Rekha was, as usual, busy. Why not? She has to complete all morning activities and send her children and her husband to school and office respectively, that too timely.
Every one had their own taste for food items.
She was just flying to match up with the time.
For her, the morning always used to be mourning. Not that she did not like to perfom her duties, but the monotonous activities were making her feel so.
Also she likes to take care of each and every thing by herself. May be she was feeling convenient that way.
The maid servant could not come that day. Like this, many days the servant bunks. Maid servant or simply paid servant., she enjoyed it for a while even at that hour.
Up came her neighbour Keerthi. Oh no, said Rekha.
Whenever Keerthi comes to Rekha's house, she would request something or the other and would go on gossiping.
And that too, during the busy hour... Rekha still wanted to manage the show.
Keerthi first enquired about everyone's health in Rekha's house. It is only 10-12 hours since she visited Rekha's house last. just like that...
Rekha jokingly asked Keerthi, "what you can do for me?.
Keerthi was stunned. She just rushed the entrance of the house to ensure that she has actually visited the right house. The name plate said 'Swaminathan' - Rekha's husband.
Relieved of greatly, Keerthi continued. " I think you are in good mood".
Rekha was murmuring ' even if my mood is bad, you would gossip".
Keerthi went ahead with her request. " I want to have two drumsticks(murungakkai in Tamil) for cooking and the closeby shop would open only around
10 am
and if Rekha could lend those". " I am sorry to disturb you now".
Rekha, on hearing, started crying suddenly. Everybody was shocked.
In tears, ' Sorry Keerthi". I have stopped buying drumsticks from Jan'07. You would ask me why".
My aunt visited this house last year end and she wanted to get her drumsticks curry as one of the items to be served to her. I purchased the vegetable and the curry was made ready. Then I called her for meals. She was in that room and was not responding. I went inside the room only to realize that my aunt is dead. Rekha in full tears. That time onwards I am not using 'murungakkai" at all, sentimentally.
Keerthi felt very bad and requested Rekha to forgive her. Keerthi whole heartedly consoled her neighbour. Keerthi proceeded to her house.
After some time...
Rekha's son Akash and daughter Akhila brought 10 no. of drumsticks from the store room. With their eye brows going up and down, they questioned their mother as to what is it all about?
Further Rekha's husband came there and said 'to my best of knowledge, you are not having any aunt till yesterday".
Rekha cooly said that this is the only way I can drive Keerthi from the scene and if I entertain her now, I would not be able to do anything else but talking to her and all of you have to take leave. Plus, Keerthi would stop asking for anything to me and would not waste my time.
Good heavens - said Rekha's family
-va-
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