Journeys : Episode 16

Tara

Its been a week since Shravya left and things are getting back to normal at home. Kathir started school and he's trying to teach Adi what he's missing (Adi seems the least interested though). Soon we will start physiotherapy for Adi, he's really looking forward to that. He still has his dull moments at home, but Kathir makes it up to him. Hridhay is busy at work with punishing deadlines and I see him only to say goodnight. But hey, these are good times, like a normal life and I am glad I have to complain only about such mundane things in life. I wonder when I can get back to work, its been a month now, but Adi needs me for some more time. Or is it that I need him more? Either way, I'm going to stay home for some more time.

I take my phone out and text "hey KP, you ok?" It immediately changes to a blue tick but boom he goes offline. I mean he need not reply to every other message of mine, but you-ok-messages need immediate attention. I put my phone down and walk around the house for a while and my phone beeps. "If you could call it so, I've been better". Maybe the blue tick and the blank screen was way better? "Come home for dinner?" "K". I walk up to Adi's room and he's sleeping peacefully. The medicines take a toll on him, but he's been doing great.

Ring goes my phone and I even before I look at the screen, I know who it is. "Hey Hridhay, what's up?" "I was missing you" "do you have a power breakdown at work?" He laughs. His laughter is so open, so full of life, and even beyond the exhaustion in him, I can feel where the laughter comes from. "What are you thinking Tara?" "Wondering when I can have a face to face conversation with you, hm?" "Thats a nice thing to think of. I wont spoil the suspense for you" "not at all funny" and I try to suppress my giggle like a school girl. "Hey OK, power restored, lets all go out for dinner, usual place, il meet you all there, bbye" and he disconnects the line and goes incognito. Even before you ask (and im sure you're used to it more than me by now) yes all includes KP.

After four trials, KP calls me back and I tell him the changed plans. I walk to Adi's room and he's awake by now. "Hey Adi... appa just called.. we're all going for dinner tonight" i look at his face for some brightness but his face falls. "Hey Adi, are you not okay? If you dont want to go, its fine, we can stay home" and then his face brightens. "No Amma, I want to go. Thats the only way I can fix what happened the last time we went for dinner. We will all come back happy this time"

Hours pass and its time to get ready. I click pictures of three dresses and send it over to my Dee and my girl gang. "Dinner tonight. Which one? Maybe special night ;)" Dee : why didnt we shop for this night? My girl gang : send pics of lingerie too you girl. I laugh loud. Here are two sets of people who always remind me where I belong. "Come onnnn.. i need a definitive answer". "Navy blue" goes all votes. I dress up, we are all ready and as I take my phone to book a cab, it rings. "Hello, we're calling from PHCC emergency, who is this?" "This is Tara" "we got your number from his last dialled contact. There has been an accident. We cannot say more, please come immediately".