Chapter 1 – The Migration
" Brave local girl accosts security guard turned thief at St.Patrick's - reported by the Mercera Mirror correspondent Neethi Holla"; read the headlines of the largest circulated local tabloid; lauding Chavi's little adventure the previous day.
"I gotta get this thing framed", Sunil exclaimed as he proudly read the morning newspaper along with a hot cup of Coorg coffee and biscuits from Tiffany.
"Have a look Anu, go read it for Chavi and Teju. Tell them we are going to Bangalore this weekend. A grab all you can shopping extravaganza, courtesy, yours sincerely" Sunil was committing the most common mistake of making a promise when happy.
"Are you sure honey?" asked a puzzled Anitha.
"Why? of course dear! go spread the news! Chavi and Teju can start preparing their lists" confirmed Sunil.
"Sunil, honey, just think about it, Chavi just finished her middle school at St. Patrick's and we have to now find her a new school, is it right to make her so happy and then suddenly break her the sad news?", Anitha was right; St. Patrick's Convent was a very good school indeed but since it did not have upwards of middle school, its students had to move out to other schools for their senior high school.
"I know Anu, I have spoken to one of my ex colleagues, you know Vishesh right? Vishesh Arora.. We were on the same project team"
"I guess I know, he was from Chittorgarh right? Nice fellow; what about him?" asked Anitha
"Nothing about him, it’s about Chavi, her school to be precise; I had recalled that his family was part of a trust that ran an International resident school on the outskirts of Bangalore and they have classes right up to twelfth" explained Sunil.
"Oh! so you have already decided that we are sending Chavi off to Bangalore?" Anitha was very worried to let go of her dear daughter to a place so far from herself.
"I haven't yet Anu, that's why I am discussing this with you" Sunil was trying to control the situation.
"Why can't Chavi take private tuitions here itself? she will be here with us and we don't have to worry about her safety either, moreover she will have Teju for company and Teju will do good at school if Chavi is here to guide him" Anitha knew in her heart that her method would not be in favor of Chavi's academics & her fear of separation from her beloved daughter was growing strong.
"You very well know it is not possible Anu! It is for her own good that she will have to move to Bangalore. I planned this weekend to Bangalore so that Chavi understands what she would be getting into. It is unavoidable".
"We will be meeting up Vishesh & his family at their home and then he has promised to take us to this International residential school outside of Bangalore" Sunil had planned everything well in advance as would any responsible father and he was only executing his plans. "Well it seems like you have already decided everything by yourself, what's the point of this so called discussion" fumed an upset Anitha who was not ready to come to terms with the impending separation, though temporary.
"Oh Come on, Anu! don't be a child! I am sure you know what I am doing is absolutely right! You just go over to the kids, read them the article and just take a power nap! Sleep over the issue. OK? No need to rush up things; weekend is still a good 3 days away. I shall be at the house in case you need me for anything" signed off Sunil to supervise the work at the green house.
"I should have never agreed to leave our jobs and move here" grumbled Anitha complaining about the latest turn of events in her life. It is always most hard for the mother to let go of their children and sometimes become very selfish in their thoughts forgetting that a momentary separation might in fact be instrumental for the holistic development of the child.
"Wake up kiddo!" Chavi woke up a sound asleep Teju.
"Get up Teju, it's already 8 o' clock! see, what I have in my hand" coaxed Anitha
"noooo... mumma...go away..close the curtains.." mumbled little Teju in his sleep as Anitha started opening the curtains and the windows to let the sun and some fresh air in.
"Teju, get up, see akka's name is on today's newspaper..don't you wanna see it?"
"ummm.. what? akka's name? you tell me later mumma... let me sleep for a while now.. no school remember?" Teju would make it hard for Anitha.
"Ok..you sleep as long as you wish, then don't blame me if the three of us eat all your pasta that I cooked this morning" Anitha was resorting to shock treatment.
"Pasta! you made pasta!" Teju's eyes lit up like the Olympic flame!
"Well kiddo, now that I have got your attention, come with me to akka's room and we will surprise her with the newspaper"
"Ok, but you have made the pasta right?" Teju would not be hoodwinked that easy.
"Of course, now come with me" Anitha and Teju walked up to Chavi's room to see Chavi was already up and had just finished her morning calisthenics.
"Good Morning dear, slept well?" Anitha was still a little worried and frankly stunned to know that her little Chavi was the town's new hero!
"Good Morning mumma, Morning Teju" smiled a radiant Chavi. Anitha then shared the bit of news on the Mercera Mirror and then Chavi also elaborated a bit more on her little adventure, how she had felt and what was going on through her mind.
Later that morning, the four did have delicious pasta just like Anitha had promised little Teju.
"Guys!we are driving to Bangalore this weekend! Mumma wanted to do some shopping and then we will go to a special place" Sunil side glanced at Anitha who had squeezed her eye lids just a little in a naughty taunting fashion, when Sunil accused her for the shopping when it had been solely his idea. "We are going to the malls?" casually questioned Chavi.
"Whoohooo! I want a PSP2 &an PS3! now I will show that Monukabachcha that even I can play The Droid Dozen, why! I will even better his best score! awesome!" Teju went ballistic and was all over the place. The little piece of information from his dad was just too much for the little boy to handle and he just could not contain his joy over the anticipation of his dream gadgets!
"okok! now rest your tuchi and finish your pasta!" chided the quasi - disciplinarian Anitha.
Teju hardly had ears for her mother's 'stern' warnings which were only those and nothing more and went on for a little while with this happy repertoire until his adrenalin exhausted.
The day passed on without any event and Sunil was back from the green houses after a hard day at work.
"I have confirmed about our weekend drive to Bangalore to Vishesh" Sunil told Anitha who was busy cleaning up after dinner.
"hmm.. hmm.." was all Anitha could reply.
"Have you spoken with Chavi about this?" queried Sunil
"I don't know, its your idea, why don't you go speak to her yourself " every time the subject was brought up, Anitha began to lose her composure.
"Damn It! Anitha! you are still not convinced about this, are you?" Sunil thought that she was taking this a little too far.
His outburst was answered in silence for a good 30 seconds.
"Ok, I will tell her" Sunil thought he saw Anitha wiping off a tear that had fallen on her cheek, but he decides to let it be since he understood it as a natural process and was sure Anitha would soon come back to her senses and would even make it easy for Chavi to understand.
When Anitha approached Chavi's room she felt a lump down her throat. Words would not come out easy for this doting mother who endeared her daughter more than her own life.
She was probably unaware that Chavi had already anticipated that this had to happen to her eventually. She was very mature for her age possibly due to her proximity with her parents, her love for her solitaire status and her deep bond with her books.
"I don't how to say this to you, dear. I am not sure if you can understand. But papa and I always do what is best for the both of you. You do know that, don't you?" Anitha had thought breaking the news to her daughter would be the best way to get Chavi realize the gravity of the situation.
"Of course mumma, but why are you talking in riddles today?" asked a bemused Chavi.
"Your papa had spoken to his friend in Bangalore earlier this week..hmm.. about your senior high school.." Anitha was taking it very slowly since she hadn't planned this conversation at all and now she had to tell Chavi, thanks to Sunil's short little tantrum after dinner.
"ok. Is it about me moving to Bangalore to study high school?" Chavi sounded totally cool! Anitha was surprised, not because Chavi knew about it, but she sounded so okay with it.
"Yes dear, it is about that. But how did you know? and aren't you a little worried?" Anitha was confused.
"I overheard you guys this morning, you know I don't oversleep like Teju. Don't worry mumma, I will be back home for the vacations before you even know it. Moreover, Bangalore is hardly a 4 hour drive from here. You can come over any time you want to see me, yes?" Chavi sounded like the elder one among the two in this conversation and she was taking a mature stand and was convincing Anitha!
"That's my girl" roared a proud Sunil who had eavesdropped on the entire tetetete from the door itself.
"I wonder who my little girl is here" teased Sunil just as Anitha slapped him on his shoulder.
They all had a good time and little Teju too joined the trio in his akka's room. He will be told later about Chavi leaving for her studies.
The next morning, Sunil and Anitha had a few visitors. In fact, they had come over to see brave young Chavi. They were members of the Indian Women and Child Welfare & National Upliftment Coordination Committee or 'IWANACUCC ', Coorg chapter.
IWANACUCC's plenary body had decided to felicitate Chavi for her rare display of courage & presence of mind that would incidentally happen during the grand conglomeration of its members across the state that would include colorful performances by girl children replete with fiery speeches by well-known feminists and social activists.
"Madam" addressed the petite lady in a dapper Salwarkameez looking at Anitha only and choosing to completely ignore Sunil who was right beside his better half. Apparently these IWANACUCC members were fierce feminists and refused to acknowledge any of Sunil's contribution towards Chavi.
"Madam, we are from IWANACUCC, Coorg Chapter, hope you know about our organisation, the activities that we are involved in, blah, blah, blah..."she went on for a good 5 minutes pausing in between to introduce herself as one Ms. Dhaniya and her associate as one Ms. Swati, no surnames were given out.
The duo behaved as if they had taken an oath to completely renounce their associations with their male counterparts, though it was well known that Ms. Dhaniya's husband of 10 years Mr. AshwinCheriappa had dropped her to the IWANACUCC office the same morning.
"We are both glad to have you at our home" Anitha was polite in her response after a patient hearing.
"What can we do for you Ma'am" quipped Mr. Sunil Kumar oblivious to the fact that he was addressing a couple of ardent man haters.
"Madam, we are here to invite your family to IWANACUCC's 5th annual Woman power celebrations and this time around we are proud to announce that this grand event is being organized in Coorg itself. We heard about your daughter's brave act and decided to felicitate her on the occasion. That would serve as an example to all men who take us women folk lightly" Ms. Dhaniya again chose to ignore the presence of Sunil and continued talking only to Anitha.
Anitha was enjoying this as was evident from the faint grin that she sported throughout the conversation, imagining Sunil's growing discomfiture. The poor object of hate was in a conversation and could not walk out as it would mean disrespect to the 2 fierce feminists lurking around and it would also add to their already burning fire as being un - chivalrous.
"Why! it is our pleasure that you have considered our family for this honor. Chavi would be ecstatic. I am so glad that IWANACUCC has organized the event so close home this time around, aren't we Sunil?" Anitha mocked at Sunil.
Sunil replied only in kind, by meekly pursing his lips and nodding his head briskly up & down.
"So when is this grand event?" inquired Anitha.
"This Saturday evening Madam!you will be expected to come latest by 7 o clock" quipped petite Ms. Dhaniya without even waiting for the Kumar's acceptance of her nearly hostile invitation.
"But..." Sunil was about to commit Hara Kiri by elaborating about his earlier plan for the weekend, just when Anitha saved him from impending mortification at the hands of Ms. Dhaniya and Ms. Swati
"We will be there at 7 o clock; Thank you. Would you like to have some coffee?" Anitha proceeded to be host to her new acquaintances from IWANACUCC while grossly ignore Sunil slipped away from the scene.
A good 30 minutes later, when the mercurial lady walked out of their property, Sunil slowly regained lost ground.
"Anu!why did you?..."
"Because Chavi needs it.. If she is going to Bangalore for a long time, then she better have a farewell befitting her act in the school. You know... something for the family album" winked Anitha & winced Sunil.
"Suit up! Chavi, we are getting late for the function..it's a 45 minute drive, hurry up, Uff.. stand still Teju.. let me tie the tie.." the Kumars were getting ready for Chavi's grand felicitation event.
"But I don't wanna come mumma,akka also said she doesn't wanna go! aren't we supposed to be in Bangalore today?! what about my PS3?" Teju's dream looked like they were fading away and his ambitions of making Monu jealous with his boy toys were fast losing steam.
"Tejooo, stand straight, don't act like a monkey! we are already late, thanks to you" Anitha was in no mood to be receptive to her son's annoying antiques.
Teju was a smart kid and he did not say much when Anitha was on the threshold of catching a lousy temper. Perhaps he had learnt the silent art by observing his father. Sunil had always chosen silence over reason whenever Anitha lost her cool. This was just one of those days! Like father like son.
"Ok, guys, I am ready" Chavi stepped down to the living room, where Anitha was busy with Teju's tie and Sunil had just stepped inside after getting the car out of the garage.
"Gosh!" gasped Anitha. She could not imagine that her little child had grown so fast and so beautiful. Chavi was looking divine in her sequined lehanga ensemble with matching ear drops and necklace embedded with mock diamonds. Her hazel eyes and long flowing hair would catch everybody's attention in the function and moreover she would be taking center stage too.
Teju gave a happy smile at his beloved akka. Since they were born 7 years apart, there was never any chance of sibling rivalry. Chavi was more of a second mom to Teju and he loved his sister just too much. After struggling to get the knot right and Teju stand straight, the Kumars finally arrived at the grand ceremony, thankfully on time and Sunil just avoided the torture of a dozen ferocious feminist eyes had he been late for the occasion.
"These men can never do one thing right. I really wonder if they have bricks for brains" Ms. Dhaniya would have insulted poor Sunil. Thankfully, that did not happen and the event went on well.
For much that they claimed, the dance & song & speech routine went off without glitches, but the food wasn't something to talk home about, at least this was what Sunil felt while little Teju stuffed his face with the panipuri that was being served at one of the stalls.
Chavi was called on stage and a after a few words of praise and a few words of man - insult, she was given a commemorative plaque bearing IWANACUCC in bold red letters and other details of the event. The local Mercera Mirror photographers could be seen clicking away a lot of photographs, a select couple of them would grace the inside pages of the popular tabloid.
The Kumars were a tired foursome when they returned home and they hit the sack almost immediately.
They had to get up early tomorrow to visit Vishesh Arora and the shopping could be done in the evening.
The Kumars started before the break of dawn and was able to reach his friend Vishesh's apartment block just in time for breakfast.