The Destination - Part 7

**********PART 7 ************************


Kumar: This is unfair. In my defense, I did not sleep the whole of Thursday night and so fell asleep.

Preeti: In our defense, all we know about you is you sleep a lot and you wake up to eat and drink.

Kumar: That's not true.

Preeti: Do you know that you slept in the second half too?

Kumar: (dejectedly): No, I did not.

Preeti: I thought so. Let Kalyani come out and you can ask her.

Kumar: She would say whatever you want her to say, but then why should I care. Okay, so I slept in the second half too. How does it matter?

Preeti: It doesn't matter to us; I should not have told you what we named you after all.

Then there was silence. Preeti looked away and Kumar was feeling awkward. He thought he would attend a wedding over the weekend and have some fun, but here he was fighting with a stranger. Kishore came back and Kalyani was still inside.

Kishore: (to both Preeti & Kumar): Come on in.

Preeti: No, thank you. I will go to my house now. I am tired and need to take some rest.



Kumar did not say anything and Kishore did not force Preeti to come in. Preeti left and Kishore and Kumar get into the house. Kumar notices that Kalyani is speaking to the new bride (Kishore's sister-in-law) as if she knew her for ages. Kumar & Kishore look at each other and smile. They join the conversation with Kalyani who does not seem tired of speaking at all. Kalyani notices that Preeti is not with them and asks about her and Kishore answers that she left. Hearing this she leaves hurriedly and tries to catch up with Preeti. Preeti is about to get onto the stairs to go upstairs to her portion above Kalyani's home when Kalyani stops her with her conversation:

Kalyani: Hey Preeti, Why did you not come inside?

"Hey Preeti, lopaliki enduku raaledu?"

Preeti: " What should I do there? I do not know anyone"

"Nenu vachi emi cheyyali? Naaku akkada evaru teleedu."

Kalyani: "You will know people if you come and meet them"

"Vaste valle telustaaru"

Kalyani sees that Preeti is not interested. So, she changes the subject.

Kalyani: What will you do in your room alone? Come to our house and you can have lunch.

"Paiki velli emi chestavu? Maa intiki vachi lunch cheyyochu kada."

Preeti: No, I am tired. I will make Maggi or something simple.

"Ledu nenu alisipoyanu. Maggi edanna chesukuni tinestaanu"

Kalyani: Okay, let me come with you.

Preeti and Kalyani both go together to Preeti's room and see that Navya is all in a very good mood. Singing and has almost finished cooking. Preeti & Kalyani are both surprised to see Navya in the room given that she had left for her hometown. Among all the questions they had on her travel and how she ended up in the town, both Preeti and Kalyani ask Navya one question:

"How is it that you cooked today!?"

******************** To be continued ***************​

The Destination - Part 6

**********PART 6 ************************




Kalyani: (talking to Kishore): "Kishore Anna, this is Preeti. She was my classmate, but you would not know her because she joined our school after you finished yours. She now stays in the first floor of our house with another room-mate of hers, Navya. You don't know her too as they both started staying here only for a year now after you left for US"

"Kishore Anna, Ee ammayi - Preeti. School lo naa classmate kaani neeku teleedu endukante nuvvu school vadilesaka eeme school join ayyindi. Ippudu maa inti paina inko ammayi, Navya, toh kalisi untondi. Navya kooda neeku teleedu le, last 1 year nunchi iddaru ikkada untunnaru - nuvvu antaku mundare US velli poyavu kada"



Kishore and Preeti exchanged pleasantries. Kishore asked Kalyani to come in and meet his sister-in-law and make her comfortable as she was new to the city and the house. Kishore & Kalyani go into the house leaving Kumar and Preeti outside with both of them avoiding eye contact with each other. Kumar, yet again, wanted to start the conversation, but did not know where to start. He thought of asking about how she liked the movie, but did not want to start the topic of him sleeping in the theatre; he did not even want to talk about the auto fares and so said...



Kumar: (Not realizing that this was a conversation that he had overheard)

"Does your uncle stay near the Railway Station?"

"Railway Station deggara mee Uncle vallu untaara?"



Preeti: From when are you following us?

"Mammalni eppati nunchi follow chestunnaru"



Kumar: What?



Preeti: Ok, how did you know our names?

"Sare, maa perlu ela telusu meeku"



Kumar: Oh that, it was very easy. When you were waiting at the bus stop and Kalyani called you, you had answered the phone with your name and you took her name multiple times on the call.

"Oh ada, chaala easy. Meeru bus stop lo wait chestunappudu Kalyani call chesindi - meeru phone answer chesi nappudu mee peru chepparu and Kalyani toh maatladinappudu chaala sarlu tana peru teesukunnaru"



Preeti: So what? Why were you eavesdropping?

"ayite maatram, ala chevulu vesukuni vinestaara, andaru emi maatladutunnaro"



Kumar: (almost shouting at Preeti) I was not, you were speaking so loud that anybody standing 5 miles away could listen to what you said. I could not avoid. Even now, when we were walking you were shouting and I could hear"

"nenu emi mee maatalu vinadaaniki try cheyyaledu. meere try cheyyakarlekunda, 5 maillu dooramu unna vallaki kooda vinapadettu gattiga chepparu. Indaaka kooda manam nadustunnapudu meeru gattiga maatladaaru and naaku vinipinchindi"



Preeti fell silent.



Kumar: (soothingly) Sorry for shouting. I did not mean to hurt you. Okay, topic change.. I will tell you something about I thought about you and you tell me something that you thought about me.

"Sorry, arichinanduku. Mimmalni hurt cheyyali ani kaadu. Okay, nenu mee gurinchi anukunnadi okati cheptaanu and meeru naa gurinchi anukunnadi cheppandi"



Preeti did not respond.



Kumar: "Looking at you I thought you were soft so I offered you Maaza, but since you snatched Coke from my hand, I understood that you were not what I thought"

"Meeru chaala soft ga kanipiste meeru Maaza ne taagutaaru anukunnanu, but Coke laakkunte meeru nenu anukunnatu kaadu ani telisindi"



Preeti: "What do you mean?"

"ante?"



Kumar: I mean.. No.. No, I don't mean it in a derogatory way.. actually, I like aerated drinks.. that's good.

" ante.. aha.. adi kaadu.. adi tappu ga ana ledu.. actually, naaku kooda coke istham.. adi manchide"



Preeti did not respond again. Kumar was desperately trying to correct the impression that Preeti had on him. Kumar started again..



Kumar: "Okay, now it is your turn. What did You and Kalyani name me, of which the first 3 letters matched with my actual name?"

"Sare, ippudu mee turn; Kalyani inka meeru kalisi naaku emi peru pettaru? andulo naa nijam peru lo first 3 letters kooda kalisayi annaru?"



Preeti started smiling now and seeing this Kumar started pleading her more to reveal the name and she said...



Preeti: "KUMbhakarna"



******* To be continued *****************​

The Destination - Part 5

**********PART 5 ************

Kumar realized that Preeti and Kalyani were walking behind him. He did not want them to know that he did not know where he was supposed to go and embarrass himself again in front of them. So, he kept walking and he heard the following conversation:

Preeti: (trying to act as if she did not care about Kumar, but keeping the voice loud enough to be audible to Kumar) - By the way, why did Navya not come to the movie. I told you that I was booking the tickets for 3 people yesterday itself, right?

Kalyani: What should I do? You were staying at your Aunt's place and so, Navya called me late night yesterday after we spoke that she was going to see her parents and I did not want to call you because I thought your uncle will be mad at you for taking calls so late in the night. She will be back tomorrow or Monday morning.

Preeti: Why did she not tell me this?

Kalyani: She said that she forgot to tell you about this and wanted me to inform you, but it looks like it was planned for a long time as she had booked her tickets and she took off on Thursday itself.



Kumar wanted to lose these girls, but they just did not stop "following him"! He decided to call Kishore.

Kumar: Kishore, I am here.

Kishore: Where?

Kumar: I don't know; I got down the auto like you said and started walking straight into the lane nearby. I see a temple nearby and some grocery stores.

Kishore: Ok, wait.. I think you are right near our house. Let me come out.



Kishore came out and started waving to Kumar. Kalyani saw Kishore and waved to him and ran ahead of Kumar.

Kalyani: Hi Kishore Anna, how are you?

Kishore: Hey Kalyani, I am fine. How are you?

Kalyani: Fine, fine. How was the wedding?

"Bagunnanu, Pelli ela jarigindi?"

Kishore: "It was hectic, but we had fun"

Kalyani: "What fun would anyone have in a Wedding!? You should have friends to have fun"

Meanwhile Kumar had walked up to Kishore & Kalyani, but Preeti was hesitating to go to them as she did not know Kishore.

Kishore: "Enough.. Enough.. if you start talking now, I cannot speak to my friend"

(Speaking to Kumar): "How are you?"

"Ela unnavu ra!?"

Kumar: "I am fine. How was the wedding?"

"Nenu Baagunnanu. Pelli ela jarigindi?"

Kishore: "The ceremony was superb"

"Chaala baaga jarigindi"

He showed Kalyani and introduced her to Kumar.

Kishore: "This is Kalyani. My neighbor - stays in the house opposite to ours. We have been neighbors since our childhood. In fact, I escorted her when we were in school. She is 4 years junior to us". (Turning to Kalyani).. "This is Kumar - my degree classmate"

"Ee ammayi Kalyani. Maa edurintlo untundi. Maa chinnappati nunchi ikkade untunnaru. Iddaram oke school ki velle vallamu and nene tanani school ki teesukuni velle vaadini. tanu manaki 4 years junior" (Turning to Kalyani).. "Itanu Kumar - naa degree classmate"

Kumar realized that though he knew both their names, they did not know his name until Kishore introduced. Kalyani was smiling and the smile was a little exaggerated, he thought.

Kalyani: (Calling Preeti) "Hey, come here! His name is Kumar. The first 3 letters match the name that we gave him!"

"Hey, itu ra! Itanu peru Kumar ata. Manam pettina peru lo first 3 letters kalisayi!"

Kishore was surprised that Kalyani knew Kumar and was thinking how Kumar would know Kalyani since Kumar was always in Hyderabad and Kalyani was always in Vizag. Kumar was wondering what these girls would have named him.

******************** To be continued ****************​

The Destination - Part 4

**********PART 4*************************




Kalyani was the first one to react.



Kalyani: "Hey you have to give us Rs.20. Preeti had told you before"

"Hey, nuvve maaku Rs.20 ivvali. Indaaka Preeti cheppindi kada."



Preeti pinched Kalyani to show that she had unnecessarily revealed her name and Kumar had noticed this. Kalyani was in no mood to hear, she was seriously looking at Kumar for an answer.



Kumar: "Kalyani, I was to give Rs.20 after adjusting Auto fare with movie ticket, but for the pop-corn you had taken as soon as I offered and the soft drinks you had snatched even before I asked, if you adjust the amount, you owe me Rs.30."

"Choodu Kalyani! Indaaka nenu Rs.20 ivaali anedi ok. Auto rate, cinema ticket price adjust chesukunte saripotundi, but nenu ichina ventane pop-corn teesukunnaru kada and ivva kundaane soft drinks lakkunnaru kada vaatiki dabbulu adjust chesukunte meere naaku Rs.30 ivvali."



Preeti was surprised that Kumar knew Kalyani's name too and was doubting whether he knew Preeti's name even before they both met.



Kalyani: "So what, you bought those yourself, did we ask for them? Preeti only took soft drink, why should we pay for popcorn that you wasted"

"Ayite emaindi? Nuvve techavu memu adigama? Preeti only cool drink teesukundi, nuvvu kinda padesina pop-corn ki enduku ivvali"



Kumar: "I have not counted for the ones that fell down"

"Nenu kinda padinavi count cheyyaledu"



Preeti took out 100 rupee note and showed it to Kumar.



Kumar: "I do not have change. It is only Rs.30, that's fine, keep it with you"

"Naa deggara change ledu. 30 rupees ye kada. Unchukondi."



Almost immediately, Preeti held Kalyani's hand and almost dragged her away from Kumar. He was about to say something, but Kumar's phone rang. Kumar answered and it was Kishore who had called. He mentioned that they had reached Vizag and was at home now. Kumar inquired about how to reach Kishore's place and Kishore suggested him to take a 'Share Auto' from the theatre, gave him more details about where to get down with directions to his house and asked him to call once he reached there.



Outside the theatre an auto driver was shouting the name 'Gopalapatnam' and Kumar waved to him. The Auto driver started the auto and gestured Kumar to get in. Kumar came from behind the auto and got in and turned to see that Preeti and Kalyani were in the auto!



None of them said a word. They travelled in utter silence till they reached the spot. Preeti gave Rs.100 to the auto driver and Kumar got down and asked him what the fare was. The auto driver said Rs.30 and Kumar looked at Kalyani and Preeti, then took his bag and left the place saying



Kumar: "They'll pay for me"

"Vallu istaaru teesuko."



Auto Driver: "Sir!"



Kumar had already started walking.



Auto Driver: (To Preeti and Kalyani): "Madam!"

Preeti: "yes, yes, we will pay"

"yes, yes, istaamu le"



The Auto Driver was confused, but happy that he would get his money and he returned the change to Preeti. Preeti and Kalyani noticed that Kumar was ahead of them and was on phone. Preeti was angry and Kalyani was smiling. Preeti was still thinking whether Kumar was following them, but was in doubt because he was ahead of them.



******************** To be continued ****************​

The Destination - Part 3

**********PART 3***************************


Kumar went into the theatre and tried to find the place to sit. Preeti was sitting in the aisle seat with Kalyani beside her. So, he had to sit beside Kalyani. The movie started, but Kumar was not interested in it. As soon as the titles started he dozed off. Kalyani saw this and whispered something into Preeti's ears. Kumar woke up hearing some giggles, understood that the girls were laughing at him, but did not bother to get up. He closed his eyes and slept peacefully. Kalyani was about to hit him and wake him up, but Preeti stopped her from doing so.

Kumar woke up in the Interval and started looking around unable to understand where he was. Looking at his pale face and confused look Kalyani started laughing out loud. Preeti hushed her, but Kalyani was not to listen. Kumar was embarrassed, but got up with a wry smile on his face and went outside. He tried to call Kishore, but his cell was still unreachable. He went to the stall at the theatre and took 3 popcorns and 3 soft drinks (1 coke, 1 Maaza and 1 Thums Up). He preferred either Coke/ 'Thums Up' and thought that girls preferred 'Maaza' kind of stuff (which are not aerated), but Kalyani was tom-boyish and would prefer aerated drinks, he thought.

He went back to his seat and offered the snacks to the girls. Kalyani immediately took pop-corn and 'Thums Up'. Kumar smiled to himself and thought that he was right in deciding the drinks. He offered popcorn and the soft drink to Preeti and she looked at Kalyani, who had already started eating her pop-corn and gulped half the 'Thums Up'. Preeti, reluctantly, stretched her hand towards 'Coke' when Kumar handed her the 'Maaza' bottle.

Preeti stared angrily at him and almost snatched the 'Coke' bottle from him. Unable to revolt, Kumar handed the 'Coke' bottle and offered pop-corn to her and Preeti ignored him. Kalyani pointed that Preeti does not like popcorn. Kumar wanted to go back to his seat and asked Preeti for a little place to move to which Preeti obliged. Moving on looking at Preeti to say 'Thank You' he did not notice that Kalyani stuck her leg out hindering Kumar's path. He stumbled, almost fell, but balanced himself just in time; in the process, both the popcorn cones were on the floor with popcorn lying around wasted and the 'Maaza' bottle was half-empty with the remaining on the floor with a little on his Jeans and shirt too.



He sat in his chair and looked at Kalyani who was laughing and showing all her teeth. He glanced at Preeti and she was trying to hide her smile. Embarrassed in front of the girls, he sat in the movie trying to understand what was going on. He could not understand what was happening in the movie as he had slept in the first half and was sipping the drink he did not prefer. He was frustrated that he was watching a movie with 2 unknown girls who were making fun of him in a totally new city.

When credits rolled on the screen, Preeti and Kalyani got up and started to leave. He sat back relaxed for everyone to leave and by the time he reached outside Preeti and Kalyani were waiting for him. He walked straight to them. Kalyani had a cunning smile and pushed Preeti with her shoulder hinting something, which Kumar thought they might have discussed when he was not with them. Preeti held her hand out and in front of Kumar and said "Twenty Rupees". Kumar looked at Kalyani who was still smiling. Kumar put his right hand in the pocket and brought out closed fist and placed it beside Preeti's hand. Kalyani tried to open it, but Kumar slapped her hand with his left one. Seeing this Preeti withdrew her hand. Kumar slowly opened his fist and Preeti and Kalyani saw him with surprise when he laid the empty hand forward and demanded….

"Thirty Rupees!"

******************** To be continued ****************​

The Destination - Part 2

***** PART 2**************

Kumar was on the top berth and opened his eyes, he thought he had slept for a long time, but still was able to see the sunlight. He thought, being summer, it could be that the days are long. His watch was showing 7:30. Wow, he thought 7.30 and still it is not dark. He rolled over and looked down. He saw that his bay was empty. He noticed that almost everyone got down from the train. He immediately got down from his berth, grabbed his shoes and bag and came onto the platform. The time on the platform clock was 7:33 and he looked around for the name of the station and when he saw the board "VISAKHAPATNAM". He did not know how to react. He wanted to shout at somebody and argue about why he was not woken up at Vijayawada, but he had no company. He realized that he was very tired the previous day and overslept.

He had missed the wedding and now was in a place unknown to him. He took some time to think and then called Kishore.

Kishore: "Hey Kumar, vastannannavu? Office lo busy aa?" ("Hey Kumar, you said that you would come, are you busy in office")

Kumar : "Ledu babu, nenu station lo unnanu" ("No boss, I am at the station")

Kishore: "Oh, kaani memu inka ikkada undamu. Maa ooru ki ippude bayalderatamu. Nuvvu ippudu vachi waste" ("Oh, but we are not staying here, we are about to start back to our town. It would be a waste for you to come here now.")

Kumar: "Hmm.."

Kishore: "Oka pani cheddam. Nenu Vizag nunchi Hyderabad vachaka neeku call chestanu, appudu kaluddam. Ok na?'" ("Let's do one thing. I will call you when I come to Hyderabad from Vizag, we will meet then. Is that ok?")

He smiled and realized two facts – that he smiled after a long time and that Vizag was his friend Kishore’s hometown.

Kumar: "Adi emi kudaradu. Nenu ninnu kalisi teerataanu. Nuvvu oka pani cheyyi, nuvvu Vizag vachina ventane naaku call cheyyi" ("That won't do. I have to meet you. You do one thing, you call me as soon as you come to Vizag.")

Kishore: "'Vachina' Ventane na? Nuvvu Vizag lo unnava?" ("As soon as I 'come'? Are you in Vizag")

Kumar: (Smiling) "Yes, kaani details adagaku ippudu. Taravata cheptanu. Nuvvu Vizag vachaka naaku call cheyyi, ok?" ("Yes, but don't ask me details now. I will tell you later. Call me as soon as you come to Vizag, ok?")

Kishore: "ok, take care. bye"

Kumar: "Bye"

Now, Kumar was relieved. He was ok to spend time for some 6 hours and then meet Kishore. He could spend the weekend here and get back to office by Monday. His purpose would be served. He was now thinking how to spend time; he went to the retiring rooms, brushed his teeth, bathed and got fresh. He had his breakfast and was coming out of the railway station when it struck him that he did not know where to go. He tried calling Kishore, but his cell was out-of-coverage-area. He cursed his luck and came out of the station without getting caught by the ticket collectors when the autowallahs came to him.

"Ekkadiki vellali sir?" ("Where do you have to go sir?")

He smiled to himself and thought "Ade teliste..." ("Had I known that..") and shook his head and left the place. He walked towards the bus stop and waited there not knowing which bus to take. He still had not decided what to do. He saw a girl talking on phone at the bus stop. The girl was talking on phone about meeting at the theatre to watch a new movie for which they had taken 3 tickets, but one of their friends could not come. He came to know that her name was 'Preeti' and was meeting 'Kalyani'. She said that she would sell the ticket to someone at the theatre and that she would reach in sharp 30 minutes. Hearing this, Kumar thought this is better thing to do, he would go to the theatre and watch the movie to spend some time.

Preeti called an auto and was bargaining. Kumar went to her:



Kumar: "Excuse Me"

Preeti: (looking suspiciously) "Yes"

Kumar: "Nenu kooda aa theatre ke vellali. So, iddaramu share chesukundaama?" ("I have to go to the same theatre. So, shall we share?")

Preeti: (hurriedly) "Okay. Get in"

Kumar: "Thank you". (Turning to the auto driver) "Pada babu" "Let's go)

For about 5 minutes they did not speak to each other and Kumar again started:

Kumar: "Excuse Me. Mee deggara extra ticket undi annaru kada. Adi naaku istaara?" ("Excuse Me. You said you had an extra ticket. Will you give that to me?")

Preeti: (still suspicious) "Meeku ela telusu naa deggara extra ticket undi ani" ("How do you know I have an extra ticket?")

Kumar: "Meeru indaaka phone lo maatladutunte vinnanu" ("I heard when you were talking over phone")

Preeti: "Asalu meeru ye cinema ki vellali?" ("What movie do you want to watch?")

Kumar: (with a blank face) "Edaina paravaledu" ("Any movie is okay")

The auto driver was listening to this conversation and was not able to understand Kumar's stand point. The songs in the auto were playing loudly and Kumar asked the driver to reduce the volume.

Preeti: "Alaaga! Ippudu ye theatre ki veltunnamu manamu, adi ayina telusa?" ("I see! Do you even know what theatre we are going to?")

Kumar: (innocently) "Nenu ee ooriki kotha. Naaku teleedu andi" ("I am new to this town. I do not know")

Preeti: "Asalu ye cinemaki veltunnaro, ye theatre ki veltunnaro teleekunda ela ekkestaaru ila auto?" ("How did you get into the auto when you do not know where you have to go?")

Auto driver stopped the auto as they had reached the theatre and both of them got down. Preeti gave a hundred rupee note and the auto driver said that he did not have change. Preeti looked at Kumar and he immediately took change out from his wallet and gave Rs.65 to the auto driver. Kalyani saw both of them getting out of the auto and came to them.

Kalyani: "Hi Preeti! Evaru itanu? Ticket ammadam enduku ani evarinaina teesukochava?" ("Hi Preeti! Who is this? Did you bring him so as to avoid selling the ticket?")

Preeti: "Daadapu ante anuko, Kalyani." ("Yeah, almost like that, Kalyani")

Kumar took out a hundred rupee note and handed it over to Preeti who looked at him sternly as if to say that he knows that she did not have change and that was the reason he had paid for the auto. She did not take the money, instead handed him the movie ticket, held Kalyani's hand and turned around swiftly saying "You owe me Rs.20" and left.

Kumar stood there not understanding the calculations.

******************** To be continued ****************​