Avanum Ivalum Naduvule Nanum

Chapter 4

Two days before lockdown
On the other side of town

" Machan meesai, vecharuva, machini yellam-" Saritha let out a startled gasp as her eyes went wide and around.

She quickly wrapped her towel, covering her chest as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

" Yaaru Lalitha ithu ?" A man asked with a smirk as he looked at her from head to toe.

" Saritha," Lalitha said carelessly as she flipped the magazine.

" Yethu Savitha va ?" Another man said while the first one snickered.

Saritha pursed her lips while Lalitha cackled like a bloated hyena. Lalitha then stood up and gave Saritha a slightly apologetic look.

" Saru ma, yennale inthe apartment payment afford panna mudiyele, athan yennode boyfriend vanthu inimel inge stay panna poran," Lalitha said while Saritha furrowed her eyebrows.

" Yenna ka solringe ? Naanum pay panrene appo kude pathalaya ? Plus ithu company ode apartment nu sonninge so half payment ninge ?" Saritha asked Lalitha who swallowed her saliva.

" Saritha...company le, unake teriyumle ippo government vanthu yella office staff kitte konjam naliki work from home anthe mathiri order poduranganu ?" Lalitha said while the men looked curiously at both women.

" Ama ka teriyum but nethu thana manager yen kitte sonnaru, athulam yeneke thevai padure vishayam illenu ? " Saritha said with curious face.

Lalitha cleared her throat and gave a smile that caused Saritha's insides to feel chilly.

" Ama ama naa naliki unakaga poi manager kitteye pesren. Ana yennode boyfriend vanthu yenkude stay panna poran matum confirm...ithu vere one bedroom...Maybe company ode guest house le unake place kudukalam," Lalitha said causing Saritha to swallow her saliva.

' Sundeli yen sweater ode suthutu ? Seri ille...naliki pesame manager kitte namale pesikuvum,' Saritha's mind told her causing Saritha to nod her head and scurried into the bedroom.

While Lalitha and her guests laughed boisterously as loud music played in the living room, Saritha finished up her office work and sent it to the manager's email. She exhaled her breath when she received a reply, thanking her before asking her to email another quotation by midnight.

" Naa temp ah ille ava temp ah ne teriyele, parale parale inthe performance lam parthu velai permanent airum le," Saritha muttered under her breath.

Avala, avalai sonthama cheer up panikitu, marupadiyum innoru quotation right from the scratch arambicha. Thooka kalakatilum yetho ange inge bittu adichi, oru quotation ah ready panni email panta.

Saritha exhaled her breath and smiled when she received a thank you mail from her manager.

" Pesame ippeve keturuvoma ?" Saritha mumbled to herself.

She bite her fingernails and chewed her nails as she contemplated about sending an inquiry email about her job status.

The door opened and Lalitha stumbled inside with a hiccup. She gave a smile to Saritha who grimaced back. Lalitha leaned agaisnt the wall, with the door opened ajar.

" Innum pack panle ?" Lalitha asked with a hiccup and took a swig of her drink.

" Illeka, naliki manager kitte pesitu aprom yenna panla nu," Saritha said.

Lalitha's face scrunched up and she shook her head.

" Saritha yennode boyfriend avan things lam yedutu vanta. Avan friends lam ange thaan irrukanga...unnode things lam yedutu née naliki poitena avanga yellam arrange panrathuku help pannuvanga." Lalitha said while Saritha's face got paler.