Lyrics Five

“...idhu maatramaa thadumaatramaa?

en nenjilae pani moottamaa?

nee thozhiyaa? illai edhiriyaa?

endru dhinamum poraattamaa?”

“Hello” said Ria’s father in a commanding voice.

“Hi uncle” greeted Divi.

My stupid mind didn’t work and I was still on the line. Just then Ravi barged in and

“Machan, still Divi’s line is busy. What are you speaking so long?” shouted over me. Her dad totally heard everything and just disconnected.

I almost had a sleepless night. My mind was just thinking what would have happened to her.

_

She was not seen for the next couple of days. Even Divi had no idea about her.

“Got any news?”

“No da. I even asked her classmates, they too haven’t heard from.”

Finally she came back to college after 4days. But from then on her dad accompanied her. She used to be there sharply at 9 and her dad will be waiting for her from 3.30 in the evening. We would just meet during lunch. When we asked her about the other night, she said everything was ok. But definitely something was wrong.

Her father was a Bank Manager and a strict orthodox catholic guy. He wanted to get transferred to his hometown Salem but all he got was Chennai and so he is here. Her elder sister is a typical father’s daughter kind of girl. Finished B.Com as his father wanted, got selected in UPSC and is working in railways and exchanged rings with the guy chosen by her dad. Everything decided by her father. It was like he was still in the 80’s. Once I heard these things from Divi, I felt her dad’s approval is even more complicated than Ria accepting my love. The only thing Ria had privilege of was choosing IT but then she is doing B.Sc not B.Tech.

At times she would sink in tears and I and Divi couldn’t do anything. All I could make out was, she had some serious issue going on in her home.

_

6 yrs, 1month and 10days ago

Days passed, it was almost end of the semester. During the semester exams we hardly met.

“Dude, when are you gonna let her know?” asked Karthi.

“Sollanum..” That’s all I could say. I felt it is not the right time. Didn’t want to make her life more miserable, which was already in hell now.

It was the last day of our semester. We had around 3weeks of vacation we had to stay back for our project work and also placements.

We sort of came back to form. She used to spend most of her time in college working on the project. I too joined Divi and Karthi, pretending to do something.

Slowly few core mechanical companies came for recruitment during the first week of vacation. But my scores were low and I didn’t meet their criteria. I attended a couple of IT companies but didn’t clear the written. I was almost hopeless of getting placed.

“Hi Rahul” Ria was a bit happy today. She came towards me with a beautiful smile, after a very long time. It really felt good to see her smile.

“Am I dreaming or are you really smiling?”

“Aye. I am smiling.” She showed all teeth as if in a toothpaste ad.

“Ok ok. Wazzup da? We hardly met during the semesters.”

“Ya. I wanted to mention you about some off campus job fair in a week. Since you are here for the vacation hope you can give a shot.”

“Can my friends join too?”

“Of course, its an open fair. Anyone can attend.”

Karthi and Ria started to prepare me for the off campus. Ria would teach me C programming and Karthi would teach me aptitude.

After few days she started to scold, hit, pinch and pull my ears, if I forget anything or write a program wrong. Then I started to make mistakes just to make her do it. At times I used to stare at her while she is busy explaining something to me.

“Ria”

“Ya..” she didn’t even turn her head.

“iiii.....” I started to drag.

“You?” she turned and started to look into my eyes.

“iiiii.....ice cream saapidalama?”

“Only when I ask you to study, you want ice cream, snacks, water.... I’ll kill you if you get up from the seat.”

_

Finally, I too got placed in an IT company, 14k salary, Chennai. I came running from the interview hall. Ria and Ahmed were waiting for me. I was at the peak of excitement, I almost jumped on Ria and hugged her. She was like “Hey Congrats Dude....” After few seconds, I came back to my senses. Ahmed was like “Doooooooooooode!”

Called and informed Karthi, Divi and Ravi.

“Dude, when’s the treat? Am your mentor man.” said Karthi in excitement.

“Dey, Anjappar or Ponnusamy?” Divi is all ready with her options.

“Machan,Am out of words! Seri treat enga.” said Ravi.

Ria was standing beside me and listening to all the things I spoke.

“Ria, Tonight, Anjappar. You are coming. Please, no excuses.”

“Hmmmm. Ok. But I have to be home by 8.30. ok?”

“Done”

_

Another memorable night to remember. We were almost shouting when they placed the ice cream and were literally fighting to taste it. We were having great time that we didn’t even mind the time. Suddenly Ria started to scream.

“Nooooooo. Its 8.30.”

“Oh Shit. Just relax. I’ll drop you.” “Guys, finish off the dinner and we’ll meet at hostel. see ya” I literally threw my card over to Ahmed and we both left.

I was flying through the traffic, dodging through the traffic. From Anna Salai to Adyar, definitely 30minutes.

“Left..left...” “Straight” “Take Right after the grocery store” “Stop stop stop here”

“Where’s your home?”

“Do you see a white ambassador on the right?”

“Ya”

“That’s my house”

Someone pulled over beside me in the darkness.

“Ria”

“Daddy!!” She was shocked to see her dad. We both tried not to panic.

“Dad, this is Rahul. He got placed. So, we all went out for dinner.”

“If you want somebody to drop you then they better drop off in front our house.” He said in a angry tone.

She left with her in an old scooter. I didn’t even turn to look at her. I just wanted to leave from there.

_

“Hello..Divi.. Hello?”

“Ya ya....sollu da”

“any news about her?”

“No dude. I have asked few of her friends to let me know if they hear anything from her.”

“Hmmmm.”

“Don’t worry da. She’ll be fine”

Two weeks have passed by, still no news from her or anyone. We tried to reach her parents, but didn’t receive a good response from them. We don’t know whether she is even in the city.

“Where are you Ria?”•