Author's note : I'm back after a long gap. Sorry to keep you'll waiting, but I guess it was needed.
Also, from this chapter, I have decided to give hints about the next chapter in the end, wherever needed. Do let me know what you think about it. Thanks & Happy Reading! 🤍

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♫ #AustraliaDiaries - Chapter 2 ♫

It was a fresh new day in Australia. After a stroll in the neighbourhood, a delicious buffet dinner and a good night's sleep the previous day to get rid of the jet lag and travel tiredness, Roja and Arjun were up and ready, ready to explore the city with new vigour.

Roja : Sir, inniki enga sir porom?

Arjun : First Sydney Botanical Gardens Roja. Appram Sydney Harbour. Night view la Opera House polam nu plan, Rose'u.

Roja : Wow! Kekkave super ah irukku sir.

Arjun : Nee happy ah irukkanum Roja. Athuthan important. First Namma keela poi breakfast buffet la sapduvom. After a good breakfast, we can leave. Right?

Roja : Sure sir!

They headed straight to the breakfast hall, and a huge spread of western style breakfast was awaiting them.
There was a  feast of cupcakes, croissants, salads, juices, omelettes and many more stuff.

Roja was staring at it all, wide eyed.

Roja : Enna sir Ithu, ivlo sapadu..
Juice eh 6 type irukku, coffee machine la 4 type coffee, ivlo flavour cupcakes, ivlo fruits, ivlo items ah😳

Arjun laughed at his innocent wife.

Arjun : Roja, Inga laam breakfast ippdithan irukkum. Inga nu illa, Europe, UK, USA enga ponalum ithuthan. Yean, Namma oor laye periya periya 5 star hotel la laam breakfast buffet ippdithan irukkum. Foreigners ippdithan sapduvanga.

Roja : Ivlo senja waste ah pooidatha sir?

Arjun : 😂Athellam aagathu Roja, Avanga sustainable disposal than pannuvanga. Nee vaa, Namma sapadalam, Enakku romba pasikidhu

Rojun dug into the feast. Roja was surprised to see even an Indian cuisine counter where a friendly looking Tamil chef was making piping hot dosas. She felt happy to see a familiar face, and engaged in a conversation with him.

Arjun meanwhile filled his plate with whatever he needed and reached his table. He began eating but Roja was nowhere to be found. Apparently the chef had grown so fond of the friendly Roja, that they both were talking away like old pals. Roja was busy enquiring about his family background and how he landed up in Sydney as a chef. And the chef also was detailing his story, happy to have found an Indian girl.

After a good 20 minutes, Roja realised the time.

Roja : Acho! Enna Roja Ithu, time kooda paakama appdi Enna pechu. Dosa vaanga vanthu 20 mins aachu. Itho dosa eduthutu vanthurren nu Arjun sir ta sollitu vanthom, Paavam Avar teduvaru.

She headed to the table hurriedly, only to find Arjun sitting there silently with an empty plate. Disappointment was written all over his face.

Roja : Sir, sorry sir, anga oru Indian chef ah paathen. Appdiye Avar dosa suddarapo pesa arambichom, appdiye 20 mins aayirchu. Inga oru Indian face ah paathadhu Enakku Avlo happy sir, Avar kum than. Paavam Inga Indians paakarthu eppovavthu thane. Athuvum Tamil.

Inthanga sir, ungalukum serthu sooda sooda ghee roast eduthutu Vanthu irukken. Sapdunga sir.

She placed one of the dosas on his plate but saw him scowling at her.

Roja : Sir, Enna sir appdi paakaringa
Sooda aararthukulla sapdunga sir

Arjun seemed to be in no mood to eat.

Arjun : Haanhaan! Madam ku Enna thavira ellarume Paavam. Antha chef Paavam. Itho dosa eduthutu vanthurren nu sollitu poitu 20 mins ku appram vara. Naa evlo aasaiya vanthen theriyuma plate ah fill pannitu? Sernthu sapadalam, ooti viddalam nu

Roja : Acho sir, kovichikittingala? Naa time ah sathiyama paakala sir

Arjun : Illama, Romba santhoshama irukken! Vayiru full aayirchu. Nee nimmathiya ukanthu sapdu, ennode ghee roast ah yum serthu sapdu Intha! 😏
Unnode chef aasaiya panni kuduthu irukkaru, waste pannama sapdu. Appram Avar manasu kasta padum la

Murmuring...

Purushan manasu laam kasta patta prachanai eh illa. Honeymoon ku vanthutu purushan kooda sapdama yaru koodavo pesitu irukka! Cha! Evlo
aasaiya naa vanthen 😒

Arjun murmured but Roja heard it clearly. She smiled at her childlike hubby. She quietly sat down, took a piece of ghee roast in her hand, dipped it generously in mint chutney as it was his favourite chutney, and quickly popped it into his mouth.

Arjun was taken by surprise.

"Hey...en..Enna panra...?"

Roja : En purushan manasula enna irukku nu theriyama naa muttal thanama thappu panniten la. Atha seri panna vendama? 😉
Ippo unga aasai ah niraivetha mudiyatha Enna? Naa ungaluku unga fav mint chutney la dip panni dosa ooti viduvena...neenga ennode fav thenga chutney la dip panni Enakku ooti viduvingalam...deal? ☺️

She asked making a cute face, that Arjun immediately melted away. All his anger was gone.

Arjun : Kedi di nee!

Both burst out laughing and shared some moments, sharing dosa and love.

Roja : Paathingala sir, Ippo unga aasaiyum niraverirchu, ennode chella friend chef ode manasum kasta padathu la😜

Arjun : Adinguuuuuu... 🤨

Roja : Ayyo Ayyo! Naa hand wish pannitu vanthurren sir. 🏃🏻‍♀️

She shot off like a rocket while Arjun settled down in the table, laughing to himself muttering...

"Kozhanda!" 😍

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After a filling breakfast, Rojun headed out, looking forward to the first destination for the day - Sydney Botanical Gardens. 🌿

Sydney Botanic Gardens also known as Royal Botanic Gardens is a spectacular place in the centre of the city, rightly known as an Oasis in the Heart Of The City. 💚⛲️

Both of them reached the place really soon. And were stunned by its beauty. There was plenty of place to walk, explore the gardens, click pictures and even park bicycles. 🚲

After getting a good number of pictures and selfies together and having some quality time at the garden, in each other's company, both walked out of the park, content.
They had spent 2 hours at the park

Roja : 2 hours time ponathe theriyala la sir?

Arjun : Ama Roja, garden super ah irunthuchu 🤩

Since the Sydney Harbour was right there, overlooking the garden, they decided to head there next.

But before that, they decided to have lunch at one of the open restaurants there. After a light lunch, both reached the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the famous iconic location of Sydney.

The bridge was a favourite photo destination and an ideal place to have a stroll.

Both Roja and Arjun walked hand in hand, down the bridge, taking a walk down the memory lane as well. Just then, Roja remembered that she had something to give her husband.

She pulled out something wrapped in laced cloth, from the bag she had. She handed it over to him.

Arjun : Ennathu Roja Ithu?

Roja : Pirichu paarunga sir.

Arjun eagerly unwrapped the cloth and found a beautiful memory keepsake box inside. It was personalised with both their names and marriage date and had a touch of his favourite fragrance.

He was stunned.

Roja : Ithukke Shock aayita eppdi? Antha box ah open pannunga sir.

Arjun opened the box and saw some random stuff.

There was a prescription written and signed by Arjun.

As he watched amazed, Roja picked up the prescription and asked

Roja : Ithu Neenga yarukku ezhuthina prescription nu nyabagam irukka?

Arjun : Hmm-kmmm. Illa.

Roja : Neenga oru naal naa work pannitu iruntha SIL hospital ku road la adipattu kedantha oru patient ah thookitu vanthinga. Avanga financially unstable nu freeya Antha patient ku surgery panni kaapathininga. Antha patient ku ezhuthina prescription ode xerox copy than ithu.

Neenga anniki reception ku prescription anupi file panni bill poda sonninga. Appo naa oru copy Xerox eduthu vechen sir. Unga mela first first Enakku love Vantha tharunam athu ~ love at first sight ❤️✨

Arjun looked speechless. Before he could respond, Roja continued.

Roja : Intha datesheet ah paarunga. Enakku Neenga job offer kudutha date. Antha naala naa pokkisham ah nenaikiren. Koodave Naa velaiku join panna date um irukku paarunga

It was true. There were two consecutive dates torn from the daily sheet calendar and were stapled together. It had a tiny note along which said - Got my job at KP hospital 🤍

Then she pulled a chocolate wrapper. 🍬

Roja : Ithu Namma first first successful ah oru operation panni twins poranthuche. Press laam kooda vanthangale. Anniki Neenga ellarkum distribute panna chocolate ode wrapper 🙈 Enakku kuduthatha bathrama vechen.

Then it was a wilted rose. 🥀

Roja : Kovil la propose panrapo ungaluku kudutha rose. Neenga ethetho pesitu angaye keela pottutu poitinga.
Unga Manasa naa kasta paduthina first time ode nyabagam ah vechirken. Ennikume inni atha seiya koodathu nu.

Then it was a piece of blood stained cloth
Arjun became emotional seeing that. 👕

Roja : Neenga yosikarthu correct sir. Anniki function hall la ungala kaapatha poi Enakku adi pattuche, Appo Neenga pottutu iruntha shirt Ithu. Athu fulla ennode blood aayirchu nu Neenga Antha shirt ah thooki pottutinga

Naa unga veetu ku Vantha appram Antha shirt ah oru naal palaya laundry ode paathen. Enna shirt nu purinjithu. Athan atha cut panni save pannen.

Antha oru incident nadanthu irukkati Namma love ivlo dhooram vanthu irukkave irukkathu. ✨

She continued

Roja : Appram Ithu..romba special. Naa discharge aagi ashramam pona appram Enna vanthu paakarapo enga ellarkagavum cookies kondu vanthinga. Athula get well soon nu handwritten card neengale ezhuthi vechu irunthinga la. Athuthan ithu. Appram athu kooda irukke, Athu Neenga cookie ah wrap panna paper. 🍪🤎

Finally there were two photos.

Roja : Ithu Namma first time sernthu edutha selfie, engagement ku 2 days munnadi pona outing la 😍
Appram ithu, anniki beach sand la Naa Namma pera ezhuthinen la. Athode.... 🌊🩵

Before she could finish she was crushed in a tight hug. It was Arjun.

Arjun : Eppdi Roja, ippdi ovvoru memory ah yum, ovvoru chinna porul ah yum ivlo bathrama vechu irukke? 🥹
En mela yean ivlo anbu?

Roja : Cha Enna sir Neenga? Ithellam oru vishyama
Namma oru 30 years ku appram idha eduthu paatha evlo happy ah irukkum? La? 🤩

Arjun : Nee en mela Kaatra anba eppdi thirupi kaata poreno theriyala. Naa thooki pottutu pona rose ellam kooda vechirka...🥀
Aana naa than alppama...breakfast table la Inniki oru chinna matter ku poi kochikitten la 🥺

Roja : Antha mathri cute ah kutty Kutty fight Vantha than Namma uravukku arthame sir❤️

Intha memory box innum full aaganum. Poda edam illatha alavukku Namma memories onna create pannanum sir ☺️

Arjun (grinning widely) : Pannita pochu! First ippove intha azhagana edathula ennode chella pondatti Enakku kudutha first gift ode sernthu oru selfie 🤳😇

*CLICK CLICK CLICK*

The couple spent a contented evening at the Opera House, enjoying the night lighting and capturing lots of memories. They took a ferry round around the waters surrounding the Opera House, which was a breathtaking experience during sunset 🌅. Later they also went to enjoy the nightlife of Australia and finally returned to the room tired, but totally contented 😌

The next 3 days passed in a jiffy. ✨
Visiting the Blue Mountains, taking the Sydney cruise to tour around the iconic spots in the city amidst waters, and the Coogee to Bondi Beach walk. They even camped overnight at the Blue Mountains 🏔️💙 A romantic candlelight dinner by the Sydney harbour was definitely the cherry on the cake in their Sydney trip. 🕯️🌟

On Day 4, Rojun were ready and eager to leave for their next destination - New Zealand 🇳🇿
They were to visit Auckland & Queenstown with their first night planned in the latter. 💫

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To be continued.
Thanks for reading. ❤️