Stella's POV:
"Amma is serious, aam," he said.
(Mom is serious, it seems.)
"Ennadhu? Ennachu? Nalla dhane irundhanga?" I asked.
(What? What happened? She was doing fine, right?)
"Therila," he said and hugged me.
(I don’t know.)
"I'm scared, Stella. Enna vitutu poiduvangala?" he asked me.
(Will she leave me and go?)
I consoled him and said, "Apdilam nadakadhu, have faith in God. First hospital polam, vanga."
(That won’t happen. Have faith in God. Let’s go to the hospital first, come.)
I held his hand and we walked out. I saw his condition and understood that he wasn't in a state to drive. I called a passing auto and we both got inside.
"Amma enna vitutu poiduvanga. Naan enna pannuven apo?" he was murmuring.
(Mom will leave me. What will I do then?)
I held his arms tightly and consoled him.
We reached the hospital and rushed towards Regina ma’s ward.
Joe was standing in front of the room, crying.
"Ennachu, da?" Mathew asked him.
(What happened, da?)
He hugged Mathew tightly.
"Sorry, da. Amma nammala vitu poitanga," he said.
(Sorry, da. Mom has left us.)
I couldn't believe my ears. Mathew held Joe’s collar.
"Enna da solra?" he asked.
(What are you saying, da?)
"Ama, da. She passed away 30 minutes ago. Unnaku call podumbodhu she wasn't alive. Un kita unmaiya sonna thanga matenu dhan serious huh irukanganu sonnen da," he said.
(Yes, da. She passed away 30 minutes ago. When I called you, she was already gone. I didn’t want you to break down, so I said she was serious.)
He stumbled and sat on the chair. I held Mathew and consoled him.
"Amma poitanga, enna vitutu. I'm an orphan now. Ennaku yaarume illa," he said.
(Mom has gone, leaving me. I'm an orphan now. I have no one.)
"Naan iruken, ungaluku. En ipdilam pesuringa?" I said.
(I’m here for you. Why are you saying this?)
He looked at me and hugged my waist, burying his head in my stomach.
Next day, after all the formalities, the funeral was conducted. She was looking very beautiful.
"Inime yaarukuda ma ukandhu daily pesuven, ipdi enna vitutu poiteengale?" I thought, looking at her face.
(Whom will I sit and talk to daily now, mom? Why did you leave me like this?)
Mathew was a crying mess. My dad was consoling him.
After the funeral, we headed back home.
"Stella, mappilaiya bathirama parthuko, he's not stable emotionally," my amma said.
(Stella, take care of son-in-law, he’s not emotionally stable.)
I nodded and went with him.
"Mathew, sapadu sapudringala?" I asked.
YOU ARE READING
What A Beautiful Face She Has
Romance"Have you ever seen your face in the mirror, you ugly fat woman?" I stood there silently without even uttering a word. "Unnakellam model madhiri irukura Naan husband huh venuma? See, you are just a burden to me. Unna madhiri Gunda irukura aalungala...
