Navya: I suppose you slept like a log.
Nritya: Yes, but where are the kids? You said they would be back by three-thirty.
Navya: It won’t take long for you to realize that in Hyderabad, the snarling traffic takes time forward. Why not familiarize yourself with what might lie in store for you. [Navya gives the volume to Nritya.] Who knows you may change your mind to become a housewife instead of a workingwoman.
Nritya: Let me be a woman by working before becoming a wife.
[Nritya browses the material as Navya peeps out to see if Ranjan and Nrupa are in sight.]
Navya: Think about the devils and here they come.
[Enter: Ranjan and Nrupa with a weary look that becomes lively on seeing Nritya. Throwing the school bags and lunch packs on the floor, Ranjan and Nrupa rush into Nritya’s outstretched arms. Nritya kisses both of them and they kiss her in return.]
Nritya: Oh, how sweet you look.
Ranjan: Auntie, the whole day we were thinking about you only.
Nritya: Don’t you know that you should concentrate at school.
Nrupa: We didn’t want to go to school but daddy said ‘no bunking please’.
Ranjan: Mummy says you won’t stay with us.
Nrupa: Why so auntie?
Nritya: If I’m here, it will be chuttito your studies. I will come on Sundays. Is that okay?
Ranjan: It’s not okay.
Nrupa: Why it’s bad.
[Nritya takes them into her embrace and cajoles them (mime)]
Navya: Now go and have a wash while I prepare Maggi for you.
[Nritya picks up the school bags and goes with Ranjan and Nrupa into the children’s room. Navya picks up the lunch packs and goes into the kitchen portion. Navya reappears with two plates of Maggi on her way to the children’s bedroom. Shortly all appear in the drawing room and Navya watches as Nritya plays hide and seek with Ranjan and Nrupa. The clock (not in the scene) chimes six times.]
[Enter: Naveen. Ranjan and Nrupa go into sulking. Naveen goes up to them and cajoles them (mime)]
Nritya: Hi bava, are you done with your darlings.
Naveen: Hi, when shall I book the return ticket?
Nritya: What do you mean?
Naveen: why I thought she had brainwashed you into not taking up the job. Oh, how she was after me to compile a dossier on every male employee at the Hares & Hounds. Why, she is uneasy with the company’s name itself. I understand that they styled the firm to reflect their marketing strategy of hunting with the hounds and running with the hares. How on earth they can do that is anybody’s guess.