Chapter 7: 6. That Rtive
Anika''s PoV
"Ma, please ma. I cannote to this festival now. My exams are very close and my project review is
next week. I am still working on the output to get it more urate. You all go. Just 2 days right. I will
ask Nithu toe and stay with me." I was trying to make my mom understand that I cannot go to
Tirupur with them for a temple festival.
"You are a grown up girl. How will I be at peace when you are here all alone in the house for two
days?" Mom said.
"Pa... Make her understand, pa. I am not a child. I know how to cook. I can take care of myself and the
house. I can manage two days without you guys. I will make Nithue and stay here." I pleaded to
my dad and he finally agreed andpromised mom for the arrangement.
They will leave on Friday evening and will be back on Sunday night. Just two nights. I can manage
even without Nithu but mom will not leave me alone if not for Nithu. I texted Nithu about the
arrangement and asked her toe and stay with me. Her home is just on the street behind our home
and we have been buddies ever since.
I checked my mail to see if I have received any mails for the one on one interview. But there was no
mail from either of thepanies. I am kinda worried now. I really have to have this job when Ie
out of college because dad''s health is not at his best. He needs rest and if and only if I get a job, it is
possible.
I just opened thest mail the stalker sent me. I mistook Arun to be the stalker but when I asked him
straight about the mails, he said he didn''t send those emails. I was super surprised to know that he is
not the stalker. Almost everything he did and said made him look like that stalker. Now I wonder who
this stalker is and where did he vanish to?
''Hello Stalker,
How are you? Hope you are doing good. I am in my final semester. I used the base paper you sent me
for my project. Thank you. I am shortlisted in two MNCs for the final round of interview. I am waiting for
the mail from them for the date. If I am fortunate to bag a job, I will work in Chennai. These are the
things that happened to me in my life these years. What about yours?
Take care.''
Iposed this mail and was hesitant to send this to him. What if he didn''t even remember me? I
decided not to send this mail and left it as a draft.
"Hey akka, amma is calling you. A rtive of Amma hase." Advay came upstairs and called me. I
stood up from thepound wall and started to walk down along with him.
"Anu, bring a nice strong coffee for aunty." my mom told me as I entered the hall.
"Vaanga aunty(Come aunty), How are you?" I asked her. I have never seen her before.
"I am too good, dear. You have grown into a beautiful girl." she told me for which I smiled at her and
went in to make the coffee.
"Anandhi, your daughter is so beautiful. What is she doing now?" I heard that aunty asking my mom.
"She is in her final year of college. She will finish it next month." my mom told her.
"Oh, then she is ready for marriage. There are some grooms that I know who are looking for girls. Are
you ready for her marriage?"
"We are ready, akka. We have enough money for her wedding. But she wants to work for at least a
year." my mom told her. I just want to pour the hot milk over that aunty''s head.
"Work? If you send girls to work and if they earn enough money, they will never listen to your words,
Anandhi. Grooms from our rtions are not preferring girls who work in Chennai and Bangalore. They
are afraid that the girls may have some affairs and love. And the western culture in those ces will
surely spoil our girls." that aunty told mom. That is it.
"Here, aunty. I will always listen to my mom and dad no matter where I am or what I do. I am not ready
for marriage yet and my parents know what to do and when to do things for me. If you are here to see
my mom, just do that. Don''t talk about unnecessary things." I told her, giving her coffee.
"ANU!" my mom shouted at me.
"Whoa, Anandhi, your daughter is so talkative and I am sure she will never live a day in her inws
home with this tongue. You will never find a groom for her in our rtives." that aunty added fuel to my
mom''s anger.
"Apologize to her and get in." my mom told me.
"MA..!" I hesitated to say sorry to that aunty. She was the one that talked about all unnecessary things.
"Say sorry and go inside." she was stubborn and that aunty had a satisfied smile on her face and
Advay was controlling hisughs. I felt humiliated and angry.
Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.
"Sorry!" I yelled out and ran into the room.
Argh! Mom was telling her that I am going to go for a job for a year. I should have kept quiet. This
humiliation is unnecessary.
"Haha, OMG! That was the ultimate scene. This is not over yet. After that aunty leaves, mom will give
you tight ps. And will tell dad about your long tongue and will stop you from going for a job. How
many times have I told you to hold your tongue." Advay came in behind meughing like a maniac.
"Shut up, Adu!" I tried to yell at him but cries stopped my words. What he said is true and has a strong
possibility of happening. Mom is so strict and still lives in the 80''s.
"Adu, I am scared da. That aunty was the one who talked all irrelevant things and added to my anger." I
told him.
"What she said was a very usual thing. You overreacted. Do you love someone?" he asked me, which
took me by shock and surprise.
"Nonsense. Nothing like that." I tried to deny him.
"Ha, don''t lie akka. If you are not in love, why did you get angry when that aunty talked about your
marriage? The speed that you denied the usation itself has sold you out. Who is that, akka?" he
asked me. I have nothing to tell him. How can I say no when he caught me red-handed. Besides, I
might need his help topromise mom and dad.
"Yes, Adu. His name is Arun. He haspleted Msc and is now looking for jobs. He studied in my
college, da." I confessed.
"So mom was right about her doubts on the help you get for your project?" he asked me and I felt so
guilty. I felt I was doing something wrong.
"Adu, I like him da. You will also like him. His family is just like us. He has no dad. He has a younger
sister of your age and his mom. They are of our status." I tried to justify my stand.
"You know our mom, akka. She will never ept this. She will look for caste and things like that. Why
do you want toplicate things when you know the possibility of what you want is more on the
negative side?" he asked me to which I had no answer. I never thought about caste and issues like
that.
"If he finds himself a job, he wille with his mom and sister to our home to ask for my hand in
marriage. If everything goes in the right direction, mom and dad will have no reason to deny him." I told
him. I said more to myself.
"Will see all thatter. Now get ready to face the impact of your tongue." he said. That is when I heard
that aunty was taking leave from mom. OK, I am doomed now.
"Anu, Come out." She called for me from the hall.
"You are done!" Adu said. I walked out of the room and went to the hall and stood in front of my mom.
"Why do you want to go for a job?" she asked me out of nowhere.
"Ma?"
"Answer my question." She talked to me with a harsh and strict tone.
"To earn money, to put my studies to use, to build you a room and a toilet, to enjoy an independent life."
I told her.
"And?" she looked me in the eye and I felt scared and looked down.
"That is all, ma!" I tried to tell her in a strong voice but my voice shivered when I said that. She knows
that I am in love. I can sense it from her demeanor.
"I will tell you what is more. You want to drag time. You want to give your lover time to settle down." she
said and walked closer to me and I swallowed the ball of fear that gathered in my throat.
"Ma!" I raised my eyes to her and felt stars circling around my head. I heard birds chirping in my ears.
My cheek burns like it is on fire.
"Anandhi!" I heard my dad yell at my mom. That is when I realized that my mom had pped
me.