Deepavali Special - Part 2

Continuing from the previous chapter

2 hours later, Ganga, Senthil and Dinu wake up and wash their faces.

Senthil and Dinu wear casual shirts and jeans to go out.

Ganga, on the other hand, remains in the same red saree and goes to the kitchen to make sweets and snacks for the evening.

Senthil aand Dinu are about to step out of the house but not before informing Ganga.

SENTHIL: Ganga, I’m going out along with our son.

GANGA: Where you are going?

SENTHIL: Shopping. I’ll buy some fruits, vegetables, groceries, stationery and other essential items.

GANGA: Okay. Are you in a hurry?

SENTHIL: No. Why do you ask?

GANGA: Because I want to have a private talk with Dinu.

SENTHIL: Okay. I’m not interfering. Let me call him.

Senthil walks upto Dinu.

SENTHIL: Dinu, Amma is calling you.

Dinu approaches Ganga in the kitchen and they are having a private talk while Senthil patiently waits outside and doesn’t interfere.

DINU: Amma, you called me?

Ganga responds with a smile.

GANGA: Yes, Dinu ma. I forgot to ask if you have done your homework.

Dinu sighs heavily due to his embarrassment that he forgot his homework given for Deepavali.

DINU: OMG!!!!!! I completely forgot that as I was fully engrossed in bursting of crackers since yesterday. Please don’t be mad at me and don’t tell Appa. After returning from shopping, I’ll get into my homework.

Ganga grabs one of Dinu’s arms, pulls him closer and whispers in a strict tone.

GANGA: You better get your homework done before going to school tomorrow.

Dinu nods his head and whispers back in a confident tone.

DINU: Of course, Amma. The moment I return from shopping, I’ll get into my homework.

GANGA: Good. You may go now but before that, you have to give me something.

Dinu is curious.

DINU: What’s that?

GANGA: What do you daily give your Amma?

DINU: Nothing but kisses.

Ganga smiles a little bit.

GANGA: Yes. Kisses on your Amma’s thoppul.

DINU: Amma, I’ll kiss your thoppul only after I finish my homework.

Ganga refuses to accept Dinu’s condition.

GANGA: Why?

DINU: I haven’t done anything yet. Only after I complete my homework I’ll get closer to you.

GANGA: Are you serious about it?

DINU: Yes, Amma. Let me go for shopping now with Appa. After returning from shopping, I’ll have dinner only after I complete my homework fully. And we will be allowed to touch each other only after our dinner.

Ganga is disappointed but hides it with a smile and respects Dinu’s decision.

GANGA: You could have done it before shopping. But anyways, make sure you both return home on time so that you can get into your homework.

Dinu looks embarrassed as he accepts his mistake.

DINU: You are right, Amma. But let’s not think much about the past. I have to go now.

GANGA: Okay, Dinu ma. Go and come back safely.

Dinu responds with a faint smile.

DINU: Sure, Amma.

Ganga is about to give Dinu a hug only to be stopped by him.

DINU: Whoa!!!! Hold on, Amma!!!! I said we are not supposed to touch each other till I finish my homework.

Ganga looks embarrassed.

GANGA: Aiyayoo!!!!! Sorry, Dinu ma!!!! My bad. Okay. Go now. Bye.

DINU: Bye, Amma.

Both Ganga and Dinu wave their hands at each other and Dinu eventually exits the house.

Dinu gets in the car and so does Senthil.

SENTHIL: Shall we make a move?

DINU: Of course, Appa.

Senthil turns the engine on and gently tramples the accelerator, making the car move.

2 hours later

Senthil aand Dinu return home with their purchased materials and they arrange those materials in the places allocated for them.

After arranging the materials, Dinu sits down to do his homework while Ganga is making dinner and Senthil is planning his future professional projects.

45 minutes later

After a long struggle, Dinu finally finishes his homework. He breathes a deep sigh of relief and stretches his right hand as that’s the hand he uses for writing.

DINU: Phew!!!!! Finally!!!!!! My work is done. I guess I can have my dinner now.

Dinu then approaches Ganga.

DINU: Amma, I did my homework.

Ganga responds with a faint smile.

GANGA: You finished your homework?

DINU: Yes, Amma. If you don’t believe, I’ll show you my notes now.

Ganga continues to smile faintly.

GANGA: Okay. Show.

Dinu goes and comes back with his notebooks.

DINU: Here, Amma.

Ganga ggoes through the homework notebooks of Dinu. She realizes that he has done his homework and ruffles his hair.

DINU: Well done, Dinu ma.

Dinu smiles warmly.

DINU: Thanks, Amma.

GANGA: The dinner is ready. Shall we have it?

DINU: Sure, Amma.

GANGA: Are you hungry?

DINU: Yes, Amma.

GANGA: Me too, chellakutty. Let’s have our dinner.

DINU: Of course, Amma. Before that, let’s call Appa. Let him join us for dinner.

GANGA: Of course, Dinu ma.

DINU: I’ll call him.

GANGA: Okay. Go.

Dinu goes to call Senthil while Ganga is feeling happy about her adopted son’s compassion.

SENTHIL: Yes, Dinu??

DINU: The dinner is ready, Appa. Let’s have our dinner. Come and wash your hands.

Senthil smiles.

SENTHIL: I know, Dinu. I and Amma were just waiting for you to finish your homework.

Dinu looks embarrassed.

DINU: You too knew this?

SENTHIL: Yes. It was not Amma who told me. It was you who told me.

Dinu gets further embarrassed.

DINU: Oh yes. I’m the one who told you. I was fully engrossed in bursting of firecrackers which made me forget my homework. But now I somehow managed to complete it.

SENTHIL: That’s a milestone.

DINU: Really?

SENTHIL: Yes, Dinu. That’s a milestone. You should treat every small accomplishment like a milestone.

Dinu nods his head.

DINU: Okay, Appa. I’ll keep it in my mind. By the way, do you know what my biggest milestone is?

Senthil is curious.

SENTHIL: What is it, my boy?

DINU: I accepted you as my Appa and Ganga as my Amma after long years of losing my biological parents. This is my biggest milestone ever.

Senthil laughs softly and ruffles Dinu’s hair.

SENTHIL: It’s not just your milestone, my boy. It’s our milestone. It’s mine too. It’s Amma’s milestone too. This should be considered as the biggest milestone of Amma because she tried really really hard to convince you to accept her as your Amma.

Dinu feels touched and hangs his head down. Senthil notices this and he immediately grabs Dinu’s chin to make him look into his eyes.

SENTHIL: Dinu, don’t feel embarrassed. We all make mistakes and it’s okay to make mistakes. Forget the mistakes. Remember the lesson.

Dinu nods his head.

DINU: Agreed, Appa. But sometimes it gets late to realize something.

Senthil laughs softly.

SENTHIL: But you are not too late. You are on time. You have accepted us as your parents on time.

Dinu smiles faintly.

DINU: Thanks, Appa.

SENTHIL: It’s okay, my boy. Let’s have our dinner.

DINU: Yes, Appa.

Senthil, Dinu, and Ganga wash their hands and are seated at the dining table to have dinner.

After having dinner, three of them wash their hands and rinse their respective mouths with water.

Senthil resumes planning for his future professional projects while Dinu stands next to Ganga who is washing the kitchen vessels because she told him to stay.

DINU: Amma, anything you wanted to talk about?

GANGA: Yes, Dinu ma. You finished your homework, right?

DINU: Yes, Amma. I even showed you my notebooks.

GANGA: Good. Have you packed all your materials to go to school tomorrow?

DINU: Yes, Amma. I packed before sitting down for dinner.

GANGA: Good. I request you to stay here until I finish washing the utensils.

DINU: Why?

GANGA: I want to spend some time with you. I hope we don’t get disturbed, especially by Appa.

Dinu chuckles.

DINU: Don’t worry, Amma. Appa has always let us have a private conversation. He never interfered in it.

GANGA: That’s nice of you, chellakutty. Just a few more to go.

Ganga is still washing the utensils. After a few minutes, she’s done with it.

GANGA: Phew!!!! Finally it’s done.

Dinu smiles warmly.

DINU: Well done, Amma.

Dinu then proceeds to hug Ganga. Ganga smiles with a sense of satisfaction and hugs Dinu back.

After a few seconds, the hug breaks.

GANGA: Dinu ma, have you ever seen me happy before you accepted me as your Amma?

Dinu thinks for a moment before answering his adopted mom’s question.

DINU: Umm….No, Amma.

GANGA: Because I was not truly happy.

DINU: May I know why?

GANGA: Because you refused let me near you. You would push me away. And it went on for so long.

Dinu sighs and nods his head.

DINU: Indeed, Amma. Because at that time I was still thinking about my biological parents and distraught over their loss. Anyways, thank you for giving me a new life.

Ganga smiles and ruffles Dinu’s hair.

GANGA: No need for thanks, Dinu ma. You are always welcome.

Dinu holds Ganga’s waist with both of his hands and looks deeply into her eyes with a big and warm smile. Ganga enjoys the touch. Then she recalls the promise given by him.

GANGA: Dinu ma, do you remember you promised me something before going for shopping?

Dinu doesn’t remember and he needs clarification.

DINU: I don’t remember, Amma. Can you give me a reminder?

Ganga chuckles softly.

GANGA: Of course, chellakutty. You promised me that after dinner you will kiss my thoppul. Are you ready for it now?

Dinu nods after being reminded of what he promised before going for shopping.

DINU: Oh!!!! Thanks for reminding me, Amma. I have completed my homework and also had dinner. Therefore, I guess I will give you some now.

Ganga smiles with excitement.

GANGA: Go ahead, chellakutty. Amma is waiting.

Dinu grins mildly, slides Ganga’s saree and plants a kiss right on her deep navel. Ganga smiles even more as she enjoys the kiss.

Ganga runs her fingers through the strands of Dinu’s hair.

GANGA: Dinu ma, can you give me some more?

Dinu smiles some more and nods his head.

DINU: Of course, Amma.

Dinu plants some more kisses on Ganga’s deep navel.

Ganga chuckles and enjoys the kiss while continuing to run her fingers through the strands of Dinu’s hair.

After planting a good number of kisses, Dinu pulls back and looks into Ganga’s eyes with a big and warm smile.

DINU: We can consider this as a celebration of our milestone.

Ganga laughs softly and ruffles Dinu’s hair.

GANGA: Indeed, Dinu ma. And it was a great celebration.

Dinu laughs along with Ganga.

DINU: Can’t deny that, Amma.

Ganga ruffles Dinu’s hair again.

GANGA: Okay, Dinu ma. It’s bedtime. Let’s go to sleep.

DINU: Sure, Amma. Goodnight.

GANGA: Goodnight, chellakutty.

Dinu and Ganga eventually go to sleep while Senthil is already fast asleep.