Chapter 3: chapter 3

Surya came home late that day. By the time he reached home, everyone was sleeping. Sombabu, a trusted servant for a long time, was the only who was awake. He observed Surya coming in and walked to him hurriedly, and grabbed his files, “Babu, very late today? Amma has been waiting for you and she went to her room to sleep just now,” he said humbly, looking at Surya.Sombabu might be a servant on the surface but he raised Surya since he was a kid and that’s why he was so close and had rapport with Surya. Surya had a habit of calling him Uncle. Surya smiled gently, “ Uncle, there was lot of work at the office today and that’s the reason I am late,” he said and stiffened his spine.“Oh I see, come, let me serve you dinner,” he said.Surya looked at him, fatigued and said, “No Uncle, I ate in the office. You go sleep,” and he went to his room. Sandhya was sleeping to the other side on the floor and the room was illuminated by the dim lit bed light. Surya felt relieved. He he thought would be facing lot of obstacles due to the new marriage but she was staying away from him.“Thank god! My letter did the trick,” he thought and leaned on the bed, peacefully and closed his eyes. He doesn’t know how much Sandhya was suffering. They have never seen each other and they didn’t want that to happen. Two humans, living in the same room, related to each other and not related to each other at the same time.Sandhya woke up at 4 o'clock in the morning, bathed, and reached the prayer room. “Oh God, You have to look after my daughter in the strange land. You have to shower your blessings on this family, who helped me save Maggie,” she pleaded . She lit the lamp, gave Aarthi, finished the Pooja, and then she went into the kitchen.Sombabu saw her coming and said with respect, “Come, madam. I will make you coffee, wait”Sandhya smiled gently, “No Uncle, I will make coffee. I’m habituated to cooking,” she said and made a coffee with in  seconds. She was about to tell that she had to give coffee to everyone in the home and Meenakshamma came there. She looked at Sandhya, “Dear Sandhya, Why are you taking the burden? Somu will do it,” she said.Sandhya looked at her and said, Auntie, I’m habituated to the household work and I will do it everyday. If I don’t do it, I feel like living in someone else’s house. Please, let me do it,” pleaded she. She listened to Sandhya and said, “Okay, as you wish,” and granted her permission. She sipped the coffee and said, “Sandhya, The coffee is delicious! By the way, Surya doesn’t drink coffee, he only has Tea. Make tea and go give it to him”As soon as Sandhya listened to it, she had a chill in her spine. She understood Sandhya’s situation, “Sandhya, I know what you are thinking about. Wait for a few days and everything will fall into place, okay? I will go to the lawn,” and she moved to the lawn.Sandhya unwillingly made Tea, gave it to Sombabu and sent him to the room. Meanwhile, Shashikala came there. Sandhya looked at her coming in and said affectionately, “Come, I made coffee for you and Uncle,” and gave the two coffee cups. Shashikala thanked her, grabbed the coffee cups, and left the room. Sandhya was preparing breakfast.Sombabu entered the room with the Tea cup. Surya woke up and sipped the coffee he gave, “Wow Uncle, the Tea is delicious! You made it amazing,” complemented he and sighed with his eyes as if what’s special. Sombabu smiled quietly, grabbed the empty Tea glass and came out of the room. Sandhya finished cooking. She walked into the room to change her saree as there was a stain on it. Surya freshened up and walked out moments before that. He walked to his mother and apologized for being late the previous night.She smiled gently, “You don’t even notice the clock whenever you are indulged in work,” she said and expressed her sorrowness. Surya smiled back and meanwhile, everyone reached there. Everyone was having breakfast while Sandhya was in the room. Surya tasted the breakfast, “Wow Uncle! You killed it today, I love it!” complemented he and asked him to serve even more to eat. Shashikala and Meenakshi were observing him all the time. Surya completed his breakfast and started his journey to the office.Meenakshi finished her breakfast and went to her room. Sandhya got out of the room two minutes after Surya left. Shashikala looked at her lovingly, smiled gently and said, “Come, Sandhya”. Sandhya humbly came there and sat beside her.“Sandhya, everyone liked what you cooked today. Nice cooking,” she said, praising her. Sandhya smiled gently and remained calm. Shashi asked to have her breakfast, “ You didn’t even eat yesterday,” she said and served her food. Sandhya wanted to be alive by the time her daughter returns and with all the sorrow in her heart, she had some food.Shashi looked at Sandhya, “Sandhya, you might feel bored as you have to do nothing from now in the home. We have a garden and there are different kinds of flowers in almost 300 acres. Do you want to go there? They are named after me,  “Flower Garden”, “Shashikala Garden”. It will be peaceful over there. Do you want to go there and do some work? What say?” and we can also get a break from your whining face,” she thought and asked her.Why would Sandhya not agree if she had a chance to breakfree from that golden cage even for some time! “Yes, I want to go. But I’m afraid what mother-in-law would say?” she fumbled.“She won’t object you, I will talk to her,” and the matter was conveyed to mother by Shashi. “Okay Sandhya, I don’t have any objection. Look after the accounting there but there’s no need for you to tell who you are. I will tell them that you are my distant relative. You don’t have to tell anyone over there and don’t ask the reason because I have my own reasons.”“You will die in an year and I have to find a bride for Surya who suits my status. There’s no need for someone to know your details,” she thought and took a decision.Sandhya was ecstatic that she gave her permission. To be honest, Sandhya doesn’t have that intention to tell someone that she was the daughter-in-law of the bungalow, she doesn’t even have that intention. And that’s why, she quietly looked at her and nodded her head, saying, “Okay, Auntie.”“Shashi, can you tell me the address of the garden?” asked she.Meenakshi looked at Sandhya, “What’s the need for the address? We do have so many cars and drivers, they will take you there.”“No Auntie, I will go by walk,” replied she.“But its four kilometers away, what’s the need to walk that long?”“It’s okay Auntie, I know my affordability. I’m habituated to walk,” replied she.Meenakshamma looked at Sandhya quite a bit weirdly and said, “Sandhya, you seem to get hurt because of my words, that’s why you are saying that want to go by walk. This is the matter of my family’s prestige, try to understand. That’s why I asked you not to tell about your details to anyone”“I beg your pardon, Auntie. But I didn’t assume anything. I’m habituated to walk, believe me and I promise you that I won’t hamper your family’s prestige by any means. I will be careful,” she said.She said okay,” But you return before it’s the Sun is out. I will call the people over there and inform them about your arrival,” replied she.Sandhya noted the garden’s address from Shashikala and said, “See you, Auntie…See you, Auntie,” and she moved forward.As she was taking a step forward, the tears in in her burst out. She wiped the tears sliding down her cheeks and stepped forward.