15. In Search of Love - Sandhya
Prabakar reached the dining hall in a hurried manner and asked,
"Akshu, are you ready???"
"No daddy"
"What? We are already late Akshu! Pallavi, where are you? Why is Akshu not ready today?"
"Praba, she has taken leave today"
Pallavi's voice came from kitchen.
"Leave? Why?"
Pallavi came to the dining hall with a pan in her hand.
"She wants to spend time with her Nikhi uncle. Also she is a bit tired of the long journey"
Prabakar gave a cold stare at his wife.
"Are you crazy? You can't let your daughter take leave for such petty reasons"
Pallavi went closer to Prabakar, hugged him slightly and played with his shirt button.
"Come on Praba! She is just in her pre-school. It's ok to take one day off…"
Pallavi's gesture made Prabakar cool down a bit.
"Yeah that's fine. But I don’t want her to hang around with him too much"
"I know Praba! But she is too young to understand that. If we say no to her then she will become more adamant. Let her enjoy one day today. Tomorrow I will make sure she is ready on time"
"Hmmm… ok"
"Come on have your breakfast. It's your favorite dosa and chutney"
Pallavi served him the hot dosas and while he was giving treat to his taste buds, Pooja came there with a big yawn.
"Good morning Praba…"
"Good morning Pooja"
"What's this Pooja? You can't sleep till 9'o clock like this…" scolded Pallavi.
"Pallavi don’t disturb her. Let her be free"
“Ok… But Nikhil got up very early and went for jogging. I guess he felt very bored”
“That’s not our problem. If he doesn’t know how to spend time here, let him go back to his home and have fun there” said Prabakar in a hardened voice.
“Don’t be so harsh Praba”
“I am not harsh. I am just being practical. He invited himself, travels so many miles, just to come here and complain that he is bored??? What can I do about it?”
Pallavi looked at Pooja. She was busy drinking her morning drink and there was no reactions in her face.
“Ok, let’s leave this topic” said Pallavi.
“I don’t know what’s happening in our home but I am seeing too many arguments floating around.”
“Don’t worry daddy. If you are angry, mommy will hug you and all your anger will fly away” said Akshitha in her baby voice.
While Prabakar was astonished, Pallavi’s face turned red.
Pooja giggled softly.
“Don’t worry Praba and Pallavi, I will pretend as if I didn’t hear anything.”
“But you did hear what I said” argued Akshita.
Pooja couldn’t control her laugh this time.
“Akshu enough, stop it and start eating your breakfast”
“But mommy you always prepare food for daddy and not for me. It’s always his favorite”
“But what’s your favorite food madam? You don’t like poori, idli, dosai, uppuma…”
“I like noodles and you never prepare it”
“But…”
“Moomy, now stop arguing and let me have my breakfast”
Pallavi gave a false stare at her daughter and kept quiet.
Just then Nikhil entered the house wiping his sweat. He saw the family gathered in the dining room.
“So everyone is here! You guys are having breakfast without me? Not fair! Good morning Pooja! Good morning Prabakar”
Both Pooja and Prabakar didn’t bother to reply back.
“You can also join us Nikhil” said Pallavi in a friendly tone.
“Thank you sister. But I am full of sweat, I need to take bath before having my breakfast”
“ok…”
“What’s your plan for today?” asked Prabakar without addressing Nikhil directly.
“Me? Nothing special! I guess I can stay with the ladies and help them.”
“I don’t think they need your help. You can come with me…”
Pallavi interrupted her husband and said,
“No Praba, you remember, we need to clean up that antique room?”
“That’s not very important. We can do it later also”
“Yes, but you have been saying that for almost a year now!”
“Don’t worry sister, I will help you!” announced Nikhil.
Prabakar didn’t say anything but it was obvious that he didn’t like it.
"Can't this wait Pallavi? Do you really need his help? I don't like him staying so close to Pooja" said Prabakar to his wife who had followed him to wave good bye.
Pallavi looked at her husband for a few seconds.
"Praba, this is Pooja's life! Whether you like it or not Nikhil is her husband. Even Pooja has accepted to reconcile with him. I cannot understand why you should stand in the way?"