Driver story: First Trip (Foodie Family- six)

Next Morning, 7:56 AM – We reached our destination.

The hardest part of the drive for me was between 3 AM to 5 AM. I had planned to avoid that timing, but we can't predict situations. We got into some bad delays already, and by now it was 5 AM. We had just crossed Coimbatore city.
I started feeling sleepy. Everyone else was in deep sleep. I didn’t want to disturb them, so I pulled over at a highway tea shop.
(In Tamil Nadu, people come for tea at 5 AM, so tea shops usually open by 4:45 itself.)
I parked the car safely, kept the engine running, and got down to wash my face. I had a cup of tea — it refreshed me so much.
I could feel the fresh air around; we were about to enter the Western Ghats.
I hadn’t planned to smoke, but the breeze tempted me. I had one smoke and enjoyed the moment. Now, totally fresh, I got back into the car, ready to drive.
I thought everyone was still asleep, but Mother Violet asked me, "Where are we now?"
I replied, "Just out of Coimbatore."
I started driving as usual.
The sun was starting to rise. I saw a streak in the clouds — first yellow, then turning red. Slowly, light opened up, the sun came out, and everything became visible.
I could now see the beauty of the Western Ghats. I was really enjoying my drive.

At a certain point, I wanted to open all the windows to enjoy the fresh air, but I didn’t want to disturb everyone.
Maria was sleeping beside me; she had adjusted her seat to sleep comfortably. Jessie was sleeping in the last seat, and Divya also made herself comfortable.
Mother Violet, however, hadn’t moved at all — she sat straight, resting her head on a flight pillow.

As I crossed a beautiful scenic spot, I really wanted to show it to someone.
Maria was closest to me, so I gently touched her thigh — at first pretending it was an accident while shifting gears. I did this two or three times, but she didn’t wake up.
Finally, I touched her thigh more firmly. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. I signaled her to look outside.
She turned her head and looked out — it was one of the best views.
(We had seen this spot before, but every time it looked different depending on the light.)
Maria enjoyed the view.
It was now 5:49 AM. The morning sunlight shining from the mountain — it was truly the peak of nature’s beauty.
Me and Maria — I noticed again — have very similar tastes and psychology.

We were now driving through hairpin bends.
Sometimes the road went deep into the forest, sometimes it came right along the mountain’s edge.
I opened Maria's door mirror to bring more fresh air in. We enjoyed the drive blissfully.

At one point, Maria suddenly shouted in excitement — everyone woke up.
They all saw Maria looking at the beautiful view and started enjoying it too.
Jessie tried to open her window, but it was locked centrally, so I unlocked it. She opened it, looked out, and smiled at me — a smile that could cost anything.
Jessie looked gorgeous in the morning sunlight.

Maria played some music on her phone — an A.R. Rahman song.
Jessie woke Divya up, pulling her a little.
At that moment, Divya’s phone buzzed with a message.
She woke up, replied quickly, then looked out — and immediately shouted, "Wow!"
She started taking pictures and sending them to someone.
Everyone was enjoying the scenic beauty.

Jessie told me to stop at a tea shop in the mountains.
I nodded, but Mother asked, "What time is it now?"
I told her it was 6:24 AM.

Mother said, "Actually, we were supposed to reach home around 6 or 6:30 AM. We’re getting delayed."

Just then, a lorry came towards us in a tight turn. Everyone got scared.
Mother said, "Son, please be careful."
But it wasn’t our mistake — the lorry driver was careless.

I felt like we were slowly stepping down from the peak.
I spotted a small tea shop.
I told Maria, "That’s a small tea shop. No restrooms and all. Should we stop, or wait for a better one?"
Maria asked Mother and Jessie.
Mother said, "It’s very hard to find a good restroom tea shop in the mountains. Maybe there’s one at Aliyar Ghat."
I said, "There’s a signboard for Aliyar!"
Mother looked and said, "From here, it’s just 5-10 minutes."

We carefully kept watching for any tea shop.
I asked Mother, "Do you remember the name of the shop?"
Mother said, "I forgot... but it should be around here."

Suddenly, we spotted a tea shop.
Mother said, "That’s the one!"
I slowed down to park.

Everyone got ready to step down.
Just then, Maria’s phone started ringing.
She searched for it — it was in the backseat.
Divya found it and handed it to Maria.

I parked the car properly.
Maria checked who was calling — it was her mother-in-law.
She picked up the call:
"Hello?"

Mother-in-law:
"Hello Maria, where are you right now? We are in Aliyar. Your daughter is crying. She wants to see you now. I told her yesterday that you’ll be home by 6 AM. She woke up at 6 and has been asking for you since. We tried to control her, but she’s crying badly. I'll give her the phone — talk to her."

Maria spoke to her daughter, Angelena.
Angelena was screaming, "Maa, I want to see you now! Where are you?"
She was crying uncontrollably.

Everyone in the car became tense.
Mother Violet took the phone and said,
"My dear sweet girl, what happened? Maria, Jessie, Divya, and I are all coming to see you. Don’t cry, my dear."

Angelena said, "No, you’re not coming! Michael told me everything! I’ll start living in Grandma’s house now."
Mother Violet said, "No, my love, we are on the way!"

Jessie then took the phone.
"Angelena, my ponnu (dear), what happened? I told you — whatever happens, call me. You’re strong, you’re a superwoman, wonder woman! Don’t cry."

Angelena kept crying, "I want to see my mother!"
Jessie said, "We’re coming, baby! Don't you believe me? I'll send you a screenshot."

Jessie quickly took a selfie showing Maria, Mother, Divya, and me inside the car, and sent it to Angelena.
Jessie said, "Check your WhatsApp!"

Angelena checked and now believed it.
Maria’s eyes filled with tears.
I told Maria, "Sister, make a video call and talk to her."
Maria got the phone from Jessie and made a video call.
She placed it in front of everyone — we all spoke to Angelena.
Everyone had tears in their eyes because the little girl was crying so much.

Maria’s in-laws tried to calm her down.
I looked at Jessie — she said, "Let’s go home fast."

I took the car from parking and we started driving again.
Everyone kept speaking to Angelena.
Finally, Angelena fell asleep on her grandfather’s shoulder.
He spoke softly, "She fell asleep. Come home fast."

After 45 minutes of driving, we reached Thrissur town.
Maria gave me directions.
Within 10 minutes, we entered their house.

It was an old Christian house, surrounded by trees, with a big place for gardening.
The gate was already open.
I entered the driveway.
Some people were there to welcome us — Michael, the grandmother, the grandfather, and some servants.

Just as the car stopped, Angelena woke up and ran toward the car.
Everyone had thought she was sleeping!

Mother Violet stepped out first, then Maria, then Divya, and finally Jessie.
Maria, being the daughter-in-law of the house, had to greet everyone properly.

Angelena ran straight to the car.
Mother Violet picked her up and kissed her.
But Angelena wanted her mother.
Jessie kissed Angelena’s cheek, and Angelena kissed her back — she loves Jessie a lot.
But still, she was looking for her mother.

Jessie let Angelena go to Maria.
Maria hugged Angelena so tightly, holding her for a few minutes.
Then, everyone went inside the house.

The servants helped with all the luggage.
I parked the car and got out with my bags.
I didn’t know where to go or where to sleep.

Suddenly, Michael came to me.
He greeted me warmly, like he already knew me.
I followed him inside.
The ladies were all surrounding Angelena.

Michael showed me a bed.
He said, "You can sleep here. If you need anything, call me."
He gave me his number. I saved it.

My inner feelings were heavy with emotions, but I was so tired —
I fell asleep immediately.

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Next episode: Bath in the river!