New Beginnings....

Better things are coming...

Kathir doesn't have a clue where to take her...

K: Mahi unnaku engae pohanom?

Mh: Shopping polamah?

He laughs at her answer...

It was such a typical girly reply.

K: Seringae madam.. Ennae vanganom?

Mh: School bag...Mummy naan Qatar lenthu vathae odanae vangi tharen nu sonnangae... Inniki vangalamah?

K: Seri Amma unnae enthae kadaikku kootitu povangae?

She tells the name...

Singapore shopping center...

K: Engae ma irruku indhae kadae?

She tells the area and he turns his bike to go there...

The entire area of Purasaiwakkam is a hub of back to school shoppers...

There are at least twenty shops all selling school bags, uniforms and school shoes.. One of every two shops is a fancy store and the entrance of the store is packed with ladies trying to choose earrings among the crowd.

He parks his bike under Doveton Bridge and the shop is right in front of it...

Holding Mahi's hand, he takes her to the shop...

The shop is a curse for parents....

Every product is displayed so attractively that most children will make a huge fuss to leave it empty handed...

Kathir asks the shop keeper to show school bags...

He shows Mahi about 15 bags and she rejects everything...

Kathir is surprised... All the bags were by Disney, Barbie and My little pony... All her favorites...

Mh: Vangae Uncle polam... Ennaku ethumae pudikalae...

He takes her hand and they leave ..

Outside the shop, they stop to buy masala peanuts from a vendor and munch on it hurriedly before entering another shop...

After four more shops, a few purchases of hair clips, kerchiefs, an ice cream cone later. ...she still hasn't found the right bag.

K: Unnaku ennae maari bag venum Mahi?

Mh: Dinosaur bag...

K: Adhae sollae vendithanae...

Mh: Qatar leh...thatha odae The good dinosaur movie paathen... Adhae bag dhan venum...

Finally after two more shops, they find a shiny green and blue dinosaur bag that she is happy with...

And they leave the shop happily along with the matching water bottle..

Mahi thanks him profusely...

They go to a famous sweet shop nearby and drink the most thick and creamy badham kheer... And buy some snacks for home..

They reach home, a while later, Kathir having taken the long route, just because she likes riding on the bike...

Just as she gets down, she says...

Mh: Uncle naan naughty ah irunthenaeh Mummy kitte sollanthingae...

K: Nee naughty avae illae Mahi... He says pinching her cheeks...

She runs inside, so excited to show off her new purchases....

*******

On June 12th, just as Kathir is getting ready for office, Mullai enters inside after knocking the door...