Sweet Kaaram Coffee (ஸ்வீட் காரம் காபி)

Amma!

Why do you keep coming up here?

You don't take your medicines on time.

Amma!

Amma!

Amma!

Amma!

I'm still alive!

Amma…

I know how you must be feeling today.

You're constantly thinking of appa, right?

It's been a year already.

I know you're putting up a tough front for my sake, Amma.

You wish you had joined appa even in his last journey.

I know you well.

Oh, my! Looks like he will personally parcel me to heaven.

-Amma! -What, dear?

Get up and go to your room.

-Why should-- -Please.

Go to your room.

Please don't strain yourself today.

I'll send whatever you need to your room.

Alright?

This is for her son.

-Bala. Kettai nakshatra. -Kettai nakshatra.

Please offer prayers to ensure my son studies well.

What grade is your little boy in?

No. He's all grown up. He's working.

Please offer prayers so that he should study well if he chooses to do an MBA.

This is for her husband.

Rajaratnam. Bharani nakshatra.

His cholesterol must fall below 180.

His shoulder pain should go away.

And this is for her Aththai.

-Sundari. Hasta nakshatra. -Hasta nakshatra. Sundari.

Aththai hasn't come to the temple in three months.

In these three months, her HbA1c is stuck at 13.

I feel it's because she hasn't been visiting.

So, I'm here on her behalf.

By the grace of God, everything will be fine.

Condoms?

Shall I bill that too?

I asked if I should bill that too.

No! I don't want that.

This will do.

No prayer for your daughter?

No matter how many times I ask, she refuses to come to the temple.

Come to think of it, she doesn't go anywhere with me.

I pray she gets good sense and good health.

Don't stress too much on the left ankle, Nivi!

Good!

Take a break for ten minutes.

Then back in net two.

Good shot.

Looks like madam is the coach's favorite today as well.

Look who's talking!

How is your ankle?

I’m scared to put my weight on it.

Try getting up.

What's this?

A bribe?

Correct. A bribe.

Now tell me.

You'll come over this evening, right?

You expect me to show up after merely sending me a text?

Of course I do.

I expect you to show up in a sari and these lovely earrings.

Karthik…

Nivi…

It's just a housewarming party.

Consider it as an opportunity to meet my relatives.

Let me show you off! For once!

That's exactly my problem!

I'm ready to meet your family.

But a party…

I don't want to come if people are going to be looking at me and judging me.

Don't you want to see my new house?

My room?

It could end up being our room.

Come here.

My cousins… my aunts…

they should look at you and be floored.

Will you introduce me as the girl who clean bowled you last week?

Okay.

I'll come.

But this? No guarantee.

-Bala! You're back! -Hi, Amma.

How are you?

-Yeah, Ma. I'm fine. -I called you so many times,

but you hardly spoke to me.

-Did you eat well? -Do I look starved, Amma?

I'm back from Manali.

-And all you can ask me about is food? -Oh, stop!

Manali, it seems! I don't care about all that.

You need to be healthy and strong! That's what I want.

"Strong"? Am I a three year old?

-Appa! -He's left for work.

-What do you need him for? -To tell him about the trip.

Tell me about it. How was Manali?

-Did you take any pictures? -Yeah, Amma.

You can hear all about it when I tell appa.

I can't keep repeating it.

You can see the photos then.

Alright. Go shower.

Goodness! Such dirty clothes!

-Shall I make puris? -Please turn on the heater too!

Very well.

Hi.

So pretty.

Hey.

Come.

Hey, all the best to you.

What?

To us. All the best to us.

Amma!

-This is Nivi. I mean… Niveditha. -Hi.

Now I know why he is still dawdling here.

-Hi, Niveditha. Glad you could come. -Hi!

You have a lovely home, Auntie. Congratulations.

Give me that, Amma. I'll take care of it.

Here, Nivi.

-Nivi. -I got this, Auntie. You must be busy.

Thanks, kanna.

Hey.

Listen. You handled that pretty well.

The next ball's going to be hard.

Even if not a sixer, at least hit a four. Please.

At the state level, if Karthik can maintain his batting average,

then anything is possible.

The IPL. The Indian Team.

Why not? Praise be to God.

The coach has high hopes for Karthik's spin bowling, Uncle.

He told him to not give up on that.

My friend.

I'm Niveditha.

-Hi. -How do you know so much

about Karthik's cricket, Niveditha?

I see him play, Auntie.

The coach says so too!

You go to the ground too?

She saw it when she came to interview me, Amma.

You're a journalist? I thought so!

Which publication?

Freelance, blogs. She's just starting out, Appa.

Your interview? When? Where?

-I'll let you know, Amma. -What is he saying?

-He sounds weird. -Did he tell you?

-Any problem, Karthik? -None, Auntie. Enjoy your food.

You messed up.

Why talk about cricket?

Why did you say I was a journalist?

As the proverb goes "Even a thousand lies granted, to make a marriage happen."

Can't you do just this for us?

This was intended to be my parents' room.

It's my room now.

Our room.

Do you like it?

Why did you say that, Karthik?

Okay.

Yes, I lied.

No harm in lying if it's for our good.

So we must hide the fact that I play cricket?

Does this seem right to you?

Won't they learn the truth someday?

If it's the truth you want, let me come to the point.

Women's cricket is just not there yet.

Sorry. It's just not there.

Who watches it on TV?

Who pays to watch it at the stadium?

Nivi…

it's not a real career, Nivi.

Who'll manage the house if we both are away playing cricket?

My parents won't agree to it, Nivi.

Is that what you want?

Nivi…

I thought you would realize yourself that my chances are better.

I guess I was wrong.

No. I'm the one who was wrong.

I just never understood you.

I'm sorry, Nivi. But…

I'm just stating the facts.

Just tell me this.

If I took you home and introduced you as an auditor, would you be okay with it?

What do you want me to do?

Shall I tell everyone out there you're a cricketer?

You should believe that first, Karthik.

I'm leaving, Karthik.

What does the star cricketer have to say?

-Bala! -Oh, no!

Why do mother and daughter look so grumpy?

Mind your own business.

Is that so?

Okay!

But yours truly is aware of everything that goes on in this house!

Touch my headphones and I'll chop off your hand!

I invite you to try!

Hey, Bala!

-What is it? -Tell him to return my headphones, Amma!

Good God! He just got back home today!

You're at it already?