Her Second-Hand Husband!

Arjun's PoV

I am now driving to Tirupur to my grandparents home. My mom hails from Tirupur and my dad from Coimbatore. We now live in Chennai because of our work. Mom hates to be in Chennai for she dislikes the traffic and heat. But the most important thing she hates about Chennai is the language they use to talk. She often would say that people here are killing Thamizh. Though I was born in Tirupur, I have been in Chennai for all my life and I love the regional Thamizh in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode. Their Thamizh is like music to our ears. The way they address you, you would feel compassion from even a stranger. I love being there to enjoy the love of my grandma and grandpa.

"Ma, When is the 'Kumbabishekam' exactly? Why is Priya not here?" I asked mom.

"Kumbabishekam is on Sunday. Priya is not here because though she comes she cannot come to the temple." mom said. Ah, ladies' monthly problem.

"Oh, ok. Then why are we going there on Saturday itself? That too the sun is not up yet." I asked her. I am feeling sleepy. It's 3am!

"That is why I asked the driver to come along with us. You wanted to drive and now complain about the same." mom said.

"Not that ma, I love driving and I don't trust drivers for such a long drive."

"I know, Ajju. Thatha and paati wanted to see you. They want to talk to you. That is why I asked you to come. I was happy that you at least agreed to come on Sunday but thanks to Preethi, you are here now. Thatha and Paati would be beyond happy if they see you today. It is actually a surprise. I have not yet told them that you are coming along." mom said happily.

I am happy to visit them too. The last time I saw them was two years back when that unfortunate event happened in my life. It pained them more than it pained me. They took me with them for a month to escape me from prying eyes and all nonsense stories people managed to spin. I was not myself at that time and I failed to take care of them. But I should make them feel that I am alright now and also make them happy.

"What did they want to talk to me about, ma?" I asked her.

"I don't know, Ajju. They just asked me to bring you to the festival. They said nothing more." she said but for some reason I thought mom is not telling me the whole truth. Preethi and the kids were sleeping peacefully and dad was trying to sleep.

those songs on. Let me sleep for some time. I have to go to Coimbatore after breakfast. I need some rest."

head! It is times like this, I get to speak to my son without worrying about the work and time.

you say something?" dad

my life would be like theirs, filled with love and happiness. But I realized later that not everyone is blessed with such life and I

another. You cannot hold back mom once she goes there. She will literally stop at every house to talk and greet before we go to our grandparents. My grandparents' home is not

way of calling Arjun), come come. What a pleasant surprise! How are you Raasa(king - an endearment)." My granny was the

am so good. How are you and Appuchi(mommy's dad)?" I asked her, getting down, giving her a

is a beautiful sight to see her

vekka padathinga Ammachi! (Don't get too

my dad and ran in. It is still a practice here to not speak freely to the son-in-law of the house. My dad is treated like a

an epic!" I told her in a light sense and she smiled at me.

woke up the kids and Preethi and we all went in. I introduced Preethi to granny and grandpa and they welcomed her with warm smiles. The kids were still sleepy and granny showed them a room where they can sleep for a little more time. I went to the backyard where the restrooms are located and took a nice

little chit chat and by 8am Preethi and the kids woke up. They took a bath and we all settled down to

do today?" I asked

The temple is filled with shops and people. There are

you not coming with

some work to be taken care of in the fields. It will take some three hours to finish that. I will come to the temple after lunch. The temple is also serving lunch. If it is

temple now. Like you said, we all can go together in the evening." I told him and went in to

what you are doing here. You can walk or ride a bicycle without worrying about your reputation. I love looking at the fields with well grown crops. Before my marriage, I would come here every year. Grandpa will even let me work in the fields with him. For some reason, I feel that people here are less dangerous than people in the city. I wont say people here don't gossip. They do! But that doesn't hurt

was so happy to talk to them about my arrival for the festival. Though I don't remember them, they talked with love to me. When we