LOVE BEYOND BORDERS

God's own country : Kerala

Somebody poked her on her forearm. She raised her head..... And saw Fuzhi.

Both just looked each other for few seconds and burst out into laughter.

Fuzhi : So you guyz(Lin and Ammu) compromised forever, (Fuzhi said shaking his head forth.)

Ammu sighed and told Fuzhi that she really regret for behaving like that, she somehow lost her temper. "I think our horoscopes signs really doesn't match or may be we were enemies in our previous life that we fight whenever we meet.

(In Hindu religion we believe we have certain cycle of rebirth until we get the ultimate liberation impelled by law of karma)

Fuzhi : Ammu are you hurt by brothers words.

Ammu : oh,not at all. I have been to worse than that, so no problem. Iam not so beauty conscious nor Iam concerned about physical appearance.

Fuzhi : Ammu you are beautiful, you have a very good body structure.

Hearing this Ammu widened her eyes, how could he openly speak about her physical structure, was he observing her so much.

Fuzhi continued to say "you have an attractive physical features (hearing this She lowered her head and blushed tucking her hair at the back of her ears.) If you want you can remove this scar by plastic surgery, nowadays the technology is too advanced. There is nothing to worry about"

Ammu thought for a while and said" I just want my life partner to accept me as how Iam, I don't want to make any changes to satisfy others.

Fuzhi : Ammu, then what about Arun, is he ok with this scar.

Ammu : He and his parents are always ready to accept me irrespective of how I look as long as they can possess my property.

Fuzhi : hmm

They chatted for a while and Ammu slowly drifted to sleep. Fuzhi watched her sleeping and smiled thinking how she fought back to Lin.He couldn't believe this kind, good hearted girl dared to call his very arrogant brother a boring and characterless person.Most of the girls drooled at home and she said that it is disgusting to share space with him.Fuzhi felt she is different in all ways.

Before leaving Fuzhi gave her his private phone number and Ammu also gave her Indian contact number. Both bid farewell and set for their own destination.

Ammu after clearance came out of the airport and found their steward Bhaskharan waiting for her near their car.

She happily called out "Bhaskharan uncle " and he approached her and took the luggage from her.

On the way she kept on talking about her training period and life in Dubai.

In between their conversation Bhaskharan called her "Kunjhe(" little Child" to show respect as well as affection), your grandpa is really upset. Your uncle came and told that you are having an affair with a Chinese guy.

Ammu interrupted" did grandpa believed them"

Bhaskharan : How will he ignore their acusation when they showed a photo of you both holding hands.

Ammu : Photo!.

She rememberd Anitha was also there with Arun in the restaurant, it may be she who had taken the picture . "What did grandpa tell"

Bhaskharan : Don't tell anybody that I have told you this , your grandpa said for the time being your engagement with Arun be postponed.

I was surprisingly shocked and also very happy to hear it. I felt my grandpa is a God, who can understand what I need .

Bhaskaran : Arun's parents created so much drama that atlast master said if Arun doesn't trust you anymore it is better to rethink about the alliance. Hearing that they panicked and tried to convince Grandpa but master was stubborn and said that engagement stands postponed. He sternly said "Let Ammu come and clarify everything then we may rethink. "

Ammu :Oh! That would have been a great blow to my uncle and Aunty.

Ammu heaved a sigh of relief and leaned forward to the window and gazed out to view the greenery outside.

Ammu breathed in the fresh air of her hometown and smiled at the pleasant view of rivers ,paddy fields thqt are ready to be harvested and the coconut trees along the path...

She eagerly waited to meet her only relatives in this world ,her grandparents......

My grandfather's house has a Padippura (traditional arched gateway) with path leading to the main house. There is a pathayapura(outhouse) in our compound and the nalukettu house(Traditional architecture is typically a rectangular structure where four halls are joined together with a central courtyard open to the sky.)

Vehicles cannot pass through padipura so a separate gate has been maintained at a distance from the padipura for vehicles to enter.

We reached home by 8:00 am. Bhaskaran uncle dropped me at padipura and car went inside through the other gate.

I saw grandpa walking in our courtyard and grandma watering the plants. I lurked without making any sounds and went at back of my Grandma to scare her ... "poww.. "

Grandma flinched and kept her palm on her chest on hearing my sound. When she turned and found me, she raised her both hands and pinched my ears as she used to scold me when I was a child. I hugged and kissed her, and said sorry making a puppy face .

Grandpa saw all this and he laughed at us. when I looked at him he showed his grim face. He in a serious tone told grandma to take breakfast. Grandma told me "come child , let's have breakfast"

Ammu : Not now Grandma, Iam not hungry. Let me take a bath.

Since I denied grandpa also didn't had his breakfast. So I quickly took bath in the bathroom without going to the house pond so that I can accompany grandpa for breakfast.

Ammu : Grandma Iam hungry, give me something to eat.

Grandma :Come and have your favourite dosa and tomato chutney.

I went to grandpa and pulled his hand to have breakfast, he said he is not hungry as he was angry with me. I said at least come and sit beside me. With my continuous pleading he agreed and I compelled him to have breakfast with me.

Grandpa told me to meet him at his study after breakfast and the reason for that I very well know.

Grandpa's study room has too many book shelfs with lots of old and modern books. He likes to read a lot. Now it's like a library. Nearby children's and youngsters often comes to borrow books for reading, he knows each and every book he has, if we don't return the book on time he will come for it and that will be worse.

Grandma wished me luck and said don't make him angry, tell him the truth. He hates lying. I was not worried as I have not done anything wrong.

When I went to study room he was reading a book. I walked with heavy stamping footsteps so that when my anklet sounds with my footsteps he can know that I am there. I stood their till grandpa raised his head from the book he was reading.

Grandpa : Ammu, I think you know why I called you . Arun has some accusation against you, do you have anything to sy about it.

Ammu : No grandpa, It's not true, I don't have any relationship with anybody as he thinks. We are just friends.

Grandpa : Ammu, I trust you but if you break my trust the consequences will be severe. I believe we have disciplined you enough and brought you up well.I trust that wherever you go, you would maintain our custom and culture. What does that photo of you with a guy mean. When have you become so socially advanced that you hold another man's hand publicly. Do you have anything to explain on that .

Ammu (feeling embarrassed): Grandpa he is a foreigner he don't know our culture, in future I will be alert grandpa.

Grandpa : OK, I believe you. Ammu hereafter I don't want to see such behaviour. And do you have any suggestion for your engagement.

I pretended like I didn't know that he had hold back my engagement, "Grandpa can you please give me some time, I don't want to get engaged in a hurry."

Grandpa : How long?

Ammu : Iam planning to join in a company as a senior associate in Accounts department . After my probation period of 6 months... ( pleading tone)

Grandpa : OK, then I will see to that

Ammu left the study room happily and she found her grandma waiting for her in the downstairs.

Grandma : Hmm, so everything went well, okay now, right. You seems happy Ammu.

Ammu : Yes grandma.

Grandma : Ammu, you have changed a lot. Do you have any secrets to tell me?

Ammu :what secrets?

Grandma(pinching her delicate cheeks ) : Upon God, promise me child that you don't have any relationship with that Chinese guy.

Ammu (confused ): Oh, grandma even now you are behind that issue, I told you I have nothing to do with him and nothing special with that guy. Why do you feels so?

Grandma : Ammu, I know you better. You don't like any man touching you even with their small finger, how did you allow him to hold your hand. You even avoids going in motorcycle with Arun only to avoid such situation,

Isn't it girl. From the photo Arun showed us I could feel strange feelings in both of your eyes. Come on baby speak out the truth to grandma.

I was shocked with grandma's words, I told grandma"you are thinking too much.Which photos are you speaking about, show me. "

Grandma took the photos from the kitchen shelf and gave to me . She told me that grandpa told to burn it.