I was so happy that evening. I had so much to think and dream about. I didn’t want to be disturbed.
“Akkachi I have history class exam tomorrow, I don’t want to be disturbed”. I went to my room, took the note book from the table and lay down on my bed.I was already building dream mansions with the love of my life. I dreamed of going back to Malaysia with Biju, showing him off to all my annoying cousins. May be I will take Biju up Penang Hill on the funicular train. I hoped he will like Penang. I thought of all the children I would have. I wanted 5 kids. 3 girls and 2 boys. ‘hmm, that isn’t a nice combination, may be I will have 3 girls and 3 boys!” I thought of all the good names for my children. Biju and Nina together can have Beena, Bijina, Juliana, Jina.
“Nina, come and have dinner” I heard Akkachi calling me
I got up from my bed. I was disappointed that I had to take an intermission in my dream movie. Dejectedly I got up from my bed and went to the dining room.
Akkachi had made my favourite beef perattal(fried beef with slivers of coconut).
“Nina, sit down quickly, so I can serve you.” Akkachi was rushing me. She knows I like the fried slivers of coconut in the beef curry and she would dig in the pan and find all the coconut pieces for me before anyone sees. I sat down and Akkachi served me the coconut and then the beef.
Amma and my sisters joined me to have dinner. half way through dinner, we heard someone knocking our door.
Amma washed her hand and opened the door.
I craned my neck to see who is visiting us this time of the day. ‘Did someone see me with Biju today?’ Oh my goodness, I hope it isn’t the Achen(priest) coming to tell Amma about me and Biju. Aiyya Why did I have to go and hide in the vestibule? I asked for all this trouble.
I heard a small voice telling Amma
“Aunty, phone call for you. the caller said it is Appa. He said he will call in 10 minutes time”. Suma, Aunty Reena’s daughter was speaking to Amma.
‘phew’, I sighed.I was relieved to know that no one at the church knew about the Biju incident.
‘Phone call from Appa?’ I quickly got up from the chair and washed my hand.
“Amma., I am coming with you”
“For what?”
“To speak to my father. I haven’t spoken to him for so long”
“You are not coming anywhere. You stay here and eat your dinner.”
“Why can’t I speak to my father?”
“because I want to speak to my husband. I have many personal things to talk to him”
“he is also my father”. I was angry with my mother. What kind of a silly mother who wouldn’t let her daughter speak to her own father? I so very much wanted to push my mother and run all the way to Aunty Reena’s house and speak to my father. I wanted to tell him to come back home and take care of his family.
I watched Amma going with Suma.
“Nina, come and finish your rice” Akkachi asked me
“I don’t want”
“Oh No, You have to. I already put all the coconut in your plate. It will get spoiled.”
“I don’t want to eat Akkachi”
“you have to. I am not going to let you waste all the coconut”
I wanted to tell Akkachi to eat the coconut, if she really felt sorry for wasting the coconut. I looked at her and was about to tell her off. But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t hurt Akkachi
I stood near the table, took huge mouthful of rice and stuffed my mouth. I grabbed a glass of water and drank some water, so I could chew the food. I swallowed everything and cleaned my plate
“Happy?” I showed the clean steel plate to Akkachi.
“Like father like daughter.”
I know why Akkachi said like that. Appa does the same thing when he is angry with Amma. But today I was not in a mood to be compared to my father. I was so mad at Akkachi, I stuck my tongue at her. But Akkachi had already turned to keep my plate in the sink
“Akkachi, Nina stuck her tongue at you”.Liza shouted
Akkachi turned around, looked at me and asked
“Did you, Nina Thomas, stick your tongue at me?”
“Me? Oh no Akkachi, how could I do such a thing?”
“She did Akkachi, I swear I saw it” Liza shouted
Akkachi looked at me and then at Liza. She shook her head.
“These children will never stop fighting” and she walked back to the kitchen. I quickly placed my hand behind my ears and while moving my fingers, I stuck my tongue at Liza. I ran back to my room
I could hear Liza crying and telling Akkachi that I stuck my tongue at her and Akkachi telling her
“never mind Liza, just ignore your sister”

I heard Amma opeing the gate and I ran out side
“What did Appa say? is he ok?” I asked Amma
“He is fine” Amma walked in to the house. I watched my mother going inside the house. It made no sense. Why did Appa call? How did he get Aunty Reena’s number? Why didn’t Amma let me speak to him?