As the maid
bought in tea and snacks, she offered him a cup and asked him about her sister.
“How’s Didi? How’s your business
getting along? Why didn’t Didi come
here too?”
“Amisha is as usual, busy with her
house-work and tailoring. My business is flourishing. In fact, I came here
today for some work. Amisha has many orders to deliver, before Holi, next week.
Hence she couldn’t come. She has promised that she will come and meet you next
month. By the way, why don’t you come over, one of these days? You must take a
break, every now and then!”
“Yes, I’ll try and do that,” she
said half-heartedly. She just didn’t want to go back to her village. She had
outgrown it and its people. Then she remembered her parents. Hesitantly, she asked
in a small voice, “How are Pitaji and
Maa? Do they ever remember me?”
Sensing the emotion in her tone, Rohan said, “Frankly no! It seems as though
they are consciously avoiding talking about you. Both seem moody and depressed.
You will understand their trauma if you realize that they have had to bear the
taunts about you, in your home town. They are nearly ostracized. Only one or
two people sympathize with them and help them.”
Samaira had tears in her eyes as she said, “I
am the back sheep of my family. Hope God forgives me my sins and gives peace of
mind to my parents!” Rohan looked at her with such pity that Samaira felt a
wave of longing engulfing her. She only wanted to belong to someone, anyone!
Right now, Rohan would do!
“Have your tea, Samaira, you’ll feel better,”
he said. But after the very first sip, she felt nauseous. As she began
retching, the maid rushed to her with a wide porcelain bowl. Rohan was amused
and aghast. This seemed to be a regular feature in that house. The mistress
throwing up in the bowl after a drink too many! What would be Amisha’s reaction
on hearing about this sorry state of affairs? She’d be heart-broken!
To be continued....
The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.
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