‘How sad,’ he said, striving not to show his relief on Roopa’s account, and thought on his way to the nursing home. ‘Oh, the poor fellow, but isn’t his falling ill untimely for me.’

As he pushed aside the door-curtain, he saw Roopa administering some medicines to Sathyam. As his eyes met her husband’s, she turned to find Raja Rao to her delight.

‘How are you now?’ Raja Rao asked Sathyam.

‘What a surprise,’ said Sathyam feebly, ‘I feel much better now but it was awful last night.’

‘When did you come?’ Roopa asked Raja Rao at length.

‘This morning,’ he replied, looking at her intently to probe his standing in her affection.

‘Where are you put up now?’ she asked him visibly disappointed.

‘At the Ritz,’ he said as if explaining his action, ‘as I came on some official work.’

‘You should’ve stayed with us,’ she said nevertheless. ‘We wouldn’t have disturbed your work.’

‘Thank you,’ he said, ‘I shall take note of it for the future.’

‘You better do that,’ she said without taking her eyes off him. ‘How is Sandhya?’

‘She’s fine, but misses you as ever,’ he said, and added as he handed her an envelope, ‘It looks like she doesn’t trust my communication skills.’

‘Why, she’s right,’ she commented meaningfully as she opened the envelope, and having savored the letter, she told Sathyam later, ‘Sandhya sends her love and regards to you.’

‘It’s nice of her,’ said Sathyam to Raja Rao. ‘Please do convey my affection for her.’

‘Tell Sandhya,’ she said making no effort to hide her unhappiness, ‘I’m unhappy with her for letting you check into a hotel when I’m here.’

‘Won’t that add to my woes?’ smiled Raja Rao.

Sitting by the bedside, Raja Rao entered into a conversation with Sathyam befitting the occasion.

‘How long are you here?’ she said to Raja Rao interrupting them at length.

‘I’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow by the A P Express,’ he said, and having noticed

a disappointed look on her face, he added, ‘If you find time to scribble something, I’ll pick it up tomorrow evening.’

After spending some time with them, he felt uneasy, and in time left in disappointment.

‘What an inopportune time to meet her when the opportunity itself came after such a long time,’ he felt let down as he came out of the room. Then it didn’t even occur to him to look back to check if Roopa came after him.

‘Oh, doesn’t his mere presence vibrate my soul,’ Roopa thought overwhelmed. ‘Surely, he is my man, if there’s ever one. But where have those searching glances of his gone. Was he not looking more at Sathyam than me? Why didn’t he bestow a few amorous glances to add to my memory bank? Well, what else could he have done in Sathyam’s presence than remain poker faced? How handsome he looked even with that morose look. What a rendezvous has fate chosen for my love!’




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