Arjun's PoV
Remember I have partnered with my friend in his concern? I am now going to Coimbatore to see him. There is a function and he wants me to attend it every year without fail. I agree to this because I like to see the laughs of young people there who don't even know what life holds for them in future. Their laughter is something I envy. It is more pure like a baby's laughter.
"Arjun, welcome." My friend Shravan came to my car.
Shravan and I studied in the same college and he is a son of a minister. That central minister is my dad's friend and that is how we were made friends. When he came to me looking for a financial partner in his new concern, I readily agreed to him because I like looking at the fresh faces. Though I don't visit here often, I never miss this time of the year to attend this function.
"Hi Shravan, How are you da?"
"I am good, da. Everything is ready, we shall start in another half hour. You go and refresh yourself." he said to me while walking to his room.
"I am good da. I need some cold water." I told him.
"I will ask them to bring it to you. You make yourself comfortable. I have something to take care of. I will be back in a few minutes." he told me and left me in his room. I sat back relaxing myself.
"May I come in, Sir?" I heard a girl knocking on the door.
"Yes!" I said and she came in with a glass of water.
I could see shock evident in her face. It's been almost a month, I last saw her. I never expected to see her here. She must have completed her studies and gone out for work. What is she doing here?
"How are you, Anika? How is your dad?" I asked her.
"We are good. My dad is doing fine." she said without even looking at me. She made it look like she is more concentrated on the water glass than on my question.
"What happened to your interviews?" I asked her.
"That is none of your business. How can you be so mean?" she blurted out, anger evident in her face.
"What did I do? No one has ever talked to me like you do. I don't stand disrespect." I told her. I am done with her silly anger and baseless accusations.
"Do you need anything else, Sir?" She asked me as if her work in this room was done. I could see her pale face, she was frightened of my sudden warning.
"Nothing from you." I showed her the door. She calls me mean for my care towards her and her family? I don't have to put up with her idiocy.
I saw her eyes which were ready to shed anytime. Those teary eyes again. Those teary eyes that disturbed my sleep for almost a week after we returned from Tiruppur. I still remember the time I met her here. It was almost two years ago. Just when Anamika disappeared. I refused to go anywhere but when Shravan called me for the award distribution in his college where I am one of the chairmen, I decided to show up here as I thought seeing young people will divert my mind. She was there at the reception desk. She gave me a flower bouquet and welcomed me in. She looked so beautiful in the saree and I felt a gentle breeze in my heart seeing her innocent smile. It is true that looks are deceiving. I thought her to be as innocent as she looks but her tongue is like a bee sting! She doesn't know what politeness means. Arrogant girl to be precise. I decided to no longer feel for her teary eyes, but my heart feels a bit odd on that decision. So I altered my decision to find out why she is still here and why the hell she brought me water?
After a little while, Shravan came in to fetch me and we proceeded to the auditorium. It is Graduation day in college. It is this function I wouldn't miss. I saw her, here and there helping the staff members and arranging the certificates and medals backstage. She was the one who came to the stage with them when the students' names were called upon. Why is she doing all these things here? What happened to her interviews?
After the award distribution was done, I took leave from Shravan and went to my car. I called Sivaprakasam uncle to get her address. I know this is too much but I am going to do this anyway.
"Hello, uncle. How are you?" I asked him.
"We are ok, Maappillai. How are you?"
"I am fine, uncle. How is athai?"
"She is just the same. She doesn't want me to perform the last rights to our daughter. She still thinks that she might be alive somewhere. To top it off, a fortune teller said that Anamika is alive and will come to us soon. We are holding on to whatever little we get." he said. I really feel sorry for them.
"um... sorry, uncle. I called you to get some details."
"About what, mappilai?"
"Remember your relative who got a stroke? I am in Coimbatore only, uncle. I just want to visit them. Can you send me their address?"
"Oh sure, Maapillai. Last I heard, he is doing better." he said.
I disconnected the call and waited for the address. My phone pinged immediately and I drove the car towards the address. She is still here and that is a good thing. I am not ready to talk to her arrogant-self.
I parked the car in front of the house. This house is much smaller than my grandparents' home in Tirupur. I am now hesitant to go inside. These people are just strangers to me and I have no grounds to come to their home. This wont work, I decided to go away just when I saw her mother come running to me.
"Come, come Sir. Come in. Just now Prakasam anna(brother) called to inform me about your arrival. Please, come in." Excitement evident in her face, I had no choice but to go in with her.
"Please sit down, sir. I will bring some water." she ran in even before I could say anything.
"Here sir, let me go and bring my husband. He was the one that wanted to see you very much." she ran in again giving me a glass of water.
"How are you, sir?" I asked him. He looked pathetic. She brought him in a wheelchair and his physical condition is still poor.
"He is doing better everyday, sir! All thanks to you." she said.
"Please don't mention it. And please don't call me Sir. Just call me Arjun." I told her.
"Then you can call me aunty. That would be the right relationship between us if Anamika was still here." she said. Oh, I truly don't like to talk about her.
"Fine, aunty." I said, not liking to continue the talk about her. I rolled my eyes around the house and saw all the flowers and garlands scattered everywhere.
"I am good at making garlands. It is wedding season, so I have got many orders." she said.
"Oh nice. If you don't mind me asking, are you working somewhere besides this seasonal income?" I asked her with so much hesitation.
"Oh, I don't mind. Nope, I am not working anywhere. I am not a graduate. We have had some savings that we took for his hospital expenses and for this month's expenses. I have got quite a good number of orders this month, so next month will be fine. Anu is working in her college as a lab assistant. Advay just finished his school. He wants to join an Engineering college. We have to make arrangements for his college fees. We have no idea!" she spilled everything with a deep breath, like it was waiting inside of her to burst out.
"I am sorry, what happened to your daughter's interviews?" I asked her.
"She didn't get any email from the companies she was selected in. Many of her seniors say that they still didn't get the call letter from the same company. Looks like it is a waste of time to wait for them. They are a scam!" she said.
"Oh, I thought she would be placed in a company by now. That is ok, I can..." I was cut off and damn that arrogant idiot has come.
"Oh, you have come to my home to laugh at us? Yes, I didn't get the job I thought I would. Is there a problem for you? I have already told you that we don't want your charity!" Anika came in and shouted at me with her eyes ready to shed. I don't understand why she is making such a drama. With her eyes, I can tell that she is deeply hurt. But I am sure I didn't do anything to hurt her.
Truly, this is none of my business. I shouldn't have come all the way here and spoil my respect! But this is the third time she disrespects me and she will pay for this misdeed.