An unusual love story

Back to the foreign country

He slowly parted his lips from her and looked at her. She had her eyes closed and was still leaning over towards him with a smile. He couldn't help but fall in love with this childlike woman again and again. He cupped her face and gently whispered, "Unga Appa Unna kaanam nu police case podardhu kulla Unna veetla kondu poi vitudaren maa. Polaama?" She opened her eyes and pouted with a frown, "No... enakku indha night mudiyave koodadhu nu irukku. Namma ippidiye irukalaame." He tried to hide his smile and gently squeezed her lower lip with his fingers and asked, "Eppidiye? Ippidi kiss pannikitte va?" She smiled instantly saying, "Enakku endha prachanaiyum illai. Neenga continued pannunga. Naan ready" and she closed her eyes again only for him to chuckle and nod rubbing his eyebrow. He gave her a quick peck and said, "Seat belt podu maa. Polaam.enakku 9am call sheet vera." Samyu frowned but pulled up the belt and buckled up.

As he neared her house, her turned off the lights and slowly stopped outside her house. He sighed and looked at her. Tears were threatening to escape her eyes. He let go of the steering wheel and cupped her face, "Enna maa aachu?" She sniffled, "Naan ungala romba miss pannuven. Last time oda ippo naan ungala romba adhigama miss pannuven." He smiled gently and said, "Naanum thaan maa romba romba miss pannuven. Nee un velai ellam mudichu seekirama yen kitta vandhudu maa." She nodded while sniffling but looked up with her doe eyes saying, "Mithu.... Mithu othukalaina?" He gently touched the top of her head saying, "Mithu en ponnu. Ava kandippa purinjuppa. Ava vayasu appidi. Ava romba kutty kozhandhaiyum illai, muzhu vevaram therinja periya ponnum illai but she has a heart of gold. She will definitely understand. Nee overthink pannama poi thoongu. Ennala airport vara mudiyadhu so ippo ve bye sollaren. Have a safe trip maa. Namba daily video call pannalaam. Naal odidum maa." Samyu quickly leaned forward and hugged him while the threatening tears dropped down her cheeks. She quickly kissed him on his forehead, cheeks and finally on his lips and quickly got out of the car to sneak back into the house. Abhi stayed in his car waiting until she disappeared inside the house. He let out a big sigh and mumbled, "I love you so so much maa."

After taking a short nap it was time for Abhi to get to work. He dropped Mithra at school on his way. It was a quiet ride when she suddenly said, "Daddy, avanga inniki thaane thirumba US poraanga?" Abhi said, "Hmmm... amaam da." She nodded. Then, a few minutes later she said, "Neenga avangala miss pannuveengala?" Abhi looked at her but answered honestly, "Amaam da. Romba miss pannuven." She nodded again, "Hmmm.... Ungalukku avangala romba pudichirukku le daddy? Adhunaala thaane night yaarukkum theriyama escape aaninga? Avangal paaka thaane poneenga?" Abhi's foot hit the break. He got a shock and looked at Mithu who turned towards him and said, "Naan chucha poga ezhundhen Appo Muthu anna koratta satham kettuchu. Ungalukku night shoot illainu theriyum so naan guess paninen. Correct aa guess paninena?  Nalla en kitta maatineenga paarunga." He blushed but answered truthfully, "Amaam da. Plan ellam pannala da. Dhideernu avala paakanum pola irundhuchu adhu thaan." Mithu nodded. She did not say much until she reached her school. When the car stopped, she thought for a moment and said, "Daddy avanga enoda adhigama Ungalukku happiness kudukaraangala?" Abhi immediately pulled Mithu close to him and held her, "Mithu maa idhu vera adhu vera maa. Onnu mattum purinjukko Samyu Unna replace panna varale. Ava unakku ennoda adhigama Anbu kudukka thaan vara. You are my child. Ennoda ellame nee thaan maa. Adhu ennakum maaradhu, yaaralayum maathavum mudiyadhu. Do you understand that?" Mithu hugged him tightly and then let go saying, "Seri naan ippo school poganum, erakki vidunga." As he let her down, she opened up her walking stick. She stopped for a second and turned back to him, "Avanga kitta varum podhu neraya chocolates vaangittu vara sollunga. Enna happy pannaraangala nu paakaren."

Abhi quickly kissed Mithu. He was elated. He tried calling Samyu but it went to her voice message immediately indicating her phone was switched off. He decided to call her later and drove to his shoot site. Samyu had a hectic day packing. Her phone had died and she had forgotten to charge it so she left it in a corner for charge. Unfortunately, she forgot to turn the switch on. With the last minute packing, arguing, eating, panicking etc, she day seemed to fly and it was time to get to the airport. She went to pick up her phone only to find it as dead as before. She smacked her forehead when she realized her mistake. She decided to charge on the way. Traffic was heavy and her phone was charging slowly. She knew Abhi was busy but wanted to send him a message. Although she had spent the night with him, she was hoping to get a glance of him. She was missing him already.

The car stopped near the departure area. Her parents got off with her and her mother was already crying. Samyu said, "Ayo Amma azhadhe maa. Seekiram vandhudaren. Ippidi Unna azhu moonjiya paatha enakku kashtama irukkum. Konjam Siri please." Her mom quickly wiped her tears and pretended to smile. Samyu quickly planted a kiss on her cheeks and wiped the tears off. Then she hugged her dad who was trying his best to keep a strong face. She stood in line with her luggage, passport and boarding pass. For some reason she kept looking around hoping desperately that Abhi will appear from somewhere. There were 5 people ahead of her. Her heart was pounding. She took a few deep breaths. She smiled at her parents who were still waiting there. There were 4 people now. She was fidgeting her fingers.

Where there were just two people ahead of her and it was almost her time, she suddenly heard a voice say, "Samyu maa." She turned around to see Abhi running towards her. She left her luggage and ran to hug him. He hugged her tightly and kissed her quickly on her forehead. Samyu was overjoyed, "Enakku theriyum Neenga varuveenga nu. Ennamo sollichu. Eppidi shooting ku dimikki kudutheenga? One shot artist aa?" Abhi cupped her face and smiled, "Illai. Romba kevalama nadichen nu director e veruthu enna kelamba solitaar" he laughed. Samyu's dad called for her since she was next. They both ran back to her spot, holding hands. Abhi smiled and nodded at her parents. It was Samyu's turn for security check. As soon as she was directed to go in, she quickly grabbed Abhi's hand and tiptoed to reach his lips for a kiss, shocking and embarrassing Abhi in front of her parents and the security guards. She quickly wiped away the lipstick from his mouth and rushed in leaving Abhi is utter shock and bliss.

Inspite of it Abhi yelled, "Mithra ku naraya chocolates venumaam." Samyu turned hearing that and gestured the sky, thanking the lord and then she threw a flying kiss.

Brinda Subramanian