What A Beautiful Face She Has

Unexpected Guests

Mathew’s POV:

Few days later,

I woke up to some noises coming from the living room. I sat up, confused by the sound of people talking.

Kalailaaye yaaru vandhutanga? Iva enna dhaan panra?
(Who’s here so early in the morning? What is she doing?)

I glanced at the clock, 11 AM.

“Oh god, I overslept.”

I quietly opened my door and peeked outside. I saw a man, a woman, and… Stella’s mother. They were all seated and talking. Stella was silently nodding but looked visibly uncomfortable and withdrawn.

I quickly got freshened up, changed, and walked out to greet them.

“Hello, Mathew. How are you? Is my daughter taking good care of you?” her mother asked.

“I’m fine, aunty. Yeah, she’s taking care of me,” I replied, throwing a sarcastic glance at Stella. But she didn’t even look at me. She was lost in thought, staring blankly at the floor.

“This is my sister, Daisy, and her husband, Juno,” Stella’s mom introduced.

I politely greeted them. Both of them stared at me from top to bottom, judgingly.

Then that man said something that immediately made me uncomfortable:

“Stella, go and stand next to him. Let’s see how you both look together, your chemistry.”

What the hell?

I frowned. Stella didn’t react; she seemed to be in her own world.

Her mother had to call her twice to get her attention. She looked startled and disturbed.

"Mama solraru la, poi nillu ma, Mathew pakkathula."
(Your uncle is asking, go stand next to Mathew.)

Stella hesitated, then said firmly, “Adhellam vendam.”
(Not necessary.)

The man looked disappointed.

"Evlo varusham aagiyum nee marave illa, Stella."
(Even after so many years, you haven’t changed, Stella.)

She rolled her eyes.
“Yes.”, she replied coldly.

I was surprised. She was being bold. Answering back, even.

Her mother scolded her.
“Stella, is this how you talk to elders? Apologize!”

“No way,” she snapped.

Daisy scoffed, “Vidu, paravala. Ava chinna vayasu lendhe apdi dhaan. She doesn’t know how to respect elders.”
(Forget it. She’s always been like this since she was young. She doesn't know how to respect elders.)

Without another word, Stella stormed off to her room and slammed the door.

I stood frozen.
Ennachu ivaluku?
(What’s wrong with her?)

Trying to brush off the tension, I turned to the guests.

“Would you like some tea or coffee?”

“No, no, that’s fine,” her mother said.

"Naanga vandhu rendu mani neram aagudhu. We were waiting for you to wake up, now we’ve seen you, we’ll take leave."
(It’s been 2 hours since we came. We were waiting for you. Now that we’ve met you, we’ll leave.)

“Wait, I’ll call Stella.”

“No need. The respect she showed us is enough,” the man said sarcastically.