An unusual love story

Tharavaadu- Ancestral home

Samyu slightly tapped Mithra, who was still fast asleep. The train screeched along with a break and Mithra rubbed her eyes and slowly opened it. Her hands automatically looked for her glass case. She put on her glasses to see Samyu tapping her. Mithu was confused. Samyu was barely 5.2 and Mithu was sleeping on the top birth, that's when she realized that the middle birth had already been put down and Samyu had climbed on the bottom birth to reach Mithra, which, Mithu thought, was amusing. She giggled saying, "Enna pannarey?" Samyu smiled back saying, "Ezhundhuko. Let me help you freshen up. Innum konja nerathula station vara pordhu. Come." Mithu nodded and climbed down. Samyu had the toiletries and towel ready for Mithu. They walked up to the restroom and then to the sink to freshen up. When the got back to the seat, Thatha and Paati were drinking their coffee and were holding on to a cup for Samyu. Paati quickly mixed bournvita for Mithu which she gladly drank.

Watching out the window, during the day was interesting. The passed through field where villagers could be seen getting to work. There were little kids waving at the moving train and Mithu automatically waved back at them. Thatha, Paati and Samyu started to get their luggage in order. In a few minutes the train started to slow down and Mithu peeked through the window to see the station approaching. She smiled and asked, "Inge thaan eranganuma?" Samyu was busy texting so Paati responded to Mithu, "Amaam da." Moth teased Samyu, "Samyu, Daddy ku ethana message anupeerke? Indha phone ellam illadha time la makkal enna paneerpaanga la?" She casually said but Thatha promptly replied, "Appo ellam letter thaan maa ezhudhuva. Adhuvum oru vaaram kazhichu poi serum. Vaazhkaiye oru nambikkai la thaan odum." Mithu giggled, "Daddy andha kaalathula irundhirundhar na tension liye mudi ellam narachu poirukkum."

She looked out the window as the train make a couple of screeching sound before it slowed down and came to a stop. Coolies in red colored jacket, lungi and towel tied to their head, were running towards the entrance door trying to grab people's bags, offering to help. Thatha declined help. Just then Mithu noticed a bunch of smiling faces approaching the train. At first she thought they were different people coming to welcome the other passengers but soon realized that all 4 people were there for them. They were all quite well built and Mithu wondered how Samyu alone was so petite. One larger man, around her Dad's age grabbed the bag from Samyu's hand and passed it along to another guy behind him and quickly grabbed Samyu, twirling her in happiness. Mithra found it amusing. Then the guy greeted Thatha and Paati before quickly picking up Mithu saying, "Mithu kutty vaa vaa." Samyu quickly introduced everyone, "Mithra, idhu thaan Kishore anna, Kavya akka, Radhika akka, Manikandan mama." Kishore Anna had a very warm demeanor. He promptly said, "Ivalukku thaan naan anna, unakku mama. Vaa vaa veetla ellarum wait panittu irukaanga. Samyu kutty ange periamma nee varenu sadhya ready pannaraanga."

They all managed to get into one taxi and one auto. It was a bit tight but no one seemed to have a problem. It was about a half an hour ride to the palatial ancestral home. Mithra gasped as they approached the large entrance. It wasn't gated but had a huge compound wall. As they got off, she heard sound from inside the house of people yelling, "Vandaachu vandaachu. Then there were a bunch of people of all ages running out from inside the house. They all seemed very excited. There were a couple of elderly uncles and aunts followed by some middle aged and then some kids. Mithu was a little surprised and quickly held on to her grandmother. She had never seen this many people in one house. Everyone though seemed to be warm and genuine and they each carried their bags inviting them in.

As they stepped in, Radhika periamma called out to her children Madhu and Mithun. Madhu was a pretty teenager. She seemed to be a couple of years older to Mithu and her brother Mithun was the same age as Mithu. Radhika instructed Madhu to show Mithu her room and help her settle. Mithu turned to look at Samyu who nodded in approval. Madhu held out her hand to Mithu with a smile saying, "Hi en peru Madhumitha. Ellarum enna Madhu nu koopduva. Vaa, unnoda edatha kaataren." Mithu was a little confused because Madhu's tamil sounded a little different than what she was used to but she followed the young girl. She was taken in to a large room where there were 4 other girls who were between 8 and 12. They were playing some kind of a game. They turned and smiled at Mithu. One of the youngest girl came up to her and said, "Enga kooda velada variya? Naan Anju. Nee?" Before Mithra could answer, Madhu interrupted saying, "Idhu Mithra. Ippo thaane oorlerndhu vandhirukka. Konjam time kudu seriya? Aval konjam freshen up aagattum innuttu varuval. Neenga ellam veladikongo." Through the window in the room, Mithra got a glimpse of some boys and some of the uncles playing cricket.

Madhu patted her back saying, "Indha room la nee, naan, Samyu chithi aparam enga amma paduthukalaam. Inge bathroom irukku. Nee venumna kulichuttu variya?" Mithra nodded. She did feel dirty after the train ride and she smelt like the train. A bath sounded good. She grabbed her clothes from the suitcase while Madhu handed her a towel. Mithu thanked her. The bathroom was spacious and clean. The water was sparking clear, unlike the one in Chennai. She felt refreshed. When she stepped out of the bathroom, Samyu was in the room. She quickly helped dry Mithu's hair. She too had freshen up in another bathroom. Then they all went to the dining area. Mithu was shocked to see an entire room full of people. Banana leaves were placed for everyone. It was like a wedding. Madhu had a spot next to her for Mithu and Samyu. They quickly went and sat there.

For the first time Mithu was experiencing the true sense of family. She had heard of relationships but this was the first time she saw and heard people calling each other athai, mama, periamma, chithi , Akka, thambi and so on. She actually felt sad for her Daddy. She wished he was here too. She quickly pulled out her phone to take a quick video while waiting to be served, and sent it to him saying, "Miss you Daddy ❤️"

Brinda Subramanian