.🤣🤣" (Don't worry. I don't think you are flirting, I know you are.)

"Aiyo avlo obvious ah iruka? 🤭" (Is it that obvious?)

"Hmmm"

"Seri sollunga. Clubs na pudikaathu, but vanthurukinga. Yen?" (Ok tell me. You don't like clubs, but you came. Why?)

"25 years la first time parents illaama New Years kondaada poren. Romba aasai paaten, intha varushamum avanga kooda irukanum nu, but ticket kidakala. New Years anniki thaniya iruka koodathu, poi friends oda celebrate pannu nu sonnaanga." (In 25 years, this is the first time I'm celebrating without my parents on New Years. I wanted to be with them this year, but I couldn't get tickets. My parents told me not to celebrate alone and be with my friends.)

"So intha varusham poga mudiyala?" (So you couldn't go this year?)

"Christmas ku poiten, but return date la than problem. Onnu 28th eh thirupi varanum, illa Jan 10th. Leave, work from home la mudiyaathu solliten avlo naaluku, so valli illaama vanthaachu." (I went for Christmas, but had issues with the return date. I could either come back on the 28th or Jan 10th. They told me I can't take any leave or work from home for that many days, so I had to come.)

"Unga veetla New Years ku enna special?" (What do you guys do for New Years?)

"Perusa onnum illa... TV la countdown paathu, pray pannitu thoongiduvom. New Years anniki enna senjaalum year full ah seivom ah, athu naala amma neraya velai kodupaanga. Athu mattum illaama full veg than. But for sure koyil povom." (Nothing much... We just watch the countdown on TV, pray, then sleep. Apparently whatever you do on New Year's you do everyday so my mom makes us do lots of chores. Not only that we get only vegetarian. But for sure we go to church.)

"Ivlo torture ah! 😨" (That much torture!)

"Hmmm 😓"

"But atha miss pannura la?" (But you miss it don't you?)

"Athu unmai than. Seri what about you? Ithu than un normal New Year celebration ah?" (That's true. What about you? Is this your usual New Year celebration?)

"Sometimes. College ku than California vanthen. Visa issues naala India ku easy ah poga mudiyaathu. So poga mudiyaathu na morning eh avanga time ku video call panni wish panniyaathhu. Evening friends kuda party." (Sometimes. I came to California for college. Because of Visa issues I couldn't go to India easily. So if I can't go, on the morning I will video call them on their time to wish them. Party in the evening with friends.)

"Intha varusham athu than naanu pannen. Two hours munnadi eh call panni wish paniyaachu. Ippo party." (I did the same this year. Just called my parents two hours ago to wish them. Now party.)

"Family inga US settled ah?" (Your family settled in US?)

"Aama Texas la." (Yup in Texas.)

"So kandipa greencard illa citizenship irukkum ungaluku?" (So you must have green card or citizenship?)

"Athuku enna ippo? 🤨" (Why are you asking?)

"Chumma GK ku. 😅" (Just for GK)

"Ahaan. Time ippo 11:55. Poi party pannala?" (Really. The time is now 11:55. Not gonna party?)

"Athu eppadi panna mudiyum. Oru azhagana ponnu new year ah sogama start pannuthu evlo periya thappu theriyuma? Apidiyae vitta intha society ennaiya enna ninaikum?" (How can I? You know what a sin it is to let a beautiful girl start the new year sad? If I let it be, what will the society think of me?)

"Don't worry. Ippo naa sogama vae illa 🤣🤣🤣" (Dont worry. I'm not sad now.)

"Apaada. Ungaluku intha sirippu than semma." (Thank god. Your smile is amazing.)

"Ungalukum than. Siricha semma cute ah irukkinga." (For you as well. You are cute when you smile.)

"Yenga cute lam sollathinga. Handsome, hot, sexy nu ethaachu sollunga." (Don't say I'm cute. Say something like handsome, hot, or sexy.)

"But ennaku cute than pudikumae. 🤔" (But I like cute.)

"Apidina cute ah vae irukuren.😔" (Then I will be cute.)

He pretends to pout, but then bursts out into laughter with her. Hearing the sound of her laughter, he gazes into her eyes in admiration. Feeling his eyes on her, she gazes back with a smile. In the background the music stops and the whole clubs starts counting down.

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"Happy 2019!"

"Happy New Year!"

They wish each other at the same time. Not knowing what else to say, she gets up.

"Seri I have to get my friends and go back home. Bye."

"Yenga, peru sollitu ponga?" (Hey, tell your name before you go?)

"365 days irukku. Athu kula thirupi meet panna kandipa per solluren. 😉" (You got 365 days. If we meet again, I'll you my name.)

"Meet panna solluvinga thaanae?" (If we meet you will tell me?)

"Kandipa en per ah solluven." (For sure I will tell you my name."