chapter 13

Saturday Afternoon...Mita got ready for the video call. She wore a Maroon Kurti with golden flowers on it and matching golden leggings. She tied her half hair in a clip loosely, wore small dangle hoop earrings having small red stones, applied kajal in her eyes and came out of her room..As usual Jay couldn't take eyes off her...!!"Ohhh my my..... looking so pretty.." Prachi."Yes, she is but in camera they won't be able to see your full dress and makeup properly..so itna ready nahi bhi hoti to bhi chal jaata...hahhahha, " Nitin started pulling Mita's leg."Oh come on..don't make her nervous now...Jay, say something na..isn't she looking so cute.." Prachi."He never says anything.." Mita."He is not saying anything is itself a compliment. Pyar me khamoshi sunana  bhi ana chahiye...jara uski aankho me to zank ke dekho..." Nitin."I know I know all that but it feels good if he says something once, at least to cheer her up..! " Prachi.Jay smiled, "You always look good Mita. You know that I don't have to say this. I know everything will be fine. You will rock as always.." He came forward and hugged her. She was a bit relaxed now."Ok ok guys... all the best.." Nitin.Jay set up the laptop and made skype call to Appa."Hello Kanna...""Hi Amma...Hi Appa...""Kanna, Unnaai parkka mutiyatu." Appa..Jay started checking camera setting."What happened Jay?" Mita didn't understand anything."They cannot see us it seems..Let me check the settings.." Jay."O teri...Mita your all efforts in vain, they cannot see you..hehehe.." Nitin."Ohhfo Nitin...Keep quite.." Prachi scolded him."Appa, here everything is fine....please check the settings at your end.." Jay."Eppati..(How) ", Appa."Call Simi, I will tell her ", Jay explained Simi how to fix the camera. After 15- 20 mins of troubleshooting, Simi fixed the camera as per Jay's instructions."haaaaaa... now we can see you.." Appa said."Hushhh...." Jay."Where is Mita? " Amma."She is here.." Jay turned the camera towards Mita. Everyone was so curious to see her. She folded her hands and said "Namasthe.." to all."Hiiieee Mita ", Amma looked so excited and waved her hand with a big cheerful smile.Mita was pleasantly surprised at Amma's cute innocent gesture and waved her hand too, "Hi Amma..""How are you makale..." Amma."I am fine Amma. How are you? " Mita."I am fine. Thank you!!! " Amma replied keeping her smile intact.And the conversation stopped there. Both did not know know to talk further and were just smiling at each other."Mita.. meet Appa and my younger sister Simi" Jay tried to make some more conversation."Namaste Appa. Hi Simmi ", she greeted both. Appa started the topic as he could speak in English fluently, "So, our son has told us about you and your family. Before talking to your parents we thought to meet you and confirm.. "Mita got confused, looked at Jay and whispered, "Confirm what?""Confirm what Appa? ", Jay."That you both really want to marry each other..." Appa."Ohh ok...Yes, yes Appa.." Mita replied with her firm voice.Appa looked at Jay.“Yes Appa..” He replied too.In between Prachi and Nitin came to the living room to check how the call is going on and sat in a corner.“See see…looks like they are sitting for the Satya Narayana Pooja…. ” Prachi.“Hehehe…” Nitin.“Shhh…Let’s not disturb them…” Prachi.“Yeah… “ Appa asked Amma if she wants to ask anything to Mita…“@#$%& …. breakfast…*&^%$#....” Amma. It was a bouncer for Mita. She looked at Jay with confused face for the translation. “That day what did you prepare for the breakfast. She forgot the name..” Jay translated. “What?? Which day??” Mita could not remember.‘I think Amma is talking about that intro wala call..”, Jay helped Mita remembering the incidence.  “Ohh…..ok.. Pohaa??” Mita. “Poha poha… right…&*^%$#%*! ”, Amma.Mita looked at Jay for the translation. “She was trying to recollect the name and wanted to know what is Poha since then..” Jay translated. “Jay, how can I explain what is Poha??”  Mita.Jay tried to cover up and explained Amma how poha looks like “White color, thin, rice flakes…” “!@^%^&**(&%&$” Amma.Mita was waiting for Jay to translate.“Amma is saying, she has seen only brown rice flake but never prepared anything other than prasadam using that” Jay translated everything to Mita... “How to make poha..recipe..??” Amma asked Mita. Mita wasn't prepared for such question."One min Amma", Mita got up, went to the kitchen got a box of Poha and showed it to Amma. "Hya....what's going on?? " Nitin Prachi were surprised to see that. Then she slowly started explaining the recipe. She used hand gestures, actions more and a few English words so that Amma could understand..“Take two cups of Poha or as per required quantity.. wash it nicely… drain the water completely.. do not soak it else it will get mashed. And just cover it for about five mins. Till then chop onion, green chilies, coriander leaves…In kadhai, take 1-2 spoons oil and heat it for 1 min..then give tadaka of Mustard seeds, Jeera, curry leaves, green chillies…Add chopped onion, saute for few mins till it softens..add half tea spoons of turmeric powder..Then add poha, salt…1 teason lemon juice...if you like add a pinch of sugar..mix well..and garnish with chopped corriandar leaves..serve it hot…done….If you like, you can add Potatos or carrots or green peas..as well to make it healthier ”Everyone was looking at Mita with wide open mouth.“I am confused... Is this a call for marriage alliance or I am watching some cookery show??” Nitin.“Heheheheh sahi me yarrr..what’s going on....”, Prachi.Amma understood almost everything but asked Jay to translate few more  things which she did not understand.“!@$%$#$%^^&$##%^”, Jay translated for Amma.“Actually it is called as Pohe in Maharashtra but in Hindi people call it Poha..” Mita gave extra information.Jay ignored that part.“Jay, you did not translate that..” Mita.“Mita, that’s not so important..” Jay.“why?? yeah..but still you can just…” Then she ignored him and directly told the same to Amma.“Ok Ok..Good, ” Amma pronounced it again.."Pohe.."“So Amma will prepare Poha for tomorrow's breakfast.” Appa was laughing.“@$%%&^..(No..I am not going to prepare that…)” Amma.“Then why did you ask the recipe Amma? ” Simi.“I!$^@%&^*...(I was just curious to know)..”Amma.Mita could not understand what they were talking about and waiting for Jay to translate, and he did so. Everybody started laughing. Nitin and Prachi were literally holding their stomachs and rolling on the floor…”My God…Such an unique experience..”Suddenly Mita realised that she did not speak with Simi. She remembered that, like Jay, Simi also is an introvert and doesn’t talk much, “How are you doing Simi?? How are you spending your time after exams??” Mita tried initiating the conversation.“I am good. Checking out for some training which will help me in searching for a job..” Simi.“Nice..” Mita gave her some suggestions and shared her experience of how she did a few trainings before getting her job.“Thank you, I will surely check that” Simi.“Ok then..it’s getting late here…Fine Mita and Jay. We will decide when to talk to your parents” "Ok ..Bye.. Bye everyone.." Jay.."Bye Amma, Appa, Simi.." Mita..And the call got disconnected. ---------------------------------------"Hurrrayyy...." Nitin and Prachi came from behind..."Finally.....this surely calls for a celebration.." Prachi..Mita was so happy and gave a group hug, "My God..I am so relieved now. Amma is so sweet! " "And you Nitin...simply tried to scare her" Prachi. "I think she was checking whether you actually know cooking or not.hehehehehe..." Nitin. "Hehehe.. I think she is more interested to know the differences in our culture..so sweet naa..." Mita"ha ha very sweet…now learn Tamil fast else sweet se bitter na ban jaaye…hahahaha” Nitin mimicked her.After couple of hours.. all were busy doing their own things, weekend work..that's when Jay's phone rang. It was Appa's call. They discussed something for few mins. Mita paid attention to their conversation but could not understand anything. After his call, he looked at Mita."What happened? That was a long discussion, isn't it? Mita."Yes Mita, They have raised a concern....." To be continued -------------------------------------