Chapter 2: chapter 2

Surya came home an hour later after Sandhya left. Shashikala observed her brother coming in, What happened, brother? You are back home early?”“It’s nothing, sister. I just forgot an important file in here, I came for that file,” replied he.“Oh, I see! Let me bring that file for you.” Shashikala said.Surya examined the entire house and asked, “What’s the matter? Everything is so calm?”“Ehh, your wife had gone to the airport to bid send off to her daughter who is leaving to America for the evening flight,” she said, annoyed.Surya was surprised, "What? Why is she sending that little girl to America? No matter how old I am, I can’t stay without seeing mom everyday and she is sending her daughter that far? How will she survive there?”“It’s all about money, brother! Mom might have given loads of money”“What?” Surya asked, perplexed.“Umm, mom had told her that the her daughter shouldn’t be here, it might trouble us if she is here, right? People would also assume different things. That’s the reason she is sending her away”“Ugh, What kind of a women she is? She is sending her daughter away just because mom told her to do so?She is so disgusting! Anyway, get me that file,” he said, “I have a lot of work in the office,” he said and left.To be honest, if he had known how much Sandhya was suffering, he wouldn’t have spoke like that. And he wouldn’t have behaved like that. But the situations were torturing them and making them hate each other and point fingers at each other.As soon as Sandhya reached home, Shanthamma cooked variety of dishes for her.“Dear Sandhya, eat this…you have to eat this too,” her mother forced Sandhya to eat. But Sandhya wasn’t able to eat anything.But Sandhya’s heart was going in different directions. Parvathamma understood Sandhya’s fear and nervousness and instilled confidence in her,” Sandhya, I’m right here. I will take care of your daughter.” she patted on Sandhya’s head.Sandhya hugged Parvathamma, “Auntie, you are the reason that I’m sending her so far, you are my strength,” she sobbed. Everyone was sad and depressed. They reached the airport by 6 o'clock in the evening. Sandhya was hugging her daughter very tightly. Parvathamma took the little girl from Sandhya’s hug and held her. All of a sudden, Sandhya felt like someone was snatching her life away from her and she wept hard.They were trying to control her, “Please Sandhya, try to hold yourself together,” Parvathamma and Shanthamma tried to control her and patted her on the shoulder.Krishna Rao observed her anguish and was standing still. He was instilling confidence in his daughter and meanwhile, Maggie interrupted, “Mom, please don’t cry! I won’t cause any trouble. I won’t trouble Grandma. You don’t worry about me, Grandma will take care of me, right?” said the little girl, who was not able to see her mother being in sorrow and tried to convince her.Sandhya was in sorrow more than ever now. Sandhya wiped off her tears and kissed Maggie in silence, held her tight in her arms, and smiled gently by crushing the sorrow that’s inside her. Meanwhile, there was an announcement of the flight’s departure. Parvathamma looked at Sandhya, “I’ll leave now. You take care please. Don’t overthink unnecessarily”, she said and instilled confidence in Krishna Rao too. She held the little girl and moved forward.“Mom, I will call you daily. You don’t worry about me, okay? Bye!” she said, smiling as she left.As they were leaving, Sandhya stood still like a statue. “Sandhya, stay strong. Everything is going to be okay,” they said. Sandhya was deeply in pain and said, “Look father, look how my heart is overwhelmed with sadness. I can’t bear it in my heart and soul, my little girl is going away from me,” and sobbed hardly.Sandhya’s parents were trying to control her, “No Sandhya, please don’t! We know what you faced and how much you destroyed yourself for the sake of your baby. Now, you have to fulfill your duties. You remember what your mother-in-law told you, right?” they convinced her and made sure she reached the bungalow and then her parents left home.As soon as Sandhya stepped inside the bungalow, Shashikala came in the midway, looked at Sandhya grisly,“ Hey Sandhya, have you sent your daughter away?” she asked notoriously. Sandhya couldn’t handle the pain because of her words. She couldn’t answer her, sobbed hard all of a sudden, and ran into her room.Meenakshi was angry at the way her daughter talked to Sandhya. “Shashi, it’s not right for you to talk to her like that. She is hurt and if she walked away from here, it would be danger for Surya! It is necessary for her to stay here. Form an ally with her, if possible. Do you understand?” she explained and went to her room.Shashikala was lost in thought, “Mother is so particular,” and she went to Sandhya’s room. On the other hand, Sandhya was sitting on the floor and weeping hard. She walked to Sandhya, “Hey Sandhya, why are you crying? I’m sorry if I said something wrong” she said.“No, no Auntie. You haven’t caused me any pain. It’s just that I was thinking about my girl”“Oh I see, Anyway, there’s nothing much you can do after she is gone. Come, you have to eat” she said in a pleasing manner.No matter how much Sandhya tried to control her sorrow, she couldn’t control. “No, I’m not hungry,” she said. “Okay then, let me know if you need anything, I’ll take care of it,” she said and left the room. Sandhya was weeping hard and later fell asleep, on the floor.