Pookal Pookum Tharunam

ꜱɪxᴛʏ ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴ

"Cakes and Candles- Part 1"

May 25, 2019. 

 Ajay 

What should I do now?

I clearly don't have any idea. It's her birthday today. I have to do something right? I wanna surprise her like how she surprised me on my birthday. I should do something bigger than that so that it would actually be a surprise. I don't have office today which is another problem that I'm facing now. I don't have leave on sundays like before instead they give me leave on a week day which differs every week. This week it's Saturday. Next week it might be Friday or Thursday or who knows. The problem is Devi has leave only on Sundays, not even Saturdays. It's been hectic for her too. I tried to convince her to take leave today but she didn't, she has an important meeting today with the management. This life we live now is not fair at all. I mean, when we finally started a life together, this is the situation. 

I should plan something before she comes back from school. I told I will pick her up today. Can I take her somewhere? A candle light dinner? Oh no Devi hates attention. If I'm planning for a candle light dinner, I should book the whole rooftop restaurant but I'm obviously not a billionaire to do that. Oh wait maybe I can set up a candle light dinner at my balcony, that would be fun. So what should I cook now? I stood up from the couch and walked to the kitchen when my phone rang. I picked it up and saw it was a video call from my sister from Canada. I attended the call with a frown. 

"Appu?" I said. 

"Jayyyy..." She yelled excitedly "enga enga devi enga?" 

(Where is devi?) 

It was close to midnight there now. 

"Yen di oru thambi irukaan avanuk call panniye oru 6 maasam irukume avan epdi irukaan nu kepom.. athellam illa la? avala thaa kekura" 

(It's been 6 months since you last called me and the first thing you ask about is her?)

"Ey poda nee epdi iruka nu ellam amma sollit thaa irukka.. ava enga I wanna wish her before I go to sleep" 

(Mom keeps me updated on how you're doing.. Where is devi, I wanna wish her before I go to sleep) 

Oh yes. She called to wish her for her birthday.  She might have seen the status I put for her birthday. It was a picture that Prabhakaran sir took of us at Devadarshini maam's wedding anniversary. How gorgeous she looked that day, I don't think I can ever forget that day, the night we had our first kiss.

"Ava enga nu keta ethuk da ilichut irukka?" Appu's voice snapped me out. 

(Why are you blushing instead of responding to my question)

"Ava inga illa ka.. school poyirka..innaik class iruku" I said. 

(She is not here...she is at school) 

"Ohhh no.. I don't have her number" she said sadly. 

"Naa anupren" I said. 

(I will send it) 

"Mamaaa..." I heard my 6 year old nephew's voice from behind Aparna.