Holiday One Shots

2021

December 31st, 2020
11:30pm

Both Ramya and Aadhi were watching the New York Ball drop on TV.

"Rendu varusham." Ramya says softly. (Two years.)

"Nambuvae mudiyala." (Can't believe it)

"Namaluku kalyanam aanuthae periya vishayam." (It's a big thing that we even got married.)

Due to the pandemic, they couldn't hold a grand ceremony as their parents wished. Luckily Ramya and her parents were already in India before the lockdowns were implemented. Since both of them wanted to get married in a simple manner, a small ceremony consisting of only their immediate families was held.

"First time unnaiya paathathu innum nyabagam irukku." Aadhi reminisces. (I can still remember the first time I met you.)

"Smart ah white color shirt."

"Beautiful silver dress."

"Kaluthu suthi loose ah red color tie." (Loose red tie around your neck)

"Kaathuku simple ah hoop earring."

"Suppose aniki meet pannala na, intha kalyanuthuku ok sollirupoma?" (If we hadn't met that day, would we have said ok for this marriage?)

"Theriyaathu, but naa ok sonnathuku kaaranam antha first meeting than." (I dont know, but the reason I said yes was the first meeting.)

"Are you happy?"

"Beyond bounds."

"Even after all this?"

"Kandipa" (Of course)

"Sorry."

"Ethuku?" (Why?)

"Nee busy ah irukum pothu disturb panniruka koodaathu. Un work situation naa purinjukanum. Atha vittutu un kitta theiva illaama sandai poten." (I shouldn't have disturbed you when you were busy. I should have understood your work situation. Instead I picked fights for no reason with you.)

"Naanum than. Nee already unga mama eruntha sogathula irunthen. Unnaku support kodukaama kashtam paduthiten." (Me too. You were already sad from loosing your uncle. Instead of being your support, I gave you trouble.)

"Kalyanam lam easy illa la? Munna lam maximum 3 hrs per day sernthu irupom. Messages, calls pannuvom. Nalla understanding irukku, sandai lam poda maatom nu ninachen." (Marriage isn't easy is it? Before we used to spend maximum 3 hours per day together. On top of that messages and calls. I thought we have a good understanding and won't fight. )

"Enga amma appa maathiri than nambalum irupom nu ninachen. But ippo than theriyuthu, avanga intha level varuthuku munnadi, neraya challenges, arguments lam cross pannitu than vanthurukaanga." (I thought we would be like my parents. But now I know that to reach this level, they crossed many challenges and arguements.)

"Normal ah life iruntha, namma office povom. Sometimes office pona, vellaila sandai lam maranthu pogum. But ipo 24/7 oruthar moonji innoruthar paakum bothu, sandai perusa than aaguthu." (If all was normal, we would go to office. From work tension, sometimes we would forget the fights. But now looking at each other's face 24/7, the fights just get bigger.)

"Prechana solve pannama, sandai mattum potom." (Instead of solving mg the problems, we just fought.)

"Aadhi, irritating ah illaama unkitta innum understanding ah irupen. Sorry da. 🥺" (Aadhi, instead of being irritating, I will more understanding. Sorry.)

"Nee irritating lam illa. Un kitta pudichuthae antha akkarai than. Naa than sorry sollanum. 😞" (You're not irritating. The thing I like most about you is your care. I'm the one who should say sorry.)

"Intha divorce lam veenam da. Innime apidi lam pesa veenam." (Let's not get divorced.  Let's never talk like that again.)

"Already paper ah kilichu potaachu. Innime life la evlo prechanai vanthaalum, sernthu solve pannuvom." (I already tore it up. From now on, whatever problems we face, we face together. )

The crowd on TV starts to countdown.

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"Happy New Year pursha."

"Happy New Year pondati."

They wish each other with a hug.

"Namma rendu perum next year um ippadi thaniya New Year celebrate panna nalla irukum. 😔" (It would be nice if we could celebrate next New Year along together like this.)

"Yen? Kandipa celebrate pannalam." (Why not? We can definitely celebrate like this again.)

"Eppadi panna mudiyum. Namma kolundhai yum kooda." (How can we. Our child will be with us.)

"Iruntha... Wait what? Unmaiyava.😲" (Then... wait what? Really?)

Ramya nods shyly, covering her face with her hands.

Aadhi shouts in joy and picks up Ramya like a princess.

"I LOVE YOU DI!" He tells her kissing her cheek.

2020 became a year that no one will forget. The personal pain of losing loved ones. The protests. The lockdown. It became the year that made us realize to be grateful for what we have and to stand up for what is right. If we learn the lessons from this year, we can shape 2021 to bring us light.

-J Rufina