Oh, Be My Dawn, Sweet Heart! (Only Sample)

4. Ugh, Not Him, Please!

Imayas PoV

After so many thoughts and a sleepless night, I decided to heed to Gayathris advice. I switched on the table lamp near my bed and took the bunch of papers she gave me. Hmph, I really love giving oil massages to people who come to me for muscle pull and cramps. I happen to feel the problem when I touch the place where they experience pain. I surf online and gather information from ammachi and other old ladies in the village on home made remedies for such ailments. Many of us happen to know many home remedies for the common sickness we get but we would never take the pain to work it out rather we would go to doctors straight. I, on the other hand, love preparing the remedies for people who ask me. I have been doing it for the past year after finishing my 12th standard. Ofcourse, the main reason for doing this is I have so much time on my hands.

Diploma in physiotherapy! An added knowledge to what I already do is for sure beneficial. It also offers evening college option and just three days of college. I can do all of my regular work from morning and can go to college after 3.00pm. Nothing would change and since everyone in the village already knows that I am good at what I do, people would really give me money for the remedies if I have a degree in the same. Gayathri is definitely a brilliant girl!

I could not wait until morning to tell appuchi and ammachi about this decision that I have made. I read the pamphlets she gave me more than ten times and by hearted the details of the course so that I can tell appuchi without any hiccups. That way, appuchi would be more confident to let me pursue what I like. I switched the alarm off even before it rang and went out with the papers. I went straight to the restroom and took a bath, draped an ink blue half-saree with red blouse and skirt. I took a long bath today as I was dreaming of going to college. I ran out of the restroom hearing the bell of Muthu anna.

"Sorry anna, got a bit late." I ran out with the vessel to get milk. I also gave him the money for last months milk.

"Its ok, ma. Thanks for the money." He told me and moved his bicycle to the next home.

I went into the home to see ammachi and appuchi come out of their room. Muthu annas bell must have woken them up. A feeling of guilt surged through my veins as I walked past them to the kitchen.

"Sorry ammachi, got a bit late today."

"Its ok, Imai." Ammachi told me and walked to the backyard.

"The fenugreek paste did the trick, Imai. The cramps were much better last night." Appuchi said as he walked to his easy chair.

"I will bring you tea, appuchi." I said with a smile and went to the kitchen.

"Appuchi, tea." I gave him the tea cup and sat on the floor near his feet.

"Enna da? (Whats up?)" He asked me, caressing my head.

"Appuchi, I would like to go to college. Gayathri came yesterday with something that would interest me. She told me about a course called Diploma in Physiotherapy." I told him everything that I read from the pamphlet like where the college is, what is the timing, what the course is all about, how long the course is, how much it costs and also about the bus.

"I am so happy that finally you found what interests you. It really makes me happy, Imai. But don't be hasty, let me talk to Ravindar and Indar. They will have good intel on the college and the course." Appuchi said that it made me feel like a poke on my balloon.

"But, Appuchi."

"No buts, Imaiya. It is a big thing in your life. We would like to know if we are doing the right thing." Ammachi came in making her hair into a bun after her fresh bath.

"Huh, ok!" I told them and went into the kitchen to bring tea for ammachi. But all the while my heart was screaming Ugh, not him, please!

I heard appuchi talk to Ravi mama about this. I don't know what Ravi mama told but I never heard appuchi say HIS name, which means I don't have to fear him after all. I went to the front porch with a broom and a bucket of water to do my work that I missed doing in the early morning. I washed the floor with water and broomed it. I pulled my skirt up, plugged in my waist and started drawing a rangoli that I saw on my phone. Hmph, I have so many talents that include this one too! I walked a little backwards after finishing my rangoli to admire its full beauty.