melancholy

Kathir's Idea...

"Mullai... Amma Appa innum konjae nerathula yehn veetuku reach ayruvanga" Anandhi whispered in fear.... biting the flesh of her thumb anxiously...

Mullai was waiting for her to shout "April Fool" and then realized that the first of April was a week away... "Lockdown le eppadi vanthanga Anandhi?" asked Kathir.... "Athu ethumae Annae enkitte sollala... Ippo ennae pannurathu.. Pakkathu veetla oru spare key kuduthu vechirukken.. Aana naan veetla oru masathukku mela illae nu kandippa solluvanga... Aiyo... Naan ennae pannuven" she moaned, dragging her hands across her face... The trio remained silent, Anandhi got up to pace the floor and Mullai had to remind her about her leg...

"Video call pannu pannu nu sollamothae ennakku therinjirkanom... Avangae ethaiyo suspect pannuranga nu... Naan munnadiyae ushaar ayirkanom" she wailed... "Intha Anish paiyen engae?" She looked around wildly for him... "Tho vanthuttu irrukkan" pointed Kathir and they saw Anish walking towards the guest house, laptop in hand... He greeted them cheerfully and his face changed when he saw all three of them look so tensed... "Enthu sambhavichu?" He asked in alarm... Anandhi told him that her parents would be arriving to her house in Adimali any minute now... He went slack jawed in surprise... "Lockdown le...." He began.... Anandhi didnt allow him to finish the question... "Therila" she shouted, on the verge of tears...

All of them sat in silence, a pall of dread filled the room... They had thought that they had time, they had been confident that her parents wouldn't travel during lockdown.. Anish told them that he wanted his parents to know first, because if they agreed and he was optimistic that they would, it would be an added advantage to have them on their side while informing her parents...

And then, Kathir had an idea...

"Anandhi... Aunty, Uncle ohn veedae reach aanathum, kandippa unnakku call pannuvanga... Appo Kathirum Mullaiyum Munnar poganom nu sonnanga, naanum kude ponen.. Yehn sollala ketta, neenga vida mattinga, Hosur ku vara solluvinga adhu naala sollala nu sollu.. Ingae irrunthu kelambarathuku munnadi lockdown pottutanga.. Athu naala ennodae Boss odae oru guest house le thangrom ma... Ippadi, methuva tension aavama sollu... Yehn video call pannala appadi nu ketta, video call odanae panni, ohn odanja kaal eh kaami.. Neenga ethukku veena tension aavanom nu dhan ma video call pannala nu sollu" Kathir had to take a deep breath after the lengthy dialogue; Mullai, Anish and Anandhi were staring at him... Each with a look of admiration in their eyes..

"Bayangaramana aarivu Kathir unnakku.. Ippadiyae solli paakurren.. Nambuna seri" Anandhi took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment... "Anmol... Yehn parents ingae vantha approm dhan Uncle, Aunty ingae varanom... Kandippa avunga presence venum.. Illana prechanae varum... Somehow make them stay there for just a week..." Anish squeezed her hand encouragingly... "Nee video call panna mothu, naanum ohn kude irrukurren Anandhi" volunteerd Mullai and her friend nodded with a weak smile..... "Anmol... Avunga varuvom nu rombha force panna.. Tell them that Munnar check post le proper papers illama they will not allow to enter inside" reminded Anish...

After that it was a waiting game for the phone to ring...

Everyone kept looking at the phone as though it was a ticking time bomb...

And when it did ring, all got so startled as if it truly went off in the room...

Anandhi drew in a deep, shaky breath and said "Hello"

Anish; too nervous to wait there and listen to one side of the conversation, walked outside and Kathir accompanied him... He went and sat in the dining chair, his head in his hands, while Kathir paced the hallway, his feet leaving tread marks on the carpet....

Half an hour later, Mullai beckoned them inside...

"Ponae genmathula ella parents um police officers ah irrunthirpanga polae... Maathi maathi nooru kelvi ketanga" sighed Anandhi tiredly... "Ennae sonnanga?" Kathir looked to Mullai for answers... Her friend was still on painkillers and she got tired fast... "Eppadiyo manage pannie avungala ippo vara venam nu sollirkom aana avunga kandippa ingae vara ella efforts um poduvanga.. Namma ethaiyum face panna ready ah irrukanom" Mullai said with determination... "Mullai nee mattum en kude illae na... Prechana perusa ayirkum... Rombha thanks Mullai.." Anandhi got teary eyed... "Aii ippo ethukku aluvura? Nee azhutha ennakkum azhugai varum" said Mullai wiping tears... The men stood there looking on, not knowing what to say...