Hi Malini, I am Krishnan. Naan Idha solliye aaganum nee avlo azhagu, inga evanum “Hello Archana here” she said and he completed “Ivlo azhaga oru, pchup Ivlo azhaga pathu irukka matanga” he smiled and added “Karthik here, nalla caller tune”. “Oh neengala, I have a different number of yours..this is a new number. And nalla lyrics manapadam panni vechi irukeenga” she said. “Ha, this is my dad’s number, the one which you have is my Bangalore number. Enna vishayam kalailiye orkut’a?” he asked. “Hmm, last week team lunch ponum, andha photos ellam ennoda mobile la irundhudhu. Team mates wanted me to upload them that is why early morning orkut session.” she said. “Btw how did you find out my profile” he asked. “Ha ha went to official Hindustan community and searched for Karthik” she said feeling good about her intelligence and blushing without him finding that out.”Hmm, Cognos data warehousing training veena pola” he said. "So whats the plan? for sunday?” she asked. “Enna plan, will be leaving to Bangalore tonight that is the plan.” he said. “It is just ten in the morning and you are already worried about going back to Bangalore…Periya workaholic pola ?” she said hoping desperately that he will ask her out. “Workaholic’a? ha ha ask my manager” he said. “Hmmm, btw I used the shampoo today, it was really good.thanks!” she said. “Oh great….hmmm lunch ku velia polama ?” he asked and immediately added “I will come and pick you in my car, no scooters”. “Ha Ha Ha, even yesterday had you told me that you had come in car, I would not have forced you to ride with me in my bike. You looked like some one who just got out from an auto after a big fight with the auto driver” she could not control herself and broke in to a laughter. “Adhu sari, innum kevalama aedhuvum thonaliya?” he asked. “Sari when will you come here?” she asked. “What is the time now? hmmmm, ten aagudhu..I will come to pick you up at around 12.30..is it okay?” he asked. “hmm, okay naan free dhan” she said.” Sari appo B4N” he said and disconnected the call.

He called her just before leaving his home and told her that he would give her a call once he reached near her house. Once he came near Ashok Pillar he gave her a call which she promptly cut. After few minutes she came out and stood near the gate with an umbrella, wide open above her head. She saw the huge SUV struggling to enter her street at a distance when she folded her umbrella and called out “Amma naan poitu varen”. He parked the car right in front of her gate and lowered the power window to smile at her and waved at her to hop in. The minute she entered the car and closed the door, the air filled in with a chocolate flavour from her moisturiser. “Semma veyil” she said and waved her hanky in front of her face. He adjusted the AC vents to point at her and asked “Enga polam?”. “How about komala’s ?” she said. He liked that place very much, it had been the saviour when he was in Singapore. He smiled at her and put the vehicle on gear. It hardly took them 15 minutes to come to Komala’s. From the other end of the road he slowed down and noticed that there was not enough space to park his car. “Edam illa pola irukke, lets see” he said and started to gain some speed. When he came around the round about, he said “we can try Veg Nation that is also a good place”. She was okay with any place she just wanted some time to spend with him. “Hmm, lets go there, even my friends say its a good place.” she said.He directed his car straight to the parking lot of Veg Nation.

Veg Nation was famous for their buffet and they opted for the same and a waiter came to welcome them and asked, “ Table for two sir?”. “Yeah” he said. The waiter took them to a table at the far end of the hall. They started with some salads and Panneer Pakoda which was the starter for the day. Like any other girl she was so tidy when she ate and was too slow . By the time he had finished his second helping of Panneer Pakoda she was still continuing her salad. When she went to get herself some sauce for her Pakoda, Karthik noticed a girl talking loudly over her mobile with lot of animation on her face entering the room. He momentarily raised his left hand to his forehead and started to give himself a small massage with an audible sigh, “Nasama Pochu”. Archana came back with her sauce and baby corn and peas pulav, same time the girl with the mobile saw him and opened her mouth in shock, so widely that he could have stuffed atleast four pakodas into her mouth all at once. She abruptly cut the call and came to their table almost running. She was staring at him and at Archana alternating from each other. “Hutch Nai maari aendi pora edam ella pinnadiye thorathura?” Karthik asked; of course he was not serious. “Naan nayave irundhutu poren. Nee enna? veetla ponnu pakkaranga nu sollitu, nee thaniya inga oru ponna pathutu irukka?” Varsha asked resting her hands on either side of her hips. Archana was totally confused and tried not to react. “Ada cha aendi maanatha vangara, Ivanga than andha ponnu” he said pointing at Archana who smiled at Varsha apprehensively. “Ivangala ? enna mariyadhayoda solra? ponnu vunna vida perivala?” she asked and started to laugh at her own joke. Archana, who was smiling till then changed her facial expression immediately and started to stare at Karthik. “Nee onnum thappa eduthukkadha, ava apdi dhan. loosu, peru Varsha. Hey loose, avanga peru Archana” he said. Varsha slid herself next to Archana with such force that Archana might have fallen out of the sofa. Archana shook her face in disbelief and turned her face towards Varsha only to see her face almost touching Varsha’s, who was displaying all the teeth wide and white like a tooth paste ad model. Before Archana could realise what was happening there, Varsha had clicked a snap of them together on her mobile and was holding it for Archana to see. “Nalla irukka?” Varsha asked. “Hmmm” Archana said without opening her mouth. “Neeyum lunch ku vaadi” said Karthik looking at Varsha who did not answer his question said “Enna panra? Vunna pathi indha dubakooru aen kitta onnume sollala” pointing to Karthik. “TCS la work panren, Neenga enna panringa?” Archana asked back. “Naaan rendu pasangala romba naala route vidren. Ha hah ha.” she started to laugh uncontrollably. Archana decided she was indeed a nut case. “Enna bayandutiya ? Naan Yahoo la work panren” Varsha said still laughing. Archana was not sure how she went to yahoo. Varsha answered a call in her mobile, “Enna? New Yorker poitiya ? Enna Veg Nation vara sollitu nee aen anga pona? poda loosu, sari varen iru” she finally cut the call and turned to Archana to say “ Rendu pera route vidren nu sonnen illa? avanga kadayadhu. Idhu moonavadha orthan. Sari naan kelambaren ha ha ha” Varsha said and took the spoon from Karthik’s plate and took two spoons full of pulao from Archana’s plate and stuffed it in to her own mouth before leaving. “I am sorry, Ivala naan inga paapenu therinji irundha I would have not brought you here.” he said. “Phew ..” Archana sighed still not able to believe what had just happened. “Yahoo la than work panrangala illa mail id vechitu irundhale work panra mari nenaikaranagala? “ she said. “Ha ha Yahoo than “ he said. “Eppdi ivanga poi Yahoo ?” she asked. “Hello IIT Bombay ava” he said with lot of pride. “IIT Bombay va? shock mela shock. Ivlo dhana vera aedhavadhu irukka?” she asked. “Irukku, IIM – B la seat kadachi irukku avalukku” he said. “Yahoo, IIT and IIM..super aana vunga spoon’a eduthu aen plate la irundhu saptutu povanga.” she said removing the spoon from her plate. “Btw Varsha nu sonninga, who is she?” she asked. “Ava aen chithi ponnu, amma side. Avanga family’e appi dhan, avaloda annan innum mosam. IIT, ISB and PhD from MIT. Ippo Goldman Sachs la work panran” he finished. They finally finished their lunch with payasam and gulab jamoon. He settled the bill and they both came out.