Kundi Biriyani

Kuree naalukalk munbu nadanna oru sambhavam annu. Oru pidi cheruppakkar New-Year akhoshikkaanayi Kuttanattil ethi. Kayyil 3 kuppi Jack Daniels-um rathriyil mari idaan ulla mundukalum mathramayi avar oru veliya kettuvallath-il keri.

Kuttanad-inte manoharamaya kayal-kaivazhikaliloode aa cheruppakkar yathra arambhichu. Yathra samayam ananthakaram aakkaan kottum, paattum, kookku viliyum, dance-um, kallum, karimeen porichathum, ‘music with body muscles’ okke aa kettuvallathil arangeri. Angane samayam ardharathri ayathodu koode ashtamudi kayal-inu naduvil aa kettuvallam nankooram ittu.

11:55PM

‘Aliya… Ippo New Year avum. 5 minute koodi mathrame ollu.’ Kettuvallathinte balcony-il orumichu koodi irunnu kallu kudichondu irunna aa cheruppakaril aro paranju.

‘Oh My God!!! Vegam randennam koodi ozhikk. New Year avunnathinu munne enikk adi nirthanam’ Kuttappayi paranju.

‘Athenthinada?’Kuruvi samshayam unnayichu.

‘New Year ayaal pinne njan kudikkilla. New Year resolution aanu.’

‘Kazhinja New Year-inum nee ithu thanne alle paranjathu?’

‘Kazhinjathokke nee ingane manassil kondu nadakkaruthu. Namukk athellaam marakkaam aliya. Vegam randennam ozhikkeda…’ Kuttappayi thante kayyil undayirunna glass neetti.

1:10AM

‘Da Kuruvi…’ Kettuvallathinte balcony-il irunnu Kuppi payye vilichu.

‘Hmm…’ Kuruvi mooli

‘Nee urangiyille?’

‘illa…’

‘Baakki ullavanmaru okke off ayi alle?’

‘Aye... illa… avamaru meen pidikkan poyekkua.’

‘ee pathirathriyilo?’

‘Hmm… Kettuvallathile driver-ine vilichondu oru kochu vallathil keri engotto poyittundu.’

‘Eeshwara… ellaam nalla fit alle? avanmaru life jacket ittittundo?’

‘Shaddi polum ittittilla… pinna life jacket.’

1:30AM

‘Aliya… angane New Year ayi. Ninakk orennam koodi ozhikkatte?’ Kuppi chodichu.

‘Hmmm…’ Kuruvi sammatham mooli.

‘Vishakkunnu aliya… oru biriyani kittiyirunnengil…’ JD ozhichukondu Kuppi thante vishamam ariyichu.

‘Kayalinte naduvil ninte achan undakki vechirikkunnoda biriyani?’

‘Ariyilla, chodichu nokkaam… Allengil namukk food order cheythallo? Ivide Dominos Pizza home delivery undo?’

‘Ezhunnettu poda naari…’

1:40AM

Kuppi areyo phone-il vilikkuka aanu. Speaker on cheythu vechittundu.

‘Hello!’ 

‘Hello! Thattukada.’ Irutham vanna shabdam marupadi.

‘Aaa… Thattukada alle?’ Kuppi phone-il orakke chodichu.

‘Athe… Thattukada annu. Parayu…’

[PS: Thattukada, Kerala style restaurant, East Ham, London.]

‘Chetta... Happy New Year! Thattukadayil ulla ellarkkum ente happy new year.’ Kuppi urakke vilichu paranju.

‘Happy New Year. Happy New Year.’

‘Pinne… athe… take-away kittuo?’

‘Pinnentha… entha vendathu?’

‘Athu… Oru 100 kundi biriyani take-away venamayirunnu.’

‘Enthu biriyani?’

‘Oru 100 Kundi biriyani parcel?’

‘Hello… ara samarikkunne?’

‘Ninte ammayappan. Hahahaaaa…’  Kuppi phone cut cheythu.

1:50 AM.

‘Hello Thattukada.’ Veendum athe irutham vanna shabdam phone-il

‘Hello… Happy New Year!!’ Ee kuri Kuruvi annu phone vilichathu.

‘Happy New Year. ’

‘Athe… Kundi biriyani undo chetta?’

‘Areda nee?’

‘Kundi biriyani ille? Anna kundi pollichathu mathi.’

‘Pha!! Naari… areda. Evidunnada nee vilikkunnathu?’

‘Kuttanattil annu. Take-away order cheythaal ivide deliver cheyyo?’

‘Deliver cheyyameda… ninte…’

‘Thankyou verymuch.’ Kuruvi phone cut cheythu.

Ashtamudi kaayalil santosham kondulla attahasam muzhangi.

2:10AM

Kuttappayiyum koottarum thirichu ethi.

‘Meen pidikkaan poyittu vellathum kittiyode?’ Kuruvi chodichu

‘M*iru kitti.’ Kuttappayi vishamam ariyichu.

‘Hmm… athu curry vechu thinnan pattuo?’ Kuruvi-kk thante samshayam unnayichu.

‘Touchings ayittu pattum. …M*iru nalla vishappu.’

‘Njangal oru take-away order cheythittundu. Ippam varum…’ Kuppi paranju.

‘Onnu koodi vilichu nokk.’

Tring Tring...

‘Hello!! Thattukada.’ Veendum athee irutham vanna shabdam.

‘Chetta… njan oru take-away order cheythittundayirunnu. Ithu vare ready ayille?’