7 | PARVATHI PATTI

I wake up with Amma's blessing that is scolding. I groaned inwardly.

Because if you groaned in real life, then your Amma gave a special treatment with DOSA KARANDI.(Dosa Turner)

Yeah I know that very well. No need to remind me. Okay

My mindy shrugged.

That is when I noticed. My mom is not trying to wake me but Ramya.

Hell. I thought she didn't sleep at night and started to make up at midnight.

My mindy is right. Cause she didn't even let me sleep.

However my Amma succeeded in waking her up. Amma told us to get ready before 9 am. Because engagement will be held at 10 am. We have to reach Mandapam at 9.15 am and the engagement will be finished by 12 am. Then our family, groom's family and close friends will go to the temple for special pooja.

Also told us to eat something for breakfast. Because if we go to mandapam, there will be no food for us until the pooja is finished and the important thing is that all the ladies are going to Mandapam now. Sakthi akka will come at 9am to pick us up.

I glanced at the watch. It shows 6 am.

Argggg.... These guys made me wake up before my regular wake up time for three days.

we have 3 hours to get ready and eat breakfast. It's more than enough for us.

Ramya shouted, " oh my god, oh my god, its already 6 am. I need to bathe in 30 minutes." And ran into the bathroom.

Well 3 hours is not enough for us.

In this mean time, I and Vaishu helped our ladies to put needed things in the car. After they left we came to our room and ready Ramya's saree and jewels. At the same time makeup artists came. After Ramya came makeup artists started their hand magic on Ramya's face. Then Vaishu and I go to take a bath.

I wonder if my sister who always plays with me, eats with me, chats with me, sleeps with me, is going to get married in three months. Today she is going to engage with someone.

I am always scared at the thought of getting married. Because leaving my family is the biggest nightmare for me. like seriously, how can I leave my home and go somewhere and live like they are my family. I am seriously not ready for that.

I want to achieve my goals It is an excuse for that. I know no one can stop me from achieving my goals even when I am married. But Fear of leaving is the main reason for refusing marriage. I know I am lying to my family. I have always been a princess to my family. I know marrying someone is not leaving my family. But I am scared to face the fact. All my mind says is I am not strong enough to leave my family. I have seen all brides crying while leaving their family. I don't know when I created a wrong opinion about marriage and I know that's a wrong opinion too. But I am not strong enough to marry.

Maybe after seeing Ramya happily lives her married life with Karthik will change my fear of marriage. I sighed and got out of shower. Then I get ready for engagement. I don't put over makeup. Actually I like to put on make up but I don't like to spend time in make up.

Actually girls are two types.

1. Likes to go shopping, likes to put on make ups, is always aware of dieting, they are peacock type.

2. Likes to sleep and like to eat a variety of foods, not care about the shape of body, don't like to spend time in an upgraded appearance. They are Panda type.

I am a Panda type. You guys know pandas are my favorite animal. Because, they spend 75% of their life sleeping and eating.

I want to be born as a panda in my next life.

Actually I don't know how to trap saree. Usually Ramya traps my saree and in Bangalore Ishu traps my saree. Now they two were busy. So Vaishu will help to trap my saree.

Don't you have some shame that you depend on your sister who is five years younger than you. thufff.

My mindy spitted directly on my face. But you know I simply shrugged, "so what?"

Vaishu comes to help me in a trapping saree after she traps her saree. She also gave me a waist chain to wear that Patti ma gave before. I thought I could wear that on a saree, I wondered if this waist chain is so simple like a golden thread. But she told me that we have to wear it before wearing a saree.

But my question is why do we have to wear that inside of a saree? I asked her the same. She simply says, "Vaaya mooditu irukka.(Shut up your mouth sister.)" And give me a disgusting look that says ARE-YOU-EVEN-A-GIRL. I shut my mouth. But I still don't know the answer to my question.

I must say this girl beautifully traps the saree than Ramya and Ishu. Saree hugged my curves in a perfect way yet decent way. I simply look beautiful. At least for my eyes.

Then I put on my jewels and wore a light make up. I must say I am looking beautiful.

Don't get high on yourself.

Go away mindy.

I looked at the time. It's 8.20 am. I saw Ramya. Almost 75% of makeup is finished. Then I saw Vaishu, she is also on the verge of completing her makeup.

I went to the kitchen and saw there was something to eat. Idly upma is there. I transferred it to three plates and took it upstairs. Then we three ate that upma. Then Ramya and Vaishu went to re-check the makeup. My phone rang at that time. I saw the name Donkey and smiled. I speak with him in the meantime.

At 8.50 am Ishu and Sakthi akka came to pick us up. I told Shiva that I will call him after engagement. We went to the venue. Soon the groom's family arrived. Then the bride and groom went to the stage and of course  both love birds were on their lala land. I saw many of our relatives there. They all wished me. then I saw Parvathi Patti also. She looked pale, aged and old. I frowned internally looking at the aged look of her face. But she is super happy after seeing me. I went to her and hugged her. She gives me a kiss on my forehead. Then I went to my cousins and sisters who were already looking at the stage. Then the couples exchanged their rings.

I am genuinely happy for Ramya, Our Chatterbox. Because I saw the love for her in Karthik's eyes. Shiddhu was overwhelmed after seeing her engagement. Then we went to a temple for Special Pooja. All of our family and close friends of family were there. My family is happy would be an understatement. They are all beaming in joy. But My Paati Ma looked a little tense. She is the one who waits for this day. She really worked hard for this day. So I think she is tired. I don't know even though she slept yesterday.

Sometimes there is a huge commotion in the temple. We all went there. Parvathi Patti lied on Anamika dad's lap. Patti ma ran to her. Then I asked Siddhu to start the car. Shiddhu and Anamika's dad held her in the car. Patti ma and I consoled Anamika's mom. She cried a lot. We all went to the hospital. Doctors took Parvathi Patti to the intensive care unit. We were all scared as hell. Soon the men in my family arrived at the hospital.

Parvathi Patti is not lesser than My Patti Ma. She always cared for us, and played with us. I remembered her happy face after seeing me. Unknowingly tears well up in my eyes. After I met her in school, she didn't miss our home on temple festival days. I remember how sweet she is. she always hugged us when she came home, She turned to a 10 year old girl when she played with us, when Anamika grandpa passed out, that year she cried on my Patti ma's shoulder. I saw how vulnerable she is.

I prayed to God to save her. Then after one hour doctors changed her to a normal room. They said she had a heart attack. Anamika's Amma cried soundly hearing that. They even said don't give her pressure or shocks. It will cause her another attack. She will open her eyes in one hour. After two hours of observation, we can discharge her. Then all of us will go and see her. I tried to console Anamika's mom all the time. She cried on my shoulder. She cried in fear of losing her mother. I let her cry on my shoulder.

Anamika dad, Sekar uncle called Parvathi Patti's son and told him her condition and uncle told us he will come here at night. Then the nurse announced that Parvathi Patti opened her eyes. We all went into the room. Anamika's mom, Selvi aunty went to her. Mom and daughter started to cry. After sometime Parvathi Patti has composed herself.

She said to aunty, "Kannu, don't cry ma. After all I am aged."

Aunty said, "Ma don't tell that. You will be fine ma." Her eyes well up again.

Parvathi Patti gives her a small smile and said" I know I am aged Kannu. I have a wish. Consider that as my last wish. Can you guys do that?"

Aunty bursts out crying she is unable to talk. Sekar uncle came forward. He also had tears, he said, " Athai you are like a mother to me. don't say words like last wish. Just order us. We will definitely do that."

Parvathi Patti sighed and saw my Patti Ma.

She signaled to come near and she said, " I want Magizhini to marry Arjun."

Everyone in the room looked at me wide eyed. I looked at her wide eyes.

Yes. I am Magizhini. But who the hell is ARJUN???

| TO Be Continued... |