Prabhu's POV
Mostly MNCs will mail their employees to inform that they are kicking them out in the formal language. I quickly called Akash to confirm my suspicion.
"Akash! I got a mail from the company's board. I didn't open it. Do you know anything about it?"
Instead of answering my question, he started laughing like a crazy person.
After a couple of minutes, he composed himself and spoke.
"Hey idiot! Just open the mail. I will stay on the line"
I opened the mail praying all the gods I could remember and started reading it.
I could not believe my own eyes. I started doubting whether I am daydreaming. But the idiot on the line shouted to tell him whether I read it or not.
I disconnected the call and ran into his cabin. He started laughing after seeing me. I punched him in his gut for not telling me about this earlier.
"You should be thanking me, dude! Not punching me. Anyways congratulations for the promotion"
Yes! I got promoted as a Team leader.
"Your hard work and dedication paid off machan" Akash seems happier than me.
(Machan means 'Buddy' in Tamil)
"Thanks, Machan. I am very happy. And I can't wait to see my parent's reaction"
"Uncle and aunt will be proud of you machan. Okay, let me share this news with our Team members. Come da"
"Hmm ok, Machan."
After that Akash informed them formally and asked me to share the new project details with them. Akash is assigned to take the lead of another team.
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I finished all my work and went temple to thank god for being promoted as a TL.
I called my mom to share this happy news.
"Hello amma, ena panringa?
(Hello mom, what are you doing?)
"Sollu Prabhu, un Murugan mama veetuku vandhirken da."
(Tell me Prabhu, I have come to your Murugan uncle's home)
"Mama-um Athai-um epdi irukanga amma? And I have good news for you amma!"
(How are uncle and aunt? And mom I have good news for you)
"Oh, nanum unaku oru good news vachirken. Nee mudhala sollu pa enna vishayam nu?"
( Oh, I too have good news for you. But you tell me what is it?)
"Amma I got promoted as Team leader"
(Amma - mom)
Amma was very happy. She was thanking God for my promotion and sharing the news with my uncle and aunt.
"Great Prabhu! I am really very proud of you. Congratulations pa. Wait uncle and aunt wanna talk to you."
After talking with them, mom spoke again.
"Prabhu! You have told great news. Now my turn. I got a marriage proposal for you. Do you have any guess?"
But Janaki is still studying. We can't marry yet! Maybe her parents convinced her to continue her studies after marriage. Shit! Why the hell I think about her as my future wife? I don't have any feelings towards her. Maybe little..! Or may be due to the frequent teasing from my relatives in every family functions... Or maybe some other reasons yet to be realized.
What if Janaki is not the alliance mom chosen? Better ask her.
"No amma! I don't have any idea."
"You already know the girl Prabhu. Our family friend Kumar sir's daughter Nandhini. What do you think?"
Whoa! This day can't hold more surprises.
Nandhini! Not Janaki! I slapped myself in my mind for thinking about Janaki.
I remember Nandhini. She used to visit her grandparents who are living a few blocks away from Murugan mama's house.
She is a good looking girl. I don't know about her character. She often comes to Murugan mama's house. She always talks more to me. Both Vidhya and Janaki don't like her because she is kinda modern and our home is a little traditional. Even our parents allow them to use modern dress but everything should be properly covered. Nandhini used to be wearing little revealing dresses which irritates Janaki. She will divert my attention to something else while Nandhini is around me.
I don't have any second opinion. I will marry whomever my parent choose. They never forced me into anything. They always suggest and let me take the final decision. I always respect them and love them more than anything in this world. Being born in a middle-class family, I very well know how they worked hard and sacrificed their own happiness to pave a great future for me.
I am just wondering how Vidhu and Janu (Short form of Vidhya and Janaki) will agree with her.
"Prabhu are you there? Prabhu? Prabhu?"
"Sorry amma, I am zoned out! If the alliance is OK for you, appa(dad), Murugan mama(uncle) and Banu athai(aunt), then it's fine with me."
"Then we will fix one day to make the formal meeting between the two families."
"Okay, amma. Please check with Vidhu and Janu before confirming the date. Their opinion is also important."
"Of course. I will call you later Prabhu. Eat well. Take care pa."
"Sure amma. You too take care!"
After a long conversation, I decided to go to my apartment.
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I purchased the necessary groceries for me and reached my apartment. Because today is Friday and I usually have off for Saturday and Sunday.
I did my clean up routine and started making dosa and coconut chutney for my dinner.
(Dosa is kind of pancake/crepe made of ground and fermented batter of rice and Urad gram.
Coconut Chutney is gravy type - side dish made by grinding the mixture of freshly shredded coconut, green chilli, garlic, salt, and fried gram and tempered by mustard, urad gram and red chilli) [Mouth watering right! I know!]
While making my last dosa, I got text messages from Vidhu stating that they both don't have classes for 2 days. So I have to go and pick them up tomorrow morning at 9 AM for shopping. I replied them okay and finished my dinner.
I think mom didn't tell them about my promotion. Otherwise, they would have come here and turned my apartment upside-down in the name of celebration!
I have to tell them tomorrow and being in the shopping centre I can pay them for lunch and announce it as my treat. I set my alarm to 6.30 AM and slept after using Facebook for some time.
Janaki's POVI am staying in a private hostel, sharing the room with my cousin Vidhya. I have been waking up Vidhu from 6 AM. Now the time is already 7.30 AM. I already did my morning routine and yoga. But my sleepy head cousin is in her own dreamland, blushing in her sleep. I captured a picture of her blushing to use it later to tease her.Do you know? Choosing your best friend who is also related to your family is a very risky choice in life. But I am very happy to choose her. She is trustworthy and she is the type of friend who knows what to tell me to make me feel better at any situation and support me to bring the best in me.Even at the time of some disagreements between our parents, we didn't mind their scolding for going to each other's houses which are practically located in the same street.I and Vidhu have planned to celebrate her parent's anniversary. For that, we are going with Prabhu mama to get necessary things. (Mama is commonly used to ca
Janaki's POVI attended the call from Prabhu mama."Hello mama, How are you? Have you started? Please don't tell any reasons to cancel or postpone the plan. Because we have just 2 weeks for anniversary""I am very fine Janu! And I am not going to cancel or postpone the plan. I already started and on the way. I called Vidhu to tell that we can have breakfast together. No need to eat your hostel food today. And I very well remember the anniversary."I heard him let out the breath held to answer my list of questions."Okay, mama. Fine then. I am ready to go but your little princess is taking bath now. But we will be ready by 9 AM""Okay, Janu! Please don't make me wait longer in front of your hostel.""Haha. Don't pretend like Lord Sriram! You must be enjoying the view. Who knows you might be already here, looking at the girls. Am I right?""Janu! I have better taste. And I am not at all interested in Saturday sleepy faces. I am d
Prabhu's POVAfter speaking to my mama, we are now going to Express Avenue(mall). These girls are a big fan of Adventure films especially Marvel films. I like those movies but not a fan of them.They already booked tickets online for the movie 'Antman and the Wasp'. Thanks to mobile. We have more than 1 hour time for the movie.And these girls planned their menu in the car itself. I went to EA (Express Avenue) a few times before. But these girls are something else.Janu is a master in planning these kinds of things. She scheduled the timetable 'eat and enjoy till night'.As they planned, we went to the food court and ordered dominos pizza and garlic bread and beverages. We discussed the anniversary arrangements while eating. We exactly finished our lunch 10 mins before the movie. And we entered the theater on time. The movie is nice but they two watched the movie without even blinking eyes and also waited till the post credit scene which raised the
Janaki's POVWhen did Vidhu start to have secrets? What is she hiding from me?My emotional side of the brain tells me to confront her. But my Detective side tells me to observe her without her knowledge till I get full details.What shall I do? I decided to dig into the details without her knowledge. From tomorrow onwards 'Detective' Janu must be in full alerts. I silently smiled. My full suspicion is on that jerk, Ajay.Yes, I am calling him a jerk because he is soooooooo mean and arrogant. Once I tried to ask him a doubt in cost accounting as my friends suggested he is great at the subject. But that jerk ignored me with an irritating comment 'I am already busy this month girl! You may try me later. Better luck next time!' I felt annoyed as he winked at me before driving away.My most of my seniors were very nice and always clear our doubts. How dare he think me so cheap? And he called me 'Girl'. What does he think about me? How the hell can he j
Janaki's POVThis should not be happening. Oh my dear God! Why are you always having fun by putting me in embarrassing situations?"Mama! When.. did you.. come?"I gasped as his eyes filled with full of anger.He didn't reply to my question which is evident that he watched the whole thing. He took his mobile and called Vidhu. But it seems her number is busy. He tried again."Wait mama. I will get her"Without glancing back at him I ran to my room.The bomb is now ticking. I have to calm him down. I saw Vidhu speaking on the phone. She and that damn Ajay! Can't she see his brother's call on the second line?"Vidhuu"I shouted her name while entering our room. She almost dropped her phone and placed her hand on chest."Oh Janu, you scared me to the death"I am not in the mood to explain her anything."He came. We have to go"I took my bag and lock and glared at her.She quickly whispered
Prabhu's POVAfter the great dinner, we settled to watch TV. I noticed Janu went out to talk to her parents. Its been 30 minutes and she didn't return. She won't go anywhere without informing us. I want to check her. So without grabbing much attention of others, I walked towards the front gate.There she is, in deep thoughts leaned on the side of the front door facing the street. My mind reminded the morning incident so I decided to tiptoe near her so that I can pull a prank by shouting in her ear. It will be funny to watch her scared face and her reactions.I almost went near her but she suddenly turned and bumped into me. My hand automatically snaked her waist to stop her from falling. She didn't realise that I am holding her because she didn't open her eyes for a couple of minutes. She looks more gorgeous in this dim streetlight. She widened her eyes realising our closeness then she immediately pushed me and rushed inside.I stood there still. What the
Janaki's POVAs there is nothing interesting to do inside my house, we decided to sit at Thinnai. (It is open sit-out built using cement with the support of pillars to the top, usually constructed in front of the house used for resting.)We are watching some songs on YouTube and singing. Practically shouting along, not bothered about our neighbours. I heard my appa bike coming. I jumped from thinnai and stuffed my mobile into Prabhu mama's lap making them jumping a little by my sudden actions. I chuckled a little before running towards the gate and now I'm standing in the middle of the road waving at my parents and smiling at them.Prabhu mama and Akash are leaning at the gate smiling at my action. I ran to hug and kiss them as soon as my appa parked his bike. They laughed before returning my hug and kisses. My appa went to hug Prabhu mama and shook his hand with Akash then invited them both inside."Epdi irukinga mama? Iniku vyabaram epdi pochu?"
Nandhini's POV(Saturday)ARGH! HANGOVER!I shook my head trying to get rid of the worst headache and blinked my eyes a few times as I didn't remember how I ended up in this place. All I remembered is last night, I went to a pub with my friends. I drank 7 shots or maybe more.. then... Hmmm... I couldn't recall anything after that.I tried to get up from this soft and comfortable bed but I realized an arm snaked around my naked body. I tried to recognize the muscular guy lying in his birth state besides me but I couldn't. GREAT! I took a warm long shower and wore my clothes that were scattered all around the room. Suddenly the room door opened and another hot tall guy entered with a glass full of lemon juice."Hey hottie! You have already got ready? I thought you would like to spend some more time with us."Us? Never mind! He gave me the juice. His eyes were all over my body as I am wearing a short gown and revealing most of my long legs.