Incomplete

I reached home late on Saturday night after spending a few hours in Thugira's house. It was hardly cloudy when I got inside my car, but it started to rain heavily afterward, so I had to stop my car near the woods. There was a small shop, and I entered it to get sheltered from the rain.

I am not the one who frequently travel through this route and didn't know that a shop existed here. It was just built by stacking steel sheets supported by iron rods.

I got out of the car, with my palms on my forehead such that I could see where I go.

I entered the shop and sat at the edge of a bench near the entrance. An old lady was sitting at the counter. She seemed so poor, so I bought a box of incense sticks for 20 rupees.

Suddenly. The lights went off as the clouds started pouring heavily. I could see the old lady staring at me in the lightning flashes. I felt awkward and alone, so I took my Walkman from the bag and plugged it into my ears.

A few minutes later, the sound of raindrops falling on the roof faded, and I drove the car uphill to home. I parked the car in the garage. I opened the umbrella as the rain poured heavily again, and I had to walk from the garage to the porch.

I removed my sandals and closed the umbrella after pressing the calling bell, then realized I was the only resident in my home. Then I opened the door, fell on the couch, and dozed off.

I felt lazy to prepare breakfast the following day, so I decided to have it with Thugira and Chezhiyan. I went downhill to pick up both.



Che got in and when Gira came to open the front door; I said, "This place is occupied; please take the back seat." Gira forcibly shut the door, and the siblings sat in the back seat.

I parked my car, and we entered a small mess run by my neighbor Malar. Though the shop is simple, the dishes taste homemade, especially the Ghee Roast with Green chutney, making the shop popular.

We sat at table no.5 near the window from which the view of the pine forest behind the mess soothes our minds. I wondered about my reply to Gira when she came to sit beside me. I was drowned in thoughts.

The anna, who works in that mess, came to note our orders. Che ordered a plate of idlis, and Gira ordered a plate of onion dosa. The anna asked me, I was thinking and didn't realize that the anna was waiting for me. Gira huskily shouted, "Aaral! Say what you need?" Halfmindedly I ordered "Two plates of ghee roast".

After Anna departed, Gira asked me, "Are you gonna eat all of them?" 

I coolly replied, "Why should I?" shrugging my shoulders. I continued staring at the ceiling, thinking nothing.

Che suddenly held my hands and asked, "Aaral, Are you okay?" I softly nodded as Anna brought our orders. I received two whole plates of ghee roast; looking puzzled, I pointed at Gira and asked, "Do I look like her? How can I complete two plates?"

The Anna smirked and took one plate away. As my eyeballs turned toward Gira and Che, They both looked strangely. I pretended to ignore them and started to quench my appetite.

After eating the last piece of dosa and wiping the remaining chutney off, I visited the washroom to wash my hands. Gira entered the washroom as I came back to the table.

I sat and wiped my mouth with the tissues when Gira shouted from the washroom "Why did you leave the tap open, Aaral?"

I stammered. "For..."

She asked back rudely. "For whom?!"

I replied " For the next person to wash," shrugging my shoulders.

"What?" shouted Gira, and her voice echoed through the small room where only three of us and anna were there.

"There was no one next to you; " said Gira.

Yes! There was no one. I looked at her, like I was about to explain something.

Gira: You aren't sane, let me drive the car,

 We headed towards Sevvy's house.

It was Sevvy's birthday the coming weekend. We entered and found that she hadn't gotten off her bed. Without disturbing her, we spread a mat and sat down on the terrace to plan for her birthday.

Che: The Friday Eve celebration should be compact, just a small one consisting of only three of us and Sevvy. Let the bigger celeb take place on Sunday as all of us would be free.

I nodded as if I was paying attention, but I was not.

Che: We'll share the amount to be spent on buying gifts for Sevvy, So how should we divide the total amount?

Gira was drowned in scrolling Instagram; I answered, " by Four."

Che: Four? You, me, Gira, and who? 

Me: Sevvy...

Che: Does Sevvy spend money buying gift for her birthday?

Me: No! Well I didn't know...

Che: Didn't know what? 

From the terrace, I saw Alli, my cousin and a member of our five-membered gang, entering Sevvy's house.

Me: I didn't know that Alli wasn't giving in her share.

Che: Oh yeah, Thanks for reminding me, so divide by four .

Then Alli, too, joined our discussion. Che and Alli were talking about stuff that I was bored with, so I got up and sat on a bean bag in the living room, plugging my Walkman.

I closed my eyes, I went to another dimension and slowly dozed off.