Karthik was sitting in his car looking at the mirror and smiling how he got the car.Just before going to Singapore on the business trip, Karthik and his family had spent some quality time together in Munnar for a week. Oct 12th – his birthday when they were midway on their Munnar trip. He was happy that he could spend his time with his parents. When they came back from the trip he found not one but two SUV’s parked in his portico. With a confusion he turned back to ask his mother “Who’s car is this?, aen inga park panni irukkanga?”. His mom did not answer anything and was trying to keep herself busy by searching for something that was eternally lost in her hand bag, hoping Shiva Shankar would respond, just when “Belated Birthday Wishes Karthik!!!” said his father with his hands outstretched with a small piece of metal glittering away happily in Chennai’s sun.”Appa!!!! wow, thank you so much…..aen pa ivlo costly’ya….anyways thanks a lot” said Karthik and took the keys in his hands for his new Toyota Fortuner.
He looked back to check on the plastic bag he had put in the rear seat before leaving his house and got out of the car and walked a couple of steps forward while casually throwing two pieces of chewing gum in to his mouth and carelessly pointed his keys towards his car and pressed a button to hear his car making the noise of some animal’s hiccup, twice. Among his friends he was famous for his decent dressing style and today was no different. He was wearing a black adidas tshirt embroided with the text Citi in a place where a pocket would normally be and was wearing a sky blue coloured Levis Strauss jeans pant. He was waiting just in front of Ispahani center with his sun glasses in his left hand and blackberry on his right hand. It was 2.50 PM. He was staring at the Swarovski show room thinking why women were so fascinated about those crystals. “Hello enna enakku vangi thara poringala?” came Archana’s Voice. “Oh, Vandhutingala?” asked Karthik. “You don’t have to call me vanga, ponga ellam. I am 5 years younger to you” said Archana heavily stressing on the age part and giggled.”Oh apdiya? enna di adhukulla vandhuta?” asked Kathik sarcastically. “Hello this is a little too much, you can maintain vanga ponga only” said Archana sounding a little angry which was only superficial. “Illanga, I was just kidding..sorry” said Karthik. “Ayyo, even I was kidding” said Archana.
She was wearing a collared lemon yellow Kurthi and a white patiala. How can some one be so cute thought Karthik, when Archana said “Hello, Whats the plan nu kaeten?” snapping her fingers in front his face. “Neenga Sollunga” suggested Karthik. “Hmmmmm, Ok lets go to Gangotri in Cathedral road, its very near by” she said. “Great, lets go”. She did not wait any further and put back her helmet and ignited her activa and made a gesture by swiftly tilting her head away from Karthik while maintaining eye contact with him and said “Aerunga Polam”. “What?” he said in total disbelief. He had never been a pillion rider with any girl not even with Varsha. Before he could say anything further, he could feel his hands being grabbed and pulled towards the scooter. He looked down and realised that she was holding his hands and he did not know what happened next and they were waiting in the Gemini signal for the traffic to clear and he was sitting in the pillion seat. Never had he been totally controlled by a girl like this in his entire life. He was so angry and wanted to get down immediately but the traffic cleared and she put the scooter back in motion. She was looking at him on the rear view mirror and asked “Hello, Why are you so tensed? I have a license” and winked her eyes while flashing a broad smile . Now he knew why he was sitting in the pillion seat. He totally agreed with himself why he did not say no to sit in the pillion. He could feel her hairs on his face fluttering due to the wind and smell the strong smell of the conditioner . This made the ride all the more interesting for him. He was now enjoying the ride. He took so much care that she did not find out that he was looking at her in the rear view mirror. She had a continuous smile all through the ride. Now she was staring back at him and said “Its been two minutes since I put off the ignition, konjam ernguringala ? weight thangala”. “ Oh I am sorry, and hello I am just 74 Kgs” he said with a broad smile.
