Her
It is the first video call with maama ever since he reached UK along with atha.
Karthi connected the call from his laptop, set up in front of the whole family as we all sit on and stand around the sofa in the hall.
"How was the journey akka ?" one of the aunts asks.
"Fine ma" atha answers with a smile while i can see maama walking around in the background as if arranging their wardrobe.
"Anga avan enna pannitu irukkan ? (What is he doing there ?)" asks Karthi, noticing the same thing.
"He has not rested since we came here. The doctor appointment is on tomorrow only but he is arranging all the clothes and setting them up for tomorrow. I told it is not necessary but as you all know he hasn't been listening to what i say recently. Thankfully the maid cleaned and maintained the house properly so there isn't any discomforts." she says and this makes maama to come and sit near atha on the sofa.
"Hi" he says cutely as he waves at the screen making all of us wave back as everyone shouts "Hi pandi".
"As you all can see we have reached safely. The only problem is the weather. Otherwise, it is fine and we have settled. I will call you again after the appointment. Bye for now" he says before standing up and walking away again making a few of us laugh as the elders scold him in a playful manner.
For the rest of the call i look at his walking figure in the background and admire him.
Eventually the call gets over and we all go to eat breakfast. India is around 6 hours ahead of UK so it is still late night there.
As today is Sunday, no college. I sigh as i go to my room to complete my project, opening my laptop when my phone rings.
I am surprised to see that it is maama who is video calling me.
I attend it, coming face to face with maama. It looks like he is sitting on a bed wearing a banian.
"Hi maams" i say with a shy smile seeing his smile.
"Breakfast over aa ?" he asks, his voice breaking a bit due to internet connection.
"Yes maams, what about you ? Dinner ?" i ask.
"We ate in the saravana bhavan while coming from airport. It is more costly here than in our local. Safe to say amma was glaring at me the whole time" he says smiling making me laugh.
"I have sent you a few photos, go check" he says.
I instantly open my whatsapp to see the message from maams coming face to face with the pictures of us taken during the reception and wedding.
I blush going through them before returning to the call.
"They are nice" I comment, starting the conversation again.
"Hmm. When is your final exams coming ?" he asks, his face serious now.
"In three months maams" i say.
"Hmm okay Mayil. I am going to sleep. Study well and don't get deviated" he says making me nod.
"Good night maams" i say.
"Hmm bye" he says before i cut the call as he lays down on the bed.
After that we text a bit in the evening (since it would be morning/afternoon there).
We have a video call again after the appointment. To all of our happiness the doctor had told that since we identified the cancer in it's early stages, we could cure it but that atha has to stay there and get treatment for a few months.
The next two months pass by quickly as i text with maams everyday and he sends me pics of him with atha and pics of UK. We also talked over phone whenever we had time and didn't lose touch.
That was until my exams started and Karthi took my phone from me under maama's instructions. Though i didn't want to, i gave it anyways respecting maama.
After my finals exams I was free for a few days before the graduation.
The whole of the family was there except maama and atha, though her condition has improved there was no talk of when they were gonna return.
As my name is called upon everybody shouts and woop, basically the 'everybody' are my cousins. I put on a smile as i receive my certificate from Muthu uncle who is currently taking care of the college in the absence of maama, or else i would have received this from his hands.
After the ceremony we take a picture as a whole family and Karthi sends it in our family group.
For that maama puts up a voice note of atha saying how proud she is and congratulating me while messaging me privately:
So proud of you Mayil. Can't wait to congratulate you in person 😊
I reply with a heart emoji. That night I am very sad in the absence of maama when Divya calls me down.
When i enter the hall all the family members look at me.
"Do you remember when i told you that Pandi said another thing ? Well that thing is this" he says giving me an envelope.
When i open it i am surprised to the core.
"If Mayil graduates and I am not there still, hand her this appointment letter on behalf of me" he says, imitating maama's voice making me chuckle while tears run down my cheeks.
"Karthi this is not an appointment letter. He has officially given me the position of the first Chief Operating Officer of his branch of companies" i say making everyone freeze in shock, even Karthi.
It takes a minute for them to recover, including myself, before everyone congratulates and hugs me. The next thing i do is run to my room and video call maama.
When he answers the call I am drenched in my tears.
"Ma..ma.." i cry while he looks at me with a proud smile.
"You earned it Mayil. You earned this position. My good girl. Wipe your tears, don't cry. You now have a big responsibility on your head in the absence of the CEO" he says in a proud voice.
"But with everyone el-" i start but he cuts me off as i wipe my tears.
"Do not mind anyone, it is your job now. They can help you for sure but you are the head, understood ? Stand your ground. I have given you the position because Mayil....Well, i don't want to say it now through a simple video call. I need to be there beside you when i tell this. Wait till i come back okay ?" he says the last sentence in a slow manner with an emotional voice making me nod.
"I love you so much maama, i can't wait till you come back and hug you like anything" i say, cutting the call before he could react, the fear of getting hurt by his reaction. I don't even care if he says he doesn't 'see me like that' even now, i know that he respects me, feels proud of me and cares about me and that i am, indeed, an important person for him, even if he doesn't see me as his wife.
I do love him, soooo sooo much !
So sorry for the late update babes, got really got up......
Luv ya'll ❤️
