LOVE BEYOND BORDERS

Is he your lover...

Fourth day... (Vishakam...)

As usual they made pookalam using four different colours of flowers and their morning routine. Fuzhi also comes to see how they are putting pookalam and few of her cousin sisters drools at him. They wanted to be close to him but being scared of grandpa they doesn't behave beyond a limit.

Arun brother came in the morning when we were making pookalam. He greeted everybody except me. He ignored me and went to grandpa and chatted with him. After sometime he came and talked to Fuzhi and went to his room. My other cousin brothers are too close to Arun brother very much so they also came to stay in the eastern block of our house.

Female children's stay was arranged in the western block. My room is near to the back balcony from where we can see the paddy field, it's very refreshing to watch.

During onam or be it for any occasion when whole family comes to stay in our house, it is so lively. We all have food together sitting on the mat on the floor and the food is served in plantain leaves . It is during such festivals or family functions we all gathers together and spend time. When they all come the naalukettu is filled with life, otherwise in that huge house only me and my grandparents will be there.

In the afternoon after lunch Ammu went to outhouse to chat with Fuzhi and to tell him about tomorrow's competition,. She didn't want Fuzhi to feel left out so asked him to accompany her in a dance performance. Fuzhi agreed and since he is familiar with "Maye ni Maye" song, Ammu said they will perform that dance.

Shaanthi aunty(kitchu's mother) saw her talking with Fuzhi and she started making complaints to grandpa. Shaanthi doesn't like Ammu, she always thinks her as some threat to her . She always hides Kitchu from Ammu. Always tries to find fault in Ammu and often complaint to grandpa for pampering her.

Shanthi : See father how that girl is talking to a foreigner, I don't think their relationship is straight and pure. Why she had to bring him to celebrate onam with us. Now I think what Arun told is true, is it not the same Chinese guy whom Arun mentioned.

Grandpa : you don't interfere in her matters, for that we are alive. Keep yourself into your own business.

Shanthi : I don't understand why you are much concerned about her than me. After all she is only your granddaughter.Father she is misusing your soft corner to her as she looks like your mother. She is pitying herself being an orphan

Grandpa : Shanthi, watch your tongue. Are you sure she is an orphan. Do you want me to explicit something.

Shanthi: Father for her are you going to hurt me, are you going to ruine my life.

Grandpa : I will not hesitate to, if you mess with my child anymore.

Grandma: Shanthi, you just arrived and immediately started complaining about her... What wrong did our child do to you.

Shanthi : I don't want to say much, but take my word she will cheat you all and Iam sure you both will cry for her.

Grandpa: Shanthi... we can't dispose God's wish, I hope we don't have to face such a fate...

Yes what aunty told is correct Iam the one who is going to hurt them deeply.

After practicing and having food we all slept tiredly in our room.

Fifth day.... Anizham(malayalam calendar day)

Today we made a very attractive design for pookalam. Day by day we use additional color of flowers. On the tenth day we use ten different colours of flowers in pookalam.

In the afternoon we all had lunch and all set for our programs. We decorated the middle courtyard with flowers and LED lights.

At 8:30 pm we started the program. Since we are starting our celebration from today onwards, we all dressed in our traditional dress. I wore a half saree of yellow colour skirt, off white half blouse and light green shawl with stone. Worked.

While Iam at home I don't use a niqaab to cover my scar, as I said Iam least bothered with my ugly scar and afraid to look beautiful. Small kids wore long skirt and full blouse, teenagers wore half sarees and elders wore kerala saree(Traditional female wear) .

Arun came and started giving an intro to our program. And later the program started with dance and so on.

I saw Fuzhi watching all our programs and enjoying .Since he is a foreigner it is obvious that my family members will be anxious to watch our performance. We started and time to time Fuzhi supported me. Nobody expected him to dance in our style with grace and they all admired and enjoyed too.

Grandpa announced ours as the best performance. Later Fuzhi went to outhouse, I found him bit upset on something but couldn't ask him in this crowd.

Later we all started dancing and I felt tired and I layed on the varenda with my head resting on my grandma's lap. Kitchu also laid to the opposite direction by keeping his head on grandma's lap. We talked while laying and grandma brushed our hairs while talking. Grandma said "both of you has good hairs children like your parents. "

Later everybody settled to their own rooms. My grandparents bedroom is three rooms next to mine. I saw grandma standing in the corridor outside their bedroom. I pqced towards her to ask the reason, but I heard shanthi aunty crying and shouting at grandpa, so I slowed down and stood there without going near to grandma.

Shanthi aunty was cursing me and saying that I will take Kitchu away from her. I felt really awkward he is one year younger to me and I considers him as my own brother how will I take away from her. How can she doubt our relationship,I felt disgusted.

Shanthi : I don't understand what these men finds in her. With that ugly scar she seduced a Chinese and now she is trying to take my son away showing her fake affection to him.

She talked many ill things about my mother too. Then grandpa shouted back at her.

Grandpa : Shanthi, aren't you afraid of God's wrath by abusing your sister in law. Should I remind you how much she had sacrificed for you. Aren't you still living under her benevolence and generosity ...

I couldn't bear the fight anymore so I turned back to go to my room but I saw Kitchu standing behind me. I couldn't face him and nor did he as his mother was making all fuss.

I didn't feel like to be in that house anymore and wanted to hide myself from everybody for the time being. So I lighted the torch in my phone and went to the house pond so that nobody finds me until their quarell settles.

I sat their putting my legs into water, after few minutes Kitchu came running to me and consoled, but I couldn't hear or listen to anything he said as I was really depressed and lost in that moment. For the first time I felt that Iam alone in this world and ....and...yes Iam an orphan. I just wanted to run away from here. Kitchu became afraid of my silence, as Iam of a person who often speaks out my mind but now I couldn't utter a word.

Later, I told Kitchu to leave me alone and he went out with moist eyes. At that time I didn't notice his agony and his feelings for me. Later I came to know that he left the house in that night with the excuse of some urgent work.

I stood up to go back to my room and when I reached the door somebody pulled my wrist and pressed me towards the wall of the small portion for dressing. I panicked and the very next moment sighed in relief seeing Lin.. I couldn't believe my eyes.. Lin has come.

Ammu : Lin... You scare me...

She said keeping her hand on his broad chest....

Lin smiled and said "I missed you... "

Ammu : (surprised and happy.) . "" "

Lin immediately hugged her..... Ammu needed a hug very much at that moment more than him.

I hugged him back. We stood their hugging..

Ammu : lin.. You didn't tell me that you are coming....

Lin :"" "

Ammu :Lin... Linn..

He pushed me away from his embrace and hold my forearms and his eyes scanned me from top to bottom....

Lin : Ammu, so you wear such dress in your home.. (pointing towards my exposed hip and belly) .

Ammu covered it with the shawl still she couldn't hide the view as the shawl was transparent.

Ammu : Lin, its our traditional dress.

Lin : wear fully long blouse to cover your body like that little girl. I don't want to see you in such dress.

Ammu giggled and said "do you want to see me in the kids dress. "

Lin: "" ""

Ammu : OK, tomorrow I will wear that... Later don't complain to me because it doesn't have a shawl.

Lin : "" "

Ammu :Lin, since you didn't tell me that you will be coming , I think your room has to be arranged.

Lim :No, it's all done by Fuzhi.

Ammu made Lin to sit on the steps and she also sat beside him. He stood up to sit two steps down from Ammu and rested his head on her lap and said to massage it. She massaged his forehead and raked her fingers through his hair.

Ammu :Lin...

Lin: hmmm

Ammu : Did you had your dinner...

Lin:hmm

Ammu couldn't ask anything more as she was feeling shy and her heart was throbing while touching his hair and forehead. She had seen her mother massagging her father's forehead , at that time she too thought that she will also do such things for her husband. And finally she is able to.

And the background is like as in our movies with moonlit night and the reflection of the moon floating in the pond water. Lin also felt relaxed from her soft touch and caressing.

Later....

Chinnu : Ammu sister...

She called out standing behind the doors ..

Ammu pushed Lin to get up and she replies... Yes Iam coming, don't come inside.

Chinnu : Grandma is looking for you, she will come here to check you.

They both stood up and Ammu asked Chinnu to come inside.

Ammu : How do you know Iam here...

Chinnu :I know where you will hide, either under your cot or here in house pond.

Ammu embarrassingly looks at Lin but fortunately he doesn't understand their language.

Chinnu : sister, is he not the photo brother.

Ammu covering chinnu's mouth.. Shh.. Don't tell anybody okay...

Chinnu : hmm, fine ... Two Kitkat is enough...

Ammu: chinnu.... (pulling her cheeks)

Lin this is my cousin sister Chinnu. She is our CCTV, records everything that happens here.

Lin : then you beware, she was there in the courtyard when I came here. She might have seen us together (said purposely to threaten Ammu)

Ammu laughs and replies.

Lin rest assured this CCTV only reports to me. She is faithful...

Lin :"" "

Ammu : Okay Lin, it's already late. Should I take you to the outhouse.

Lin : No need, I know

Ammu : Okay then ,will see you tomorrow.... Goodnight....

Lin nodded.

Chinnu : Ammu sister I saw what you both did...

Ammu:Chinnu, behave like a kid,it's not good for children to discuss such things.

Chinnu: Sister, Is he your lover,sister...

Ammu :shhh... Grandma(in a husky voice)

They both went to room and slept....