I woke up to the scream of the velakaari.
"Perukkanamaa?!!".
I got out of bed, mercury rising inside; fuming before I could get to the door. "Yevalavu kekareenga maasathukku, shanikazhamaiyum nyayathikazhamaiyum varanum?", I asked, smiling politely.
"400."
"Oru manshanukku, vaarathukku 2 naal varathukku, 400 aa?". She had shaken the daylights out of me.
"Pinna!!!" Yeah. Why not! I could ask my company to start paying you instead. I was still recovering from the assault, when she added, "Kodam roppi kudukka 100 kudu."

"Vendaam ma, 500 ellam kudukka mudiyathu." I said, smiling yet again.
"yeaa!!!", she persisted.
"Illai ma, kudukka mudiyathu. Romba jaasti." I said, holding my ground.
"Athu thaan ivvalavu sampathikkariye, koncha kaasu kudukkarathu thaane!!!" she retorted. Why you...!!!

She was getting on my nerves. I shook my head, trying to act like a disappointed customer. I wanted to chase her out to the end of the street, actually. For a moment, both of us fell silent. I reiterated, "Romba jaasti ma. Vendaam."
"Ennaya, vendaam...vendaamnundu!!! seri yevalavu tarai?!!"
"200." I said, mustering up all my courage, quoting less than half as I was.
"Poyaa!!!" She walked off.
And so ended my ordeal, me emerging the supreme winner in the "Battle of the Velakaari".