The Lion and the Rose

Chapter 10: Siva

I look at the mirror and adjust my hair when my mother knocks on the door and enters my bedroom. She asked me if I should go to the office today itself, "Inaike office poganum, Kutty ma?"

"Ama ma, enakku onnum illa nan ipo naala thaan feel pandren apuram neriya velai iruku," I tell her that I'm feeling good and I should go to the office as I have lots of work.

She shakes her head in denial and asks me to join for breakfast. I join my family for breakfast after almost a week and I leave for the office with Samarth. Gratefully, I was the only one in my family and office who was affected.

Thinking of the office, a particular person's face comes to mind, Ashwika. The car passes by the bus stop on the opposite side from where everything was started. In this very same car she was lying on my lap. I closed my eyes and leaned back on the head rest.

Seven months back, I was back home for a couple days to attend an Automobile Industrial Federation conference. The conference had me hooked up so I skipped going to the office those days.

The last day of the conference and the day before the national lockdown for the pandemic, I met her for the first time when I was returning home from the conference. By evening, Samarth and I were planning to leave for Coimbatore, so that we could reach before the curfew started.

When we were about to cross the bus stop, the car stopped suddenly as the fuel drained up and Samarth forgot to refill the tank.

I scolded him, "En da pagal pathiyam fuel seriya check panna matiya?"

"Sorry partner, thou pakathula thaan petrol bunk uh, nan ipo poi vangitu vanthuduren" Gratefully the car stopped from where the petrol bunk is situated within a ten minutes walking distance.

I got out of the car to stand outside. The summer was starting and it was mid afternoon, but the neem tree near the bus stop provided a cool breeze. I leaned against my car and checked my phone for any mail.