The Lion and the Rose

Chapter 60

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Vanthuten. Sorry for the delay. But next chapter will be updated tomorrow morning, followed by An Aesthete and BH.

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"Athu eppadi night ellam thaniya veli oorla thanga vidurathu athuvum oru paiyan kooda?" My mom goes around the house doing her work and Vishu keeps looking between us. (How can you expect us to permit you for a night stay in a different city with a guy?)

"Mams koda thaane ma, avaru safe ah pathuparu avala," Vishu speaks up for the first time in the past fifteen minutes of my mom denying my request to go on the business trip. (What is the deal in going along Siva? He will take care of her, safely.)

"Naan avaru kooda porathu kaaga matum pesala. May la irunthu naan ennoru company la work panna poren, anga business trips poga vendiya need vantha poi thaane aganum." (I'm not asking permission for this time alone. From the month of May, I'm joining a new company. If they ask me to go on a business trip, I have to go.)

"Ithuku thaan naan munnadi la irunthu intha course vendam vendam nu sonnathu. Neeyum un appa vum pecha kekala," She places her arms on her hips and I roll my eyes. (For this very reason, I was asking you not to take this course but your father and you were so stubborn.)

"Amma naan ippo self defence kooda kathukuren ma. Naan munna mathiri kedaiyathu yaaru nalavanga yaaru ketavanga nu namma la eppadi pakuranga nu ennala analyse panna mudiyum. Athuku etha mari naan nadanthupen. Devil life la varurathuku munnadi varaikum ellam nalla thaane poitu irunthathu. Avana seekiram pudichiduvanga. Please ma ennoda pazhiya life ah vazha vidunga." I plead her and she walks to and fro the hallway. (Maa, nowadays I'm going for self defence class. Unlike before, I can differentiate between people's behaviour and the way they look at me. I can handle myself. Before the devil came into my life, everything was going fine and soon he would be captured. Please maa, I want to lead my life like before.)

"Siva naala intha vaati anupuren," I try to speak up but she stops me to finish her sentence. "Antha company la join panna appuram incase trip ethachem poratha iruntha anga irukuravanga eppadi nu pathu thaan. Appa kita solitiya?" I sighed with relief. For now this is enough, hopefully I meet good people in the new company, with whom my parents can send me alone. (Since, it's Siva, I'm allowing you this time. When you join the new company and if a situation occurs for you to go on a trip, based on the people accompanying you, I will think of it. Did you inform your father?)

"Unga kita ketutu solalam nu thaan," I take my phone out. (Thought of asking your permission, first?)

"Seri. Siva yen veliya car la irukuthu?" She nods her head towards the outside. (Okay. Why is Siva waiting in the car, without coming into the house?)

"Naane pesi permission vanguren nu sonnen, athaan," I dial for dad. (I told him that I'll speak up for myself.)

"Vishu poi Siva va ulla vara sollu," Mom sends him and Dad picks the call on the other side. (Vishu, go and get Siva.)

I tell dad everything in detail as Siva enters the house with his hand over Vishu's shoulder. They sit on the sofa and talk in their own inaudible language. A smile curls up on my face, watching the two introverts mingle well together.

Rendum umaikottan aana rendum aruntha vaalunga.

"Hmm. Siva anga iruka?" Dad asks for Siva and I give my phone to him.

"Aama uncle first Mumbai trip mari thaan plan pannen aana Kavi varamudiyaatha nu solitanga." I keep my fingers crossed. (Actually, I planned like my earlier trip to Mumbai but in the end Kavi couldn't make it up.)