Ride on Time

Chapter 72

Mitsuo gazed out of the window during the ride home.
"So how was this year's Pongal?" Shree piped up, getting the Japanese man's attention.
"It was good," Mitsuo truthfully said. "It was an entirely new experience, celebrating with you guys. Very fun."
"So you got inspiration for your book?" Shree asked. "I saw how you were writing down every single thing, even during the dance. Looked more like you were in a seminar."
Mitsuo chuckled. "Yes, I got a lot of info today." He smiled. "Thanks again for inviting me."
"Never mind lah," Devi remarked, almost strictly. "You came to get information for book only, what."
"Yes," Mitsuo bowed slightly, glancing back. "Also, when's Thaipusam?"
"It's in early February this year, I think," Shree said, her bangles clinking slightly when she pulled out her phone. "Yeah. Fifth February. Sunday." And then she grinned. "Oh! So we get a public holiday on Monday. Excellent!"
"Yay long weekend!" Chandrika cheered.
"No school!" Vasu laughed along.
"Good lah, can go somewhere," Devi added with a nod.
Mitsuo was slightly taken aback. "Wait, you guys aren't gonna celebrate?"
"Celebrate lah," Devi said. "Do prayers all."
"You guys aren't gonna to the Batu Caves temple?" Mitsuo asked.
There was silence at this.
"Why, you wanna go ah?" Shree finally asked.
"Yes?" Mitsuo answered.
Everyone instantly started protesting, saying why it wasn't a good idea.
"You wanna get stampeded?" Shree gasped.
"You're gonna be a flat-jack if you go there," Vasu added.
"You know Chapati, right?" Chandrika chimed in.
"Yes?" Mitsuo meekly said.
"That's what's gonna happen to us if we go," Chandrika stated.
"Mitsuo, we aren't joking, you better not," Shree quickly said. "It is an experience, yes. But... this is serious. A lot of people have died because of that."
"Oh..." Mitsuo sighed.
"We can go on a normal day if you want, but the hype won't be there lah," Chandrika stated. "But can go."
"Easy to get lost, you know," Devi warned next. "Better not go. Very crowded also."
"Yeah, happened to me once," Chandrika piped up. "I went with my father, and somehow got lost. I met with my friend and she just asked me to wait there and that he would show up eventually. Guess who walked past me a few minutes later."
"Your father?" Mitsuo guessed.
"Yeah..." Chandrika chuckled.
"I've seen videos of it and you cannot see the stairs at all," Shree fearfully stated. "All you can see is people."
Mitsuo's eyes widened a little from surprise. "Pictures? You mean you've never been to the Batu Caves?"
"I have, but never on Thaipusam," Shree rolled her eyes.
"The best time to go is now, before Thaipusam," Devi added. "You want, can go next week lah,"
Mitsuo thought for a moment before nodding. "Sounds good."
"Awah!" Shree groaned softly.
"Eh, but next week Chinese New Year," Chandrika realised, ignoring her daughter's soft complaint. "You not celebrating, right?"
Mitsuo shook his head. "No..."
"Why?" Chandrika asked in surprise.
"Mom, he's Japanese, they celebrate Shogatsu, not Chinese New Year," Shree explained. "Shogatsu is First January."
Mitsuo was slightly impressed. "That's right! Many of the tourists I've met think we celebrate the Lunar New Year but we don't."
"Chinese New Year the temple will be crowded ah..." Shree frowned to herself.
"Not really, I think," Chandrika said. "Go lah with Mitsuo, you and Vasu follow."
"What?!" The siblings gasped together.
"Nice what, go lah," Devi grinned. "All of us can go."
Chandrika frowned for a moment but nodded. "Can also."
So it was settled then. The entire family and Mitsuo were going to Batu Caves a week before Thaipusam, on the first day of Chinese New Year. Mitsuo was overjoyed. It was his first time in Malaysia and he already got a whole family of confidants. It was like that one time his family had to care for an exchange student from Malaysia. Only, he was the exchange in Malaysia, but not a student.
The Indian boy that stayed over at his house, Mitsuo still remembered him clearly, his name was Ramachandran. He had told him lots of stories about his country, especially about the fact that he and his family would go to Batu Caves for Thaipusam every year without fail.
But what was the case with Shree's family?
Mitsuo didn't care. All he was thinking about now was to go there for real. He had dreamed of coming to Malaysia one day, especially because of that Ramachandran boy. Maybe he should visit him one day. After all, he still had his contact details and he was the one who inspired him to come to Malaysia. Mitsuo really looked forward to finally go to the temple.
Shree and Vasu, on the other hand, groaned at the thought.

Sheralbon came to view and Vasu had to turn into the petrol station in order to go up the ramp. He stopped at the lobby and Mitsuo bowed at them before entering.
"Awah, why you said we can go Batu Caves so fast?!" Shree exploded as soon as they descended the ramp to enter the highway. "This Chinese New Year some more!"
"Good, what," Chandrika shrugged. "Won't have people. All will travel."
Shree sighed, pointing a hand at the front of the car. "Yes, but why with him?"
"You don't like going with your brother?" Devi asked in surprise.
"Not Vasu," Shree groaned. "With Mitsuo. We barely even know him, Awah."
"Never mind lah," Devi smiled. "He nice boy only, what."
Shree rolled her eyes. "Awah, I've known him for less than a week."
"So?" Chandrika stated matter-of-factly.
Shree gave her a look of betrayal. "Is this the face that told me not to talk to strangers? Is this the face that told me to keep away from unknown or suspicious men? Is this the face that told me not to fall for guys easily?"
Chandrika turned to her mother. "Ma, look at her."
"Nika, look here," Devi began. "If you wanna see if a man is good or bad, you only need to spend a few days with him to know. He went all the way to return that flower hair clip of yours, even when you ran away from him so many times, he stood up for you in the LRT. That says a lot about him. He's the kind of man that respects women. Has he tried to disrespect you in any way?"
Shree shook her head. "No."
"Then why you worrying?" Devi cried before reverting back to Tamil. "You see, he doesn't hesitate to hang out with you even when we're around too. That shows that he has no bad intention towards you. Do you understand that?"
"Yeah, he's a good guy lah, Akka," Vasu piped up. "I sat with him in the temple just now, he was okay. And apparently, he likes you."
Shree was speechless. "What?"
"See!" Chandrika cheered. "You listen to Japanese song, now you got Japanese boyfriend already!"
"Mom!" Shree groaned and covered her face.