My Madeleine

CHAPTER 13

June 4th 2021

Milan, Italy

1.50pm

(Amaya's fit, ignore bag)

Amaya's POV

Never in my life have I been ready so quickly. It took me 20 minutes to dress up and touch up my makeup. I felt like wearing pink lipstick today and had some blush on my cheeks as well as foundation. My hair was straightened yesterday so I just left it down.

Valentino was driving in one of the cars that they rented. He said something about an art gallery and I love art.

Before we left he said I should put on sunglasses but didn't give me a reason. I'll find out soon.

My phone started ringing and it was my dad. I warned Valentino to be quiet and picked up the phone.

"நல்ல மதியம் அப்பா / Nalla matiyam appā"

(Good afternoon dad)

"அன்பே வணக்கம், எப்படி இருக்கிறீர்கள்? / Aṉpē vaṇakkam, eppaṭi irukkiṟīrkaḷ?" my dad spoke in Tamil.

(Hello dear, how are you?)

"நான் மிகவும் நல்லவன் நீயா? / Nāṉ mikavum nallavaṉ nīyā?" I haven't talked to him in a while.

(I'm very good and you?)

"இங்கே அதே, உங்கள் அம்மாவும் நானும் உங்களைப் பார்க்க விரும்பினோம், இன்று உங்களையும் மேட்லீனையும் பார்க்க நாங்கள் நிறுத்த நினைத்தோம்? / Iṅkē atē, uṅkaḷ am'māvum nāṉum uṅkaḷaip pārkka virumpiṉōm, iṉṟu uṅkaḷaiyum mēṭlīṉaiyum pārkka nāṅkaḷ niṟutta niṉaittōm?"

(Same here, your mom and I wanted to see you, and we thought we'd stop by to see you and Madeleine today?)

"நான் அதை விரும்புகிறேன் ஆனால் நான் இப்போது இத்தாலியில் இருக்கிறேன் / Nāṉ atai virumpukiṟēṉ āṉāl nāṉ ippōtu ittāliyil irukkiṟēṉ" I heard my mum on the other end of the phone making a "huh" sound.