‘I’ve some mixed news for you,’ said Ramu. ‘Sadly, my plans to acquire a unit here fell flat in the end, but thanks to the second string of my bow, I could take over one in Madras. We would have loved to be here but well, the opportunity lies elsewhere.’
‘Wish you all the best,’ said the Sathyams after congratulating Ramu heartily, ‘though we’ll miss you.’
‘You know,’ said Ramu, embracing Sathyam, ‘that our feelings are no different.’
‘I know what a tight schedule it could be. Still I hope you would spend some time with us before you leave,’ she told Ramu, and turning to Sathyam, she added, ‘Sandhya’s marriage is slated for 7th June.’
‘Good news galore,’ said Sathyam. ‘Who’s the lucky guy?’
‘Raja Rao, an architect from New Delhi,’ she said.
‘Sandhya’s smart in choosing an architect,’ Ramu said heartily. ‘Now she needn’t pay for the design of her sweet home.’
‘For yours,’ said Roopa in jest, ‘we can ask him for a decent discount.’
‘That would be a favor,’ said Ramu amusedly.
Seeing the satisfaction in Ramu, Roopa began to envision the measure of Sandhya’s happiness, only to end up thinking about her own unfulfilled life, ‘Why did life fail me, after all? Why has it denied me that life-filled moment to let me feel fulfilled?’
~~~~~~~
That midsummer though Roopa was in heat to meet Sandhya, as her apprehensions about losing her mate after her marriage bogged her, she felt like postponing the trip to Kakinada until the very end. However, as her love for Sandhya prevailed over her fear of her self, she set out on her journey as scheduled.
‘I’ll be there by the 5th Godavari,’ said Sathyam, as he waved her off at the Secunderabad Railway Station that 15th May.
On reaching home the next morning as Roopa hit the pillow, her parents thought that she might have had a sleepless journey. However, finding her languid even by noon, said Janaki, ‘I’m surprised you didn’t rush to Sandhya. Are you ill or what?’
‘I’m a little lazy. Maybe, it’s time I left,’ she said, and wondered. ‘What is bothering me after all?’
Before she could get a clue to her lethargy, Sandhya came in like a hurricane.
‘I couldn’t wait any longer,’ said Sandhya enticingly.
‘I’ve never seen her so dull,’ said Janaki as she left them on their own.
‘Congrats,’ said Roopa extending her hand, though besieged as she was by a strange transformation brought about by Sandhya’s sight.
‘I won’t have it that way,’ said Sandhya mischievously folding her hands at her back.