Uma was waiting for me. I could reach home only by 2.30 pm (I am talking about Tuesday). I went straight to the dining, for lunch. She joined me on the table. We had lunch (Rice, sambar, rasam, more, achaar.. what else !). She was sitting quiet, but looking at me frequently, as if waiting for me to open the talk, but quite impatient. “Uma , why are you so dull ? “ I asked. “You are not telling me anything.. I am scared” she said. “For what? “ I continued. “What will they feel ?” she put an incomplete question. I got her mind, and decided to give her a comforting answer. She is confused and scared as to whether her father and kunjamma would sense our ‘intimate interactions’.
With a pause, I told her : “When they are here, behave very cautiously. Keep a distance when you talk to me, and transact the least. Rest you leave to me. I’ll take care.”.
She was listening to me, looking at my face. “Don’t be afraid of anyone. You are a mature and bold girl. And you already made up your mind about how you want to be yourself”. She looked more confused. So, I put in a question to her. “Uma, are you thinking of a marriage ?”. “No, I’ll be with you Mamma for ever” she quickly replied.
“If you have made up your mind, then its fine. But you have a bright future, with marrying someone.. and settling” I said, blunt at her. “No. maamma, you promised me to be with me… for ever… then why all this talk?” She was hurt it looked. “That’s still and for ever right. But your father should not know this now. And that’s what exactly important now”.
We continued our analysis of the immediate problem. We took a final resolution to be “ being just a Maammen to her and being the niece to me”. We finished our chat, and I got up to the wash. Suddenly, Uma asked me “will Remany chechi create any problem.. in her words.. or ..”. “No, I’ll talk to her.. to be very cautious ... she is my lady you know well !”.
In the evening, I went to the kitchen, looking for Remani. She was in the courtyard, watering the plants. I went to her. “Entaa chetta….” she was so sweet in welcoming me there. I talked to her about our domestic matters and about her personal matters. And ofcourse about the guests and Uma’s concerns.
neither Uma, nor anyone of you know Remani. True.. Remani is my first love ! She came to my family as a home maid, at the age of 14; when I was 19. Our love life was with many tornadoes, and earthquakes.. and hide and seek. Destiny didn’t allow us to be together, for many years.. But the same destiny made us together since the last four years. But not as life partners. Remani knows me well, and I know her well too. She knows everything about me … and even my relationship with Uma. She loves me so much, and takes even my sins. I am Remani’s guardian now.
I am sure, regarding Uma’s concerns, Remani won’t make any problem at all. And I confirmed that with Remani. However, I reminded her to be very cautious in her talk and interactions with the guests.
See how we create our own problems. Problems are within us !
Oh.. they are coming …. Vasu and his wife.
