As Maya reluctantly stepped into the white Ford, an inexplicable familiarity washed over her in Raju's presence, as though they had been lifelong acquaintances. Rolling down the window, she waved with a smile, concealing the ache of leaving behind a piece of her heart.
Back home, Maya found her mother preparing dinner.
Mom: Po kulichutu vaa, dinner will be ready by then. We have to start packing today, only then we can do it in a week.
At the dinner table.
Maya: Amma, innum konja naal Chennai la iruklaam ma.
Mom: What? no way, ithuve unga appa kita sanda pottu, unaku masters join panrathuku munaadi oru break venum nu inga vanthom, maranthutiya?
Maya: I know.. but (she wanted to explain, but did not know where to start. How could anyone grasp the depth of her feelings for someone she'd only known for a few hours?)
Rest of the dinner was in silence.
In the bedroom.
Maya was sadly packing her clothes along with her mom. Her mom, noticing this asked: "Hey ena d aachu, trip elaam epidi pochu, yen umm nu iruke"
Maya's suddenly comming back to reality, "athu yen ma kekra, trip super ah irunthuchu, Cochin la neraya places ponom but on the way back, en flight matum cancel airuchu."
Mom: "oh yen d solave ila, athaan 1 day late ah, naa etho neenga 1 day extend paniteenga nu nenachen"
Maya: "no no, friday ve kelambitom, Shruthi and ava anna elaam bangalore potitaanga, en flight via coimbatore, athaan cancel"
Her mom was shocked and furious.
Mom: (raising her voice) "Coimbatore ah? nee yen anga ponee enkita solaama?"
Maya: "huh naa enga ponen, Chennai via coimbatore nu thaan sonaanga but athu coimbatore varikum thaan pochu"
Mom (tensed tone): "aprom enaachu? anga irunthu epidi vanthe"
Maya: "aprom next flight adutha afternoon thaan, so train la vanthen. no big deal."
Mom: "no big deal ah! appa ku nee coimbatore ponathu therinja naa sethen."
Maya: "huh yen coimbatore na ipidi alarure. appa yen kova paduvaar?"
Her mom couldnt answer any of the questions, instead she was more and more concerned.
Mom: seri atha vidu, yen chennai la innum konja naal iruklaam nu sone
Maya: (now blushing slightly) athuvaa, chumma thaan.
She ran off with a smile to her bedroom and closing the door behind her.
That night, Maya couldnt sleep, but not because of thoughts of Raju. She laid still in bed, paralyzed by the sound of her mother's sobbing voice, talking to her father over the phone in the next room. Perhaps she would never be able to sleep peacefully again.
Mom: "Ayoo enaku sathiyama theriathu, avaluke theriathu Coimbatore pova nu"
"College mudichu four years aachu, elaam seri aagirum nu ovoru thadavayum soneenga"
"ila enaala mudila..(sobbing) Muthal vaati Bali la.. epidi ne therila, door thoranthu katthi oda nikkra aluthutu. Neenga Facebook oda friend suggestions naala thaan avaluku therinjuthu nu soneenga"
"Again paninom, avanga college alumini meet la ival pogamaye, avan thedi vanthaan Singapore varai"
"And ipo.. 3 years ah evalo careful ah irunthom, US la.. "
"Enaala mudila'nga.. iva thirumba thirumba antha pain ah go through panrathu..(sobbing..) etho time loop mathuri"
"ungaluku puriya maateeethu, avanga seranum nu iruku, athu nama ena paninaallum thaduka mudiyaathu "
"Pesama ava pregnant nu sona apove elaam vitutu renduperayum sethi vechurukanum.."
"Naa ivalo solliyum ungaluku puriyala la. seri enaala mudiyaathu ithu, intha vaati avanga kooda sethi enakum memory erase paneerunga."
