Chapter 26

Sheetal flicked a switch in her belt as she heard the producer’s voice filter in, “Sheetal, it’s time. Get ready. You’re going live across Pondy and Tamil Nadu in 4… 3… 2… Go!”

“Vanakkam Puducherry! Deepavali naale kondaatam dhaanga. Pattasu, palagaaram, pudhu dress nu orae kalakalappa irukura indha naal, Adhuvum namma Pondy la Indha Deepavali ya innum special ah maatha, namma Chennai silks la ekkachakka collections, egapatta disounts, koodave snacks, games nu, floor-ku-floor entertainment!”

“Switch to Bumper prize information in 10 seconds!”, Malavika’s voice blared through the earpiece on Sheetal.

“This is your favorite girl, RJ Sheetal, live from Sree Kumaran The Chennai Silks, Maraimalai Adigal Salai, Pondy. Iniku Deepavali shopping ku Chennai silks vandha ellarukum bayangara luck-u pa! Namma Chennai Silks la 1000 rupees ku mela purchase panra ovvorutharukum 10 Lakhs worth bumper gifts win panra chance iruku. First place la 5 Lakhs worth car, second, third and 4th place la 70 thousand worth bikes, top 10 ku TV, washing machine, grinder nu a range of appliances. Adhu mattum illanga, win panra 30 perukku upto 10000 rupees gift vouchers kaathuiruku! So why wait? Purchase pannunga, coupon a vaangunga, unga name and phone number ezhudhi indha box la podunga. Adhrishta Lakshmi unga phone line layum varalaam! Entries close at 6 PM today, so hurry up makkale!”

“Hold the mic closer, Sheetal, ellame solli kudupaangala? Sponsors! Mention the sponsors now!”

“Kootam apdiye pongi vazhiyidhu, just like how your festive kitchens are going to overflow with taste, thanks to our co-sponsors, Gold Winner Refined Sunflower Oil – Healthy family-ku happy choice! And hey, queue la ninnu tierd aa irukura unga kids ku energy venuma? Give them a bite of Britannia Milk Bikis! Festive gift packs available right at the billing counters!

The gig went on for a couple of hours during the day, later resuming in the evening for the final reveal, a handful of people gathering around, some in anticipation, the others just for some entertainment while their family shopped. Kumar, the store manager stood, dressed in white shirt and white pants, wiping his dry forehead with a pristine white kerchief every 2 minutes, smiling proud with yellow teeth.

They stood on a little makeshift stage at the entrance of the store, lined up with 3 new scooters wrapped with cling wraps, some cardboard boxes with grinders & mixers, while a brand new Maruthi Suzuki Alto K10 stood in the middle of the stage, enticingly covered in black satin cloth and a huge red ribbon bows, attracting the passing commuters.

Two guards walked up to the stage carrying the massive glass drum with all the coupon stubs thrown into it.

Malavika throws her finger into the air, signing from the corner of the stage: “1 MINUTE TO PULL THE COUPON. Keep the tempo.”

Sheetal doesn’t blink. Her smile stays locked in, seamlessly absorbing the cue.

“And, finally! Namma ellaarum wait pannitu irundha andha tharunam, idho. Kumar sir, are you ready? Count down polaama?” 10! 9! 8!..

Kumar reaches into the drum and swirls his hand through the sea of coupon slips.

7!… 6!… 5!… 4!… The audience join counting, a wave of excitement dancing on a multitude of faces surrounding them.

The sound of shuffling paper echoes over the microphone.

“ReadthenameclearlyGiveithighenergyAndsignoffimmediately!” Malavika commands in a single breath, Sheetal receiving it all in while her eyes zero in on the bright pink piece of paper that Kumar has now pulled out was now handing it over to her.

1! And the final lucky winner of The Chennai Silks presents Deepavali special bumper prize – 5 lakhs worth car – Maruthi Suzuki Alto K10 is…. Kavitha Ramesh from muthialpet, Pondicherry!!! Congratulations Kavitha, please come forward!

The crowd cheers. A woman in the middle of the store starts screaming and jumping.

“Congratulations, Kavitha, indha varsham ungaluku nejamave thala deepavali dhaan!”

“Makkale, don’t worry. The discounts at Chennai Silks will be live till midnight. It has been a splendid week. You know what, my Pondy peeps, I understand why everyone rushes out to be here when the weekends hit. More than the beauty of the rock beach and the serenity of auroville, I believe it’s the people and their kindness. The warmth around here will make anyone want to stay.”

“This is an experience I’ll never forget. Thank you all for cheering me on, and Kumar sir, thank you for hosting me and my team. This is RJ Sheetal signing off. Keep listening to Hello FM – Kelunga kelunga, ketukitae irunga!”

Ravi hits the kill switch on the IP codec.

Sheetal gently moves away from the crowd after sharing a few words and smiles. Malavika finally cracks a small smile at her while nodding. “Not bad for your first OB, Sheetal. Good work.”

Sheetal, Priya and Kumar watch in absolute shock as the terror lady pats Sheetal on the back and walks away.

Priya rushes in on her tippy toes, giggling as her friend walks closer. “Eyyyy….Kalakkita di! It was awesome!!”, she gushes as she pulled Sheetal in a tight embrace.

“Paatha la? Aanarapatta Malavika ve unna paaraatitu poraa. Bale killadi dhaan d nee.”

“Paathan. Adhayum paathan. Naa stage la irukumbodhu nee en samosava serthu muzhunginiye, Adhayum paathen. Give me my 20 rupees,” Sheetal dedpans while pulling away, throwing a tissue at the other’s face.

“Enna machi.. samosavuku laam kanaku paapiya? Namma apdiya pazhagi irukom?”

“Seruppu-“

“Hey, hey, aprama thittu.. Kumar sir varaaru”

Kumar walks over to them with another staff, carrying a bunch of big shoppers. “Excellent job, madam. Super-a pesineenga. Indhaanga. Namma store saarba ungalukkum unga team-kum a small Deepavali gift – some sweets and clothes.”

Sheetal looks at the gift bags, a genuine smile on her face. The corporate will get the ad money, but the local stardom and the free silk saree was all hers.

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The return trip to Chennai was not really as memorable since the crew was deadbeat asleep as soon as the van hit the road. By the time they reached Chennai, the sky was already bleeding into the pale purple of Deepavali morning.

Sheetal asks the driver to drop her off on the way as they were closer to her house than to the office. Priya joins her as her parents aren’t in town and she doesn’t feel like going back to an empty home, specially during a festival.

The two walk together, Priya humming and kicking stones, while Sheetal pulled both their luggages after losing rock, paper, scissors.

“So, I never asked you Priya, where are your parents anyway? I’ve never seen you away from family.” Sheetal brought up the question that had been swarming in her mind for sometime.

“Okay,” she sighs, the skip in her step completely fading and reducing to a slow walk to match Sheetal’s pace. “My brother… remember? He eloped with his then girlfriend a couple of years ago. She is a Christian. My parents couldn’t really bring themselves to accept them and cut ties. Her parents too. But I kept in touch. He just recently had a baby girl. She’s sooooo cute, you know? Wait, let me show you her pictures!” Priya exclaims as she fishes her phone out her jeans pocket “She’s got this cutest little nose, look at her… isn’t she an angel?”

Sheetal smiles at her excited friend and gushes over the little baby in the photo, matching the other’s energy. She then drags her hands along the picture, and cracks her knuckles against her temples. “There. No evil eye on this precious little one anymore.”

Priya just smiles and pockets her phone back after locking the screen. “Well, my parents found out. From my phone. We spoke a lot, fought, cried, yelled. Then there was a lot of silence. But they finally agreed to see them once. Darshan lives in Kerala now, near Palakkad. My parents are going to meet him at a temple. I just hope everything goes well, Sheetal. It will be, right?”

“Of course, Priya.” Sheetal presses her hand on Priya’s shoulder, gently squeezing, and Priya glances at her in gratitude. “Okay so you tell me, how’s the birthday preparations coming up? What are you planning to gift your “best friend” Sharini?” Priya air-quotes the words best-friend as she speaks in a mocking tone, just to receive a punch on the shoulder. “Aww, looks like someone is jealous. Don’t worry my deeear Priya, you are my best friend too, just from college. eeeeeeee”, she grins like a fool. The two ladies laugh at themselves as they finally enter the resident complex.

“Well, she’s back in our hometown right now and won’t be back till like, just the day before her birthday, so, I have some time.” she says, adjusting the handbag over her shoulder and pulling up the trolley bags. “I’ve been planning a practical gift for almost a month now.”

Standing at the door, Sheetal points to the top of the doorframe, Priya reaches up and grabs the keys to unlock the door. They kick off their sandals outside and step into the apartment.

“Tell me more.”

“I kinda don’t want to?” Sheetal grinds her teeth with an apologetic look on her face. “I’m actually afraid I won’t really do it when the time comes.”

“What kind of build up is this? Are you going bungee jumping?”

“Oh Jesus no! Not in a hundred years.”

“Then what is it? What are you so afraid of doing, but will do it for her? Huh?”

“Aish, stop with your stupid drama. Ok fine. Here.”, Sheetal pushes a card in Priya’s hand. Priya takes one look and her eyes widen. “You? When…? How…?” and then she starts laughing out loud, crouching to the ground holding her stomach, cackling like a hyena.

Sheetal stands there with her lips pursed into a line, hands on hips, a deadpan look that says she’s ready to kill this girl. “It’s not funny. Stop.”

“One…. minute…. please…” Priya continues cracking up and Sheetal snatches her brand new driver’s license from the other’s hand.

“How much did you pay to forge this? Bwahahaha” Priya asks with tears in her eyes and is immediately slapped on her head.

“I actually took classes, you stupid buffalo. She’s been driving for so many years now and I know sometimes it is irritating to her. Like, she used to love driving before the traffic got worse. She’s still very good at it, but I don’t think she enjoys it anymore. I’d like to see her sit back and enjoy. Like, relax a little.” Sheetal babbles on looking at the small card in her hand.

Priya notices the genuine resolve in her eyes, and calms down a little. Sharini is her friend too, thanks to Sheetal for introducing them, but she’ll always be a little jealous of the friendship of the two. The three of them know and they can’t help but agree.

The two then got to preparing for the day, freshening up. They had a quick maggie breakfast and dressed up, Priya chose to wear a saree she had pre-pleated and packed before the trip, while Sheetal put on a salwar first, then ditched it for a gold and pink sharara. On Priya’s insistence, she lit a little oil lamp, clicked a quick picture of herself with it for Sharini and then the two rushed off to the Hello FM office.