"When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something."
-John Lewis.
The sound alarm disturbs Ashwin's sleep. He groans and gets up to switch off the alarm. The time was half past five. He sighs and saw Rakshan sleeping by covering his face with the duvet. He turns front and saw the women sleeping peacefully.
Ashwin: alarm oruthanuku koodava da kekala...
He chuckles and goes to the restroom to finish his morning chores. He comes back in a while and goes to wake up Sivaangi.
Ashwin: Sivaangi ma wake up....
Sivaangi groans and pulls his hand to her and continues sleeping. Ashwin chuckles and pats her with his other hand. She groans again and pulled his other hand as well. Ashwin laughs and dashes his forehead on hers, "ezhundhiri ma. I should drop you in home, college kelambanum la ma get up...."
Sivaangi opens her eyes in anger and shuts his mouth with her palm, "chumma chumma pesadha pa thookam varudhu...."
Ashwin chuckles and took her hand away, "paapa good morning...."
Sivaangi: illa good night dhaan. I am gonna sleep...
Ashwin: no no time aagudhu paapa. Veetuku poganum la please ma get up....
Sivaangi: thookam thookam ah varudhu ma....
Ashwin: inaiki half day dhaana you can attend the classes come back home and sleep, ippo ezhundhiri ma ....
Sighing, Sivaangi got up and sat with a pouty face. She leans on his shoulder and continues sleeping.
Ashwin chuckles, "heyy idam maari thoonguriya ?"
Sivaangi: aama nalla irukku konja neram pa....
Ashwin nods and lies his head on hers. Rakshan who woke up to the alarm pretended to sleep to see what Ashwin would do.
He peeps out from the duvet and saw Sivaangi leaning on his shoulder and him placing his head on hers.
Rakshan: mangalagarama start aairke. Enna sonnalum seri jodi porutham nalla dhaan ya irukku ...
Saying, he closes his eyes to catch some more sleep.
Sivaangi slept on his shoulder by clutching his arm. Ashwin was lost in the moment and almost fell asleep when he jerks remembering that they have to attend the college.
Ashwin: just uh miss uh illana naamale thoongi irupom....
He pats Sivaangi to wake her up. She whines and holds him tight. He lifts her head from his shoulder, cups her face and blew air on her face. Sivaangi slowly opens her eyes.
Ashwin: please paapa we have to go la ma, vitta naane unna again thoonga vechiduven pola. Common ma ezhundhiri...
Sivaangi giggles and goes to freshen up.
Ashwin: onna ezhupave kashtama irunduchu. Mrini enna na izhuthu pothitu thoongudhu...
He pats Mrini to wake her up and she got up with a jerk hearing a male voice, "yaaruda adhu enga veetla...."
She murmurs in sleep and Ashwin laughs, "hello unga veedu dhaan ana vera veedu. Kanna thorandhu paaru...."
Mrini opens her eyes and saw Ashwin. She realised her surroundings and smiles sheepishly, "Good morning na..."
Ashwin: Good morning ma. Sivaangi vandha odane you freshen up as well. Early morning cab kedaikum nu dhaan nenaikiren. I'll book one and drop you both.
Mrini: seri na...
Sivaangi comes out and Mrini goes to the restroom. Ashwin gave his towel to wipe her washed face.
Ashwin: Sivaangi naa unna drop pannitu anga hot chocolate potu tharen. You wouldn't have brushed la so inga kudika venaam...
Sivaangi: Pa we'll take care. Evlo dhaan pannuvinga ?
Ashwin glares at her and hold his hips with a pretending angry face.
Sivaangi: seri seri moraikadha pa. Neeye potu kudu I'll drink seriya ?
Ashwin: hmm good girl !
Sivaangi chuckles and hugs him. He hugs her back.
Mrini who came out and heard them, "ohh nee potu pesurangala. Nalladhu da..." She wasn't bothered about the hug as she was used to it.
Ashwin leaves her and takes out his phone to book a cab. The girls wait in the living room. The cab arrives and the girls get inside the car.
Sivaangi remembered the soft toys, "achachoo teddy laam eduthukalaye. Car vera eritome....."
Ashwin calls out Mrini for a minute and she goes inside the house. Sivaangi waits for them.
Five minutes later, Ashwin and Mrinalini came out holding all the soft toys in their hands. Mrinalini locks the door and they reach the car. Sivaangi claps her hands and the driver chuckles.
Ashwin sits at the passenger seat and Mrini sits at the back beside Sivaangi. Ashwin and Mrini hand over all the toys to her and she grabs them tight.
Ashwin: en venum nu kekama thiruttu muzhi muzhicha ??
Sivaangi responds with the same thiruttu muzhi.
Ashwin: same reaction. Unakaga dhaana vaangunen appo eduthutu dhaana poganum....
Sivaangi: adhu alla ....
Ashwin: Malayalam ohh ?
Sivaangi chuckles and stretches her right hand forward to pinch his cheek, "hehe kochukadhinga pa...."
Ashwin: avlodhaan kovam pochu....
Mrini: ippo theriyudha na en nelamai...
Mrini exclaims and the trio laugh.
The cab reached the girls house. Ashwin pays for the cab while the girls enter their home. Sivaangi goes to the room with all the soft toys, placed them on the bed and goes to get ready for college. Mrini went to the kitchen and prepared a cup of coffee and two glasses of hot chocolate.
Ashwin enters the home and Mrini hands him the cup of coffee, "En ma naa poda maatena?"
Mrini: anna oru cup coffee dhaana
Ashwin: edhachum sollu eli nee...
Mrini whines and her phone rings. She attends the call without seeing the caller ID and a loud laugh escapes from the other side. She slaps her forehead in understanding and waits for the person to talk.
Caller: Vandhuten nu sollu thirumbi vandhuten nu sollu
Mrini: Unna yaarum vara sollala poda .
Caller: Great insult !
Mrini: pazhaganadhu dhaana da ?
Caller: seri seri romba damage pannadha. Competitions laam mudinjudhu, last round la thothuten
Mrini: namakku vaaikuradhu avlodhaan. Eppo paaru last la thokuradhu.
Caller: veetla semma thittu Mrini, sirichite vechiten.
Mrini: Dei Krishna, vidra vidra naama paakadhadha, vaangadhadha..
Krishna: adhe dhaan... Naa college varen, inaiku oru special entry oda varen paaru
Mrini: Ponnunga kitta vaangi kattikadha da venna
Krishna: Nee kaapatha maatiya ma ?
Mrini: nichayama maaten
Krishna: nalla friend di....
Mrini: Thank you. Seri da let's catch up in college, naa vera ready aaganum
Krishna: Seri Mrini tata...
Mrini cuts the call and saw Ashwin listening to her, "anna two days ah Krishnan Rangaswamy nu oru student varala la avan dhaan na. Super talented athlete and dancer still perusa prizes laam vaangunadhu illa"
Ashwin nods in understanding, "Naa mattum dhaan apdi nu nenacha neenga ellarume apdiye irundhu enna panna ?"
Mrini: onnum panna mudiyadhu na. Ellam vidhi.
Ashwin chuckles and Sivaangi comes out ready in a yellow top with black jeggings. Her hair was pulled up to a pony tail and she looked simple yet beautiful.
Mrini saw Ashwin lost in thoughts looking at Sivaangi and murmurs, "seri neenga paarunga da naa poi ready aaitu varen"
Mrini leaves and Sivaangi sat next to him. He wasn't responding but just stared at her.
Sivaangi waves her hand infront of him still he didn't react. She taps his cheek hard and he blinks, "en ma adicha ?"
Sivaangi: neenga onnume pesama enna apdiye paathutu irundhinga Ashwineyyy...
Ashwin: naana ma ?
Sivaangi: neengale dhaan....
Ashwin: ennamo yosichitu irundhen ma vera onnum illa...
Sivaangi: Paa neenga veetuku kelambunga time aagudhu la. Today it's half day, so veetuku vandhutu assignment ah inaike mudichiruven. Weekend ah nalla enjoy panna....
Ashwin: paah paah planning laam balama irukke...
Sivaangi: hehe aama pa. Neengalum varingala ? Rakshan anna, Raji ma vayum kuptukalam. Anju perum engeyachum suthitu varalam....
Ashwin: paakalam ma...
Sivaangi: onnum paaka venaam varinga avlodhaan...
Ashwin: ohh andha alavuku poiducha ?
Sivaangi: aama
Ashwin: utharavunga ammuni. Ellarum polaam.
They chuckle and Ashwin leaves. The girls get ready and reach college.
Near the phoenix statue, they saw Krishna dancing infront of a set of girls.
Krishna endhan peruthaan
God of love naanuthaan
En brindhavana thottathukku
Queen neethaan
Sivaangi claps her hands while Mrini slaps her forehead, "suthi paithiyangala vechikittu irukene...."
Kiss me single naanthan
Touch me mingle aavom
En thananthani desertula
Rain neethaan
Mrini: Ada chi niruthu ....
Krishna saw Mrini but continues without bothering.
Full moon naduvula
Rainbow pola azhagaa irukkuriyae
Ada tea kada boiler pol
En nenjil soodaa kodhikkiriyae
Mrini: Girls do whatever you want, I won't stop you this time.
Krishna's eyes widen and he murmurs, "okay ithoda niruthikavum...."
Krishna asks the girls to leave and jumps infront of Mrini shouting, "Chalmaar..."
Mrini slaps him and Sivaangi laughs out loud.
Krishna: enna minion nee ? ava adikira nee sirikira ?
Mrini: pinna vera enna pannanum ?
Krishna: rendu ponnunga friend ah vechi iruken onnachum epdi irukka, saaptiya nu kekudhungala paaru... Onnu adikudhu innonu sirikudhu...
The girls laugh and Krishna glares them. Sivaangi side hugs him, "enna pandradhu unna aachum otikirene ..."
Krishna: ota naa enna auto va ?
Mrini: pona ponnungala vara vechi adikka sollata ?
Krishna: sadhikari senjalum seiva....
Mrini: poda modhala lecturers kitta leave letter kuduthutu va po...
Krishna: dho oditen...
Krishna runs to the staffroom and Sivaangi chuckles, "en avana thittite irukka ?"
Mrini: idhu thitta nee vera en baby .... Avanuku idhu dhaan paasam loosu...
The girls giggle and go to the class.
Rakshan starts the class and he took the next one as well.
The class gets over and all the teaching staffs were called for a meeting. The students chit chat and the friends trio cup their faces and see each other and Krishna says, "perusunga laam sendhu ennavo plan pannudhungala ?"
Sivaangi slaps his arm, "hey Ashwin chinna paiyan ...."
Krishna: Ashwin ah ??
Mrini: edhuku ipdi performance pandra ? Unakku theriyadha two days ah enna nadandhuchu nu ?
Krishna: Performance pandren nu theriyudhu la, panna vidalame...
Sivaangi: Ayyo niruthunga. I want to know what's happening in staff room ...
She whines and the duo look at her. Krishna asks, "Sivu unakku theriyanum avlodhaana ?"
Sivaangi: yes yes....
Krishna: seri va polaam. Mrini vaa...
The trio leave the class and enter the PG block. The meeting was held there. They slip through a narrow passage and enter a store room. The store room had an old door at the end and on opening it, they found all the teaching staffs seated with the academic coordinator and other staffs at the front desk.
Sivaangi spots Ashwin and Rakshan at the fourth row. They were laughing and Sivaangi tries to talk. Mrini stops her, "yemma setha neram onnum pesadha. Maatna gaali dhaan. Anna kitta aprom pesalam...."
Sivaangi pouts and nods her head.
The principal wasn't present so the academic coordinator was the head of the meeting.
The meeting starts and it was about the college elections.
Coordinator: As we all know that, the elections should have happened during the commencement of the academic year ana nadakala. So it'll be conducted now and as usual only Civil department candidates will contest, others need not....
Ashwin and Rakshan were curious to know why is it only for civil department.
Ashwin: Sir, may I ask a question ?
Coordinator: Yes Mr. Ashwin...
Ashwin: Sir, why is it only the civil students are contesting for the elections ?
Coordinator: Because the other department students aren't fit for that...
Mrini and Krishna grit their teeth in annoyance. Sivaangi was clueless.
Ashwin: Sir, this is ridiculous. Yaar apdi sonnadhu ?
A senior lecturer from the civil department snorts and answers, "Enna theriyum indha college pathi ? Vandhu moonu naal kooda aagala ana ivlo kelvi ..."
Few of the civil department teaching staff laughs at the comment and Rakshan fumes in anger. Ashwin eyes him to stay put and he smiles at the senior lecturer.
The trio here snorts and Sivaangi shoots daggers at the senior lecturer, "How dare he ? Question keka ella rights um irukku avaruku... Adhuvum en Ashwin ah kelvi kekuranga ? Krishna andha aaloda vandi edhachum irundha sollu thookidalam...."
Mrini who was annoyed laughed for the last line and Krishna giggles too, "vandi dhaana bike dhaan. Sirappa seiyalam..."
Ashwin starts speaking and the trio listen to him.
"Moonu naal oh moonu nimisham oh the moment I am appointed, I became a part of this institution. Neengalum enna maari staff dhaan, owner illa. Neenga comment pannum podhu naa en sir question keka koodadhu ?"
Rakshan almost tries to whistle but maintains the decorum.
The trio here howl in a hushed tone. Sivaangi squeals and Mrini shuts her mouth, "maata porom chumma iru baby...."
Sivaangi whispers, "okay okay. Ashwineyyy the mass uh, Ashwineyyy the hero...."
Mrini and Krishna laugh at her.
The senior lecturer's face lost colours and he gets up annoyed, "How dare you question me ? En experience la oru pangu kooda varuma unnodadhu ?"
Ashwin: Kandippa varadhu sir but this is not about teaching and even if it is, I can definitely do it better.
Ashwin was not ready to sit back and listen instead he decided to voice out his thoughts.
Coordinator: What are you trying to prove Mr. Ashwin ?
Ashwin: Sir, will it be okay if I come forward and express my views ?
Coordinator: Yes sure.
Ashwin movies to the podium and starts addressing them, "For those who don't know me, this is Ashwin Kumar, lecturer from computer science department."
His bold voice echoed the room and Sivaangi claps slowly, "paathingala en aala...."
Krishna: un aala ?
Mrini stomps his foot and he winced in pain. She turns to Sivaangi, "nee enna venumo sollu baby...."
Sivaangi giggles and pulls her cheek. Mrini whispers to Krishna, "edhuku da indha vela unakku ? Vidiya vidiya Ramayanam ketutu Sitaiku Raman chithappa va ndra maari kekura ?"
Krishna: hehe chumma....
Mrini: palla odaipen...
Krishna: okay closed ...
Here Ashwin continues, "I don't know on what basis it's being claimed that the other department students aren't fit to contest in the elections. It's definitely not that the whole set of students are not eligible. What's making you all say this ?"
A random teaching staff from behind, "That's because the other department students are least bothered about college activities. It's only the civil students who take care of college...."
Krishna sighs, "sonnangala unga kitta ? Illa enna dhairiyathula ipdi ellam pesuranga ?"
Sivaangi: adhaana...
Mrini: vaaya moodunga. Veetla therinja unakku edhuku vendadha velai nu thittu vizhum... Anna enna soldraru nu kepom....
Ashwin: Oh is that so sir ? The present batch had to stay in home for almost one and a half years due to the COVID pandemic, they came back to regular classes from fifth semester and now it's sixth sem. It's exactly five months since they came back to normalcy. What sort of activities were conducted and in what didn't they participate ?
Also when the non teaching staffs are doing their job pretty well and taking care of the college, what extra did the civil students do ? Can you please explain ?
The room was filled with pin drop silence. Few of them really thought of it but couldn't answer as they have nothing to tell...
Ashwin: En ellarume silent ah irukinga ? Ivlo sonna neenga why can't you point out the exact things ? This is like all are grudging the other department students.
The senior lecturer answers, "unga ishtathuku solladhinga Ashwin"
Ashwin: Sir naa onnum sollala, no one is answering. So I should assume it like this...
The coordinator sensed the argument intensifying and interrupts, "Calm down men. Let's find the solution. Ashwin, what's your stand ?"
Ashwin: Sir, it's election. Anyone can contest here irrespective of the departments. If any student is fulfilling the election criteria, they can definitely take part. My stand is everyone must get a chance."
Many of them in the hall were actually happy and surprised to see his bold nature despite being a fresher. The trio were literally dancing hearing him.
Krishna: Ashwin sir semma..
Mrini: Hey en annan nu prove pannitaru da. Enna getha sonnaru paaru...
Sivaangi: Hello hello adhu en Ashwin. Proud of you Ashwineyyy, your Sivaangi ma is happy...
Krishna whispers to Mrini, "adhu seri en Ashwin, your Sivaangi ma..."
Mrini giggles but stops when they hear a gruff voice....
"May I come in sir ?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello babies !! Here is the next chapter.
Padichi paarunga pudichudhu na sollunga, pudikala naalum sollunga. I'll accept it wholeheartedly.
If this update satisfies your expectations please do vote and comment.
Thank you and love you all...
Anbudan,
Mrinalini 💗