"Seri aararai kulla vandhiranum, illena avala dhaan Warden thittuvaanga" Shanmu replied before she advised Sivaangi with a "paathu po".
Taking a few steps away from the college gates, smirking he asked "unga friend Shanmu dhaan future warden poliye". Looking at his face with a grin, she muttered "aagalaam. Varungaalathu la. Vaaipu iruku". They quietly walked with their own thoughts to the slightly posh restaurant which was a few streets away.
Walking into the quiet family room of the restaurant with nothing but the sound of the ceiling fan, he quickly pulled out a chair before she could come to her senses. When she was unsure what she was expected to do, he quietly spoke "ukkarunga". Comfortably seated he perused the menu as she was a little thrown off balance. Placing his order "Enaku oru filter coffee" he looked to her "ungaluku?". Sivaangi stammered for a second not used to being asked what she wanted at restaurants. She was used to a male member of the family get a food token before they even entered the dining area when they went on tours to temples. She had never come out to dine alone in the two years she had been living in Madurai. It hadn't even occurred to her. She wondered why she had never done it, come out to dine alone. She wondered if it would be a liberating experience.
"Madam, ungaluku?" the server broke her line of thought and she replied "Oru coffee". As the server walked away, grinning Ashwin asked her "oru coffee podhuma? Kesari? Bajji? Venaamaa?". If it was an attempt at a joke, it went over Sivaangi's head. She still wasn't sure what was going on.
"Inga Enna panreenga?" she asked him a little unsure. "Last week inga Rajaji la join pannen. Idhuku munnadi appa oda clinic la dhaan practice pannitu irundhen, just for the past six months, Madras la. Adhuku munnadi DCH mudichutu one year, AIIMs la ye dhaan work pannitu irundhen. Next year MD entrance ku prepare pannanum. Last year try pannen, pidicha program la kedaikala. AIIMs la workload kooda. For that matter in any government hospital. Seri clinic naa kammi work irukum, padika time kedaikum. Adhaan Madras vandhen". She quickly cut him off with a "Inga Rajaji la velai kooda illaya?". "Theriyala, probationary dhaan. Last week dhaan join pannen so innum perusa idea illa, romba kashta pattu dhaan velai kedachadhu". He paused a few moments for the server to place the coffees before continuing "Naan ooruku pudhusu. Neenga vera namma ooru. Seri paathutu polaam nu vandhen".
Smiling with a touch of sarcasm she asked "vaazhkaila ethana thadava Bodi ku vandhirukeenga? Ooraam la?", he merely smiled focusing on the coffee in front of him.
"Madurai la Enna paakalaam? What would you suggest?" he asked without responding to her jab. Thinking for a second she replied "hmm, Meenakshi Amman kovil, azhagar kovil, pazhamudhir solai, vera Enna? Aayiram kaal mandapam, Gandhi Museum, Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal, theppakulam. Avlo dhaan enaku theriyum".
When he asked "Ennanga paadhiku mela kovil ah solreenga? Enaku perusa kadavul nambikai laan Illa. Veetla romba force panna eppovaachum poven. Saturday, Sunday outings ku kovil dhaan poveengala?"
Chucking dryly she replied, "Enna nenaikreenga? Idhu Madras Illa Delhi naa? Modha naan ipdi veliyavae vara mudiyaadhu. Hostel students college vittu veliyave vara koodaadhu. Hostel college ulla dhaan irundhuchu pona varsham varaikum. Kattada velai panraanga, adhunaala ippodhaiku veliya vechirukaanga hostel ah. Adhunaala dhaan hostel la 6.30 ku attendance bell adipaanga. Sports, special class, extra class mudichutu vara students kaaga konjam extra time. Adhunaala dhaan inniku coffee ellam. Pona varsham vandhirundha ennaya veliya kooda paathruka mudiyaadhu unganaala. Sani, Nyayiru outing ellaam allowed Illa. Romba rare ah nalla padikra pasanga naa, allow pannuvaanga adhuvum veetla permission vaangi. Naan permission slip vechuruken. Simmakkal la Central library iruku, Anga dhaan irupen Saturday Sunday naa. Aaru kulla hostel poiduven. Engayume ponadhilla Madurai la. Leave time la veetla irundhu Chithra thiruvizha paaka kootitu varuvaanga. Avlo dhaan enaku Madurai pathi theriyum".
