Ride on Time

Chapter 78

"Nika, Nika, wait," Mitsuo groaned, reaching a hand to Shree when they arrived to ground level. "My legs are shaking."
"Mine too," Shree admitted, her legs trembling as she sat down at the side of the staircase. "Mom, let's sit first."
The whole family sat down at the side, gaining a few stares from passers-by.
"So how was your trip to Batu Caves?" Shree asked, turning to Mitsuo beside her.
"It was an experience," Mitsuo grinned, wiping sweat off his forehead. "A unique but tiring experience."
Shree snorted. "Bet you a nickel, he's gonna start writing everything down in that little notebook of his once we go back."
"That's exactly what I'm gonna do," Mitsuo smiled. "Now, I just need to look for a five-cent coin in my wallet."
To their surprise, he actually pulled his wallet out and started looking for the coin.
"Mitsuo, come on, I was just joking about it," Shree chuckled.
"I know," Mitsuo smirked and put away his wallet. "I was messing about too."
"His wallet, so big ah..." Devi remarked.
"Yes, Obaasan, I don't like bifold wallets since it creases my money," Mitsuo explained. "These long wallets keep my money clean and crisp."
There was an awkward silence at this.
Shree shifted, turning to face her grandmother. "Japanese people value money a lot. They think that folding money makes it more fragile, less valuable. So they keep it without creases. They even value wallets, having a special day in the year where they get a new one."
Mitsuo was surprised that she knew all of that and nodded approvingly. "That's right. We value our money a lot."
Devi nodded, the slightest of smiles on her face. "Yes ah."
Shree nodded and leaned on the stone guardrail beside her with a groan. "It isn't as tiring to come down but darn my legs are still shaking."
"Come lah, we go and sit in the car," Devi said, using her granddaughter's shoulder as a support to get up, making the younger woman let out a yelp in pain. "Nika, come lah, we sit in the car."
Shree sighed and got up, following the rest of the family back to the car. They all decided to go out for lunch instead.

"Thanks for inviting me over for lunch," Mitsuo bowed as he sat down. "And for letting me tag along all the way to Batu Caves." He paused for a moment, his expression changing. "Also, that monkey was scary. Vasu, are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, the monkey didn't claw me or anything, just sat on me," Vasu chuckled. "Maybe it was just playing."
"Just take it as a blessing lah," Devi scolded.
Vasu shrugged. "It's a blessing."
"Tell me you didn't freak out," Shree smirked. "Mom, Awah, he scream so loud when the monkey leapt onto him!"
Devi smirked. "So you only lah we all heard."
"You guys heard me?" Vasu said in surprise. "Was I really that loud?"
"Yep," Chandrika nodded with a chuckle. "So loud."
Vasu groaned. "Oh great."
"Oh come on, it wasn't your fault the monkey jumped on you, you were right to freak out that time," Mitsuo chimed in.
For some reason, this had Vasu cackling. He quickly stopped when a waiter came over to take their order.

"This is it," Shree said when Vasu stopped in front of Sheralbon Hotel's lobby.
Mitsuo unbuckled his seatbelt and bowed as he gathered his things before opening the door. Shree rolled down the window on her side as Vasu did the same to the passenger side.
"Thank you for today, Nika, Obaasan, Okaasan, Vasu," Mitsuo, his gaze sweeping around the inside of the car as he bowed again. "It was really nice to come with you."
Shree smiled and bowed too. "You're welcome, Mitsuo. Also, we have tomorrow. Remember what I said, and be ready by one, okay? I'll tell you when we're coming."
Mitsuo bowed again. "Thank you."
"What is thank you in Japanese?" Devi grinned, leaning towards the window.
"Domo Arigatou Gozaimashita," Mitsuo smiled as he bowed, much deeper this time.
Devi nudged Shree, much to her dismay. "Tell you're welcome lah."
Shree frowned for a moment. "Uh... Itsu demo dohzo."
Mitsuo chuckled. "Your Japanese is getting better."
Shree smiled, her face growing warm. "Thanks."
Mitsuo waved at them, bowing slightly as he smiled, and watched them drive down the ramp before entering the hotel.
It was a long day and he had a lot to write.
So he put his things down in front of the vanity and sat down on the rolling chair by the study table, opening his diary and pulling out his feathered quill and ink vial. Mitsuo unscrewed the bottle of ink and dipped his quill into it, careful not to spill even a drop, and brought the metal nib towards the paper.
And so, Mitsuo started writing out all of the days' happenings, from the start to the finish. He even chuckled a few times as he remembered how Vasu reacted upon being attacked by the mischievous monkey, and how Devi asked him to just consider it as a form of blessing. Mitsuo smiled when writing the part where Shree actually replied to his Domo Arigatou Gozaimashita with Itsu demo dohzo.
And how she blushed right after saying that. It wasn't hard to see, though her face didn't turn even a shade redder.
Mitsuo burst into laughter when remembering how her grandmother actually had a cheeky grin on her face the whole time.
He closed the book and closed the bottle of ink before making his way to the bathroom with his quill. He ran the tip under the faucet and wiped it dry with a tissue before returning the quill back into its case. Mitsuo turned to the bag of souvenirs he got from a gift shop near the temple and went to it.
Shree bought him a miniature version of the golden statue of Lord Muruga and he wanted to make sure if it was okay. He wanted to buy the idol for himself, but Shree insisted on paying for it, saying that idols shouldn't be bought for oneself but for others. Mitsuo decided to keep it on the vanity to admire during his stay. After all, it was still a gift from her.
But then he frowned and shook his head, taking the idol before making his way towards the study desk instead. Mitsuo placed the golden idol beside his writing supplies and nodded.
"Right place," Mitsuo murmured to himself. "For now."
He decided to take a nice hot bath to wash away the tiredness.