Aadi's Jaanu

PART 3

"Padma Nilayam"

Anusha's Engagement Invitation has arrived from the printing press. It was from the groom's side, they wanted it to be grand, hence they decided to print invitation even for the engagement apart from the wedding. They have come to Anusha's house for giving them the first invite as per their customs. 

"Anusha, see who have come to see you. Come fast" Mangalam called out from the hall, after receiving her inlaws and making them comfortable.

"Varen Ma" she replied back from her room. (Coming Ma)

"Seekram vaadi!" Mangalam almost shouted at her daughter's laziness, but then quickly corrected herself and gave her inlaws the best smile she could muster.(Come quickly!)

"Don't urge her. Let her come. We'll wait." Anusha's mother-in-law said with a smile. Mangalam couldn't do anything other than giving them a forced smile.

"Where is Aadi? We couldn't see him at all.." Anusha's father-in-law asked searching the house briefly.

 "He has gone to the office, it's time he might be coming now" Mangalam replied glancing the hall clock.

"Oh seri... Va ma.. vandhu ukkaru" Anusha's mother-in-law called her seeing her coming her out of her room. (Oh okay.. come ma, have a seat.)

"Hi! Vanga Aun--Aththai" Anusha greeted her mother-in-law , quickly correcting  herself  feeling  her mother's glare. She stood back decently without sitting in front of them. (Hi, Come Au--Aunty)

"Anu, dear your engagement invites have arrived, take a look at them.. here" Anusha's mother in law told passing her the invite. She then asked her to take a seat, which Anusha took after a moment of deliberation.

"It's very pretty, Aththai. I hope he also likes it." Anusha said with a hopeful smile. Her mother in law gave a look of assurance hearing her words. Then Anusha passed on the invite to her mother, followed by her father. Both of them also liked the invite and they continued engaging her inlaws in the causal talks, while Anu went inside the kitchen to make something special for them. 

Aadi came back from his work feeling extremely tired, but the moment he noticed Anusha's in-laws sitting in the hall, he quickly composed himself and greeted them with a smile.

"How are you both?" he asked the elderly couple and his mother becokened him to sit near her, which he obeyed without question.

"We are good pa. Waiting for the day to take our other daughter home!" Anusha's mother in law replied pointing at Anusha, smiling affectionately. He also mirrored their reaction. They left after spending sometime with Anusha who served them with tea and snacks. After seeing them off, Aadi went to his room to freshen up while Anusha followed her mother to the kitchen.

"Amma! Where is she?" Aadi asked referring to his sister, entering the kitchen after freshening up a bit. However all he got as reply was his mother's cold stare. She didn't even reply a single word, instead she just asked him to call his father for dinner who was watching some random news channel very keenly.

"Appa, dinner is ready..by the way where is she?" he slowly whispered to his dad while calling him for the dinner. His eyes slowly darted towards his sister's room which was shut tight.

"What happend?" he asked raising his eyebrows at his father who simply gestured him to check on her.

"Anu! Dinner is ready.. come out" he called knocking his sister's room. But other than mild sounds of sniffing, nothing else could be heard. He became tensed hearing her sniffing sounds.

"Anu! Anu! Open the door!" he called out loudly, grabbing his father's attention as well. However, his mother seemed to be least bothered of what was happening there.