Rekindled

Matchmaking

Adu's had just come home after a run. He quickly showered and went on to make breakfast. He decided to pop two slices of bread in the toaster and then chopped some onions and green chilies. He picked out two eggs, broke them and started to beat them when his phone rang. He smiled and answered saying, "Chella Kutty. Eppo varey?" Sivu did not sound very chirpy on the other end. "Dei Adu enna da paneendu irukke?" she asked. He realized that this was going to be a serious conversation so he got to the point, "Breakfast paneendu irukken. Bread toaster la pottuttu, omelette pannaren. Fresh orange juice squeeze panni vachirukken. Ange enna visesham?" Sivu said, "Oh Appidiya seri. Nee saapdu naan venumna apparama pannatuma?" He replied, "Illai maa. Onnum prachanai illai. Sollu. All ok?" Sivu sighed, "Aishu call pannina. Avaloda 7th month check up poitu vandha. Konjam problem irukku. Kozhandhai konjam erangeerkaam so pre term labor pogaama irukka Doctor bed rest edukka choleerkaalam. Aval Ziya va vachundu konjam kashta padara. Enkittayum Appa kitteyum udane vara cholli ketirukka da. Ippo thaan ticket anupina. 5 days la naangal kelambarom. Adhu thaan un kitta chollalaamnu." Adu listened to it all and said, "Ayayo, I hope she is ok. Seri seri Neenga kelambungo. Adhu thaan ippo mukkiyam. Neenga thirumbi vandhappam inge vaango. Paathukalaam. Jaagarthaiya poitu vaango." Sivu continued, "Apparam innoru vishayam. Namma josiyar irukkar liya? Jadhagam ellam paapare? Avar kitta unnoda jaadhagam kuduthu oru nalla ponnu paaka choleerken. Avar kitta unnoda email kuduthirukken. Unakku pongaloda photo anupauvar. Naanga thirumbi varathukkulla oru nalla ponnu select panni vaai. Indha varshathukulla kalyanatha pannalaam." Adu literally choked on his food and started to cough for which, Sivu said, "Ippove Unna yaaro nenachukkara da" and giggled.

Adu yelled, "Amma nee vera. Ippo Edhukku ponnu paarka ellam chonnai. Adhellam onnum vendaam. Ippo enna avasaram ennoda kalyanathukku?" Sivu yelled back, " vaaya moodu da. Already 28 vayasachu unakku. Yen da ippidi engalukku velai vekkare? Edho unga akka madiri neeyum oru ponna Pathu pesi love panina engalukku velai micham. Adhuvum pannalai. Ippo naan sollardha nee kelu. Onnu nee oru ponna kooteendu vandhu en kann minnala nikka vai. Illaina naanga kaatara ponnu kazhuthula thaali katti kudumbam nadathara vazhiya paaru. Ippidi paathi vaazhkai kadal la thani la medhakkardhu. Naan sollavendiyadhu solliyachu. Nee yaarayavudhu love pannariya chollu ippove josiyar mama kitta cholli stop pannaren. Enna da? Irukaala? Vaaya thorandhu pesu da. Vaai la enna kozhakattai ya irukku?" Adu sighed and mumbled, "Therila.... Illai....ippodhikki illai" so she continued, "So that is it. Anyway, kelmbarthukku minnal naan koopadren, seriya? Ok da bye" and she hung up.

Adu sulked. He was so confused. Her birthday was in a week. It was coming close but he did not know what to expect especially after that reaction from her. He glanced at the locker and thought 6 more days.

Brinda Subramanian